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Stephen Foster, Ohio Derby Take Center Stage On America’s Day At The Races Broadcast

America's Day at the Races, produced by the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) in partnership with FOX Sports, returns this Thursday on FOX Sports and MSG+ for the start of four days of coverage and analysis of the best in thoroughbred racing from Belmont Park, Churchill Downs and Thistledown Racecourse.

The acclaimed national telecast will air Thursday through Sunday on FS1, FS2 and MSG+ for a combined 20 1/2 hours of television coverage, highlighted on Saturday by a blockbuster day of stakes races from around the country.

Stakes action takes centerstage on Saturday at Belmont Park, anchored by the 27th running of the Grade 1, $300,000 Just a Game for 4-year-olds & up (fillies & mares) going one mile on the turf. Saturday coverage from Belmont will include a pair of Grade 2 races – the $250,000 New York for 4-year-olds & up (fillies & mares) at 1 ¼ miles on the turf and the $150,000 True North for 4-year-olds & up at 6 ½ furlongs on the dirt – as well as the Grade 3 $100,000 Vagrancy Handicap for 3-year-olds & up (fillies & mares) at 6 ½ furlongs on the dirt.

Also featured on Saturday's broadcast is the Grade 3 Ohio Derby at Thistledown Racecourse for 3-year-olds going 1 1/8 miles, which has been added to the Road to the Kentucky Derby series. The top-four finishers will receive points worth 20-8-4-2 for entry to the field for the Kentucky Derby, rescheduled for September 5 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Churchill Downs closes out its 38-day spring meet with two Breeders' Cup Challenge Series “Win and You're In” qualifying races, the Grade 2, $500,000 Grade 2 Stephen Foster for 4-year-olds & up going 1-1/8 miles, which offers an expenses-paid berth in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic to the race winner; and the Grade 2, $200,000 Fleur de Lis for fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles, which grants a place in the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff. Both Breeders Cup races will be on November 7 at Keeneland.

Grade 1-winner Tom's d'Etat will take on multiple graded-stakes winners By My Standards and Owendale in Saturday's 39th running of the Grade 2 Stephen Foster.

Featured in the 45th running of the Fleur de Lis – which means “Flower of the Lily” and honors the French symbol incorporated into the city of Louisville's Flag – will be the U.S. return of 2019 Champion Older Female Midnight Bisou taking on 2019 Longines Kentucky Oaks winner Serengeti Empress.

Closing day at Churchill Downs will also include the Grade 3, $100,000 Regret for sophomore fillies and the Grade 3, $100,000 Bashford Manor for juvenile sprinters.

The week's stakes schedule kicks off on Thursday at Belmont Park with the 8th running of the $80,000 Easy Goer for 3-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles on the dirt. Looking to extend his two victories in his first two career starts in his stakes debut will be Calumet Farm's Casino Grande, a Kentucky homebred, trained by Christophe Clement.

Highlighting Friday's racing from Belmont Park will be the inaugural running of the $75,000 Hessonite for 4-year-olds & up (fillies & mares) going six furlongs on the turf. Sunday's stakes race at Belmont will be the 43rd running of the $100,000 Bouwerie for 3-year-old New York fillies going seven furlongs on the dirt.

This week's America's Day at the Races schedule:

(All times Eastern)

Thursday, June 25:
1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. (FS2)
1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. (MSG+)

Friday, June 26:
1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. (FS2)
1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. (MSG+)

Saturday. June 27:
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. (FS2)
3:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. (FS1)
1:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. (MSG+)

Sunday, June 28:
1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. (FS2)
1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. (MSG+)

America's Day at the Races is also broadcast on NYRA's YouTube channel, which boasts more than 40,000 subscribers. Fans can subscribe to NYRA's channel and set a reminder to watch the show on YouTube Live. NYRA's YouTube channel also hosts a number of race replays, special features, America's Day at the Races replays and more.

America's Day at the Races is presented by America's Best Racing, Runhappy, and Claiborne Farm. This weekend's broadcast team includes Greg Wolf, Andy Serling, Maggie Wolfendale, Richard Migliore, Acacia Courtney and Jonathon Kinchen.

NYRA Bets is the official online wagering platform of the Belmont spring/summer meet available to customers across the United States. In addition to a host of weekly special offers, NYRA Bets is currently offering a $200 deposit match bonus to new members.

NYRA Bets provides fans the opportunity to wager on racing from tracks around the world at any time. The NYRA Bets app is available for download for iOS and Android at NYRA Bets App. Watch and wager on the best racing while earning points on every bet.

For further details on the new member bonus, visit NYRABets.com/#sign-up-bonus.

Free Equibase-provided past performances are available for races that are part of the America's Day at the Races broadcast and can be accessed at https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule.

The 2020 Belmont spring/summer meet continues through Sunday, July 12. Live racing is offered Thursday through Sunday with a first post of 1:15 p.m. The 25-day meet features 22 graded stakes and 40 stakes races in total worth $7 million in purses.

The post Stephen Foster, Ohio Derby Take Center Stage On America’s Day At The Races Broadcast appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Kirkpatrick & Co Presents In Their Care: Longtime Volunteer At Old Friends Has Staying Power

June Shaw has long been fascinated by Thoroughbreds, and she has shared her passion by leading tours at Saratoga Race Course for more than 30 years. One horse always stood out for her – Thunder Rumble.

The aptly-named New York-bred was, indeed, ready to rumble on and off the track. When Shaw would lead a group past trainer Richard O'Connell's barn, she would delight in observing that Thunder Rumble typically required two handlers. One did not stand a chance.

On the track, the combination of his innate strength and his imposing will allowed him to develop into one of the most formidable New York-breds in history. In 1992, before a devoted following at Saratoga Race Course, he captured the Jim Dandy as a prelude to becoming the first New York-bred to win the Travers since 1867.

“He was hyper and hard to control,” Shaw said. “But when he went to work, boy, he went to work.”

We do not know about the hyper and hard to control aspect. But when Shaw, 75, goes to work, boy, she goes to work. Of the 45 volunteers overseeing 15 retired horses at Old Friends' satellite farm in upstate New York – Old Friends at Cabin Creek: The Bobby Frankel Division – no one sets a brisker pace or is more dedicated than Shaw.

“She is my hero, really. I look up to her in every way. I hope and pray when I'm 75, I'm doing what June is doing,” said JoAnn Pepper, who operates Old Friends at Cabin Creek with her husband, Mark.

Shaw, all 5'5″, 106 pounds of her, was drawn by Thunder Rumble to the tranquil retirement facility that is a short drive from Saratoga Race Course. The nearly-black stallion arrived in 2009 as one of the first retirees to be placed there. He never failed to flex his muscles until the day he died of complications due to colic in January 2015. He was 26.

The opportunity to work with Thunder Rumble helped to attract Shaw to Old Friends at Cabin Creek. She and her husband, Ron, had given their all to raising three children — Tim, Ben and Samantha. Her 25-year career as a school bus driver was over. She felt she had more to give. So why not give it to Thunder Rumble and others?

“I think it was going to be twice a week,” Pepper said. “But she ended up coming every day.”

Shaw prepares the all-important carrots for retirees

Almost instantly, a visitor is struck by the importance of aftercare and how essential each volunteer is.

“They are like the blood force of it all because there is such intense care that the horses get every day,” Pepper said. “We check them all over.”

Shaw proved to be an immediate asset. She understands the intricacies of equine care through her long-term ownership and love affair with Patrick, a retired Quarter Horse who is now 33. She finds a way to connect with most horses. With Thunder Rumble, she quickly learned to give him his space.

“He used to chase me out of the paddock,” she said, happy to have such memories.

Shaw finds every hour she gives to be rewarding, knowing each retiree has been spared the terror of the slaughterhouse.

“I've been to auctions. I know the people are there to take them to where I don't want them to go,” she said. “It's nasty. They stuff them into vans and it's just an awful thing.”

The pandemic did not stop Shaw and others who give so willingly of their time from mucking stalls and tending to the retirees' many needs.

“All of us were thrilled to be here during the awful pandemic,” she said. “At least we are able to get out and be where we want to be.”

Pepper is proud of the way everything continued to operate seamlessly. Masks were worn, distance was maintained and the volunteers proved that it is possible to work safely.

“We kept each other healthy through this whole thing,” Pepper said. “Nobody has even gotten a cold.”

Shaw hard at work at Old Friends Cabin Creek

Something succeeded at slowing down Shaw. Thankfully, it had nothing to do with COVID-19. Although she was wearing cleats, she slipped on ice in January and broke her right wrist as she attempted to brace herself during the fall. She wore a cast for six weeks and only recently shed a brace.

Even then, she continued to report for unpaid duty, handling as many chores as she could with her good hand. The injury raised the question of how much longer Shaw can continue.

“I have today. Who knows what tomorrow brings?” she said. “I want to live in the day. It works for my head.”

The post Kirkpatrick & Co Presents In Their Care: Longtime Volunteer At Old Friends Has Staying Power appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Flying Start Holds Virtual Awards Ceremony

The 2020 Godolphin Flying Start Alumni Awards-which are peer-voted among the programme’s 177 graduates–were presented on Wednesday in a virtual ceremony, with the recipients accepting their awards over Zoom in four different countries.

Irish National Stud Chief Executive Officer Cathal Beale was presented the award for Leadership Excellence by Joe Osborne, managing director of Godolphin Ireland.

“I’m very humbled, very moved and I was listening to the description wondering who it could be and then when [Godolphin Flying Start Executive Director] Clodagh [Kavanagh] said ‘Irish National Stud’ I realised, ‘oh, it’s me!’ What a huge honour and thank you to all the nice people who said all those nice things. It’s very humbling. Thank you all.”

The Business Excellence Award went to Adrian Bott, who has trained numerous Group 1 winners alongside Gai Waterhouse including this year’s G1 Golden Slipper winner Farnan (Aus). Bott was presented the award by previous winner Henry Field, and he said, “I’m very honoured to be receiving this award from a previous recipient. Henry’s been an absolute inspiration to me in pushing forward with the business. Thank you to everyone who voted for me to win this award–it’s very much appreciated.”

This year’s awards saw the inaugural Rising Star categories, presented to graduates within the last five years who have made an impact in the industry. Hampshire-based business partners Mimi Wadham and Violet Hesketh, who graduated together in 2016, received the Rising Star Impact Award for the early success of their pinhooking and consigning business WH Bloodstock. The duo’s first-ever horse through the ring was a 35,000gns foal pinhooked for £110,000, and they sold a Showcasing (GB) colt for 650,000gns at Tattersalls October last year.

Kentucky-based graduate Madison Scott, who works for Solis/Litt Bloodstock, received the Rising Star Influence Award for her work alongside second year trainer Annise Montplaisir in founding Amplify Horse Racing with an aim to educate on and promote Thoroughbred industry career and educational opportunities and avenues for industry involvement.

Clodagh Kavanagh said, “These are peer voted, we had almost 100 votes from graduates this year. These are the players’ player awards, talented people voting for those that have been outstanding in their fields. They are coveted, rare and always deserving.”

The post Flying Start Holds Virtual Awards Ceremony appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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KEEP: President’s Suspension Of New H-2B Visas ‘A Massive Blow’ To Kentucky’s Equine Industry

The Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP) released the following response to President Donald Trump's announcement that no new H-2B visas would be issued in 2020:

On Monday, June 22, 2020, President Trump issued an order that extends the federal government's suspension of new H-2B visas, as well as other work visas, through the end of the year. This order, as with the previous order issued in March, claims to open up new jobs to Americans during a time of record unemployment. However, when it comes to the Kentucky horse industry, this order will put our industry at severe risk.

H-2B visas are critical to Kentucky's horse industry. During a typical year, the demand for H-2B visas vastly outpaces the supply. To fully suspend the issuance of these visas is a massive blow to the Commonwealth's signature industry.

KEEP represents and advocates on behalf of the entire horse industry in Kentucky – all horse breeds and disciplines. KEEP's goal is to preserve, promote and protect Kentucky's signature $4 billion industry. Without a workforce that can meet the demands of the growing industry, it will be difficult for that economic impact to continue at the same level, especially as we are working to recover from the global pandemic.

KEEP is contacting Kentucky's Senators and Representatives in Washington to make them aware of this issue. Additionally, KEEP has joined with other businesses and trade associations across the country who are impacted by this decision to provide a response to the President and to the Congress.

Because the horse industry deals with animals that must be cared for, regardless of the pandemic, it is imperative that the industry can hire the labor force it needs. Additionally, equine operations across the state are working to ensure that their employees have necessary PPE and can work in a safe environment. Fortunately, due to the outdoor nature of the industry, it makes this much easier.

KEEP, through a partnership with the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Workforce Center, has spent the last two years building the framework for a talent pipeline that will bring more Kentuckians into the horse industry. While we are confident that this will result in an increase in the homegrown workforce for our industry, this will not happen overnight. With unemployment in Kentucky reaching alarming levels, we are hopeful that Kentuckians will look to the horse industry for employment. However, historically, there has not been an affinity for these types of jobs.

Kentucky is leading the country when it comes to the horse industry and its economic impact. With nearly 80,000 jobs, more than 238,000 equines and 35,000 horse operations in Kentucky today, KEEP feels strongly that the industry will recover from the pandemic. However, without a full workforce, that future is in danger. KEEP will continue advocating to ensure that Kentucky's horse industry has an adequate labor pool to meet our workforce needs and will continue developing career pathways for Kentuckians to join this industry.

The post KEEP: President’s Suspension Of New H-2B Visas ‘A Massive Blow’ To Kentucky’s Equine Industry appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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