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Grants Pass Downs Reports Significant Handle Increase; Over $2.2 Million Wagered On Summer Meet

Grants Pass Downs, Oregon's premier horse racing track, concluded its second commercial meet on July 8, following a four-week run of Tuesday and Wednesday racing. The summer meet, which began June 16, carded 78 races over nine dates and handled a total of $2,235,303, nearly quadruple the total amount from last year's non-commercial summer meet. The meet saw a dramatic jump in online and off-track betting, with nearly 94 percent of the meet's handle being driven by off-site betting – representing an astounding 859 percent increase from last summer's meet.

The horsemen and horsewomen received $619,511 in purse money on the season at an average of $68,835 per race day and $7,942 per race. Compared to summer 2019, average race day purses saw an increase of $38,863 – up 130 percent. Additionally, the track's field size jumped to an average 7.94 horses per race over last summer's 5.34 horses per race.

“This record-breaking meet shows that racing is alive and well in spite of COVID-19, and our success is a testament to the hard work put in by track staff, operations and facilities teams and the wonderful community of horsemen and women whose efforts made the meet possible,” said Randy Evers, President of Grants Pass Downs. “We are proud to be one of the few live sporting events on television while supporting the local Grants Pass economy.”

Once again, the meet's leading jockey was Kassie Guglielmino with 14 wins in 58 starts. Guglielmino, who also finished the 2019 fall commercial meet as Grants Pass Downs' top jockey, was followed by Taylor E. Smith (11 wins in 50 starts). Jorge Rosales was the meet's leading trainer with 12 wins and ten second place finishes in 37 starts, and Marjorie Avery finished atop the owner rankings with five wins and six second place finishes in 16 starts.

The meet's record handles were achieved despite limited crowd sizes. In response to the pandemic, Grants Pass Downs complied with the Governor's order to limit the number of nonessential people on site at 250 on racing days during the summer meet. It also made significant operational changes to align with guidance from the CDC and Oregon public health officials to ensure the safety of staff, participating horsemen, athletes, and stakeholders. Dates for the upcoming fall race meet will be announced soon.

For questions about meet details, terms, training schedules, or fees and regulations, please visit https://gpdowns.com/.

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Motivated By Paralyzed Brother, Jockey Hector Diaz Building On Opportunities At Monmouth Park

Hector Diaz, Jr. has never been willing to settle for second-best ever since his late start on a career as a jockey, but in this instance he's inclined to make an exception.

The 31-year-old journeyman currently sits second in the Monmouth Park jockey standings with 12 wins – well behind runaway leader Paco Lopez, who is on his way to a seventh title at the Shore track with 26 wins, but also ahead of notable veterans Joe Bravo, Jose Ferrer, Antonio Gallardo, Nik Juarez and Trevor McCarthy.

It's potentially a significant achievement for Diaz, who finished fourth in the track's rider standings a year ago.

“Monmouth Park has a great jockey colony. It's a very tough colony,” said Diaz, who is listed on four mounts when racing resumes at Monmouth Park with a six-race twilight card on Friday. “There are so many great riders and I feel grateful to be second now. I know it's going to be competitive and a challenge to stay there.

“I just have to focus on myself and keep working hard and remember that the things that have me second now will be the things that keep me second.”

In part because he is late to the profession, Diaz has an appreciation for every accomplishment now, big or small.

Though he grew up with a father and brother who were jockeys, and with cousins Irad and Jose Ortiz, in Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico, Diaz didn't enroll in the Escuela Vocacional Hipica jockey school until he was 23.

“My dad did not want me to be a jockey. But in my heart I knew I always wanted to be a jockey,” Diaz said.

Some of the motivation for finally setting on his professional path came from his brother, Hector Miguel Diaz, who was paralyzed in a spill at Camarero Race Track in Puerto Rico.

“He was just 21 when he was paralyzed,” said Diaz. “I decided that I needed to do this and do it for him.”

Diaz had mixed results as an apprentice in the ultra-competitive New York arena before shifting to Monmouth Park.

“It's hard in New York but I can't say it didn't really work out because of the opportunities I got there,” he said. “If I didn't get those opportunities I might not be getting the opportunities I have now at Monmouth. Those trainers come here to race. They know me. New York was part of the process that has helped me be where I am now.

“I believe you build your career every year and you do that by continuing to work hard. Last year was a good year for me. I won a couple of stakes races and I finished fourth in the standings at Monmouth Park. I think that has helped me get off to a good start this year.”

Diaz, who didn't start riding professionally until he was 27, isn't bashful about his long-term goal.

“I want to be leading rider here someday,” he said. “Paco is tough to beat. He is always tough to beat. So maybe it won't be this year and maybe it won't be next year but I believe I can do it. I always believe in myself. I always bet on me all the time to succeed. I will continue building my career and I won't stop trying to reach my goal.”

Diaz matched his personal best with 74 overall victories last year while earning a career-best $2,802,843. He is certain he can exceed those numbers this year.

“The trainers have been trusting me. That's a big part of this,” he said. “My agent (Shawn Klotz) is doing his job and I am doing my job in the mornings. But it's about opportunities. You've got to work hard to earn those opportunities but owners and trainers have got to support you. They have to give you a shot.”

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New York Race Track Chaplaincy to Hold Virtual ‘Champions TALK’ Aug. 5

In what has been a challenging year for many people and businesses, fewer have been hit harder than charitable organizations that rely heavily on event-based fundraising. The New York Race Track Chaplaincy depends on America’s premier race meeting at Saratoga every summer because the town is also the site of its two primary annual events – the Chaplaincy Brunch and Charity Basketball Game. Due to COVID-19, both had to be cancelled this year.

Samantha Randazzo Named The Jockey Club Steward At Finger Lakes

The Jockey Club announced Wednesday that Samantha Randazzo has been named The Jockey Club steward at Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack upon the resignation of Don Combs. Randazzo will start at Finger Lakes on August 3.

The appointment was announced by Stuart S. Janney III, the chairman of The Jockey Club.

“Samantha brings a diverse background to her new position as The Jockey Club's steward at Finger Lakes,” said Janney. “Her time as an assistant trainer, state steward, and safety steward, combined with a law degree, make her well-equipped to uphold the integrity of horse racing in this role.”

Previously, Randazzo had experience as a state steward in Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, and New Jersey. She was a safety steward for the National Steeplechase Association, and, while in Florida, she spent time as a veterinary technician. Randazzo worked for Linda Rice for 27 years, with 17 of those years spent as an assistant trainer overseeing divisions in Saratoga, New Jersey, and Florida.

Randazzo is an accredited steward through the Racing Officials Accreditation Program for both Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing. She graduated from Albright College with a Bachelor of Arts degree and received her law degree from the University of Toledo College of Law.

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