Month: March 2022

With a twist that expands a bonus package for maidens running at Del Mar this summer, the track will enrich purse earnings by 25 percent for qualified runners of any age who compete in a maiden dirt race during the seaside oval's 83rd season.

Previously, the maiden bonus was known as the Juvenile Bonus and limited to 2-year-olds only over the past three years, but the new arrangement opens it up to any age maiden running in a straight maiden test, a California-bred straight maiden affair or a maiden-claiming race at the $62,500 level or above on dirt.

There are two special provisos that go with the enhancement: the race must be run on dirt and the maiden must come from the barn of a trainer who has no more than 60 horses stabled in Southern California.

“When competing in our higher-end dirt maiden races we want to monetarily encourage owners and trainers to run in these races to help bolster our dirt program,” said Tom Robbins, Del Mar's executive vice president for racing.

The bonus applies to horses that earn purse money from first through fifth in any of these races throughout the meet.

The track has enhanced its straight maiden purses this year from $70,000 to a California record of $80,000. Its high-end maiden-claiming races also have boosted purses: maiden-claiming $62,500 is now worth $46,000; maiden-claiming $80,000 offers a $50,000 purse, and maiden-claiming $150,000 goes for $57,000.

Del Mar officials noted that the track's popular “Ship & Win” program also has risen this year to a $5,000 starter fee and a 50% purse supplement for any of its dirt races. That sets up a potential jackpot scenario for a “S & W” straight maiden who would be running for $80,000 to start, then has a 50% supplement (or $40,000) added to that along with a 25% ($20,000) maiden bonus on top, all of which would lead to a robust purse of $140,000.

The track will be presenting its most lucrative season ever during its 31-day meeting with more than $25-million in purses resulting in an unprecedented daily average purse payout of more than $800,000 each afternoon. It also will offer its richest stakes schedule of all time with gross purses of $8,275,000 for its 34 major events.

Racing opens with a three-day weekend (July 22, 23, 24), then has five four-day weeks (Thursday through Sunday), a five-day week (including Labor Day Monday, September 5) and closes with a Friday-through-Sunday weekend (September 9, 10, 11).

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A 7.4 magnitude earthquake off the coast of northern Japan has caused the Japan Racing Association to announce the closure of the Park WINS Fukushima Racecourse from March 19 (Sat.) through March 21 (Mon.), due to damage to the facility and concerns for customer safety.

In addition, in order to allow for thorough inspection of the racecourse facilities, the Fukushima race meetings on April 9 (Sat.) and April 10 (Sun.) will be cancelled.

On these two days, there will be racing at both Nakayama Racecourse and Hanshin Racecourse.

“We wish to express our sympathies to all those affected by the earthquake originating off the coast of Fukushima Prefecture on March 16 (Wed),” the JRA said in a statement. “Further announcements regarding business operations at Park WINS Fukushima Racecourse after March 26 (Sat.), as well as race schedules at Fukushima racecourse after April 16 (Sat.), will be forthcoming.”

According to the Associated Press, the earthquake killed four people and injured 97 more. Over 2 million homes were without electricity, though it was restored quickly except for the hardest-hit homes in Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said that the earthquake occurred 56 kilometers (35 miles) below the sea and approximately 20 miles offshore. It triggered tsunami waves of approximately 11 inches.

An earthquake in that same region in 2011 with a magnitude of 9.0 triggered a 23-foot tsunami that killed more than 18,000 people, and the Fukushima Daiichi's nuclear reactors suffered meltdowns and radiation leaks. According to the New York Times, no nuclear reactor issues have been detected following Wednesday's quake.

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With major structural changes coming to horseracing regulation and a growing need for common integrity standards in other sports, the 2022 annual conference of the Association of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI) will focus on issues and details surrounding implementation of the US Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act. The confab will also identify needs associated with the expanded responsibility of many RCI Members involving regulation of sports betting.

The conference will kick off on Monday, April 11, 2022 in Lexington, Kentucky at the Lexington Griffin Gate Marriott.

Those interested in attending may register at www.arci.com.

With animal welfare a top priority, safety initiatives by regulators in California and the mid-Atlantic states that have shown considerable progress will be highlighted as will details of the soon to be implemented Racetrack Safety program of the newly formed Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority.

There will also be an open discussion about potential legal issues that may emerge as a result of the postponed implementation of the HISA anti-doping and medication program. Transparency in rule making will also be discussed as will the applicability of federal laws requiring open meetings and public accountability.

The conference kicks off on Monday with remarks from Kentucky Horse Racing Commission Chair Jonathan Rabinowitz, award winning racing analyst and commentator Donna Brothers, and ARCI Chair Robert Lopez. The opening session will be followed by a briefing on the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority entitled “What's Next.”

Panels will focus on successful results of equine welfare policies that have been implemented by the California Horse Racing Board and regulators working with the industry in the Mid-Atlantic states. Details of how the new HISA racetrack safety program will work will also be presented.

On Tuesday, Sports Journalist Tim Livingston, host of the groundbreaking Podcast “Whistleblower” will discuss his investigation into human sport and allegations that the NBA, through the assignment of certain referees, may have manipulated the outcome of games to favor teams that draw larger television audiences in order to generate additional revenue for the sport.

Prominent attorneys and experts will analyze possible legal issues that may arise from implementation of the HISA program as well as a briefing on the issues pending in federal court challenging the constitutionality of the HISA statute. Federal laws pertaining to transparency in the making of public policy will be discussed, particularly as to their applicability to the newly formed HISA.

Prominent industry leaders will discuss the future of horse racing and opportunities for small and mid-sized tracks to develop synergies with sport betting companies. Jurisdictions who have yet to authorize fixed odds wagering may find that approvals they have granted for simulcast exports may result in such wagers being accepted on contests in their jurisdiction without their knowledge.

The ARCI develops model rules and standards for clean sport, primarily horse racing and associated wagering. Since the legality of sports betting, the group has authorized staff to begin work to develop standards for human sport through a subsidiary Sports Betting Regulators Association (SBRA).

The annual ARCI conference attracts senior racing regulatory personnel from across North America as well as racing industry leaders representing thoroughbred, standardbred, quarter horse, horsemen, racehorse owners/breeders and veterinary organizations.

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