November, 2020 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Woodbine Releases Annual Corporate Responsibility Report

Woodbine Entertainment has released its 2019-20 Corporate Responsibility Report that summarizes the company’s recent achievements during the April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020 fiscal year. While the report focuses on this period, it also includes information on how Woodbine’s operations were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Titled Breaking New Ground, the 2019-20 Woodbine Corporate Responsibility Report focuses on the company’s commitment to the communities in which it operates, philanthropy, industry leadership, property development and sustaining the horse racing industry.

“While this year has been extremely difficult for so many, including those in horse racing, we have been highly focused on strengthening our foundation to prepare us for a future of prosperity across the industry,” said Jim Lawson, CEO, Woodbine Entertainment. “Through this preparation, and despite the ongoing uncertainty caused by the global pandemic, we are optimistic about our future based on the quality of our racing, strength of our brand and efficient management of our operation.”

The report highlights contributions to three broad areas that encapsulates Woodbine’s charitable initiatives including Supporting Community Health, For the Love of Horses, and Our Footprint. Additionally, the report provides an update on the status of key endeavours such as industry leadership, optimal land development, world-class racing, people and culture, and more.

“Every year, we work to build relationships,” said Zenia Wadhwani, Woodbine’s Director, Community Relations and Corporate Affairs. “To be a good neighbour and give with the intent of making an impact in the lives of individuals, families and communities. To bring our employees together and foster the value of caring for each other and those around us. To make decisions that will be good for the environment and to be a better corporate citizen. Each year, we aim to improve upon what we have accomplished the previous year. This report is a glimpse into how we do that.”

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Veronique a Timely Purchase for Holmes

Tony Holmes has enjoyed sales success with mares he has purchased in partnership with employees of his Marula Park Stud in the past, but next week the native New Zealander and a 22-year veteran of the farm may have success on the next level when they send Veronique (Mizzen Mast) (hip 244D) through the ring during Monday’s first session of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. Holmes purchased the mare, in foal to Mastery, privately after she RNA’d for $22,000 at last year’s Keeneland November sale. It was 10 months later that her son Nashville (Speightstown) made a smashing debut at Saratoga (video), earning the ‘TDN Rising Star’ designation. When the 3-year-old colt romped home by an effortless looking 9 3/4 lengths in a Keeneland allowance (video) Oct. 10, Holmes and his partner decided to supplement the mare to the November sale.

“There is a really nice man who has worked for us for 22 years and I was looking for a mare for us to own together,” Holmes explained of Veronique’s purchase last fall. “I financed the mare and that was the whole objective. He’s been the backbone of our operation and he’s a really nice guy. The plan was to sell babies out of this mare for an income. But things have swung around in our favor, so you’ve got to take them when they do that.”

While Nashville hadn’t made it to the races yet, the colt had made a good impression in the sales ring where he sold for $460,000 to WinStar Farm and China Horse Club at the 2018 Keeneland September sale.

“Obviously, her babies had sold well and I knew that, at that time, Nashville was having a spell,” Holmes said of the mare’s appeal. “I had heard that he had ability and I knew he was at WinStar and having a spell there. I knew there was still hope.”

Nashville was pre-entered in both the GI Breeders’ Cup Sprint and GI Breeders’ Cup Big Ass Dirt Mile, but it was announced Monday he would instead target Saturday’s Perryville S. on the championship undercard.

Holmes said Nashville’s impressive victories, and more importantly his potential successes, will likely take his dam’s popularity to the next level in the sales ring.

“I think it’s huge,” he said of Nashville’s promise. “I’ve had mares before and sometimes they win a nice race, but with him, it’s just the way he’s done it. And then Elliott Walden said he’s one of the fastest horses WinStar Farm has ever had. I’ve been in the position before, but not with a horse with this much talent.”

Veronique’s page received another update last week when her 2-year-old Market Cap (Candy Ride {Arg}) graduated by seven lengths at Laurel Park Oct. 30 (video).

The 9-year-old Veronique will sell Monday in foal to GI Pacific Classic winner Collected (City Zip).

“He was a horse who had won nearly $3 million, he was a good-looking horse that [Bob] Baffert trained,” Holmes said of the choice of matings. “I thought he was attractive at that price with his looks and his race record.”

Veronique’s weanling filly (hip 885) by Mastery will sell during Wednesday’s third session of the auction.

“She’s beautiful,” Holmes said of the weanling. “The man that works for us–he obviously owns half of her too–and we have four weanlings in the sale, but she gets the most grooming. Put it that way.”

The unraced Veronique is out of Styler (Holy Bull), a full-sister to GI Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo, and she is a half-sister to stakes winner Almond Roca (Speightstown) and graded placed Calistoga (Speightstown). She will be consigned to the November sale by Paramount Sales.

Holmes purchased Crystal Shard (Mr. Prospector) for $23,000 at the 2010 Keeneland November sale, also on behalf of a partnership of his farm workers. Her yearling colt at that time would go on to be GI Wood Memorial S. winner Gemologist. The mare was sold privately at a hefty profit.

Asked what another success would mean for his longtime employee, Holmes laughed and said, “I hope he shows up the next day.”

He continued, “There was another time there we bought a mare together and it was the dam of Gemologist. So he’s been on a bit of a home run, but after he sold that mare, the next night he was out there working overtime. But it could be a real life changer for him. They are nice people. So, hopefully. Could be.”

The Keeneland November sale opens with a single Book 1 sessions beginning at noon Monday. The auction continues through Nov. 18 with sessions beginning daily at 10 a.m.

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Daughter of Magnificient Style Debuts at Nottingham

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Today’s Observations features the latest debutante for excellent producer Magnificient Style.

1.10 Nottingham, Mdn, £6,300, 2yo, f, 8f 75yT
John Gosden is somewhat familiar with the progeny of storied matriarch Magnificient Style (Silver Hawk), having moulded six off the production line, and the Clarehaven conditioner is set to unleash a seventh when Nat Rothschild’s SILVER HORN (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}) contests this extended one-mile heat. The May foaled bay, opposed by eight here, is the latest of 15 foals and a half-sister to MG1SW sire Nathaniel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), G1 Irish Oaks heroine Great Heavens (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), G1 Fillies’ Mile victress Playful Act (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells), et al.

1.40 Nottingham, Mdn, £6,300, 2yo, 8f 75yT
King Power Racing’s 260,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 yearling FANTASTIC FOX (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is a half-brother to this term’s G1 Haydock Sprint Cup winner Dream of Dreams (Ire) (Ahead) and opens up for the Roger Varian stable in a heat won last year by subsequent G1 Prix du Jockey Club hero Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}). His rivals include fellow newcomer Stiletto (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who is a John Gosden-trained son of G1 Epsom Oaks and G1 Coronation Cup third High Heeled (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}).

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NYRA and TVG to Donate $410,000 to Support COVID-19 Relief

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) and TVG have announced a series of COVID-19 relief donations for a broad spectrum of non-profit organizations working to support the Thoroughbred racing community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The $410,000 in charitable contributions will be distributed to seven non-profit organizations including the New York Chapter of the Race Track Chaplaincy of America (NYRTCA), the Backstretch Employee Service Team (B.E.S.T), the Belmont Child Care Association (BCCA), the Racing Medication & Testing Consortium (RMTC), the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program (RTIP), the Permanently Disabled Jockey Fund (PDJF) and the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA).

“The racing industry has rallied in incredible ways in response to the uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Kip Levin, CEO of TVG. “The entire TVG team is grateful that our partnership with NYRA will benefit these great organizations who do so much every day to help those in need.”

NYRA and TVG created the relief fund in the spring of 2020 to proactively respond to the myriad challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, including the 54-day suspension of live racing in New York, the closure of casinos across the state and the continued lack of on-track attendance at all racetracks in New York.

“These organizations are all longtime partners of NYRA who have performed outstanding and oftentimes heroic work throughout the pandemic,” said NYRA President and CEO David O’Rourke. “Our thanks to TVG for recognizing the importance of the services they provide to the men and women who sustain the sport here in New York.”

As a result of the success of the joint effort between NYRA and TVG, the NYRTCA, B.E.S.T and the BCCA, whose work is devoted to the overall health and well-being of New York’s backstretch community, will each receive donations of $100,000.

In addition, $30,000 each will be donated to the RMTC and the RTIP with $25,000 going to both the PDJF and the TAA.

In early March, NYRA established the COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan Committee, comprised of key NYRA staff members as well as representatives from the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (NYTHA), B.E.S.T, and the NYRTCA. Working together, the committee developed and implemented health and safety protocols aligning with the most updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and the New York State Department of Health.

Representatives of B.E.S.T, NYRTCA and BCCA set up food banks, distributed masks, provided up-to-date communications on health care, worked as translators and collected and even distributed gift cards for groceries for the hundreds of Belmont-based backstretch workers and their families. They also created more virtual learning opportunities and at-home instruction for the children of backstretch workers enrolled in Anna House, the childcare and early education facility at Belmont Park, along with performing hundreds of other tasks that will never be recorded.

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