gulfstream park | Horse Racing Free Tips

Gulfstream Park Issues New ‘House Rules’ Regarding Riding Crop Usage

Following an agreement between 1/ST Racing's Gulfstream Park, the Jockeys' Guild and the Florida Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., began to institute new house rules regarding the usage of riding crops, effective Aug. 6.

Among the changes is a limit of six overhand strikes in the final three furlongs of a race, with no more than two strikes in succession. Riders must then give their mount a chance to respond before using the crop again. There is no numeric limit to backhand strikes in the final three furlongs of a race or shoulder taps with the crop in the down position and both hands of the jockey on the reins.

Gulfstream issued a statement on behalf of the track's owner, reading: “The updated crop usage rules reflect 1/ST Racing's ongoing commitment to safety, integrity and accountability in the sport of Thoroughbred horse racing.”

Following are the new crop rules for racing at Gulfstream Park:

Use of Riding Crop

(1) Although the use of a riding crop is not required, a jockey who uses a riding crop during a race shall do so only in a manner consistent with exerting his or her best efforts to win.

(2) In any race in which a jockey will ride without a riding crop, an announcement of that fact shall be made over the public address system.

(3) An electrical or mechanical device or other expedient designed to increase or retard the speed of a horse, other than a riding crop approved by the stewards, shall not be possessed by anyone, or applied by anyone to a horse at any time at a location under the jurisdiction of the racing commission.

(4) A riding crop shall not be used on a 2-year-old horse in races before April 1 of each year.

(5) Allowable uses of a riding crop include the following:

(a) The riding crop may be used at any time, without penalty, if, in the opinion of the stewards, the riding crop is used to avoid a dangerous situation or preserve the safety of other riders or horses in a race;

(b) Use of the riding crop in the overhand fashion for a total of six times from the 3/8th pole to the finish line, only to be used two times in succession and then must give a horse a chance to respond.

(c) If necessary during a race, a riding crop may be used in a backhanded fashion on the hindquarters from the 3/8th pole to the finish line. This use will not be counted toward the use of the crop six times in the overhand fashion.

(d) Tapping the horse on the shoulder with the crop in the down position, while both hands are holding onto the reins and both hands are touching the neck of the horse; and

(e) Showing or waving the crop without contact with the horse and giving the horse time to respond before striking the horse.

(6) Use of the riding crop to make contact with a horse to maintain focus and concentration, to control the horse for safety of the horse and rider, or to encourage a horse is allowed, with the following exceptions:

(a) In any manner, other than backhanded on the hindquarters as set forth in Paragraph (5)(c), tapping on the shoulder as set forth in Paragraph (5)(d), or resulting in more than six times in the overhand manner as set forth in Paragraph (5)(b);

(b) The riding crop shall not be used more than twice in succession and the horse must be given a chance to respond before using it again;

i. “Chance to respond” is defined as one of the following actions by a jockey:

1. Pausing the use of the riding crop on their horse before resuming again; or

2. Pushing on their horse with a rein in each hand, keeping the riding crop in the up or down position; or

3. Showing the horse the riding crop without making contact; or

4. Moving the riding crop from one hand to the other.

(d) On the head, flanks, or on any other part of its body other than the shoulders or hindquarters;

(e) During the post parade or after the finish of the race except if necessary to control the horse;

(f) Excessive or brutal use of the crop causing injury to the horse;

(g) Causing welts or breaks in the skin;

(h) If the horse is clearly out of the race or has obtained its maximum placing; and

(i) If the horse is showing no response.

(7) A riding crop shall not be used to strike another person.

(8) After the race, a horse will be subject to inspection by a racing official or official veterinarian looking for cuts, welts, or bruises in the skin. Any adverse findings shall be reported to the stewards.

(9) Use of the crop during workouts shall be permitted so long as such use does not violate section 6(c) through (i).

(10) The giving of instructions by any licensee that, if obeyed, would lead to a violation of this section may result in disciplinary action also being taken against the licensee who gave the instructions.

(11) Only padded/shock absorbing riding crops approved by the stewards, which have not been modified in any way, may be carried in a race.

(12) During a race, if a jockey rides in a manner contrary to this rule, at the stewards' discretion, the stewards may impose a minimum fine ($250 for overnight race; $500 for stakes races) or a suspension. If in the opinion of the stewards the violation is egregious or intentional, the stewards have the discretion to impose both a fine and a suspension. Factors in determining whether a violation is egregious include, but are not limited to:

(a) recent history of similar violations;

(b) number of uses over the total and consecutive limits described; and

The post Gulfstream Park Issues New ‘House Rules’ Regarding Riding Crop Usage appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Veteran Jockey Mitchell Warming Up To New Surroundings At Monmouth Park

After seven years of struggling to get live mounts at Gulfstream Park, jockey Richard Mitchell decided it was time to change things up this year. But there was one condition to wherever he headed next: It had to be a track that raced in warm weather.

Monmouth Park's summer meet met that requirement.

The 49-year-old native of Portmore, Jamaica, says his stipulation for riding in warm weather is strictly a medical need – the result of too many spills over a lengthy riding career.

“I have so much metal in my body that I can't take the cold,” said Mitchell, who estimates he won more than 600 races at Caymanas Park in Jamaica before moving to Gulfstream in 2014. “I have a screw in my shoulder, a plate in my hip, metal in my face and pelvis. You name it I probably have metal there.

“That's why I don't travel to cold weather tracks. Temperatures in the low 60s are okay. But when it gets in the 50s or lower it just hurts too much. My whole body hurts when it starts to get colder.”

This much is certain: Monmouth Park followers are warming up to Mitchell.

After winning just 32 races from 831 mounts at Gulfstream from 2014 through 2020, Mitchell is 4-for-20 since arriving at Monmouth Park on June 27 and 5-for-25 overall this year (with another win at Parx).

In his best year at Gulfstream he won nine races from 235 mounts.

He is also largely responsible for Friday's six-race card offering the enticement of a $201,241 Pick 5 carryover that starts in the second race. During Sunday's early Pick 5 sequence, Mitchell booted home Quintarelli ($44.60) and then won with Fighting Heart ($52.80) on the turf, contributing significantly to the resulting carryover.

“Whenever I win it feels joyful,” said Mitchell, who serves as his own agent. “I appreciate the people at Monmouth Park giving me a chance. I wasn't getting enough good mounts at Gulfstream. It's very hard to break in there.

“(Trainer) Rohan Crichton (a fellow Jamaican) told me he would use me on some of his horses if I came to Monmouth Park and that I could also gallop for him. I saw it as an opportunity to try something new. I have been galloping for some of the Jamaican trainers here and have kept busy and now more people have noticed me and they have given me a chance.”

The four winners Mitchell has recorded at the Monmouth Park meet so far have gone off at 15-1, 27-1, 21-1 and 25-1. All have been for different trainers.

One of the trainers he has caught the attention of is Monmouth Park first-timer Rafael Schistl. Fighting Heart, one of Mitchell's longshot winners last Sunday, is trained by Schistl.

“He's hungry, experienced, light, needs money and wants to work – so I am hiring to work for me on salary and to ride first call for me,” said Schistl. “He's going to win 20 races this meet. He knows the game and he wants to succeed.

“I have already had some of the top trainers here come to me and ask about him. I told them all the same thing: `Use this guy.' ”

Mitchell has one mount in Friday's anticipated Pick 5 sequence, riding Misspotofgold in the fourth race for owner-trainer Clarence B. King.

The post Veteran Jockey Mitchell Warming Up To New Surroundings At Monmouth Park appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Gulfstream Rainbow 6 Mandatory Payout Reaches $14,880

Gulfstream Park's mandatory payout of the 20-cent Rainbow 6 Saturday had multiple winning tickets each worth $14,880.32.

There was a carryover of $500,634 and new money of $2,331,923.

The day was highlighted by the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes and Stonehedge LLC's Cajun's Magic winning the $100,000 Dr. Fager and Champion Equine LLC's My Sassenach winning the $100,000 Desert Vixen.

The Rainbow 6 will begin with Sunday's sixth race, a six-furlong claimer for 3-year-olds and up. First race post is 12:50 p.m.

The Rainbow 6 carryover jackpot is usually only paid out when there is a single unique ticket sold with all six winners. On days when there is no unique ticket, 70 percent of that day's pool usually goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners, while 30 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool. However, on mandatory-payout days, the entire pool is paid out to the bettor or bettors with the most winners in the six-race sequence.

The post Gulfstream Rainbow 6 Mandatory Payout Reaches $14,880 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Cajun’s Magic Delivers A Win In Dr. Fager At Gulfstream

Stonehedge LLC's Gil and Marilyn Campbell collected their 16th success in the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes series Saturday when Cajun's Magic edged stablemate Dean Delivers in the $100,000 Dr. Fager at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

“It's quite a thrill,” said winning trainer Michael Yates. “They've been such a big part in the Florida breeding industry. To be a part of the team is an honor, for sure.”

The Dr. Fager, a six-furlong open-division sprint, co-headlined Saturday's 13-race program with the $100,000 Desert Vixen, a six-furlong event for fillies won by My Sassenach, kicking off the 2021 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes, a tradition-rich series for juveniles sired by accredited stallions standing in Florida.

Cajun's Magic ($15) rallied from far off the pace to win a stretch duel with Dean Delivers by a neck to complete a Michael Yates-trained exacta in what turned out to be a two-horse race in the stretch.

“After they broke their maidens, Mrs. Campbell asked me which one I liked best. I said, 'Personally, at this point,' I feel like we have the exacta. I don't know which one's the best,” Yates said.

Saturday, Cajun's Magic proved the better Yates trainee by a very narrow margin in the Dr. Fager. Making his third start after finishing second in his debut and breaking his maiden by 4 ¾ lengths July 1, Cajun's Magic settled well off the pace under Jesus Rios, as Laki Lio set the pace along the backstretch, pressed by Hope in Him, the 8-5 favorite ridden by Samy Camacho, and Dean Delivers and jockey Miguel Vasquez. On the turn into the homestretch, Laki Lio and Home in Him began to falter as Dean Delivers took command and took the lead into the stretch. Cajun's Magic launched a three-wide drive on the far turn and quickly joined his stablemate, who was the 8-5 second choice in the wagering.

Cajun's Magic passed his stablemate in mid-stretch but was all-out to hold off a resurgent Dean Delivers approaching the wire. Gold Special rallied under Marcos Meneses to finish third, 10 lengths farther back. Home in Him checked in sixth of seven starters. Cajun's Magic ran the six furlongs in 1:11.01.

Both Cajun's Magic and Dean Delivers are sons of Cajun Breeze, who was owned and trained by Yates during his racing career in which he earned $246,000 the hard way while competing in allowance and stakes company in South Florida. Believing that the son of Congrats was a better horse than he showed on the racetrack, Yates took a leap of faith and stood him at stud upon his retirement in 2015. Cajun Breeze immediately proved to be a promising Florida stallion.

[Story Continues Below]

“It's pretty surreal. He's throwing some nice horses. I think the best is yet to come from him,” Yates said. “His first couple crops, he had some pretty small numbers from some pretty ordinary mares. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell have bought half of him and have bred a decent number of mares to him. The proof's in the pudding.”

The Florida Sire Stakes has a storied history dating back to 1982, when it was created by Ocala Breeder and owner Dan Lasater. The six-race series has produced six Eclipse Award champions: Awesome Feather (2010 Juvenile Filly), Big Drama (2010 Sprint), Holy Bull (1994 Horse of the Year and 3-Year-Old Male), Smile (1986 Sprint), Brave Raj (1986 Juvenile Filly), and Not Surprising (1995 Sprint Champion).

The Florida Sire Stakes series will continue Aug. 28 with the $200,000 Affirmed and the $200,000 Susan's Girl for fillies, both slated for seven furlongs, and Sept. 25 with the $400,000 In Reality and the $400,000 My Dear Girl for fillies, both to be run around two turns at 1 1/16 miles.

The post Cajun’s Magic Delivers A Win In Dr. Fager At Gulfstream appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post