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Dilger Equine Scholarship Foundation Announces First Winner

Normarie Santiago Cruz has been named the first recipient of three annual scholarships by the Gerry Dilger Equine Scholarship Foundation. The scholarship is named in honor of the horseman who passed away this past March and is intended to promote and encourage young people who are seeking a career in the bloodstock industry.

Cruz has been selected by the board to receive the funding so that she might enroll in the world-famous National Stud course in Co. Kildare, Ireland. She is a former KEMI student and is currently enrolled at the University of Puerto Rico, where she is pursuing a degree in Animal Science.

“Normarie’s profile and personality was exactly what Gerry looked for, and helped nurture in a young person seeking further knowledge and life experience in the horse business,” remarked Erin Dilger. “Her spirit embodies Gerry’s vision, and we know she genuinely appreciates and will embrace this deserved opportunity. The foundation is extremely grateful to the Irish National Stud for their support of this scholarship as Gerry himself was a 1977 graduate of its course.”

Cruz added, “I’m very thankful and excited to receive the Gerry Dilger Equine Scholarship. I feel very lucky and blessed to have this opportunity to visit Ireland, and work in the equine industry. This type of experience is not available in Puerto Rico.”

The two additional scholarships sponsored by the foundation will award work placement in Kentucky for selected students from University College Dublin and the University of Limerick, and will be announced at a later date.

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Wagering Up, Purses Down Slightly During October That Included Preakness

As a service to the industry and in consideration of the economic changes due to the COVID-19 outbreak, Equibase is currently providing monthly reporting of its Economic Indicators Advisories. The Advisory is typically disseminated on a quarterly basis to provide key metrics used to measure racing’s performance throughout the year.

October 2020 vs. October 2019
Indicator	October 2020	October 2019	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$929,063,211	$776,071,164	+19.71%
U.S. Purses	$90,845,317	$91,981,753	-1.24%
U.S. Race Days	340	334	+1.80%
U.S. Races	2,852	2,754	+3.56%
U.S. Starts	22,410	22,176	+1.06%
Average Field Size	7.86	8.05	-2.42%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$2,732,539	$2,323,566	+17.60%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$267,192	$275,394	-2.98%

YTD 2020 vs. YTD 2019
Indicator	YTD 2020	YTD 2019	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$9,277,878,319	$9,370,253,183	-0.99%
U.S. Purses	$720,074,376	$985,849,122	-26.96%
U.S. Race Days	2,849	3,849	-25.98%
U.S. Races	23,747	31,308	-24.15%
U.S. Starts	186,886	233,153	-19.84%
Average Field Size	7.87	7.45	+5.68%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$3,256,539	$2,434,464	+33.77%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$252,746	$256,131	-1.32%

* Includes worldwide commingled wagering on U.S. races.

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TBA Announces Devonshire and Dominion Award Winners

The winners of the Devonshire and Dominion bronzes were announced by the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association on Wednesday. Prominent owner/breeder Anthony Oppenheimer was awarded the Andrew Devonshire Bronze, which is awarded for outstanding achievement and contribution to the British Thoroughbred industry. The owner of Hascombe and Valiant Stud, Oppenheimer has celebrated homebreds the likes of G1 Epsom Derby hero Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) and MG1SW Cracksman (GB) (Frankel {GB}), as well as G1 Irish Oaks heroine Star Catcher (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), just to name a few.

“It is a great honour and I am absolutely amazed,” said Oppenheimer, who is a past TBA chairman. “It was not something that ever entered my mind that I could possibly win. I was chairman of the TBA for four years, and even then it never entered my mind that when awarding it to all of these famous people, that I would actually get this honour. It is tremendously exciting.

“I never had the ambition of winning this award but now I have won it, it is just fantastic and I am really honoured by it. My father would be absolutely thrilled if he could look down, this is very much the highlight of my life.”

Ruth Quinn received the Dominion Bronze in recognition of her contribution and long-term commitment to the improvement of the Thoroughbred through her work in race programming. Through Quinn’s efforts, there is now a revitalised staying programme, more race opportunities for Flat fillies and the creation of a comprehensive jump mares’ programme.

“It’s an honour to receive the Dominion Award,” said Quinn, who is also the BHA’s Director of International Racing and Racing Development. “Horseracing is, and has been my life and the driving, ever present reason for that is the thoroughbred. Anybody who knows me well would recognise just how strongly and passionately I feel about our collective responsibilities towards the long-term health of the thoroughbred breed.”

Added TBA Chairman Julian Richmond-Watson said, “This year’s recipients are two very worthy winners of the award. The board of trustees agreed that their long-standing contribution and commitment to the improvement of the breed should be justly rewarded and recognised. The TBA is committed to the long-term future of the industry and pays tribute to Anthony and Ruth who have dedicated considerable time and effort to the British thoroughbred.”

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Voters Approve Racetrack Casinos in Nebraska

The Nebraska horse racing industry, which has struggled for years to offer competitive purses, got a major boost Tuesday when voters overwhelmingly approved three constitutional amendments that legalize casinos at the state’s racetracks.

In other gambling related matters on the ballot across the country Tuesday, Marylanders voted in favor of legalizing sports betting in the state and voters in South Dakota approved sports betting, which would be restricted to the town of Deadwood, which already has a casino. In Louisiana, 55 of 64 parishes approved sports betting, including the four parishes that are home to the state’s racetracks, Fair Grounds, Evangeline Downs, Delta Downs and Louisiana Downs.

In order for casinos to pass in Nebraska, voters had to approve three initiatives. All three passed with nearly two out of every three voters voting in favor of the gambling expansion. Proponents of the initiatives argued that Nebraska was losing out because residents were traveling across state lines to gamble at casinos in Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota and Missouri. Supporters of the initiatives have said that the state will take in $65 million annually from taxes on the casino revenue. Money from the casinos will be used to reduce property taxes.

There are several racetracks in the state, a list that includes Lincoln Race Course, Horsemen’s Park, Fonner Park, Columbus, Atokad and Fair Play Park. Some of the tracks have been reduced to running one race a year, which is required to maintain a license. At Lincoln, the entire 2020 meet consisted of racing last Sunday and Monday, with each program consisting of one one-furlong race for Nebraska breds.

“We’re overwhelmingly thrilled and I couldn’t be happier,” said Lynne McNally, the executive vice president of the Nebraska HBPA. “This was a long time in the works. And what makes me even happier is that there was a clear mandate that people wanted casinos here and wanted the money to stay in the state to lower their property taxes. There are still a lot of moving parts, but once this is fully operational we will be seeing a very healthy increase in purses.”

McNally said that under current rules the Nebraska tracks are required to offer a combined 53 days of racing. She speculated that that number could double once the casino money begins to come in.

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