June, 2021 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Report: Stronach Group Considering Sale of Some Assets

According to a June 15 report from Bloomberg.com, The Stronach Group (TSG) has fielded interest from special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) and others and is exploring options for parts of its portfolio. The Bloomberg report cited “people with knowledge of the matter” as its source.

The Bloomberg report states that TSG is working with an outside advisor and has been approached by a number of parties, among them digital betting and media companies, that have expressed interest in aspects of the business. Bloomberg estimated the Stronach company portfolio is worth more than $1.5 billion.

What remains unknown is what assets might be on the market and which are not. The Stronach Group, which is based in Aurora, Ontario, owns five Thoroughbred racetracks: Santa Anita, Golden Gate Fields, Gulfstream Park, Laurel and Pimlico. According to Wikipedia, its other assets include AmTote International, Bowie Racetrack, Palm Meadows, Xpressbet, The Village at Gulfstream, a racetrack in Austria and the harness track Rosecroft Raceway.

Though TSG may be looking only to sell some of its lesser assets, a potential sale of some others, namely Santa Anita and Gulfstream, could be a cause for concern for the racing industry. TSG has built a reputation as a pro-racing company and may view its assets differently than other companies, particularly casino or real estate companies.

In 2020 Stronach patriarch Frank Stronach and his daughter, Belinda, ended a battle for control of the company that had led to lawsuits. Under the agreement, Belinda got control of the Stronach Group's Thoroughbred racing and gaming businesses, while Frank and his wife, Elfriede Stronach, took over operation of the family's racing and breeding operations. As part of the deal, Frank Stronach relinquished any claims to the current assets that make up The Stronach Group.

TSG Chief Executive, Racing Operations Craig Fravel, sent the TDN the following email in response to a request for a comment.

“The Stronach Group and 1/ST remain committed to building a world-class entertainment and wagering company with Thoroughbred horse racing, racetrack venues and best-in-class guest experience at the core. Our mission is to be the most forward-thinking, innovative and successful sports-anchored, digital media and wagering content business in the world. Every business decision we make is to further that mission and support our racing infrastructure.”

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Fasig-Tipton Adds Broodmare Dispersal To Upcoming July Sales; Will Accept Additional Breeding Stock Entries

Fasig-Tipton has added a breeding stock dispersal to its upcoming July sales schedule in Lexington, Kentucky.

The company will offer 18 mares as part of the Far From Over/Fountain of Youth Dispersal, with consignor Stuart Morris acting as agent for the dispersal.

The group of mares are property of a partnership supporting young stallion Far From Over. The graded stakes-winning son of Blame, out of Alchemist, had been standing at stud in California before suffering a pelvis injury early in this year's breeding season that took him out of service for 2021. The remainder of the mares that were not bred to him were then shipped back to Kentucky and bred to Kentucky stallions, and due to the circumstances, the partnership has opted to disperse all its of holdings.

All mares offered are in foal to Connect, Far From Over, or Violence. They will be sold with their 2021 foals at their sides, which are by Catalina Cruiser, Enticed, Good Magic, Honor Code, Laoban, Oscar Performance, Violence, and Yoshida. All foals were born in Kentucky or California.

With the addition of this dispersal, Fasig-Tipton will now accept additional approved broodmares and broodmare prospects. The dispersal and additional breeding stock entries will be offered in a separate session and catalog – named July Breeding Stock – prior to the start of the July Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale on Monday, July 12.

Fasig-Tipton will accept breeding stock entries over the next few weeks. The catalog will go online and in the equineline sales catalogue app on July 1. Print catalogs will be available on-site at Fasig-Tipton at sale time.

“This dispersal offers buyers a quality group of mares, with well-bred foals at foot,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “It also allows us to open up broodmare and broodmare prospect entries to other prospective sellers that may prefer to sell now, instead of waiting for the fall breeding stock sales. It creates a unique mid-summer buying opportunity for breeders.”

Browning continued: “We have considered adding a breeding stock element to July for many years, and this year's session will be a good barometer to see if there is viable market for broodmares in July going forward.”

The mares and foals will sell on Monday, July 12, prior to the start of the July Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale which will also be conducted that day. The next day, on Tuesday, July 13, Fasig-Tipton will conduct The July Sale of Selected Yearlings.

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Top-Class Fillies Love, Audarya Take On Defending Lord North In Wednesday’s Prince Of Wales’s

Multiple Group 1 winners Lord North (IRE), Love (IRE) and Audarya (FR) lead Wednesday's 1 ¼-mile US$991,000 Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot. The winner of the Prince of Wales's Stakes will earn an automatic berth into this year's US$4 million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.

The Breeders' Cup Challenge Series is an international series of 84 stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which will be held at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, California on Nov. 5-6.

As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for the Prince of Wales's Stakes winner to start in the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf, which will be run at 1 ½ miles over the Del Mar turf course. Breeders' Cup will also provide a travel allowance of US$40,000 for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships. The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders' Cup program by the Championships' pre-entry deadline of October 25 to receive the rewards.

The Prince of Wales's Stakes, is the second of four Breeders' Cup Challenge Series “Win and You're In” races to be conducted during the Royal Ascot meeting. The race will be televised live on NBCSN and TVG.

The HH Sheikh Zayed bin Mohammed Racing's 5-year-old gelding Lord North (IRE), trained by John and Thady Gosden and ridden by Frankie Dettori, is the defending Prince of Wales's champion, having defeated Addeybb (IRE) last year by 3 ¾ lengths. A winner of six of 12 starts, Lord North made a successful seasonal debut at Meydan on March 27 when he won the Dubai Turf sponsored by DP World (G1) by 3 lengths. Last year, Lord North, a bay son of Dubawi (IRE) out of the Giant's Causeway mare Najoum, closed out 2020 with a fourth-place finish in the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland, beaten 2 ¾ lengths.

“He's a great character, he's in good form,” said John Gosden. “He's back on quicker ground. I think it's a fascinating race. Love has been waiting for this type of ground. She was exceptional last year but she raced with her own sex.”

Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Mrs. John Magnier's Galileo (IRE) filly Love (IRE) swept a trio of Group 1 races in an unbeaten 3-year-old campaign, taking the 1,000 Guineas, the Epsom Oaks and the Darley Yorkshire Oaks. Trained by Aidan O'Brien, Love was scheduled to run in last October's Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1), but was not did start due to soft ground. Love will be ridden by Ryan Moore.

O'Brien plans to start another offspring of Galileo in the 4-year-old colt Armory (IRE), for Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith. Seeking his first Group 1 victory, Armory has won five races, including his 2021 debut when he captured the 1 3/8-mile Melodi Media Huxley Stakes (G2) at Chester by 3 lengths on May 7. During the second half of last year, Armory won the Royal Whip Stakes (G3) at The Curragh in August, finished third behind stablemate Magical (IRE) and Ghaiyyath (IRE) in the Irish Champion Stakes (G1), and ran second in Australia's 1 ¼-mile Cox Plate (G1) at Moonee Valley in October. Seamie Heffernan has the mount on Armory.

Also making her 2021 debut is Mrs. A. M. Swinburn's Audarya (FR), a 5-year-old daughter of Wootten Bassett (GB), who completed and an outstanding season last year by winning the Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) at Keeneland by a neck over Rushing Fall. Trained by James Fanshawe, the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf was Audarya's second Group 1 triumph of 2020, having also captured the Darley Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville in August. Audarya will be ridden by William Buick.

Juddmonte's 5-year-old Sangarius (GB), trained by Michael Stoute and ridden by Colin Keane, won last year's 1 ¼-mile Hampton Court Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot. A bay son of Kingman (GB) out of the Empire Maker mare Trojan Queen, Sangarius finished second to Armory in the Huxley Stakes and finished second in the 1 1/4-mile Coral Brigadier Gerard Stakes (G3) at Sandown on May 27 as the even-money favorite.

Sunderland Holding's 4-year-old My Oberon (IRE) finished third in the Prix d'Ispahan, beaten just a quarter of a length in his most recent start. Trained by William Haggas and ridden by Tom Marquand, My Oberon, a bay of Dubawi, won the 1 1/8-mile bet360 Earl of Sefton Stakes (G3) at Newmaket on April 21.

Abdulla Al Mansoori's 9-year-old gelding Desert Encounter (IRE), winner of the 2019 Pattison Canadian International (G1), finished second in the 1 ¼-mile Gordon Richards Stakes (G3) at Sandown on April 23 for trainer David Simcock. Desert Encounter will be ridden by Andrea Atzeni.

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How to Play at a Poker Tournament

Playing poker online is fun and I dabble at it as well from time to time. But, many players seem to feel that playing in a live tournament is very similar to playing online. Well. It is and it is not. Here are 9 golden tips on how to ease your transition from playing online to playing in a live poker tournament.

1) If you have difficulty facing pressure in daily life, do not think that playing in front of watchful eyes and a roomful of people will have no effect on you. If you are very easily moved and influenced, I suggest you keep your money and forget about playing in a tournament at all and this is relevant even more when talking about a live poker tournament.

2) Wear comfortable and not fashionable clothes. This is not a fashion show: this is poker. Thus, wear those clothes that will help you feel comfortable and at ease. I have known a woman who wore tight jeans and then all through the round, she kept fidgeting uncomfortably. Regardless to say, she was the first one to lose and all because she was dressed uncomfortably.

3) Drink only water and even then only a little so that you will not feel thirsty and also will not get the urge to go to the lavatory. Either of the two feelings are disastrous to a poker player in the midst of a hand.

4) Do not drink alcohol or even sugared soft drinks. Alcohol will cause you to lose your concentration and sweet drinks give a false sense of well-being; both will work against you when you play in a live game.

5) Do not sit next to the dealer. Most poker tournaments allow you to pick your seat in the earlier rounds. It is best to sit opposite the dealer so that you will be able to look at each and every poker player.

6) Try not to change positions while playing. If you really begin to feel uncomfortable, change your position after a hand ends. In not circumstance should you move while playing.

7) Go to the toilet when the break is announced and do not hang around talking. It is best to loosen your gall bladder than exchanging a few words with other players.

8) Watch how others are doing. Those about to lose will opt to play only when they have strong hands; those with a large stack will be more willing to risk it.

9) Learn the rules and regulations of the particular poker tournament you have entered so as to save unnecessary losses.

Live poker games are against people and so if you can read people well, you will have an advantage when playing in a tournament. But do not over-estimate your opponents. Many poker pros fall to relatively unknown players because they are over-confident. So, study the game, think wisely and calmly and you stand a good chance of reaping in the first prize.