gary palmisano | Horse Racing Free Tips

Turfway, Claiborne Partner for ‘Make Your Mare’ Series

Turfway Park Racing & Gaming and Claiborne Farm have teamed up to present a three-race series which will reward top-three-finishing fillies and mares a future stallion credit when they retire from racing.

Dubbed the “Make Your Mare” series, the top three finishers of the Dec. 2 Holiday Inaugural S., Dec. 9 My Charmer S., and Jan. 13 Likely Exchange S. will all receive “Claiborne Credit” on a $10,000, $5,000 and $2,500 scale to be applied to future stallion fees.

“We're very excited to partner with Claiborne Farm for this series of three stakes races from Turfway Park,” said Gary Palmisano, Jr., executive director of racing for Churchill Downs Incorporated. “These races will not only give owners and trainers another chance to get their fillies and mares black-type placing, but also an opportunity at credit towards a top stallion pairing when they retire. We know there are a lot of quality racing/broodmare prospects sold each November at the sales in Lexington, so this would be a great opportunity for some of the horses purchased to try and add to their resumes.”

Claiborne president Walker Hancock added, “We are pleased to partner with Turfway on their new 'Make Your Mare' Series. This will provide owners the opportunity to breed to one of our top-class stallions at an earned discounted rate, while giving our stallions more black-type mares to bolster their stud books.”

Claiborne Credits will only be applied to the top three finishing horses, but may be transferred with the horse if the ownership were to change. The credits will expire at the end of the 2025 breeding season.

The post Turfway, Claiborne Partner for ‘Make Your Mare’ Series appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

2024 Kentucky Race Dates Set

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) on Tuesday approved a Thoroughbred racing calendar for 2024 that largely mirrors the template that has been in place for the past three seasons.

The board's unanimous approval included a conditional “optional dates” placeholder for Ellis Park's July and August calendar that has to be solidified into a three-dates-per-week commitment before the end of this year.

The gaming company Churchill Downs, Inc. (CDI), which owns Ellis, Churchill Downs Racetrack, and Turfway Park, had requested additional time to figure out if swapping Fridays for Mondays will be feasible for 2024.

So Ellis got awarded 18 mandatory dates (which will be run on Saturdays and Sundays) and 30 optional dates. Waqas Ahmed, the KHRC's executive deputy director, told commissioners that he expected Ellis would eventually end up picking up seven more mandatory dates from that optional allotment of 30.

“The obvious goal at Ellis is to run three days a week,” Gary Palmisano, Jr., CDI's executive director of racing, said during the KHRC meeting. “As we approached the race dates application deadline, the idea was tossed around of potentially running Saturday, Sunday, Monday rather than [this season's] Friday, Saturday, Sunday.”

Leaving that placeholder for now, Palmisano said, “is going to allow our team a little bit more time to conduct some due diligence [and] make sure the horsemen are on board; make sure test barn workers can get there; make sure we can actually cover potential Monday racing.”

CDI must notify the KHRC by Dec. 31 as to how it will satisfy the commission's condition that calls for “at least” three days of racing per week at Ellis in 2024.

Assuming Ellis ends up with 25 mandatory dates, the total number of race dates in Kentucky will rise slightly in 2024 compared to the assigned dates for 2023, up from 211 to 215. The total mandatory dates for the other tracks are Churchill (83), Turfway (67), Keeneland (33) and Kentucky Downs (7).

Here's a chronological look at the state's 2024 Thoroughbred schedule:

Turfway: Jan. 3-Mar. 30 on a Wednesday-Saturday evening schedule.

Keeneland: Apr. 5-26 on a Wednesday-Sunday schedule.

Churchill Downs: Apr. 27-June 30 on a Wednesday-Sunday schedule, with exceptions on GI Kentucky Derby week and the Memorial Day holiday week.

Ellis Park: July 4-Aug. 27 with Saturdays and Sundays anchoring the schedule, plus additional dates to be announced and an opening-day Thursday card on Independence Day.

Kentucky Downs: Aug. 29-Sept. 11 for seven dates with three “optional” dates in case of rainouts.

Churchill: Sep. 12-29 on a Wednesday-Sunday schedule.

Keeneland: Oct. 4-26 on a Wednesday-Sunday schedule.

Churchill: Oct. 27-Dec. 1 on a Wednesday-Sunday schedule.

Turfway: Dec. 4-28 on a Wednesday-Saturday evening schedule with a Christmas Day exception.

The post 2024 Kentucky Race Dates Set appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Members of Jockey Mental Health Committee and Advisory Council Announced

Officials at the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) and the Jockeys' Guild have announced that members of the newly formed Jockey Mental Health Steering Committee and Advisory Council have been appointed. An inaugural meeting of the new groups will take place Tuesday, Oct. 3 at Columbia University in New York City. The Steering Committee, led by Ambassador Earle Mack, was created with a collective goal of driving research, programming, and resources towards jockey mental wellness initiatives.

The steering committee members are as follows: Ambassador Earle Mack; Denali Stud's Craig Bandoroff; former NYRA chairman Anthony Bonomo; retired jockey and broadcaster Donna Brothers; retired jockey Eurico Rosa da Silva; West Point Thoroughbreds's Terry Finley; HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus; Terry Meyocks, President and CEO of the Jockeys' Guild; trainer Graham Motion; Churchill Downs's executive director of racing, Gary Palmisano; and the executive director for the Race Track Chaplaincy of America, Dan Waits.

The Advisory Group, under direction of HISA National Medical Director Dr. Pete Hester, will hold weekly brainstorming sessions with industry and external experts before reporting best practices and initiatives to the Steering Committee for next steps and potential full adoption.

The advisory council are as follows: Dr. Pete Hester; Michael Bingman; Mindy Coleman; Pat Day; Ramon Dominguez; Dr. Prudence Fisher; Jeff Johnston; Ann McGovern; Dr. Yuval Neria; and Anne Poulson.

“The Jockeys' Guild appreciates all of the input and interest by industry participants to address jockeys' mental health and wellness,” said Jockeys' Guild President and CEO Terry Meyocks. “The Guild has long advocated for the industry to recognize the stress and everyday challenges jockeys face. The Guild looks forward to working with the Steering and Advisory Committees to develop programs which will demonstrate that we as an industry are able to support not only the jockeys but their family members as well and eventually all others in our industry.”

The post Members of Jockey Mental Health Committee and Advisory Council Announced appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Second Stride Derby Week Fundraiser Returns May 1

Edited Press Release

A horse ownership stake with Skychai Racing, an outdoor cigar lounge and multiple ready-for-Instagram backgrounds are just a few of the new features added this year to Second Stride's 12th annual Derby week Champions Night at Molly Malone's in the Highlands section of Louisville Monday, May 1 from 6-9 pm.

Of all fundraisers taking place Derby week, it is the only event raising money for the horses, enabling the Louisville-based organization to continue to provide professional rehabilitation, retraining and placement of retired thoroughbred racehorses. Placing over 100 horses per year, Second Stride aims to increase that figure significantly and relies heavily upon money raised during this pinnacle event.

The event, sponsored by Skychai, will feature a timely handicapping session as the Kentucky Oaks and Derby draw will have occurred only hours earlier. The discussion will be moderated by Byron King of Blood-Horse and panelists include: Fanduel/TVG's Andie Biancone, At the Races host Steve Byk, Churchill Downs Director of Racing Gary Palmisano and St. Louis radio show host and handicapper Doug Nachman.

“Being involved in the sport of kings is an immense privilege which comes with great responsibility,” said Biancone. “Aftercare is everything and Second Stride does such a great job. They have even helped re-home some of my dad's horses and I'm happy to lend my support for this event.”

Champions Night will host auctions and raffles throughout the evening. The online silent auction featuring exclusive items is already open for bidding closing Derby Day, Saturday, May 6.

Champions Night looks forward to welcoming back in person the many trainers, owners, jockeys, fans and other industry notables who faithfully attend in support of the horses. The event is open to the public. Tickets are not required but there is a suggested donation of $20 at the door.

Click here for more details.

The post Second Stride Derby Week Fundraiser Returns May 1 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post