News | Horse Racing Free Tips

Wellbourne Farms Takes Charge of Northview PA Property

Wellbourne Farms has taken charge of the former Northview PA farm and the Lancaster property will continue to offer stallion and broodmare services to the region, according to a release from Northview Stallion Station.

“We are thrilled that the farm will remain a breeding operation,” said Northview Stallion Station general manager David Wade. “We’ve assured Wellbourne Farms that we will support them and do whatever we can to help them during and beyond the transition.”

Northview, which established the Pennsylvania farm in 2009, announced in May that it was consolidating operations at its Maryland farm. Located near Peach Bottom, the farm consists of 168 acres with an eight-stall stallion barn, full breeding shed and office, three 20-stall broodmare barns and a 12-stall yearling barn.

“We could not be more excited that such an opportunity presented itself,” said John C. Green, Wellbourne Farms CEO and chairman of Green Family Corporate Holdings. “Location, location, location…Pennsylvania is pivotal to the strength and durability of the Thoroughbred breeding and racing industry in the Mid-Atlantic. Most important, this farm has positively impacted the pedigree and high quality of mares bred within the state. The Northview Team has been incredibly helpful passing the torch on to us and no doubt we will carry on the hard work their team has contributed to the foundation for the success of this farm.”

The post Wellbourne Farms Takes Charge of Northview PA Property appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

National Museum Of Racing And Hall Of Fame Reopens On Sept. 5

The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame will reopen to the public on Saturday, Sept. 5 at 9 a.m. The Museum has been closed since January for the installation of a new state-of-the-art Hall of Fame experience as well as multiple new and updated exhibitions. The Museum has put in place a number of enhanced safety protocols in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and is a Saratoga Cares Stay Safe Pledge institution with a commitment to the health of Saratoga County residents, workers, and visitors.

The Museum will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The new signature film, What It Takes: Journey to the Hall of Fame, will initially be shown at 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m., and 4 p.m. daily. Per New York State health policies, the Museum will open with a maximum of 24 visitors admitted every two hours. Guests are encouraged to purchase tickets online at www.racingmuseum.org beginning Aug. 31. Hand sanitizer stations will be available throughout the Museum and the floor has been marked to create an easy-to-follow route through the building, with added markers reminding guests to practice social distancing. Face coverings are mandatory for all guests. Museum members have special access to make reservations before the general public beginning today through Aug. 28. Members wishing to do so are invited to call (518) 584-0400 ext. 109.

“We're very excited to be open to the public and have the opportunity to share with everyone all the incredible projects that we've been working on,” said John Hendrickson, the Museum's president. “We set out with an ambitious goal of being the best and most interactive hall of fame in the country. I believe we have accomplished that goal. Our great sport deserves a showcase venue that everyone can be proud of. This is a game-changer for the Museum and it is everything we hoped it would be when we began the process to reimagine and enliven our institution. The Museum is now an essential destination that can't be missed.”

What It Takes: Journey to the Hall of Fame is a 16-minute film that brings viewers on an amazing journey through the various aspects of thoroughbred racing and examines the rare honor — given to less than one percent of the sport's participants — of reaching the game's pinnacle and earning a coveted spot in the Hall of Fame. The immersive theatrical experience conveys the exhilaration of the sport of thoroughbred racing in America, the passion behind the heritage of the game, and the thrill of exploring the stories of “what it takes” to be among the greatest of the greats in the Hall of Fame.

Filmed and produced by Donna Lawrence Productions of Louisville, Ky., and narrated by famed broadcaster Bob Costas, What It Takes: Journey to the Hall of Fame, features original footage shot in 8K resolution from various racetracks and thoroughbred farms throughout the country. Numerous Hall of Fame inductees are highlighted in revealing interviews about their experience in the sport and what it took for them to earn racing's highest honor. Hall of Famers featured include Bob Baffert, Javier Castellano, Angel Cordero, Jr., Pat Day, D. Wayne Lukas, Richard Mandella, Chris McCarron, Shug McGaughey, Bill Mott, Carl Nafzger, Mike Smith, Gary Stevens, and John Velazquez, among others.

Following the film, guests are invited to learn about the careers of the Hall of Fame inductees on the theater's nine interactive stations. Each of the 459 Hall of Fame inductees are represented through an in-depth digital plaque, media gallery, and achievements page. More than 100 videos and 2,100 photographs are included in the interactive Hall of Fame exhibit with more media content to be added and updated regularly. Each visitor will be provided a stylus with admission to use on all the touchscreen interactive exhibits throughout the Museum.

Along with the new signature film and interactive Hall of Fame experience, the Museum has made several other exciting new additions and updates. Some of those include:

Race Day Gallery

The Museum's new Race Day Gallery provides both a gateway to build excitement for the Hall of Fame experience and a transition for visitors following the show. Three areas of the racetrack experience are featured — The Paddock, The Track, and The Winner's Circle — introducing visitors to the essential elements of a day at the races.

The Paddock section explores the relationship between racehorses and their human connections prior to a race. Artifact cases showcase the equipment used during races, while large graphics and a slideshow of images from the Museum Collection illustrate the beauty of various paddocks at American racetracks. The Track section is where America's most famous racing venues are highlighted, noting their historical significance through the use of imagery, graphics, and artifacts that showcase the unique characteristics of each course. A cross-section of racing surfaces is also on display in The Track to educate visitors on the unique composition of America's racetracks. The Winner's Circle area allows visitors the opportunity to bask in the joy and glory of being a champion while viewing memorable winner's circle photographs and an historic trophy from the collection. The Winner's Circle also provides a memorable photo opportunity with a sculptural horse and rider.

The Race Day Gallery also features a mural by artist Greg Montgomery and a lush soundscape that adds detail and ambiance to the experience through the use of traditional sound elements found at the track, including famous race calls.

Call the Race

Museum guests will have the opportunity to call some of the sport's most famous events just like a professional track announcer in a new interactive exhibit located in the Race Day Gallery. Featuring an introduction by legendary racecaller Tom Durkin, Call the Race provides guests an opportunity to study the race's video before making the call. Each race is digitally recorded and can be downloaded to keep and relive the experience and share with others.

The Jockey Club Gallery

Since 1894, The Jockey Club's primary responsibility has been the maintenance of “The American Stud Book,” ensuring the integrity of the thoroughbred breed in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. The new Jockey Club Gallery transforms the Museum's previous changing special exhibition space (Contemporary Racing Gallery) into a new exhibition devoted to The Jockey Club and its contributions to racing in America. As part of the Hall of Fame Education Experience, The Jockey Club Gallery will feature artifacts and archival materials from The Jockey Club's collection on loan to the Museum and two interactive touchscreen stations filled with multimedia content on the history of the organization, the services it provides the racing industry, selected race footage and statistics, and the digitized certificates of registration and foal photographs (submitted in the registration process) of some of the sport's greatest thoroughbreds.

The Paintings of Martin Stainforth

British-born Martin Stainforth (1866 ̶ 1957) began his career as a wood engraver but turned to illustration before moving to Australia in the early 1900s. He took an interest in the thoroughbred racing scene in 1911 while living in Sydney and became known as the preeminent equine artist in Australia, receiving portrait commissions from owners and racing associations.

Known for his realism and ability to capture the personality of his subjects, Stainforth moved to the United States in the mid-1920s and continued to paint the likenesses of some of the top racehorses of that era, including the Hall of Fame members featured in this Museum collection spotlight exhibition in the Link Gallery.

Photo Finish: Juried Photography Exhibition

Amateur and professional photographers from across North America submitted 183 photographs for consideration in our call for submissions, with the only requirement being that their images must reflect the sport of thoroughbred racing in America. This second annual Photo Finish exhibition in the Museum's von Stade Gallery features 45 photographs by 34 photographers from 13 states and one Canadian province. An additional 26 photographs will be featured in the online exhibition, bringing the total representation of this second annual exhibition to 71 photographers from 19 states and one Canadian province.

Edward P. Evans Gallery current exhibitions

The Edward P. Evans Gallery showcases treasures from the Museum's permanent collection and honors the legacy of Mr. Evans and his passion for the sport of thoroughbred racing with a series of thematic trophic exhibits. Current featured exhibits include:

Selections from the Edward P. Evans Trophy Collection
The Triple Crown
Selections from the James E. “Sunny Jim” Fitzsimmons Collection:trophies from the Hall of Fame trainer's career, including the trophy won by Nashua in his 1955 match race against Swaps at Washington Park
The Legacy of Man o' War: trophies won by descendants of Hall of Fame legend Man o' War, including the 1937 Triple Crown trophy won by his son War Admiral
The Grand National: examples of trophies from the American and British editions of this major steeplechase event
Tiffany & Co. in the National Museum of Racing Collection
A Salute to Hollywood Park
*NEW for 2020* Seventy Years Ago: highlighting the racing achievements of 1950 and showcasing trophies won by Hall of Fame Pillar of the Turf George D. Widener, Jr. (including the 1950 Travers Stakes trophy won by Lights Up) and the 1950 San Juan Capistrano Handicap trophy won by Hall of Fame horse Noor, among others.

McBean Gallery current exhibitions

Located off of the Museum Lobby, the McBean Gallery is the Museum's main special exhibitions gallery and hosts three distinct exhibitions. Current featured exhibits include:

Women in Racing:featuring an interactive exhibit, a timeline of firsts, artifacts, photographs, and artwork from the Museum Collection and on loan, this special exhibition honors the women involved in every aspect of thoroughbred racing in America, including the seven who are inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Hall of Fame Heroes: this semi-permanent exhibition celebrates the horses, trainers, jockeys, and Pillars of the Turf who made the sport of thoroughbred racing what it is today, with art, memorabilia, and multimedia on display. Hall of Fame Heroes also features trophies from the John Nerud collection.
Paintings from the Charles H. Thieriot Collection: this permanent exhibition features paintings by masters of British sporting art, including two monumental works by John E. Ferneley, Sr.

New Gift Shop

The Museum's Gift Shop has been completely redesigned and features an extensive selection of racing-themed products, including clothing, books, photography, artwork, items related to Hall of Fame members, and much more. Museum members always receive 15 percent off their purchases.

For more information about the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, including upcoming events, please visit www.racingmuseum.org or call (518) 584-0400.

The post National Museum Of Racing And Hall Of Fame Reopens On Sept. 5 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

UofL Equine Industry Program Launching ARCI Racing Investigator Certificate Program

The University of Louisville Equine Industry Program will formally launch the ARCI Racing Investigator Certificate Program online October 5-6, 2020. Registration is now open at https://louisville.edu/business/payments/equine. There is an $80 fee to defray university costs associated with offering the program.

The program, an initiative of the Association of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI), is the first of its kind and has applicability to all existing and aspiring horse racing investigators.

“The job of a racing investigator is a specialty involving knowledge not only of police procedures concerning interrogation and evidence gathering but also of horseracing, the backstretch, and the horses themselves,” said RCI Chair Tom Sage of Nebraska, a former longtime law enforcement officer and racing investigator and past-Chair of the Organization of Racing Investigators.

The initial program will last two days and be conducted online by the UofL Equine Industry Program. Additional programs may be conducted in person and the ARCI is committed to working with both the University of Louisville's Equine Industry Program and the University of Arizona's Racetrack Industry Program.

Those participating in the program will be deemed certified after passing an examination. The RCI encourages commissions and racetracks to phase in a requirement for a current Racing Investigator Certificate as a requirement for employment.

RCI President, Ed Martin, who formerly served as the New York regulator responsible for some of racing's most notable investigations – Breeders' Cup Pick 6 Wagering Scandal, the NYRA Mutuel Department fraud conspiracy, OTB mismanagement, Yonkers Raceway drug search lockdown – noted that “proactive investigators will develop intelligence networks and not be hesitant to dig deep into any situation where things do not seem as they should.”

“There is a tremendous amount of expertise and experience that is required to do this job properly,” he said, noting the work of the NY Gaming Commission in its effective records audit investigation and prosecution of a horse trainer who was circumventing the drug rules and testing lab and the work of the Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Nebraska commissions initiating a successful federal prosecution of illegal drug compounding used to facilitate horse doping.

The curricula for the program will focus on basic horsemanship skills, safety procedures in the barn or paddock areas, racing terminology, overview of officials and their duties, creating the condition book and drawing for the race as well as what is involved in preparing a horse for a racing career. Equine care and medications, vet records, investigatory tools and techniques, interactions with other enforcement entities, evidence gathering, and ways cheaters attempt to avoid detection will also be addressed.

“The University of Louisville is excited for its collaborative work with the ARCI to bring this certification program to fruition, said Sean Beirne, Director of the UofL Equine Industry Program. “It is an important aspect of our mission to educate the professionals in the horse racing industry, to build on their knowledge, and provide resources to enhance and develop the methodology to create standards for the execution of their duties,” Beirne added.

The post UofL Equine Industry Program Launching ARCI Racing Investigator Certificate Program appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Kentucky Downs Staging Pair Of Online Handicapping Tournaments During 2020 Meet

America's most unique racetrack is staging a one-of-a-kind online handicapping tournament twosome during the RUNHAPPY Meet at Kentucky Downs.

The Kentucky Downs Turf Handicapping Challenge presented by Daily Racing Form, America's only tournament using exclusively grass racing, will award multiple seats at the 2021 National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) and the 2020 Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge (BCBC) during stand-alone tournaments on Sunday Sept. 13 and Wednesday Sept. 16. The twist is that the player with the highest aggregate two-day total will be crowned the National Turf Handicapping Champion, receiving additional prize money and a BCBC spot, worth $10,000.

The separate online tournaments are live-money events, meaning that entrants use a real bankroll and get to keep whatever they might earn. The competition will be based on Kentucky Downs' all-grass cards, with the Sept. 13 contest also offering the option to play turf races from New Jersey's Monmouth Park. Betting in the tournaments will be conducted through Xpressbet, TVG and 4NJBets online-wagering platforms.

The Sept. 13 tournament has a $1,000 buy-in, with $500 comprising the player's bankroll and the other $500 going to the prize pool. The buy-in is $600 for the Sept. 16 tournament, with $300 going to the prize pool and $300 for the contestant's bankroll. Players must compete in both tournaments to be eligible to earn the distinction of being National Turf Handicapping Champion.

Both contests require entrants to bet a minimum of $50 (win, place, show and/or exacta) on a minimum of 10 races on Sept. 13 and six on Sept. 16. Complete rules will be available soon on kentuckydowns.com. Monmouth Park marketing director Brian Skirka is the tournament director. Players must pre-register with Skirka by emailing bskirka@monmouthpark.com or by calling 732-571-6595.

“We were looking at an online tournament even before we had to make the tough decision to go spectatorless at our live meet because of the COVID surge,” said Ted Nicholson, Kentucky Downs' senior vice president and general manager. “Our betting product has become so popular across the country that we wanted to let as many people as possible participate, and we wanted to come up with prizes to make it worth their investment in time and money.

“Horseplayers' enthusiasm for our American-best large fields and low takeout has led to a 244-percent increase in wagering on Kentucky Downs since 2015. This is one way of showing our appreciation. We are the nation's turf-racing capital and we want to showcase that by having a National Turf Handicapping Champion.”

Regular tournament player Adam Aiken, who coincidentally is moving from Springfield, Mass., to Nashville in early September, makes a point to bet Kentucky Downs' elite meet and was thrilled to hear about the track's tournaments. He applauds the idea of a two-day overall champion.

“That's an interesting format, kind of a unique and different format that isn't around anywhere else,” Aiken said, adding with a laugh, “It obviously gets you to want to play the second one. You have three chances in a way” to win the big prizes.

Aiken said he'll be firing away on his mobile device to try to be anointed Turf Champion.

“I'll be playing wherever I am,” he said. “I was in a tournament where I finished fourth and 13th and I was at a wedding…. I love turf racing. I love turf sprints. I always play Kentucky Downs. The big fields and low takeout are just the ticket for serious handicappers.”

Based on 100 entries in the Sept. 13 tournament, the total prize pool will be $50,000, including four NHC prize packs (including flight reimbursement up to $400 and hotel) and one BCBC berth. The top five finishers will split $5,000, with $2,500 to the winner and an estimated $2,956 toward the cash awarded to the National Turf Champ. The top 10 finishers also receive a free spot in the Sept. 16 contest.

Prize money paid to the Turf Champ will increase along with the number of entries. At 150 entries, five NHC prize packs and two BCBC berths will be awarded.

Based on 80 entries in the Sept. 16 contest, the total prize pool will be $24,000, with the top three finishers earning an NHC prize pack and splitting $3,000, including $1,500 to the winner, with remaining cash going to the champ. Additional seats could be awarded based on final participation.

“I'm honored that Ted reached out to me to assist with putting on this unique tournament,” Skirka said. “Kentucky Downs is known for some of the biggest fields and best turf racing around, and I'm excited to help make this first-of-its-kind contest a success. From my experience, I think players will really gravitate to a tournament featuring such wide-open, competitive and high-class racing.”

Players must be an NHC Tour member prior to the start of the contest to be eligible for NHC seats.

Horsetourneys.com will stage online feeder tournaments, providing low-priced ways to win spots into both contests.

The post Kentucky Downs Staging Pair Of Online Handicapping Tournaments During 2020 Meet appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post