March, 2024 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Wagering on U.S. Races Declines in February

Wagering on U.S. races dipped 2.85% in February, with 11 fewer racing dates, in year-to-year comparisons released Tuesday by Equibase, while through two months of 2024, wagering is down 6.83% with 59 fewer race days than the same period in 2023. Wagering in February totaled $838,195,585, compared to $862,782,585 in February, 2023. Through two months, a total of $1,618,055,698 was wagered in U.S. races. That figure was $1,736,625,054 after two months of 2023.

While available purse money increased 6.44% to $86,413,218 in February, that figure year-to-date is down 4.03% to $164,357,301.

There were 252 race days in February, compared to 263 in 2023, bringing the year-to-date total to 469 versus 528 a year ago. There were 4,007 races in January and February, compared to 4,508 during that period in 2023.

Average field size rose slightly during the first two months of the year, from 7.66 in 2023 to 7.77 in 2024.

The post Wagering on U.S. Races Declines in February appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Buzz Builds for Belmont Stakes at Saratoga

The interest surrounding the Belmont Stakes usually hinges on what happens in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve and the Preakness Stakes.

Trio of Darley Stallions Reported to Have First Mares in Foal

Darley newcomers Modern Games (Ire), Native Trail (GB) and Triple Time (Ire) have all had their first mares scanned in foal, the operation announced on Tuesday.

Dalham Hall Stud resident Modern Games won five races at the top level for Charlie Appleby, notably winning at the Breeders' Cup in successive years when landing the Juvenile Turf in 2021 and Mile in 2022. Modern Games is reported to have four mares in foal, including George Strawbridge's G1 Prix Royal-Oak winner Montare (Ire) (Montjeu {GB}), already the dam of three talented performers by Dubawi (Ire)–who is also the sire of Modern Games–namely Journey (GB), Indigo Girl (GB) and Mimikyu (GB).

Triple Time, who enjoyed his biggest success when winning last year's G1 Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot, is also standing his first season at Dalham Hall in 2024 at a fee of £10,000. G2 Lancashire Oaks winner Emirates Queen (GB), a half-sister to Dubawi by Street Cry (Ire), is among the first mares covered by Triple Time to be scanned in foal. Emirates Queen's most notable progeny so far is the multiple Listed winner/Group 1-placed Royal Champion (Ire) (Shamardal).

Over in Ireland, Native Trail is new to Kildangan Stud for 2024 following a racing career which saw him crowned Europe's leading two-year-old in 2021 before going on to win the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas at three. The early mares in foal to him include Woodford Farm's Amore Bello (Ire) (Bated Breath {GB}), a half-sister to the GIII Miesque S. winner More Than Love (More Than Ready) and from the family of the four-time Group 1 heroine Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never).

The post Trio of Darley Stallions Reported to Have First Mares in Foal appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Charlsie Cantey: A Pioneer in Horse Racing Media

Charlsie Cantey never sought to break ground as the first female racing broadcaster. She never fancied herself as the pioneering type. It just sort of happened. Cantey was among a handful of women exercising horses in 1975 when Frank Tours, then with the New York Racing Association, asked if she might be interested in appearing regularly on a television show that featured local racing on WOR. The more he asked, the more vehemently she rejected the notion.