Leicester lockdown: Race meeting to go ahead on Tuesday
Tuesday's race meeting at Leicester will go ahead despite the local lockdown in the region following a coronavirus spike.
Author: News
I Am Invincible Gelding Tops Hong Kong International Sale
An eye-catching half-brother to Group 1 winner Volatile Mix drew a clinching bid of HK$7.2 million (US$929,000) to top the Hong Kong International Sale (July) at the Sha Tin Parade Ring on Friday, July 3, as all 19 lots offered sold for a total of HK$74.3 million (US$9,586,891).
The gelding, cataloged as Lot 8, is by the top Australian sire and noted speed influence I Am Invincible, out of the Group 3-placed High Chaparral mare Utopia. The bay, whose talented sibling won the South Australian Derby, sold to Sze-to Kin Sun.
Wong Kwong Miu, whose red and black silks have been carried previously by the talented galloper Divine Ten, brought the auctioneer's hammer down at HK$6.5 million (US$838,684) for Lot 14, a Zoustar gelding out of a half-sister to multiple G1-winning New Zealand champion Volkstok'n'barrell.
Two more geldings hit the HK$6 million (US$774,187) mark: Lot 6 is a Savabeel full-brother to the G1 New Zealand Oaks heroine Savvy Coup; Lot 2 is a Per Incanto 3-year-old out of the G1 ARC Railway Stakes winner Fleur De Lune.
Mr. William Nader, the Hong Kong Jockey Club's director of racing business and operations, said: “This was a very good sale, it exceeded our expectations. Overall, we have to be pleased with the results and it might be a good sign for the economy in Hong Kong that things could be rebounding, because the money was with us tonight.
“The horses presented well and I don't think anyone was surprised by the sale-topper. There was a good mix of pedigrees, I think the buyers had a lot of variety and hopefully there's some value there for our owners.”
The sale average was HK$3.91 million (US$504,513) while the median came in at HK$4 million (US$516,133).
“Last year we sold 20 lots at the July Sale averaging HK$2.4 million (US$309,680) and this year we had 19 lots averaging over HK$3.9 million (US$503,219), so this sale was very healthy and we're pleased with the results,” Mr. Nader added.
The post I Am Invincible Gelding Tops Hong Kong International Sale appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
StableDuel Launches Daily Paid Entry Contests Blending Fantasy Sports, Handicapping
StableDuel, Thoroughbred racing's revolutionary new game that combines the excitement of daily fantasy sports with the thrill of traditional handicapping, officially launches  Friday, July 3, with daily paid entry contests. Contestants can begin setting up their stables immediately..
Featuring an interactive platform that provides players a feeling of virtual ownership, StableDuel contests require contestants to select a stable of horses from a specific race card within the confines of a salary cap. Horses are assigned a price (or salary) based on their morning-line odds. Players earn points when their horse finishes in the top five places, based on the order of finish and the margin of victory or defeat.
In addition to daily contests, StableDuel offers players an annual leaderboard competition with selective year-end contests. StableDuel will feature diverse media content for racing fans as well as sports fans alike, with podcasts, social media, and video to educate fans on handicapping. Industry leaders such as seven-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Todd Pletcher and leading jockey Tyler Gaffalione have signed on to partner with StableDuel.
“We are extremely excited to launch StableDuel. “It has been a long process that was done with the player in mind,” said StableDuel's Chris Brothers. “It has always been a belief for us that you cannot force someone to like a sport, but if you can get them to like a game that revolves around the sport, there is a better chance they will become a fan. Between exciting daily contests, the media content, and an interactive platform, we feel StableDuel will be the hub of innovation bridging mainstream sports with the Thoroughbred racing world.”
To get started, contestants simply download the StableDuel app for iOS and Android, create an account in a few simple steps, and draft a stable. StableDuel is intuitive, innovative, and designed for novices and veterans, alike.
StableDuel currently has partnerships with more than 20 racetracks in the United States.
“As people that have worked all levels within the industry, we know the many roles needed to make this happen and are very thankful for the tracks and horsemen groups that have welcomed us with open arms,” Brothers said. “Knowing it is not an easy space to occupy, we look forward to a long and valuable relationship.”
The post StableDuel Launches Daily Paid Entry Contests Blending Fantasy Sports, Handicapping appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
Leicester To Race On
Leicester Racecourse’s planned fixture on July 7 will go ahead following consultation with relevant authorities after a COVID-19 spike prompted increased lockdown measures in the area earlier this week.
The area lockdown has reinstated restrictions to what they were on June 14, at which point racing was permitted under strict guidelines. Owners will not be permitted at Leicester on July 7. The British Horseracing Authority has liaised with Racetech to ensure stalls handlers will be available for the fixture; Tuesday evening’s meeting at Leicester was conducted without starting stalls.
A statement from the BHA read, “We are grateful for the input of representative bodies in developing our protocols for responding to local lockdowns. Everyone in the sport remains in agreement that safety is the number one priority while racing’s behind closed doors resumption continues. The sport’s strict health screening and social distancing protocols continue to ensure that racecourses are amongst the most controlled of workplaces, and that local communities are not affected by behind closed doors fixtures.”
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