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Tensions Between Arizona HBPA, Management Of Turf Paradise Continue To Create Uncertainty

Last week, a press release from Turf Paradise in Phoenix, Az. announced that track management would push the start of the meet back from Oct. 17 to Nov. 27, and said that Turf Paradise was working with Bob Hutton, president of the Arizona Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (AZHBPA), on when horses could begin shipping in.

According to the Thoroughbred Daily News, Hutton emailed a list of 17 questions to Turf Paradise Management on behalf of the horsemen, including such things as coronavirus contingency plans and a promise not to shut down the meet early.

Management's responses to the AZHBPA's questions were not comforting, Hutton said. As such, he plans to send his own horses to other tracks for the winter.

“My recommendation (to other horsemen) would be to, based on the track not being able to guarantee that they'll run the entire meet, then you'll probably need to make other plans,” Hutton told the TDN.

Read more at the Thoroughbred Daily News.

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Historic Edition Of Travers To Be Broadcast Live On FOX Network

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) and FOX Sports today highlighted television coverage for Saturday's blockbuster Runhappy Travers Day at historic Saratoga Race Course.

For the second consecutive year, the Grade 1, $1 million Runhappy Travers will be televised live on the FOX broadcast network as part of a 1 ½ hour telecast from 5:00-6:30 PM ET on Saturday. Post time for the 151st running of the Runhappy Travers is scheduled for 6:15 PM ET.

An expanded Runhappy Travers Day edition of Saratoga Live, presented by America's Best Racing, Runhappy and Claiborne Farm,will air nationally on FS1 beginning at 11:30 AM ET. Coverage and analysis of the day's races then shifts to FS2 beginning at 3:00 PM ET and continues throughout the afternoon on FS1/FS2.

Saturday's Runhappy Travers is headlined by Sackatoga Stable's Tiz the Law, trained by Barclay Tagg and to be ridden by Manny Franco, who made history in becoming the first New York bred in 138 years to win the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes, capturing the nine-furlong American Classic on June 20 in the first leg of the revised Triple Crown schedule.

“For the first time ever, the Runhappy Travers is a key stop on the road to the Triple Crown,” said Michael Mulvihill, FOX Sports Executive Vice President, Research, League Operations & Strategy. “We are thrilled to again present it on FOX and to showcase Belmont champion Tiz the Law as he continues his campaign. In addition, our expanded coverage across FS1 and FS2 gives horseplayers a full day of action.”

With this year's Saratoga summer meet currently closed to spectators, Saturday's Runhappy Travers Day coverage on Saratoga Live will leverage 32 cameras at various locations throughout the property to capture all the action before, during and after each race. For the first time at Saratoga, the broadcasts will include the introduction of the “WinStar Cam”, which will provide in-race aerial coverage throughout the day.

“Thanks to our partners at FOX, this year's Runhappy Travers will be brought to millions of households across the country by the best broadcast team in racing utilizing the latest technology to cover every angle live from Saratoga Race Course, said Tony Allevato, President of NYRA Bets & Executive Producer for NYRA TV. “We look forward to a spectacular day of racing from the sport's most iconic venue.”

The 151st running of the Runhappy Travers will be one of five graded stakes on the day. An enticing undercard includes the Grade 1, $300,000 Longines Test for sophomore fillies; the Grade 1, $300,000 Ballerina presented by NYRA Bets, a “Win and You're In” qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint; the Grade 3, $200,000 Troy for 4-year-olds and up on Mellon turf and the Grade 3, $150,000 Waya for older fillies and mares on the inner turf.

First held in 1864, the Travers is the most prestigious stakes race for 3-year-olds outside of the Triple Crown series and the traditional centerpiece of the annual Saratoga meeting. The race is named for William R. Travers, the first president of Saratoga Race Course who won the inaugural running in 1864 with a horse named Kentucky.

NYRA and FOX Sports began their collaboration during the summer of 2016 with the launch of the critically-acclaimed, award-winning Saratoga Live airing on FS2. In November of 2018, NYRA and FOX Sports announced a new long-term television programming deal to make FOX Sports the year-round national television home for NYRA racing. As a result of this groundbreaking deal, FOX Sports will broadcast 700 hours of thoroughbred racing from NYRA tracks in 2020 including coverage of nearly every race day at Belmont Park and Saratoga.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Saratoga Race Course and the best way to bet every race of the 40-day summer meet. 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 NYRABets.com.

For the complete Saratoga Live broadcast schedule and additional programming information, visit NYRA.com/SaratogaLive.

For more information about FOX Sports, visit FOX Sports Press Pass

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TVG Live On Site For Hambletonian, Del Mar Stakes, Ellis Park Derby

TVG, America's horse racing network, will be live on site at racetracks across the country covering a loaded weekend of racing that includes the $1 million Hambletonian, one of harness racing's most prestigious events, alongside major graded stakes races from Del Mar and the Runhappy Ellis Park Derby, a prep race for the Kentucky Derby (GI) in September.

At the Meadowlands, Ramona Hill will go to post as the 5-2 morning line favorite with driver Andrew McCarthy as TVG will provide live, on-site coverage of the first jewel of the Trotting Triple Crown. TVG's Tom Cassidy will be live on-site with analysis and interviews as the track hosts the $600,000 Hambletonian Oaks as well as the 95th renewal of the $1 million Hambletonian. Hypnotic AM has been tabbed as the morning line favorite in the Oaks at odds of 5-2 with driver Brian Sears.

At Del Mar, there will be expert analysis and exclusive interviews on-site by Todd Schrupp, Mike Joyce, Britney Eurton, and Joaquin Jamie while Simon Bray and Christina Blacker will also be contributing to the broadcast. There are four graded stakes races scheduled at Del Mar from Friday through Sunday. Juveniles will be showcased in the $150,000 Sorrento Stakes (GII) for fillies on Friday and in Saturday's $150,000 Best Pal Stakes (GII). The $150,000 Yellow Ribbon Handicap (GII) for fillies and mares on the turf is also scheduled for Sunday and the stakes action concludes on Sunday with the $125,000 La Jolla Handicap (GII) for sophomores on the turf.

TVG will also be live on site at Ellis Park on Sunday for the $200,000 Runhappy Ellis Park Derby which will offer points towards a berth in the Kentucky Derby (GI) which will be run the first Saturday in September. The race will feature Art Collector, the impressive winner of the Blue Grass Stakes (GII) at Keeneland in July for trainer Tommy Drury. Brian Hernandez, Jr. will be aboard. Scott Hazelton and Gabby Gaudet will be trackside with interviews and analysis for the full card.

In addition to the Meadowlands, Del Mar and Ellis Park, TVG will also be broadcasting racing from Gulfstream Park, Laurel Park, Monmouth Park and more all weekend.

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Woodbine’s Top Jockeys, Drivers Team Up In Heinz Challenge For Charity

Woodbine Entertainment, in partnership with Kraft-Heinz Canada, today announced the launch of the Heinz Challenge, a six-week series to be contested during Racing Night Live on TSN.

The Heinz Challenge pairs a top Woodbine Racetrack jockey with a top Woodbine Mohawk Park driver to create four teams competing for a $5,000 charitable donation from Woodbine.

Every time one of the participating jockeys or drivers competes during a race aired on Racing Night Live, they have the opportunity to earn points towards their team's challenge score.

All eight participating athletes are ranked among the best in their sport and are well-known personalities at Woodbine Racetrack and Woodbine Mohawk Park. The four competing jockeys are Rafael Hernandez, Kazushi Kimura, Justin Stein and Emma-Jayne Wilson, while the participating drivers are Jody Jamieson, Bob McClure, Doug McNair and Louis-Philippe Roy.

The team with the best 'Points Per Race' average at the end of six weeks will win the challenge. The point system is as follows: 10 points for a win, 5 points for a second-place finish and 2 points for a third-place finish.

(Example: Team A earns 50 points over 10 races: Team A's Points Per Race is 5)

Each member of the winning team will select a charity and Woodbine Entertainment will make a $2,500 donation on their behalf to make up the $5,000 winning prize.

Woodbine Mohawk Park driver James MacDonald was originally scheduled to participate in the Heinz Challenge. MacDonald unfortunately suffered an injury in a racing accident on August 1 and will be unable to participate. Louis-Philippe Roy has been selected to replace MacDonald and the two will split the donation should their team win.

Here are the teams for the Heinz Challenge:

Team E=MC²
Jockey: Emma-Jayne Wilson
Driver: Bob McClure
#TeamEMC2

Team Club DJ
Jockey: Justin Stein
Driver: Doug McNair
#TeamClubDJ

Team Island Boyz
Jockey: Rafael Hernandez
Driver: James MacDonald (unable to participate due to injury)
Driver: Louis-Philippe Roy
#TeamIslandBoyz

Team Double Double
Jockey: Kazushi Kimura
Driver: Jody Jamieson
#TeamDoubleDouble

The Heinz Challenge is the latest feature on the weekly Racing Night Live program on TSN.

Racing Night Live, which airs every Thursday at 6 p.m. ET on TSN, showcases the world-class racing from the Thoroughbreds at Woodbine Racetrack and Standardbreds at Woodbine Mohawk Park over an action-packed two hours.

The Heinz Challenge will run from August 6 to September 10.

Fans can join the conversation, track the leaderboard and cheer on their favourite team through social media by using the hashtag #HeinzChallenge. All eight of the participating athletes can be found on various social media platforms and will be engaging with fans over the course of the six-week event.

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