covid-19 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Epsom Downs And Leicester To Play A Part In New COVID-19 Vaccine In The UK

According to an article from The Blood-Horse, Epsom Downs and Leicester Racecourse are about to make a transition from horse racing to COVID-19 vaccine administration site. The UK became the first country to approve a vaccine for the virus on Dec. 2 and a mass vaccine program is currently being prepared by the government.

This is not the first time in the UK that racecourses have been utilized in the fight against the virus that has taken its toll on the thoroughbred industry since it surfaced. Many racecourses have been used as drive-through testing sites over the course of this wildly unpredictable year.

“Help is on its way,” said Health secretary Matt Hancock while speaking on “BBC Breakfast”. “From next week we can start rolling this out, and we can start with those who are most vulnerable to COVID-19. I'm confident now with the news today that from spring, from Easter onwards, things are going to be better, and we're going to have a summer next year that everybody can enjoy.”

The vaccine is reported to be 95% effective and is set to arrive next week. The UK has pre-ordered 40 million doses, but only 800,000 of those will be arriving next week. On Wednesday racecourses in the UK reopened to spectators for the first time since March.

Santa Anita Announces Versatile On-Air Simulcast Talent Roster

With Santa Anita's opening day beckoning on Saturday, Dec. 26, racing fans can look forward to a full complement of talented on-air personalities via santaanita.com/live and a variety of other internet platforms as well as selected brick and mortar satellite locations.

Although there is still no public admittance due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, fans can watch and wager on Santa Anita's live races via Account Deposit Wagering (ADW) platforms including 1stBet.com, XpressBet.com and they follow the track's complete simulcast presentation free of charge at santaanita.com.

With the betting public more dependent than ever on quality broadcast information, Santa Anita will again be represented by a talented and diverse on-air lineup that includes Millie Ball, Zoe Cadman, Peter Lurie, Jeff Siegel and Michelle Yu.

“The collective overall experience of this group is among the finest in racing,” said Amy J. Zimmerman, Senior Vice President and Executive Producer. “From the XBTV morning workouts, to exclusive interviews and through to their observations as the last horse is loaded into the gate, the team is dedicated to the ultimate goal of providing our customers with decision-making information in an easy-to-consume fashion.”

In addition to these on-air regulars, Santa Anita's simulcast signal will also include Track Announcer Frank Mirahmadi, who along with Tom Quigley, will participate in a pre-race handicapping seminar each weekend beginning an hour and 10 minutes prior to first post time.

With Shiva Scanlon serving as Line Producer for Santa Anita's daily simulcast presentation, viewers will be treated to comprehensive coverage including analysis from the saddling paddock to the starting gate, with updated odds provided throughout.

MILLIE BALL

A joy to behold on camera and off, Millie's enthusiasm and vast knowledge of the Thoroughbred world is self-evident on a daily basis. A native of England, she began riding at a young age and graduated with a bachelor's degree from the Royal Agricultural College prior to immigrating to America in 1995, whereupon she began galloping horses at Hollywood Park. Married to trainer Tim Yakteen, with whom she has two boys, Sam, 15 and Ben, 13, Millie, who was an amateur jockey in England, worked for three Hall of Fame conditioners upon her arrival in California, the late Bobby Frankel, Bob Baffert and Richard Mandella. While in their employ, she accompanied stakes horses to venues nationwide, including Saratoga, Fairgrounds, Keeneland, Churchill Downs, Belmont Park, Arlington Park, Gulfstream Park and one international destination, Hong Kong. In 2003, with a resume and easy going manner that affords her “inside the ropes” access that is second to none, Millie took a turn for the camera as she joined Santa Anita's on-air family as a host and reporter on HRTV. In February 2015, she was part of a select team that accompanied the launch of XBTV, Thoroughbred horse racing's “go-to” platform for morning workouts.

“I'm so proud to be a part of this team,” she said. “We're the only game in town with respect to providing morning workouts for our fans and 1stBet members. I'm also very proud to be a part of our daily simulcast presentation, which offers horseplayers exclusive content provided by XBTV and valuable real-time insight and analysis from paddock to post.”

ZOE CADMAN

Born in Johannesburg, South Africa and raised in England, Zoe came to America at the behest of Breeder's Cup winning trainer Michael Dickinson. Upon arrival, she also served stints with trainers Christopher Speckert and Mike Stidham prior to taking out her Jockey's license in 2000. Shortly thereafter, she became a multiple stakes winning jockey and leading rider in Chicago. The top apprentice jockey at Arlington Park, Hawthorne Race Course and Sportman's Park, Zoe was also leading rider as a journeyman at Hawthorne. Subsequent to retiring from the saddle, Zoe relocated to Southern California full time in 2008 and worked at Santa Anita with HRTV until 2015, when she assumed her current broadcast role with XBTV. Quick witted and a terrific interviewer, Zoe brings a unique skillset to her position that enables her to provide timely information and insight in an entertaining fashion.

“Early morning sunrises at Santa Anita are hard to beat,” she said. “You can find me most mornings, with binoculars, coffee and my dog in-tow to take in the morning action and relay it later to the public first-hand.”

PETER LURIE

A consummate broadcast professional, Peter was born in Los Angeles and attended North Hollywood High, where he lettered in swimming. The son of an actor, Peter graduated from Los Angeles Valley College and later majored in Theatre at Cal State Northridge. A sought-after voice actor with more than 30 years of experience, he's the voice of LEATHERHEAD, a fictional character in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle comics series. An original on-air talent member with HRTV, Peter is in his fourth year as simulcast host at Santa Anita. A Thoroughbred owner/breeder and former jockey agent, Peter has been coming to the races at Santa Anita since childhood.

“Santa Anita has always been a second home for me,” he said. “I've been coming here with my father since I was four years old and have been an avid player most of my life…I like the direction Santa Anita is going in. Our players need info and hopefully, we provide that on a regular basis.”

JEFF SIEGEL

From the late Bob Benoit's Publicity staff at Hollywood Park in the early 1970s to the present day, Jeff Siegel remains one of the brightest minds in Thoroughbred racing. Known for decades as one of the most highly respected public handicappers in Southern California, Siegel's knowledge of and passion for racing remain world class. A passionate UCLA Bruin fan, Jeff currently provides daily video and print content exclusively to various Stronach Group media platforms, including XBTV.com, 1stBet.com, XpressBet.com and santaanita.com/live. Affectionately dubbed “Scalp” decades ago due to his prominent pate, Siegel is not only one of the most respected handicapping minds in racing, he's also experienced Grade 1 success as an owner, having co-founded Team Valor and its predecessor, Clover Racing Stable, where he served as Vice President/Racing. During his 20-year involvement, the organization became the most prolific general partnership stable in North America, winning more than 100 stakes races (including 20 Grade I's) while amassing purse earnings in excess of $50 million. As a broadcast host and writer, Siegel earned an Eclipse Award for outstanding local television coverage in Thoroughbred racing in 1999 for “The Best of Santa Anita.” As a television analyst, he's covered racing's most prestigious events, including each of the three Triple Crown races, the Breeders' Cup, the Dubai World Cup and racing from Royal Ascot.

“The sport of Thoroughbred racing is as much fun for today as it was way back in the late 1950s when as a very young boy, my father first took me to Santa Anita,” said Siegel. “I've been fortunate to have worn a lot of hats over the past several decades and the passion has never wavered. I hope to continue to be involved for years to come.”

MICHELLE YU

Vivacious and a bundle of broadcast energy, Michelle is married to trainer Ryan Hanson, with whom she has two children, Olivia, 4 and Spencer, 2. A Southern California native and lifelong racing fan, she's ridden competitively since she was a young girl and has shown as a three-day eventer and played polo while attending the University of Louisville's Equine Business program. Early mornings often find Michelle assisting her husband with ground work and pre-training of racing prospects at a nearby farm. Well versed in a variety of sports, her broadcast credits include stints at TVG, HRTV, Fox Sports, Breeders' Cup Limited and Santa Anita, where she works as a simulcast host. Her Thoroughbred industry experience also includes backside assignments with Kentucky-based trainers Ron Moquett and Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen.

“I can't wait to get back to racing at The Great Race Place,” said Yu. “I'm fortunate to get to walk into the track every day and I can't wait to share that happiness with all the fans starting on opening day. I'm looking forward to a kick-ass rendition of the Runhappy Malibu and the new turf chute, which gives us some great racing options!”

With six stakes, including three Grade 1 events and two Grade 2's helping to comprise a blockbuster card on opening day, first post time will be at 11 a.m. For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

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Live Racing At Sunland Park Remains A Question During The Pandemic

In normal years Sunland Park in New Mexico would be gearing up for its annual meet which usually runs from December to March. Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic however, its 2020-21 season is still a question mark. According to an article from the El Paso Times, Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino had a 42-day meet scheduled for Dec. 26 through March 30.

Sunland Park was forced to end its season early in March of this year due to health concerns. This was a big decision for Sunland Park because it meant that many of its big spring and summer races would not take place, including their Kentucky Derby prep race, the Sunland Derby. The track attempted a comeback in June, but it only lasted a few days before being forced to shut down again.

The unknown future of live racing at Sunland Park has forced some of its prominent trainers to look elsewhere for their winter seasons. Todd Fincher and Justin Evans have both run horses at Sunland Park for several years and are now relocating to Turf Paradise in Arizona and Sam Houston Park in Texas.

“We'll spend a good portion of the winter in Arizona,” Evans said to El Paso Times' Felix Chavez. “I'll look at Sam Houston as well for some stakes races. I'll keep my New Mexico bred horses ready in New Mexico if Sunland Park does open. It's been tough on everyone. Some jockeys are headed to Arizona as well. My wife Vanessa is going to be agent for a few jockeys such as Frank Reyes, Luis Negron and Jimmy Coates.”

“It's been a difficult time for so many in this industry,” Fincher added. “I'm fortunate to have been granted 24 stalls at Sam Houston and will have some run at Remington Park in Oklahoma as well. But I really believe we could have run in New Mexico and done it the right way. People are getting out of the business and it's tough to see that happen to good people.”

Sunland Park is not the only racetrack in New Mexico having issues staying open during the pandemic. Zia Park Racetrack recently took a couple weeks off due to health safety concerns, but is set to resume racing and finish their meet this December.

Steve Asmussen Named 2020 Recipient Of KTO Warner L. Jones Horseman Of The Year Award

Steve Asmussen — who this year became Churchill Downs' all-time win leader and only the second trainer to achieve 9,000 career victories — is the 2020 recipient of the Louisville-based Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners' Warner L. Jones Jr. Horseman of the Year Award.

The award recognizes individuals for outstanding contributions to Kentucky racing and sharing the passion exemplified by Jones, who spent 50 years on the Churchill Downs board, including eight as chairman during the iconic track's resurgence. Warner Jones — the first and so far only breeder of a Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks and Breeders' Cup winner — was the inaugural award winner in 1988, six years before his death.

“Everything my whole family has is because of horse racing,” Asmussen said upon being informed he was the award recipient. “I won the Warner L. Jones Horseman of the Year Award – that has a beautiful ring to it. For anybody to be involved in horse racing, I think the greatest compliment you can be given is to be considered a horseman. It is what we strive for. It is something I, as well as my whole family, would be proud to be acknowledged as. The list of past recipients is beyond impressive and a group that I'm very proud to be a part of. That is cool.”

The Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners is an educational and social organization dedicated to the betterment of racing in the state. Membership is open not only to owners but anyone interested in the sport, including prospective owners.

Because of the COVID-19 health crisis, the KTO was forced to cancel its traditional November awards gala, with Asmussen and the other 2020 KTO award winners to be feted when circumstances permit an in-person event in 2021. KTO president Loren Hebel-Osborne said it was important to still recognize an individual for exceptional work in horse racing.

“As we all know this racing game ebbs and flows; we do not want Covid-19 to further penalize any members or racing entities who may otherwise be having a banner year in racing,” Hebel-Osborne said. “We weren't about to let Covid-19 cancel one more thing. In fact, I would say to win an award under these circumstances really shows extraordinary skill! We want to celebrate, elevate and honor these accomplishments especially in this most challenging environment.

“Steve is the embodiment of what the Warner L. Jones Jr. Horseman of the Year Award was created to recognize. Not just his record-setting numbers while playing at all levels of the game but just passing the eyeball test with how his horses always seem to glow good health and being well-cared for.”

Born into a horse-racing family as the younger son of Keith and Marilyn Asmussen, Steve spent parts of three seasons as a jockey before he returned from an injury too big to ride. He worked as an assistant trainer to his mother before starting his own stable with a handful of horses in 1986, winning with his 12th starter: Victory's Halo in a $2,600 maiden race at New Mexico's Ruidoso Downs.

Through Dec. 2, Asmussen had won 9,104 races, trailing only the late Dale Baird's 9,445. Those victories include training Horses of the Year Curlin (2007-2008), Rachel Alexandra (2009) and Gun Runner (2017), as well as winning the 2007 (Curlin) and 2009 (Rachel Alexandra) Preakness and the 2016 Belmont Stakes (Creator). His seven Breeders' Cup triumphs include the Classic with Curlin in 2007 and Gun Runner in 2017, with Curlin also taking the $5 million Dubai World Cup in 2008 and Gun Runner the $16 million Pegasus World Cup to cap his career in 2018. Rachel Alexandra became the only 3-year-old filly to beat older males in winning Saratoga's historic Whitney Handicap in 2009.

Asmussen's more than $342.7 million in career purse earnings are second all-time to Todd Pletcher's $397 million, according to Equibase statistics. He was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2016. Racing secretaries everywhere appreciate how much he comes to run — no one comes close to his more than 44,000 career starts.

Asmussen's 650 victories in 2009 are a record and mark one of four years in which he's surpassed 500 wins. He is the all-time win-leader at Lone Star Park and Remington Park in addition to Churchill Downs, where he replaced former Warner Jones recipient Dale Romans with the track record with victory No. 738 under the Twin Spires on June 12 this year. At Kentucky tracks, Asmussen has won a record 24 meet training titles at Churchill Downs as well as three apiece at Keeneland and Ellis Park.

On top of it, Asmussen is also an owner of note, his horses having won almost 1,200 races and more than $18.7 million dating to 2000, according to Equibase.

Past Warner L. Jones Jr. Horseman of the Year Award recipients

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