Horse racing news | Horse Racing Free Tips

Spanish Loveaffair Tops Field Of 11 In Wednesday’s ‘Win And You’re In’ Jessamine Stakes

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Michael Hernon and Gary Barber's Spanish Loveaffair leads Wednesday's JPMorgan Chase Jessamine (G2) for 2-year-old fillies on turf at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., live on NBCSN at 4 p.m. ET. The winner of the JPMorgan Chase Jessamine, which drew 11 starters, will earn an automatic berth into the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.

Wednesday's telecast, produced in association with TVG, marks the 11th and final program in this year's “Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In – presented by America's Best Racing” on NBC and NBCSN from some of North America's most iconic racetracks. The series leads to the 37th Breeders' Cup World Championships at Keeneland, scheduled for Nov. 6-7 and airing on NBC and NBCSN. The complete series TV schedule can be accessed here.

Reporting and commentary for the telecast will be provided from Keeneland by TVG's Todd Schrupp, Matt Bernier, Caton Bredar, Gabby Gaudet, Britney Eurton and Caleb Keller. Simon Bray will be providing commentary from home.

Spanish Loveaffair, a bay daughter of 2014 Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) winner Karakontie (JPN), has won both her starts at Gulfstream Park. Spanish Loveaffair is trained by Hall of Famer Mark Casse, who won this race in 2016 with La Coronel. After breaking her maiden at 1 mile by an eye-popping 11 lengths on July 23, Spanish Loveaffair returned on Aug. 29 to win the 1-mile Sharp Susan Stakes by 1 ¼ lengths as the 1-2 favorite. Tyler Gaffalione has the mount on Spanish Loveaffair and will break from post position 10.

Among the challengers to Spanish Loveaffair is the Brad Cox-trained Aunt Pearl (IRE). In her lone start on Sept. 1 at Churchill Downs, Aunt Pearl, a bay daughter of Lope de Vega (IRE), set the early pace in a 1-mile race and drew off by 5 lengths. Owned by Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, Peter Deutsch, Michael Kisber and The Elkstone Group, Aunt Pearl will be ridden by Florent Geroux from post 7.

Another impressive debut winner is Don Alberto Stable's Ingrassia. Trained by Chad Brown, who has won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf three times, Ingrassia overcame a bumpy start in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight at Saratoga on Aug. 19 and steadily worked her way to the front to win by a nose. A daughter of Medaglia d'Oro, Ingrassia will be ridden by Javier Castellano from post 5.

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen sends out Ben Rollins and Shelia Rollins' Beautiful Star, a daughter of two-time Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner Tiznow, who was fifth in the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies on Sept. 7. Adam Beschizza has the mount and will break from post position 4. Asmussen also will send out Kentucky Downs debut maiden winner Arm Candy for the partnership of Bradley Thoroughbreds, Tim Cambron, Anna Cambron and Kurz Equine Investments. Ricardo Santana Jr. will ride from post position 6.

The post Spanish Loveaffair Tops Field Of 11 In Wednesday’s ‘Win And You’re In’ Jessamine Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

IFHA: Sports Consultants Say Trust Will Be Key To Bringing Racing To Fans In COVID-19 Era

The 54th International Conference of Horseracing Authorities, organized by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA), continued today with its virtual keynote address from Pete Giorgio and Alan Switzer from Deloitte, the largest global professional services network.

Via a video presentation, the duo discussed Deloitte's perspective and insights around the impact of COVID-19 on the sports sector, including the practical steps that sports organizations can take to adapt to the “new normal”, opportunities arising from the challenging circumstances, and how that advice can be tailored to horse racing organizations.

Giorgio, a principal with Deloitte Consulting LLP, leads the organization's United States Sports practice. He is the co-author of Deloitte's 2020 report Games without fans: How sports organizations can thrive now, and in the long term as well as the co-author of the April 2020 report COVID-19 Outlook for the Sports Industry.

Switzer is a director in the Sports Business Group, Deloitte's global center of excellence in sport business. He has worked extensively in horse racing for over 15 years, including producing multiple Economic Impact studies on racing—notably in respect of British and Irish racing.

The IFHA Conference is typically held in-person in Paris, France, the day after the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1), but in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this year it is being conducted as a series of videos released during the first two weeks of October.

All videos from the International Conference of Horseracing Authorities will be released on the IFHA's YouTube channel, its website (www.ifhaonline.org), and its social media platforms. They will also be available as podcasts.

The first video, a panel discussion examining how to sustain the business of horse racing, as well as sports in general, in the midst of a pandemic and economic uncertainty, was released yesterday. The Paulick Report's summary and a link to the video is available here.

The next video/podcast will be sent out tomorrow, Oct. 7, and will feature a panel discussion focusing on adapting the broadcast, production, and media experience to a COVID-19 racing and sporting landscape.

The post IFHA: Sports Consultants Say Trust Will Be Key To Bringing Racing To Fans In COVID-19 Era appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

‘Ground-Breaking’ New ‘Right To Ride’ Exhibit Celebrates Female Jockeys At Kentucky Derby Museum

Fearless female jockeys and their journey to break down barriers in Thoroughbred racing take center stage in the Kentucky Derby Museum's new exhibit, “Right to Ride” opening October 16th. Join us as we celebrate Diane Crump making history 50 years ago as the first female jockey to ride in the Kentucky Derby. “Right to Ride” puts a spotlight on the stories of female jockeys, from trailblazers like Diane Crump, to modern day jockeys like Rosie Napravnik and Donna Barton Brothers.

In conjunction with the Paulick Report, the Kentucky Derby Museum is sponsoring a four-part series examining the arrival of female jockeys in American horse racing – why and how they broke in to the sport when they did, and how racing has reacted. The first installment, available here, examines the historical context for the start of Kathy Kusner's legal fight to be allowed to ride races.

This series is sponsored by the Kentucky Derby Museum, which will open its Right To Ride exhibit on Oct. 16. The exhibit marks the 50th anniversary of Diane Crump's historic ride in the Kentucky Derby in 1970, when she became the first female jockey in the race. You can learn more about the exhibit and access current COVID-19 safety protocols for Museum visitors here.

Female jockeys of the 60s and 70s had one thing in common: they just wanted to ride horses. But they faced gender discrimination and rules that didn't allow for them to do what they loved. This exhibit centers around their stories of fighting for their Right to Ride in Thoroughbred racing. Between October 2019 and March 2020, the Museum's team amassed over 20 hours of oral history interviews with female riders who had an impact on American horse racing. The interviews form the centerpiece of the exhibit.

Accompanying the oral history footage are artifacts, photographs, and print media that provide deeper engagement with the personal careers of women in the saddle and the era which made their breakthroughs possible.

The exhibit features a retro 1960s and 70s-inspired motif that encourages guests to travel back in time to the era when women all over the United States were breaking out of the domestic sphere and into the workforce. The design includes wood paneling, mid-century modern style, and a retro kitchen, complete with an avocado green refrigerator. This kitchen is a place to discover stories in the exhibit, but also symbolic of what female jockeys went through. A handful of the jockeys recall having phrases yelled at them, like, “Get back in the kitchen!”

“This is a ground-breaking exhibit for the Kentucky Derby Museum with regards to the scope and stylized experience of feeling as if you are stepping back in time to relive these moments,” said Patrick Armstrong, Kentucky Derby Museum President and CEO. “These female jockeys fought so hard to not only raise the glass ceiling in their sport but to break through it. We are proud to tell their stories.”

“We are excited to honor these trailblazing women riders during the centennial of Women's Suffrage,” said Jessica Whitehead, Kentucky Derby Museum Collections Manager. “Their stories of dedication, perseverance, and remarkable skill reflect the same belief that all powerful women throughout history have had: that women were meant to contribute meaningfully to all facets of American public life. By pursuing their love of riding, these female jockeys defied expectations and proved themselves to be wonderful riders capable of competing against men at the highest level. They can be an inspiration to all of us to follow our hearts and do what we love.”
Clips of interviews with the female jockeys and pictures of the exhibit and its features may be used by media members with “Credit: Kentucky Derby Museum.”

Exhibit highlights include:

-Oral history theatre screen featuring high definition video selections from over 20 hours of exclusive interviews with trailblazing female jockeys

-Artifacts tracing the story of the first American female jockeys, such as Diane Crump's riding boots, Sandy Schleiffers' Jockeys' Guild ring, and the Barton family scrapbook

-Treasures from personal collections, including Patti “P.J.” Cooksey's gear from the 1984 Kentucky Derby and Rosie Napravnik's 2012 and 2014 winning Kentucky Oaks trophies

-Newspaper clippings and cartoons that depict how female jockeys were portrayed in the media

Exhibit runs through August 2021. Guests can experience “Right to Ride” with a general admission ticket. Tickets are $16 for adults, $14 for age 65+, $8 for children (ages 5-14). Children under five are free.

A ribbon cutting will be held October 16 at noon in front of the exhibit, with legendary female jockeys on hand to help celebrate.

To plan a visit, visit DerbyMuseum.org.

The post ‘Ground-Breaking’ New ‘Right To Ride’ Exhibit Celebrates Female Jockeys At Kentucky Derby Museum appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Churchill Downs’ Former General Manager Jerry Lawrence Dies At 81

Jerry Lawrence, who served as Churchill Downs' general manager, executive vice president, and COO from 1984-91, died Oct. 1. He was 81 years old.

Lawrence came to Churchill Downs from Yonkers Raceway, where he served as vice president and general manager. He began his tenure at Churchill Downs under new track president Tom Meeker, with the track embarking on a series of major capital-improvement projects that included constructing a turf course, a new 20-horse paddock, and extensive renovation of areas in the grandstand and clubhouse.

Lawrence was also part of the leadership team that oversaw the first Breeders' Cup World Championships to be held at Churchill Downs in 1988.

A true general manager, Lawrence constantly toured the facility to make sure things were running properly, and he understood the varied departments that must work and mesh together for a racetrack to be successful.

Lawrence left Churchill Downs to become executive vice president at the New York Racing Association, a post he held into 1994. He subsequently became executive vice president of the totalizator company Autotote and ultimately president and CEO of Autotote Enterprises before retiring in 2001.

Lawrence lived in Marco Island, Fla., and Landenberg, Pa., in retirement. From his obituary in the Naples Daily News: He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Rita Duffy Lawrence, and his sons Gerald (Stefanie Porges) and Brennen (Whitney Lawrence). He was proud to be “PopPop” to five grandchildren: Grace, Anna, Rose, William, and Virginia. Born to David Leo Lawrence and Alice Goldin Lawrence, he graduated Central Catholic High School in Pittsburgh, and then LaSalle College in Philadelphia.

He served in the United States Air Force and as executive director of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party before beginning his career in the horse racing industry. In retirement, he was active in his church and community, and held the rank of Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to the James A. Finnegan Foundation (www.finneganfoundation.org), for which he served as a director for 43 years. Burial will be private.

The post Churchill Downs’ Former General Manager Jerry Lawrence Dies At 81 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post