December, 2022 | Horse Racing Free Tips

After Three-Year Blackout, Arizona Horseplayers To Get Stronach Track Simulcasts

The Arizona Racing Commission conducted a special meeting on Friday to approve simulcast agreements between the state's two major racetracks – Arizona Downs and Turf Paradise – and tracks represented by Monarch Content Management LLC, a subsidiary of The Stronach Group.

The signals have been shut off nearly three years after Monarch balked at selling its signal to Arizona Downs and its off-track betting facilities, preferring to only do business with Turf Paradise and its OTBs.

The position by Monarch, in violation of a 2019 state law requiring all tracks to have equal opportunity and pricing of simulcast signals, led the Arizona Racing Commission in January 2020 to deny approval of the imported signals.

The commission voted 3-0 on several motions to approve Arizona Downs and Turf Paradise to receive signals from Golden Gate Fields, Gulfstream Park, Maryland Jockey Club (Laurel/Pimlico), Santa Anita (all owned by The Stronach Group/1/ST) plus Lone Star and some international signals controlled by Monarch.

Turf Paradise owner Jerry Simms spoke briefly during the meeting to say simulcasting represents 25 to 30 percent of the track's business. The blackout has reduced revenue to racetracks and purses and angered horseplayers.

The contracts, which also will permit Arizona residents to bet on the Monarch tracks through advance-deposit wagering accounts, are to go into effect immediately.

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Join Announcer Pete in the Booth to Help TAA

Beginning Dec. 26–Opening Day of Gulfstream Park's Championship Meet–fans will be able to meet and watch track announcer Pete Aiello call a race while helping to retrain, rehome and retire Thoroughbreds. For a $50 donation per person, up to six fans can watch Aiello call a race from the announcer's booth with the proceeds going to the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA).

“The TAA is very grateful to the team at Gulfstream Park and Peter Aiello for this unique and fun way to raise funds and awareness for aftercare. We hope fans of racing will embrace this experience to have an exciting birds-eye view of Thoroughbred racing while joining Pete and supporting a great cause,” said Stacie Clark-Rogers, TAA's Operation Consultant.

Aiello, a native of West Palm Beach, grew up attending the races at Gulfstream, Hialeah Park and Calder Race Course. A graduate of the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program, he called races at River Downs, California fairs and Oaklawn Park before arriving at Gulfstream in 2016.

“I love meeting racing fans and I applaud the efforts of the TAA so it is a perfect marriage. I look forward to showing everyone a great time raising money for a great cause,” Aiello said.

For more information contact Stacy Nicks at stacy.nicks@gulfstreampark.com.

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Stars On Show For Treo Eile Thoroughbred Classic

If it was racing stars you were looking for, the Treo Eile Thoroughbred Classic was where you could find them, as Rachael Blackmore, Robbie Power, and Charlie Swan turned out to support the event last Thursday night at the Emerald Equestrian Centre in County Kildare.

Treo Eile was set up to connect, support and promote the retraining of thoroughbreds and legends of the racetrack Tiger Roll, Douvan and the recently retired dual Gold Cup hero Al Boum Photo were all strutting their stuff on the evening.

A celebrity show jumping competition generated fierce competition and illustrated how racehorses can be retrained for other disciplines after their racing days are over.

There were 10 teams captained by leading lights of the weighroom and show jumping and eventing circles and the parade of thoroughbred champions was sponsored by Moyglare Stud.

The 'Jonbons team,' captained by leading amateur Aine O'Connor, whose riders finished with a zero fault score, took the Horse Racing Ireland Perpetual Cup and prizes that were sponsored by Connolly's Red Mills.

HRI's Director of Welfare, John Osborne commented, “This event brings all equestrian industries together and shows how versatile the thoroughbred is in terms of adjusting to a different lifestyle after racing and it's wonderful to see these horses still going strong 10 years later.”

O'Connor was joined by event riders Rachel O'Callaghan and Ian Cassells and pony rider Lucia Keane in victory while the Robbie Power-captained 'Lagoons team' claimed second spot.

Rachael Blackmore's 'team Honeys' took the yellow ribbon in third with all riders competing about retired and retrained racehorses.

A special appearance from Irish international show jumper, Jessica Burke, also added a new dimension to the night as she took Brendan McArdle on a course walk, explaining the technicalities of her craft.

Veteran jockey Charlie Swan, whose daughter Olivia rode a clear round on her former racehorse Clonakilty Bay, was delighted with the evening.

He said, “These horses are very intelligent and easy enough to retrain. It's a great crowd and there's a great buzz around. The more people that get into equine sport the better.”

Established as a not-for-profit in 2020, the Treo Eile project aims to encourage the retraining of ex-racehorses, once their racetrack careers are concluded.

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Fan-Voted Arima Kinen Lures Japan’s Star Gallopers

Sunday's G1 Arima Kinen offers fans of international racing the ultimate Christmas gift, as a field of 16–largely selected by the public–will face the starter in one of the world's most valuable Group 1 races not held in a desert environment.

Titleholder (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) was the leading votegetter and looks to atone for his speed-and-fade 11th-place effort in that boggy-ground renewal of the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp Oct. 2. He'd earned the right to contest Europe's weight-for-age championship, having defeated fellow Arc runner Deep Bond (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) in the G1 Tenno Sho (Spring) over the metric two miles in May followed by a two-length score in the G1 Takarazuka Kinen the next month. Fifth in this race last season, Titleholder looms the controlling speed and could prove tough to peg back.

“Last week, jockey Kazuo Yokoyama, who knows him best of all, rode to check his balance and how well he was communicating with the rider. Everything was fine,” said trainer Toru Kurita. “He carried himself well, with good balance, and raced solidly to the end. He is improving slowly, but surely. His muscle tone and coat are looking good and his wind was better than it had been the week before. He is also more eager to run. There are no particular points of concern.”

The flashy Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) was second in this year's G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) and G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) and most recently returned from a five-month break to post an improbable victory over loose leader Panthalassa (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) at Tokyo Oct. 30.

“At the bottom of the slope, he was so far behind the front-runner I was worried he wasn't going to make it,” admitted assistant trainer Yu Ota. “In the end, however, he moved on his own, gave it his all and was able to overtake the front-runner.”

Equinox will be looking to complete the same Tenno Sho/Arima Kinen double this year as did Efforia (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) did 12 months ago with a 3/4-length defeat of Deep Bond. But it hasn't been plain sailing since for the reigning Horse of the Year, who resumed with a slow-starting ninth in the G1 Osaka Hai at Hanshin Apr. 3 and his lone appearance since was a moderate sixth to Titleholder in the Takarazuka Kinen.

Vela Azul (Jpn) (Eishin Flash {Jpn}) was given a masterful steer from Ryan Moore to be up in the final couple of jumps in the G1 Longines Japan Cup Nov. 27 and shoots for a fourth straight victory, while Geraldina (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}) will try to follow-up on her win over recent G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase heroine Win Marilyn (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn}) in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup last month. Geraldina's dam, the great Gentildonna (Jpn), swansonged victoriously in the 2014 Arima Kinen, as did the latter's legendary sire–Deep Impact (Jpn)–in 2006.

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