January, 2022 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Doug O’Neill Fined $5,000 In Settlement Agreement With CHRB

Trainer Doug O'Neill has been issued a $5,000 fine by the California Horse Racing Board pursuant to a settlement agreement, according to a stewards' ruling dated Dec. 31, 2021. The fine was issued for failing to post five “detention stall signs” at Los Alamitos on July 5, 2021, and is listed is a violation of CHRB Rule #1845 (c)(2)(A) (Authorized Bleeder Medication).

The original complaint was filed on Oct. 22, stating that investigators received a tip that a horse from O'Neill's barn that had already been entered in a race may have received illegal medication. Investigators at Los Alamitos inspected the barn on July 5 and discovered the unidentified horse did not have a sign on its stall door indicating it was running within the next 24 hours.

Assistant trainer Sabas Rivera told investigators he had treated the horse the previous day with oral pastes called Bleeder Shield and Un-Lock, which meant they had been treated within 24 hours of race time.

Un-Lock is marketed as a supplement containing amino acids and electrolytes to reduce muscle fatigue and prevent tying up. Bleeder Shield purports to contain the Chinese herb Yunnan Baiyao to prevent exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage. Neither product is approved by the Food and Drug Administration because the FDA does not inspect or approve dietary supplements for horses or humans. California rules do allow the administration of oral pastes like these, but not within 24 hours of a race.

In 2013, O'Neill appeared before California stewards after a barn foreman administered an amino acid paste to runner Cinco de Mario, who was entered to run within 24 hours. Cinco de Mario was subsequently scratched from the race. At the time, O'Neill said the foreman made a mistake and was meant to give the paste to a horse in the next stall who was more than 24 hours out from a race. At the time, the trainer also said he would time the administration of oral supplements like that one 25 to 30 hours out from a horse's race, because he believed they could still be effective in that window without violating the rules. He received a $1,500 fine in that case.

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GISW Maracuja Arrives at Oaklawn, Targets Apple Blossom

GI CCA Oaks winner Maracuja (Honor Code), who arrived at Oaklawn Park New Year's Day, is expected to target the Apr. 23 GI Apple Blossom S., according to trainer Rob Atras. Based primarily in New York, Atras will be represented by a small string of runners at Oaklawn for the first time this winter.

“It's kind of the first time I've kind of really, officially, opened up a second string,” Atras said. “Obviously, in the summer we have to split our string up in Saratoga and Belmont, but this is the first time I've had a string out of state.”

Maracuja made seven starts in 2021, including a second in the GIII Gazelle S. in April at Aqueduct before besting Eclipse favorite Malathaat (Curlin) in the CCA Oaks. She also ran seventh in the GI Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs and later concluded her sophomore campaign with a fourth-place finish in the Sept. 25 GI Cotillion S. at Parx.

“It could be the [GII] Azeri [S. Mar. 12] or it could be something else,” said Atras of the 4-year-old's next start. “I'm not exactly sure yet. We're just going to kind of see how things go. She got a real light breeze before she left, so we're kind of just starting up with her. She had a few months off at the farm in Kentucky. She had been galloping here in New York for a month, with a light breeze, and so we're just kind of starting to get her back going again. So, we don't have an exact time frame with her yet.”

Atras, who currently has 45 horses training in New York with an additional five at Oaklawn, indicated he may send a couple of more to the Hot Springs oval and could be “a little bit active” at the claim box. Jesse Sauder, an exercise rider who recently received his assistant trainer's license, will oversee Atras's Arkansas division.

“Last year, I got a few horses out of Arkansas that came up here and we did well with them,” Atras said. “I had a few ideas. One was to, potentially, claim some horses to bring back to New York and another idea was to send a filly that won the Oaks, CCA Oaks, Maracuja, down and have her train down there and then, hopefully, run a couple of times. As things came together, I had a couple of horses that I didn't really have spots for up here, or I had trouble getting them in the right spot, so it kind of worked out well to send them down there.”

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Economic Indicators: U.S. Wagering Tops $12 Billion In 2021 For Highest Total Handle Since 2009

Equibase, North American racing's official database, on Wednesday released its 2021 statistics for the industry's economic indicators, including field size, wagering, and other data, along with 2019 and 2020 comparables. The 2019 data is included as a pre-COVID-19 comparison.

Total handle on U.S. races in 2021 topped $12 billion, reaching the highest figure since 2009. That number represents an 11.86 percent increase over wagering in 2020 ($10.9B), and an increase of 10.74 percent compared to 2019 ($11B).

By comparison, the 2009 wagering total of $12.3 billion came from a total of 49,368 races. The 2021 wagering totals were from 33,567 races, a 32 percent decline in the number of races.

“Against an extraordinarily difficult backdrop, the resiliency of Thoroughbred racing was on full display in 2021 as we concluded the year with significant growth in purses and total handle of more than $12 billion, the highest since 2009,” said Tom Rooney, president and chief executive officer of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association. “We thank our customers for their ongoing support as their wagering dollars continue to fuel our industry. As we turn the page to 2022, we look forward to the beginning of a new era for U.S. Thoroughbred racing with the launch of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) and an even greater focus on equine safety and welfare and the integrity of America's oldest sport.”

Race days and starts both increased over 2020, which is expected after the pandemic shut down much of the U.S.'s live racing last year, but average field size showed a decline of 7.2 percent from 2020 to 2021. Over the same period, despite an increase of 10 percent in average purses per race day, average wagering per race day showed a 9.29 percent decline.

As compared to the pre-pandemic year of 2019, however, average wagering per race day showed an over 20 percent increase in 2021 as the number of race days fell by 7.98 percent. That's despite the average field size dropping from 7.53 in 2019 to 7.37 in 2021.

Total purses showed the largest percentage increase from 2020 to 2021, up 35.77 percent and 10.09 percent per race day.

Overall, the numbers suggest the horse racing industry is recovering from the pandemic, but also that it is struggling to retain field size as foal crops have declined in numbers.

YTD 2021 vs. YTD 2020
Indicator	YTD 2021	YTD 2020	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$12,218,407,637	$10,922,936,290	+11.86%
U.S. Purses	$1,180,853,677	$869,771,206	+35.77%
U.S. Race Days	4,072	3,302	+23.32%
U.S. Races	33,567	27,700	+21.18%
U.S. Starts	247,416	220,006	+12.46%
Average Field Size	7.37	7.94	-7.20%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$3,000,591	$3,307,976	-9.29%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$289,994	$263,407	+10.09%

1st Half 2021 vs. 1st Half 2020
Indicator	1st Half 2021	1st Half 2020	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$6,279,039,094	$5,054,526,907	+24.23%
U.S. Purses	$515,151,692	$324,168,648	+58.91%
U.S. Race Days	1,881	1,301	+44.58%
U.S. Races	15,792	10,906	+44.80%
U.S. Starts	117,303	88,074	+33.19%
Average Field Size	7.43	8.08	-8.02%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$3,338,139	$3,885,109	-14.08%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$273,871	$249,169	+9.91%

2nd Half 2021 vs. 2nd Half 2020
Indicator	2nd Half 2021	2nd Half 2020	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$5,939,368,543	$5,868,409,383	+1.21%
U.S. Purses	$665,701,985	$545,602,558	+22.01%
U.S. Race Days	2,191	2,001	+9.50%
U.S. Races	17,775	16,794	+5.84%
U.S. Starts	130,113	131,932	-1.38%
Average Field Size	7.32	7.86	-6.82%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$2,710,803	$2,932,738	-7.57%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$303,835	$272,665	+11.43%

4th QTR 2021 vs. 4th QTR 2020
Indicator	4th QTR 2021	4th QTR 2020	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$2,720,738,901	$2,576,392,869	+5.60%
U.S. Purses	$300,299,698	$240,534,957	+24.85%
U.S. Race Days	870	793	+9.71%
U.S. Races	7,339	6,805	+7.85%
U.S. Starts	56,789	55,530	+2.27%
Average Field Size	7.74	8.16	-5.17%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$3,127,286	$3,248,919	-3.74%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$345,172	$303,323	+13.80%

December 2021 vs. December 2020
Indicator	December 2021	December 2020	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$808,907,627	$751,783,126	+7.60%
U.S. Purses	$74,777,035	$57,534,410	+29.97%
U.S. Race Days	251	229	+9.61%
U.S. Races	2,151	2,008	+7.12%
U.S. Starts	17,257	16,884	+2.21%
Average Field Size	8.02	8.41	-4.59%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$3,222,740	$3,282,896	-1.83%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$297,916	$251,242	+18.58%

2019 Comparisons:

YTD 2021 vs. YTD 2019
Indicator	YTD 2021	YTD 2019	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$12,218,407,637	$11,033,824,363	+10.74%
U.S. Purses	$1,180,853,677	$1,167,920,667	+1.11%
U.S. Race Days	4,072	4,425	-7.98%
U.S. Races	33,567	36,207	-7.29%
U.S. Starts	247,416	272,553	-9.22%
Average Field Size	7.37	7.53	-2.08%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$3,000,591	$2,493,520	+20.34%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$289,994	$263,937	+9.87%

1st Half 2021 vs. 1st Half 2019
Indicator	1st Half 2021	1st Half 2019	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$6,279,039,094	$5,672,774,271	+10.69%
U.S. Purses	$515,151,692	$544,002,132	-5.30%
U.S. Race Days	1,881	2,104	-10.60%
U.S. Races	15,792	17,457	-9.54%
U.S. Starts	117,303	130,239	-9.93%
Average Field Size	7.43	7.46	-0.44%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$3,338,139	$2,696,185	+23.81%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$273,871	$258,556	+5.92%

2nd Half 2021 vs. 2nd Half 2019
Indicator	2nd Half 2021	2nd Half 2019	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$5,939,368,543	$5,361,050,092	+10.79%
U.S. Purses	$665,701,985	$623,918,535	+6.70%
U.S. Race Days	2,191	2,321	-5.60%
U.S. Races	17,775	18,750	-5.20%
U.S. Starts	130,113	142,314	-8.57%
Average Field Size	7.32	7.59	-3.56%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$2,710,803	$2,309,802	+17.36%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$303,835	$268,815	+13.03%

4th QTR 2021 vs. 4th QTR 2019
Indicator	4th QTR 2021	4th QTR 2019	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$2,720,738,901	$2,439,642,344	+11.52%
U.S. Purses	$300,299,698	$274,053,649	+9.58%
U.S. Race Days	870	910	-4.40%
U.S. Races	7,339	7,653	-4.10%
U.S. Starts	56,789	61,576	-7.77%
Average Field Size	7.74	8.05	-3.83%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$3,127,286	$2,680,926	+16.65%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$345,172	$301,158	+14.61%

December 2021 vs. December 2019
Indicator	December 2021	December 2019	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$808,907,627	$707,728,171	+14.30%
U.S. Purses	$74,777,035	$66,315,581	+12.76%
U.S. Race Days	251	252	-0.40%
U.S. Races	2,151	2,169	-0.83%
U.S. Starts	17,257	17,561	-1.73%
Average Field Size	8.02	8.10	-0.91%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$3,222,740	$2,808,445	+14.75%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$297,916	$263,157	+13.21%

The post Economic Indicators: U.S. Wagering Tops $12 Billion In 2021 For Highest Total Handle Since 2009 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Franco Tests Positive for COVID-19

Jockey Manuel Franco tested positive for COVID-19 Tuesday and will remain off his mounts until Sunday, Jan. 9. All members of the New York Racing Association jockey colony are vaccinated and adhere to established protocols. In addition, the jockey quarters at Aqueduct have been substantially altered to provide maximum physical distancing and reduce density. Franco has not experienced symptoms and was proactively tested because of standard contact tracing following the positive tests of jockeys Jorge Vargas, Jr. and Jalon Samuel Dec. 31. Vargas and Samuel will be permitted to ride Jan. 6, at Aqueduct provided they are asymptomatic following five days in isolation.

NYRA follows the most updated federal and state guidance regarding contact tracing, testing, required isolation, and quarantine. Accordingly, Franco will be permitted to return to competition Jan. 9, should he remain asymptomatic.

In accordance with New York City requirements, anyone seeking to enter Aqueduct Racetrack in any capacity must demonstrate proof of COVID-19 vaccination. Facemasks are always required on NYRA property.

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