The Grade 1, $400,000 Bing Crosby Stakes is a “Win & You’re In” for the Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup Sprint this fall at Keeneland. The race drew an exceptionally well-matched field of 10 with six of the runners entering the race off a win or a narrow runner-up effort.
Month: July 2022
Belmont Park Fall Meet to be Held at Aqueduct Racetrack
The traditional fall meet at Belmont will instead be held at Aqueduct and kick off Sept. 15, the New York Racing Association announced Thursday. It is anticipated that racing will return to Belmont for the 2023 spring meet.
The switch to Aqueduct will allow NYRA to undertake the first phases of what could be a major renovation of Belmont Park. Tunnels have been constructed at Belmont that will give construction vehicles access to the infield. The tunnels will also pave the way for pedestrians to have access to the infield. According to a statement issued by NYRA, “the tunnels will serve as a conduit to the infield for commercial vehicles allowing NYRA to completely reconstruct the Belmont main track and its two turf courses.” In addition, the tunnels will provide NYRA with an opportunity “to consider the installation of a synthetic track in the future.”
NYRA officials have spoken often in recent years about a desire to make significant changes at Belmont, including ones that could make it feasible to some day close Aqueduct. That could include a rebuild of the massive grandstand, which would make Belmont a better fit to host the Breeders' Cup, which has not been run in New York since 2005.
“This investment in the future of Belmont Park will transform our racing operations and pave the way for a broader re-imagining of the facility,” Dave O'Rourke, NYRA President & CEO, said in a statement. “The shift to Aqueduct this fall will minimize the overall impact on the racing schedule, and ensure continuity for the Belmont spring/summer meet and Belmont S. presented by NYRA Bets. We appreciate the patience of our horsemen and fans as we enter this period of transition at Belmont, and look forward to an exciting fall at the Big A.”
According to NYRA spokesperson Pat McKenna, the current circumferences of the Belmont racing surfaces will not be changed.
The construction project will result in the closing of the main track and the turf courses at Belmont for training, starting with the conclusion of training on Aug. 7. Those tracks won't reopen until April of 2023. After a brief shutdown, the Belmont training track will re-open on Aug. 8 and will be the only outlet for regular training activities. Construction on the Belmont courses will begin following the conclusion of the 2023 Belmont Park spring/summer meet.
The New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (NYTHA) President Joe Appelbaum expressed his support for the project in the NYRA statement.
“NYTHA membership recognize the importance of modernizing Belmont Park and look forward to competing at a world-class Thoroughbred racing venue,” said Appelbaum. “We will continue to work closely with NYRA to reduce any burdens on horsemen created by the temporary closure of the main track at Belmont.”
Trainer Christophe Clement had mixed feelings about the impending changes.
“They are going to make Belmont Park even better, so this is exciting when you consider the future,” he said. “I think they are going to create an amazing Belmont Park when they are done.”
But Clement is not looking forward to what will be a major disruption to his training routines.
“This is very depressing because a guy like me trains mostly on the main track at Belmont and I work a lot of horses every weekend on the turf,” he said. “I adore Belmont Park as a racetrack, to race at and to train at. But I will have to adapt. That's just the way it is. We were aware of this. NYRA has been talking to us about this for about six months. We're just going to have to adjust.”
The Belmont-at-Aqueduct meet will run through Oct. 30 and will include 41 stakes races worth $9.9 million. The stakes season at Belmont-at-the-Big A will commence on Sept. 17 with the running of the $1-million GIII Jockey Club Derby and the $700,000 GIII Jockey Club Oaks. The Oct. 1 card will consist of four stakes, including the GI Woodward S. and the GI Champagne S. The Oct. 8 card will include the GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic and the GII Vosburgh, which has been shifted from six furlongs to seven furlongs. Six stakes were cut from the schedule, but none are graded stakes. The GII Kelso H., traditionally a prep for the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, has been shifted from late September to Oct. 29.
The good news for horsemen is that the Belmont-at-Aqueduct meet will offer significant purse increases with a particular focus on adding value to conditions impacting the broadest group of owners and trainers. Open allowance races will be run for six-figure purses while all claiming categories, New York-bred, and maiden races will enjoy purse enhancements. NYRA will also introduce a new bonus program to further reward horsemen for competing at the fall meet. The bonus will pay $500 to the owner and $500 to the trainer of any horse finishing outside of the top three in his/her first fall start provided the most recent start was during the 2022 summer meet at Saratoga Race Course. Stakes races at Aqueduct do not qualify for the Belmont at the Big A bonus.
The capital improvement project will also include the installation of a synthetic Tapeta track on the quarter-mile Belmont “pony track.”
From 1963 through 1967, racing moved to Aqueduct after the Saratoga meet concluded as Belmont Park was being rebuilt.
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Aftercare, Promotion, and Communication Highlighted at OwnerView Conference
Edited Press Release
The need to ensure responsible ownership at all stages of a racehorse's life was a recurring theme at this week's Thoroughbred Owner Conference, which was held July 25-26 in the 1863 Club at Saratoga Race Course. The event, which attracted more than 100 attendees, was presented by the New York Racing Association (NYRA) and hosted by The Jockey Club and Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association.
The keynote address of the conference was delivered by Stacie Clark-Rogers, operations consultant for the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA). Clark-Rogers summarized the evolution of aftercare over the last 50 years and its increased prioritization among those involved in the Thoroughbred industry.
“These programs in my opinion are greatly undervalued, and we could be doing so much more to connect people with retired Thoroughbreds, and in return, promote the horse, the industry, and the sport of horse racing,” she said.
“If we have learned anything over the last 20 years of aftercare initiatives, we all need to work together in all aspects of this industry, not just so the aftercare groups can succeed, but so the industry can be more accountable and thus succeed as a responsible, ethical sport.”
Other topics of focus at the conference included buying at the sales, selecting a trainer, equine safety, partnerships, and international racing. The second day of the event featured a panel composed of a family of jockeys: Dylan Davis was joined by his sister Katie and her husband, Trevor McCarthy, with an appearance by Dylan and Katie's father, former jockey Robbie Davis.
Tony Allevato, chief revenue officer for NYRA and president of NYRA Bets, opened the conference by describing efforts NYRA has made to improve the racing and ownership experience. For example, during NYRA's racing coverage on Fox Sports, the production team makes it a priority to interview owners before and after each race.
“It's important for us as an operator to make the experience as good as possible,” he said. “If an owner thinks that there's a chance that they can get on national TV, we think that adds to the experience.”
The conference began with a reception at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, and attendees enjoyed the races at Saratoga on Wednesday.
“After being postponed for two years due to COVID-19, we were delighted to finally bring the Thoroughbred Owner Conference to Saratoga for the first time,” said Gary Falter, project manager for OwnerView. “Competing at Saratoga is a dream for any Thoroughbred owner and a fitting location for this conference, where we provide existing, new, and prospective owners the opportunity to learn about all aspects of owning racehorses while facilitating networking with the industry's most prominent names.”
Tom Durkin served as the master of ceremonies. Participants on the panels included owners Tina Bond, H. James Bond Racing Stable and Song Hill Thoroughbreds; Michelle Borisenok, Old Tavern Farm; Peter Brant; Terry Finley, West Point Thoroughbreds; Tom Gallo, Dream Maker Racing; Len Green, D.J. Stable; Jack Knowlton, Sackatoga Stable; and others.
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Hollie Doyle Guides Nashwa To Authoritative Nassau Victory
Nashwa (6/5F) confirmed herself as one of the best fillies of her generation by running away with Thursday's G1 Qatar Nassau Stakes under Hollie Doyle, the first female jockey to win the 10-furlong showpiece at Goodwood.
Having raced in last early on, Nashwa made ground smoothly to challenge on the outside of runners in the straight before stretching away in the final furlong for an authoritative 1 3/4-length success. Aristia (40/1) posted a career-best in second, with Lilac Road (15/2) third after meeting trouble in running.
Nashwa, who carried Doyle into the history books when winning the Prix de Diane last month, is a fifth win in the race for trainer John Gosden and his first in partnership with son Thady.
John Gosden said: “We were drawn nine and we didn't want to get caught on the outside with daylight. We have relaxed in last and what they've done is suddenly pull the pace up. If you look at the fractions, they did two 14 second furlongs in the middle, which is as slow as you can go. Coming from last made it tough on her as they are quickening down the hill, but Nashwa has got the class and, when the ground levelled off, she was happier. She is versatile to do that from off the pace. I think next time we might have to put a pacemaker in.
“She has won with a bit in hand, but she is a grand filly who is improving all the time. Her owner-breeder Imad Al Sagar keeps pictures of her and she has changed a lot this year alone. I think we will stay in against the fillies in something like the Prix de l'Opera. I don't want to rush taking on colts this year, maybe next year.
“We tried over a mile and a half at Epsom and she didn't quite get the trip. She has won the Diane and the Nassau, so you can never ask for more from a filly. She has got the frame to improve again in the autumn and next year.
“Hollie Doyle is a star. She has an incredible work ethic. As a rider, she is very savvy and strong with great balance. She has the most wonderful personality, and she is so applied and focused – she is a credit to anybody in any line of work.”
Doyle said: “It is pretty awesome. She gave me some feel. A change of tactics today from France, but it paid off. Nashwa is A1, you can't fault her.
“I rode her aggressively in France because we had a good draw and I wanted to hold my position. Today, in between her work from her previous run, she now knows what she is doing, so I didn't want to light her up and ride her from a pace angle. Mr. Gosden told me to ride her that way today.
“I came down the hill with a double handful. She travels very well, but she takes a while to hit top gear. I was conscious about keeping her balanced down the hill. This is her perfect trip. She has a high cruising speed and sees it out very well. She is push button and you can ride her anywhere, which is really nice.
“Nashwa is a horse of a lifetime and if it wasn't for Imad Al Sagar for giving me this opportunity, I might not have enjoyed days like this. Every Group One means a lot, so you've got to enjoy it while it lasts, because you get home tonight and you'll be back into work mode for the next day. You have limited time to enjoy these moments.”
Winning owner Imad Al Sagar said: “Nashwa is a homebred and I must admit that I am very emotional when it comes to her. She is my first Classic homebred and I am very proud of her. It is significant as this is the future broodmare for Blue Diamond Stud. The important part is that I own the family. Her dam Princess Loulou is now in foal to Frankel, carrying a filly which makes her a full-sister to Nashwa.
“Talking about the season, we knew from her two-year-old career that she was special, but how special we did not know. Since April, she has developed physically and mentally very quickly. She demonstrated those skills at Haydock and at Newbury in a Listed race. In the Oaks, she was beaten three and a half lengths and ran out of stamina. We were going into unknown territory, but in the French Oaks, she demonstrated a beautiful performance and now her second Group One in the Nassau.
“Our target will be the Prix de l'Opera on Arc day and then the Breeders' Cup for the Filly & Mare Turf. She has had a busy season and we don't want to overdo it.
“What I saw in Hollie is what she demonstrated today, but two years ago. Hollie is a gifted jockey, very intelligent and very dedicated. She has proved that today. I've said that gender should have nothing to do with it. Either you have it or you don't.”
Richard Hannon said of the runner-up: “I am delighted. Aristia is always a filly that runs massively above what you were expecting. For some reason she did not come in her coat until well after Ascot. We have got her back right and she looks a million. She ran a super race and we have got the rest of the season to look forward to.
“She has finished second to an extremely good filly. Everything is an option now. She is a filly with an awful lot of scope. There are some lovely races coming up and I would love to hope that she will stay in training for next year.”
Maureen Haggas said of Lilac Road: “I thought she ran great. She did not get the smoothest run through, which often happens at Goodwood. In the last 50 yards she flew – I am thrilled with her. Looking at that, I think we could step her up to 12 furlongs happily.
“And she is getting better as she has never been easy beforehand. We went down first and she wasn't too bad today. She is settling in her races and has galloped right to the line. I don't know what plans there might be. She is well worth keeping at this standard, and William will find something and talk to Jon and Julia and work out a plan.”
The Qatar Nassau Stakes is part of the QIPCO British Champions Series.
3.35pm Qatar Nassau Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series)
1 Nashwa (Imad Al Sagar) John & Thady Gosden 3-9-00 Hollie Doyle 6/5F
2 Aristia (Mrs E Roberts) Richard Hannon 4-9-09 Sean Levey 40/1
3 Lilac Road (Jon & Julia Aisbitt) William Haggas 4-9-09 Tom Marquand 15/2
8 ran
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