Saratoga Springs has long been a summer playground for sports fans: the upstate New York town is home to one of the most storied racetracks in the world, and it’s been mecca for horse racing fans for hundreds of years. If you’re planning a trip to the Spa this summer (and don’t worry, we’ll explain why it’s called the Spa!) you’re in the right place for a quick guide on everything the town and track have to offer. Who: Elite Thoroughbred racehorses and their human entourages
Month: July 2021
Walsh-Trained Extravagant Kid ‘In His Prime’ Ahead Of Saturday’s Group 1 July Cup
USA-based trainer Brendan Walsh insists it would be “quite something” if he could re-establish his links with Newmarket and saddle Extravagant Kid to glory in the Darley July Cup at Saturday's Moet & Chandon July Festival.
Having spent time working in the town for Godolphin and former trainer Mark Wallace before heading to America, Walsh will now bid to capture the prestigious six furlong Group One on Saturday, July 10 with the globetrotting 8-year-old.
The Kiss The Kid gelding took his form to new heights earlier this year when capturing the Group One Al Quoz Sprint over six furlongs at Meydan in March ahead of finishing third back over five furlongs in the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 15.
With a return to six furlongs not expected to pose any problems for Extravagant Kid, who is currently housed at Abingdon Place Stables in Newmarket, the Kentucky-based handler is confident he can make his presence felt.
“I spent a lot of time working in Newmarket back in the day as I worked three or four summers for Godolphin then four years for Mark Wallace before that so I know the place very well,” said Walsh.
“I always liked the July Meeting and it would be quite something if I could go back there and win the July Cup with this lad.
“I don't think going back up to six furlongs will be a negative. Although it is a little stiffer than Dubai, you are going downhill a lot of the way. It is probably as far as he needs to go but I think he will be fine.
“We gave him plenty of time to get over his travelling turnaround but you would think he would be in a better position now having had that run at Ascot.”
Extravagant Kid will again have the services of top jockey Frankie Dettori, who rode the gelding at Royal Ascot.
Up until this year Extravagant Kid had been campaigned exclusively in North America, but Walsh believes his recent spell racing abroad has helped rejuvenate his career.
He added: “The first target this year was Dubai and that worked out well so we thought why not go to Ascot now and now here we are.
“He ran really well at Ascot and justified us taking him there. I think that was a tougher spot than Dubai. He showed he belonged there and I was happy with him.
“Travelling with him is a new dimension and he seems to like it. It has brought out the best in him. As an older horse travelling just adds something a bit different.
“He is eight now and is probably in his prime. He is not going to be up to this standard forever so we will just enjoy it.”
There are 23 confirmations for the Darley July Cup, which takes place over six furlongs on the July Course and forms part of the British Champions Series.
Defending champion Oxted, from the Roger Teal yard, will bid to defend his Darley July Cup crown on the back of tasting victory in the King's Stand Stakes. If successful again in 2021, Oxted would become the first back to back since Right Boy in 1958/1959.
Charlie Appleby is responsible for two entries of Glorious Journey and Jersey Stakes scorer Creative Force.
Ed Walker is represented by impressive Duke Of York Stakes scorer Starman and Came From The Dark, while fellow Lambourn handler Archie Watson is another double handed after leaving in both Glen Shiel and Dragon Symbol.
Lope Y Fernandez could bid to give Aidan O'Brien a record breaking sixth victory in the race, is one of three remaining Irish-trained entrants that remain alongside the Ken Condon-trained Miss Amulet, and Thunder Moon (Joseph O'Brien), winner of the Group One Vincent O'Brien National Stakes last season.
THE DARLEY JULY CUP (Group 1) (British Champions Series)
Saturday, July 10
- Art Power (IRE) – Tim Easterby – King Power Racing Co Ltd – Silvestre De Sousa
- Brando – Kevin Ryan – Mrs Angie Bailey – Tom Eaves
- Chil Chil – Andrew Balding – King Power Racing Co Ltd – Rob Hornby
- Creative Force (IRE) – Charlie Appleby – Godolphin – William Buick
- Dragon Symbol – Archie Watson – Mr Yoshiro Kubota – Oisin Murphy
- Emaraaty Ana – Kevin Ryan – Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum
- Extravagant Kid (USA) – Brendan Walsh – DARRS Inc. – Frankie Dettori
- Final Song (IRE) – Saeed bin Suroor – Godolphin
- Garrus (IRE) – Charles Hills – Mrs Susan Roy
- Glen Shiel – Archie Watson – Hambleton Racing XXXVI & Partner – Hollie Doyle
- Glorious Journey – Charlie Appleby – HH Sheikha Al Jalila Racing
- Good Effort (IRE) – Ismail Mohammed – Mr Abdulla Al Mansoori – Ray Dawson
- Line of Departure (IRE) – Roger Varian – H.H. Shaikh Nasser Al Khalifa & F. Nass
- Lope Y Fernandez (IRE) – Aidan O'Brien – Mr D. Smith, Mrs J. Magnier, Mr M. Tabor
- Method (IRE) – Martyn Meade – Manton Park Racing – Sean Levey
- Miss Amulet (IRE) – K. J. Condon – Mrs Doreen Tabor
- Oxted – Roger Teal – S Piper, T. Hirschfeld, D. Fish & J. Collins – Cieren Fallon
- Rohaan (IRE) – David Evans – Chris Kiely Racing Ltd & Mr J Tomkins – Shane Kelly
- Starman – Ed Walker – David Ward – Tom Marquand
- Summerghand (IRE) – David O'Meara – Mr Hamad Rashed Bin Ghedayer
- Supremacy (IRE) – Clive Cox – Mr J Goddard – Adam Kirby
- Thunder Moon (IRE) – Joseph Patrick O'Brien – Mrs C. C. Regalado-Gonzalez
- Ventura Rebel – Richard Fahey – Mr Abdullah Menahi
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New York Aftercare Day at Saratoga July 21
The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA), New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (NYTHA), and New York Thoroughbred Breeders (NYTB) will host the inaugural New York Thoroughbred Aftercare Day at Saratoga Wednesday, July 21.
The featured race will be the Rick Violette S., named for the late NYTHA President who spearheaded the creation of the TAKE2 Second Career Thoroughbred Program and TAKE THE LEAD Retirement Program, and was a founding member of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA).
“We're proud to carry on Rick Violette's work in promoting and protecting our equine athletes,” said trainer Rick Schosberg, who succeeded Violette as president of TAKE2 and TAKE THE LEAD in 2018.
“The horses give us so much–the excitement of the race, the pleasure of their company, our appreciation of their power and beauty. We owe our very livelihoods to them. It is our duty to make sure they have safe haven when their racing careers are over.”
The New York Thoroughbred industry is a leader in aftercare, donating more than $1.28 million toward racehorse retirement every year.
“New York State is the national leader when it comes to responsibly protecting our retired racehorses,” said NYRA President & CEO Dave O'Rourke. “NYRA is pleased to partner with NYTHA and the NYTB to create a day at Saratoga to honor the hard work of so many involved in thoroughbred aftercare. We look forward to cementing this day as a Saratoga tradition for many years to come.”
The post New York Aftercare Day at Saratoga July 21 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.
Newbury Racecourse to Move to Sky Sports Racing
Newbury Racecourse will be broadcast on Sky Sports Racing beginning in 2024 after a five-year deal was announced on Wednesday. The course's media rights will move to The Racing Partnership and Sky Sports Racing on Apr. 1, 2023, with the broadcast coverage of the course's cards moving from Racing TV to Sky Sports on Jan. 1, 2024. Some of the course's race meetings include the Dubai Duty Free Spring Trials, the G1 Al Shaqab Lockinge Day card, the Ladbrokes Winter Carnival and the G1 Challow Hurdle.
Julian Thick, Chief Executive of Newbury Racecourse, said, “We are delighted to announce this strategic partnership with TRP and Sky Sports Racing. Sky Sports Racing offers a very attractive platform for us with its extensive reach to 14 million homes, a particularly strong supporting digital footprint with both Attheraces.com and associated channels as well as the brand alignment and cross promotional opportunities that come with being part of the larger Sky family. We would like to thank our current rights holders, RMG, who have done and continue to do an excellent job for Newbury and have been a valued partner of ours since 2004.”
Added Matthew Imi, Chief Executive, Sky Sports Racing, “Everyone at Sky Sports Racing is delighted at the prospect of a partnership with Newbury Racecourse. We regard it as a great privilege to be working with one of our sport's most important and progressive participants and look forward to being able to attract significant audiences to their content through our domestic and international broadcast and digital platforms.
“Working closely with our wagering partners and maximising the exposure Sky Sports can bring to Newbury's fixtures, events and high-quality brand we believe this will translate into significant long-term opportunities for them on many different levels.”
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