Patrick O’Neill, nephew to two-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Doug O’Neill and bloodstock agent Dennis O’Neill, had a different interest from most college kids when he was an undergraduate student and a member of Brown University’s football team. He insisted on adding TVG to the fraternity house’s cable television package; he was the one who watched horse racing at every opportunity, including in class, and in film study prior to practice.
Month: June 2021
Wyoming Downs To Offer Record Purses For 2021 Meet
With purses at an historic high of $1.1 million, Wyoming Downs, the only private racetrack in Wyoming, will host its 18-day live racing season every Saturday and Sunday beginning Saturday, June 12, and running through Aug. 8.
Horsemen from approximately six states competing for the winnings. The $1.1 million is the highest ever purse in the track's history.
Owner Eric Nelson said: “We are excited to offer the highest purses in our history and look forward to another great season with big crowds and great times.”
Wyoming Downs will once again be welcoming live crowds. During the 2020 pandemic Wyoming Downs was one of the few tracks in the United States to continue live racing with fans and did so by complying with state and local health mandated guidelines. This year masks will be recommended, though not required, sneeze guards will remain in place and cleanliness and sanitation will remain the focus.
Gates open at 11:30 AM with the first post at 1:05 PM. General admission is $10.00 with children under 12 free in the general admission stands. Clockers corner seats are $20.00 per person.
Each race day features 10 races.
Wyoming Downs will host special events throughout the season. Among the popular events are the Sixth Annual Brew Fest, Native American Heritage Day, Special Olympics-Wyoming Day and Pink Out Day which celebrates cancer survivors with the annual “Raysha's Race.”
2021 marks the ninth consecutive race season since owner Eric Nelson repurchased Wyoming Downs and began racing in 2013. Live racing has marked a resurgence of area industries related to racing.
After the races, Wyoming Downs invites those over the age of 18 to its off-track betting facility at 1925 Harrison Drive, Evanston, 92930.
Wyoming Downs is located 15 minutes north of Evanston, Wyoming at 10180 Highway 89 North, 82930, an approximate 75-minute drive from Salt Lake City, Utah. For tickets and more information, go to Wydowns.com or call 307-789-7223.
The post Wyoming Downs To Offer Record Purses For 2021 Meet appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
‘A Valued Friend Of Monmouth Park’: Baffert Trainees Would Be Welcome In Haskell
Following Wednesday's news of Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert's two-year suspension at Churchill Downs, Inc.-owned racetracks, Monmouth Park in Oceanport, NJ has taken an opposing stance. The Asbury Park Press reports that Dennis Drazin, chairman and CEO of Darby Development LLC, which operates Monmouth, would “welcome” a Baffert-trained horse to run in his track's premier race, the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational, scheduled for July 17.
“I'm sure there will be those that disagree with me and think we should ban him, but we're not doing that at Monmouth Park,” Drazin told the APP. “Bob Baffert has been a big part of Monmouth Park. He has brought his top horses to the Haskell every year, including American Pharoah. I think he has done a lot for New Jersey racing and always showcased the best horses here and Bob is a valued friend of Monmouth Park who we always felt was on our side and always did right by us. I consider Bob a friend of Monmouth Park.”
Baffert has won the Haskell a record nine times.
Churchill's actions this week stem from the news that Baffert-trained Medina Spirit, who crossed the wire first in the Kentucky Derby on May 1, subsequently tested positive for betamethasone, a race-day restricted therapeutic medication. Early Wednesday, news broke that the split sample had also returned a positive result for betamethasone, meaning Medina Spirit may be disqualified from his Derby victory by the KHRC.
Baffert's suspension by Churchill Downs is not a Kentucky Horse Racing Commission ruling – instead, it is the action of a private entity.
If the KHRC does suspend Baffert's training license, other state racing commissions, including New Jersey's, would reciprocate that action. In that event, however, Drazin said Baffert's long-time assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes would still be welcome to bring horses to Monmouth Park.
This is in direct contrast to the action taken by CDI, which stipulates, “the suspension prohibits Baffert, or any trainer directly or indirectly employed by Bob Baffert Racing Stables, from entering horses in races or applying for stall occupancy at all CDI-owned racetracks.”
Read more at the Asbury Park Press.
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Santa Anita Releases Baffert Statement
Following Wednesday's announcement from Churchill Downs Inc. that Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert would be banned for two years, Santa Anita released the following statement:
“Santa Anita Park is committed to integrity, accountability and fairness in our sport. As it stands, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC)–which is the governing body for horse racing in Kentucky–has not released all of the information nor has it offered a ruling on this matter. We will continue to await action by the KHRC and will make a decision once their regulatory process is complete.”
Santa Anita is Baffert's home track and where the majority of his stable is based. He will be unable to enter horses in races or occupy stalls at any Churchill-owned tracks, which include Fair Grounds and Arlington Park, due to the split sample from Medina Spirit (Protonico)'s first-place finish in the May 1 GI Kentucky Derby returning positive for betamethasone, a prohibited substance in Kentucky.
The post Santa Anita Releases Baffert Statement appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.
