June, 2022 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Canterbury’s Randy Sampson Named Jockeys And Jeans 2022 Person Of The Year

Randy Sampson, CEO and Chairman of Canterbury Park, has been named Jockeys and Jeans' 2022 Person of the Year. Sampson is a member of the Jockeys and Jeans organizing committee and has been helpful in advising it to track relations and fundraising. The track he and his family own in Shakopee, Minn., hosted the 2018 Jockeys and Jeans Fundraiser, raising $268,000. Sampson will accept the award at its eighth annual fundraiser on July 2 at Churchill Downs.

“Of course, I am truly honored,” he said “But there are likely some out there who more deserve the recognition. But it is not about recognition, it's about the opportunity to speak for and help disabled former riders.”

Jockeys and Jeans, an all-volunteer group founded by five former jockeys, has raised over $2 million for Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund. Jockeys and Jeans President, Barry Pearl termed Sampson, “a Godsend,” saying: “Not only has he and the track been major contributors, he is roll up your sleeves type of guy who not only knows how to get a lot of things done but is willing to spend the time to get them done.”

Sampson has been the guiding force of Canterbury Park since purchasing the Minnesota racetrack in 1994 with his father Curtis Sampson and Dale Schenian. He served as CEO since 1994 and Chairman since 2020. Under his leadership the Canterbury Park team has revived live horse racing in Minnesota and earned a reputation for innovative ways to attract large crowds and create a family friendly atmosphere. Canterbury also operates a card casino and hosts a wide variety of special events keeping the facility active year-round.

The track gives back 5% of pre-tax profits annually, mainly through the Canterbury Park Minnesota Fund. Sampson, his family and Canterbury Park, have long supported problem gambling organizations, the Racetrack Chaplaincy, the PDJF and recently Jockeys and Jeans. A strong supporter of the now defunct Don MacBeth Memorial Fund, Sampson founded the Leg Up program that provides funding for jockeys injured at Canterbury Park.

He said one of his most vivid memories is running to the track and standing beside a medical helicopter when his long-time friend, jockey Scott Stevens, was severely injured. Jockeys Anne Van Rosen, Paul Nolan and Quarter Horse jockey Tad Leggett, while not injured at Canterbury Park, rode regularly there before they suffered racing injuries that left them in wheelchairs.

“I think all tracks have an obligation to help,” he said. “People like Paul Nolan now live in a rest home and your heart has to go out to them. The sacrifices they made make them the heroes of our sport and we need to help them as we continue to work on the safety issues that hopefully will help us avoid those accidents.”

Fifteen Hall of Fame Jockeys, including 12 who have won 17 Kentucky Derby's and two of the five living Triple Crown winners, are scheduled to attend Jockeys and Jeans at Churchill Downs and honor eight of their fallen brothers and sisters. It will be held July 2, the spring meeting's final day when Grade 2 Stephen Foster Stakes is run. It begins at 11:00 a.m. in the track's Triple Crown Room, with tickets $75 on sale on Ticketmaster at https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/16005B5CAD1637A6?did=jockey and can be accessed at www.jockeysandeans.com and on the track's website. There will be a live auction of a host of rare racing memorabilia as well as silent auction. The riders, including those permanently disabled, will sign special autographed posters and other memorabilia brought by fans at a special signing in the grandstand.

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Track Superintendent Field Day Concludes With More Focus On HISA

Track Superintendent Field Day wrapped up on Tuesday at Gulfstream Park with a second day of speakers and panels and an increased focus on the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA). More than 100 track supers and staff from around the country were in attendance.

“We know that budgets are tight, travel can be difficult and everyone is busy, so it was gratifying to see so many track supers here,” said Roy Smith, track superintendent at Horseshoe Indianapolis and founder of the event first held in 2002. “The information and networking at this meeting are invaluable.”

HISA was a topic of discussion on Monday, and the federal regulations set to take effect on July 1 again took center stage on Tuesday as the subject of a panel with Glen Kozak, senior vice president, operations and capital projects for NYRA; Jamie Richardson, track superintendent at Churchill Downs; and Dr. Mick Peterson, director of the Racetrack Safety Program and professor of biosystems and agricultural engineering at the University of Kentucky.

“No matter what we do today, there's always more we can do tomorrow,” said Kozak, who is a member of HISA's Racetrack Safety Standing Committee. “There are some great minds in this room.

“This is evolving; this is the first step,” added Kozak while addressing concerns from track supers about increased record-keeping requirements under HISA. “If there are things that don't pan out right, there will be adjustments.”

Also on Tuesday, Dr. Dionne Benson, chief veterinary officer for 1/ST Racing, gave a presentation about working with racetrack and regulatory veterinarians to improve horse safety.

Retired jockey Aaron Gryder, now vice president, industry relations for 1/ST Racing, and current jockeys Chantal Sutherland and Romero Maragh comprised a jockeys' panel that discussed the HISA rules affecting riders, especially regarding the use of the riding crop and the limit of six strikes in a race.

“This game is gradually changing and it's important that we give the public a positive image of racing, and a lot of people don't like the idea of the crop,” said Sutherland. “It's a major issue for a lot of people.”

“It's going to take some time for jockeys to get used to it, but we can't make excuses,” added Gryder. “These are the rules that are going to be in place.”

Tony Martinez, track superintendent at Gulfstream and host of the event, lead a panel that included discussion of the Florida's tracks turf course renovation and Tapeta surface. Dr. Carlos Aponte, senior veterinarian at Gulfstream Park, covered on-track emergency response, focusing on the horse ambulance, equipment and procedures. Tim Fredericks of Fredericks McGuire Ltd. discussed turf irrigation design, and a roundtable discussion for track supers only was also held.

“With HISA on the horizon, Track Superintendent Field Day is more important than ever,” said Steve Andersen of Equine Equipment, which is the title sponsor and organizer of the event. “Track supers work long hours to ensure our sport is as safe as possible, often with little recognition, so this gathering is vital for them to share information and ideas so we can all work together for the greater good of the industry. This was a tremendous event, and we are very thankful that Gulfstream Park was such a gracious host.”

More information about Track Superintendent Field Day is available at www.tracksupers.com.

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The Major Talking Points From Day One at Royal Ascot

And breathe. As starting dishes go, few have been tastier than what Ascot served up on day one of the royal meeting, with promise of more to come later in the week.

From bargain buy Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) bolting up in the G2 Coventry S. to Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) disappointing in the G1 King's Stand S., there were a huge amount of talking points to emerge from day one. Brian Sheerin examined the big takeouts from a pulsating day's action.

Bradsell the Best Result Imaginable

You would be doing well to buy a horse to win a races at any level in Britain or Ireland for just 12,000gns and, the fact that the brilliant Coventry S. scorer Bradsell once went through the ring for that paltry sum should offer an incentive to everyone who has ever flirted with the idea of getting involved in racehorse ownership.

Bradsell, bred by Deborah O'Brien who has developed the family for generations, was offered on her behalf by Bearstone Stud and sold to Highflyer Bloodstock for just 12,000gns at the Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale in September 2021.

By first-season sire Tasleet (GB), Bradsell was subsequently sold for £47,000–again a relatively small figure–by Mark Grant to Blandford Bloodstock at the Goffs Breeze-Up Sale in April.

Arguably one of the most impressive juvenile winners of the season when winning on debut at York, Bradsell confirmed the impression he left that day was completely correct by storming to Ascot glory, the win made all the more memorable for the fact that Hollie Doyle was in the saddle.

It shouldn't be forgotten that Bradsell's trainer Archie Watson, who lost the G1 Commonwealth Cup last year in the stewards' room after first-past-the-post Dragon Symbol (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}) was deemed to have inconvenienced Campanelle (Kodiac {GB}), was securing his second win at the royal meeting after sending out Parent's Prayer (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) to score in 2021.

It is one of the captivating aspects of racing that, no matter how much money you throw at the game, it doesn't equate to success and the victory of Bradsell, in a stallion-making race, shows that everyone has a chance.

Maljoom Another Top Miler in the Making

Tongues were sent wagging, and rightly so, after Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) sauntered to G1 Queen Anne S. glory while Coroebus (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) got out of trouble in the G1 St James's Palace S., and it will be fascinating if both colts lock horns in the G1 Sussex S. later this summer.

However, Maljoom (Ire) (Caravaggio) should not be forgotten about with a view towards top honours over a mile this season, as he hardened his reputation in defeat behind Coroebus, enduring a luckless passage to fly home for fourth.

Another stride or two, and the case could be made that Maljoom would have won and, for all that his trainer William Haggas would have been hugely disappointed not to win the St James's Palace, he left Ascot in no doubt that he has another top miler in his stable.

Like his stablemate Baaeed, Maljoom didn't grace the track until his 3-year-old campaign, and the rate at which he has improved from each start to the next has been nothing short of phenomenal.

This is a horse who won the G2 German 2000 Guineas on just his third start and, if he can show the same improvement as he did from Cologne to Royal Ascot as he can between now and his next start, he will need to be respected wherever he lines out in the future.

It was also notable in the St James's Palace that New Energy (Ire) (New Bay {Ire}), trained by Sheila Lavery, ran a similar race to his second-place showing in the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas in that he travelled extremely well up to a point. He looks as though he'll be better back over seven furlongs and the G1 Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly next month looks the most obvious race for him.

Looking ahead, Charlie Appleby will not want similar tactics to unfold for Coroebus again and it could be the case that Godolphin run a pacemaker for him in the Sussex.

Bay Bridge Boost

Bay Bridge (GB) (New Bay (GB) looked a potential top-notch older horse in the making when winning on his reappearance at Sandown and Dubai Future (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) provided believability to what Sir Michael Stoute's 4-year-old achieved in the G3 Brigadier Gerard S. by bolting up in the Listed Wolferton S.

Dubai Future was no match for Bay Bridge at Sandown, finishing 11 lengths off Stoute's hugely exciting colt back in fourth, but he paid a handsome compliment to that form in running out a convincing winner of the penultimate race on Tuesday for Saeed bin Suroor.

Bay Bridge is a short-priced favourite to provide Stoute with his fifth G1 Prince Of Wales's S. on Wednesday and it wouldn't be a huge surprise to see those odds contract further into a shade of odds-on given what Dubai Future achieved.

Callum Hutchinson Clinches Opportunity

It is one thing to be given an opportunity to showcase your talents on the biggest stage of them all and something altogether different in being able to take advantage of it. Nobody could accuse Callum Hutchinson of not doing just that.

One of just a handful of claiming riders to be in action on the opening day of the royal meeting, Hutchinson was exemplary aboard Coltrane (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) in the Ascot S. and even had time to celebrate a stride or two before the line.

The most impressive aspect of the ride was that Hutchinson had to fight for a gap two furlongs down when the door was almost closed in his face.

In doing that, and galvanising Coltrane to record a memorable success, Hutchinson rewarded the faith entrusted in him by Andrew Balding. He's certainly a rider going places.

Golden Pal Can Bounce Back

What did we learn from Nature Strip (Aus) (Nicconi {Aus}) setting fire to the Ascot turf in the King's Stand S.? That the Australian-based sprinters are on a completely different planet.

Another major talking point of the race was the performance of Golden Pal (Uncle Mo), who gave himself no chance at the gates by breaking slowly, eventually trailing home last of the 16 runners.

There was a huge amount of confidence behind Golden Pal, possibly fuelled by his trainer Wesley Ward's comments in the build-up to the race, and it was fascinating to see him usurp Nature Strip as the clear favourite before the off.

Of course, it's not the first time that Golden Pal has failed to fire in Europe, having fluffed his lines in the G1 Nunthorpe S. last season.

The fact remains that this is one of the fastest horses in the world and, while he is clearly not best suited by the straight courses in Europe, he remains a potent force in his homeland and should not be underestimated for some of the major sprints in America later in the year. He can bounce back from this.

It should also be noted that fellow Chris Waller-trained sprinter Home Affairs (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}) shortened up considerably for the G1 Platinum Jubilee S. on Saturday. Anyone on the double will be sitting pretty.

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Redvers: ‘Haziya our Best Chance but Mangoustine the one we Want Most’

David Redvers, racing manager for Qatar Racing, has put forward Wednesday's Kensington Palace S. favourite Haziya (Ire) (Le Havre {Ire}) as being Sheikh Fahad's best chance of having a winner at Royal Ascot, but revealed the week will be defined by how G1 French 1000 Guineas heroine Mangoustine (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) performs in the G1 Coronation S. on Friday.

Mangoustine carried former NBA star Tony Parker's black and white silks to victory in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches at ParisLongchamp last month and Redvers, who bought the filly as a yearling for just €46,000, is looking forward to seeing how she performs later in the week.

Along with Parker, the Mikel Delzangles-trained Mangoustine is owned by Monceaux Stud and Qatar Racing and, despite being available at odds as big as 10-1, she is expected to put up a bold show in what is shaping up to be one of the races of the week.

Redvers said, “It could be one of the races of the week. If the ground gets very quick, perhaps it will cut up a little, as there is a lot of talk that the Irish Guineas winner [Homeless Songs (Ire) (Frankel {GB})] won't run if the ground is too fast. It's a hell of a contest.”

He added, “We bought Zotilla (Zamindar), the dam of Mangoustine, in partnership with Lordship Stud and Monceaux at the Arqana December Sale in 2014. She was a lovely mare, very athletic, and possibly a little bit hot temperment-wise, but she had the most amazing action.

“We then sold her because Henri [Bozo]'s model for Monceaux is a good one in that, if they [mares] are not producing winners, he just outs them. That's why Zotilla was sold.

“But this filly [Mangoustine] was an absolute beauty and we decided to buy her back up to a certain level because we had to buy out Lordship Stud who weren't interested in racing her.

“We bought out Lordship and Henri made a deal with [trainer] Frederic Rossi. Shortly after that, it was decided to bring in Tony Parker as a partner, because the filly was so nice and everyone is so keen for his operation to have a good horse. It all worked quite well.”

To say it has worked well is an understatement. Parker, one of the most successful basketball players of the modern era, brings a new fanbase to the sport and the decision to put him into Mangoustine has proved an inspired one.

Redvers said, “It's been great. Nobody can ever imagine the way these things will work out and we'd all be lying if we knew we were steering Tony into a Guineas winner. We knew she was a lovely filly with a proper pedigree and by a proper sire. She's a hugely exciting race filly and equally exciting broodmare prospect.”

Moungoustine was moved to Mikel Delzangles earlier this year after her previous trainer, Frederic Rossi, lost his licence. Delzangles, best known in Britain for his exploits with G1 2000 Guineas winner Makfi (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), endured a period in the wilderness but Mangoustine's Guineas win represented a new dawn for the yard.

Redvers said, “It's well documented that Frederic lost his licence and we needed to find another trainer. Luckily, everyone agreed on Mikel, as he had done an amazing job for us in the past so luckily it has all come full circle.

“By his own admission, he was in the doldrums for a little while, but it's fantastic to see him back. Not only is he a master trainer, he's also a complete gentleman, and we really felt for him during the period when his horses weren't terribly healthy.”

He added, “Whatever problem held them back before, they seem to be over that, and it's great to see Mikel back to his glory days. It's wonderful to see all of his horses running well again and we're looking forward to Mangoustine this week.”

Mangoustine may be the one that matters most but, according to Redvers, the Joseph O'Brien-trained Haziya is Qatar Racing's best chance of a winner this week.

He said, “We were looking at horses who had serious chances in some of the races and she stood out. I've got to say, she was a shrewd acquisition by Joseph in November [cost just €36,000 at Goffs] so hopefully she might win. She is probably our best chance of a winner for the entire week.”

On the rest of their team, Redvers said, “Emotion (GB) (Frankel {GB}) runs in the G2 Queen's Vase. She's a homebred who won by half the track at Kempton. She got found slightly wanting at Goodwood, where she didn't really handle the conditions, but Ascot will play to her strengths.

“We're partners in Silencer (Ire) (Kessaar {Ire}), who is a breeze-up horse we bought with James Harron. Hopefully he'll be able to give the Australians a bit of fun in the Windsor Castle. Friday is really our big day with Mangoustine. She's the one we're all really excited about.”

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