belmont park | Horse Racing Free Tips

Trainer Chapman Faces Stalking Charge Related To Backstretch Argument

The trainer James Chapman, 51, faces a stalking misdemeanor charge in the aftermath of a backstretch dispute at Belmont Park.

Daily Racing Form's David Grening was first to break the story on Thursday, quoting Chapman as saying he spent Wednesday night in jail prior to pleading not guilty at a May 25 arraignment in Nassau First District Court.

Chapman told DRF that the charge stemmed from a “ridiculous” argument that escalated over round pens that had been located between barns at Belmont.

The alleged victim was a neighboring trainer, DRF reported. The two are no longer stabled adjacent to one another, and Chapman told Grening that the judge at his arraignment told him to “go the other way” if he encountered the alleged victim.

The court's website states that the incident dates to Apr. 15. Chapman's next court appearance is scheduled for June 8.

The post Trainer Chapman Faces Stalking Charge Related To Backstretch Argument appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

New Owner, Trainer Bonus Program at Belmont Stakes Racing Festival

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) will offer a number of unique incentives for owners and trainers at the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, slated for Thursday, June 8 through Saturday, June 10, at Belmont Park which will be highlighted by the 155th running of the GI Belmont S., the final jewel of the Triple Crown.

The event will encompass 16 stakes races worth a combined $7.65 million while the June 10 Belmont Stakes card will feature nine graded events, including three Breeders' Cup qualifying races as part of the “Win and You're In” series. During the three-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, horses placed fourth through last in stakes races and horses placed second through last in non-stake races, will receive a starter bonus as set forth here for each eligible starter as part of the “Starter Bonus Program.”

Additionally, trainers whose horses start in any race during the Festival (all races on Thursday, June 8th; Friday, June 9th; or Saturday, June 10th) that are not stabled at a NYRA track (Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course), will receive a shipping bonus of $1,000 to be credited to the owner's account towards shipping expenses. Requirements for both bonuses include that the horse must be declared an official starter. Horses that are placed on a poor performance and/or veterinarian list will not be eligible for the bonus.

For additional information on the 2023 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival and details on hospitality offerings, ticket packages and pricing, visit the official page of the Belmont Stakes.

The post New Owner, Trainer Bonus Program at Belmont Stakes Racing Festival appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Eye Witness Bears Down To Win Belmont’s Paradise Creek S.

Eye Witness (City of Light) kept his win streak intact with a victory over the soaked turf at Belmont on Saturday afternoon in the Paradise Creek S.

After a debut third last fall against state bred company on the grass during the Belmont at the Big A meet, the bay colt went to the sidelines before coming back to his trainer's base at Turfway where he broke his maiden with a front-running score Jan. 1 by 1 3/4 lengths. Stepping up in class in the Animal Kingdom S. in Florence, he once again visited the winner's circle, this time after a 5 length-victory.

Off as the 5-2 co-second choice here, the Wesley Ward trainee was under a tight hold down the backstretch as a trio vied for the lead. Rounding the far turn, Eye Witness made his move to the outside, swept by them all and staved off a final push from Inflation Nation (Ire) (Speightstown) by a head at the wire.

“I didn't want to take the momentum away from him, and I felt like I probably moved a little sooner than I wanted to, but with the soft ground, sometimes if you stop the momentum, it's very hard to get it back,” Eye Witness's jockey, Jose Ortiz said. “I almost paid the price in the end, but I'm just glad we held on.”

Out of a female family which includes GII Swale S. hero Sharp Humor (Distorted Humor), the winner is a half-brother to SW More Mischief (Into Mischief). His dam is responsible for a 2-year-old filly by Practical Joke, who sold to Scott and Evan Dilworth for $220,000 at the '21 Fasig-Tipton Fall sale before she RND'd for $185,000 at the Fasig-Tipton New York Bred Yearling sale last year, and also a yearling filly by Game Winner.

PARADISE CREEK S., $150,000, Belmont, 5-20, 3yo, 7fT, 1:25.32,
yl.
1–EYE WITNESS, 120, c, 3, by City of Light
1st Dam: Gracilia, by Mr. Greeley
2nd Dam: Bellona, by Hansel
3rd Dam: Basoof, by Believe It
($235,000 Wlg '20 FTKNOV; $650,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Westerberg, Mrs. John Magnier, Jonathan Poulin, Derrick Smith and Michael B. Tabor; B-Anlyn Farms (NY); T-Wesley A. Ward; J-Jose L. Ortiz. $82,500. Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-1, $205,740. *1/2 to More Mischief (Into Mischief), SW, $255,493.
2–Inflation Nation (Ire), 118, c, 3, Speightstown–Urban Ball (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). (58,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT; $100,000 2yo '22 OBSAPR). O-Louis Lazzinnaro LLC and Michael Dubb; B-Yeguada Centurion S.L. (IRE); T-Christophe Clement. $30,000.
3–Vacation Dance, 120, c, 3, The Lieutenant–Matinee Express, by Zensational. ($45,000 Ylg '21 EASOCT; $140,000 RNA 2yo '22 OBSMAR; $90,000 2yo '22 EASMAY). O-Sleeping Giant Stables, LLC, America's Pastime Stables and KimDon Racing, LLC; B-Harry Landry & James Hogan (NY); T-John C. Kimmel. $18,000.
Margins: HD, 5HF, 5 3/4. Odds: 2.85, 2.40, 12.30.
Also Ran: Hey Eugene, Joey Freshwater, Son of a Birch, Charging,
Devils Only Friend. Scratched: Golden Nugget.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

The post Eye Witness Bears Down To Win Belmont’s Paradise Creek S. appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Belmont Race Down to Two Horses After Lasix Mix-Up; Veterinarian Dismissed

The third race at Belmont Park Friday was left with just two horses entered to run after Lasix was not administered to four horses who were supposed to receive it. The veterinarian charged with administering the Lasix, Dr. Steven Lascher, “is no longer employed by NYRA,” the company said.

The race, a $100,000 allowance optional claimer at one mile had drawn six entries, but was left with just two: Pharoah's Heart (American Pharoah) and Honey Money (Central Banker) after the omission came to light.

“Four horses entered to run in today's R3 at Belmont Park @TheNYRA were not administered Lasix within the permitted timeframe,” Tweeted NYRA's Director of Communications, Patrick McKenna. “As a result, Impazible Donna (#1), Dancing Sophia (#2), Ok Honey (#5) and Movie Moxy (#6) have been scratched by the stewards.”

Reached by email, McKenna outlined the relevant rule requiring the stewards to scratch the horses.

The rule is Gaming Commission rule, 4043.2 Section 7, which reads. “Ineligibility to start. Any horse that is eligible for the administration of furosemide must be present on the grounds of the racing association or corporation no less than four hours prior to scheduled post time of the race in which the horse is scheduled to compete. A horse that is not present at least four hours prior to post time or that has not received the administration of furosemide pursuant to this subdivision shall be ineligible to start.”

“Per the stewards, purse money only is not an option in this instance,” McKenna added. “NYRA is responsible for the administration of Lasix at Belmont Park, not the New York State Gaming Commission. NYRA will review the relevant internal protocols and update as necessary.”

“What I was told was that the vet did not administer Lasix to four of the six participants, which caused them to be scratched,” said Linda Rice, who was scheduled to send out Movie Moxie (Street Sense) in the race. “Obviously no one is happy.”

Rice said that the Lasix should have been administered between 9:30 and 10 a.m., and that four hours before post time, scheduled for 2:16 p.m., those horses who had not been treated were scratched.

Trainer Rob Atras sent out Honey Money, who did receive Lasix Friday morning.

“I'm not there today, but what I was told is that the vet missed (giving them) the Lasix,” said Atras. “I don't know how he got two, but missed the other four,” he said, adding that Michelle Nevin's starter, Pharoah's Heart, is in a barn close to his, and also received the medication.

A spokesman for the New York State Gaming Commission said that the commission had no official comment for publication.

Friday's was the second incident in under a year when four horses had to be scratched after not receiving Lasix in a timely manner–both involving Lascher. In 2022, he was fined $4,000 by the Gaming Commission after “failing to follow proper Lasix procedures necessitating the late scratches of horses racing.”

Friday's third race was won by Pharoah's Heart, who went off the 1-2 favorite.

The post Belmont Race Down to Two Horses After Lasix Mix-Up; Veterinarian Dismissed appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post