Horse Racing News | Horse Racing Free Tips

Kelly McDaniel, Former Airdrie Stud Stallion Manager, Passes Away

Kelly McDaniel, a long-time and beloved stallion manager at Airdrie Stud, passed away Sunday at the age of 56. Known for his affable character and great love of the history of the land on which Airdrie was built, Kelly dutifully looked after the Airdrie stallions for more than 32 years before his retirement in 2017.

“Kelly was one of the all-time originals,” said Airdrie’s Bret Jones. “He, of course, took wonderful care of his horses, but I think Kelly’s incredible storytelling is how he impacted so many people. He loved giving tours of Airdrie to anyone with even a hint of interest and they always walked away so grateful for the experience. Dad always said that Kelly got more fan mail at the farm than any horse or human that set foot here. He loved talking to people and took great joy in teaching them something they didn’t know. I think he knew more about the history of this land than anyone named Jones. We have been so lucky to have had Kelly in our lives, and our Airdrie family sends our deepest condolences to all those fortunate enough to have known and loved him.”

A graveside service will take place at 10:00 a.m. Thursday at Midway Cemetery in Midway, Ky. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of the Bluegrass.

The post Kelly McDaniel, Former Airdrie Stud Stallion Manager, Passes Away appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Saturday’s All-Quarter Horse Card At Indiana Grand Features Nine Races, Four Stakes

More than $650,000 will be spread out over nine races for the final All-Quarter Horse racing program at Indiana Grand Saturday, Oct. 24. The card features four stakes races to complete the day, including the 12th running of the $192,400 Miss Roxie Little Futurity.

Slated as the first of four stakes in Race 6, the Miss Roxie Little Futurity features 10 of the state's top two-year-olds running 350 yards. Beach Blast, the quickest qualifier from the trials, has been tagged as the early morning line favorite heading into the race. A son of Escondido Beach, the sorrel gelding trained by Randy Smith has two wins in five starts this year with earnings just under the $40,000 mark. He just missed the title in the $81,000 Leader of the Class Stakes two starts back and will begin his quest for the Miss Roxie Little Futurity title from post six at odds of 3-1. Shanley Jackson is back aboard Beach Blast for owners Keith Bode and Brock Hutchinson.

The Miss Roxie Little Futurity, in post position order with jockey and odds, includes: Up Town J Ray (Cesar Esqueda, 20-1); Beach Diva (L.D. Martinez, 5-1); Gottasmoochjess (Natasha Fritz, 20-1); Rock Candy Almighty (Victor Olivo, 30-1); WH Imastreakinbeach (Oscar Macias, 7-2); Beach Blast (Shanley Jackson, 3-1); Inseperable Blood, Sammy Mendez, 5-1); Zoomin Policy (Erik Esqueda, 20-1); Jess Bringin It On (Juan Marquez, 20-1); and Fire the Cartel (Rodney Prescott, 7-2). In addition to favored Beach Blast, Smith will saddle two others in the final, Inseperable Blood and Fire the Cartel. Trainer Paul Martin also has three in the final, Up Town J Ray, Zoomin Policy and Jess Bringin It On.

Next up on the Saturday program will be the 24th running of the $132,560 Governors Stakes, slated as Race 7. The race, one of three oldest pari-mutuel stakes races for Quarter Horses in the state of Indiana, will be contested at 350 yards with WRs Moonin Thewagon getting the nod as the early morning line favorite. The Moonin the Eagle grey gelding is on a two-race win streak for Gwen and Randy Williams, including the quickest trial for the Governor's Stakes. With Sammy Mendez aboard, WRs Moonin Thewagon starts from post nine for trainer Smith at odds of 3-5.

The entire field for the Governors' Stakes, in post position order with jockey and odds, includes: BP Fancy Lady (Edgar Diaz, 12-1); Aa Storm the Mozoomo (Oscar Macias, 12-1); Lone Cartel (Giovani Vazquez-Gomez, 12-1); On a New Note (Isidro Banuelos, 8-1); Jess Ally (Natasha Fritz, 30-1); Wanna Be A Runaway (Cristian Reyes, 30-1); Julias Dazzle (L.D. Martinez, 20-1); Kisses Forever (German Rodriguez, 10-1); WRs Moonin Thewagon (Sammy Mendez, 3-5); and Shez Bodacious (Juan Marquez, 10-1). Trainer Tony Cunningham saddles three for the final (Aa Storm the Mozoomo, Julias Dazzle, Kisses Forever) while Trainer Tim Eggleston saddles two (Jess Ally, Shez Bodacious).

Joining the Governor's Stakes as one of the oldest pari-mutuel stakes in the state is the 24th running of the $121,880 QHRAI Derby, set as Race 8. The three-year-old stakes, running at a distance of 400 yards, features this year's standout WRs Apolliticalivory, who is four for four at Indiana Grand in 2020. The Apollitical Blood sophomore is the overwhelming favorite at odds of 1-5 with Sammy Mendez aboard from post nine for Williams Racing Stable. He is another standout from the Smith Stable this season.

The entire field of the QHRAI Derby, in post position order with jockey and odds, includes: Justafamilytradition (Shanley Jackson, 30-1); My Pillow (Giovani Vazquez-Gomez, 20-1); Merciless Fire (Juan Cruz, 20-1); A Ruby Corona (Antonio Rodriguez, 30-1); Flyweight Carver (Juan Marquez, 10-1); Passenger Train (L.D. Martinez, 15-1); Relentless Chick (Cristian Reyes, 30-1); Coronados Lil Lady (Sergio Ramirez, 30-1); WRs Apolliticalivory (Sammy Mendez, 1-5); and MTs Sixty Six Cartel (German Rodriguez, 15-1). Smith will saddle two in the final, A Ruby Corona and WRs Apolliticalivory, while Tony Cunningham saddles Passenger Train and MTs Sixty Six Cartel.

The final stakes on the card is the eighth running of the $107,860 Indiana Championship featuring the return of the tough Country Boy 123. Owned by Ruth Barbour, the seven-year-old son of Country Chicks Man returns to the Cunningham barn for the event after spending the summer at Ajax Downs where he won five of seven starts and finished second in the other two races. Country Boy 123 finished fourth in last year's Indiana Championship over a sloppy track, which is the only time he's been worse than second over Indiana Grand's surface in his career that spans three years. Country Boy 123 is the favorite from post four at odds of 6-5 with L.D. Martinez aboard for the ride.

The entire field for the Indiana Championships, in post position order with jockey and odds includes: Beach Treat (Oscar Macias, 6-1); Yadi 1 (Giovani Vazquez-Gomez, 30-1); WRs Valentino (Juan Marquez, 8-1); Country Boy 123 (L.D. Martinez, 6-5); Kissmelikethat (Erik Esqueda, 20-1); Louisiana Lover (Sammy Mendez, 3-1); Abe (Edgar Diaz, 30-1); Valiantinecandyrocks (Victor Olivo, 8-1); Tres My Heart (Cesar Esqueda, 30-1); and Southern Belle BP (German Rodriguez, 20-1). Trainers Randy Thompson (Yadi 1, Abe) and Randy Smith (WRs Valentino, Louisiana Lover) will each saddle two in the Indiana Championship final.

It could be a big day for Smith, who is Indiana Grand's all-time leading Quarter Horse trainer and the leader from the past five seasons. Smith is currently sitting at 44 wins and is two away from equaling the mark he set in 2015 for most wins in one season (46). He is also very close to eclipsing the earnings record for a Quarter Horse trainer in one season. Smith is currently at $1,034,101 and the record is $1,104,209. Both records were set during a year when 120 days of racing were held in 2015 compared to the 2020 racing season that has been shortened due to COVID-19 shutdowns, making the records even more impressive this season.

Racing is held Monday through Thursday until Thursday, Nov. 19. All-Quarter Horse racing is set for Saturday, Oct. 3 and Saturday, Oct. 24. For more information, go to www.indianagrand.com.

The post Saturday’s All-Quarter Horse Card At Indiana Grand Features Nine Races, Four Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

KTA: Downward Trend Awaits Kentucky Racing If HHR Is Halted

If the Kentucky Supreme Court doesn't reconsider its recently-published surprise opinion on the legality of historical horse racing (HHR) machines in the state, Kentucky's racing industry will be in big trouble.

That's the gist of a document filed in the case this week by the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association (KTA). The KTA is seeking permission to file a brief of amicus curiae in the civil case between The Family Trust Foundation of Kentucky and the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission. Last month, the state supreme court reversed a 2018 lower court decision that determined HHR machines made by Exacta Systems were a form of legal pari-mutuel wagering.

The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce also submitted an amicus brief last week, expressing concern over the potential economic impact of the court's decision.

The KTA provided figures showing an upward improvement in all sectors of the state's racing and breeding industry since the introduction of HHR machines in 2012. The Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund is generated from half of the 1.5 percent excise tax imposed on wagering at tracks with HHR. The fund paid out purse supplements of just over $4.9 million in the year before the inception of HHR in Kentucky, and over $19.5 million last year.

The KTA's brief explains that this increase in purses has led to an increase in field size (which is above the national average) and handle (which increased 18.5 percent with the addition of HHR).

“Eliminating historical horse racing will have a significant negative effect on the Thoroughbred horse industry, which, again, is Kentucky's signature industry,” the brief read. “It will result in horses, trainers, jockeys, grooms, owners, racing executives, and other industry participants going to other states to compete. Kentucky will lose tourism dollars. Kentucky will lose revenue from on-track sources and also from off-track (and in many cases out of state) sources.

“In addition, reducing the KTDF purse supplements will reduce the purses, which will reduce the amount owners will be willing to pay for Kentucky-bred horses that are eligible to race for these supplements. This will lead to decreased spending on yearlings sold in Kentucky each year. It will lead to decreased spending on mares and stallions sold in Kentucky each year. It will lead to fewer mares being maintained in Kentucky. All of this would lead to decreased tax revenue, decreased employment, decreased tourism spending, and decreased economic impact. In short, Kentucky's signature industry would suffer and Kentucky racing would trend the way racing in other states is trending: downward.”

The KTA also raises questions about the legal elements of the Family Foundation's case and whether the court correctly interpreted definitions of pari-mutuel wagering, initial seed pools, and the commission's regulatory authority, among other things.

The post KTA: Downward Trend Awaits Kentucky Racing If HHR Is Halted appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

HHR Fate Still ‘Elephant in the Room’ As KHRC Grants ’21 Race Dates

Saying he’d “like to briefly address the elephant in the room,” Kentucky Horse Racing Commission chairman Jonathan Rabinowitz opened the board’s Oct. 20 videoconference meeting by attempting to reassure the racing community that elected and appointed officials are working to find a solution to a Sept. 24 Supreme Court of Kentucky opinion that told a lower court to re-examine the legality of historical horse race (HHR) gaming.

HHR handled $2.2 billion during the commonwealth’s most recent fiscal year, and revenue from that form of gaming annually contributes tens of millions of dollars to purses at the state’s five Thoroughbred tracks. The Supreme Court’s opinion that HHR does not comply with the pari-mutuel wagering statute has imperiled that crucial source of funding.

“While I cannot say too much, I do want everyone to know that if the current Supreme Court opinion is rendered final, that this commission is committed to finding a solution,” Rabinowitz said.

“Additionally, after having numerous conversations with the governor, it’s clear that the governor and his team are committed to finding a solution,” Rabinowitz continued.

“Lastly, I truly hope and believe that this legislature is equally committed to finding a solution to this bipartisan issue in order to save thousands of Kentucky jobs, millions in tax revenue annually for the commonwealth, and to preserve the commonwealth’s signature industry as the best in the world,” Rabinowitz said.

Rabinowitz provided no specifics and there was no additional discussion of the topic among KHRC members, either directly after his statement or during the entirety of the meeting.

Chief among the various items that passed via unanimous voice vote on Tuesday was the KHRC’s approval of 2021 race dates, awarded as follows:

Turfway Park: Jan. 1-Mar. 28 on a Thursday-Sunday schedule. The Thursdays, however, are all marked “optional” on the calendar provided by a KHRC spokesperson.

Keeneland Race Course: Apr. 1-23 on a Wednesday-Sunday schedule.

Churchill Downs: Apr. 24-June 26. With the exception of the first Wednesday that falls during GI Kentucky Derby week, the Wednesday programs are “optional.” Derby week will also feature an Apr. 27 Tuesday card but no racing Sunday, May 2. A Monday, May 31 (Memorial Day) program is also added.

Ellis Park: June 27-Sept. 4. With the exception of July 1, all of the Mondays-Thursdays within that date allotment are “optional.”

Kentucky Downs: Sept. 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12.

Churchill: Sept. 15-Oct. 3 on a Wednesday-Sunday schedule, with the Wednesdays “optional.”

Keeneland: Oct. 8-30 on a Wednesday-Sunday schedule.

Churchill: Nov. 3-28 on a Wednesday-Sunday schedule.

Turfway: Dec. 1-31 on a Wednesday-Sunday schedule; Wednesdays “optional” and no racing Dec. 24 and 25.

Susan Nash, the KHRC’s executive administrative secretary, said that, “I’d like to point out that the total number of requested Thoroughbred dates for 2021, compared to what was awarded in 2020, shows as a negative one [date], representing a decline from last year.”

But Nash explained that’s because Keeneland’s request to host the two-date Breeders’ Cup meet this year bumped up the state’s 2020 total by two dates from 2019, “so consequently, there is actually an increase of one day for 2021” when the two Breeders’ Cup dates are removed from the equation.

The post HHR Fate Still ‘Elephant in the Room’ As KHRC Grants ’21 Race Dates appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post