December, 2023 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Sam Houston To Honor Late Racing Executive ‘Judge’ David Hooper

Sam Houston Race will kick off its 2024 live racing season on Friday, Jan. 5 and is in final preparations for the 43-day Thoroughbred meet, which will continue through Sunday, April 7.

One of the five Texas Preview Stakes on Saturday, February 17 has been renamed to honor David E. Hooper, who passed away on May 29, 2023, following a courageous battle with cancer. The 88-year-old had an extensive career in the horse racing industry, which included serving as executive director of the Texas Thoroughbred Association from 1997-2012.

He held many regulatory positions, including executive secretary of the Illinois Racing Board, and served as a steward at the state and racetrack levels in eight states. In 2018, he was the recipient of the Pete Pedersen Award from the Racing Officials Accreditation Program, which recognizes professional excellence, integrity, and benevolent consideration in the performance of their duties. Often referred to respectfully as “Judge,” Hooper was regarded widely as being fair in his stewardship and interactions with fellow horsemen, while prioritizing the ethics of the game and safety of the jockeys. He retired in 2020; his final position was at Canterbury Park in Minnesota, where Hooper served as a steward.

He also served as coordinator and lecturer at the University of Arizona's Race Track Industry Program (RTIP), specializing in racing laws and enforcement, covering all aspects of regulatory oversight. Hooper was a mentor to many who came through the program. His knowledge of the industry was only surpassed by his outgoing personality and unsurpassed communication skills with racetrack administrators, breeders, trainers and jockeys in Texas and across the country.

Mary Ruyle, who assumed the position as TTA's executive director following Hooper's departure, is pleased that his legacy will be recognized on Texas Preview Day.

“Dave did an incredible job for our association and working with him was a pleasure,” said Ruyle. “He always looked forward to Texas Champions Day at Sam Houston Race Park and celebrating the growth and excellence of Texas racing.”

Hooper is survived by his wife of 25 years, Martha. Sam Houston Race Park officials are hopeful that Martha and his daughters, Jennifer Kash, Cindy Slachta and Suzy Hooper, will be on hand for the trophy presentation on February 17.

The post Sam Houston To Honor Late Racing Executive ‘Judge’ David Hooper appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Ascot Boosts Prize Money For 2024; Royal Meeting Worth Record £10 Million

Ascot Racecourse has announced that total prize money in 2024 will reach a record £17.5 million (US$22.o4 million), an increase of 3.9 percent on 2023 values.

This excludes the industry-owned QIPCO British Champions Day.

Royal Ascot (to be held June 19-22) will be worth a record £10 million (US$12.6 million) with no race run for less than £110,000 (about US$138,500), up from £100,000, and all Group 1 races worth a minimum of £650,000 (about US$819,000), up from £600,000.

This includes increases to the King Charles III Stakes (formerly the King's Stand Stakes), St James's Palace Stakes, Gold Cup, Commonwealth Cup and Coronation Stakes, which were all run for £600,000 in 2023.

Nick Smith, Director of Racing and Public Affairs at Ascot Racecourse, said:

“We are pleased to be delivering these prize money increases in 2024 against a backdrop of uncertainty and an unprecedented number of negative headwinds for the industry. The financial impact on all facets of the industry is already being acutely felt.

“It is, however, crucial for Royal Ascot to maintain its position on the global stage at a time when participants at home and abroad have so many alternative lucrative options away from Britain.

“Whist the main increases have been made to the Royal Meeting to enable us to get to £10 million for the first time, we have made increases in other areas of the program as well.

“These include increases to fit with the new Premier fixture structure, including at the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup, where there is a particular focus on maintaining full fields.

“Importantly, no race at Ascot will be run for less than in 2023 including at our Core (non-Premier) fixtures. This is in spite of a reduction in central funding to this element of the program, which has therefore required further increases in executive contribution.”

The post Ascot Boosts Prize Money For 2024; Royal Meeting Worth Record £10 Million appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Sam Houston To Honor Executive David Hooper With Race

One of the five Texas Preview Stakes on Saturday, Feb. 17 has been renamed to honor executive David E. Hooper, who passed away May 29 following a battle with cancer, Sam Houston Race Park said in a release Wednesday.

The 88-year-old had an extensive career in the horse racing industry, which included serving as executive director of the Texas Thoroughbred Association from 1997-2012.

Hooper held several regulatory positions, including executive secretary of the Illinois Racing Board and he was a steward in eight states.

In 2018, he was the recipient of the Pete Pedersen Award from the Racing Officials Accreditation Program, and served as coordinator and lecturer at the University of Arizona's Race Track Industry Program.

“Dave did an incredible job for our association and working with him was a pleasure,” said TTA's Mary Ruyle. “He always looked forward to Texas Champions Day at Sam Houston Race Park and celebrating the growth and excellence of Texas racing.”

The post Sam Houston To Honor Executive David Hooper With Race appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

75th George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award Finalists Named

Junior Alvarado, Alex Birzer, Julien Leparoux, Edwin Maldonado and Rodney Prescott were selected as finalists for the 2024 George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award, 1/ST Racing said in a release Wednesday morning.

Presented by Santa Anita Park, the Woolf Award, which itself is a replica of the life-sized statue which adorns Santa Anita's Paddock Gardens area, is determined by a vote of jockeys nationwide. It can only be won once. The winner of the 75th annual prize will be announced in February.

Named in honor of the legendary late jockey George “The Iceman” Woolf, this year's list of nominees were all prominent in various regions, ranging from California to the Midwest, Florida and New York.

Best known as the regular rider of Bill Mott's two-time GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile hero Cody's Wish (Curlin), Junior Alvarado immigrated to America from Venezuela in 2007, established a permanent base in New York in 2010 and has 2082 wins to his credit through Dec. 3.

Alex Birzer is a five-time leading rider at Prairie Meadow in Des Moines, Iowa and a four-time leader at The Woodlands near Kansas City. Through Dec. 3, the son of a trainer has amassed 3,826 wins.

French native Julien Leparoux established a mark of consistently at Keeneland Racecourse. He has 2,956 wins through Dec. 3 and was voted Eclipse Champion Apprentice as well as Eclipse Champion Jockey.

Unusually tall for a jockey at five feet, eight inches, Columbus, Ohio native Edwin Maldonado has been a regular on the Southern California circuit since 2010. He has pocketed 1,532 career winners through Dec. 3.

Rodney Prescott is the Hoosier State's all-time leading rider and has been a consistent top 10 rider at Horseshoe Indianapolis. Prescott has 4,112 career wins through Dec. 3.

Javier Castellano took home last year's Woolf Award.

The post 75th George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award Finalists Named appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post