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Belmont Stakes Officially Shifts To Saratoga In 2024, Run At 1 1/4 Miles

New York Governor Kathy Hochul made it official that the 2024 GI Belmont S. will be held for the first time at Saratoga Race Course and be run at 1 1/4 miles to allow for the uninterrupted construction of a new and re-imagined Belmont Park, the governor said in a release Wednesday.

“As part of the exciting modernization of Belmont Park, Saratoga now adds to its storied history by hosting the third leg of the Triple Crown,” Governor Hochul said. “It's a win for horse racing and for the Capital Region to have the excitement and the ability to host the four-day Festival in June at America's most historic track. As I said during the 2023 Saratoga Meet, 'Let's do it.'”

Highlighted by the 156th edition of the Belmont S. on Saturday, June 8, the 2024 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival will begin on Thursday, June 6 and continue through Sunday, June 9. The four-day Festival at Saratoga Race Course will include 23 stakes races in total with purses totaling $9.7 million, the highest purse levels and number of stakes offered since the launch of the multi-day event in 2014.

The New York Racing Association (NYRA) will increase the purse of the Belmont S. from $1.5 million to $2 million in 2024, which is the first significant increase since 2014. In addition, pending the approval of the North American Graded Stakes Committee, the race will be contested at 1 1/4 miles in 2024 rather than the traditional 1 1/2 miles due to the configuration of Saratoga's main track.

“Thanks to Governor Hochul's support for a new and modernized Belmont Park, NYRA will soon be able to bring the Belmont S. to Upstate New York for the first time in history. Beyond the excitement and energy around a Triple Crown event at the sport's most beloved venue, the Belmont S. at Saratoga Race Course will generate important economic impact and drive tourism throughout the Capital Region,” said NYRA's President and CEO David O'Rourke. “We are thrilled to add a new chapter to the story of Thoroughbred racing in Saratoga Springs this June.”

Earlier this year, Governor Hochul's Executive Budget included a proposal for NYRA to build new Thoroughbred racing facilities at Belmont Park; the FY2024 Enacted Budget granted that approval. This project will transform the 117-year-old track, bringing the modern hospitality offerings fans expect while generating $1 billion in construction-related impacts, 3,700 construction jobs, $155 million in annual economic activity, and 740 new full-time jobs. Upgrading Belmont, which sustains 19,000 jobs across the state and a $3-billion annual economic impact, will also dramatically expand the amount of open space available to fans and the surrounding community.

Following the conclusion of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga, the NYRA circuit will return to Aqueduct Racetrack for the remainder of the spring meet before racing shifts to Saratoga for the annual 40-day summer meet beginning Thursday, July 11. Prior to the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, the Belmont Spring/Summer meet will be conducted at Aqueduct. The fall meet customarily held at Belmont Park will again be shifted to Aqueduct Racetrack in 2024 while construction of a new Belmont Park continues.

While 2024 will mark the first time the Belmont S. unfolds at Saratoga, the race was moved to Aqueduct Racetrack from 1963-1967 when Belmont Park last underwent significant renovations, and the distance has been adjusted throughout history, with the most recent change coming in 2020 when the Triple Crown was modified because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Additional information and details on hospitality offerings, ticket packages and pricing for the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course will be available in early 2024.

The post Belmont Stakes Officially Shifts To Saratoga In 2024, Run At 1 1/4 Miles appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Sam Houston To Honor Late Racing Executive ‘Judge’ David Hooper

Sam Houston Race will kick off its 2024 live racing season on Friday, Jan. 5 and is in final preparations for the 43-day Thoroughbred meet, which will continue through Sunday, April 7.

One of the five Texas Preview Stakes on Saturday, February 17 has been renamed to honor David E. Hooper, who passed away on May 29, 2023, following a courageous battle with cancer. The 88-year-old had an extensive career in the horse racing industry, which included serving as executive director of the Texas Thoroughbred Association from 1997-2012.

He held many regulatory positions, including executive secretary of the Illinois Racing Board, and served as a steward at the state and racetrack levels in eight states. In 2018, he was the recipient of the Pete Pedersen Award from the Racing Officials Accreditation Program, which recognizes professional excellence, integrity, and benevolent consideration in the performance of their duties. Often referred to respectfully as “Judge,” Hooper was regarded widely as being fair in his stewardship and interactions with fellow horsemen, while prioritizing the ethics of the game and safety of the jockeys. He retired in 2020; his final position was at Canterbury Park in Minnesota, where Hooper served as a steward.

He also served as coordinator and lecturer at the University of Arizona's Race Track Industry Program (RTIP), specializing in racing laws and enforcement, covering all aspects of regulatory oversight. Hooper was a mentor to many who came through the program. His knowledge of the industry was only surpassed by his outgoing personality and unsurpassed communication skills with racetrack administrators, breeders, trainers and jockeys in Texas and across the country.

Mary Ruyle, who assumed the position as TTA's executive director following Hooper's departure, is pleased that his legacy will be recognized on Texas Preview Day.

“Dave did an incredible job for our association and working with him was a pleasure,” said Ruyle. “He always looked forward to Texas Champions Day at Sam Houston Race Park and celebrating the growth and excellence of Texas racing.”

Hooper is survived by his wife of 25 years, Martha. Sam Houston Race Park officials are hopeful that Martha and his daughters, Jennifer Kash, Cindy Slachta and Suzy Hooper, will be on hand for the trophy presentation on February 17.

The post Sam Houston To Honor Late Racing Executive ‘Judge’ David Hooper appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Ascot Boosts Prize Money For 2024; Royal Meeting Worth Record £10 Million

Ascot Racecourse has announced that total prize money in 2024 will reach a record £17.5 million (US$22.o4 million), an increase of 3.9 percent on 2023 values.

This excludes the industry-owned QIPCO British Champions Day.

Royal Ascot (to be held June 19-22) will be worth a record £10 million (US$12.6 million) with no race run for less than £110,000 (about US$138,500), up from £100,000, and all Group 1 races worth a minimum of £650,000 (about US$819,000), up from £600,000.

This includes increases to the King Charles III Stakes (formerly the King's Stand Stakes), St James's Palace Stakes, Gold Cup, Commonwealth Cup and Coronation Stakes, which were all run for £600,000 in 2023.

Nick Smith, Director of Racing and Public Affairs at Ascot Racecourse, said:

“We are pleased to be delivering these prize money increases in 2024 against a backdrop of uncertainty and an unprecedented number of negative headwinds for the industry. The financial impact on all facets of the industry is already being acutely felt.

“It is, however, crucial for Royal Ascot to maintain its position on the global stage at a time when participants at home and abroad have so many alternative lucrative options away from Britain.

“Whist the main increases have been made to the Royal Meeting to enable us to get to £10 million for the first time, we have made increases in other areas of the program as well.

“These include increases to fit with the new Premier fixture structure, including at the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup, where there is a particular focus on maintaining full fields.

“Importantly, no race at Ascot will be run for less than in 2023 including at our Core (non-Premier) fixtures. This is in spite of a reduction in central funding to this element of the program, which has therefore required further increases in executive contribution.”

The post Ascot Boosts Prize Money For 2024; Royal Meeting Worth Record £10 Million appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Sam Houston To Honor Executive David Hooper With Race

One of the five Texas Preview Stakes on Saturday, Feb. 17 has been renamed to honor executive David E. Hooper, who passed away May 29 following a battle with cancer, Sam Houston Race Park said in a release Wednesday.

The 88-year-old had an extensive career in the horse racing industry, which included serving as executive director of the Texas Thoroughbred Association from 1997-2012.

Hooper held several regulatory positions, including executive secretary of the Illinois Racing Board and he was a steward in eight states.

In 2018, he was the recipient of the Pete Pedersen Award from the Racing Officials Accreditation Program, and served as coordinator and lecturer at the University of Arizona's Race Track Industry Program.

“Dave did an incredible job for our association and working with him was a pleasure,” said TTA's Mary Ruyle. “He always looked forward to Texas Champions Day at Sam Houston Race Park and celebrating the growth and excellence of Texas racing.”

The post Sam Houston To Honor Executive David Hooper With Race appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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