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Meet Shortened By Nearly One Third, Woodbine Handle Drops Only 10.5 Percent

Woodbine Entertainment announced Friday that the shortened 2020 Thoroughbred meet produced an all-sources handle of $462,041,545.76, down more than $50 million compared to 2019 ($516,189,419.44).

The 2020 Thoroughbred meet at Woodbine Racetrack included 96 race days as a result of starting late and finishing early. The COVID-19 pandemic postponed the start of the season from April 18 until June 6 and forced it to finish prematurely on Nov. 22, instead of Dec. 13 as scheduled. The shortened season included 35 less race days and 305 less races than in 2019.

“Like many businesses, the COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted our business and the entire horse racing industry in Ontario,” said Jim Lawson, CEO, Woodbine Entertainment. “However, I am very proud of how we responded and look forward to working with all of our stakeholders as we continue to manage the ongoing impacts caused by the pandemic.”

The shortened season, which had 28 percent less race dates than scheduled (133 race days were originally scheduled), was a primary contributor to a 10.5 percent decrease in all-sources handle. The closure of Woodbine Racetrack and Woodbine Mohawk Park to the public, and the closure of Woodbine Entertainment's Champions' Teletheatre Network, were also significant contributors to the decrease in handle.

“The fact that we were able to limit the decrease in handle to 10.5 percent despite losing nearly a third of our scheduled race dates speaks to the strength of our Thoroughbred racing product and our extensive efforts and focus on our wagering business in response to the pandemic,” said Lawson.

In Woodbine Entertainment's Home Market Area, wagering on Woodbine Thoroughbred racing was $54,810,867.06, down 41 percent compared to last year. In 2019, Woodbine Racetrack contributed $28 million to the all-sources handle on Thoroughbred racing. This year, Woodbine Racetrack only contributed $124,000 to the overall handle due to being closed to the public for most of the year.

However, wagering on Woodbine Thoroughbred racing continued to be strong in Foreign Markets, generating $391,395,974.30 in all-sources handle, which is down less than three percent, despite running 27 percent fewer race cards.

Handle per race was also strong at $509,417.36, up 19.6 percent year over year.

Field size per race was 8.9, up from 8.2 the year prior. The eight and a half percent growth in field size was believed to be a result of the postponed start.

“With the start of the season being postponed more than a month, this allowed more horses to be ready for the start of the season which resulted in increased field sizes,” said Lawson. “While any growth in field size is always encouraging, it continues to be a focus for us as it is impacting our ability to maximize our wagering handle and support the purse payments.”

Although The 161st Queen's Plate was not able to welcome spectators this year, it generated the third highest handle in its history. The 13-race card generated a total of $14,532,678, including $3,494,496 on The Queen's Plate race that saw one-eyed Mighty Heart live up to his name, defeating his 13 rivals after going off at 13-1.

“Overall, we will reflect back on this season as a year of overcoming many challenges that will only strengthen and benefit our industry moving forward,” said Lawson.

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America’s Day At The Races Wraps Up 2020 Coverage With Cigar Mile Broadcast

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) announced Friday that America's Day at the Races will broadcast its final edition of 2020 with coverage and analysis of Saturday's Grade 1, $250,000 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Presented by America's Best Racing and Claiborne Farm, America's Day at the Races will air Saturday from 3-4:30 p.m., ET on MSG+ and 3:30-4:30 p.m., ET on FS2. The Cigar Mile is slated as the finale of Saturday's 10-race program, with an approximate post time of 4:13 p.m.

Expanded coverage of America's Day at the Races and Saratoga Live, both of which are produced by NYRA, provided nearly 800 hours of live racing broadcast on FOX Sports in 2020, more than double the 385 hours that aired in 2019. The expansion was most dramatic on FS1, which showed 206 hours of horse racing in 2020, compared to one hour in 2019.

“Despite the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, we regularly presented our viewers with the best racing and analysis in the country,” said Eric Donovan, NYRA Director of Broadcast Operations. “Our sincere thanks go to our viewers, sponsors, the NYRA TV production team, talent, and racing stakeholders for their extraordinary dedication, and to FOX Sports and MSG for their continued partnership and commitment to airing more thoroughbred racing than ever before.”

Following the suspension of live racing in New York on March 19, America's Day at the Races continued to feature racing from tracks around the country and provided horseplayers unable to attend the races with the opportunity to watch and wager from home.

Live racing in New York resumed at Belmont Park on June 3 with Opening Day of the spring/summer meet generating all-sources handle of $10,972,254, breaking the previous Opening Day record of $10.7 million set in 2010 – while marking the welcome return of professional sports in New York.

During a racing season conducted without spectators, fans turned to Saratoga Live, NYRA's highly-acclaimed and award-winning television program, in greater numbers than ever before. Average viewership of Saratoga Live on FS1 totaled approximately 120,000, while just under 1.3 million viewers watched the Runhappy Travers on FOX. Overall time spent viewing Saratoga Live increased by 300 percent, with more than 210 hours of live programming broadcast on FOX Sports throughout the meet.

For the second consecutive year, the Grade 1, $1 million Runhappy Travers was televised live on the FOX broadcast network as part of an expanded Runhappy Travers Day edition of Saratoga Live. For the first time at Saratoga, the broadcast included the introduction of the “WinStar Cam” which provided viewers with in-race aerial coverage throughout the day.

Strong viewership continued through the 27-day Belmont Park fall meet and was instrumental in helping to generate a 33.6-percent increase in average daily handle from last year. As at Saratoga and this fall at Aqueduct, the Belmont fall meet was conducted without spectators and with only a limited number of essential personnel, horsemen and owners on-site due to the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

America's Day at the Races was also broadcast throughout the year on NYRA's YouTube channel, which boasts more than 61,000 subscribers. NYRA's YouTube channel host race replays, special features, America's Day at the Races replays and more.

NYRA Bets is the official online wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course. Available to horseplayers nationwide, NYRA Bets is currently offering a $200 new member bonus in addition to a host of special weekly offers. The NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

The 2020 fall meet at Aqueduct Racetrack continues through Sunday, Dec. 6. The 56-day winter meet kicks off on Thursday, December 10 and will continue through Sunday, March 21.

For additional information, visit NYRA.com.

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Stronach 5: Friday’s Wager Features Pair Of Turf Races, 12 Percent Takeout

The Stronach 5, which continues to provide a strong return on investment as well as an industry-low 12-percent takeout, features three races Friday from Gulfstream Park and two from Laurel Park.

The Stronach 5 begins at 3:49 p.m. and its last two legs will be on the turf from Gulfstream.

The Stronach 5 begins at Laurel with the eighth race, a starter optional claimer at six furlongs. Bull Shark, a lightly raced 4-year-old for trainer Cathal Lynch, has won three of six starts at Laurel. He gets Trevor McCarthy in the saddle. Phantom Ro, a former Florida Sire Stakes winner, enters off a 3 ½-length victory last time out.

Gulfstream's eighth race, the second leg, is an allowance optional claimer at six furlongs for 2-year-olds. Gary Barber's Carson City Kid is the 2-1 favorite while Arindel's homebred Tiger is the 5-2 second choice.

Laurel's ninth race serves as the third leg. A claiming event for fillies and mares at a mile, Lady Macho ships in from Finger Lakes after two second-place finishes under allowance conditions for trainer Jeremiah O'Dwyer.

The Stronach 5 returns to Gulfstream for the final two legs, both turf races at 1 1/16 miles. The ninth race, an allowance optional claimer for 3-year-olds and up, is extremely competitive with 5-2 morning-line favorite Flowmotion breaking from the hedge and a winner of three of his last five for trainer Jane Cibelli and jockey Paco Lopez. Jolting Joe comes into the event of a second-place finish Nov. 7 in the Showing Up at Gulfstream Park. The colt won the New York Stallion Series Stakes at Saratoga in August.

The final leg of the sequence, Gulfstream's 10th race, is a claiming event with the 3-1 favorite Lets Play Hardball breaking from post 12 for trainer Mike Maker and jockey Luis Seaz. Spinning Kitten a last-out winner, is 10-1 in the morning line with jockey Joe Bravo. Time for Trouble, another Maker trainee, gets jockey Edgard Zayas.

Friday's races and sequence

Leg One – Laurel Park 8th Race: (8 entries, 6 furlongs) 3:49 ET, 12:49 PT
Leg Two –Gulfstream Park 8th Race: (6 entries, 6 furlong) 4 ET, 1 PT
Leg Three – Laurel Park 9th Race: (9 entries, 1 mile) 4:18 ET, 1:18 PT
Leg Four –Gulfstream Park 9th Race: (8 entries, 1 1/16 mile turf) 4:30 ET, 1:30 PT
Leg Five –Gulfstream West 10th Race: (12 entries, 1 1 1/6 mile turf) 4:27 ET, 1:27 PT

Fans can watch and wager on the action at 1/ST.COM/BET as well as stream all the action in English and Spanish at LaurelPark.com, SantaAnita.com, GulfstreamPark.com, and GoldenGateFields.com.

The Stronach 5 In the Money podcast, hosted by Jonathan Kinchen and Peter Thomas Fornatale, will be posted by 2 p.m. Thursday at InTheMoneyPodcast.com and will be available on iTunes and other major podcast distributors

The minimum wager on the multi-race, multi-track Stronach 5 is $1. If there are no tickets with five winners, the entire pool will be carried over to the next Friday.

If a change in racing surface is made after the wagering closes, each selection on any ticket will be considered a winning selection. If a betting interest is scratched, that selection will be substituted with the favorite in the win pool when wagering closes.

The Maryland Jockey Club serves as host of the Stronach 5.

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Thoroughbred Idea Foundation: Federal Bill Funding Cannot Come From Horseplayers

The passage of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) would signal a prominent turning point for Thoroughbred racing in America.

Regardless of where one has stood on the merits of the legislation over the years, its passage will bring to an end a generation of discord between industry participants, enabling our greater industry the opportunity to focus on long-ignored advancements to better secure the sustainability of horse racing.

At its heart, racing exists because of horse owners and breeders investing in Thoroughbreds and horseplayers wagering on them. Policies which hinder participation, of horseplayers or through ownership, stunt industry growth, and are in opposition to the mission of the Thoroughbred Idea Foundation, which seeks to grow participation through these two key groups. We want racing's overall “pie” to grow, but without horse owners and horseplayers voluntarily choosing to participate in the sport, racing would be would be a shell of itself.

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act will yield a federally-recognized organization to facilitate doping control within the sport while bringing more constituencies under the regulatory fold. Upon its passage, substantial planning and execution will still be required, including identifying the funding mechanism for individual states' participation in HISA-created programs. The path forward to paying for these programs remains unclear.

In some states, wagering is a main source of funding for racing commissions to regulate the sport. Should HISA programs increase costs to states – a reasonable expectation – it is possible they, in concert with other stakeholder groups, could turn to wagering channels to increase revenues.

This would be a gross miscalculation.

While HISA has earned support because of the undoubted need for racing to be proactive in maintaining its social license to operate, the programs associated with the bill should not be built on the backs of horseplayers.

The Thoroughbred Idea Foundation advocates for sound policies which encourage wagering, racing's most sustainable source of funding. These policies include reducing bet pricing, modernizing wagering technology and integrity measures, increased transparency and reporting standards as well as introducing fixed odds betting to complement pari-mutuel wagering.

Increasing costs to horseplayers is a counterproductive measure for the industry, and thus, any increases in bet pricing to pay for the programs associated with the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act should be a non-starter.

Below, please see more from the Thoroughbred Idea Foundation's Wagering & Integrity Issues Steering Committee, presented by committee member Jonathon Kinchen.

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