July, 2021 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Churchill Downs Unveils Renovation Plans

Churchill Downs has unveiled plans for three capital investments to the historic Louisville track, beginning with the Homestretch Club for Kentucky Derby 2022 and culminating with a Paddock area redesign for the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby in 2024.

The Homestretch Club will renovate and update the grandstand area adjacent to the Twin Spires along the track's homestretch. The project will convert what is currently outdoor bleacher seating next to the Winner's Circle Suites and below the Jockey Club Suites into three unique seating options with all-inclusive amenities. Ticketed guests in the Homestretch Club will have access to 18,600 sq. ft. of new interior premium hospitality space in the first-floor concourse area.

In total, the $45-million project will provide for 3,250 all-inclusive seats, which is 1,950 fewer reserved seats than were previously in this area. It is expected to be completed by the 2022 Derby.

The Turn 1 Experience will introduce permanent all-inclusive stadium seats at Churchill Downs in a unique location with exclusive views of the Kentucky Derby walkover and the picturesque first turn framed by the Twin Spires. The project will upgrade and expand what is currently 3,400 temporary Oaks and Derby seats to 5,100 all-inclusive permanent stadium seats with significantly improved amenities designed to enhance the overall guest experience. The permanent construction will also add a climate-controlled hospitality venue below the new stadium seats that will serve as premium seating for up to 2,000 guests.

In total, the project will provide for 7,100 all-inclusive seats, which is 3,700 more reserved seats than were previously in this area. The $90-million Turn 1 Experience is scheduled for completion in time for the 2023 Derby.

The final project, the Paddock Area Redesign, is still in the early design stage, with plans to introduce new and innovative seating and experiences.

“We have so much to anticipate as we look toward the 150th Kentucky Derby in 2024,” said Mike Anderson, president of Churchill Downs Racetrack. “We've listened to our customers' feedback over the years and the response to those demands can be seen in these upcoming capital projects. The design of each will blend 147 years of tradition with an updated atmosphere that celebrates our storied past and ushers in a spectacular future for Churchill Downs.”

Also Wednesday, Churchill Downs Incorporated announced a $76-million expansion at its Louisville gaming facility, Derby City Gaming, that includes construction of a hotel, additional gaming positions and expansion of the current amenities.

“Derby City Gaming continues to exceed the company's expectations,” said Bill Carstanjen, CEO of CDI. “The expansion of this premier gaming property is intended to create an elevated experience for our guests that is inclusive of all their hospitality needs and is anticipated to fuel ongoing growth in purse contributions for Churchill Downs Racetrack.”

Construction on the project is scheduled to begin in early 2022 pending rezoning review and approval by the City of Louisville. The expanded gaming floor is targeted to open in late 2022 and the hotel is expected to open in the spring of 2023.

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Campbells, O’Connell Bring A ‘Smile’ Into Saturday’s Florida Sire Series

Gil and Marilyn Campbell's Stonehedge LLC and trainer Kathleen O'Connell will seek to continue longstanding success in the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes series Saturday when they send out Silver Smile for a start in the $100,000 Desert Vixen at Gulfstream Park.

The Desert Vixen, a six-furlong sprint for fillies, will co-headline Saturday's program with the $100,000 Dr. Fager, a six-furlong open division dash, as the annual series for juveniles sired by accredited stallions standing in Florida gets underway. A mandatory payout of the 20-cent Rainbow 6 carryover pool will also be featured on the program.

O'Connell has saddled 11 of the Campbells' 15 Florida Sire Stakes race winners, including Scandalous Act, who swept the 2013 series for fillies, and Blazing Sword, who won two legs of the open division series in 1996 to launch a multiple graded stakes-winning career.

“I'm very proud of the association I've had with them. It's been over 25 years. We've had a good run. They're wonderful people. They understand the ups and downs of the game. They've brought a lot into the program for Florida-breds,” said O'Connell, who ranks second all-time among women trainers with 2,263 winners. “I wish them nothing but good luck whoever has their horses.”

The Campbells, who will be represented in the Dr. Fager by Michael Yates-trained homebreds Dean Delivers and Cajun's Magic, bred Silver Smile, a daughter of freshman sire Long Island Sound.

Silver Smile (7-2) is scheduled to make her second start Saturday after registering a dominating 4 ¼-length debut victory in front-running fashion June 3 at Gulfstream Park.

“She's trained very well,” O'Connell said. “I think we're all at a handicap because we can't get more educational races between breaking their maiden and the stakes. It's not like it used to be, but we're all in the same spot.”

Silver Smile, who will take on 10 fillies in a lightly raced field, will be ridden by Emisael Jaramillo, who was aboard or her successful debut.

Breeze Easy LLC and trainer Joe Orseno, who will be represented in the Dr. Fager by highly regarded Hope in Him, will send out Stone Beauty ((9-2) for a start in the Desert Vixen. The daughter of Neolithic withstood early pressure before drawing clear by 1 ¾ lengths in her July 16 career debut at Gulfstream.

“When I got her, she was going through a growth spurt. I thought, 'Maybe she's not going to make it.' But she's really come around. She ran really well for me the first time. I think she'll move forward off that race, because I didn't have her really cranked up where I wanted her to be. But I knew if we were going to make the sire stakes, we needed to run her. Everybody was all for it, and now we're going to run in both,” Orseno said. “This is the first time I've run a horse in both races.”

Stone Beauty was purchased by Breeze Easy's Mike Hall and Sam Ross for $130,000 at the OBS April 2-year-olds-in-training sale, a month after they made the winning bid of $190,000 for Hope in Him at the OBS March sale.

“We didn't quite plan on going as high as we did, but we thought that she was a Florida Sire Stakes prospect,” Orseno said. “The owners have been wanting horses for the Florida program. They're standing a stallion in Florida [Curlin's Honor]. They race all over, but they're supporting Florida. They wanted a filly that would fit the bill.”

Samy Camacho has the return mount aboard Stone Beauty.

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Like Silver Smile and Stone Beauty, trainer Roger Laurin's Demurely (8-1) will enter the Desert Vixen off a sharp debut victory. The daughter of Uncaptured rallied from off the pace under returning jockey Chantal Sutherland to capture her May 28 debut by 2 ½ lengths.

Shooting Star Thoroughbreds' Noble Dreamer, who finished second behind Demurely, will enter the Desert Vixen off a sharp 7 ½-length triumph in front-running fashion June 18. The Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained filly is 2-1 in the morning line and one of four daughters of Noble Bird, a Grade 1 stakes-winning freshman stallion, entered in the Desert Vixen.

Joseph will also be represented by Joseph Imbesi's Solar Girl, a daughter of Greenpointcrusader who finished off the board in her recent debut.

Edgard Zayas has the return call on Noble Dreamer, while J. C, Diaz Jr. will ride Solar Girl.

Quintessential Racing Florida LLC, Rocky Top Stable and Tara Sweeney's Royal Rocker is slated to bring two-race experience into the Desert Vixen, in which the daughter of Noble Bird will seek to graduate. The Mark Casse trainee, who was narrowly beaten while finishing second in her June 20 debut at Gulfstream, most recently finished third after experiencing trouble at the start and setting a fast pace into the stretch July 17.

Quintessential Racing Florida LLC and Casse will also be represented in the Desert Vixen field by a pair of Noble Bird-sired first-time starters, Rufa Red Knot and Ukiyo.

Cristian Torres has been named to ride Royal Rocker, while Luca Panici and Leonel Reyes are slated to guide Rufa Red Knot and Ukiyo, respectively.

Jacks or Better Farm Inc.'s Rachel's Rock is also scheduled to make her first career start in the Desert Vixen, in which the daughter of Jess's Dream will seek to provide her owner/breeder Fred Brei with his record 20th Florida Sire Stakes win.

Trainer Ralph Nicks named Jesus Rios to ride the Jacks or Better Farm Inc. homebred filly.

Blazing Meadows Farm LLC's Soul Flight and Champion Equine's My Sassenach, both coming off second-place finishes, will seek to graduate in the Desert Vixen.

The Florida Sire Stakes series will will continue Aug. 28 with the $200,000 Affirmed and the $200,000 Susan's Girl for fillies, both slated for seven furlongs, and Sept. 25 with the $400,000 In Reality and the $400,000 My Dear Girl for fillies, both to be run around two turns at 1 1/16 miles.

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Churchill Downs Announces Trio Of Investment Projects, Including New Plans For Clubhouse Turn

Churchill Downs announced three major multi-year capital investments to transform key areas at the home of the Kentucky Derby. These projects will ultimately provide new, unique and extraordinary guest experiences in the coming years. Plans include the debut of a new project each year over the next three years, beginning with the Homestretch Club for Kentucky Derby 2022 and culminating with a Paddock area redesign for the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby in 2024.

The Homestretch Club will renovate and update the grandstand area adjacent to the Twin Spires along the famed track's homestretch. The project will convert what is currently outdoor bleacher seating next to the Winner's Circle Suites and below the Jockey Club Suites into three unique seating options with all-inclusive amenities. This seating offers an ideal view of the starting gate, a superior vantage of the track's Big Board and a bird's eye view of the homestretch as the horses thunder to the finish line. Ticketed guests in the Homestretch Club will have access to 18,600 sq. ft. of new interior premium hospitality space in the first-floor concourse area that will be transformed into a newly reimagined, high-end air-conditioned club atmosphere to place a bet, enjoy the all-inclusive food and beverage offerings and other amenities. This premium hospitality space will be accented by a grand staircase and a 100 ft. feature bar making it an elegant and desirable option for special events at historic Churchill Downs.

The new all-inclusive ticket offerings for the Homestretch Club will include:

· 30 Trackside Lounges along the rail for up to 200 guests offering a “courtside seat” experience

· 66 Terraced Dining Tables for up to 440 guests creating covered outdoor dining

· 2,610 Stadium Club seats providing a cushioned, comfortable and upgraded experience

· 5 private VIP Hospitality Lounges for up to 60 guests

In total, the project will provide for 3,250 all-inclusive seats, which is 1,950 fewer reserved seats than were previously in this area. The $45 million Homestretch Club project is scheduled for completion in time for the 148th Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 7, 2022.

The Turn 1 Experience will introduce permanent all-inclusive stadium seats at Churchill Downs in a unique location with exclusive views of the Kentucky Derby walkover and the picturesque first turn framed by the Twin Spires. The project will upgrade and expand what is currently 3,400 temporary Oaks and Derby seats to 5,100 all-inclusive permanent stadium seats with significantly improved amenities to enhance the overall guest experience. The permanent construction will also add a climate-controlled hospitality venue below the new stadium seats that will serve as premium seating for up to 2,000 guests who will have access to an adjacent trackside reserved viewing terrace allowing them to view signature moments along the rail.

The Turn 1 Experience will include:

· 5,100 Covered Stadium Seats

· 50,000 sq. ft. climate-controlled Hospitality Venue that includes reserved dining room tables for up to 2,000 guests with an adjacent trackside Viewing Terrace

· 2 Concourses to allow for better guest circulation and additional customer amenities for stadium seat-ticketed guests, creating a convenient place for socializing with outdoor racetrack view

In total, the project will provide for 7,100 all-inclusive seats, which is 3,700 more reserved seats than were previously in this area. The $90 million Turn 1 Experience is scheduled for completion in time for the 149th Kentucky Derby in 2023.

The combination of these two capital projects will result in a net addition of 1,750 premium reserved seats.

The Paddock Area Redesign is in the early design stage and will transform the existing Paddock area in a manner that will enhance the experience for nearly every guest who enters the gates of the historic racetrack. In addition to introducing new and innovative seating and experiences, the redesign will reduce congestion by significantly improving the flow of guests through the Paddock and Plaza areas. This project is tentatively scheduled to debut for the 150th Kentucky Derby in 2024. More details will be shared in the coming months.

Guests with inquiries about reserving premium seating in the Homestretch Club and Turn 1 Experience may call (502) 636-4450 or (502) 636-4447.

Every fall, Churchill Downs sells the following year's Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks via an online sale. Guests may sign-up to be invited to the 2022 Kentucky Derby online sale to receive ticket and pricing information at https://www.kentuckyderby.com/tickets/2022-sale-signup.

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NYRA To Honor Late Bruce Johnstone On Whitney Day

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) announced Wednesday that it will honor the legacy of Bruce Johnstone during Whitney Day on Saturday, August 7 at Saratoga Race Course.

NYRA will honor the late horseman by bestowing the “Bruce Johnstone Best Turned Out Horse Award” to the groom of the horse deemed by NYRA racing officials to be best presented in the paddock ahead of the Grade 1, $500,000 Longines Test. The winning groom will receive a $150 gift card.

Johnstone, who passed at age 76 on February 6, 2020 following a lengthy battle against cancer, transitioned from a successful career as a trainer to management at NYRA, where he spent the last 13 years of his career as Manager of Racing Operations.

At NYRA, Johnstone served as the bridge between management, horsemen, and riders, working with everyone from the stewards to jockeys, the gate crew, outriders, and anyone else connected to racing. Imposing at 6'4″ and with a deep, baritone voice, Johnstone stood out for his commanding presence at the track and for his knowledge, wise counsel, experience, and diplomacy in times of stress.

“Bruce was a true horseman who used the lessons of a lifetime to make all of us better in so many big and small ways,” said NYRA President & CEO Dave O'Rourke. “He was a man of impeccable integrity who was a beloved member of the Thoroughbred racing community here in New York and around the country. Bruce was universally admired for all the right reasons –and he is missed.”

NYRA created Johnstone's position when he joined the organization in 2007.

“If I'm talking to a trainer, I know what they're saying,” he said of his duties in a 2018 interview. “I'll know how to address a concern or an issue. I have an office, but that's not where I live.”

Instead, Johnstone could often be found in the paddock, on the edge of the track, the backstretch or the barn area, navigating between groups and attending to any and all issues. Those issues could range from something as basic as a sauna without hot water to immediate decisions needing to be made on whether to postpone or cancel racing in poor weather conditions and ensuring the horses were adequately hydrated and sponged down in hot weather.

In 1974, Johnstone went to work at the Phipps Stable with accomplished trainer John Russell and Hall of Famer Angel Penna. Johnstone took out his own training license in 1980. Among his career highlights were wins with Secrettame in the 1983 Shirley Jones Stakes at Gulfstream Park and Buck Aly in the 1986 Bay Shore Stakes (G2).

Secrettame, a daughter of Triple Crown winner Secretariat, was campaigned by Venezuelan owner Jose “Pepe” Sahagun and his Villa Blanca Farms.

While at NYRA, Johnstone also served from 2018-19 as chairman of the famed Aiken Training Center in Aiken, S.C.

Born and raised in Santa Barbara, Calif., Johnstone attended the University of California at Berkeley on an athletic scholarship as a swimmer and a water polo player, and also played rugby. After earning a degree in International Relations and Diplomacy, Johnstone was recruited by the U.S. Coast Guard for the Special Coastal Forces Program, an elite group of college graduates who had been Division 1 athletes.

It was through time spent with his father, Charles “Sandy” Johnstone, a New York-based veterinarian, that he turned to horse racing. Visiting his father in both New York and Kentucky, Johnstone, in his mid-20s, became smitten with Thoroughbreds to the point where he made it his new career.

“I got the bug with horses,” Johnstone said in the 2018 interview. “It must have been the pedigree. So I packed up my orange VW van and my two dogs and headed to Kentucky.”

In 1972, Johnstone joined trainer Victor J. “Lefty” Nickerson at Elmendorf Stable, where he was a part of one of racing's biggest upsets, Big Spruce's victory over Forego in the 1974 Marlboro Cup at Belmont Park.

“I live racing seven days a week,” Johnstone said in 2018. “And when I go to the neighborhood bar to get away from it, I find that people want to talk about what I do—not their jobs, but mine. That's always fun—and it makes me realize how much I enjoy this life.”

Johnstone is survived by his daughter, Kelly Johnstone.

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