September, 2020 | Horse Racing Free Tips

The Jockey Club Elects Bell, Hertrich, McIngvale, Scollay, Sikura As New Members

The Jockey Club today announced the election of five new members: Gatewood Bell, Fred W. Hertrich III, James McIngvale, Dr. Mary Scollay, and John Sikura.

Gatewood Bell is president of Cromwell Bloodstock Agency. As a bloodstock agent, he has selected horses such as Mastery and Undrafted. In addition to his work in bloodstock, Bell is a member of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and a United States representative for Goffs sales agency. He previously worked for Kiaran McLaughlin and Nicoma Bloodstock and served as a jockey's agent for Fernando Jara.

Fred W. Hertrich III is chairman of the Breeders' Cup and proprietor of Watercress Farm. Horses co-bred by Hertrich include Boys at Toscanova, Catholic Boy, Diversify, Rushing Fall, Shamardal, and Street Boss. Hertrich is also the president of the Hertrich Family of Automobile Dealerships.

James “Jim” McIngvale is a longtime Thoroughbred owner who is best known as the owner of Eclipse Award Champion Sprinter Runhappy. He has also campaigned grade 2 winners During and Wimbledon. McIngvale owns and operates Gallery Furniture in Houston, Texas, and is known for his philanthropy efforts for a variety of causes in the Houston area and around the world.

Dr. Mary Scollay is the executive director and chief operating officer of the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium. Previously, she was the equine medical director of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and the senior association veterinarian for Calder Race Course and Gulfstream Park. She has served as a member of the New York Task Force on Racehorse Health and Safety, a veterinary consultant for The Jockey Club Equine Injury Database, and a board member of the Racing Surfaces Testing Laboratory.

John G Sikura is the president and owner of Hill 'n' Dale / Xalapa, a 1,400-acre estate founded by Edward Simms in 1903. A perennial leading consignor and breeder, Hill 'n' Dale bred/co-bred Belmont winner Touch Gold and Preakness winner Cloud Computing and owned Broodmare of the Year Better Than Honour, dam of Belmont winner Rags to Riches. Hill 'n' Dale stands a notable roster of stallions, including champion and leading sire Curlin. A native of Toronto, Canada, Sikura has resided in Kentucky since his early 20s.

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Hernandez, Monge Relish Derby Ride With One-Eyed Finnick the Fierce

Arnaldo Monge often refers to destiny, and perhaps that best explains how he joined Rey Hernandez as unlikely Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve owners with improbable one-eyed starter Finnick the Fierce.

Updated: King Guillermo Out Of Kentucky Derby After Spiking A Fever

King Guillermo, 20-1 on the morning line for this year's Kentucky Derby, will be forced to scratch from the race after spiking a temperature on Wednesday afternoon. According to a tweet from trainer Juan Carlos Ávila Thursday, the colt will instead point for a start in this year's Preakness if his health is restored.

“First is the health of our King Guillermo,” wrote Ávila. “He will be ready to show that he is one of the best in the country sooner rather than later.”

Ávila thanked the horse's followers for their support along the Derby trail.

King Guillermo, who is owned by Victoria's Ranch, comes to the race the runner-up in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby, and winner of the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby. Samy Camacho has been named as the rider for the son of Uncle Mo.

Speculation as to the horse's status had swirled throughout Thursday after the colt did not come out to train in the morning as expected. Ávila told media then he anticipated consulting with veterinarians through the afternoon before finalizing his announcement.

“To race in a race like the Derby we need him at 100 percent,” Avila told the Churchill notes team. “We aren't going to be able to demonstrate how good he is like this. I think we are going to have plenty of time to show his quality. He's going to be a great horse and everybody knows we have to take care of the horse first. The next step is to try to get him ready for the Preakness and go from there.”

Owner Victor Martinez added, “The sad part is that Juan said yesterday was his best day here. When we left the track in the morning following training and came back in the afternoon for feed time, we discovered he had a fever. It's just the sad part about this game.”

Prior to the scratch of King Guillermo, the 18-horse field was expected to leave stalls 1 and 20 open on the new 20-horse starting gate. Now, according to Churchill Downs, stalls 1, 2, and 20 will be left open.

The post Updated: King Guillermo Out Of Kentucky Derby After Spiking A Fever appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Big Race Showdown: Picks for Longines Kentucky Oaks

For the fourth year in a row, America’s Best Racing is challenging some of the brightest minds in horse betting to come up with their top three picks for key races every weekend leading up to the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. The handicappers face off in what we like to call “Big-Race Showdown.”