The Maryland Jockey Club announced it will host a hiring fair Apr. 20. Open to the public from 1-4:00 p.m., the fair will offer short- and long-term employment opportunities with local businesses including Select Event Group, SAFE Management, The Beadle Group, Battle Tested Security, Ridgewells Catering, Atlas Restaurant Group and the Maryland Jockey Club.
Positions that a slew of companies will look to fill at this year's fair include: line and prep cooks, host staff, servers, kitchen, assistants, buffet managers, action station attendants, tent chefs and supervisors, unarmed event security staff, facilities staff, transportation drivers, commercial driving license (CDL) drivers
field crew project and junior foremen project managers.
Parking is free and will be available in the Clubhouse Parking Lot off Hayward Avenue. Attendance to the event is free and open to the public. Attendees should dress professionally and bring resumés.
Keeneland Hospitality announced a number of new offerings in its stable of unique experiences available to the public through its Keeneland Crafted brand along with expanded enhancements for corporate and private events designed to meet the goals of clients.
Keeneland Hospitality, under its Keeneland Crafted banner, will offer both new and returning ticketed events for the public May through August. These curated events include:
A Taste of Keeneland Tour (May-July). Guests will embark on a behind-the-scenes racing tour with a signature race-day cocktail and participate in a mock betting challenge. Tickets are $65 each.
The Exhibit Dinner (May 24 and July 19). A six-course specialty dining experience held at Keeneland Library, which is presenting an exhibit about African American horsemen and – women titled Heart of the Turf: Racing's Black Pioneers. Tickets are $200 each.
The Chef's Secret Dinner Series (May 18, June 21, July 27, Aug. 23). Locally sourced cuisine, craft cocktails and live music in surprise unexpected locations throughout the Keeneland grounds. Tickets are $150 each.
Breakfast at the Track (June 17). Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for children. Kids 3 and under get in free.
Tickets for these summer events go on sale beginning at 10 a.m. ET on Wednesday, April 19. For more details, visit Keeneland.com/crafted.
Keeneland Hospitality will also offer corporate and private events. Included among the event enhancements available:
Master Class culinary experiences offering unique dining settings led by Chef Marc Therrien
Team-building elements for corporate retreats and conferences. Activities are led by professional consultants designed to foster workplace connections
So far this season through Sunday, April 9, 2023, there have been 566 races contested at Sha Tin and Happy Valley. Two more were scheduled but were abandoned due to accidents. The good news is that the races have been especially formful.
Of those 566 races, 183 favorites won for a 32% strike rate, which is about what it is every season. There were 12.12 starters in each race and the average win price was $18.14.
There are three surfaces that Hong Kong races are run over and each have their nuances. The most, 271, were run over the wide and expansive turf course at Sha Tin. Depending on the rail placement, the homestretch is 430M long and enables horses to build momentum around the turn and have plenty of time before they hit the wire. And most Sha Tin turf races are run around only one turn so traffic is less of an issue.
So, it is no surprise that 92 favorites won the 271 races over the Sha Tin turf for a 33.95% strike rate even though there were 12.67 starters in each turf race. But there can be a chaotic element since the average win price is $19.40.
Inside of the Sha Tin turf course is the All Weather Track (AWT).
Also referred to as the dirt track, it plays very fast with running times going six furlongs often faster than running times going six furlongs on the turf. There have been 59 races run on the AWT this season. 21 favorites won for a 35.6% strike rate. The average field size is 11.93 and the average win price is $16.76.
Happy Valley only races on its turf course which is relatively tight. 1000M races are run around one turn and 1200M races come out of a chute before straightening out. Two-turn races have a long run into the first turn.
Depending upon the rail placement, the homestretch is only around 330M. Considering how tight the final turn is, there is not a lot of room to make up ground. What works at Happy Valley are horses that accelerate quickly. Horses can win from off the pace but need a clear trip to do it. Luckily, since few horses begin their careers at Happy Valley, the ones that race there have established form.
There have been 236 races run at Happy Valley so far this season and favorites have won 70 races for a 29.67% strike rate. The average field size is 11.52 starters per race and the average win price is $17.05.
Just like there are horses for courses, there are trainers for courses. Caspar Fownes only has eight winners on the Sha Tin turf course but his 23 winners at Happy Valley are the most. Francis Lui is next with 22 winners.
Leading rider Zac Purton aboard Lucky Sweynesse
Among the jockeys, it is no surprise that Zac Purton has 71 winners on the Sha Tin turf course. Hugh Bowman is a distant second with 28. But at Happy Valley, Vincent Ho has 38 winners to Purton's 32.
Win percentages show how stark the difference is. Purton wins 29.09% on the Sha Tin turf and 17.20% at Happy Valley. Vincent Ho only wins 7.72% on the Sha Tin Turf but his 17.76% at Happy Valley is higher than Purton's.
