December, 2021 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Economic Indicators: Record Breeders’ Cup Handle Leads Slight Wagering Increases In November

Equibase, North American racing's official database, released Monday its November 2021 statistics for the industry's economic indicators, including field size, wagering, and other data, along with year-to-date and 2019 and 2020 numbers. The database distributes 2020 and 2021 numbers and includes 2019's data for comparisons to pre-COVID-19 pandemic numbers.

Led by a record handle at the Del Mar-hosted Breeders' Cup World Championships on Nov. 5 and 6 ($183,260,127, a two-day record for the championship event), November's total wagering numbers were up 7.40 percent over the same month in 2020. Part of the reason for the increase could be the return of in-person attendance to the Breeders' Cup, which was severely restricted at Keeneland in 2020.

When Del Mar last hosted the Breeders' Cup in 2017, it posted a then-record handle of $166,077,486. The new mark is 10.4 percent higher than that.

Compared to 2019, this November's handle was only 0.62 percent higher, though average wagering per race day sustained a solid 12.04 percent bump between November of 2019 and November of 2021.

Though purses and race days are both up over 25 percent from the same month in 2020, average daily wagering saw a sharp decrease of 17.33 percent, while the year-to-date figures for average wagering are also down nearly 10 percent. That contrasts sharply with the numbers from 2019, which put average wagering up over 20 percent from the first 11 months of 2019 to the same period in 2021.

The discrepancy could be explained by the increased attention horse racing experienced during the harshest months of the pandemic in 2020; this year's return to a more normal sports schedule and in-person activities could definitely play a role in where wagering dollars have been spent.

November 2021 vs. November 2020
Indicator	November 2021	November 2020	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$961,813,331	$895,546,532	+7.40%
U.S. Purses	$117,678,625	$92,095,830	+27.78%
U.S. Race Days	291	224	+29.91%
U.S. Races	2,440	1,945	+25.45%
U.S. Starts	18,782	16,236	+15.68%
Average Field Size	7.70	8.35	-7.79%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$3,305,200	$3,997,976	-17.3`3%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$404,394	$411,142	-1.64%

YTD 2021 vs. YTD 2020
Indicator	YTD 2021	YTD 2020	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$11,409,728,296	$10,171,153,164	+12.18%
U.S. Purses	$1,106,048,142	$812,236,796	+36.17%
U.S. Race Days	3,821	3,073	+24.34%
U.S. Races	31,415	25,692	+22.28%
U.S. Starts	230,147	203,122	+13.30%
Average Field Size	7.33	7.91	-7.34%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$2,986,058	$3,309,845	-9.78%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$289,466	$264,314	+9.52%

2019 Comparisons:

November 2021 vs. November 2019
Indicator	November 2021	November 2019	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$961,813,331	$955,843,009	+0.62%
U.S. Purses	$117,678,625	$115,756,315	+1.66%
U.S. Race Days	291	324	-10.19%
U.S. Races	2,440	2,730	-10.62%
U.S. Starts	18,782	21,839	-14.00%
Average Field Size	7.70	8.00	-3.78%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$3,305,200	$2,950,133	+12.04%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$404,394	$357,273	+13.19%

YTD 2021 vs. YTD 2019
Indicator	YTD 2021	YTD 2019	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$11,409,728,296	$10,326,096,192	+10.49%
U.S. Purses	$1,106,048,142	$1,101,605,086	+0.40%
U.S. Race Days	3,821	4,173	-8.44%
U.S. Races	31,415	34,038	-7.71%
U.S. Starts	230,147	254,992	-9.74%
Average Field Size	7.33	7.49	-2.21%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$2,986,058	$2,474,502	+20.67%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$289,466	$263,984	+9.65%

* Includes worldwide commingled wagering on U.S. races.

The post Economic Indicators: Record Breeders’ Cup Handle Leads Slight Wagering Increases In November appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Appleby Named Flat and International Trainer of the Year

Trainer Charlie Appleby was named the 2021 British Champion Flat Trainer at the Horserace Writers & Photographers Awards (HWPA) Derby Awards at the Royal Lancaster in London on Monday evening. The 46-year-old was also named the Champion International Trainer, sponsored by the International Racing Bureau.

The retained trainer for Godolphin based at Moulton Paddocks in Newmarket, Appleby celebrated 17 Group/Grade 1 victories internationally in 2021, including five British Group 1s, four QIPCO British Champions Series races and a trio of Breeders' Cup victories. The Trainers' Championship runs from New Year's Day to New Year's Eve every year, and is based on prizemoney won in that period. Currently, Apple's prizemoney is £4,888,314 through Sunday, Dec. 5 before the UK's cards began on Monday. He is £570,507 ahead of Andrew Balding.

He sent out runners to win at the highest level in Canada, France, Ireland and the United States in 2021. Some of his best winners in 2021 include G1 Derby and G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. hero Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), G1 Irish Derby, G1 St Leger, and G1 Grand Prix de Paris victor Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), who won a brace of juvenile Group 1s.

Appleby said, “It's huge for myself and the team at Moulton Paddocks. Most importantly, from the get-go back in 2013, we set our stall out on what we'd like to try to achieve and that was getting the success back into Godolphin and getting the big race winners on the board, while also taking on stallions and broodmares to bolster the future.

“We began growing steadily with winners and then the nicer horses started to come into the yard. Thankfully, we've been able to make the most of it. The success over the last three to four years has improved year on year after a breakthrough year in 2018 with Masar (Ire) winning the Derby and Cross Counter (Ire) winning the G1 Melbourne Cup.

“Going into the start of this season we were confident our 3-year-olds had wintered well as 2-year-olds, but like everyone in the spring you're trying to get a feeling of what you're dealing with. We felt early doors that our middle distance horses were coming to the fore and on the evidence of the trials we were very competitive. We went on to win the Derby, the Irish Derby, the King George and ended up with the St Leger on British soil, so we really did tick all the boxes.”

Creative Force (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) captured the G1 British Champion Sprint S. for Appleby, who added, “I'd have to say the King George win gave us the most satisfaction this year. We were very lucky to win the Derby again, but to repeat history in terms of Adayar going on to win the King George, which hadn't been done in 20 years, that was a very proud moment for the team. A lot of people here at Moulton Paddocks took a lot of pleasure from that.”

Overall, Appleby has had 113 domestic winners, at a strike rate of 29%, and 196 places in 2021 from 389 runs.

Newmarket-based jockey Buick, retained rider for Appleby and close runner-up in this year's Flat Jockeys' Championship, said, “It's a fantastic achievement for Charlie and very well deserved. I feel very privileged to be working so closely with him and the great team at Moulton Paddocks and Godolphin. Charlie's management of his horses and team has been a pleasure to witness and his CV as a young trainer is outstanding. Many congratulations Charlie.”

Charlie's wife, Aisling, said, “As a family all five of us are very proud of Charlie and this award. He may have missed a few Pony Club meets and bath times but this makes it all worthwhile.”

Hugh Anderson, Chief Operating Officer at Godolphin (UK and Dubai) said, “Everyone at Godolphin is delighted for Charlie and very proud of his success this season. It has been a superb year for Godolphin and he has led the charge with his handling of superstars like Adayar, Hurricane Lane and Native Trail as well as his exceptional campaigning across the Atlantic and elsewhere. He fully deserves the accolade of champion trainer and now joins the greats of the sport. We couldn't be happier for him and his whole team.”

Appleby's trio of Breeders' Cup winners were: Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the GI Juvenile Turf, Space Blues (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the GI Mile and Yibir (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the GI Turf. That threesome joined earlier Grade I winners at Woodbine among his outstanding season of international scorers: Albahr (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the GI Summer S., Wild Beauty (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the GI Natalma S. and Walton Street (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) in the GI Pattison Canadian International S.

Adrian Beaumont said, “It has been an amazing year for international racing, especially given the extra protocols caused by Covid. British based trainers have won major races in Bahrain, Canada, Dubai, Saudi Arabia and the States as well as throughout Europe. It is remarkable that John and Thady Gosden won the world's richest race, the Saudi Cup with Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), but didn't win our award due to Charlie Appleby's stellar season.”

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Medina Spirit Collapses, Dies After Santa Anita Workout

This year's Kentucky Derby first-place finisher Medina Spirit collapsed and died after a workout at Santa Anita Park on Monday morning, the California Horse Racing Board's Equine Medical Director Jeff Blea confirmed. Trained by Bob Baffert, the 3-year-old son of Protonico had just completed five furlongs in 1:01.40 in his second work since finishing second in the Breeders' Cup Classic.

“I spoke to the attending veterinarian, and when they got to him on the track he had already expired,” said Dr. Blea, former American Association of Equine Practitioners president, speaking from the AAEP convention in Nashville, Tenn. “Not sure where on the track it happened but it was post wire.

“I will have them draw blood and pull hair and will try and get urine for testing. He'll go out to UC Davis in San Bernardino, for a full and
comprehensive necropsy including toxicology, forensics and tissue sampling. We will take a close look at the heart to try and identify the cause of death.”

The colt's Derby win remains in jeopardy due to a positive post-race test result for betamethasone, a therapeutic medication that is not allowed on race day. The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has not yet held a hearing, required to disqualify Medina Spirit, but on Friday attorneys for Baffert released a statement claiming that tests conducted by a New York laboratory have “definitively confirmed” Medina Spirit tested positive for a corticosteroid not through an injection but because of an ointment used to treat a skin rash.

Medina Spirit was bred in Florida by Gail Rice, mother of Eclipse Award finalist Taylor Rice (apprentice jockey) and mother-in-law to top jockey Jose Ortiz, out of the Brilliant Speed mare Mongolian Changa. The mare failed to produce milk when Medina Spirit was first born, and Rice had to turn to her only other broodmare, Scribbling Sarah, for assistance. The young Medina Spirit thrived, and his own mom started producing milk several hours later.

Unfortunately, Rice's divorce forced the sale of Medina Spirit as a yearling. He brought the bottom-dollar bid of $1,000 at the OBS Winter Mixed sale in early 2019.

Bloodstock agent Gary Young saw the 2-year-old Medina Spirit at the 2020 OBS July sale, and recommended the purchase to Amr Zedan, who was able to purchase the colt for $35,000.

Medina Spirit won the G3 Bob Lewis, then underwent throat surgery after a sound defeat in the G2 San Felipe. The colt rebounded to run a good second in the G1 Santa Anita Derby before heading to Louisville.

Medina Spirit has run four times since his Kentucky Derby win, finishing third in the Preakness Stakes and recording victories in the Shared Belief Stakes and the Grade 1 Awesome Again. Overall, the colt's record includes five wins, four seconds and a third from 10 starts, with earnings of $3,545,200.

Baffert had been aiming Medina Spirit at the Saudi Cup in February.

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Medina Spirit Dies of Apparent Heart Attack at Santa Anita

by Bill Finley & Dan Ross

Medina Spirit (Protonico) died of an apparent heart attack following a five-furlong workout Monday morning at Santa Anita. The colt's owner, Amr Zedan, confirmed the news to TDN.

The incident happened after Medina Spirit completed a five-furlong workout in 1:01.40.The breeze took place at about 7:45 a.m. PT.

“I just heard. He had a heart attack,” Zedan said. “It was quick and he didn't suffer. It's unfortunate. In a moment like this there is not much that we can do. All I can say is that he gave us the ride of our lives and brought everyone together. We are mourning this loss, Bob [Baffert], myself, our team and Johnny [Velazquez], as well. We are all very sad.”

California Horse Racing Board Equine Medical Director Jeff Blea said after watching a video of the breeze that there were signs of trouble near the conclusion of the workout.

“He looked like he was struggling the last part, and the rider was pulling him up,” Blea said.

Blea added that by the time a track veterinarian reached Medina Spirit, the 3-year-old colt had already died.

It was Medina Spirit's second work since he finished second in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic.

“We had such high hopes for him and so many plans,” Zedan said. “We were going to go to the Saudi Cup and possibly to Dubai. We wanted to campaign him all next year. The last thing I expected was to hear something like this. It is God's will.”

Throughout Medina Spirit's racing career, Zedan has stood by Baffert and continued to do so Monday.

“We have a great team and Bob is an amazing friend and an amazing trainer,” he said. “This unfortunately happens sometimes. I have full confidence in my team and in Bob. Unfortunately, this happens.”

As per usual in California, Medina Spirit will now undergo a full necropsy examination. A panel of experts will also conduct a review of the fatality.

When asked if he believed there were any suspicious precipitating circumstances behind the sudden death, Blea responded in the negative.

“Absolutely not. We'll address this like we do all our fatalities, try to find out the reason for it and how to prevent it in the future,” Blea said. “But at this point, there is nothing that's untoward that I'm concerned about.”

Monday's news was the latest and most tragic twist during a career filled with dizzying highs and lows.

Medina Spirit was sold for just $1,000 as a yearling and later for $35,000 as a 2-year-old at the OBS July 2-Year-Old Sale. After breaking his maiden in his lone start at two, Medina Spirit won the GIII Robert Lewis S. before finishing second in both the GII San Felipe S. and the GI Santa Anita Derby. Dismissed at 12-1, he led every step of the way to cross the wire a half-length in front in the GI Kentucky Derby.

Afterward, however, it was revealed that he had tested positive for the medication betamethasone. That led Churchill Downs to issue a two-year suspension to Baffert, which, as things now stand, will keep him out of the 2022 and 2023 Kentucky Derbies. The New York Racing Association has also attempted to ban Baffert. Its case against him has yet to be resolved.

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