July, 2021 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Royal Ship Looms Large in San Diego

Fox Hill Farms and Siena Farm's ascendant handicap division contender Royal Ship (Brz) (Midshipman) figures to be tough to beat in Saturday's GII San Diego H. at Del Mar, the seaside oval's traditional prep for its marquee GI TVG Pacific Classic Aug. 21.

Earning a trip to America by reeling off five consecutive open-lengths turf victories in his native Brazil, capped by a score in the G1 Estado do Rio de Janeiro, the gelding was third making his Stateside bow in the GII Del Mar Mile H. over the turf last summer. Sixth in the GII City of Hope Mile S., he ran last of four after stumbling at the start when switching to dirt in the GIII Native Diver S. here in November.

Running fifth, beaten just a length, in the GI Frank E. Kilroe Mile S. Mar. 6 at Santa Anita, the bay has become a new horse since moving back to the main track, annexing the GII Californian S. with a 108 Beyer Apr. 17 before just being denied by a head when second in the GI Hollywood Gold Cup S. last out May 31.

Third that day was re-opposing Express Train (Union Rags). Completing the exacta behind Charlatan (Speightstown) at 16-1 in the GI Runhappy Malibu S. closing out his sophomore campaign, the $500,000 Keeneland September buy built on that effort with a dominant victory in the GII San Pasqual S. and a half-length second in the GI Santa Anita H. Third to next-out GI Metropolitan H. victor Silver State (Hard Spun) in the GII Oaklawn H., he broke outwardly at the start of the Gold Cup and suffered a wide trip before settling for third.

Finishing a half-length behind him was Rushie (Liam's Map), who looks to be the main other contender should Royal Ship take a step back. Annexing the GII Pat Day Mile S. last summer, the gray was seventh in the GI Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and a nose runner-up in the Oaklawn Mile S. Apr. 10 before stumbling at the start and flattening out from a middle move in the Gold Cup.

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Late John Asher To Be Inducted Into Kentucky Sports Hall Of Fame

The late John Asher is among six individuals selected as the 2021 class of the Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame fueled by the Kentucky Lottery (KSHOF).

A native of Leitchfield, Ky., Asher was a well-known sports journalist and public relations expert who parlayed an award-winning career in radio news into a public relations position at Churchill Downs and recognition as the preeminent expert on the Kentucky Derby. Asher worked in radio news for three decades, earned five Thoroughbred racing Eclipse Awards and the Scripps Howard National Headliner Award while at WAVE and WHAS radio stations in Louisville the 1980s and 90s, while being named the Associated Press Large Market Reporter of the Year in Kentucky seven times.

He was an accomplished play-by-play announcer for basketball, baseball and horse racing, including stints with the Louisville Redbirds, the Kentucky High School Athletic Association Boy's Sweet Sixteen and Latonia Racetrack. For 20 years (1997-2018), he was one of the most important public relations professionals in Thoroughbred racing, rising to the level of Vice President of Racing Information at Churchill Downs while earning numerous awards for his work in the industry. Asher passed away at age 62 in August 2018.

Comprising the other five members of the 44th KSHOF class are: Dwane Casey, member of the 1978 University of Kentucky (UK) NCAA Basketball National Champions who earned NBA Coach of the Year honors; Romeo Crennel, a football star at Western Kentucky University (WKU) with 39 years' coaching experience in the NFL, including five Super Bowl wins as a defensive coordinator; Rachel Komisarz Baugh, an SEC-champion swimmer at UK and assistant coach at the University of Louisville who set five U.S. records and one world record and earned Olympic gold and silver; Keith Madison, former record-setting baseball coach at UK who is a member of the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame; and Elmore Smith, an All-American basketball player who led Kentucky State University (KSU) to back-to-back NAIA Championships who still holds the NBA single-game record for blocked shots.

A selection committee comprised of 15 sports media professionals from throughout the Commonwealth selected this year's class. All votes by the selection committee were independently tabulated by regional accounting firm Dean Dorton, one of the largest accounting and advisory firms in Kentucky, with offices in Louisville and Lexington.

The 2021 KSHOF class members and their families will be honored on Sept. 7, 2021, at the Galt House Hotel in downtown Louisville.

The KSHOF is owned and operated by the Louisville Sports Commission, a Kentucky-based non-profit whose mission is to attract, create, host and operate sporting events and activities that enhance the quality of life of the Commonwealth. The KSHOF was founded in 1963 to recognize athletes and sports figures who are Kentucky natives as well as individuals who participated in their respective sport or made a significant impact in their sport in Kentucky.

“The KSHOF Class of 2021 recognizes six outstanding individuals who represent a broad spectrum of sports and occupations – individuals who had a major impact on sports in the Commonwealth and on the national and international stage,” said Louisville Sports Commission President and CEO Karl F. Schmitt Jr. “We appreciate the support of the Kentucky Lottery as our presenting sponsor for the third consecutive year, and the work of regional accounting and advisory firm Dean Dorton for officially tabulating the votes.”

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‘Humble Champion’: Australian Jockey Jamie Kah Sets New Record For Single-Season Winners

Racing records were rewritten at Caulfield last weekend when Jamie Kah became the first jockey in the history of Victorian racing to ride 100 metropolitan winners in a season.

With her victory aboard Deep Speed in Race 2 on Saturday, Kah surpassed the previous record of 99.5 winners – a tally which included a dead-heat – set by Brett Prebble in the 1999-2000 season.

Racing Victoria (RV) Chairman, Brian Kruger, has paid tribute to Kah on her achievement and the mark she has made on Victorian racing since relocating from South Australia in January 2019.

“On behalf of Racing Victoria and the broader Victorian racing industry, I would like to congratulate Jamie on reaching this historic milestone of 100 metropolitan wins in a season at Caulfield today.

“We are truly blessed to have witnessed the feats of some incredible jockeys here in Victoria throughout history and for Jamie to tread where no other has is something that she should be incredibly proud of.

“The greatest part of Jamie's achievement is the manner in which she has gone about it through hard work, dedication and a willingness to challenge herself to be the best she can be.

“Jamie is a humble champion and a wonderful ambassador for Thoroughbred racing. She epitomizes everything that is great about our sport – a love of the horse and an opportunity for all to compete on a level playing field.

“Jamie is inspiring the future stars of our sport, both through her incredible achievements in the saddle and the way she conducts herself. She is a wonderful role model for those embarking on a career in racing.

“We are privileged to be able to watch Jamie showcase her talents week in, week out here in Victoria and we look forward to following her career as she chases more success in the seasons to come.”

RV has commissioned a commemorative poster in Monday's Herald Sun to celebrate Kah's milestone and will formally recognize her achievement at the season-ending 2020-21 Victorian Racing Awards.

Saturday's milestone capped a memorable two months for the 25-year-old, who also recorded her 1000th career win at Sportsbet-Pakenham on May 12 and became Australia's most successful female jockey in Group 1 races landing her sixth title aboard Vega One in Queensland's Kingsford Smith Cup on May 29.

Kah has a further five metropolitan meetings in which to add to her record-breaking tally for the 2020-21 racing season.

Kah, who will officially claim her first Victorian metropolitan jockeys' premiership when the season concludes at The Valley on July 31, 2021, led her nearest rival Damian Lane by 37 wins after posting her 100th winner.

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H-2B Visa Language Removed from Bill

The H-2B visa guest worker program, used frequently by trainers to fill backside positions, has been the subject of potentially damaging language within the fiscal year 2022 Department of Labor Appropriations bill. United States Representative Andy Harris (R-MD) offered an amendment July 15 to remove certain sections from the bill that would have made it difficult for employers to use the H-2B visa. During committee consideration, the amendment passed by voice vote.

“Thank you to all who contacted their Representative regarding this issue,” said NTRA president and CEO Alex Waldrop. “We also are grateful to Rep. Harris for offering the amendment to eliminate the language that was so threatening to employers, like horse trainers, who use the H-2B visa program.”

The amendment removed sections 116, 118, and 177 from the bill. The language in those sections would have:

Prohibited industries from using the H-2B program if they experienced unemployment in any of the previous 12 months over 10%;
Prohibited construction industries from using the program even in seasonal locations or occupations;
Increased the baseline for wages to at least 150% of the federal or state minimum wage, whichever is higher;
Required wage compliance with a collaborative bargaining agreement for your industry in your area, even if you are not a party to the agreement;
Banned participation in the program for labor/workforce-related infractions outside of the scope of the H-2B program.

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