It also turns a spotlight onto a world largely hidden from the public eye-one that industry leaders are generally loathe to discuss publicly, and in which just a few anonymous gamblers can have an outsized impact on the financial fitness or ill-health of the sport.

Last year, Del Mar continued a deal with a player identified as Elite 17 that saw them enjoy a noticeably more favorable rate of play than other high-volume players that wager through the CAW platform, Elite Turf Club, according to detailed wagering reports obtained by the TDN, background conversations with racing officials and figures within the CAW world, along with publicly available data.

At the enormous volumes CAW gamblers play, such deals can give individual players a significant financial edge.

The result was that this one player constituted nearly 47% of Elite Turf Club's total handle on Del Mar last year, according to the reports. Two years prior, Elite 17's play had constituted just over 36% of Elite Turf Club's total handle on Del Mar, according to publicly available California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) data.

At the same time, the amount of money another Elite Turf Club player (Elite 2) wagered on the track dropped off by over $32 million between 2021 and 2023, the reports show-from around $45 million in 2021 to around $13 million last year. In 2021, Elite 2's play came to just over 27% of Elite Turf Club's total handle on Del Mar. Last year, that number had dropped to around 12%.

According to multiple sources familiar with the situation, Elite 2 received a deal similar to Elite 17 in prior years at Del Mar, but not last year.

An individual familiar with the situation-who spoke as a “California racing source” on condition of anonymity-said that, prior to the track's 2023 summer meet, Elite 2 declined such a deal, which would have necessitated paying a “substantial seven-figure up-front payment.”

Del Mar Thoroughbred Club | Horsephotos

When asked if Elite 2 had changed their mind about the deal after the summer meet was underway, the source declined to answer, citing concerns about proprietary business information. “But you can't make an up-front payment after the meet has started,” the source added.

Such arrangements have served as a pre-payment on host fees to be split between the track and the purse account, sources say.

The deals that Del Mar has struck with Elite Turf Club players over the years, while hardly an anomaly among tracks nationally, nonetheless raises questions about the best approach to managing CAW play in a state where purse revenues are generated solely through betting. If purses fuel the sport, getting this equation right is an imperative.

Are deals between tracks and individual CAW players, therefore, a sustainable approach for growing the sport in California? Is CAW play now so vital to the economics of horse racing that every step must be taken to maximize their business? Or should California's tracks be much more focused on incentivizing play from the average punters who generally contribute the biggest slice to purses, rather than pandering to the whales of the betting seas?

While it's difficult to know exactly how such deals might have impacted Del Mar's purse account revenues, the bare numbers illustrate a track facing tough economic headwinds, with serious implications for the horsemen and women in the state.

Purses last fall at Del Mar were reduced by over 10% due to a purse account overpayment reportedly to the tune of $2.1 million. All-source handle at the track's flagship summer meet declined nearly 11% from 2022 to 2023, according to the DRF. Wagering through Elite Turf Club on the track's product has declined from around $167 million in 2021 to around $113 million last year, according to the CHRB.

“As a track with no subsidies from alternative forms of gaming that depends exclusively on handle for purse generation, promoting handle from all segments of the betting market is very important to us. On an annual basis we sit down with the [Thoroughbred Owners of California] TOC to both establish purse levels and to discuss how we best promote wagering on our simulcast signal,” wrote Del Mar Thoroughbred Club president, Josh Rubinstein, in response to a series of questions.

Before the start of each meet in California, the tracks present the TOC with a list of individual host fees charged to each location that receives its simulcast signal. For that track's meet to proceed, the TOC must first sign this document.

“We are proud of our racing product, which has been well-received for the last several years, and confident that our host fees are fair and competitive with other major race tracks. We will continue to work with our partners to balance pricing considerations with the overall demands of the wagering markets,” Rubinstein added.

How takeout is divided from CAW play

BACKGROUND ON RATES AND REBATES
The debate around CAW players typically surrounds the major edge they wield over regular gamblers thanks to their use of sophisticated wagering technologies and the attractive rates and rebates offered to them-inducements not available to the average punter.

When “rates” are mentioned, what is meant are “host fees.” This is a charge wagering outlets pay to track operators for the contractual right to import a simulcast signal. A wagering outlet could be another racetrack, an ADW platform (like FanDuel), or a CAW platform (like Elite Turf Club).

Experts say that CAW host fees for the premium tracks typically vary between 6% and 8%. After breeders' premiums and other minor deductions have been removed, host fees are roughly split 50/50 between the track and the purse account in California.

The entities that pay the lowest host fee, therefore-like CAW players-contribute the lowest per-dollar amount to purses. At the same time, proponents of CAW argue how these inducements are warranted due to the vast amounts these players inject into the betting pools.

The amount CAW players are “rebated” can be broadly calculated with this simple equation:

Rebate = Takeout minus host fee (plus any other associated minor fees). The smaller the host fee and the larger the takeout, then the bigger the rebate.

Let's use the 20% blended takeout rate among the pools. And let's say the host fee (plus other associated fees) that the CAW player pays comes to 7%.

The rebated discount for the CAW players, therefore, could be a maximum 13% on every dollar wagered.

Experts recently told the TDN that the most successful CAW players can consistently win at an average rate of around 92%. At that win rate, a 13% rebate (for example) would see the player enjoy a 5% profit margin.

According to wagering reports reviewed by the TDN, that win rate is an undercount. These reports show how Elite Turf Club players can win at an average rate in excess of 105%, even before their rebate from Elite is factored in. At this rate, the profit margin would be much better than many investment accounts.

It's also important to note how the numerical monikers given to Elite Turf Club players-a company majority owned by The Stronach Group (TSG)-don't relate to just one person.

These players employ a team of potentially dozens of people, including mathematical wizards who create sophisticated computer algorithms capable of analyzing the betting markets for exploitable weaknesses, as well as individuals who place the bets for them.

Insiders consulted for this story describe how these teams of experts can, over time, deduce through the betting markets and through other data sources if rival CAW players receive more favorable rates.

Given the money at stake, the competition can be cutthroat.

ELITE 17'S DEAL
As CAW play has grown exponentially in recent years, track operators have cut deals like that between Del Mar and Elite 17 to attract their business. And the amount these gamblers wager is often so huge, just one player can make up a significant portion of a track's overall handle.

In 2019, when the renowned gambler “Dr. Nick” stopped wagering on Australian racing reportedly due to increased taxes on bookmakers, his exit was projected to trigger a 6% drop in turnover on racing across the board.

Multiple sources for this story said that Elite 17 and Elite 2 were both well-known Australian gamblers.

Scott Daruty | Horsephotos

Scott Daruty, president of both TSG's Monarch Content Management and of the Elite Turf Club, declined to confirm or deny their identities, citing confidentiality agreements.

According to detailed reports obtained by the TDN, Elite 17 wagered more than $650 million on U.S. racing through Elite Turf Club alone last year. In 2021, Elite 17 wagered roughly $60 million on Del Mar's product, according to the CHRB. Last year, Elite 17 wagered some $53 million. Last summer at Del Mar, the amount Elite 17 wagered was roughly 10% of the total handle at Del Mar, using the DRF's all-source handle figures as a baseline.

These numbers don't account for Elite 17's potential play on horse racing through other methods such as fixed-odds providers and exchange options like Betfair in other countries, or on other sports. Some CAW players also have accounts with different CAW platforms like Velocity, owned by Churchill Downs, which enables wagering on tracks whose simulcast signals are managed by Churchill.

At the same time, multiple sources say individual deals are still fairly prevalent among smaller tracks struggling financially, but that they're now unusual among the nation's top-tier tracks.

According to wagering reports reviewed by the TDN, the New York Racing Association (NYRA) offered the same host fee to Elite Turf Club players at Saratoga last year, irrespective of the betting pool. This included Elite 17. The host fee NYRA charged was slightly lower than Del Mar charged the same CAW players (outside of Elite 17), these reports show.

“NYRA cannot responsibly comment or opine on information never provided to our organization,” wrote NYRA spokesperson, Pat McKenna, in response to questions about the wagering reports. The TDN provided to NYRA an overview of the figures in the reports but not the raw data. NYRA's data was independently verified for the TDN. NYRA is a minority owner in Elite Turf Club.

McKenna did, however, stress the steps the organization has taken to manage CAW play, including barring CAW play in the Pick 6, Late Pick 5, and Cross Country Pick 5 pools, and requiring CAW players to place win bets on its races no later than two minutes to post.

California has also taken similar steps to moderate CAW play.

Since Santa Anita's 2022 fall meet, the win pool has been closed to CAW players one-minute to post, or else they must also pay a surcharge of around 3.5% on top of their normal rate if they want to bet to the close of the win-pool. Last year, Del Mar followed suit. Both tracks have also reverted to the traditional Pick 6.

When it comes to Del Mar's deal with Elite 17, the agreement was incumbent upon the player making a substantial payment at the start of the meet, according to multiple sources. Once that up-front payment was made, Elite 17 paid a host fee almost half of that for other Elite Turf Club players, wagering reports show.

But multiple sources familiar with the situation explained how factoring in the up-front payment, Elite 17 paid a host fee on Del Mar's product last year around a percentage point or so lower than the other CAW players.

At the volume CAW gamblers play, just one percentage point difference in host fee can mean a significant edge for one CAW player over all others, along with possible residual effects on all other participants in the betting pools in terms of late odds movement.

Bill Nader | Horsephotos

TOC president and CEO Bill Nader explained that deals involving up-front payments incentivize the player to maximize the amount they wager on the track's product.

“For example, if the player bets over a certain threshold, the player benefits from a high-volume discount. If the player does not reach that wagering threshold, the effective rate would be higher than other CAW players,” wrote Nader.

But could the deal that Del Mar struck with Elite 17 have prompted other CAW players-and Elite 2 in particular-to have curbed their play at the track last year?

The California racing source said that other CAW players were offered similar terms to Elite 17 last year. However, it should be noted that the other CAW players that wager through Elite Turf Club on Del Mar didn't bet to nearly the same volume as Elite 17 last year, and that Elite 2 was the only Elite Turf Club player to wager in the region of Elite 17's handle in 2021.

The California racing source also noted how CAW play is closely aligned with overall handle on a track's product, and that declines in total handle would invariably lead to decreases in CAW play.

“It's hard for us to say with any certainty why player A or B may have reduced his or her volume of play,” the source said. “The best source for that is the player themself.”

The TDN reached out to a representative of the player believed to be Elite 2, who declined to discuss the situation.

Here, it should be noted that at least one Elite Turf Club player increased their play between 2021 and 2023. This was Elite 10, who wagered $4.9 million in 2021 and $6.7 million in 2023 on Del Mar's product.

The TDN does not have access to data showing individual CAW handle on Del Mar's product in 2022. That was the year the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) stopped making such data publicly available. Even so, California remains more transparent than other jurisdictions about what CAW data it makes publicly available.

Another wrinkle in this story is how Del Mar boasts an attractive wagering product with good field sizes and an impressive safety record. With that in mind, was the deal the right one to strike?

“With the benefit of hindsight, it has been the wrong deal for over 10 years and this is why we need a market correction,” wrote Nader, in response to a series of questions. “We represent the owners and purses are paid to owners, trainers, and jockeys, and there is room for improvement. This is what the TOC hired me to do.”

When asked why the TOC approved the deal last year, Nader wrote how 2023 “was my first full year with the TOC and we needed time to work with our Board members and others, notably the tracks, to voice our reservations and allow for a period of adjustment. This entire exercise has been a work in progress.”

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW?
The issue of shrinking purse revenues amid declining economic benchmarks couldn't be a more pressing issue in California right now, where the industry attempts to piece together a revised racing framework in the wake of Golden Gate's impending closure in June.

At the end of the day, therefore, those arguably most impacted by decisions around managing CAW play are the industry stakeholders attempting to eke out a living from the sport.

When asked for comment on the story, the California Thoroughbred Trainers (CTT) wrote in a prepared statement how, “based on Del Mar's representations and the TOC's confirmation of how the purse account there has been managed, we can only say we're disturbed and confused. In January of 2021, at a CTT Board meeting, we attempted to question TOC leadership at the time about how purse levels were being funded, and were angrily rebuked by those in charge.”

At that point in time, Greg Avioli was TOC president.

“Since purses are the lifeblood of our sport, and are fueled by the public's interest and its confidence in the integrity of pari-mutuel betting, the apparent lack of transparency we're hearing about now has to be remedied immediately,” the CTT added.

Scott Chaney | courtesy of the CHRB

According to CHRB executive director, Scott Chaney, the agency is “keenly aware of the questions, importance and interest surrounding CAWs and plans to place the topic on our meeting agenda in the next month or so.”

Chaney added how “the concepts of purse accounts and structure are also vitally important to racing in California, therefore in order promote understanding and transparency, we are in the process of amending our race meet license application to include additional questions in this area.”

All of which leads to this question: Will Elite 17 be offered the same deal this year?

“No. Negotiations are ongoing across the entire customer sector,” wrote Nader.

“High-volume players will agree that two key deliverables to make their business models more attractive are access and liquidity to commingled pools,” added Nader. “Our racetrack partners should also understand the collective upside and if everyone can take a step back and look at this thing holistically, we can work it out.”

The post Computer Assisted Wagering: Anatomy Of A Deal appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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At the conclusion of the Final Table on Sunday, total cash prizes offered over the three days come to $3,013,550. The top 77 are guaranteed money with that final finisher receiving $10,150.

The top five payouts are:
First Place–$800,000
Second Place–$250,000
Third Place–$200,000
Fourth Place–$150,000
Fifth Place–$125,000

Along with following the leaderboard action through At the Races with Steve Byk, new to the NHC will be a Final Table livestream, co-hosted by Byk and Rick Hammerle, that can be found on the NTRA's X handle, YouTube channel and on their website for the final seven races of the contest.

Click here for more information.

The post 2024 National Horseplayers Championship Official Prize Structure Released, Leaderboard Links Available appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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With a No-Consolation provision, there will be a 100 percent carryover of that day's net pool to the next day's Coast to Coast Pick 5 in the event there is no winning ticket with five correct selections.

The Coast to Coast Pick 5, which debuted last year, posted healthy average pool size of $224,824 per day, with an average payout of $11,488.

THE 1/ST COAST TO COAST PICK 5
–A five-race sequence from Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita Park
–Every Saturday and Sunday, beginning Jan. 6 through April 7, 2004
–$1 minimum
–Player-friendly 15 percent takeout
–In the event there is no ticket with five winners, there is no consolation payoff, with a 100 percent (net) carryover to the next day's Pick 5.

Entries for this Saturday's races at Santa Anita will be taken Wednesday, Jan. 3 and the race sequence for the Coast to Coast Pick 5 will be available later Wednesday afternoon at santaanita.com.

The post Santa Anita, Gulfstream Park Set For 1/ST Coast To Coast Pick 5 Starting Saturday appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The $1 Pick 6 returned $427 to bettors who selected 5-of-6 winners correctly.

The sequence began in Race 3 with the Orlando Noda-trained Goldfire [No. 9, $10.80] graduating under Trevor McCarthy in a one-mile state-bred maiden claimer. McCarthy completed a riding double when piloting Duke of Gloucester [No. 10, $18.40] to victory in Race 4, a one-mile starter allowance, for trainer Wayne Potts.

Race 5 saw the Michael Miceli trainee Doc Sullivan [No. 6, $7.20] graduate in a six-furlong state-bred maiden under Dylan Davis, one race before trainer Linda Rice sent out Kunshan Bridge [No. 4, $11.40] to take a 6 1/2-furlong claiming tilt with Jose Lezcano aboard in Race 6.

The upsets continued in Race 7 as Luis Rivera, Jr. guided Guntown [No. 6, $18.40] to win a one-mile optional claimer for trainer Fernando Abreu. With just three horses covered in the final leg, the Jeremiah Englehart-trained Lady Mine [No. 5, $7.50] triggered the carryover when scoring a six-furlong state-bred allowance victory under Dylan Davis in Race 8.

Saturday's Pick 6 begins in Race 4 at 1:46 p.m. Eastern. First post on the nine-race card is 12:20 p.m.

America's Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the fall meet at Aqueduct Racetrack on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, and the best way to bet every race of the fall meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

The post Aqueduct Has Two-Day Pick 6 Carryover Of $90,453 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Two horses were live to take down the jackpot heading into Friday's Race 10 finale, won in front-running fashion by favored Rod Two Rod ($4.80). Multiple tickets with all six winners each returned $3,223.14.

The Rainbow 6 jackpot is 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 days' pool 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 bettor with the most winners.

Saturday's Rainbow 6 sequence will span Races 6-11 and includes the $150,000 Suwannee River (G3), $100,000 St. Augustine overnight handicap, $150,000 Harlan's Holiday (G3) and $200,000 Fort Lauderdale (G2) in Races 8-11.

Also on Saturday's card is the $125,000 Rampart for fillies and mares 3 and up going one mile in Race 5.

The post Gulfstream Park: Rainbow 6 Has Mandatory Payout On Saturday; $96,592 In Jackpot appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The $1 Pick 6 returned $273 to bettors who selected 5-of-6 winners correctly.

Thursday's sequence kicked off in Race 3 with Divine Cross [No. 5, $13] taking a 6 1/2-furlong claiming tilt with Isaac Castillo up for trainer David Jacobson. Race 4 saw the Jose Jimenez-trained Just Katherine [No. 5, $3.70*] take a nine-furlong optional claimer with Eric Cancel in the irons, one race before Proven Hope [No. 7, $16.40] secured a one-mile claiming victory under Heman Harkie for trainer Edward Barker in Race 5.

Race 6 featured a training double for Rick Dutrow, Jr., who sent out the Manny Franco-piloted Capone [No. 4, $7.50] to win a seven-furlong claiming tilt. In Race 7, the featured $100,000 Bay Ridge, jockey Jose Lezcano notched his second win on the card as he guided the David Donk-trained Fingal's Cave [No. 2, $6.20*] to win the one-mile route for state-bred fillies and mares in the filly's first start off a 14-month layoff.

With five horses uncovered in the final leg, Dylan Davis piloted the Timothy Hills-trained Bornforgreatness [No. 8, $41.40] to a sixth-out graduation in Race 8, a one-mile maiden claimer, to trigger the carryover.

Friday's Pick 6 begins in Race 3 at 1:46 p.m. Eastern. First post on the eight-race card is 12:50 p.m.

America's Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the fall meet at Aqueduct Racetrack on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, and the best way to bet every race of the fall meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

The post Pick 6 Carryover Of $25,427 Into Friday’s Card At Aqueduct appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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A number of horses have won graded stakes on the turf, including Lucky Score (G2 Highlander Stakes), Olympic Runner (G2 King Edward Stakes) and Balnikhov (G3 Bryan Station and G3 San Francisco Mile).

Forbidden Kingdom won the G2 San Vicente Stakes and G2 San Felipe Stakes on dirt and is trying grass for only the second time in his career. Front Run the Fed won the non-graded Van Clief Stakes this past July and the same race in 2022 and appears to fit with these, as does Turn on the Jets, who was second earlier this month in the Stormy Liberal Stakes, a race he won in 2022. Johnny Podres finished second down the hillside course in the California Flag Handicap in October and could have a say, as could Lovesick Blues, who missed winning the G3 Daytona Stakes by a neck and a head in the spring. Daniel's Magic is looking to improve off a fourth-place finish in the Stormy Liberal, while also-eligible Dancing Buck tries to return to the form shown when winning the G3 Belmont Turf Sprint in October 2022. Tahoe Sunrise has won two in row at a mile on dirt and is trying turf for the first time, as is Peaceful Waters. I'm a Gambler is winless in five races since importing to the U.S. from Europe nearly one year ago, but was only beaten a length when fourth in the similar G2 Eddie D Stakes down the hillside course in September.

Top contenders:

East Coast invader Olympic Runner occasionally runs brilliantly on the grass and this may be one of those occasions. His only win in 2023 came in a classified allowance race on turf in August, following three months off, but in his next start although fourth of 11, Olympic Runner ran even better as he was charging home late and beaten just a head and a neck behind multiple stakes winner Gear Jockey. That effort earned a 108 Equibase Speed Figure which, if repeated would be very competitive in this group. Back in 2021, Olympic Runner won the King Edward Stakes with a 114 figure and earned a 115 figure two races later in the Nearctic Stakes. He only ran twice last year, poorly both times, but when returning from a layoff in January of this year finished second, so having run so well off a layoff this past August and returning from a rest again for the Joe Hernandez, Olympic Runner could fire with one of his best efforts. An additional positive factor is jockey Umberto Rispoli, who rides for the first time and is one of the top jockeys on the course at Santa Anita, having won 25 percent of the time down the hillside course over the last year.

Daniel's Magic has only finished worse than third one time in six races this year, and both of his wins have come down the hillside turf course. Those came back-to-back in October, just three weeks apart, earning very strong 105 then 110 Equibase figures which are good enough to win this race if repeated. He didn't run so well when fourth in the Stormy Liberal Stakes earlier this month, but that race was much shorter at five furlongs, so returning to the 6 ½-furlong distance we could see a return to winning form. Jockey Kazushi Kimura rides for the first time, having just won the riding title at Woodbine and rode well on the turf as well as the main track. Kimura rode at Santa Anita last winter before returning to his home base in Canada and rode very well, winning or placing in seven of 25 downhill turf races.

Lucky Score faced the toughest group in his most recent race as compared to any of the other entrants in this race so drops significantly in class. He finished seventh of 13 in the G1 Breeders' Cup Mile and ran better than it looks as he was in traffic for most of the stretch run and finished just 2 ¼ lengths behind winner Master of the Seas and runner-up Mawj. That effort earned a field high last race 112 Equibase figure. Two races before that Lucky Score finished third behind Master of the Seas in the Woodbine Mile and in between those two he rallied from 10^th to second in the Nearctic Stakes, so the cut back from a mile to this similar distance bodes well for a top effort.

The rest of the field, with their best Equibase Speed Figures, is Balnikhov (IRE) (111), Dancing Buck (107), Forbidden Kingdom (110), Front Run the Fed (110), I'm a Gambler (IRE) (111), Johnny Podres (109), Lovesick Blues (108), Peaceful Waters (103), Tahoe Sunrise (102) and Turn on the Jets (IRE) (106).

Win contenders, in preference/probability order:

Olympic Runner

Daniel's Magic

Lucky Score

Joe Hernandez Stakes – Grade 2. $200,000

Santa Anita: Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023; Race 1, Post Time 3 p.m. ET

About 6 ½ furlongs on downhill turf course, 3-year-olds and upward

Ellis Starr is national racing analyst for Equibase.

The post Equibase Analysis: Olympic Runner Can Get Gold in Joe Hernandez Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The holiday programming will also feature the premier of a retrospective highlighting the top moments from FanDuel TV throughout 2023.

FanDuel TV's Todd Schrupp, Christina Blacker, Scott Hazelton, Simon Bray, Dave Weaver and Kurt Hoover will be reporting live from the Arcadia, Calif., track throughout the day with exclusive interviews, analysis and features.

Monday's 11-race card includes six graded stakes races – the $200,000 San Gabriel Stakes (G2), the $200,000 San Antonio Stakes (G2), the $200,000 San Mathis Mile (G2), the $300,000 La Brea Stakes (G1), the $300,000 American Oaks (G1), and the aforementioned Malibu.

The popular Jockey Cam technology will be utilized throughout the meet and FanDuel TV's coverage will also include the deployment of the drone camera and an iso-cam to provide viewers additional perspectives on the races.

Santa Anita's Classic Meet will run through April 8 at which point there will be a twelve-day break before the Hollywood Meet begins on April 19 and concludes on June 16. The track will host a total of 90 stakes races, 53 of them graded, including the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap (March 2) and the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby (April 6).

Gulfstream Park's annual Championship Meet is underway and FanDuel TV will be live from Florida with exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes access and expert analysis throughout the season. The coverage will also include Jockey Cam technology as well as an iso-cam.

The Championship Meet runs through April and features premier racing including the Pegasus World Cup (January 27) as well as key Kentucky Derby prep races such as the Holy Bull (February 1), Fountain of Youth (March 2) and the Florida Derby (March 30).

The road to the Kentucky Derby will run through Hot Springs, Arkansas as the New Year begins with the $300,000 Smarty Jones Stakes which offers 10-5-3-2-1 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top five finishers. FanDuel TV's Scott Hazelton and Andie Biancone will be on-site with exclusive interviews and expert analysis.

The post Expanded FanDuel TV Coverage For Santa Anita Opening Day appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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On Saturday, Dec. 30, Gulfstream will offer four stakes races, three graded, including the $150,000 Harlan's Holiday (G3), a prep for the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1), and the $200,000 Fort Lauderdale (G3), a prep for the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1). There will also be a mandatory Rainbow 6 Saturday with the Harlan's Holiday and Fort Lauderdale part of the sequence.

The Harlan's Holiday, contested at 1 1/16 miles, drew a field of 11 including Fayette (G2) winner O'Connor, Remsen (G2) winner Dubyuhnell, and multiple graded stakes placed Ny Traffic.

The Fort Lauderdale, at 1 1/8-mile on the turf, has 10 entered including Calumet Farm's Running Bee, multiple graded stakes placed Grand Sonata, and Stone Age, runner-up in the 2022 Breeders' Cup Turf (G1)

For more information on Pegasus World Cup Day Jan. 27, go to PegasusWorldCup.com.

The post Gulfstream Park: Pegasus Preps Next Weekend With Mandatory Rainbow 6 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Truth be told, her situation was more dire than that. She was in 23rd place, and the fields for both of Saturday's Festivus Challenge Races, the sixth and seventh, included top-heavy favorites coming out of high-percentage barns.

But Kaminski, a retired school system paraprofessional from Mays Landing, N.J., stayed firm in the belief that a path to victory existed.

“I knew I had to go with a longshot,” said Kaminski, who settled on The Skipster in the seventh race, the Lambholm South Race of the Week on the turf. “I checked his past performances and they didn't look too bad, and I saw nobody (in the contest) had bet him. My bankroll was $76 at that point and the leader was around $130, so I thought that was my only shot.”

The 5-year-old Arkansas-bred gelding went off at 76-1 (numerology students, take note) in a race in which Conversing, the eventual winner, was 1-2. Under jockey Jose Batista, The Skipster was poised to pull off a shocker before Conversing took over in deep stretch.

The Skipster paid $26.20 to place and $13 to show, making the result as good as a victory for Kaminski. The $39.20 boost to her bankroll rocketed her to $115.20, $10.80 ahead of runner-up Tom Driscoll of Flagler Beach, Fla.

Kaminski receives the first-place Festivus Challenge prize of $1,000 and Driscoll collects $500. There were 1,020 participants, but only 13 remained after nearly everyone ran out of lifelines and was eliminated.

Kaminski had scored with another longshot on the second day of the contest when 4-year-old gelding Bold Medication won and paid $22 to win, $11.20 to place and $6.40 to show.

This was Kaminski's second year playing the Festivus Challenge.

“My husband, Alex, and his friend are big horse racing people, and they encouraged me to play,” she said. “It's amazing. I don't watch the races – it's sort of a superstition, I guess–so my husband lets me know what's happening.”

Alex could barely keep his jaw from hitting the floor as the race unfolded. “I thought (The Skipster) was going to win,” he said.

“It was worth taking a shot. You never know what will happen,” Cindy said, before trying to make sense of things with a dose of Yogi Berra-ese: “When a horse goes off at 70-something-to-1, what are the odds?”

Driscoll, a former Zephyrhills resident who still raves about the lobster panini in the Tampa Bay Downs clubhouse, credits years of experience playing the Festivus Challenge for his second-place performance. “My wife Andrea discovered this contest 10 or 12 years ago, and it was like a Christmas present for me,” Driscoll said. “Every year it's a blast.”

The Driscolls founded the Panda Hugs Learning Center, a child-care center in Tampa, before selling it three years ago. Tom Driscoll is a huge fan of Thoroughbred racing, spending a few days this year at Saratoga.

Driscoll was in fifth place entering Saturday's action, about $30 behind the leader, and like Kaminski knew a longshot was needed to cash in. His choice, 18-1 shot Good Enough for Me in the sixth, finished a non-threatening sixth, but Driscoll aimed his focus on the future.

“I'll definitely be playing again next year, and I'll be going for the win,” he said.

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