Saratoga’s 1863 Club Available for Off-Season Events

The 1863 Club at Saratoga Race Course will be available for private events during the racing off-season beginning after Labor Day and through June 2022. The three-story hospitality building is located on the Clubhouse turn and first opened in 2019.

“We have received tremendous feedback from those who have enjoyed a day at the 1863 Club during the Saratoga racing season and are excited to provide even more guests with the opportunity to experience this unique space year-round,” said NYRA Vice President of Sales and Hospitality Kevin Quinn. “The 1863 Club, with its sweeping views of Saratoga Race Course, is ideally suited to host events of all shapes and sizes during the off-season.”

Mazzone Hospitality will oversee catering operations at the venue.

The post Saratoga’s 1863 Club Available for Off-Season Events appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Crowd Capacity Increased at Irish Racecourses From Sept. 6

Irish racecourses can host up to 50% of their outdoor capacity beginning on Sept. 6 following the Irish Government's latest COVID-19 response roadmap, Horse Racing Ireland announced on Thursday. Racecourses may also utilise 60% of their indoor capacity for hospitality purposes should attendees consume food and beverages indoors as long as they provide evidence of their Digital Covid Vaccine Cert (DCC). Attendance in both spheres will be increased to 100% as long as all covid restrictions are lifted on Oct. 22.

Regarding Irish Champions Weekend on Sept. 11 and 12, tickets for both cards go on sale on Sept. 3 for racegoers who have registered their interest ahead of time, with the remaining tickets going on general sale on Monday. Leopardstown and The Curragh will each be allowed to host a maximum of 4,000 attendees. Both days will be mixed outdoor events and access to indoor spaces is allowed with proof of a vaccine required for those consuming food and beverages indoors. The seven-day Listowel Harvest Festival from Sept. 19-Sept. 25 will host a maximum of 2,000 attendees per day and it is an outdoor-only event.

Brian Kavanagh, Chief Executive of Horse Racing Ireland, said: “It has been a very difficult 18 months for everybody in society, and racing can be proud of the way it has come through it. However, without racegoers, racing has been missing one of its essential ingredients.

“Like many industries, there is still much work to do, but there is now real progress and forward steps to normality. Welcoming back racegoers in measured but increasing numbers, is one of those steps and from Monday, Irish racecourses will be free to use 50% of their capacity to allow racegoers back on the track in real numbers.

“And as we know, this good news comes just in time for some of our most important race meetings: the Longines Irish Champions Weekend at Leopardstown and the Curragh on Sept. 11 and Sept. 12, and Listowel's Harvest Festival which begins on Sunday, Sept. 19.

“I would like to thank all our customers for their patience and look forward to race meetings becoming just that again–a place where racegoers can meet each other in a safe environment and enjoy our great sport.”

Tim Husbands, Chief Executive of Leopardstown Racecourse, said, “It is great news, and I can't tell you how happy and relieved the whole Leopardstown team is to be finally selling tickets and getting ready to welcome people back racing. We've been working hard for quite some time on making the racecourse a safe and pleasurable place for people to enjoy comfortably in these unique times.”

Evan Arkwright, Chief Executive (Interim) Curragh Racecourse, added, “We were thrilled to hear the positive news earlier this week which will now allow us to welcome back a significant number of attendees for Longines Irish Champions Weekend.”

The post Crowd Capacity Increased at Irish Racecourses From Sept. 6 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

O’Conner Has High Expectations For 2-Year-Old You Look Cold In Monday’s Sorority

There's a unique sense of excitement that consumes even the most grizzled of trainers when they have a promising young horse just starting out. Or, as veteran conditioner Rob O'Connor II put it: “Nobody ever dies when they have a good 2-year-old.”

O'Connor hopes to know Monday if he does indeed have a good one in You Look Cold, sending her out in the $200,000 Sorority Stakes for 2-year-old fillies that will serve as the feature race on the Labor Day card at Monmouth Park.

The early indications have already caused some giddiness: You Look Cold, a Pennsylvania-bred daughter of Frosted-Lucky Draw by Lookin at Lucky, ran off the screen in her debut on Aug. 7, cruising to a 6½-length victory in Maiden Special Weight company at Monmouth Park.

Now comes the next step and next test.

“It's always ambitious when you go from breaking your maiden to a stakes race,” said O'Connor. “But most everybody is in the same situation.

“In her first start we actually thought she was the horse to beat (You Look Cold won at odds of 6-1). She has shown a lot of potential. We're very excited about her. She's got the look, she's got the temperament and she does everything right.”

Owned by Kinsman Stable and FLI Racing, You Look Cold faces the added challenge of going two turns for the first time in the 66th edition of the one-mile Sorority after winning her debut at six furlongs.

The 62-year-old O'Connor, who has been training since 1985, isn't overly concerned about the added distance, calling it part of the growth process.

“If you look at her training format going into the race she has shown some speed in all of her works,” O'Connor said. “I've really tried to back up on her and get her to relax. So we've tried to concentrate on that.

“We haven't put any real speed works into her. With that being said, her fitness is not in question. She is plenty fit.”

O'Connor said the Sorority Stakes became an appealing option as the next race in part because You Look Cold is stabled at Monmouth Park.

“Mrs. Jessica Steinbrenner and her group, along with Christian Black, are the owners of the horse. We talked about moving forward and what our options would be,” said O'Connor. “They want to give her the opportunity to be a good horse.

“Saratoga was a possibility. We discussed it and felt it was in the best interests of her development to let them come to our home track and she could walk out of her stall and race. We felt it would be an advantage to us.”

O'Connor, who has been based at Monmouth Park the past three years, is keeping his plans short-term for You Look Cold, waiting to see how she responds to her next challenge on Monday.

“She thinks she's a pretty good horse and she acts like a good one,” he said. “Every horse in the race is really going into new territory, so we'll see how it plays out. But I can tell you we're very excited about her potential.”

 

The post O’Conner Has High Expectations For 2-Year-Old You Look Cold In Monday’s Sorority appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Keeneland To Host Fall Meet Job Fair On Sept. 18

Keeneland kicks off its Fall Meet hiring campaign to fill more than 2,000 positions with a Job Fair on Sept. 18 and a recurring series of Hiring Center events during September that invite candidates to “Share the Tradition” by joining the track's seasonal team.

Among the staffing needs for the Fall Meet, which runs Oct. 8-30, are positions in Admissions, Concessions, Culinary, Guest Services, Parking and Security, Track Maintenance and other areas.

Apply in person at the Job Fair or Hiring Center or on Keeneland.com/jobs

On-site interviews for all positions will be conducted at the Job Fair and at the Hiring Center. Because employment offers may be made on the spot, candidates are asked to bring two forms of identification to these events.

A Job Fair will be held Saturday, Sept. 18 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. ET at the Keeneland Entertainment Center. Applicants who attend will be treated to a preview of Keeneland's new Fall Meet concession offerings, including gourmet ice cream from Lexington's Sav's Restaurant and a variety of hot dogs, among them the Hawaiian Dog and the Trifecta Dog.

On-the-spot hiring is possible for those who apply in person at the Hiring Center, located on the second-floor Grandstand, where interviews will be conducted Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. beginning Sept. 7 and running through Sept. 30.

Positions also are listed on Keeneland.com/jobs for candidates to apply any time.

“Keeneland's seasonal workforce is invaluable to our race meet operations,” Keeneland Director of Human Resources John Greene said. “There are many diverse opportunities to be part of the Fall Meet fun, enjoy consistent hours, earn extra money and work with a quality hospitality and operations team.”

Keeneland's seasonal employees, who come from some 168 cities in 60 Kentucky counties and 26 states as far away as California, represent a unique Kentucky tradition. It is not uncommon for several generations of the same family to be employed during a race meet and for an exceptional employee to obtain a full-time position.

[Story Continues Below]

Keeneland offers seasonal employment in a variety of areas for the Fall Meet.

Keeneland Hospitality provides food and beverage service for the entire Keeneland campus, including the Clubhouse, Grandstand, concessions and Track Kitchen, and has opportunities for people with all levels of culinary, wait staff and host experience. Candidates, who may be seeking additional income, will receive the opportunity to gain valuable culinary and dining experience while training directly under talented chefs.

The majority of positions offered during race meets are entry level and do not require any formal training or education. These jobs can be a good fit for active people who are interested in a seasonal position that can lead to other opportunities and for those who are looking for a short-term opportunity to be part of a Kentucky tradition, a fun atmosphere and earn additional income.

Team members who are employed the entire Fall Meet typically work 40 paid hours each week and will receive paid training prior to the start of the race meet. Seasonal employees are paid on a weekly basis and will receive 50 percent off meals in Grandstand concessions and a 30-percent discount on merchandise at The Keeneland Shop.

Keeneland is welcoming back racing fans at full capacity this fall while remaining committed to the safety of our employees and guests. The track continues to monitor local and national health guidelines as they pertain to COVID-19.

At a Glance: Hiring events for Keeneland's Fall Meet

Applicants asked to bring two forms of identification to these events:

  • Hiring Center – Tuesdays and Thursdays, Sept. 7-30 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; second-floor race track Grandstand (take Elevator B from ground floor near Paddock).
  • Job Fair – Saturday, Sept. 18 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. ET, Keeneland Entertainment Center (enter Gate 1 on Keeneland Blvd., take first right on Entertainment Blvd.).

Candidates may apply online at any time at Keeneland.com/jobs.

In addition to outstanding seasonal employment opportunities, Keeneland is proud to support the community via its Volunteer Group program. The program enables fraternities, sororities, high school booster clubs, senior groups, charitable organizations and other certified groups that have a tax identification number to receive a contribution of $10 for every hour that one of their members works during the Fall Meet. Members of participating organizations might work in roles ranging from a server assistant in one of Keeneland's premier dining rooms to serving food and drinks at a concession stand or working as a parking attendant.

If your group is interested in applying for one of these select opportunities, please click here.

The post Keeneland To Host Fall Meet Job Fair On Sept. 18 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights