Month: May 2023

For a seventh straight year, the Maryland Jockey Club is offering bonus money totaling $100,000 to trainers who run a minimum of five horses in the 15 Thoroughbred stakes races during Preakness weekend, May 19 and 20, at Pimlico Race Course.

The blockbuster weekend includes a total of 16 stakes, nine graded, worth $3.6 million in purses. The trainer with the most points will receive $50,000, second is worth $25,000, third $12,000, fourth $7,000, fifth $4,000 and sixth $2,000.

Points are accumulated for finishing first (10 points), second (seven), third (five), fourth (three) and having a starter (one) in the 15 Thoroughbred stakes, led by the 148th Preakness Stakes (G1), Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown, May 20.

Trainers must have a minimum of five starts to qualify for the bonus.

Other graded events on Preakness Day are the $200,000 Dinner Party (G3) for 3-year-olds and up and $100,000 Gallorette (G3) for fillies and mares on turf and the $200,000 Chick Lang (G3) for 3-year-olds at six furlongs, $100,000 Maryland Sprint (G3) for 3-year-olds and up going six furlongs, and $100,000 UAE President Cup (G1) for Arabian horses on the main track. The UAE President Cup is not part of the bonus.

Supporting Preakness undercard stakes are the $100,000 Sir Barton for 3-year-old non-winners of a sweepstakes at 1 1/16 miles, the $100,000 Skipat for fillies and mares at six furlongs, along with the $100,000 James W. Murphy for 3-year-olds at a mile on the turf and $100,000 Jim McKay Turf Sprint for 3-year-olds and up at five furlongs.

Preakness Eve, May 19, will be highlighted by the 99th running of the $300,000 Black-Eyed Susan (G2) for 3-year-old fillies and two supporting graded-stakes – the historic $250,000 Pimlico Special (G3) and $150,000 Miss Preakness (G3).

The Black-Eyed Susan undercard also includes the $100,000 Allaire du Pont Distaff going 1 1/8 miles on the dirt as well as the $100,000 Hilltop for 3-year-old fillies going one mile and $100,000 The Very One for fillies and mares 3 and up sprinting five furlongs, both on the turf.

Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen has been the leading Preakness weekend stakes trainer four times in its first six years, earning the top bonus in 2017, 2018, 2021 and 2022. Brad Cox (2019) and Mike Maker (2020) have also won the top prize.

There will also be bonus money totaling $50,000 for trainers with the most points in non-stakes races during Preakness weekend. The points are accumulated in similar fashion with $25,000 going to the leader, $10,000 to second, $7,500 to third, $4,000 to fourth, $2,500 to fifth and $1,000 to sixth.

Trainers must have a minimum of three starts to qualify for the bonus.

Nominations are free for all stakes, with the exception of the Preakness, and close Tuesday, May 9. To make a nomination, email stakes coordinator Eleanor Albert at eleanor.albert@marylandracing.com; call 410-542-9400 or 800-638-1859; or fax 410-542-1221.

Entries will be taken and post positions drawn Sunday, May 14 for the Black-Eyed Susan Day program and Monday, May 15 for the Preakness Day program. The post position draw for the Preakness will be held at Guinness Open Gate Brewery in Halethorpe, Md.

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The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) has announced that single-day tickets for reserved seats in the Clubhouse, Grandstand and Cutwater Stretch at Saratoga Race Course will go on sale to the general public beginning Wednesday, May 10.

The Clubhouse and Grandstand offer racing fans traditional open-air seating and access to some of Saratoga Race Course's best views. At the Top of the Stretch, the Cutwater Stretch, a private hospitality area presented by Cutwater Spirits, offers modern and upscale amenities such as a full-service bar, kitchen, concessions, high-definition televisions and private restrooms in a casual environment with outstanding views of the final turn.

Single-day tickets for reserved tables in the Miller Time Fourstardave Sports Bar, the Pick Six Vodka Picnic Paddock and Tailgate at the Turn will be available for purchase beginning Wednesday, May 17.

All tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster.com.

The Miller Time Fourstardave Sports Bar, named in honor of the 1991 New York-bred Horse of the Year who famously won a race at Saratoga eight consecutive years, includes more than 80 tables and 60 flat-screen televisions, popular food vendors and an extensive beer, wine and spirits selection. Tables accommodate two, four and six guests. There is a $10 food and beverage minimum per person.

The Pick Six Vodka Picnic Paddock features more than 100 tables located adjacent to the historic saddling paddock. Tables are available with paid reservation and accommodate up to six guests. The Pick Six Picnic Paddock is presented by Saratoga-based Pick Six Vodka.

The Tailgate at the Turn is a drive-up picnic area that welcomes fans to experience a day at the races from a unique vantage point overlooking the first turn. Guests are invited to bring their own picnic fare or visit track concession stands. There are sixteen sections available, each accommodating up to six people per party.

Fans can also purchase reserved lounge seating by the day in the Chandon Garden Spritz Lounges, located within the Railbirds section along the perimeter of the 1863 Club. Following a successful introduction in 2022, these private trackside lounges are back for a second season and include access to a shared buffet within the Rail at the 1863 Club, dedicated drink service, one bottle of Moët and one bottle of Chandon Garden Spritz. Accommodations include two four-seat lounges, a six-seat lounge and an eight-seat lounge. Chandon Garden Spritz Lounge seating is presented by Moët Hennessy.

Highlighted by the 154th renewal of the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers on August 26 and the 95th running of the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney on August 5, the 2023 summer meet at historic Saratoga Race Course will open on Thursday, July 13 and continue through Monday, September 4.

Following the four-day opening weekend, racing will be conducted five days a week, Wednesdays through Sundays, apart from the final week, when the meet will conclude on Labor Day.

For more information about Saratoga Race Course, visit NYRA.com/Saratoga.

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Prize money for the 2023 G1 LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) will be worth an unprecedented HK$118 million (about US$15 million) as the December showpiece meeting continues to host the world's richest Group 1 turf races over 1200m (six furlongs), 1600m (one mile), and 2000m (1 1/4 miles).

The G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup – the jurisdiction's richest race – receives a 5.9% increase to HK$36 million, the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) is boosted by 8.3% to HK$26 million, the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) grows by 6.7% to HK$32 million and the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m) advances 9.1% to HK$24 million.

Underlining their elite quality, three of last year's G1 LONGINES HKIR features – the LONGINES Hong Kong Mile, the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup and the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint – figured in the LONGINES World's Top 100 G1 Races in 2022.

Foreign currency comparison table on LONGINES HKIR prize money

LONGINES Hong Kong International Races	Distance (metres)	2023/24 (Euro €‎) *Approx.	2023/24 (JPY ¥‎) *Approx.	2023/24 (US $‎) *Approx.	2023/24 (AUD $) *Approx.
Hong Kong Sprint	1200	€3M	¥‎444M	$3.31M	$4.92M
Hong Kong Mile	1600	€3.72M	¥‎547M	$4.07M	$6.06M
Hong Kong Cup	2000	€4.16M	¥‎615M	$4.58M	$6.82M
Hong Kong Vase	2400	€2.77M	¥‎410M	$3.05M	$4.54M

*Approx. figures per exchange rates as at May 2023

With the glittering LONGINES HKIR meeting highlighting Hong Kong's stunning prize money growth, each of the city's 12 Group 1 races will rise by a minimum of HK$1 million – a combined HK$20 million boost – as part of an overall prize money increase of 10%.

The enhancements cap Hong Kong's record prize money and incentive structure of an estimated HK$1.73 billion across the 2023/24 season.

In addition to the lucrative purses on offer at LONGINES HKIR, Hong Kong will also stage the richest Group 1 turf race over 1400m with the Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) to carry HK$13 million in prize money, while the Club has also lifted Group 2 and Group 3 races to HK$5.35 million and HK$4.2 million – hikes of 7.0% and 7.7%, respectively.

Mr Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Chief Executive Officer of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, said: “The LONGINES Hong Kong International Races continue to be widely recognised as the 'Turf World Championships' and the HK$118 million total prize money on offer next season also underscores the Club's commitment to attracting and rewarding the world's best horses and their connections.

“With growing competition around the world, it is crucial that Hong Kong's two international race days – LONGINES Hong Kong International Races and FWD Champions Day – continue to be destinations of choice for owners, trainers and jockeys from around the world.

“As we saw in December with the successful staging of 2022 LONGINES Hong Kong International Races and again with latest wonderful FWD Champions Day meeting, these prestigious international meetings allow us showcase Hong Kong's world-class racing on the global stage.”

Including substantial increases to the PP and PPG bonus scheme, Hong Kong's domestic racing prize money pool will rise by 8% alone next season – with an additional HK$94 million on offer – to HK$1.38 billion.

“Before the 2022/23 season, we undertook a thorough review of our prize money and incentive structure and decided then to commit to continuous investments into the future, which has resulted once more in the significant prize money and additional incentives outlined over the past two weeks,” Mr Andrew Harding, Executive Director, Racing, The Hong Kong Jockey Club, said.

“Providing attractive incentives and increasing returns on investments for our Owners are central to these enhancements and we believe that these increases will provide additional support proportionate to their investments.”

As a result of these substantial prize money boosts for 2023/24, the Club has also approved an extension of the closing date for the 2023 Horse Ballot until 5pm Thursday, 11 May.

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