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Coast-To-Coast Stakes Action, Unveiling Of Eclipse Award Finalists On TVG Saturday

TVG, America's horse racing network, will be live trackside at Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park this weekend featuring the Sunshine Million for Florida and California-bred horses alongside six stakes races from Fair Grounds including the $200,000 Lecomte Stakes (G3), an early prep race for the Kentucky Derby (G1).

At Gulfstream Park, TVG's Gabby Gaudet will be trackside with insights and interviews as the Florida breeding industry takes center stage with Sunshine Millions Day. There are four stakes races restricted to Florida-bred horses on the 12-race card including the $75,000 Sunshine Millions Classic. The race features a field of seven contenders including veteran gelding Noble Drama, winner of the 2020 edition for trainer David Fawkes. The six-year-old gelding will have Emisael Jaramillo aboard as he squares off against Quenane, winner of the Sunshine Millions Preview Stakes.

The Sunshine Millions continues in California on Saturday and the focus will shift to highlight the California breeding program throughout the 10-race California Cup Day card. Mike Joyce, Christina Blacker and Britney Eurton will be live on site at Santa Anita with expert analysis, selections and interviews. The featured event is the $200,000 Unusual Heat Turf Classic which has drawn a contentious field of 11 state-breds including graded stakes winner Acclimate who has been freshened since a fourth-place finish in the Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes (G2) in November for trainer Philip D'Amato. Tyler Baze will be in the irons.

Fair Grounds has a loaded 13-race card scheduled for Saturday featuring six stakes races. The featured and final race on the card, the $200,000 Lecomte Stakes (G3) has drawn a field of 11 Triple Crown hopefuls including Mandaloun, a homebred son of Into Mischief for Juddmonte Farms. Trained by Brad Cox, he is undefeated from two starts and will be making his stakes debut under jockey Florent Geroux. The Lecomte Stakes offers 10-4-2-1 Kentucky Derby points to the top four finishers.

On Saturday, TVG will broadcast a live announcement of the finalists for the 2020 Eclipse Awards at 12:00 p.m. ET/9:00 a.m. PT. The 50^th Eclipse Awards, presented by Spendthrift Farm, will be televised live on TVG on Thursday, Jan. 28 at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT.

In addition to racing from Fair Grounds, Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park, TVG will be featuring racing from Aqueduct, Tampa Bay Downs and more. Fans can tune in on TVG, TVG2 and the Watch TVG app which is available on Amazon Fire, Roku and connected Apple TV devices.

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Broadcaster Blewitt Joins West Point Thoroughbreds Team

Long-time racing broadcaster and industry veteran Jason Blewitt will join West Point Thoroughbreds in February in a partner account representative role.

Jason will come to West Point from Gulfstream Park, where he has hosted the track's racing broadcasts since 2017. Jason served in a similar capacity for the New York Racing Association for more than a decade, after beginning at NYRA as an intern in 1998.

“Jason is a terrific addition to our team — not only he is a great communicator, but first and foremost he loves horse racing, and that shines through to anyone who has seen his work for Gulfstream or NYRA or has talked to him in person,” said Terry Finley, the founder and chief executive officer of West Point Thoroughbreds. “He is a pro, with the knowledge that comes from poring over major league racing on a daily basis for more than two decades. He knows the players, the pedigrees, and our industry from top to bottom.”

“I am excited to join West Point Thoroughbreds and look forward to starting a new chapter in my life,” Blewitt said. “The four years I spent with The Stronach Group were unforgettable, and I was lucky to work alongside an outstanding team at Gulfstream Park. I will always look back at my Stronach Group tenure with tons of pride. I am ready for some new challenges and am pumped to join the West Point family.”

Jason will be based in Fort Lauderdale with his wife, Kristina.

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Keep An Eye Out: Three Common Equine Cancers

Though cancer is less common in horses than in humans, it's still possible for equines to develop various forms of the deadly disease. Because horses are so large, it can be difficult to actually locate the cancer that is affecting the horse. The most obvious signs of equine cancer are typically scaly areas of hair loss, growing and changing lumps, and swollen lymph nodes, but cancer can also take on other forms.

At its most basic, cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells. The three main types of cancer found in horses include:

Melanomas. Melanoma is the type of cancer most people visualize when they think of cancer in horses. This cancer causes skin tumors; it's estimated that nearly 80 percent of grey horses over the age of 12 will develop melanomas around the tail, perineum, sheath, eyelids or mouth. Once found, melanomas should be removed when they're still small; this is often done by laser surgery.
Sarcoids. Although a benign cancer, sarcoids can spread rapidly. There are various different forms of this cancer, each with a characteristic appearance. To add to the trickiness of the disease, individual sarcoids can change forms. Though the growth rate and number of tumors per horse can vary, the tumors tend to grow in size and multiply over time.
Sarcoids can be found nearly anywhere on the horse, but the location of some tumors make them more-difficult to treat. Treatment may include chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. Sarcoids should be treated early; the bigger the sarcoids become, the harder they are to treat. Once a horse has developed a sarcoid, it is prone to developing more, even if they are removed.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Squamous Cell Carcinoma generally affects horse's eyes, eyelids and penis. Though slow growing, this cancer is invasive and can spread internally. Treatment generally includes surgery, radiation or chemotherapy; early diagnosis and treatment is key. Older geldings are more prone to the penile form of this cancer; regular sheath inspection can help locate lesions before they become extensive.

Racing Secretary Elizabeth Rogers Leaving Charles Town For New Post At Mahoning Valley

Elizabeth Rogers, currently racing secretary at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, has been named assistant director of racing for Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course in Ohio, effective February 5, 2021, pending customary regulatory approvals. Rogers replaces long time racing veteran Mark Loewe who celebrated his 42-year career with a retirement ceremony in December.

A graduate with honors from the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program, Rogers has worked her way up in the racing office at Charles Town since coming on board to the West Virginia racetrack eight years ago. She has served as a racing official, stakes coordinator, assistant racing secretary, and in July 2019 became one of only three full-time female racing secretaries in the country in assuming that position at Charles Town Races.

“Being a part of the growth of the Charles Town racing product over the past several years has been very rewarding and I want to thank everyone there for having such confidence in my abilities,” said Roger. “In my new position I will be able to be involved in more facets of the racing operation and I look forward to the new challenge and opportunity.”

Rogers' responsibilities will include oversight of all racing operations at Mahoning Valley Race Course – racing office, backstretch and mutuel departments.

“We are excited to have Elizabeth join the team and keep the positive racing momentum Mahoning Valley Race Course has gained over its first six years of operation,” said Allie Evangelista, vice president and general manager at Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course.

“Elizabeth is one of the outstanding young professionals in the racing ranks and we are pleased to have her accept this role and continue her growth as a future leader in the industry,” added Christopher McErlean, vice president of racing for Penn National Gaming, Inc., parent company of Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course.

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