September, 2022 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Hugh Mitchell Appointed To Chair Of Woodbine Entertainment’s Board Of Directors

Woodbine Entertainment announced today that its Board of Directors has appointed long-time executive in the horse racing industry Hugh Mitchell as Chair, effective immediately. Mitchell was appointed to the position during Woodbine Entertainment's Annual General Meeting earlier Friday.

As Chair of the Board of Directors, Mitchell will provide leadership, guidance and governance as Woodbine Entertainment fulfills its mandate to sustain and grow horse racing in Ontario. This includes further strengthening the racing product at Woodbine and Woodbine Mohawk Park. Mitchell will also play a critical role in advancing Woodbine Entertainment's community plan to develop the surrounding lands at Woodbine Racetrack to be world-class entertainment destinations while creating new revenue streams that will support the horse racing industry and the 25,000 jobs it directly and indirectly supports throughout the province.

“As we continue to emerge from the global pandemic, our Board, organization, and the horse racing industry will substantially benefit from Hugh's knowledge, relationships and experience,” said Jim Lawson, CEO, Woodbine Entertainment. “We have a tremendous opportunity to grow the sport of horse racing in Ontario in the coming years with exciting and transformative initiatives and we look forward to leveraging Hugh's business and horse racing experience to help realize and maximize those opportunities.”

Mitchell, who has been on Woodbine Entertainment's Board of Directors since 2018, was most recently the President and Chief Executive Officer of Western Fair District in London, Ontario, a position he held from 2009 to 2018. He has also served as Chair of Woodbine Entertainment's Standardbred Racing Committee since 2020.

Throughout his successful career, Mitchell has led the horse racing industry in various prominent roles including as the Chairman of the Board of Harness Tracks of America (HTA) and as a member and Chair of the Ontario Racing Board of Directors.

In addition to his role as a current member of the Board of Governors at Fanshawe College where he was a past Vice-Chair, Mr. Mitchell is also a past President of Tourism London, as well as Director of both the London Chamber of Commerce and Canadian Association of Fairs and Exhibitions. Earlier in his career, Mr. Mitchell worked for Woodbine Entertainment as the company's Senior Vice President of Racing from 1998 to 2005.

“I have been extremely fortunate to work in the horse racing industry for many years which makes this appointment very special and motivating for me personally,” said Mitchell. “The industry in Ontario is full of hardworking people who are extremely passionate about our sport and equine athletes. I very much look forward to working with the Board and Mr. Lawson on growing our sport and industry to the benefit of the thousands of families who earn a living in horse racing.”

Mitchell replaces Christine Magee who was the Chair of Woodbine Entertainment's Board of Directors since 2020 and a Director since 2015. Magee was appointed Chair at a critical time as the organization and industry were managing through a global pandemic and ensuing government restrictions which significantly impacted the organization, its employees and the Ontario horse racing industry and the tens of thousands of jobs it supports throughout the province.

“Having Christine's steady hand, leadership and stewardship was instrumental in managing and navigating the impacts of the pandemic,” said Lawson. “Her guidance also helped lead us to a position of stability during unstable times to ensure we were well-positioned for growth and transformation as our organization and industry emerge from the first two years of the pandemic.

“On behalf of our organization, and the Board of Directors, I would like to thank Christine for her many contributions to Woodbine Entertainment and the horse racing industry over the last seven years.”

“My time on the Board, both as Chair and previously a Director, has been an absolute honour,” said Magee. “Woodbine Entertainment is so much more than just an organization – it's the economic engine of an industry that provides a way of life for tens of thousands of people and an institution that leads the great responsibility of managing a beloved sport that has been a part of Canadian culture and society for hundreds of years.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank my fellow Board members and the leadership team for their support and exceptional efforts. I would also like to congratulate Hugh Mitchell on his appointment to Chair and acknowledge that Woodbine Entertainment and the industry will be well-served as he steps into this role.”

Long-serving member Ben Hutzel is also retiring from the Board of Directors, effective today.

“On behalf of our Board, I would like to thank Ben for his countless contributions and lengthy service to our organization and industry as a Director, horse owner, and breeder,” mentioned Lawson.

An Ontario corporation without share capital, Woodbine Entertainment operates a multi-dimensional entertainment business with a core mandate of sustaining and growing the horse racing industry in Ontario.

The post Hugh Mitchell Appointed To Chair Of Woodbine Entertainment’s Board Of Directors appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Woodbine Mile: Ivar Should Display ‘Powerful Late Run,’ Casse Entrants Reliant On Pace Scenario

Paulo Lobo would be understandably ecstatic if his talented turfer Ivar (BRZ) puts his best foot forward in Saturday's Grade 1 Ricoh Woodbine Mile.

Ivar, the resilient 6-year-old son of Agnes Gold (JPN)-May Be Now, has endured his share of hard luck over a career that has yielded an impressive 6-0-2 mark from 12 lifetime starts.

His trainer is hopeful the dark bay, a two-time Breeders' Cup Mile participant, can experience some good fortune when he goes postward in the $1 million Woodbine Mile.

“He is a very good horse, and he shows that every time,” said Lobo. “He's had a few little things happen along the way, but he always comes back and runs a strong race.”

Ivar (BRZ) is owned by Bonne Chance Farm and Stud R D I. A two-time Group 1 winner in Argentina, where he began his career, he won the 2020 Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland before finishing fourth next time out in the Breeders' Cup Mile at Keeneland.

He arrives at the Woodbine Mile in winning form. On July 9, the graded stakes winner took the $100,000 Jonathan Schuster Memorial Stakes at Horseshoe Indianapolis, posting a one-length score in the 1 1/16-mile trek.

The road to the starting gate wasn't an easy one.

Scratched from the Maker's Mark Mile in April after Lobo felt Ivar (BRZ) wasn't quite ready, then again from the May 7 Turf Classic at Churchill due to a minor foot ailment, the horse was making his first start since a third in the Breeders' Cup Mile last November.

A win in the Schuster was anything but guaranteed.

Taking on a talented group, one that included multiple graded stakes winner Somelikeithotbrown, multiple graded stakes placed Duke of Hazzard (FR), and graded stakes winner Cavalry Charge, Ivar (BRZ), under Joe Talamo, rallied stoutly down the lane to earn the victory in a track-record time of 1:39.49.

“This poor horse, I mean, when he runs, he runs so hard,” praised Talamo, after the race. “He's one of those you wish you could get about six, seven races a year. All the credit goes to Paulo Lobo and his team. Every time this horse runs, he has him A+ ready to go. No difference today. It set up well for us. They had a good pace, but I was loaded the whole way and just tried to get him a good trip around there.”

“We had been pointing him to that race at Churchill Downs, but we wound up running in Indiana, and it was great because he had a very good race there,” said Lobo. “He ran huge coming from a long way off. More importantly, he came back very well from that race.”

Lobo said a third start in the Breeders' Cup Mile is on the agenda for Ivar (BRZ).

“In the Breeders' Cup last year at Del Mar, he got stuck with an outside post position and it was a very slow pace that day for that kind of race, but he still ran very hard and very strong to finish third. He was gaining at the end. Both of his Breeders' Cup races were good ones.”

For now, the focus is on another Mile.

“When he would race in Argentina, he knows very well how to run a mile with one turn,” said Lobo. “It [E.P. Taylor] reminds me a little bit of the course at San Isidro in Argentina, which he used to run on. He's very accustomed to that, so I believe he will enjoy the course at Woodbine.”

As will the Brazilian-born Lobo, who will be making his second visit to Canada's Showplace of Racing.

His initial trip to Woodbine came almost 20 years ago.

“For sure I will be there. I'm coming to see him Wednesday at his barn. I came to Woodbine, but not to race, a long time ago, in 2004. I had one horse race there [Lady Preach was sixth in a maiden special weight race on August 22, 2020]. I'm looking forward to coming back.”

While his horse likely won't be prominent in the early stages of the Woodbine Mile, Lobo is hoping to see his turf star's typical late-running talents kick-in down the long E.P. Taylor stretch.

“His turn of foot is what comes to mind first for me. He can really put in a powerful late run. Hopefully, there can be some strong early pace and it will set up nicely for him.”

Joe Talamo, who has 2,256 career wins as of September 12, will be aboard on Saturday.

[Story Continues Below]

Trainer Mark Casse sent out back-to-back winners of the Ricoh Woodbine Mile when Tepin turned the trick in 2016 and World Approval followed suit in the next renewal.

This year, Casse looked to have a leading contender in Filo Di Arianna, who was coming off impressive victories over the E.P. Taylor Turf Course in the Grade 2 Connaught Cup and the Grade 2 King Edward.

“He came up with a minor injury,” said Casse, who is in the midst of a grueling run at the Keeneland September yearling sales. “The good news is we caught it very early. He'll be just fine.”

And, with the Casse stable deep in quality, the trainer still has Get Smokin and March to the Arch for Saturday's Grade 1, $1 million feature which is a “Win and You're In” for the Breeders' Cup Mile, a race which the trainer won with Tepin in 2015 and World Approval two years later.

Get Smokin is a relative newcomer to the Casse ranks and finished second to subsequent Grade 1 winner (and Woodbine Mile entrant) Shirl's Speight in the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby in his first outing for his new interests on February 5.

A journey to Dubai was next and is best forgotten.

“That didn't go well from the start,” said Casse. “He didn't really ship over very well. He just was never happy over there. He ran a clunker, but he came back and he's run very well ever since.”

Since returning to North America, Get Smokin has been prominent in three outings with the most recent a fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 Fourstardave over one mile of Saratoga turf.

And while Get Smokin has done much of his running on the front end, Casse believes the 5-year-old gelding is adaptable.

“I think the race will set up nice for him,” said the trainer. 'He's going to be pretty close to the lead, but doesn't have to be on the lead, and he got a good post (No. 8).”

March to the Arch, a 7-year-old gelding who will be making his third Woodbine Mile appearance, ended fourth last year after running second in the 2020 edition while coming off a victory in the King Edward.

After finishing second while making his local 2022 bow in the Connaught Cup, the Live Oak Plantation homebred was well-backed in the King Edward but finished fourth.

“For 'March,' it's all about the turf,” said Casse. “I think his last race there was some give in the ground, and he just didn't care much for it. He needs a hard turf, and pace. Give him those two things and he's more than capable of getting it done.”

Casse also offered insight on his other stakes starters this Saturday at Woodbine.

The post Woodbine Mile: Ivar Should Display ‘Powerful Late Run,’ Casse Entrants Reliant On Pace Scenario appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

CHRB Tells Tracks To Work Out Contract Differences With California Thoroughbred Trainers

The California Horse Racing Board conducted a public meeting at Cal Expo in Sacramento on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022. Chairman Gregory Ferraro chaired the meeting, joined by vice chair Oscar Gonzales and commissioners Dennis Alfieri, Damascus Castellanos, Brenda Washington Davis, Thomas Hudnut, and Wendy Mitchell.

The audio of this entire Board meeting is available on the CHRB Website (www.chrb.ca.gov) under theWebcast link. In brief:

The Board took an unyielding stand on the statutory requirement for race meets to have a signed agreement with horsemen. The Board approved a motion stating that license applications for new race meets will no longer be approved without such an agreement. Executives with Del Mar Racetrack, Santa Anita Park , and Golden Gate Fields have been negotiating with the California Thoroughbred Trainers (CTT) for three years, and the CHRB has frequently stepped in to facilitate those negotiations, but despite those efforts the parties have not been able to agree on the protocol for trainer exclusion.Chairman Ferraro said the Board has lost its patience and has given the parties until the Oct. 20 Board meeting to finally resolve the matter.
License applications that were on this meeting agenda were put over to the October meeting. Commissioner Mitchell added one stipulation to the chairman's motion by invoking a CHRB rule that allows the commissioners to conduct a hearing and decide the issue for themselves. If the parties do not bring a signed agreement to the October meeting, the Board will be able to immediately conduct a hearing, which could then allow the commissioners to approve license applications under whatever terms the Board dictates.
The Board allocated race dates for Southern California's Thoroughbred, fair, and Quarter Horse 2023 racing calendar. Allocations include simulcast days on which there is no live racing at the facility. Actual racing dates are decided when each license application is considered by the Board. As allocated, Santa Anita will open for simulcasting on Dec. 21, 2022, with dates running through June 20, followed by the Los Angeles County Fair (LACF) daytime meet at Los Alamitos (June 21 through July 11), Del Mar (July 12-Sept. 12), a second Los Alamitos daytime, Thoroughbred meet (Sept. 13-26), back to Santa Anita (Sept. 27-Nov. 7), back to Del Mar (Nov. 8-Dec. 5), and finally a third Los Alamitos daytime meet (Dec. 6-19). Furthermore, the Board allocated Quarter Horse dates for Los Alamitos from Dec. 21 through Dec. 19. Daytime horoughbred races at Los Alamitos are run concurrently with night quarter-horse racing.

The gap week between the close of the LACF meet and the actual start of racing at Del Mar's summer meet was hotly contested because of a projected $400,000 in revenue to the track that hosts simulcasting during that off week. The Board reached a compromise by allocating that simulcasting week to Del Mar in 2023 but indicated its willingness to consider awarding a simulcast week to Los Alamitos in 2024.

The Board put over consideration of allocating 2023 Thoroughbred and fair dates for Northern California until the October meeting in order to give the parties extra time to negotiate over some contested weeks. The Board did allocate dates for harness racing at Cal Expo in Sacramento. The harness dates will begin Dec. 21 and run through May 9, then resume Nov. 1 through Dec. 19.
The Board authorized the Los Alamitos Equine Sale Company to conduct a sale of Quarter Horses at Los Alamitos on two days, Oct. 1 and 2.
The Board approved the distribution of certain ADW revenue to a co-op marketing program at the Big Fresno Fair.
The Board authorized the distribution of $4,000 in race day charity proceeds by WatchandWager.com to four beneficiaries.
The Board approved for public notice regulatory amendments to existing apprentice rules to align with current health and safety standards for jockeys.
The Board approved for public notice proposed regulatory amendments establishing reporting requirements by owners and trainers of horses that die or are euthanized within 72 hours of leaving a facility under the jurisdiction of the CHRB.
CHRB Executive Director Scott Chaney reported that he and staff are continuing to work closely with the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) on uniform medication and classification standards that HISA will introduce Jan. 1.

The post CHRB Tells Tracks To Work Out Contract Differences With California Thoroughbred Trainers appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Jockey Club Oaks: German Group 1 Winner Toskana Belle Gets Frankie Dettori For North American Debut

Australian Bloodstock's Toskana Belle will be representing multiple flags when making her North American debut in Saturday's Grade 3, $700,000 Jockey Club Oaks, a 1 3/8-mile inner turf test for sophomores fillies, at the Belmont at the Big A fall meet.

Bred in France and campaigned in Germany by trainer Andreas Wohler, Toskana Belle enters the final leg of the filly division of the Caesars Turf Triple series off a narrow triumph at 16-1 odds in the Group 1 Pries der Diana [German Oaks] on August 7 at Dusseldorf.

The chestnut daughter of Shamalgan, a multiple champion in the Czech Republic, displayed frontrunning speed in the 1 3/8-mile test over good ground and maintained her lead in the stretch drive, fending off a late rally from Wagnis to win by a head.

Luke Merrell, Director of Australian Bloodstock, said Toskana Belle should appreciate firm footing.

“She's just desperate for the firmer ground and she's really tough,” Merrell said. “In Australia, we call it a 'dead track' and that's what she raced on the other day when she won the German Oaks. It's not rock hard firm like you would get in the States or in Australia, but it's certainly not mush or up to their fetlocks type either.”

Toskana Belle provided Australian Bloodstock with their third German Oaks victory, previously winning with Turfdonna [2015] and Salomina [2012]. Merrell expressed interest in making the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf on November 5 at Keeneland with Toskana Belle should she parlay her winning form on this side of the pond.

“We won the German Oaks a couple other times and she's probably the best racehorse that we've won it with so far,” Merrell said. “There's so much money to be won travelling these fillies and obviously you can get that firmer ground in the United States. Hopefully, she can have a good little campaign with this run and then maybe in the Breeders' Cup.”

Prior to the German Oaks, Toskana Belle was third in the Group 3 Diana Trial going 10 furlongs on June 5 at Hoppegarten after posting a one-mile stakes win at Dusseldorf in May. She broke her maiden over good-soft ground in a nine-furlong test at Evreux in France.

“We're heading in there with a bit confidence,” Merrell said. “Arguably, she could be unbeaten. She got a questionable ride in the Group 3 and the market sort of discounted her for the Oaks and that's why she was such a big price.”

Merrell noted Toskana Belle's strong gallop out in the German Oaks, in which she garnered a 105 Timeform Rating, and added that her efforts have appeared to be on par with that of her elder counterparts.

“I've got a real opinion of her. She's the only horse in Germany all year to run equal to the older horses,” Merrell said. “All the other 3-year-olds the last couple of years haven't been able to do that. She's been able to run better times than them. She ran a record over in France and just has run fast times and fast splits. She's not one of those typical 3-year-olds that will only be a 3-year-old, I think she'll really train on next year and be able to compete in some top level stuff. Andreas seems very confident that she's travelled well. She's the right type to bring so hopefully she shows up.”

Australian Bloodstock, based in Newcastle, New South Wales, has garnered North American success before with Wohler, capturing the Grade 3 Belmont Gold Cup [now a Grade 2] in 2017 with Red Cardinal. Wohler also is no stranger to success in North America, shipping Silvano to the states in 2001 for a victorious engagement in the Grade 1 Arlington Million and won Woodbine's Grade 2 Sky Classic in 2008 with Lauro.

“We have a select few, about a half-dozen in Europe, and around 100 to 150 here in Australia,” Merrell said. “I always look at America because there's obviously a lot of black type races over there and it really adds something when you try to market these fillies if they have European and American form, a lot of the breeders like that. She's just one of those horses that should absolutely love those conditions. She likes to be out on the front. She's got a kick and a good turn of foot, and she's got some heart about her. The only thing we wouldn't want to see is a wet track.”

Merrell spoke highly of the German breeding program, which has produced American Grade 1-winners A Raving Beauty, winner of the Just a Game and First Lady in 2018, and 2005 Breeders' Cup Turf winner Shirocco.

“For a population that produces about 600 foals a year, they've got this staggeringly good record of producing world champion after world champion. They can certainly breed a top horse on the international stage,” Merrell said.

Should she win, Toskana Belle is sure to receive a flying dismount from internationally acclaimed rider Frankie Dettori, who will pilot the filly for the first time on Saturday. Dettori is also slated to climb aboard Grade 1 Caesars Saratoga Derby Invitational winner Nations Pride for the Grade 3, $1 million Caesars Jockey Club Derby on the same day.

“He's obviously bigger than life, Frankie,” Merrell said. “We were going to have Ryan Moore ride, but he had to ride one for Coolmore [Victoria Road in the Group 3 Prix de Conde at Chantilly]. We've had some luck with him in the past having won the [Group 1] Melbourne Cup [aboard Protectionist in 2014] with Ryan, but Frankie was good enough to hang around and ride for us. Andreas has won races with us before, we had Red Cardinal win over there a few years ago, so hopefully we can do it again.”

The post Jockey Club Oaks: German Group 1 Winner Toskana Belle Gets Frankie Dettori For North American Debut appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post