Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe: Derby winner Serpentine added to field at ParisLongchamp
Serpentine, runaway winner of this year's Derby at Epsom, is added to the line-up for Sunday's eagerly awaited Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Month: September 2020
Texas ’21 Thoroughbred Dates Set, Minus Retama
With Retama Park opting to race only Quarter Horses in 2021, Sam Houston Race Park (46 dates) and Lone Star Park (42 dates) will make up the bulk of the Thoroughbred schedule in Texas next year. The Texas Racing Commission (TRC) approved the changes and granted the requested slate of race dates at its Sept. 29 meeting.
Retama had switched its schedule to exclusively Quarter Horses this season, swapping out Thoroughbred dates to other tracks in deference to the COVID-19 pandemic. It will continue that format into 2021.
Sam Houston’s 2021 schedule will span Jan. 8-Apr. 3.
“Their request was originally for a 39-day Thoroughbred meet,” said TRC chief steward Ricky Walker. “But because Retama Park has requested to run a straight Quarter Horse meet this year and has agreed to transfer some Thoroughbred purse money, Sam Houston agreed to add seven days to their request.”
Lone Star is scheduled to race Apr. 16-July 18.
The Texas Thoroughbred Association (TTA), which oversees the accredited Texas-bred incentive program, had representatives testify both in writing and via videoconference at Tuesday’s meeting stating that the organization cannot support any Lone Star dates request that features:
A) fewer than 49 dates
B) anything less than a four-dates-weekly race schedule.
A Lone Star official explained that the track remains open to the idea of requesting additional race dates at a later time, depending on how the pandemic affects business and projected purses over the next six months.
Gillespie County Fair was approved for its traditional eight-date mixed meet over four weekends in July and August.
The TTA stated in a Twitter posting after the meeting that estimated daily average purses at Sam Houston will be $235,000, with seven of the meet’s 13 weeks featuring four racing dates per week. Lone Star, under the three-day weekly format, projects to pay out $225,000.
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Authentic Arrives At Pimlico On His Toes, To Head To Track Wednesday
Kentucky Derby (Grade 1) winner Authentic and five other horses running in Saturday's Preakness (G1) arrived at Pimlico Race Course at approximately 7 p.m. Tuesday evening after a flight from Louisville, Kentucky.
Authentic, the favorite in Saturday's 145th running of the Preakness, was joined by the 3-year-old filly Swiss Skydiver, Blue Grass (G2) winner Art Collector, Haskell (G1) runner-up Ny Traffic, Mr. Big News, third in the Kentucky Derby, and Thousand Words, a late scratch from the Derby.
Trainer Bob Baffert, trainer of Authentic and Thousand Words, joined his horses on the flight to Baltimore and the van to Pimlico.
“They actually traveled really well. I came on the horse plane and hadn't done that for 18, 19 years,” Baffert said. “Thousand Words was fine. Authentic was pretty ramped up because he worked yesterday so he had an off day and he was pretty wild. He looks at everything. He was dragging me around here when he got off the van, He's definitely not tired. He's a good feeling horse. He sees things before you do so you have to be on your toes at all times.”
Authentic and Art Collector are expected to head to the track at approximately 8:30 Wednesday morning.
Swiss Skydiver will attempt to become only the sixth filly to win the Preakness, the first since Rachel Alexandra in 2009.
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Governor Signs Horse Racing Safety Bills in California
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law from Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa Tuesday to improve horse racing safety across California and build on reforms adopted last year. Additionally, the governor signed a second horse racing bill, co-authored by Sen. Dodd and Assembly member Adam Gray, D-Merced, incorporating recommendations from the California Horse Racing Board.
“The horse racing industry must accept and adopt forward-thinking solutions as the health and welfare of the sport’s human and equine athletes are paramount to their future in California,” said Gov. Newsom. “These bills are an essential step to create a safer and more transparent horse racing experience for everyone involved and can serve as a model for other states to follow.”
“Making horse racing safer for horses and jockeys is critical for the future of this sport,” Sen. Dodd said. “Thanks to Gov. Newsom for signing my bill, which will help ensure track conditions are right and horses are fit before they hit the starting gate.”
In 2019, Sen. Dodd wrote Senate Bill 469 and followed this year with Senate Bill 800, which incorporates reforms recommended by the CHRB, including improved veterinary medical review prior to races and increased transparency in drug testing. The second bill, AB 1974, provides additional safeguards.
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