“The Breeders' Cup World Championships is a premier international event and we're delighted that fans in the U.K. and Ireland will once again be able to watch the most talented horses, jockeys and trainers in the world compete during our two days of championship racing,” said Breeders' Cup President and CEO Drew Fleming. “ITV, Sky Sports Racing and Racing TV have been terrific partners and we are pleased to extend our agreements to provide world-class coverage of the Breeders' Cup to fans in the U.K. and Ireland.”

As part of the multi-year agreement, ITV will provide coverage of the two-day World Championships on ITV channels, including ITV, ITV3 and ITV4. Broadcast coverage times will be announced at a later date.

ITV will also work alongside Breeders' Cup to offer a consumer competition in which winners will receive a trip for two to the World Championships, including premium tickets and access to the Breeders' Cup, airfare, hotel accommodations and transportation.

The post BC Announces Broadcast Partnership in U.K. and Ireland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

The three programs mark the 10th, 11th, and 12th telecasts this year in the “Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In – presented by America's Best Racing” on NBC and NBCSN from some of North America's most iconic racetracks. The television series, which concludes on Wednesday, Oct. 13 at Keeneland with the JPMorgan Jessamine Stakes (G2) (NBCSN 4-5 p.m. ET), leads to the 38th Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, California, on Nov. 5-6, which will be shown live on NBC and NBCSN. The complete series TV schedule can be accessed here.

NBC Sports' coverage for all three telecasts feature commentary and discussion from its International Broadcast Center in Stamford, Conn., led by host Ahmed Fareed, analyst Randy Moss, and handicapper Matt Bernier. Reporters Britney Eurton and Nick Luck will be on-site at Keeneland.

A field of 12 has been entered for Friday's 1 1/16-mile Darley Alcibiades, for 2-year-old fillies, with the winner receiving an automatic berth into the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). The Albaugh Family Stables' Juju's Map is the 5-2 morning line favorite off her commanding 5 ½-length maiden victory at Ellis Park on Sept. 3. Trained by Brad Cox, Juju's Map will be ridden by Florent Geroux from post one. Breaking from the outside post 12 is Jim McIngvale's Runup. A daughter of 2015 Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) winner Runhappy, the Laura Wohlers-trained Runup won the Sorority Stakes (G3) at Monmouth Park on Sept. 6 for her second victory in three starts. Runup will be ridden by Joseph Ramos. Trainer Kenny McPeek has won the Alcibiades five times. On Friday, he sends out Milam Farm's Penny Saver, who broke her maiden by a widening 9 ½ lengths at Churchill Downs on Sept. 24. Brian Hernandez Jr. has the mount, breaking from post 10.

A “Win and You're In” berth in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) will be awarded to the winner of the $250,000 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes (G2), which will be run prior to the Darley Alcibiades. Paradise Farm Corp. and David Staudacher's Special Reserve, a winner of four races this year, leads the seven-horse field. Trained by Mike Maker and ridden from post six by Joel Rosario, Special Reserve finished second in Keeneland's Commonwealth Stakes (G3) in April, then won the Maryland Match Series Sprint Stakes (G3) at Pimlico, and the Iowa Sprint Stakes at Prairie Meadows, prior to finishing second in the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap at Saratoga on July 31. Griffon Farms and Michelle Lovell's homebred Just Might has won his last four races. Trained by Lovell, Just Might comes into the race off a frontrunning victory in the Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes at Churchill Downs on Sept. 18. Just Might will be ridden by Colby Hernandez from post four.

Saturday's card at Keeneland is headlined by the Keeneland Turf Mile, which drew an outstanding field of 13 bidding for an automatic starting position in the $2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile Presented by PDJF (G1). Order of Australia returns to Keeneland where last year he came off the also-eligible list to win the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile at 70-1. Trained by Aidan O'Brien for owners Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Anne Marie O'Brien, Order of Australia won the Romanised Minstrel Stakes (G2) at The Curragh in Ireland in July, and was second in the prestigious Prix de Moulin de Longchamp (G1) in his most recent start on Sept. 5. John Velazquez has the mount from post 10.

Bonne Chance Farm and Stud R D I's Ivar (BRZ) is the defending Turf Mile Champion, winning the 2020 race at 14-1. Trained by Pablo Lobo, Ivar finished fourth in last year's FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile. In his lone start of 2021, Ivar finished sixth in the Old Forester Turf Classic (G1) at Churchill Downs on May 1. Joe Talamo has the mount, breaking from post six. Trainer Mike Maker has entered three runners, including Skychai Racing and Sand Dollar Stable's Somelikeithotbrown, who won the Dinner Party Stakes (G2) at Pimlico in May and has finished second in his last two starts, the Wise Dan (G2) at Churchill Downs and the WinStar Mint Million Stakes (G3) at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 6. Joe Ortiz will ride, breaking from post 13.

Saturday's co-feature is the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity for 2-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles, and the winner receives an invitation to the TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1). Among the 13 entered, Phoenix Thoroughbred's Double Thunder has won three times in four stats for trainer Todd Pletcher, including the Bashford Manor (G3) at Churchill Downs and the Sapling Stakes at Monmouth Park on Sept. 5. L and N Racing and Winchell Thoroughbreds' Stellar Tap broke his maiden at Saratoga on Aug. 7 and gave Steve Asmussen his 9,446th victory, setting the all-time mark for most wins by a trainer. Stellar Tap, ridden from post three by Ricardo Santana Jr., will try to improve upon his fifth-place finish as the even-money favorite in the “Win and You're In”' Iroquois Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs on Sept. 18.

St. George Stable's 5-year-old mare Letruska has had a sensational year, winning five of six races, and is expected to lead Sunday's Juddmonte Spinster Stakes, which is a “Win and You're In” for the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1). Trained by Fausto Gutierrez, Letruska gained a free berth into the Breeders' Cup Distaff when she captured the Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park in June. She also captured two more Breeders' Cup Challenge races, taking the Fleur de Lis (G2) at Churchill Downs and the Personal Ensign (G1) at Saratoga. Juddmonte's Bonny South finished just a half-length behind Letruska in the Personal Ensign. The 4-year-old filly won Keeneland's Baird Doubledogdare Stakes (G3) in April.

Also on Sunday, the 1 1/16-mile Castle & Key Bourbon Stakes (G2) on turf will give the winner an automatic starting position into the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1). Among the expected starters is Silverton Hill's Red Danger, who won the Global Tote Juvenile Sprint Stakes at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 9 for trainer Bryan Lynch, and Phoenix Thoroughbred's Tiz the Bomb, winner of the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile Stakes on Sept. 6 for trainer Kenny McPeek.

The post NBC Sports Plans Three Live Telecasts Of Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series Races appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

TVG's Todd Schrupp, Christina Blacker, Britney Eurton, Mike Joyce, Scott Hazelton and Joaquin Jaime will be trackside with exclusive interviews, analysis and handicapping selections throughout the weekend. There will also be a drone utilized throughout the races. The popular drone technology was introduced during Del Mar's record breaking meet and will be continued to be used throughout the Santa Anita season.

Friday's Opening Day card puts juveniles in the spotlight with the $100,000 Speakeasy Stakes (Juvenile Turf), $200,000 Chandelier Stakes (Juvenile Fillies) and the $300,000 American Pharoah Stakes (TVG Juvenile).

The winner of the $300,000 American Pharoah Stakes (G1) will earn an automatic spot in the starting gate in the $2 million TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) and has attracted a field of seven colts. Trainer Bob Baffert has won this race nine times and will saddle three contenders including 6-5 morning line favorite Corniche. Purchased for $1.5 million in April, the bay son of Quality Road was an impressive maiden winner at Del Mar and will have Mike Smith in the irons.

On Saturday, the major stakes racing will continue with three more Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” Challenge races – the $200,000 Santa Anita Sprint (Sprint), $300,000 Rodeo Drive Stakes (Filly and Mare Turf) and the $300,000 Awesome Again Stakes (Classic).

The $300,000 Awesome Again Stakes (G1) has drawn a contentious field of eight including TVG Pacific Classic (G1) winner Tripoli. Trained by John Sadler and owned by Hronis Racing, LLC, the chestnut son of Kitten's Joy will square off against Medina Spirit, recent winner of the Shared Belief Stakes for Bob Baffert.

The Breeders' Cup World Championships will be held Nov. 5-6 at Del Mar.

TVG will also be covering the full card from Longchamp on Sunday morning featuring five Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” Challenge Series races – Prix de L'Abbaye de Longchamp Longines (Turf Sprint), Qatar Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe (Turf), Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Juvenile Turf), Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac (Juvenile Fillies Turf) and Prix de L'Opera Longines (Juvenile Fillies Turf). The broadcast will feature insights from international experts Scott Hazelton and Jess Stafford as well as a Money Back Special on the Arc.

In addition to racing from the Santa Anita, will also be featuring Gulfstream Park, Laurel Park 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.

The post TVG Broadcasting Six ‘Win And You’re In’ Races Live From Santa Anita This Weekend appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

TVG's Rich Perloff will be trackside with exclusive interviews, analysis and handicapping selections throughout the card. In addition to the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (G1), the card will also feature some of the top three-year-old fillies in the country in the $1 million Cotillion Stakes (G1).

It was announced on Tuesday that Medina Spirit, the 2-1 morning line favorite, would be a scratch out of the race leaving a field of nine. Hot Rod Charlie, disqualified from his first-place finish in the TVG Haskell (G1) and placed seventh for interference in the stretch, will be trying to earn his second stakes win of the year for trainer Doug O'Neill. The bay son of Oxbow was third in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and second in the Belmont Stakes (G1) and will have Flavien Prat aboard. Midnight Bourbon, second in the Travers Stakes (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1) for trainer Steve Asmussen, will have Ricardo Santana, Jr. in the irons.

The $1 million Cotillion Stakes (G1) drew a field of nine and is expected to go to post with eight contenders with the scratch of Private Mission. Clairiere, a homebred for Stonestreet Stables, is the 2-1 morning line favorite for Steve Asmussen. Ricardo Santana, Jr. will be aboard the daughter of Curlin who was last seen finishing second in the Alabama Stakes (G1).

The undercard will also feature multiple Grade 1 winner Jackie's Warrior as he faces six rivals in the $300,000 Gallant Bob Stakes (G2). Trained by Steve Asmussen, the bay colt was last seen winning the H. Allen Jerkens (G1) at Saratoga by a neck. Regular rider Joel Rosario will retain the mount.

Three-year-olds will also take center stage at Remington Park on Sunday and TVG's Dave Weaver will be reporting live from the track featuring a twelve-race card anchored by the $400,000 Oklahoma Derby (G3). The field of eight includes Warrant, the 5-2 morning line favorite for trainer Brad Cox. Bred and owned by Twin Creeks Farm, the son of Constitution won the Texas Derby in May and was second in the West Virginia Derby (G3). Joel Rosario has the mount.

In addition to racing from the Parx Racing and Remington Park, TVG will also be featuring Los Alamitos, Gulfstream Park 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.

The post TVG To Broadcast Pennsylvania Derby Card Live From Parx This Saturday appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Presented by America's Best Racing and Claiborne Farm, America's Day at the Races will broadcast at least 4.5 hours of live racing coverage every day on either FS1 or FS2.

The broadcast schedule for America's Day at the Races is as follows (all times Eastern):

Friday, July 9
FS2: 1 – 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, July 10
FS1: 1 – 3 p.m.
FS2: 3 – 5:30 p.m.

Sunday, July 11
FS2: 12:30 – 4 p.m.
FS1: 4 – 5 p.m.

Friday's program will air the entirety of Belmont's nine-race card that has a 1 p.m. Eastern first post time. The 5.5-hour show will showcase a $94,000 allowance optional claimer in Race 8 for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up going 1 1/16 miles on the inner turf. Chad Brown, in position to win his sixth consecutive trainer title at the Belmont spring/summer meet, will send out the Irish-bred Group 1-placed Flighty Lady from post 11 in the 12-horse field at 5-2 on the morning line. Trainer Christophe Clement will send out New York-bred stakes winner Classic Lady, listed at 7-2, from the inside post.

Saturday's show will also air the complete Belmont card, which features three graded stakes and another 1 p.m. first post.

An international field will assemble for the Grade 1, $700,000 Belmont Oaks Invitational, the opening jewel of the Turf Triple series for sophomore fillies going 10 furlongs on the inner turf, in Race 7 at 4:06 p.m.

Internationally renowned trainer Aidan O'Brien will saddle Santa Barbara, a half-sister to 2019 Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf-winner Iridessa and 2020 Breeders' Cup Mile victor Order of Australia. Cirona, trained by Christophe Ferland, captured the Group 3 Prix de la Grotte in April at Longchamp and was narrowly defeated in the 10-furlong Group 1 Prix Saint-Alary on soft turf in May at Longchamp. Other contenders include the top-two finishers of last month's Grade 3 Wonder Again, with Con Lima for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher and the Clement-trained Plum Ali.

Race 8 at Belmont will feature the Grade 3, $150,000 Victory Ride for 3-year-old fillies competing at 6 1/2-furlongs on the main track. Reigning Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox will saddle a pair of top contenders in the undefeated multiple stakes-winner Australasia and stakes-winner Inject.

The Louisiana-bred Australasia, by Sky Kingdom, bested Victory Ride-rivals Bella Sofia and Miss Brazil in the six-furlong Jersey Girl on June 6 at Belmont. Inject, a bay daughter of Frosted, romped by 5 1/4-lengths last out in the six-furlong Goldfinch on May 15 over a muddy Pimlico main track.

The day's feature will be the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Derby Invitational going 10 furlongs in Race 9 at 5:12 p.m. The first leg of the Turf Triple series for sophomores will be held on the inner turf course, as O'Brien will send out Bolshoi Ballet, who finished seventh as the favorite last out in the Group 1 Epsom Derby. The Galileo bay won both his efforts in 2021 prior to the Epsom Derby. Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott will be represented by last-out Grade 2 American Turf-winner Du Jour, while Jonathan Thomas will saddle stakes winner Hard Love.

Sunday will close the curtain on the Belmont spring/summer meet and mark the last live race day at a NYRA track until Thursday, July 15, when the 40-day summer meet kicks off at historic Saratoga Race Course, running through Labor Day, September 6.

At Belmont on Sunday, the $100,000 River Memories for older fillies and mares going 1 1/2 miles on the Widener turf will be the last stakes of the meet.

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.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Belmont Park, and the best way to bet every race of the spring/summer meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

The post America’s Day At The Races To Cover Final Three Days Of Belmont Meeting appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Presented by America's Best Racing and Claiborne Farm, Saratoga Live will provide full card coverage of nearly every race day to a national audience on the FOX Sports family of networks beginning Thursday, July 15. The 2021 summer meet, which will mark the return of fans to Saratoga following the lifting of COVID-19 protocols in New York State, will feature 76 stakes worth $21.5 million in total purses highlighted by the 152nd renewal of the Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers on Saturday, August 28.

Season six of Saratoga Live will offer fans the most extensive and comprehensive coverage yet with more than 220 hours of live programming during the 2021 summer meet, which runs from Thursday, July 15 through Labor Day, Monday, September 6. With the exception of Whitney Day, Runhappy Travers Day and Labor Day weekend, which feature a first post time of 12:30 p.m., Saratoga Live will begin at 1 p.m. Eastern.

Building on their commitment to showcase the finest racing the sport has to offer, FOX broadcast network (FOX) will present a special Opening Weekend show on July 17 highlighted by the 83rd running of the Grade 1, $500,000 Diana. For the third consecutive year, FOX will air the Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers on Saturday, August 28 as part of 6.5 hours of Runhappy Travers Day coverage on FOX and FOX Sports.

“Nothing tops a summer day at Saratoga,” said Michael Mulvihill, FOX Sports Executive Vice President, Head of Strategy and Analytics. “With the world's greatest racing meet back in front of full crowds, we couldn't be more excited to celebrate with an opening weekend special on FOX featuring the Diana Stakes. Our expanded coverage across FS1 and FS2, bookended with the Runhappy Travers in August, gives horseplayers a full summer of action and highlights our unique partnership with NYRA.”

NYRA and FOX Sports began their collaboration in 2016 during the first season of Saratoga Live, when FS2 aired 80 hours of live coverage of the summer meet. Since then, coverage of horse racing on FOX Sports has grown considerably each year. In 2020, FOX Sports aired more than 700 hours of horse racing coverage and analysis on its family of networks.

In addition to daily national coverage on FOX Sports, 2021 will see the addition of SNY as a regional NYRA broadcast partner. SNY viewers can look forward to eight consecutive weekends of racing from Saratoga, with coverage of Saratoga Live to kick off on Saturday, July 17 and continuing Saturdays and Sundays through August 29.

“The continued growth and expanded reach of Saratoga Live reflects the sustained excellence of the summer meet at Saratoga Race Course,” said Tony Allevato, NYRA Chief Revenue Officer. “It's our privilege to present the most extensive and comprehensive racing coverage in the country on FOX Sports and SNY, and we are looking forward to a spectacular summer at the Spa.”

In March, FOX Sports and NYRA announced an expanded partnership agreement that established FOX Sports as the official wagering partner of NYRA Bets and extends FOX Sports' television rights agreement with NYRA through 2030. The new agreement ensures at least 700 hours of horse racing coverage on FOX Sports and guarantees that the Runhappy Travers will air on FOX through 2030.

Saratoga Live will again feature a talented broadcast team leveraging a diverse set of experiences to entertain, educate and inform viewers. In 2021, that group includes hosts Greg Wolf and Laffit Pincay III, with analysis and handicapping from Maggie Wolfendale, Acacia Courtney, Andy Serling, Paul Lo Duca, Jonathon Kinchen and Michelle Yu. Viewers can look forward to commentary and insights from Eclipse Award-winning jockey Richard Migliore and Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens. Following his debut as NYRA track announcer in 2020, John Imbriale will again handle the race calling duties at Saratoga.

In yet another expansion to the Saratoga Live schedule, 2021 will see the addition of Saratoga's weekly steeplechase events to the coverage. Generally held as the first race of the card on Wednesdays or Thursdays, these National Steeplechase Association offerings include premier races such as the Grade 1, $150,000 A.P. Smithwick Memorial and the Grade 1, $150,000 Jonathan Sheppard (formerly the New York Turf Writers Cup). Joining the Saratoga Live broadcast team in 2021 for steeplechase racing analysis will be Joe Clancy, publisher of the Saratoga Special.

The current 2021 Saratoga Live broadcast schedule can be found at www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule.

For more information about the 2021 summer meet at Saratoga Race Course, please visit NYRA.com.

The post Saratoga Live Returns With Expanded Coverage On July 15 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

HRRN's Derby week schedule begins Tuesday morning with the first of three “Derby Countdown” shows presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms.  Hosted live from the backside barn area at Churchill Downs by Bobby Neuman and Jude Feld, the Derby Countdown shows can be heard Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings from 8:00-10:00 a.m. ET on Sirius 216/XM 202 with live streaming and podcast archives provided on the HRRN website, www.horseracingradio.net.  Each show features interviews with owners, trainers, jockeys and handicappers along with the latest training updates on Oaks and Derby horses.

On Friday, HRRN returns with a 3-hour broadcast of the 147th Kentucky Oaks from 3:00-6:00 p.m. ET presented by TwinSpires.  The “Run for the Lilies” can be heard throughout North America on Sirius 219/XM 201.

Kentucky Derby day kicks off with a special Derby day edition of HRRN's popular Saturday morning talk show, the Equine Forum presented by Farmpaint.com, in its weekly time slot 8-11 a.m. ET followed by live Kentucky Derby undercard coverage from 3-5 p.m. ET, both on Sirius 219/XM 201.

The network's Derby week programming culminates with exclusive coverage of the 147th Kentucky Derby from 5:00-7:30 p.m. ET, produced in partnership with NBC Sports Audio Network.  Coverage, presented by TwinSpires, is available on terrestrial affiliates across the United States along with the NBC Sports Audio channels SiriusXM 211, and simulcast on Sirius 219/XM 201.  Digital listeners can tune in to the Kentucky Derby on the HRRN website, www.horseracingradio.net.  A complete listing of nationwide affiliates can also be found here:  Kentucky Derby Radio Affiliates.

Live streaming of all Kentucky Derby week broadcasts will be available on the HRRN website.

HRRN president Mike Penna will anchor the Derby broadcast along with analysts Kurt Becker, Jeff Bloom, Tom Leach, and Dan Mason.  NBC announcer Larry Collmus and Churchill Downs caller Travis Stone will provide live race calls.

The post Horse Racing Radio Network Sets Kentucky Derby Week Broadcast Schedule appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

As a third-generation horsewoman, Maggie Wolfendale's life has been immersed in horse racing since birth. The daughter of Maryland-based conditioner Howard Wolfendale worked on-air at Pimlico Race Course and Colonial Downs before joining NYRA's on-air talent as paddock analyst, a role that she has maintained since October 2010. In addition to her television duties, Wolfendale works alongside her husband, trainer Tom Morley, and gallops horses during morning training. Wolfendale also is involved with Thoroughbred aftercare.

In a year of unprecedented tests and challenges, what would you say has been the highlight of 2020?

Wolfendale: Getting back to racing on June 3. It was a sense of relief; a sense of anticipation in getting back to the races. I think through it all, we proved, amidst a global pandemic, that we can be sustainable, and we can be successful as a business and thrive. At the end of the day, these horses need to run. It was a welcoming day to get back to work.

What has been your best betting/handicapping day of the year?

Wolfendale: It wasn't at NYRA, but we were broadcasting from our homes and we were covering Churchill in mid-May. It was good for me because it's out of my wheelhouse and I'm used to looking at horses in person and not through a TV screen. But I had five winners that day, including Cat's Pajamas who paid around $50 [$57] for Graham Motion.

What was NYRA's biggest accomplishment this year?

Wolfendale: Being able to get back to racing, by far. The fact that in the whole state of New York and this portion of the country, the COVID cases skyrocketed in March and April. The fact that we got everything under control and back to a safe environment. By the end of April, things were where they should be in terms of the protocols put in place. The fact that the TV department put on about 700 hours of live coverage and the amount of handle we increased by broadcasting to people's living rooms, considering they couldn't be here on track.

Broadcasting from your home is interesting. Especially when you have a young baby and child on the other side of the door, that can be a bit distracting. Fortunately, I have a good husband and mother that are able to help out. It was different, but it was a lot of fun in retrospect. I missed physically being around the horses more than anything else. That was the most painful thing to go through during the pandemic. Once I got back out to the barn, I felt so much better being around horses. Everyone in the TV department really rallied.

When watching the races on the NYRA circuit this year, did you notice any track biases for handicappers to consider?

Wolfendale: On the turf course at Aqueduct it paid to save ground, but that's fairly typical in all turf races. That's something you typically see at Saratoga as well over their inner turf course. There would be days, especially at Belmont Park, when it seems like if it rains and it was on the drying out spectrum, you wanted to be on the inside and have early speed.

Who would you say has been the most improved jockey?

Wolfendale: It was really fun to watch the progression of apprentice jockey Luis Cardenas. He obviously showed some talent earlier on in the year and, like everyone else, had the layoff in the springtime, but he's just come back and just rode extremely well. It's also been really enjoyable watching Kendrick Carmouche and all that he's done, winning his first Grade 1 and getting the riding title during the fall meet at Aqueduct.

As far as trainers are concerned, who has stood out the most to you this season?

Wolfendale: I think each year, with new trainers that come in, you gather more information and learn more about what each trainer's horses look like. It adds a tool and a nuance to looking at horses in what to expect when it comes to looking at horses from different barns. Each year, you learn a little bit more about each trainer. For example, Horacio DePaz is a fairly new face consistently on the Maryland and NYRA circuit and I'm learning more about his horses and what to expect, and he does a fantastic job. That's helped me a bit in looking at horses in the paddock.

I think what Christophe Clement accomplished throughout the year has been phenomenal, especially considering that he doesn't have the numbers that Chad Brown or Todd Pletcher do. A lot of the success comes when you have the right horses for the right spots, but once they run through those conditions, you hit that lull. Christophe brought over first time starter after first time starter to the winner's circle, but he does a good job of capitalizing on his stock. Timeless Journey for example, won a maiden 40 at Saratoga and then wins a starter allowance, kind of surprisingly, and got things her own way, but then he brings her to the dirt and runs her through her allowance conditions on the dirt. That's just what he's done with his entire stable to win at the percentage that he has. I like the fact that it's a family-style operation. Christophe has his son [Miguel Clement] working for him and he has longtime assistant Christophe Lorieul working for him for over 20 years, so it's a very family type of establishment and operation. That's been really fun to watch.

*

The 2020-21 winter meet at Aqueduct returns to action on Thursday, Dec. 31, and continues through Sunday, March 28.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, and the best way to bet every race of the winter meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

For additional information, and the complete winter meet stakes schedule, please visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/stakes-schedule.

The post ‘Out Of My Wheelhouse’: Maggie Wolfendale Learned To Broadcast From Home In 2020 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post