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AIM Services Holds Saratoga Fundraiser

Ramon Dominguez will serve as the honorary committee chairman for AIM Services’ annual Saratoga fundraiser, held in town from July 26-Aug. 2. AIM is the area’s largest provider of services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and its re-imagined annual fundraiser will be a door-to-door downtown event called “Croquet OFF the Green,” aimed to bring foot traffic to recently re-opened Saratoga retail shops and restaurants while raising awareness and funds for AIM Services.

The event also celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act which coincides with the launch date. All activities are being conducted according to the NY-Forward COVID-19 recommendations.

AIM is seeking croquet “players,” honorary committee members ($100 donation), and sponsors for the event.

“Among the people who receive quality innovative services from AIM are those with traumatic brain injuries,” said Dominquez, a Saratoga Springs resident. “As a jockey who had to retire early due to a head injury, I am just one of 54 million people annually who experience a traumatic brain injury. AIM gives people with TBIs a chance at living the most independent life possible.”

Anyone over 18 years of age can register to be an AIM Services Croquet OFF the Green player. Thirty participating Saratoga businesses will have croquet wickets on display on their entrance door or front display windows. Inside they will have scorecards and stamps to mark that you visited their store. Patronage at a store with a wicket counts as a croquet score. Every stamp gives the player an entry into the grand prize drawing. There is no limit to the number of stamps a player can receive.

“We knew that the event had to be drastically different this year and we are thrilled with the positive response we have received from Saratoga business owners and the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce,” said Chris Lyons, Executive Director of AIM Services, Inc. “We hope that as the players go from store to store to complete their wickets, they support each store and also take the opportunity to support AIM.”

“We have all had to figure out a new normal as we go about our lives in the shadow of this pandemic, and a large part of that is rethinking how we can support the community around us,” said Stacy De Garay, sales Manager at Savory Pantry in Saratoga Springs. “AIM Services has always provided invaluable resources to people of diverse abilities in Saratoga and the surrounding counties, so it is important that we continue to help out with their fundraising efforts, as different as they may be this year.”

The grand prize drawing will include chances to win an overnight package in Saratoga Springs, private boat rental on Saratoga Lake, retail and dining gift certificates, a Lake George Holiday Inn Resort stay with two cruise passes from the Lake George Steamboat Co., a custom corn-hole kit and various retail and dinner gift certificates.

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First Winner For Classic-Placed Ride On Curlin Comes At Gulfstream Park

Classic-placed Ride On Curlin was represented by his first winner at stud on July 15, when Sophisticurl got up at the wire to win a Gulfstream Park maiden special weight by a head, BloodHorse reports.

Sophisticurl dueled with leader Frankly My Dear throughout every step of the 5 1/2-furlong race, until jockey Samy Camacho gained the advantage in the final strides to get a head in front. The filly stopped the clock in 1:05.65 over a fast main track for owner Rolling Meadows Farm and trainer Lester Barbazon III.

Sophisticurl was bred in Florida by Joseph and Helen Barbazon, owners of Pleasant Acres Stallions, which stands Ride On Curlin. She is out of the unraced Tale of the Cat mare Sophisticattin.

Ride On Curlin resides at Pleasant Acres Stallions in Morriston, Fla., where he stood the 2020 breeding season for an advertised fee of $5,000.

The 9-year-old son of Curlin won three of 22 starts during his on-track career, for earnings of $795,175. He set a track record at Ellis Park to break his maiden, winning a 5 1/2-furlong main-track maiden special weight in 1:03 flat, then earned placings in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby and Champagne Stakes, G2 Rebel Stakes, and G3 Southwest Stakes ahead of the Triple Crown races.

Following a start in the 2014 Kentucky Derby, Ride On Curlin finished second to California Chrome in the Preakness Stakes.

Ride On Curlin is out of the Grade 2-placed Storm Cat mare Magical Ride, making him a half-brother to stakes winner Space Mountain. His second dam is the Grade 1 winner Victory Ride, and his extended family includes Grade 1 winner River Flyer and Grade 3 winner Don Cavallo.

Goodwood To Have Spectators On Final Day

Some spectators will be allowed to attend the final day of the Qatar Goodwood Festival on Aug. 1 as part of a pilot test of crowds at sporting events organized by The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. Attendance will initially be offered to Goodwood annual members and their guests. People onsite, including spectators and participants, will be capped at 5,000. The Racecourse Association said Goodwood was chosen as an appropriate location for the pilot because it is in a “rural setting with a low prevalence rate of the virus.”

David Armstrong, chief executive of the Racecourse Association and chair of the welcoming crowds industry group, said, “We welcome the fact that horse racing is to be selected as one of the pilot events to welcome back crowds and my team and I acknowledge the great responsibility upon us. The safety protocols involved will be stringent and the Goodwood Racecourse team are in a fantastic place to implement them.

“The sport has come together to offer support to ensure the pilot event provides us with sufficient learnings that others may follow in time. These learnings will allow us to draft industry-wide protocols for the wider scale return of crowds as soon as we are able.”

Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston said, “For months millions of us have felt the void of being unable to go to the match to support our team or attend a top-class sporting event. So I am pleased that we are now able to move forward with a plan to help venues safely reopen their doors to fans.

“I recognise that not every sport, team or club has the benefit of huge commercial revenue, and it is often their dedicated fans that are the lifeblood which helps keep them going. By working closely with sports and medical experts, these pilots will help ensure the safe return of fans to stadia. Although it will remain some time before venues are full to capacity, this is a major step in the right direction for the resumption of live spectator sport across the country.”

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Britain: Goodwood Festival To Be Among Pilot Events Welcoming Crowds Back To Sports

British horse racing welcomes the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport's (DCMS) announcement that one of the pilot events to welcome crowds back to elite sporting venues in England will take place on 1st August at Goodwood Racecourse, as part of the Qatar Goodwood Festival. The pilot is part of the Government's fifth stage in the Return to Elite Competition protocol.

This is potentially an important step forward in the sporting economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic and the industry is grateful for the support of DCMS in selecting horse racing to be one of the sports to host a pilot event, two months after it returned safely behind closed doors.

The RCA-led Stage 5 industry working group have also worked tirelessly in recent weeks to enable this pilot event to take place, reflecting the unique characteristics of racecourses as outdoor sporting venues.

This event will be a pilot to implement new safety protocols developed by DCMS, the Sports Ground Safety Authority (SGSA) and Racing to implement new safety protocols to allow elite sporting venues to welcome back spectators. An event for 5,000 people, plus participants, has been designed for the safety of all participants and racegoers. Attendance will initially be offered to Goodwood Racecourse Annual Members and their guests. The day will be carefully planned in conjunction with the local government and other relevant bodies to ensure that the event carries minimal risk to attendees and the local community.

The sport recognizes the continued support of racehorse owners through this extremely challenging period and as part of the pilot, new initiatives which may increase the number of owners on course and increase the level of hospitality offered will be trialed.

For all racegoers attending the event, a code of conduct must be acknowledged and agreed in advance. This sets out expectations on the behavior and actions of everyone involved to maintain hygiene levels and social distancing, as well as outlining the facilities and initiatives put in place by the racecourse to enable this. Further information will be published in due course.

Following the pilot event, the Stage 5 industry group will conduct a thorough debrief to understand which measures worked well and which require further refinement.

Whilst collectively we share the excitement of all involved in hosting this event, it will not be possible for all racecourses to immediately follow suit and welcome crowds. This will be subject to a successful debrief, finalizing the extensive protocols involved and further permission granted from Government.

David Armstrong, RCA Chief Executive and Chair of the welcoming crowds industry group, commented: “We welcome the fact that horseracing is to be selected as one of the pilot events to welcome back crowds and my team and I acknowledge the great responsibility upon us.

“The safety protocols involved will be stringent and the Goodwood Racecourse team are in a fantastic place to implement them. The sport has come together to offer support to ensure the pilot event provides us with sufficient learnings that others may follow in time. These learnings will allow us to draft industry-wide protocols fir the wider scale return of crowds as soon as we are able.

“Crowds bring a wonderful atmosphere to a raceday and many businesses associated with racecourses are reliant upon them. I sincerely hope that all involved enjoy their day— our focus now turns to supporting the Goodwood team in what is a landmark day for the sport.”

Adam Waterworth, Sport Managing Director at the Goodwood Estate, commented: “We are delighted that the Qatar Goodwood Festival has been selected as a pilot event for the return of crowds. It marks an important day for the sports industry following a few challenging months.

“Our Annual Members have continued to support us throughout, for which we are enormously grateful. It is therefore fantastic to offer them the opportunity to witness racing on The Downs again.

“The Goodwood team will ensure the racecourse adheres to Government guidelines on social distancing and hygiene. We hope that this will be the next step in ensuring crowds for future sporting events.”

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