November, 2020 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Santa Anita: Nate Newby Named General Manager, Chris Merz Promoted To Racing Secretary

Santa Anita Park announced the promotion of Nate Newby to General Manager and Chris Merz to Racing Secretary. Merz adds the title to his current position of Santa Anita's Director of Racing and will be responsible for writing the condition books for Santa Anita's upcoming 84th season which begins on Dec. 26.

The increased responsibilities come as Santa Anita has spent the past 18 months successfully implementing industry leading health and safety protocols for horses and riders and keeping the Santa Anita racing community protected during a global pandemic.

The promotion of Newby from his current position as Senior Vice President and Assistant General Manager comes as Aidan Butler, who has headed the California Operations for The Stronach Group, transitions to his new role as Chief Operating Officer of 1/ST Racing and President of 1/ST Content and will be based out of Florida. Newby has been at Santa Anita for nearly 20 years and has been the Vice President of Marketing since 2013. A hands-on horseman, Newby also is a skilled tournament director and handicapper.

Merz returned to the Santa Anita racing office in early 2020 after a stint as the Racing Secretary at the Maryland Jockey Club. His familiarity with the Santa Anita horsemen and horses dates back several years from when he served as the stakes coordinator at Santa Anita and Del Mar, and the Assistant Racing Secretary at Los Alamitos, prior to joining the Maryland Jockey Club.

“These well-deserved promotions are a reflection of the great bench strength in place at Santa Anita,” said Craig Fravel, CEO of 1/ST Racing, in making the announcement. “Both Nate and Chris helped guide Santa Anita through a very difficult time and, with Aidan now heading up our company's East Coast operations, we are fortunate to maintain the continuity of the team.”

Steve Lym, who has served as Santa Anita's VP-Racing since late 2018, has been appointed Senior VP for Racing Development for 1/ST Racing and will be assisting Butler in his new role.

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‘It’s Gonna Be A Big Hit’: Santa Anita’s New Turf Chute Gets Rave Reviews

On a stunningly beautiful Monday morning, Santa Anita's all-new turf chute, which parallels the track's seven furlong main track chute, was put to the test as a pair of horses broke from the starting gate at a 6 ½ furlong setting and transitioned across the main track and back to the turf course “proper” with aplomb.

Trainer Vladimir Cerin's Lady Noguez, ridden by Umberto Rispoli and Neil Drysdale's Cosmo, with Flavien Prat up, were allowed to run up the backstretch prior to being pulled up as they headed to the far turn.

“What a beautiful addition,” said Prat. “This new chute is fantastic and it's in a great place. Both of the horses handled the dirt crossing with no problem at all and I can't wait to start riding races over this in the afternoons.”

Rispoli was likewise ecstatic regarding the promise of Santa Anita's newest addition.

“It's perfect, there's a slight bend to the right coming out of the gate and then you've got a nice run to the dirt crossing,” he said. “This gives us a lot of options with the kinds of races we can run and I think everybody is going to want to get their horses on it. They've done a great job getting this ready for opening day and I really think it's going to provide some great racing.”

Designed by track consultant Dennis Moore and “green lighted” by Santa Anita's Chief Operating Officer, Aidan Butler, the turf chute project was undertaken on Aug. 17 and involved removal of blacktop and extensive excavation in order to get the running surface elevated and compacted to the level of the main track, which it intersects at approximately the three quarter pole.

“This is a great step forward,” said Moore. “I wanted everything to go just like it did this morning. Those two horses crossed the dirt here with no problem.”

“It's really, really cool to see all of this hard work come together,” said Butler, who will be jetting to Gulfstream Park tomorrow morning to oversee racing operations there. “It looks terrific and this new chute really solidifies our turf offerings here at Santa Anita. It was designed to stand the test of time and here's hoping it's here for many years to come.”

Retired Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens, who is now involved in racehorse ownership and is one of America's most highly respected racing analysts on Fox Sports 1, was also on-hand for this morning's demonstration.

“This provides a totally new component to our turf arsenal,” said Stevens. “I actually got a little choked up watching those horses cross the dirt because it reminds me of the downhill crossing and all the races I rode here. I think it's gonna be a big hit. I know I'd sure like to ride it.”

Two other jockeys of note, Hall of Famer Mike Smith and budding star Drayden Van Dyke, joined Stevens on the inside rail.

“It looks really good,” said Smith. “Same as with the downhill, I think Jay (Slender) will load 'em from the outside in, with that little bend to the right.”

“I think everybody was interested in how those horses would handle crossing the dirt, and they did it with no problem,” said Van Dyke. “This is great news for everybody.”

The turf chute, which is 80 feet wide and approximately 800 feet long, will accommodate sprint races at distances of six and 6 ½ furlongs, while Santa Anita's traditional Camino Real Hillside Course will continue to be available to horses running distances of a mile and a quarter and up.

To view this morning's turf chute demonstration, please click here.

While the public will not be admitted for live racing due to the continuing Covid-19 pandemic, fans are encouraged to follow Santa Anita's live racing via XpressBet.com and 1stBet.com. For more information regarding Santa Anita's upcoming Winter/Spring Meet, including post times, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

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Breeders’ Cup Extends Late Nomination Deadline For 2020 Foals To Feb. 28

In advance of the major Thoroughbred auctions scheduled in January and February of next year, the Breeders' Cup today announced that it has extended the late nomination deadline for all 2020 North American foals to Feb. 28, 2021.

This late foal nomination will be the last opportunity for horsemen to nominate weanlings of 2020 to the Breeders' Cup program at a fee of $1,500 USD.

The $1,500 nomination entitles each foal with lifetime racing eligibility to the Breeders' Cup World Championships and the Breeders' Cup racing programs. All foals sired by a fully-nominated North American Breeders' Cup stallion are eligible for nomination to the Breeders' Cup program in their year of birth and now up to Feb. 28 of their yearling year.

“We want to provide buyers and sellers the Breeders' Cup Advantage for yearlings, either sold or purchased in January and February, to become fully-nominated individuals to the Breeders' Cup program,” said Dora Delgado, Breeders' Cup Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Officer.

Nomination fees for 2020 foals not nominated to the Breeders' Cup program by Feb. 28 will be increased to $12,000 USD for an individual sired by a Breeders' Cup-nominated stallion and to $18,000 USD for an individual sired by a non-nominated stallion before July 15 through the racehorse nomination program.

Breeders' Cup Limited has been Thoroughbred racing's most significant national and international program for over 37 years. During this time, the organization has allocated purses and awards in excess of $860 million to owners, foal nominators and stallion nominators through the programs of the Breeders' Cup including the annual $31 million Breeders' Cup World Championships.

In addition to the racing benefits, in 2021, Breeders' Cup foal nominators are also eligible for special bonuses. Foal nominators will receive $10,000 USD for every victory in a Breeders' Cup Challenge “Win and You're In” race. Moreover, foal nominator awards are available on every Breeders' Cup World Championships race for every starter. The individual nominating the foal receives these nominator awards even though the horse may change hands throughout its racing career.

For more information and to nominate online visit members.breederscup.com.

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Gulfstream: Florida-Bred Bonuses Announced for 13 Championship Meet Stakes

Thirteen stakes races during Gulfstream Park's Championship Meet – including the Florida Derby (G1), Fountain of Youth (G2), Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2), Fred W. Hooper (G3) and Sunshine Millions – will have bonuses for Florida-breds properly registered with the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association (FTBOA).

A total of $400,000 in bonus money will be distributed throughout the meet beginning Jan. 9 with the $100,000 Tropical Turf (G3).

While a dozen of the races will have a $25,000 'win only' bonus, the $800,000 Florida Derby (G1) will have $100,000 in Florida-bred distributive purse supplement funds available with 70 percent to a registered Florida-bred winner, 20 percent for a second-place finish and 10 percent for a third-place finish.

The $25,000 'win only' bonuses will be available to properly registered Florida-breds in the races below:

Jan. 9:

$100,000 Tropical Turf (G3)

Jan. 16:

$100,000 Sunshine Millions Classic
$100,000 Sunshine Millions Sprint
$100,000 Sunshine Millions Turf
$100,000 Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf

Jan. 23:

$150,000 Fred W. Hooper (G3)

Jan. 30:

$200,000 Holy Bull (G3)
$100,000 Swale (G3)

Feb. 13:

$100,000 Gulfstream Park Sprint (G3)

Feb. 27:

$350,000 Fountain of Youth (G2)
$200,000 Davona Dale (G2)

March 27:

$250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2)
NOTE: The $800,000 Florida Derby (G1) March 27 will have a $100,000 Florida-bred bonus.

Gulfstream's Championship Meet begins Wednesday, Dec. 2. The first Saturday of the meet will feature the $835,000 Claiming Crown. On Saturday, Dec. 12, Gulfstream's program will include five stakes, four graded, including the $200,000 Fort Lauderdale (G2) on the turf and the $100,000 Rampart (G3).

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