June, 2022 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Pioneering New Virtual Reality Experience Debuts At Sandown’s Coral Summer Festival

A pioneering virtual reality experience will give racegoers at next week's Coral Summer Festival at Sandown Park (Friday, July 1, and Saturday, July 2) the chance to experience exactly what it is like to ride a racehorse over the same course and distance as one of the world's elite Flat races, the Group 1 Coral-Eclipse, for the first time.

The new Virtual Race Experience is a collaboration between JockeyCam Ltd and Coral, whose support of the Coral-Eclipse is the longest-running sponsorship of any Group race in the world.

Fans at the Coral Summer Festival will be given VR headsets to wear, offering a 360-degree jockey's eye-view to get them closer than ever before to the cut and thrust of a race at one of the UK's most popular venues.

The footage was captured from a “race” which was organized, staged and filmed by Coral and JockeyCam at Sandown Park on May 27th over the same 10 furlongs which some of the world's best horses will compete over in next Saturday's (July 2nd) Coral-Eclipse.

With many of the same conditions in place as the actual race itself, seven runners were ridden by current jockeys, all wearing 360-degree high-definition cameras mounted on their helmets, with RaceTech operating the starting stalls and Tony Ennis providing commentary.

When watched back on VR headsets, users are able to look in whichever direction they want in order to see in front, to the side and even behind them, as if they were riding a horse in real life.

Up to seven racegoers will be able to take part at the same time, each 'riding' a different horse.

Simon Clare, Coral PR Director, said: “Coral and JockeyCam are working together to get racing fans even closer to the action of this amazing sport than ever before.

“The 360-degree camera technology is just incredible and delivers the most realistic and intense experience of riding a racehorse over the exact same course and distance of the Coral-Eclipse which Coral has proudly sponsored since 1976, making it the longest-running sponsorship of any Group race in the world.

“In line with our long-term commitment to race sponsorship in the UK, which stretches back to the early 1970s, we want to get as many people as possible closer to the action and will be taking the Virtual Race Experience to all our race sponsorships throughout the next couple of years.”

Sam Fleet, CEO of JockeyCam Ltd, said: “Most people have kicked a football or whacked a tennis ball but very few people have ridden a horse, let alone a racehorse.

“With the Virtual Race Experience it's our intention to show what it's like to ride in a race. It means people can feel really engaged with the sport and understand just how challenging a jockey's job is.

“The fact that it's 360-degrees should make it a really incredible experience for people who are having a go, and being able to race 'against your friends' makes it even more special.

“We're very grateful to all those behind the scenes who have made it happen, not least to Coral for supporting the initiative.”

Sarah Drabwell, Interim General Manager of Sandown Park, said: “This is a fantastic and innovative way of engaging everyone from racing fans to those experiencing the sport for the first time.

“Coral and JockeyCam have put a huge amount of resource and expertise into making this the most realistic experience available for anyone who has ever wondered what it's like to ride a racehorse.

“We're sure the Virtual Race Experience will prove a big hit at the Coral Summer Festival and we're delighted that Coral has chosen to introduce the concept for a race they have sponsored for 46 years.”

Racegoers will be able to take part in the Virtual Race Experience on both days of the Coral Summer Festival, which begins with Ladies Day on Friday 1st July when the Style Awards returns to Sandown Park.

Staged for the first time since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, prizes on offer include Coast and House of Cavani vouchers, a VIP experience at Sandown Park and champagne and flowers.

Racegoers can also enjoy a Q&A session with a panel of inspirational sportswomen including Olympic gold medal-winning event rider Laura Collett and leading showjumping coach and mentor Mia Palles-Clark.

The panel will take to the stage at Sandown Park to discuss a range of topics including mental resilience, with a particular emphasis on their achievements in their individual disciplines.

After the seven race card has concluded there will also be evening entertainment, with a DJ set from actor and TV presenter Denise Van Outen.

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NTRA Encouraged By Adoption Of H-2B Relief Language In Appropriations Bill

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) is pleased that the House Appropriations Committee adopted critical H-2B relief language in fiscal year '23 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Appropriations Bill.

The language would provide cap relief at a reasonable time during peak season, which would greatly help business related to the Thoroughbred industry.H-2B workers fill many backside positions that are vital to the day-to-day operations of racing stables across the country.

“Everywhere I go I hear how labor is nearly impossible to find,” said NTRA President & CEO Tom Rooney. “It is so important for the Thoroughbred industry to get backside positions through the H-2B visa program. I am encouraged by the committee's inclusion of the H-2B relief language and NTRA will continue to engage with lawmakers to find a permanent solution.”

On Friday, June 24, 2022, the House Appropriations Committee adopted an amendment that would extend the current discretionary language that allows for an extension of the cap for FY '23 on H-2B visas. If it becomes law, the Secretary of Homeland Security will be required to issue guidance implementing this section no later than 60 days after enactment and will be immediately effective upon its publication.

House leaders hope to have a full vote on this spending bill in July and if passed it would then move to the Senate for consideration. In addition, following the relief language adoption, unions expressed a commitment to work with lawmakers as well as industry to try and negotiate a permanent cap solution beginning in July.

The H-2B visa guest worker program is a nonimmigrant visa program used by many industries that need temporary non-agricultural help when domestic workers are unavailable. For the horse racing industry, trainers rely heavily on the H-2B program to fill various backside positions.

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Colonial Downs Barn Area Opens Ahead Of 2022 Meet

Horse vans filled with some of the nation's top Thoroughbreds rolled through the barn gates Monday morning in preparation for the 2022 Colonial Downs Racing presented by Woodford Reserve – “More Racing, More Money and More Fun,” meeting, which opens Monday, July 11.

Now in its fourth year under the management of the Colonial Downs Group and ownership of Peninsula Pacific Entertainment, Colonial Downs will offer a record of more than $600,000 in daily average purses for its 27-day meeting, highlighted by an expanded stakes schedule and increased purses in open races, and for Virginia-bred, sired, and certified horses.

Racing will be conducted every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday through Sept. 7. Daily first post time is 1:45 p.m. ET.

Colonial Downs will have a full complement of 850 horses occupying 14 barns on its backstretch this year.

Among the first horses to arrive were those under the care of trainer Larry Rivelli, who has transferred his summer operation from the Midwest to Colonial Downs.

“I've never stabled at Colonial before and I'm excited to be racing there,” said nine-time Arlington Park leading trainer Larry Rivelli, whose stakes-winning 4-year-old Like a Saltshaker was the first horse to come off the van. “I hope we do well there and keep up the success we've had the last nine years in Chicago.”

Representing the start of the local contingent of Virginia-based trainers, horses trained by Doug Fout and Karen Godsey, also were amongst the first arrivals.

“It's going to be a great meet,” Godsey said. “You've really got to run now and have the horsepower but luckily there is a great Virginia-restricted stakes and Virginia-bred program in place. The money they're giving away is attracting the elite horses and horsemen out there.”

Trainers for the 2022 meet also include Graham Motion, winner of both the 2019 and 2021 editions of the Virginia Derby (G3), leading money-earner Michael Trombetta, Hall of Fame conditioner Steve Asmussen, Dallas Stewart, Mike Tomlinson, Carlos Munoz, Mike Stidham, Hamilton Smith, and Michelle Lovell. Last year, Smith bested Lovell 10-9 for the overall meet trainer's title.

“It's going to be a great meet,” Godsey said. “You've really got to run now and have the horsepower but luckily there is a great Virginia-restricted stakes and Virginia-bred program in place as well. The money they're giving away is attracting the elite horses and horsemen out there.”

“We couldn't be more pleased with the excitement and enthusiasm shown by our dedicated horsemen and women eager to get started for what promises to be another successful race meet,” said Jill Byrne, Colonial Downs Vice President of Racing Operations. “Trainers around the country are arriving to take advantage of our high daily average purses, two state of the art racing surfaces, and a horse friendly beautiful stable area.”

Colonial continues to be one of the nation's most horsemen-friendly racetracks, proven by its innovative meet-long horsemen incentives branded as “Every Race, Every Day.” As a bonus, once again, all owners will be guaranteed $1,000 per start or their share of the purse money, and all trainers will receive $300 per start as recognition for loyal participation every race, every day.

As an additional benefit to horsemen, maiden special weight (MSW) races during the meeting will carry a $60,000 purse.

The $300,000 New Kent County Virginia Derby (G3) for 3-year-olds and the $200,000 Virginia Oaks for 3-year-fillies, both on Sept. 6, once again highlight the stakes calendar.

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Nearly 75 Percent Of Veterinarians Concerned That Frequent Injections Could Cause Joint Damage

Joint inflammation and osteoarthritis (OA) are common issues in competition horses. These conditions often lead to decreased performance and lameness.

Veterinarians can treat OA via joint injections, which involve placing drugs directly into the joint capsule. Some drugs commonly used include corticosteroids, polysulfated glycosaminoglycans, and hyaluronic acid. Biologic therapies like platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and stem cells can also be used.

Vets determine which drugs to use and how often to administer them based on their clinical experience; this is often guided by anecdotal evidence rather than scientific findings. This lack of direct comparisons between treatment options means there are no guidelines for how often a joint should be injected – or for which treatment is best.

The AAEP surveyed its membership in 2019 to better understand how vets were administering joint injections. The results were presented at the 2021 AAEP Annual Convention. Dr. Gustavo Zanotto of Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and Dr. David Frisbie, of Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine co-authored the study.

The survey had 407 vet respondents, many of whom worked with Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racehorses, as well as Warmbloods. The duo determined that nearly 75 percent of vets were concerned that treating equine joints too frequently would damage the articular cartilage.

The majority of vets said that the joints can be injected every 6 months, while 30 percent said that the joints can be injected every 3 months.

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Triamcinolone and methylprednisolone were the drugs most often injected into both high- and low-motion joints, respectively. Nearly three-quarters of the vets believed that triamcinolone contributes to laminitis, though there is no research to support that this drug increases laminitis risk in healthy horses.

Over 55 percent of vets said they used an antibiotic when injecting joints, an increase since a study asked the same question in 2009. The main reasons treating veterinarians cite for antibiotics use is poor environmental conditions and the use of corticosteroid injections. This is concerning as the veterinary field continues to battle antibiotic resistance, Zanotto said. Currently, there is no evidence that corticosteroid joint injections increase the risk of infection or that the environment in which joints are injected contribute to infection.

Though joint injections are common, there is a lack of evidence-based guidelines regarding their frequency or recommended doses.