October, 2020 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Hall Of Famer John Velazquez Rides 2,000th Belmont Winner For Trainer Todd Pletcher

Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez secured his 2,000th win at Belmont Park in Race 4 on Friday riding first-time starter Malathaat (No. 5, $3.70) to a 1 ¾-length victory for trainer Todd Pletcher and owner Shadwell Stable in a seven-furlong maiden special weight for juvenile fillies on the fast main track.

By Curlin, Malathaat is out of the Grade 1-winning A.P. Indy mare Dreaming of Julia who was ridden by Velazquez and trained by Pletcher throughout her career to a record of 8-4-2-1 and purse earnings of $874,500.

The 48-year-old Velazquez, inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2012, has won 6,238 career races and boasts seven Belmont riding titles [four at the spring/summer meet and three at the fall meet] to his credit.

John Velazquez, winning jockey aboard Malathaat (No. 5, $3.70*) in Race 4 for his 2,000th career victory at Belmont Park: “New York has been home to me for 30 years and to put up a number like this is big. I'm so thankful for all the opportunities I've been given and this moment is very special.

“Todd [Pletcher] has been one of my number one supporters over the years and for him to still be giving me these opportunities now is really appreciated. I really love all the people I work with and all the owners and the whole team behind the scenes.”

On his continued success: “I take pride in what I do. I come to work and I want to make sure that I do my homework and do the best that I can not only for myself but for the people that I ride for.”

On choosing one special memory from this 2,000 wins at Belmont: “Rags to Riches winning the Belmont is up there. It was my first win in a Triple Crown race after many years of trying to win a Triple Crown race. Rags to Riches gave me that first one and took the pressure off my shoulders and it was probably my most memorable win here at Belmont Park.”

Todd Pletcher, winning trainer of Malathaat (No. 5): “Johnny rode the mother [Dreaming of Julia] as well, so that's pretty cool. It's a tremendous accomplishment and it speaks volumes about the person he is and the longevity of his career. He's a great person and just a true professional.”

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Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards To Be Presented Virtually On Nov. 5

The Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards (TIEA), presented by Godolphin, will host their awards ceremony virtually this year on Thursday, Nov. 5 of Breeders' Cup week. TIEA, now in its fifth year, has previously celebrated the finalists and their connections with an in-person awards ceremony over lunch at Keeneland, followed by an afternoon of racing. Since an in-person ceremony is not possible this year, TIEA has enlisted the services of Studio 46 to help put on a successful virtual ceremony. A Lexington, Kentucky-based company, Studio 46 offers video production and live event services, and will host the virtual ceremony from their studios in Lexington.

“We are excited to land on this date for the awards ceremony,” said Katie LaMonica, Director of Charitable Initiatives for Godolphin USA. “It's such an exciting week in our industry and we wanted our finalists and winners to be a part of it as they are the backbone of our industry and contribute to the overall success of our sport.

“I would like to thank our partners, who have helped TIEA adapt in this different and difficult year. We look forward to recognizing and rewarding our finalists in a new, engaging way.”

The ceremony will highlight the three finalists in each of the six categories, with a winner in each category announced as part of the event. The Thoroughbred Industry Community Award winner, Maria Cristina Silva of NYTHA, who was selected by the shortlist judging panel on Aug, 24, will also be celebrated during the virtual ceremony. To learn more about the finalists in the lead up to the virtual ceremony, please visit TIEA.org.

The virtual ceremony will begin at 12pm EST with Jill Byrne, an avid supporter of the awards program since its inception in 2016, once again emceeing the event. Each of the 18 finalists and the Community Award Winner, Maria Cristina Silva, as well as a group of special industry presenters, will all be a part of the virtual presentation.

In its first four years, TIEA has awarded over $500,000 in prize money to 86 finalists, with over 700 nominations across the seven categories. Another $128,000 will be awarded among the 19 finalists this year, with the focus once again on celebrating these deserving individuals from across the US.

The live event will be streamed on the websites of these TIEA media partners: BloodHorse.com, TDN.com, PaulickReport.com, and DRF.com, as well as TIEA.org.

For more information please visit the website at TIEA.org.

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Virtual TIEA Ceremony to Take Place Nov. 5

The Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards (TIEA), presented by Godolphin, will be handed out during a virtual ceremony to be held during Breeders’ Cup week, Thursday, Nov. 5.

“We are excited to land on this date for the awards ceremony,” said Katie LaMonica, Director of Charitable Initiatives for Godolphin USA. “It’s such an exciting week in our industry and we wanted our finalists and winners to be a part of it as they are the backbone of our industry and contribute to the overall success of our sport. I would like to thank our partners, who have helped TIEA adapt in this different and difficult year. We look forward to recognizing and rewarding our finalists in a new, engaging way.”

The ceremony will highlight the three finalists in each of the six categories, with a winner in each category announced as part of the event. The Thoroughbred Industry Community Award winner, Maria Cristina Silva of NYTHA, who was selected by the shortlist judging panel Aug. 24, will also be celebrated during the virtual ceremony. To learn more about the finalists in the lead up to the virtual ceremony, please visit TIEA.org.

Jill Byrne will host the virtual ceremony, which will begin at 12 p.m. ET. The event will be streamed at the TDN homepage.

The post Virtual TIEA Ceremony to Take Place Nov. 5 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Emerald to Raise Purses by 10%

Officials at Emerald Downs in Auburn, WA, have announced that the purses for all races are to be increased by 10% for the final three weeks of the 2020 racing season, Oct. 14 through Oct. 29.

Through 30 days of live racing, handle is averaging $1,871,799, a 67% increase over last year.

“We have been pleased at the increased betting on our races plus the increased wagering by Washington residents through the advanced deposit companies,” track president Phil Ziegler said.

The purse increase applies to the final seven days of racing this season.

The post Emerald to Raise Purses by 10% appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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