Rice Plans Court Appeal to Keep Training

The previously levied three-year license revocation and $50,000 fine against trainer Linda Rice went into effect  Monday, the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) announced. According to published reports, Rice will request a temporary restraining order to try and get the revocation stayed pending a court review of the NYSGC's ruling.

On May 17, Rice had her training license revoked for a period of “no less than three years” and got fined $50,000 when NYSGC members voted 5-0 to agree with a hearing officer that Rice's  years-long pattern of seeking and obtaining confidential pre-entry information from New York Racing Association (NYRA) racing office workers was “intentional, serious and extensive, and that her actions constituted improper and corrupt conduct…inconsistent with and detrimental to the best interests of horse racing.”

Rice had testified during eight days of NYSGC hearings late in 2020 that she had handed over cash gifts amounting to thousands of dollars at a time to NYRA racing office employees between 2011 and 2015.

But the veteran conditioner, who has been training since 1987 and owns seven NYRA training titles, also testified that she did not expect any special favors in return for that money, and that any entry-related information she did receive from NYRA employees was a type of disclosure that was routinely divulged to other trainers.

Rice's lone trainee entered to race June 7 was scratched at Finger Lakes.

Ironically–considering the circumstances of Rice's case–that entrant was named Inside Info (Mission Impazible).

Rice's attorney, Andrew Turro, did not respond to TDN queries prior to deadline for this story. But he told The Blood-Horse that a stay will likely be filed in Schenectady Supreme Court and that she will fight the case until all of her legal avenues of appeal have been exhausted.

“We are very troubled by the commission's determination with respect to the racing office information issue because it is incorrect in a number of material respects,” Turro told The Blood-Horse. “We will seek judicial review of the order as soon as humanly possible and we expect to be heard in court this week on a stay application.”

Rice has six horses total entered to race at both Belmont Park and Finger Lakes later this week.

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Finger Lakes Announces Second Purse Increase Of 2021

Officials at Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack (FLGR) announced Thursday the second purse increase of the year, which increases the average daily purses by over 26 percent than 2020 levels.

A 10 percent increase on top of the 15 percent increase announced last month has allowed average daily purses to increase by over $30,000 a day versus the 2020 season. The increases are possible due to FLGR vastly outperforming projections for its gaming operations since coming out of a nearly six-month closure due to the pandemic in 2020. In addition, FLGR was recently allowed by the state to resume a 20-hour business day after several months of reduced operating hours.

“This second increase in 2021 is another positive development for horsemen and women at Finger Lakes as they work to recover from a difficult 2020. This will also be an additional incentive for others to come participate in racing at Finger Lakes,” said FLGR general manager Chris Riegle.

Finger Lakes Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (FLHBPA) president Chris Vaccaro added: “This is more good news for our membership, and New York racing in general. These increases strengthen racing at Finger Lakes by increasing both participation and investment within the industry itself.”

FLGR has available stalls for suitable horses. Interested owners and trainers are highly encouraged to contact the FLGR racing office directly at 585-924-1546 for more information.

Finger Lakes' 2021 meet runs through Wednesday, November 24. Racing is scheduled every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon until the week after Labor Day. Thursday is then added to the schedule until the conclusion of the meet.

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Dedicated Horseman Daniel Conway Passes At Age 68

Daniel H. Conway, Jr., age 68, a beloved husband, father, brother, and friend, passed away Thursday, April 29, 2021, after a brief illness. He is survived by his loving wife of 36 years, Grace (Everett) Conway; daughter, Katie (Adam) Crosby; sister, Cathy (Mark) Strope; dog, Sunny and barn cat, Haunch. Dan was predeceased by two sisters, Ellen Veitch and Ann Eldridge.

Dan was born and raised in Oswego and was the son of Daniel H. Sr. and Catharine (Taylor) Conway. He spent his professional life pursuing his passion, training Thoroughbred racehorses. Following in his father's footsteps, Dan was an incredibly dedicated horseman.

He saddled the winners of over 1,300 races, including multiple stakes winners, primarily at Finger Lakes in upstate New York.

He was a member of St. Mary's Church.

Dan's memorial mass will be celebrated Thursday, at 11am, at St. Mary's Church, 95 N. Main St., Canandaigua. Interment will be in Woodlawn Cemetery, Canandaigua. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Finger Lakes Thoroughbred Adoption Program, 5757 Rte. 96, Farmington, NY 14425 or Ontario County Humane Society, 2976 Co. Rd. 48, Canandaigua, NY,
14424. Arrangements are by Johnson-Kennedy Funeral Home, Inc., Canandaigua.

Condolences may be offered at www.johnsonkennedy.com.

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Finger Lakes Boosts Purses 15 Percent, Reinstitutes Full Stakes Schedule For 2021 Season

Thoroughbred racing returns Monday afternoon to Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack (FLGR), with a first race post time of 1:10 pm.

Officials recently announced a 15 percent increase in overnight purses for the 2021 meet and the reinstituting of a full stakes schedule. The increase comes after gaming operations were permitted by New York State to resume a 20-hour business day after several months of reduced operating hours. The gaming facility at Finger Lakes, closed for nearly six months last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, reopened in September, but operated with reduced hours of operation from November through early April.

Average daily purses are projected to increase approximately $18,000 per day as a result.

“As our business continues returning to normal, we are pleased to put this purse increase in place to benefit our horsemen and women who have struggled like so many during this past year, while sustaining our racing program post-pandemic,” said FLGR general manager Chris Riegle.

Finger Lakes Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (FLHBPA) president Chris Vaccaro added: “Coming off of a year with so much uncertainty and difficulty, this increase signals the start of a positive road forward for our membership as we work together to strengthen racing at Finger Lakes now and for the future.”

The 101-day season schedule will begin with no fans in attendance, just as the entire shortened 2020 season took place. A recent announcement by the state that fans will be able to return to racetracks in limited capacity numbers could spell changes to that policy in the near future, however.

“We look forward to reviewing specific guidance from the state on reopening protocols with fans in attendance so that we can soon welcome back many of our loyal patrons who enjoy a day at the races,” added Riegle.

While fans await to return to the races, they may view all of the action streaming online in several ways, including the FLGR YouTube channel, as well as fingerlakesbonusbets.com where they can wager as well.

After opening today, Finger Lakes will resume racing on Monday, May 3 with three-day race weeks that run Monday through Wednesday until the week after Labor Day. Thursday will be added to the weekly schedule at that point until the conclusion of the meet on Wednesday, Nov. 24. First race post time will be 1:10 p.m. daily through Nov/ 4. To accommodate the end of daylight saving time, post time will move to 12:15pm as of Nov. 8.

The 2021 stakes schedule features 13 events headlined by the 50th running of the $150,000 New York Derby for top New York-bred 3-year-olds on July 19 and The New York Breeders' Futurity on Oct. 18 for New York-bred 2-year-olds with an estimated offering of $200,000. Precursors to the Futurity include the Lady Finger and Aspirant Stakes on Sept. 27, both with estimated purses of $100,000. The stakes season begins with the $50,000 George W. Barker Stakes on June 21.

About Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack: In operation since 1962, the facility added gaming to its offerings in 2004. Nearly two million visit annually. Gaming Floor open 8am – 4am, daily. Those interested in stabling at Finger Lakes are encouraged to visit fingerlakesgaming.com/racing/horsemen to learn more about the many amenities, incentives and advantages offered for horsemen and women.

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