April, 2024 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Leo Kahl Wins Preakness Art Award

Leo Kahl's 'First Turn' has been named the winner of Preakness: The Art of Racing, a nationwide art competition celebrating the unique elements of the Preakness S. and Thoroughbred horse racing.

The winning artwork was announced at an honorary ceremony in the Brown Center at the Maryland Institute College of Art. Senior Advisor of Arts & Culture for the City of Baltimore Tonya Miller Hall was in attendance, representing Mayor Brandon Scott. MICA dignitaries, Park Heights's City Council representatives and 1/ST RACING leadership also attended the announcement alongside participating artists.

The submission deadline for the third annual competition was Mar. 12, at which point the public was encouraged to visit preakness.com/the-art-of-racing to peruse the digital gallery and cast a vote for their favorite work of art. The top 10 vote-getters were then judged by a panel that included elected officials, community leaders and art professionals to select the winner.

“My objective was to capture the colors, excitement and festive mood of Pimlico Race Course and the Preakness S.,” said Kahl. “I chose the loose and romantic medium of watercolor to depict this scene as it best depicts the movement and drama of the day.”

Kahl received a $4,000 prize and two VIP tickets to Preakness 149. His work will be reproduced on a curated collection of Preakness 149 merchandise that will be available for purchase online and onsite during Preakness weekend. Proceeds from the sale of merchandise will be used to advance the activities of Park Heights Renaissance as it pursues affordable housing for families and provides employment opportunities to people of Park Heights.

“The platform given to rising artists, both amateur and professional, who have entered Preakness: The Art of Racing competition over the past three years underscores the vibrancy of the Preakness S. and its unique cultural footprint,” said Audra Madison, Director of Marketing, Maryland Jockey Club. “It brings me joy to see the diverse array of artwork entered into the competition each year, and I hope community members share the same sense of celebration.”

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Blacker Joins Light Up Racing Board

Racing analyst and reporter Christina Blacker has joined the board of directors of Light Up Racing, an organization formed to enhance the public perception of the Thoroughbred industry.

“I am grateful to be a part of Light Up Racing's mission,” Blacker said. “It is one that is very close to my heart and one I've put a lot of time and effort into over the years. Horse racing is a beautiful sport filled with equally beautiful, deeply caring and hard-working individuals, but is not actually what we, as a collective, are currently being portrayed as. It is a difficult assignment to be sure, but I am fully committed.

“This is an industry-wide problem and should be met with an industry-wide approach. A lot of important and necessary work is being done at the highest levels, but all of us possess the ability to have a positive effect, and it is our duty to not stand by and leave it to others. Highlighting the good being done, and the good that already exists, is something each of us can take part in.”

Blacker, who currently serves as a host, analyst and reporter with FanDuel TV, began her broadcasting career in 2004 and has worked with HRTV, TVG, and NBCSports. She is also a Keeneland Sales representative, a spokesperson for Equibase “Race Lens,” a pivotal figure in digital creation and ambassadorship for MyRacehorse, in addition to co-founding “I Am Horse Racing,” a non-profit organization dedicated to amplifying the voices of the

sport's unsung heroes.

“Christina Blacker's credibility within the industry, coupled with her unparalleled media expertise, makes her an invaluable asset in our mission to enlighten, engage, and evolve the narrative surrounding horse racing,” said board chairman Price Bell. “Christina has a proven track record of, not only illuminating the sport's finest aspects, but also addressing its challenges with integrity and insight. We are very excited to have her as part of the team.”

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All-Sources Handle up at Turfway Meet

All-sources handle rose 17.1% during Turfway Park's Winter/Spring meet which concluded Saturday. In total, more than $170 million was wagered at the meet, nearly $25 million more than 2023.

A total of $18.8 million in prize money, including funds from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund, was distributed across 438 races at the 50-day meet.

With two additional racing days from the 2023 meet, Turfway Park saw an increase of 152 starters.

“Our successful season at Turfway Park would not be possible without the support of all owners, trainers, jockeys and horseplayers,” said Chip Bach, general manager at Turfway Park. “The racing product at Turfway Park has continued to thrive, thanks to the continued investments from Churchill Downs Incorporated and our dedicated staff here at Turfway Park.”

Jockey Luan Machado was a dominant force in the rider standings throughout the Winter/Spring Meet, tallying 62 wins from 289 starts. Machado's win total was 25 more than runner-up Gerardo Corrales and his mounts earned $2.3 million. This was Machado's fourth leading rider title at Turfway Park.

Trainer Eric Foster notched his first title at Turfway Park, winning 15 races from 86 starts. Foster finished one win ahead of Brad Cox and three in front of Juan Cano and John Ennis.

Foster's horses banked $837,777 in purse money while winning at 17%.

Christina Estvanko and Margo Scott led all owners with eight wins. The partnership's horses made 37 starts while earning $176,177.

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Opera Singer Heads Oaks Entries; Stellar Selection for Coronation Cup

Fifty-eight entries for the Betfred Oaks on May 31 have been revealed, led by last season's champion juvenile filly Opera Singer (Justify). The G1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner remains the market leader despite the recent announcement by her trainer Aidan O'Brien that she may miss the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket following a minor setback in training.

Her stable-mate Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is also among the 13 fillies to have been entered from Ballydoyle. Irish trainers Noel Meade, Jim Bolger and Dermot Weld have one entry apiece while Paddy Twomey has entered Purple Lily (Ire) (Calyx {GB}) and One Look (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}).

Ralph Beckett has the strongest representation among the British-based trainers with nine fillies engaged at this stage. These include the maiden winner Treasure (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), owned by the King and Queen.

Britain's champion training partnership of John and Thady Gosden, which won last year's Oaks with Lady Bamford's Soul Sister (Ire), has five entries, including Cheveley Park Stud's Regal Jubilee (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who is currently third-favourite for the fillies' Classic.

Making Dreams (GB) (Make Believe {GB}), the winner of Monday's G3 Prix Penelope at Saint-Cloud, is one of four entries for Karl Burke. She races in the colours of Nick Bradley Racing, the syndicate which fielded the 2021 Oaks runner-up Mystery Angel (Ire).

The sole French entry for the race is the Group 3-placed Dare To Dream (Fr) (Camelot {GB}), who is trained by Chantilly-based Irishman Gavin Hernon.

Friday's card for the Betfred Derby meeting includes the G1 Coronation Cup, which could see a rematch between the first two home in last year's Derby, Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and King Of Steel (Wootton Bassett {GB}).

The reigning Coronation Cup champion Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) is also among the 23 entries, which include the St Leger winner Continuous (Ire) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) and German Horse of the Year Fantastic Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}).

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