Month: June 2022

Ellis Park Celebrates Centennial Meeting In 2022

Kentucky's summer home for racing will celebrate 100 years in 2022. The 23-day meet at Ellis Park in Henderson, Ky., will begin July 8 and conclude August 28, with live racing conducted Friday through Sunday. First post time will be 12:50 PM ET.

The 8-week schedule includes an ample amount of both dirt and turf racing for horses of all levels, with 14 stakes races indicated in the initial condition book.

“One of the things that makes this track so special is our unique location, which makes our racing surface one of the most forgiving there is. We've seen Ellis Park, year after year, provide a starting point for promising 2-year-olds, most recently the 2022 Kentucky Derby winner, Rich Strike,” said Ellis Park General Manager, Jeff Inman.

Ellis Park, originally Dade Park, was built in 1922 by the Green River Jockey Club. The 1 1/8 mile track opened the gates for the first Thoroughbred meet on November 18, 1922. In 1954, the track was renamed to honor Dade Park's longtime owner, James C. Ellis. Several famous horses have raced over the track at Ellis Park, including Kentucky Derby winners Behave Yourself (1921), Black Gold (1924), Bubbling Over (1926), Burgoo King (1932) and Brokers Tip (1933).

More recently, the Ellis Park graduate list has grown to include the 2016 Breeders' Cup Juvenile runner-up and leading sire, Not This Time, and 2021 Horse of the Year, Knicks Go, trained by 2020 and 2021 Ellis Park leading trainer, Brad Cox.

“In addition to the horses, what I hear most about our track is the impact it has on racing fans who came here with their grandparents, and their children, and eventually their grandchildren. It's the sense of family that truly makes Ellis Park unique. In that spirit, we wanted this historic milestone to celebrate that feeling of family and community,” Inman noted.

This year, loyal guests of Ellis Park can enjoy reduced ticket prices in every venue area, including the Sky Theater, Clubhouse and Grandstand Boxes.

Inman added, “Field & Main Bank is sponsoring our annual Family Fun Day this year. And we're bringing back our famous Weiner Dog Races, an event I am asked about every time I am in public.”

Field & Main Family Day on July 9, will feature free Family Day t-shirts for the first 50 kids, face painting, a jockey autograph signing with posters, and a 100-Year Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at 2 PM. For enthusiasts of the Ellis Park Weiner Dog Races, qualifying heats will be held on July 16 before the finals on August 27. Registration is now live at https://ellisparkracing.com/racing/2022-wiener-dog-races

Heroes Weekend will be July 22-24 and include First Responder Day, Veterans and Humana Golden Gamesters Day. College Day, sponsored by the Kentucky HBPA, will host giveaways for college students on July 31. On August 20, Charity Day, guests can bring a can of food for the Tri-State Food Bank, or other local charity, in exchange for a free program. Tickets can be purchased on-site in the Admissions office during regular business hours or online at https://ellisparkracing.com/admissions

Visitors can get a close-up experience with the horses and horsemen with the Sunrise Trackside Program. Enjoy breakfast and view the morning workouts every Friday from 6 – 9 AM for the duration of the meet. The Ellis Park gift shop will once again offer the much-beloved “Ellis Relish”.

“We wanted to honor our own Ellis family, as well. This year, we lost three icons whose impact on racing cannot be measured. Cowboy Jones, Jeff Hall, and Don Haas will all be honored for their contributions. Each of them helped Ellis Park to get to this historic point and they will not be forgotten,” said Inman.

As tribute, the race schedule will include a Memorial Race for Don Hass, The $75,000 Jeff Hall Memorial Stakes (6.5 furlongs for 3-year-olds and up) and The $60,000 R.A. “Cowboy” Jones Overnight Stakes (1 mile for 3-year-olds and up).

Over last 100 years, the 204-acre facility, located in Henderson, KY, has endured monumental flooding, barn fires and tornado damage. But through it all, Ellis Park has remained steadfast, a fixture in both the racing community and the hearts of fans. The centennial race meet will celebrate the storied history of the track, a continuation of commitment to racing, and signify an exciting new era at Ellis Park.

The post Ellis Park Celebrates Centennial Meeting In 2022 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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‘You Spend Your Whole Life Waiting For A Horse Like This’: All Baaeed In Queen Anne

Baaeed cemented his position as the world's highest-rated racehorse with a straightforward success in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes at Ascot.

Sent off the 1/6 favorite for the opening contest of the Royal Meeting, the unbeaten son of Sea The Stars made it all look very straightforward under Jim Crowley, coming away from runner-up Real World to give trainer William Haggas a first Queen Anne Stakes success.

There were no anxious moments for anyone that took the short odds about Baaeed, who settled well enough behind the front-running Real World down the middle of the track, before Crowley pressed the 'go' button just over a furlong out.

The response was fairly immediate and, although Baaeed didn't pull away in the closing stages, he was always keeping his rivals at bay. Real World was a length and three-quarters behind at the line, with Order Of Australia four lengths further back in third.

The win earned Baaeed an expenses-paid berth to the Breeders' Cup Mile this November at Keeneland.

William Haggas said: “I thought Baaeed won nicely. He didn't do a lot really. I need to see it again, but he looked like he tracked the right horse, the second horse [Real World], and won very well. He was not extended really.

“He travels well and settles well. That is a really important part if we are going to go further. I will speak to Sheikha Hissa and Angus Gold, but I think we are all quite keen to give it a go [step up in trip] and that will be at York. It's whether we slot Goodwood in, in the meantime. It's potentially Goodwood next.

“He is obviously a good miler and is bred to get further. I think we'd like to try it and I think it would be remiss of us not to. The easy option is to stay at a mile, but I think we will give it a go. He relaxes really well and he is good – he'd be more interesting in a July Cup!”

Jim Crowley said: “It doesn't get any easier than that. Everything went smoothly. Baaeed got a lovely tow into the race, the ground is beautiful, and I just let him stretch out for the last furlong of the race. It was like clockwork.

“There is a big crowd here today and he is just so relaxed. He has a great mind. Real World stays further and I thought they would go forward. I had a nice bit of cover and could go when I wanted to go. It was just the perfect race really.

“When he moved up at the two-pole, there was never any doubt. I was always pretty confident. He's a very easy ride and I'm not tied down to riding him a certain way – he's got a great temperament.

“It's the pinnacle. You spend your whole life waiting for a horse like this to come along. Everyone says to enjoy it, but there is a lot of pressure. But I love it and I enjoy it. It's why we do it.

“Sheikh Hamdan would be looking down smiling and I'm so pleased that Sheikha Hissa is here today. William and Maureen Haggas have done an unbelievable job with him and it is a pleasure to get on him and do the steering.

“Baaeed will have sterner tests ahead, we know that. He is just doing everything perfectly at the moment. He gallops out very well over a mile and has a serious turn of foot over a mile – it's unnatural really. I don't see 10 furlongs being a problem.

“This horse is a superstar. I'm sure we'll keep testing him, but I'm pretty sure he'll keep finding. You wait a lifetime for a horse to come along like this. The only way I can explain the feeling is when you go to the funfair and you're waiting in the queue for a fast ride, that's the feeling before you get on him. Once you're on him and away it's great – I really enjoy it. He's a pleasure to ride.”

Saeed bin Suroor said of Real World: “Baaeed is different class, it is the same result as at Newbury in the Lockinge. Real World ran well, he was just beaten by a better horse. He is getting closer, but not close enough!

“I am thinking about a mile and a quarter, maybe the Eclipse in two weeks. I would be keen to run him, but I need to see how he comes back from here. Maybe also the Juddmonte after.”

Danny Tudhope added: “Real World is probably the best miler I have ridden, and then we have to bump into Baaeed!

“He has done nothing wrong and I am pretty sure that his Group 1 is just around the corner. He is versatile, he is a good horse.”

The post ‘You Spend Your Whole Life Waiting For A Horse Like This’: All Baaeed In Queen Anne appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Tasleet’s Bradsell Best In The Coventry

Becoming the first of the TDN Rising Stars to emerge successful at Royal Ascot in 2022, Victorious Racing Limited's Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}–Russian Punch {GB}, by Archipenko) conquered a host of talent to win the G2 Coventry S. under Hollie Doyle. Keen initially from her draw in the centre, the Archie Watson-trained £47,000 Goffs UK Breeze-Up graduate tracked Royal Scotsman (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) to two out and after taking over soon after forged away for a 1 1/2-length verdict over Persian Force (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), who edged Royal Scotsman by a neck for second.

 

The post Tasleet’s Bradsell Best In The Coventry appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Al Shira’aa Racing To Sponsor Irish EBF Oaks Trial At Naas

Al Shira'aa Racing, headed by Sheikha Fatima Bint Hazza Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, will sponsor the Listed Al Shira'aa Racing Irish EBF Oaks Trial at Naas Racecourse on Wednesday, June 22. Prize-money for the 10-furlong contest will be increased to €52,500.

Kieran Lalor, General Manager of Al Shira'aa Racing, said, “When Eamonn [McEvoy] approached us with the opportunity to sponsor the Oaks Trial, the boss was delighted to get on board, especially with the fact that the race, in a relatively short period of time, has already translated into Oaks success with the Ger Lyons-trained Even So (Ire) (Camelot {GB}).

“It is an important feature on the calendar and is always very competitive. It's proven now if your filly can win this race, she can win the Oaks, so this is also a target we have for our own racing stable. It is a good opportunity to support Irish racing and these Classic distances are our primary focus at Al Shira'aa Racing.”

The post Al Shira’aa Racing To Sponsor Irish EBF Oaks Trial At Naas appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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