covid-19 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Tattersalls to Host Inaugural August Sale

The first edition of the new Tattersalls August Sale, to be held at Park Paddocks in Newmarket on Aug. 25-26, was announce by the sales company on Wednesday. Comprised of primarily horses and fillies in training, the catalogue will also include some breeding stock and is in a similar mould to the Tattersalls July Sale.

“The decision to stage an August Sale is entirely in response to the unique COVID-19 related circumstances we all find ourselves facing,” said Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony. “We were acutely aware as we took entries for the July Sale that the absence of racing was posing major difficulties in terms of assessing the merits of stock and what was suitable for entry in the July Sale. We spoke with a wide cross section of vendors and it became clear that there was significant demand for an extra fixture to accommodate requirements related to the impact of the global pandemic which has caused so much disruption in every walk of life.

“In a normal year there would be a major yearling sale in the week we have chosen for the August Sale, but with that sale moving to a later date we have been able to react positively and collaboratively for the benefit of all concerned.”

Entries are now being taken and should be made at www.tattersalls.com, with an expected closing date of July 20, but that is subject to change.

The post Tattersalls to Host Inaugural August Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Penn National Takes 93 Entries Over Nine Races For June 19 Reopening

Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course in Grantville, Penn. is pleased to announce the return of live Thoroughbred racing on Friday, June 19 following a near three-month hiatus. A total of 93 entries hit the overnight for the nine-race card which features a pair of turf sprints and a $2,537.87 carryover in the Pick 5 starting in Race 5.

Penn National last conducted live racing on Saturday, March 14 with the track and casino closing their doors on March 16 in response to COVID-19.

“It has been a long process for everyone – horsemen, employees and guests – to get back to this point to restarting live racing but we are grateful for the response to our returning card,” said Eric Johnston, Director of Racing Operations.

Live racing into early July will be conducted on Wednesdays and Fridays with a first post of 6:00 P.M. EST. An expanded racing schedule will be reviewed based on horse supply and available purse revenues going forward.

COVID -19 mitigation protocols approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Health and Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission have been put into effect covering all individuals associated with racing and include mandatory use of face coverings, social distancing and limits on individuals permitted in the racing related areas. For the opening weekend the track apron will not be open for the general public and only licensed trainers and grooms shall be permitted in the paddock area for their specific races only.

The third-floor simulcast area will be open for simulcast wagering and viewing of live races starting June 19 and will be open seven days a week. Capacity limits will be enforced. The gaming areas at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course will reopen at 9:00 A.M. on Friday, June 19. More information on the casino and racetrack reopening can be found at www.hollyywoodpnrc.com.

The post Penn National Takes 93 Entries Over Nine Races For June 19 Reopening appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

‘Win-Win’: Kentucky Commission Approves July 2 Opening Date For Ellis Park

Ellis Park on Tuesday received regulatory approval to begin its summer meet on Thursday July 2 rather than the previously scheduled Sunday June 28 opener. The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission unanimously approved the change, which includes Churchill Downs extending its spring meet one day to close on June 28.

Ellis Park general manager Jeff Inman said the track had requested the delay to have more time to institute all the safety protocols involved with staging horse racing in the COVID-19 era. Ellis Park is making up for not running June 28 by adding July 2, a date it originally had not planned to run.

“It's win-win for everybody, including the state and Kentucky horsemen picking up an additional day of racing,” Inman said.

Ellis Park will not be able to accommodate spectators in the grandstand or outdoor areas until receiving approval from Gov. Andy Beshear's office. Under the state's measures for getting businesses back in operation following the COVID shutdown, the Ellis Park clubhouse has been allowed to re-open for Historical Horse Racing on the first floor and simulcast wagering on tracks across the country on the second floor.

The dates adjustments are the latest amid the health emergency that forced Keeneland to cancel its spring meet and for Churchill Downs to open later than scheduled. Ellis Park now will run July 2-5, then be dark the following week to allow Keeneland to run July 8-12. Ellis Park then resumes its Friday-Sunday schedule on July 17, running through Aug. 30.

Ellis Park earlier gave Sept. 1-6 to Churchill Downs in order to let the Louisville track run a rescheduled Kentucky Derby Week, with the Derby on Sept. 5.

The post ‘Win-Win’: Kentucky Commission Approves July 2 Opening Date For Ellis Park appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Royal Ascot to Be Shown in Over 120 Countries

Royal Ascot, which will feature 36 races for the first time as the coronavirus results in a spectatorless meeting, will reach over 120 countries via television broadcasts, Ascot Racecourse announced on Monday. ITV1 in the UK will display the iconic, five-day meeting, while the royal meeting will also be available in America, Australia, the Middle East, India, the Caribbean and Europe.

ITV will cover 30 races on their main channel. Sky Sports Racing, reaching 14 million homes in the UK and Ireland, will broadcast all 36 races, and the Royal Ascot feed will be streamed to more than 20 online bookmakers in the UK and Ireland. RAI will broadcast Royal Ascot in Italy, while other European broadcasters include Match TV (Russia), Movistar (Spain), Polsat (Poland), S Sport (Turkey), Silknet (Georgia), and Sport Klub (Balkans).

In America, NBC will broadcast Saturday’s races, with Tuesday-Friday’s races being show on NBC Sports Network. NBC’s total coverage will reach almost 80 million homes Stateside. Also, ESPN will showcast the five-day stand across Latin America and Caribbean fans will have access via SportsMax.

Racing.com will broadcast the entire card in Australia, while in Asia, Shanghai TV, Beijing TV (China) and Eleven Sports (Taiwan) will also show the meeting.

The Middle East and North Africa will be served by the Dubai Racing Channel and Yas TV (Abu Dhabi TV), reaching approximately 42 million homes in 17 countries. Israel’s Charlton will show Royal Ascot. Supersport will serve 48 other countries in Africa. About 45 million Indian viewers will be able to see the races through Discovery’s Eurosport India channel.

In addition, Royal Ascot coverage will reach over 124 territories through a new distribution partnership with international horseracing media rights agency, HBA Media.

Juliet Slot, Commercial Director at Ascot Racecourse, said ,”We are delighted that the strength of Royal Ascot is once again demonstrated by the breadth of international broadcasters taking our pictures despite the meeting being held behind closed doors. It will be a unique event, as it always is but one that can be enjoyed by an ever-increasing global audience. We would like to thank all of our global and UK broadcast partners for helping us bring our event to millions of homes around the world.”

The post Royal Ascot to Be Shown in Over 120 Countries appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post