Author: News

Speightstown’s El Terreno Blitzes Over Gulfstream Tapeta To ‘TDN Rising Stardom’

Given the dominance she showed when blowing away a field of Presque Isle maidens by 11 lengths in fast time on her six-furlong debut Oct. 25, the connections of El Terreno (Speightstown–Palma, by Malibu Moon) would hardly have been dismayed when Friday's second race from Gulfstream Park was washed off the turf and onto the synthetic surface. Accordingly smashed into 2-5 favoritism, the Castleton Lyons homebred duly obliged with another commanding performance, this one good for 'TDN Rising Star' honors.

Kicked straight into the lead by Irad Ortiz, Jr., El Terreno set the pace from a couple of paths off the inside down the backstretch and got her opening quarter-mile in a solid :22.15. Traveling well in hand on the turn with her jockey riding high in the saddle, the dark bay opened up on her rivals into the final furlong and was never out of a high gallop while reporting home an eased-down, 4 1/4-length winner. Bubbly Champagne (Bee Jersey), who just missed in the Our Dear Peg S. two starts back and the second choice here at 33-10, made some late headway from the latter half of the field to round out a chalky exacta while never any sort of danger to the winner.

“She was very impressive. She did everything on her own,” the winning jockey commented. “She broke out of there. I didn't have to ask her. She was quick and then she relaxed. Turning [for] home, I just motioned to her and showed her the stick one time and she finished on her own.”

A 25th 'Rising Star' for the sadly lost Speightstown, is out of a half-sister to Argentinian stakes winner and Group 1-placed Meguial, the dam of GISW I Want Revenge (Stephen Got Even), SP A Story of Revenge (Tale of the Cat) and Meg Fitz (Tapit), whose son Real Men Violin (Mendelssohn) was runner-up in last month's GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. at Churchill Downs.

Palma, bred in New York by Newtown Anner Stud, was purchased for $500,000 at the 2015 Keeneland September sale by Castleton Lyons, where her sire stood from 2004-2007 after relocating from Country Life Farm in Maryland. From 2008 to his death in May 2021, Malibu Moon resided at Spendthrift Farm.

The mare's yearling colt by Volatile was knocked down to Starlight Racing and Harrell Ventures for $135,000 at this year's Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July sale and she foaled a Knicks Go filly this past Mar. 18 before visiting Dialed In.

2nd-Gulfstream, $61,000, Alw (NW1X), Opt. Clm ($75,000), 12-15, 2yo, f, 5f (AWT) (off turf), :55.67, ft, 4 1/4 lengths.
EL TERRENO, f, 2, by Speightstown
1st Dam: Palma, by Malibu Moon
2nd Dam: Meguial (Arg), by Roy
3rd Dam: Starry Night (Arg), by Fitzcarraldo (Arg)
Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $54,600.
O-Castleton Lyons; B-Castleton Lyons & Kilboy Estate (KY); T-Christophe Clement. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.

The post Speightstown’s El Terreno Blitzes Over Gulfstream Tapeta To ‘TDN Rising Stardom’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Michelle Borisenok, Najja Thompson Named To New York Race Track Chaplaincy Board Of Directors

Michelle Cuozzo Borisenok, a longtime Thoroughbred owner, entrepreneur and philanthropist in the Capital region, and Najja Thompson, the executive director of the New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc., have been named to the Board of Directors of the New York Race Track Chaplaincy.

The announcement was made by Ramón Dominguez, the president of the NY Chaplaincy.

“Michelle and Najja both have a deep appreciation for the mission of the New York Race Track Chaplaincy and they are widely admired throughout the Thoroughbred industry,” Dominguez said. “We are honored to have them as board members and we look forward to working with them.”

Borisenok is well known for her steadfast support of women's leadership and she operates Brown Road Racing, a boutique Thoroughbred racing organization that provides a unique platform for female enthusiasts. Through the emphasis on the Thoroughbred, education and philanthropy, Brown Road Racing aims to empower women, foster a sense of camaraderie, and give back to the community.

The stable won the 2021 Cicada Stakes with Just Read It. Since 2016, Borisenok has also co-owned the Thoroughbred breeding farm Old Tavern Farm with her husband Walt Borisenok. She also serves on several boards in the Albany area.

Thompson joined NYTB in 2020, after nearly a decade at the New York Racing Association where he held roles in marketing, communications, and human resources. Thompson is the president of the Turf Publicists of America and serves on the boards of The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA), the New York State Thoroughbred Breeding & Development Fund, the Backstretch Employee Service Team (B.E.S.T) and the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce.

A graduate of Florida State University, Thompson developed his passion for Thoroughbred racing after being introduced to the sport by his uncle, a small breeder in Florida. Growing up attending racetracks in both Florida and New York, he followed his passion to work in the industry. In his role as executive director of the New York Thoroughbred Breeders, he works to enhance the status of New York-breds and promote the economic impact that breeders and racing contribute to New York.

The New York Race Track Chaplaincy (www.rtcany.org) ministers to the needs of the backstretch community at the NYRA racetracks (Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park, and Saratoga Race Course) as well as surrounding farms through a wide variety of programs. They include enrichment programs for children, teen mentoring, women's enrichment, social service, and recreational programs, as well as educational opportunities, and non-denominational religious services.

The post Michelle Borisenok, Najja Thompson Named To New York Race Track Chaplaincy Board Of Directors appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

FX And New York Times To Team Up On Documentary Series That Will Focus On Racing’s Problems

FX, a division of Disney Entertainment, has announced that its series “The New York Times Presents” will feature a documentary called “Broken Horses” that will examine “the systematic issues, questionable practices and urgent calls for change that have shaken horse racing to its core.” The series will air sometime in 2024 and will be shown on FX and Hulu.

FX has posted a short video on-line featuring Arthur Hancock, who says: “We've got to get rid of the bad actors in the sport and we've got to get rid of all these drugs.” That is followed up by a recording of two individuals discussing how a horse “galloped” after given a substance that one of the individuals admitted was a doping agent.

Over the last several years, The New York Times's coverage of horse racing has been extremely negative and focused on breakdowns and doping, so the sport should be prepared for the FX documentary to pick up on the same themes and to cast a harsh light on the sport.

According to press release issued by FX, New York Times reporters Joe Drape, Melissa Hoppert, Rachel Abrams and Liz Day investigated the period surrounding this year's Triple Crown races when an unusually high number of horses broke down.

The press release continues: “With confidential documents and recordings and exclusive interviews, “Broken Horses” provides a vivid tour of the business and political forces that control the Sport of Kings and resist measures to implement changes that could decrease horse deaths. It is a story of reckless breeding and doping, of compromised veterinarians and trainers, and of fans who are drawn to the sport's beauty and pageantry but increasingly wonder how long one of America's oldest sports can continue to have its social license renewed.”

Executive Producers are Esther Dere, Jason Stallman, Liz Day, Sam Dolnick, Stephanie Preiss, Ken Druckerman and Banks Tarver. Dere also serves as the Showrunner of “The New York Times Presents.” Rachel Abrams is Senior Producer.

The post FX And New York Times To Team Up On Documentary Series That Will Focus On Racing’s Problems appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

NTRA Renews Sales, Marketing Partnership With John Deere

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) announced Friday that John Deere, the world's largest manufacturer of agricultural equipment, has renewed its sales and marketing partnership with the NTRA for an additional three years. Consistent with its long-standing NTRA deal, John Deere will continue in its role as the Exclusive Equipment Supplier to the NTRA and also maintain its participation in the NTRA Advantage group purchasing program.

“John Deere tractors and horse racing go hand in hand,” said NTRA President and CEO Tom Rooney. “We are thrilled to renew our partnership with this great American company for another three years.”

As part of the agreement, NTRA members will continue to be able to purchase or lease John Deere agricultural tractors, equipment, and implements with preferred member discounts, warranty programs, and competitive financing packages.

“The Thoroughbred industry remains a vital and important market for our products and services,” said Auston Till, Manager Partner Sales, John Deere Ag & Turf. “We greatly value our relationship with the NTRA and we look forward to continuing our partnership with the NTRA and its members.”

“We're delighted to extend our deal with John Deere,” said Fritz Widaman, Senior Vice President of NTRA Advantage. “Thanks to this agreement, NTRA members who have always relied on John Deere's outstanding equipment will continue to enjoy special pricing from a world-class company that also supports our industry through substantial marketing and sponsorship spending.”

NTRA members that can realize savings through NTRA Advantage include racetracks, owners, breeders, and trainers. Equine organizations utilizing the Advantage program extend well beyond the realm of Thoroughbred racing. Participating organizations include the American Quarter Horse Association, the U.S. Equestrian Federation, the U.S. Trotting Association, Harness Tracks of America, the American Paint Horse Association, and the U.S. Polo Association.

Additionally, those who make purchases through NTRA's Advantage program can utilize the tax incentive program called Bonus Depreciation. Bonus Depreciation is a tax incentive designed to stimulate business investment that allows the taxpaying company to accelerate the depreciation of qualifying assets such as equipment like John Deere tractors. Through the end of 2023, businesses are able to deduct 80% of the cost of qualifying property for business purposes from taxable income. This deduction amount will phase down to 60% in 2024, which is why NTRA is encouraging racetracks, farms, and other industry businesses to consult their tax advisors on how to best utilize this incentive prior to the end of the year.

In 2022, the NTRA Advantage program topped the $1 billion sales mark with savings to the horse industry approximately $180 million since the inception of the NTRA's group purchasing arm in 2002. NTRA Official Suppliers include such nationally known vendors as John Deere, Big Ass Fans, Sherwin-Williams, ODP Business Solutions and Farmers Insurance.

The NTRA, based in Lexington, Ky. and Washington, D.C., is a broad-based coalition of more than 100 horse racing interests and thousands of individual stakeholders consisting of horseplayers, racetrack operators, owners, breeders, trainers and affiliated horse racing associations, charged with increasing the popularity, welfare and integrity of Thoroughbred racing.

The post NTRA Renews Sales, Marketing Partnership With John Deere appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights