Three Tours Return to Discover Newmarket Lineup

Three returning tours were announced by Discover Newmarket on Wednesday. The “Behind the Scenes Racecourse Tour” is one hour and includes visiting the Commentary Box and Royal Box at Newmarket Racecourses. This tour is £15 per person. A full day, the “Newmarket Race Day Tour” features a day out at the races, including admission to the Premier Enclosure and an hour-long tour that visits the Commentary Box and Royal Box. There is also an opportunity to rub shoulders with trainers, owners and jockeys inside the Parade Ring and it is priced at £45 per person for a maximum of 10 people. The third tour is the day-long “Tattersalls Tour”, which begins with a guided tour of the Newmarket Gallops, a busy trainer's yard, and the National Horseracing Museum. Visitors will then get the chance to watch bidding at Tattersalls. It is priced at £105 per person for a maximum of eight people. Tours are available on selected dates from August to October. Other tours are also available, like the “On the Trail of Dick France” tour (£25) and the “Newmarket's Racing Royalty Tour” (£25). All tours can be booked through Discover Newmarket at www.discovernewmarket.co.uk.

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Record Price/Clearance at Tattersalls Ireland May Store Sale

The twice-rescheduled Tattersalls Ireland May Store Sale ended on Tuesday with a new record price of €115,000 and a new record clearance rate of 78%. Of the 211 lots offered, 164 sold. The gross was €2,851,200. The average and the median each posted double-digit increases-€17,385 for the average (+43%) and €15,000 for the median (+67%).

A gelded son of Blue Bresil (Fr), offered by Rathbarry Stud, caught the eye of bloodstock agent Aiden Murphy. Lot 121B, a half-brother to Welsh Grand National H. Chase runner-up The Two Amigos (GB) (Midnight Legend {GB}), counts Grade 3 winner and Grade 1-placed Line As (Fr) (Cadoudal {Fr}) as his second dam.

“He is the one I really wanted today,” said Murphy, the day's leading purchaser. “He is a lovely horse and has a pedigree. He is a great advertisement for the sire, he goes to Olly [Murphy] and is for Diana and Grahame Whateley.”

Tattersalls Ireland CEO Simon Kerins said, “Only in its fourth year, the May Store Sale has already become recognised as a leading source of winners and today's impressive set of figures have confirmed its importance within the store sale calendar. Although delayed until August for a second year in a row, this year's sale has produced an excellent trade that surpasses pre-COVID times and has achieved a record clearance rate.

We extend our thanks to our vendors who remained patient throughout the disruption to the sales calendar and provided quality stores as well as every purchaser who engaged as they sought to find their next May Store Sale winner. We were delighted to welcome UK buyers back to Fairyhouse following the easing of travel restrictions into Ireland.”

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COVID-19 Health Protocols Released For Arqana August

The upcoming Arqana August Yearling Sale begins on Saturday, Aug. 14, and COVID-19 health protocols were announced by the sales company on Tuesday.

To gain access to the sales grounds, all interested parties must register here. All registered individuals must also present a health pass at the entrance of Arqana's sale complex, with only the main entrance and one near the loading ramps for stud personnel open at this time. The right-handed lane at the main entrance will be reserved for people with a valid health pass. Non-European visitors will be required to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19. The left-hand lane at the main entrance will allow others to carry out an antigen test from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in a dedicated tent, without contact with the rest of the public.

The following documents are considered a valid health pass in France:

  • Proof that you are fully vaccinated
  • A negative PCR or antigen test taken with the last 72 hours
  • A COVID-19 recovery certificate attested by a positive PCR or antigen test result, at least 15 days and no more than 6 months old

Wristbands will then be provided, with each day a different colour. These wrist bands will allow movement around the establishment and admittance to the racecourse without having to show a health pass. In addition, mask wearing is mandatory indoors, but not outside. It will also be possible to book a PCR or antigen test on site from Thursday, Aug. 12 through Tuesday, Aug. 17. Any interested parties that are unable to travel to Deauville may bid online at www.arqanaonline.com. To register to bid online during the sale, you must register prior to the start of the sale. Please click here to register to bid.

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Wagering Essentially Flat, Purses Up in July

Wagering essentially stayed the same in July compared to the same month from 2020 while still showing marked improvement over corresponding 2019 numbers, according to the latest economic indicators released by Equibase. Purses continued to rise over last year's pandemic-affected levels and eclipsed 2019 numbers for July.

Overall, $1,101,617,446 was wagered on U.S. races in July 2021, compared to $1,098,021,143 in 2020, a slight uptick of 0.33%. In July of 2019, $942,243,633 was wagered, making last month's numbers a 16.91% increase over that figure. With the number of race days up, however, average wagering per race day fell 10.27% from $2,758,847 in July 2020 to $2,475,545 in July 2021. That number is still 27.16% higher than July 2019, when $1,946,784 was bet per race day.

Purses totaled $110,489,273 this July, a 22.47% increase over the sum of $90,220,894 paid out in July 2020. That figure is also 6.92% above the $103,342,574 purses totaled in July 2019.

Field size dipped below seven in July 2021, to 6.95 per race after averaging 7.62 in July 2020. The number was 7.11 in July 2019.

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