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CHRB Reallocates Northern California Fair Dates To Pleasanton, Golden Gate

The California Horse Racing Board conducted a meeting by teleconference on Thursday, June 11. The public participated by dialing into the teleconference and/or listening through the audio webcast link on the CHRB website. Dr. Gregory Ferraro chaired the meeting, joined by Vice Chair Oscar Gonzales and Commissioners Dennis Alfieri, Damascus Castellanos, Wendy Mitchell, and Alex Solis.

The audio of this entire Board meeting is available on the CHRB Website (www.chrb.ca.gov) under the Webcast link. In brief:

The Board approved a regulatory amendment that further restricts the use of the riding crop in both racing and training. The rule prohibits using the crop more than six times in the race, excluding simply showing the crop to the horse or tapping the horse on the shoulder, and within that limit prohibits using the crop more than two times in succession without giving the horse time to respond. The rule cites the proper way for using the crop in an underhanded position without it ever rising above the shoulders of the rider. The rule also prohibits using the crop during training except when necessary for the safety of the horse and rider. Under the required regulatory review process involving other state offices, this rule will not go into effect for several months at the earliest.
The Board approved for 45-day public notice new specifications for construction of riding crops. The regulatory amendment will require all riding crops to be topped by shock-absorbing, smooth foam cylinders, which are demonstrated to be safer for horses
The COVID-19 heath crisis has disrupted racing and fair operations in Northern California, forcing the Board to reallocate dates and approve modifications to racing license applications only for the year 2020. In a compromise supported by racing and fair executives that is designed to meet health protocols, while providing adequate and convenient stabling for horses on the Northern California circuit, the Board approved a revised racing and simulcasting calendar as follows:

At this time envisioned without spectators, the current meet at Golden Gate Fields will conclude (both racing and simulcasting) on June 16. From there racing and simulcasting will move to Pleasanton for the Alameda County Fair meet (June 17 through July 14), continue at Pleasanton for the relocated State Fair meet in Pleasanton (July 15 through July 28), move back to Golden Gate, initially for the relocated Sonoma County Fair meet at Golden Gate (July 29 through August 11), continue at Golden Gate with its own meet (August 12 through October 6), proceed to Fresno for the Big Fresno Fair meet (October 7 through October 20), then finally conclude at Golden Gate (October 21 through December 22). The precise racing dates for each meet (within those allocations) will be determined by the individual license applications. All meets will operate with protocols approved by their county heath officials. Golden Gate will continue to provide stabling during the Alameda County and Fresno fairs.

Reflecting the approved date allocations, the Board approved the license application for the Alameda County Fair to run a fair meet in Pleasanton with racing set to begin June 19 and continue through July 12, conditioned on submission of specified required documents to the CHRB. At this time Alameda County health officials have not given approval for public participation.
The Board approved the license application for the California Exposition and State Fair to run a fair meet in Pleasanton with racing set to begin July 17 and continue through July 26, conditioned on submission of specified required documents to the CHRB. At this time Alameda County health officials have not given approval for public participation.
The Board approved the license application for the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club to run a race meet in Del Mar with racing set to begin July 10 and continue through September 7. At this time San Diego County health officials have not given approval for public participation.
The Board approved separate agreements between the California Authority of Racing Fairs and Del Mar Thoroughbred Club with the Thoroughbred Owners of California authorizing the racing secretary for the State Fair meet at Pleasanton and the racing secretary for the Del Mar meet to establish conditions for races. The agreements prohibit anti-bleeding medication (Lasix) in 2-year-olds, limit Lasix to 250 mg, prohibit any intra-articular medication within 14 days of a race, and extend that prohibition to 30 days for fetlock injections, both metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints.
The Board suspended Rule 1845(h) during the Del Mar meet, which required that syringes used to administer furosemide on race day be retained.
The Board approved a regulatory amendment requiring individuals to hold an Assistant Trainer license in good standing for one year as a prerequisite for a Trainer license.
The Board adopted a rule strictly limiting the use of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) on racehorses. The new rule prohibits any horse from racing or participating in timed workouts in the mornings within 30 days of such treatment. As is currently CHRB policy, ESWT can only be administered in clearly designated areas, and each treatment must be carefully documented. Furthermore, no horse that received ESWT elsewhere within the previous 30 days can be brought onto a CHRB-regulated facility without prior approval of the Official Veterinarian. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy is otherwise permitted within the restrictions of the regulation. Violations of the regulation will carry a Category A penalty, which is a minimum one-year suspension and $10,000 fine.
The Board permanently adopted the existing emergency regulation allowing the Board to suspend a race meet license when necessary to protect horses and riders.
Extensive public comments made during the meeting can be accessed through the meeting audio archive on the CHRB website. The written transcript for the meeting will be posted when available.

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Funny Guy Takes Inside Route For Comeback Victory In Commentator

Funny Guy finished strong in his first start off a nine-month layoff, surging alongside the rail under jockey Joel Rosario to overtake Blewitt in the stretch and outkick two additional challengers to his outside, capturing Friday's $125,000 Commentator, a one-turn mile for New York-breds 3-years-old and up at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

Owned by Gatsas Stables, R.A. Hill Stable and Swick Stable, Funny Guy won two stakes in his 3-year-old campaign, with his last race coming in a sixth-place effort in the Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby in September at Remington Park.

Funny Guy was content to sit off Blewitt's early pace, leading the nine-horse field through an opening quarter-mile in 22.67 seconds and the half in 45.81 on the fast main track.

Rosario piloted Funny Guy to a ground-saving trip, gaining position near the rail and made a strong move out of the turn. In the stretch, the John Terranova trainee linked up with Blewitt to his outside and gained the edge as Bankit and 4-5 favorite Mr. Buff, the high weight carrying 127 pounds, also challenged from Blewitt's outside.

Funny Guy, carrying 120 pounds, hit the wire in a final time of 1:34.35, besting runner-up Mr. Buff by 1 ¼ lengths. Funny Guy improved to 4-4-0 in 11 career starts in his impressive 4-year-old bow.

“He's been doing really well and training great,” Terranova said. “We've had him ready for a while now. Of course, we've all been delayed coming back, and the race came up a deep field for New York-breds; that was our only maybe concern. As far as his training goes, he's progressed as a 4-year-old and just gotten stronger and stronger. I was hoping for a big effort and thought we would get it, but it was even sweeter than expected.”

Off at 11-1, Funny Guy returned $24.40 on a $2 win wager. The Big Brown colt earned $68,750 for the win, increasing his career bankroll to $458,395.

“Between the three-eighths and the quarter-pole, I had a problem with the horses in front of me and I had to check him a little bit,” Rosario said. “He was okay with that and was handling everything fine and was able to come up the inside and sustain his run. He kept improving. The further we went, the better he was going.”

Funny Guy has now won at 6 ½ furlongs, one mile, and 1 1/8 miles and has also run second in each of his two turf starts, with each coming in stakes against New York breds.

Mr. Buff, who entered with three consecutive wins and four victories in his last five starts for trainer John Kimmel, edged Bankit by a neck for second.

“He's a pro. He ran his race,” said Junior Alvarado, Mr. Buff's rider. “We thought coming into the race, it might be a little quick for him. He had only four workouts and two were easy and two trying to get him a little tighter before the race. We had that on our minds and I didn't want to chase the lead too early and get tired.

“Coming from a little bit of a layoff, I thought he put a great effort in today,” he added. “He was really digging in for me and he never gave up any ground. I don't think the weight mattered too much. He's a big guy, he can handle it. For me, it was more just needing a little more time.”

Blewitt, Build to Suit, Pat On the Back, Honor Up and My Boy Tate completed the order of finish. Whistling Birds was pulled up on the backstretch and vanned off.

The Commentator is named for the former trainee of Hall of Famer Nick Zito, who won the 2005 and 2008 editions of the Whitney at Saratoga Race Course and compiled three graded stakes wins overall in a career that spanned 2004-09.

Live racing resumes Saturday with a 10-race card highlighted by the Grade 1, $300,000 Ogden Phipps, a “Win and You're In” qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Distaff, in Race 9 at 5:36 p.m. Eastern. First post is 1:15 p.m.

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Ellis Park Moves Opening Day to July 2

In an effort to ensure that all health and safety protocols are in place, officials at Ellis Park in Henderson, Kentucky, announced that they are moving back the scheduled opening day of the season from June 28 to July 2.

“We were going to be open one day and then be dark for three days, before picking back up on July 2,” said Jeff Inman, Ellis Park’s general manager. “Just waiting until July 2 gives us additional valuable time to institute all the safety protocols involved with staging horse racing in the COVID-19 era. We are looking forward to the new opening date being a kickoff to a big four-day July 4th weekend.”

The track plans on conducting spectator-free racing at the beginning of the meet, with hopes that the doors can be opened to fans at some point.

“At this point we are unable to commit to having spectators in the grandstand and in the grassy picnic areas near the racetrack apron and paddock,” Inman said. “We’re awaiting word from Gov. Beshear’s office as to when we can open areas outside of the Clubhouse. We cannot wait to get our fans back and we will be ready to go as soon as Gov. Beshear and his staff feel that it is safe.”

Ellis will pause following Independence Day weekend when racing shifts to Keeneland for five days and will resume July 17. The track’s two marquee days are set for Aug. 2 (Kentucky Downs Preview Day) and Aug. 9, featuring the $200,000 Ellis Park Derby, a points race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby Sept. 5.

The post Ellis Park Moves Opening Day to July 2 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Longshots At Laurel Park, Gulfstream Fuel Stronach 5 Payout Of $17,678

Eight bettors with all five winners in Friday's Stronach 5 were each rewarded with a winning ticket of $17,678.20.

The Stronach 5 kicked off with Laurel's eighth race, won by the Mike Trombetta-trained No More Lady ($15.80). Gulfstream's 10^th race, the second leg of the sequence, produced another price with the win of the Mark Casse-trained Meadow Beauty ($24.20).

After favored Going to Vegas ($3.60) won Santa Anita's third race and the third leg of the Stronach 5, Power Back ($17.40) won Laurel's 10th race – the fourth race of the sequence – before things wrapped up with Golden Gate's fifth race and Mando ($7.40) winning the final leg of the Stronach 5.

Friday's races and sequence

Leg One – Laurel Park 8^th Race: No More Lady $15.80
Leg Two –Gulfstream Park 10^th Race: Meadow Beauty $24.20
Leg Three –Santa Anita 3^rd Race: Going to Vegas $3.60
Leg Four –Laurel Park 10^th Race: Power Back $17.40
Leg Five –Golden Gate Fields 5th race: Mando $7.40

The minimum wager on the multi-race, multi-track Stronach 5 is $1. If there are no tickets with five winners, the entire pool will be carried over to the next Friday.

If a change in racing surface is made after the wagering closes, each selection on any ticket will be considered a winning selection. If a betting interest is scratched, that selection will be substituted with the favorite in the win pool when wagering closes.

The Maryland Jockey Club serves as host of the Stronach 5.

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