February, 2021 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Historical Horse Racing Bill Introduced In Arizona

A broad coalition of horse racing and gaming enthusiasts from across Arizona are working with Legislators to advance legislation to modernize gaming in the state.

Senate Bill 1794, introduced by Sen. David Gowan, would authorize historic horse racing and stands to generate up to $140 million in new tax revenues, while also providing desperately needed support for the state's horse racing industry and supporting local businesses. The bill is set to be heard in a Senate committee on Tuesday.

Horse racing has been a key economic driver in Arizona for decades – creating thousands of jobs, supporting hundreds of local businesses and generating millions of dollars in state and local tax revenues. But since 2004, Arizona has seen parimutuel handles drop by $55 million a year, purses drop by $5 million a year and live racing attendance has dropped 45 percent.

Senate Bill 1794 would modernize Arizona wagering laws, while limiting the number of HHR terminals to just 15% of tribal gaming positions – minimizing any impact on those revenues. HHR also relies on parimutuel wagering, which was legal in Arizona before tribal gaming compacts began, so their authorization would not violate those state agreements.

“The modernization effort led by Senator Gowan will save the horse racing industry in Arizona and help keep horsemen in our state,” said Bob Hutton, President of the Arizona Horseman's Benevolent & Protective Association. “Implementing historic horse racing will provide much-needed support to the various industry partners that are involved in each race day, attract high quality horses, and revitalize the horse racing experience throughout Arizona.”

If passed, the measure would generate between $100 million and $140 million in new state tax revenues, create 4,000 new jobs and lead to more than $300 million in capital investments in Arizona Downs, a shuttered horse racing track north of Phoenix. In addition, daily purses would increase from $80,000 to $300,000, positioning Arizona to be an industry leader on the west coast.

“By modernizing Arizona's horse racing industry, we are well-positioned to become the premier destination for horse racing on the West Coast,” Sen. Gowan said. “Arizona has an ideal climate for hosting year-round horse races and attracting fans, horses, breeders, trainers and others looking to escape the hostile environment in California.”

Historic Horse Racing allows players to bet on previously run horse races. Gameplay begins when the player deposits a wager and then picks the winners of three randomly chosen races in the projected order of finish. Identifying information including the location, date, and names of the horses and jockeys are not shown, but the player can view handicapping information like the jockeys' and trainers' win percentage. After the wager is placed, the player can watch an animated re-enactment of the selected past race results.
To learn more about the legislative efforts, visit www.savearizonahorseracing.com.

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Salute The Soldier Makes Noise In Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2

Thursday evening's fourth meeting of the 2021 Dubai World Cup Carnival was highlighted by the Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge R2. Bahraini Fawzi Nass saddled the winner, Salute The Soldier, under a majestic ride from Adrie de Vries.

Capezzano and Mickael Barzalona set out to try and make every post a winning one, but with De Vries never too far away before closing to within hailing distance leaving the back straight.

A duel developed throughout the first part of the straight before Capezzano faltered, leaving Salute The Soldier with a clear advantage and one he was never likely to relinquish. Barzalona's mount was passed by eventual runner-up Thegreatcollection and was then denied third, in the final strides, by Ajuste Fiscal. That pair ran on from the back, but never looked likely to deny De Vries.

A 6-year-old gelded son of Sepoy, Nass' charge was registering a third carnival success after a pair last year, in a 1600m (one-mile) turf handicap and then, over the same trip but on dirt, Super Saturday's Group 3 Burj Nahaar.

De Vries said: “Things had not gone to plan in two runs so far this season so we decided to step him up in trip and it has worked perfectly.

“We went a good early pace but I was keen to pressure Mickael quite early and then my horse really picked up well. Perhaps we can look at the 2000m (1 1/4-mile) and Dubai World Cup.”

First contested in 1994, the 1900m (1 3/16 miles) feature, the only Thoroughbred dirt race on the card, has been won twice by subsequent Dubai World Cup winners, Moon Ballad in 2003 and Thunder Snow in 2018.

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Keeneland Names Gatewood Bell Vice President Of Racing

Prominent Central Kentucky horseman and noted bloodstock adviser Gatewood Bell will join the Keeneland as Vice President of Racing later this month.

Bell in 2011 founded Cromwell Bloodstock, a respected full-service bloodstock agency and consulting firm named after a company owned by his grandfather, John A. Bell, and has served as its president for the past decade. Known for his keen eye for spotting potential, Bell, under the Cromwell Bloodstock and Hat Creek Racing banners, has purchased millions of dollars' worth of horses at public auction – led by Grade/Group 1 winners Undrafted, Hootenanny, Mastery and Con Te Partiro – for a diverse clientele that includes top stud farms, owners and trainers. Bell's record of success consistently ranks Cromwell among the top North American buyers of yearlings by stakes winners as compiled by BloodHorse MarketWatch.

Bell is also a member of The Jockey Club and previously served on the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and as the U.S. representative for Goffs Sales of Ireland.

Last October, Bell was named to Keeneland's Board of Directors as an Advisory Board member, a position he will relinquish upon his employment. Bell is the third generation of his family to serve Keeneland as a Director, following his father, Jimmy Bell, president of Godolphin USA, and grandfather, the late John A. Bell, founder of Jonabell Farm in Lexington. Like his father and grandfather, the younger Bell has been actively involved at Keeneland as both a racehorse owner and sales participant.

“Gatewood brings a unique set of skills and experiences encompassing aspects of both the Thoroughbred racing and breeding industries to the role of Vice President of Racing,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “His passion for, and knowledge of, racing were honed in the trenches on his family's farm and at the track, and in recent years as a bloodstock adviser. The range of Gatewood's talents and his network of relationships with owners and trainers are well suited to help Keeneland navigate the future landscape of racing.”

Raised on his family's Jonabell Farm, Bell received a finance degree with honors from the University of Kentucky in 2004. After graduation, he worked for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin for three seasons in Florida, Kentucky and New York. During this time, McLaughlin campaigned Hall of Famer Invasor (ARG) and Belmont (G1) winner Jazil. Bell also represented multiple Grade 1 winning-jockey Fernando Jara as an agent on the East Coast.

“I have great respect and appreciation for what the Keeneland name and its history mean to its stakeholders: horsemen, horseplayers, fans, local community and the global industry,” Bell said. “Keeneland is a very special place. I grew up coming to the races there and it is where I fell in love with the game.

“I am excited about Keeneland's future and the opportunity to be a part of it,” he added. “This place represents all that is good about our sport, and I look forward to working together with our horsemen to ensure Keeneland continues to deliver the highest quality and safest racing product in the world.”

Gatewood and his wife, Lauren, along with their children, Eloise (10), Daisy (7) and Gus (6), reside in Lexington.

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Notable US-Bred & -Sired Runners in Japan: Feb. 13 & 14, 2021

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running at Hanshin and Toyko Racecourses. The latter plays host to Saturday's G3 Queen Cup, featuring the seasonal debut of the talented, but (very) quirky Reframe (American Pharoah):

Saturday, February 13, 2021
6th-HSN, ¥13,830,000 ($132k), Allowance, 3yo, 1400m
OLYMPIC DAY (c, 3, Medaglia d'Oro–Flagstaff {GB}, by Dansili {GB}), a respectable fifth in a sloppy Chukyo maiden Sept. 26, returned to graduate handily at Niigata Oct. 25 and makes his sophomore debut here. A $400K Keeneland September buyback and $420K OBS March breezer, the bay is out of a daughter of G1 Prix de la Foret heroine and US MGSW/GISP Etoile Montante (Miswaki), whose MGSW daughter Starformer (Dynaformer) produced SW & GSP Flavius (War Front). This is the same Juddmonte female family as Tates Creek (Rahy) and Sightseek (Distant View). B-Fred W Hertrich III (KY)

11th-TOK, Queen Cup-G3, ¥66.6m ($636k), 3yo, f, 1600mT
REFRAME (c, 3, American Pharoah–Careless Jewel, by Tapit) overcame single-minded ways to break her maiden at first asking in July (see below, gate 15) and was much better behaved taking out a 1400-meter allowance when saved for a late run at this venue in October (video, gate 6). Last seen finishing a close fifth in Group 2 company here Nov. 7, the daughter of the 2009 GI Alabama S. winner has undergone plenty of retraining for this return to the races. Reframe was a $410K purchase out of the 2019 KEESEP sale. B-Summer Wind Equine LLC (KY)

Sunday, February 14, 2021
2nd-TOK, ¥11,400,000 ($109k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1400m
SLAP SHOT (JPN) (c, 3, Air Force Blue–Laxfield Road, by Quality Road) is out of a stakes-placed half-sister to 2018 GI Del Mar Futurity third Zatter (Midnight Lute) and was sold for $200K in utero at the 2018 KEEJAN sale. Subsequently moved on for ¥32.9 million ($305,354) at the Hokkaido Summer Select Yearling Sale, Slap Shot hails from the female family of GISWs Secret Hello and Monba. Air Force Blue's year-younger half-brother Soleil de Paris (Lemon Drop Kid) was a $535K KEESEP grad and won three of eight starts in Japan. B-Sakurai Bokujo

4th-HSN, ¥11,400,000 ($109k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1400m
ROSE EMPEROR (c, 3, Medaglia d'Oro–Arch Support, by Arch) was bought back on a bid of $220K at KEESEP in 2019, then hammered for $350K at OBSMAR last winter after breezing an eighth of a mile in :10 1/5. The April foal, whose Grade III-placed dam is a daughter of SW Two Ninety Jones (Sir Harry Lewis), is bred on the cross over Roberto-line mares responsible for this sire's GISW Marketing Mix and other graded winners Dark Cove and Golden Award, the last of which is also out of an Arch mare. B-Lee Pokoik (KY)

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