Belmont Stakes 2023: horses, odds and post positions: Everything you need to know
Mail Sport takes you through everything you need to know, including the favorites and the all important post positions - as well as how to watch the Belmont Stakes.
Month: June 2023
Sports Betting Regulators Association Preparing For ‘Technical Dive’ On Hacking Of Player Accounts
The Sports Betting Regulators Association (SBRA) will hold an online briefing for regulatory agencies this Thursday afternoon, June 8, 2023, to discuss recent intrusions of player accounts that have hit numerous licensed sports books and resulted in at least one federal indictment.
“Hackers hit every industry and while the licensees have a primary responsibility and business motivation to ensure their accounts are secure, the sports betting regulatory agencies play a consumer protection role and need to be confident player accounts are secure and the steps taken by licensees are appropriate to the ever-changing cyber threat landscape and effective in stopping attempted intrusions,” said Ed Martin, SBRA Coordinator.
The most recent high-profile case involved the arrest of an 18-year old from Wisconsin associated with the hacking into DraftKings and compromising over 60,000 accounts and selling information on the “dark web” to those who would use it for criminal purposes. FanDuel has reported attempts to hack players accounts and there have been player accounts set up at BetMGM that were unauthorized by the customer and funded accessing their bank accounts.
Sports betting regulators and horse racing regulators share a common concern on account security and regulatory officials from both regulatory disciplines from across North America have signed up for Thursday's briefing.
“This may be a brutally blunt conversation about cyber threats from one of the world's experts in this area, Josh Chin. Josh is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Net Force, a cybersecurity brain trust, consulting, and advisory firm focused on addressing current and future problems,” Martin said.
The SBRA will seek to identify regulatory best practices already deployed and develop new ones where needed and encourage universal reliance.
Anyone interested in participating with the SBRA should contact Rebecca Shoemaker at rshoemaker@sportsbettingregulators.com
The post Sports Betting Regulators Association Preparing For ‘Technical Dive’ On Hacking Of Player Accounts appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
Michael Copeland Appointed CEO Of Woodbine Entertainment
Woodbine Entertainment's Board of Directors has announced the unanimous appointment of sports and business leader Michael Copeland as Chief Executive Officer, effective October 1, 2023.
Copeland, who is currently President, Commercial, joined Woodbine Entertainment in 2021 after holding various leadership roles in sports and entertainment, including President and CEO of the Canadian Football League's (CFL) Toronto Argonauts from 2015 to 2018, and President of the CFL's head office from 2006 to 2015. He has a law degree from the University of Western Ontario and an MBA from Western's Ivey School of Business. He is a recipient of the prestigious Caldwell Partners/Globe & Mail “Canada's Top 40 Under 40” Award, and the Western Law W. Iain Scott Business Leadership Award.
Copeland will take the reins from current CEO Jim Lawson who announced earlier this year that he would be stepping down from his post this fall.
“We are thrilled to have a business leader of Michael's calibre to take on this role and lead our organization during a transformative time that is full of opportunity for Woodbine and the horse racing industry,” said Hugh Mitchell, Chair of Woodbine Entertainment's Board of Directors.
Woodbine Entertainment is one of North America's leading Thoroughbred and Standardbred racetrack operators. In 2022, it generated over $1 Billion in gross wagering revenues from both physical and online channels. It operates best-in-class racing facilities at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario and Woodbine Mohawk Park in Campbellville, Ontario and is an established broadcast and technology leader. Woodbine directly employs more than 1,500 individuals in Ontario and leads the sustainability and growth of the entire Ontario racing industry and the roughly 25,000 jobs within it. Woodbine is currently building a major urban community for all of Toronto on the 684-acre site that includes Woodbine Racetrack. This will be reimagined as vibrant, new spaces with housing, parks, employment districts and retail, along with upgraded horse racing facilities.
“We are one of the best multi-faceted sports and entertainment companies in North America, and we have tremendous potential to further develop and grow with horse racing at the centre of it all,” said Copeland. “With this role comes great responsibility as it supports a way of life for tens of thousands of families in Ontario as it did for my wife's family for decades. I am excited about the opportunity we have to lead Woodbine and racing in Ontario to ambitious, new heights.”
Woodbine Entertainment's Board of Directors also announced the appointment of Jim Lawson to Executive Chair, creating continuity as the organization prepares for transformative growth in the coming years.
“We are equally as excited to continue to have Jim's leadership, experience and valued relationships as Executive Chair,” said Mitchell. “The continuity this provides will bode well for us as we embark on this next chapter of our storied history.”
“I have worked with Michael for many years, and I am truly excited for the strategic thinking and bold vision he will bring as CEO,” said Lawson. “I am also looking forward to contributing to Woodbine and the racing industry and supporting Michael in my new role as Executive Chair. Woodbine has accomplished many great things over the past decade, but the best is yet to come.”
As part of the transition and to support Copeland in his new role, it was also announced that long-time horse racing industry executive Bill Ford will assume the role of Chief Racing Officer and General Counsel. Ford has been an executive at Woodbine Entertainment since 2011 and prior to then he was General Counsel and Secretary for Magna Entertainment (a predecessor of The Stronach Group) from 2003 to 2010. During his 20 years in racing, Ford has sat on various boards and committees, including the Board of Directors for Racetracks Canada, the industry association representing all horse racing tracks in the country, from 2013 to 2022, including as Chair for the last five years.
“Bill brings deep knowledge and a lifelong passion for the sport of racing. With his experienced, steady hand overseeing our racing operations, we are very well-positioned to further strengthen our racing product and the Ontario racing industry,” added Copeland.
About Woodbine Entertainment
Woodbine Entertainment is an Ontario corporation that operates without share capital with the mandate of supporting and growing the horse racing industry and the 25,000 jobs it supports across the province. Woodbine Entertainment is the largest horse racing operator in Canada offering world-class horse racing at both Woodbine (Toronto) and Woodbine Mohawk Park (Milton) racetracks. Woodbine Entertainment also operates off-track wagering through its Champions teletheatre network, which includes WEGZ Stadium Bar in Vaughan and Greenwood in the Beach area of Toronto. Remote wagering is also available to customers through HPIbet.com and the Dark Horse Bets app.
The post Michael Copeland Appointed CEO Of Woodbine Entertainment appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
Colonial Downs Adds Second Pick 5, Introduces Pick 6 For 2023
Colonial Downs is bringing the Pick 6 back to Virginia when the 2023 season gets underway on July 13. The Old Dominion 6 will be offered as a classic $1 Pick 6 with a 15 percent takeout on the final six races daily. If there is no wager correctly selecting all six winners, 25 percent of the net pool will be paid out to those selecting the most winners while 75 percent will be carried over to the following program.
After a successful debut in 2022, the 50-cent Pick 5 will feature an Early and Late Pick 5 daily. Offered with a 12 percent takeout rate, the Early Pick 5 will cover the first five flat races while the Late Pick 5 will cover the final five races.
Each Pick 5 will pay out 100% of the net pool to those bettors who correctly select all five winners in the sequence. If there are no winning Pick 5 wagers in either Pick 5, 25 percent of the net pool will be paid to those who correctly selected the most winners while the remaining 75 percent will be carried over to the following day's like Pick 5. Early Pick 5 will carry to the next Early Pick 5 while the Late Pick 5 will carry to the next Late Pick 5 offered.
The Pick 5 and Old Dominion 6 highlight a wagering menu that includes two Pick 4's. The Early Pick 4 will cover races 2-5 (races 4-7 on Fridays when Steeplechase racing is presented) while the Late Pick 4 will encompass the final four races each day. Colonial Downs will also offer rolling Daily Doubles and rolling Pick 3 wagers starting with the 1:30 p.m. first race each Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
The minimum wager for Win, Place, and Show wagers is $2; the Exacta, Daily Double, Pick 3 and Old Dominion 6 will carry a $1 base; Trifecta, Pick 4, and Pick 5 wagers can be played for as little as 50-cents; and the Superfecta will have a 10-cent minimum.
Colonial Downs kicks off its 2023 season on Thursday, July 13 and will continue through Saturday, September 9. The 27-day meet is highlighted by a record of more than $5.2 million in stakes purses.
The total is buoyed by the relocation of the Grade 1 Arlington Million, Grade 1 $500,000 Beverly D. and Grade 2 $500,000 Secretariat Stakes from their long-time home at Arlington International Racecourse. (The Million and Beverly D. were raced at Churchill Downs in 2022.) In addition, the Grade 3 New Kent County Virginia Derby will carry a $500,000 purse, $200,000 more than last year, and its sister race the (Listed) Virginia Oaks, has been kicked up by $50,000 to $250,000.
The Million, Beverly D., and Secretariat will be raced on Saturday, August 12, the traditional weekend for the internationally renowned trio. The Million will be run at 1¼ miles and the Beverly D. will be contested at 1-3/16 miles while the one-mile Secretariat leads perfectly into the nine-furlong Virginia Derby four weeks later on closing day Saturday, September 9. The Beverly D. is a Breeders' Cup Challenge “Win and You're In” race in the Filly & Mare Turf division.
The Virginia Derby will headline closing day with $1.3 million in stakes purses. In addition to the Virginia Derby and Oaks, the closing day program will include the $150,000 Colonial Cup for older runners at the marathon distance of 1½ miles, the $150,000 Da Hoss Stakes for older horses at 5½ furlongs on turf, $125,000 Rosie's Stakes for 2-year-olds sprinting 5 ½ furlongs on turf, and $125,000 Kitten's Joy Stakes for 2-year-olds over a two-turn 1-1/16 miles on turf.
All of Colonial Downs races will be televised on FanDuel TV or FanDuel Racing.
The post Colonial Downs Adds Second Pick 5, Introduces Pick 6 For 2023 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
