October, 2020 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Churchill Pauses Turfway Construction Due To Kentucky Supreme Court’s Historical Racing Decision

On a Thursday's third-quarter earnings call with investors, Churchill Downs Inc. CEO Bill Carstanjen announced that the company's construction of a new grandstand and historical racing facility at Turfway Park will be paused, reports the Thoroughbred Daily News. The announcement follows the Sept. 24 news of the Kentucky Supreme Court decision that the Encore brand of historical racing machine does not constitute legal pari-mutuel wagering.

“Regarding the Turfway Park HRM and grandstand project, we have temporarily paused the construction of this facility,” Carstanjen said. “In late September, the Kentucky Supreme Court issued a decision concerning the legality of the company called Exacta HRMs under Kentucky law. While we do not have any Exacta HRMs at any of our facilities, and therefore are not directly impacted by the Kentucky Supreme Court ruling, we feel it is prudent to refrain from further significant capital investment until the Kentucky legislature has an opportunity to review the decision and the technicalities in the current law during the legislative session starting in early 2021.”

Also on hold are a hotel and historical racing facility at Churchill Downs, though Carstanjen attributed that delay to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Both the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and Keeneland have petitioned the Kentucky Supreme Court for a rehearing.

Read more at the Thoroughbred Daily News.

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Breeders’ Cup Presents The News Minute: A Camera For Every Contender

While the general public will not be able to attend the 2020 Breeders' Cup at Keeneland race course in Lexington, Ky., this Nov. 6-7, horse racing fans will have a unique opportunity to view this year's races like never before.

In addition to the NBCSN and NBC network coverage of the world championships, Breeders' Cup officials will be streaming a live multi-cast at breederscup.com that will feature up to 15 cameras for fans to take in all the action.

For the first time, a “Contenders Cam” will allow viewers to select which horse or horses they want to follow, from the time they arrive in the paddock to be saddled until they enter the starting gate.

There will also be up to two Jockey Cams for each race, providing a unique horseback view.

Learn more about the Breeders' Cup live multi-cast and other developments in today's News Minute.

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Remington Cancels Thursday Card As Power Remains Out In Stable Area

A rare October ice storm in Oklahoma City has forced Remington Park to cancel Thursday night's race card, the second night in a row the track has cancelled racing. It is the first time the National Weather Service has ever issued and ice storm warning in Tulsa or Norman during the month of October, according to The Washington Post.

Freezing ran created thick ice on trees and branches around Oklahoma City, knocking out power to hundreds of thousands.

“Due to ongoing issues with the electricity in the backstretch stable area, we are canceling tonight's races,” said Matt Vance, Remington's Vice President of Operations.

On Wednesday, Vance released the following statement: “Due to the nature of the weather and conditions on the backstretch and stable area, combined with the spirit of safety to horse and rider, Remington Park is canceling our Wednesday, Oct. 28 card. Remington Park will be making this card up in the days to come. An announcement will be made when that determination has been decided.”

Read more about the storm at The Washington Post.

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David Jerkens: Del Mar Stable Area Showing Good Signs For 2020 Fall Meet

Based on stall applications and assignments, racing secretary David Jerkens projects there will be more horses on site for Del Mar's Bing Crosby meeting than usual in 2020.

“I'd say around 400-425 a day will be stabled here,” Jerkens said Wednesday afternoon. “That's slightly higher than usual (300-350) and I take it as a good sign.”

While most trainers will, for economic reasons, continue to house charges at Santa Anita, Los Alamitos or San Luis Rey Downs training center and ship in for the races, Jerkens listed 10 who are sending their entire Santa Anita stable to Del Mar. They are: Phil D'Amato, Doug O'Neill, John Shirreffs, Ron McAnally, Bill Spawr, Bob Hess, Jr., Kenny Black, Sal Gonzalez, Gary Mandella and Alfredo Marquez.

Saturday's opening day program of the Bing Crosby meeting was put together on Wednesday with 76 total entries, 73 in the “body” of the nine-race card and three listed as also eligibles.

“We expected maybe a few more, but there are going to be some very competitive races and we're certainly happy with the eight we got for the stakes (Kathryn Crosby),” Jerkens said.

After its Saturday-Sunday opening, the 15-day meeting runs Friday through Sunday through November 22 and closes with a four-day “Turf Festival” from Thanksgiving Day, November 26 to Sunday, November 29. Seven of the nine graded stakes during the meeting will be staged over the final four days over the Jimmy Durante Turf Course.

Those races, especially the Grade I Hollywood Derby and Grade I Matriarch Stakes, have been major enticements to East Coast trainers in the past and elite trainers Chad Brown, Mark Casse and Graham Motion, among others, have sent marquee runners with good success.

“Even in this COVID era, when people aren't shipping to the extent they used to, we've received quite a bit of interest from back east,” Jerkens said. “And I know some local trainers have been acquiring horses (for turf stakes) as well.”

It has been so long since rain graced San Diego County that's it's easy to forget that torrential downpours forced cancellations of two race programs last fall, one of them a Thanksgiving card scheduled to start the final week, and the rescheduling of some graded stakes.

Still, the East Coast contingent was a strong one and the appropriately name Got Stormy closed things with a victory in the Matriarch for Casse.

“If the weather cooperates, I think we'll get some very good horses from the east like we usually do,” Jerkens said.

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