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Baffert The Center Of Two More Civil Suits In Federal Court In Medina Spirit Case

Days after a group of four horseplayers filed suit against trainer Bob Baffert and Medina Spirit owner Zedan Racing over the expected disqualification of the horse from his Kentucky Derby win, Baffert has been named in two more similar federal lawsuits.

Both follow a similar premise to the May 13 civil suit filed by horseplayers Michael Beychok, Justin Wunderler, Michael Meegan and Keith Mauer. One was filed May 24 in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California by bettor Jeffrey Kaufman, who accuses Baffert and Zedan Racing of violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act due to the presence of a regulated substance, betamethasone, Baffert said he was informed was detected on the horse's post-race tests. The drug has yet to be confirmed in split-sample tests. Kaufman's suit alleges that Baffert's history of drug positives establishes a pattern and that his assurances to the public in late 2020 that he intended to improve barn procedures was trusted by bettors.

Kaufman's suit is also designed to be a class action on behalf of other bettors on the Kentucky Derby “who would have won their bets and winnings had Medina spirit been properly prohibiting from competing in the Kentucky Derby on May 1, 2021, or competed without the aid of an illegal drug.”

Kaufman requests, among other things, court-imposed restrictions on Baffert's “future activities in Thoroughbred racing.”

The Kaufman suit accuses Baffert and Zedan of violating the RICO Act, common law fraud, and equitable fraud, and Baffert alone of conspiring to violate California laws against racketeering. Baffert and Zedan have not yet filed responses.

Read that complaint here.

Another horseplayer, Florida-based Anthony Mattera, filed suit against Baffert and Churchill Downs in Jefferson Circuit Court in Kentucky based on the Medina Spirit drug positive, but that case was removed to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. Mattera claims, based on Baffert's history of drug violations, Churchill Downs should have refused his entry of Medina Spirit into the race and also that the track could have implemented its own pre-race testing procedures. (The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission already conducts pre-race testing for the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks.) Mattera also claimed the track should not have calculated the payouts based on the results with Medina Spirit as the winner.

Mattera also seeks to have his lawsuit recognized as a class action. Mattera's suit alleges negligence on the part of Baffert and Churchill, and violation of the Kentucky Consumer Protection Act and unjust enrichment by Churchill. Mattera seeks to permanently enjoin Churchill from conducting racing until it meets a number of conditions to screen horses pre-race, settle wagers that change as the result of disqualifications, and publicly disclose medical records among other things. Baffert and Churchill have not yet filed responses.

Read that complaint here.

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America’s Day At The Races Plans Weeklong Coverage Of Belmont Park, Churchill Downs

America's Day at the Races, the acclaimed national telecast produced by the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) in partnership with FOX Sports, will air 25 hours of coverage Thursday through Tuesday, with stakes action from Belmont Park, Churchill Downs and Santa Anita Park.

Presented by America's Best Racing and Claiborne Farm, America's Day at the Races will broadcast live racing action this week, including a special half-hour show on Tuesday, June 1 from 11-11:30 a.m. that will air the draw for the 153rd running of the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets on Saturday, June 5.

Broadcast schedule for America's Day at the Races (all times Eastern):

Thursday, May 27
FS2: 5 – 8:30 p.m.

Friday, May 28
FS2: 12:30 – 5:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 29
FS2: 12:30 – 6 p.m.

Sunday, May 30
Bally Sports SoCal: 3 – 5:30 p.m.
FS2: 4 – 4:30 p.m.

Monday, May 31
FS2: 12:30- 8:30 p.m.

Tuesday, June 1
FS2: 11-11:30 a.m. [Draw for the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets]

Thursday will feature Churchill's eight-race evening card from the Louisville, Kentucky track, offering a 5 p.m. first post. Belmont Park will not conduct racing on Thursday.

Friday will see live racing action at both Belmont and Churchill, and the two tracks will also offer compelling Saturday slates, with the Grade 2, $200,000 Pennine Ridge for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/8 miles on the turf highlighting the Belmont card. Churchill's packed Saturday card will feature the Grade 3, $125,000 Matt Winn for 3-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles; the Grade 3, $125,000 Regret for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles on the turf; the $125,000 Aristides for 4-year-olds and up sprinting six furlongs; the $125,000 Blame for 4-year-olds and up going 1 1/8 miles; the $125,000 Shawnee for fillies and mares 4-years-old and up contested at 1 1/16 miles; the $100,000 Audubon for sophomores going 1 1/8 miles on the turf; and the $100,000 Douglas Park for 4-year-olds and up.

Sunday will see the $100,000 Paradise Creek for sophomores competing at seven furlongs on the Belmont turf.

A special Memorial Day Monday card at Belmont will feature New York Breeders' Showcase Day, offering six stakes races for New York-breds. A pair of $200,000 races – the Commentator for 3-year-olds and up going one mile and the Critical Eye for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up going the same distance, highlight the card. Other stakes for state-breds will include the $125,000 Mike Lee for sophomores going seven furlongs; the $125,000 Mount Vernon for older fillies and mares at one mile on the turf; he $125,000 Kingston for 4-year-olds and up on the turf; and the $125,000 Bouwerie for sophomore fillies going seven furlongs.

Monday's telecast will also feature live coverage of a trio of graded stakes from Santa Anita Park, including the Grade 1, $300,000 Shoemaker Mile on the turf for 3-year-olds and up; the Grade 1, $300,000 Gamely at nine furlongs on the turf for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up; and the Grade 3 Hollywood Gold Cup at 1 1/4-miles for 3-year-olds and up.

Tuesday's half-hour show will air the draw for the Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets, the third leg of the Triple Crown known as the “Test of the Champion” for its famed 1 1/2-mile distance. Among the expected entrants for the American Classic is Grade 1 Preakness-winner Rombauer, Eclipse Award-champion 2-year-old Essential Quality and Grade 2 Louisiana Derby-winner Hot Rod Charlie. The draw will take place from Belmont Park.

America's Day at the Races is also broadcast on NYRA's YouTube channel which boasts more than 70,000 subscribers. Fans can subscribe to NYRA's channel and set a reminder to watch the show on YouTube Live. NYRA's YouTube channel also hosts a plethora of race replays, special features, America's Day at the Races replays and more.

Free Equibase-provided past performances are available for races that are part of the America's Day at the Races broadcast and can be accessed at https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule.

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

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Between The Hedges: When it Comes To Racing Festivals, Bigger Is Better

The following is the ninth edition of a bi-weekly series entitled Between The Hedges, discussing the business of betting with a focus on trending wagering topics and statistics. This week's column is penned by Joe Longo, NYRA General Manager of Content Services. Send your questions for Between The Hedges to betweenthehedges@nyrainc.com.

Belmont Stakes Day is the highest handling day on the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) racing calendar each season and that success has grown over the last several years.

Headlined by the 153rd running of the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets on Saturday, June 5, this year's three-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival kicks off on Thursday, June 3 and will include 17 stakes races in total with eight Grade 1 races to be contested on Belmont Stakes Day.

The big-day concept was launched at the 2014 Belmont Stakes, the first under NYRA Senior Vice President of Racing Operations Martin Panza, by bundling together major stakes races to showcase the best our sport has to offer at a time when most eyes are watching.

The 2014 Belmont Stakes featured a Triple Crown attempt by California Chrome. Triple Crown attempts have a material impact on the amount wagered and partnered with the newly implemented multi-stakes concept, total commingled handle was $151,109,373 with $90,865,532 bet on the Belmont Stakes itself.

The 2015 Belmont Stakes, which featured American Pharoah's successful Triple Crown run, boasted handle of $135,790,321 with $81,681,147 wagered on the third jewel.

In 2018, when Justify became the 13th Triple Crown winner, handle was $137,954,903 with $79,730,023 wagered on the Belmont Stakes.

Excluding the 2020 Belmont Stakes, which was contested at nine furlongs as the first leg of the Triple Crown, handle averaged $98,416,407 with $50,230,988 bet on the race for non-Triple Crown years under the new race day configuration.

Under the former non big-day concept from 2009 through 2013, average handle on Belmont Stakes Day was $86,438,946 with $49,976,130 wagered on the “Test of the Champion.”

The inaugural Belmont Stakes Racing Festival was created in 2015, tying together three races days beginning on the Thursday of Belmont Stakes week and culminating on Belmont Stakes Day.

From 2015 through 2019, Belmont Stakes Racing Festival Thursday has averaged $9,079,847 with a high-water mark of $10,309,890 in 2017.

Compared to years 2009 through 2014, the same day averaged $6,608,287.

Over this same time frame, Belmont Stakes Racing Festival Friday has averaged $17,918,109 with a high of $20,839,703. From 2009 through 2014, the same day averaged $10,562,201.

So, what about the remainder of the big days on the NYRA racing calendar?

The top-five days by average daily handle over the last five years (2015-2019) are led by the Belmont Stakes Day ($113,798,889) followed by Travers Day ($49,470,410) Whitney Day ($30,340,281), Woodward Day ($28,050,290) and Jim Dandy Day ($27,481,055).

Stars & Stripes Day, another concept that began in 2014, has grown steadily since inception when its handle was $18,829,264. Stars & Stripes Day handle has grown steadily over the years reaching $25,766,176 in 2019. Stars & Stripes Day did not take place in 2020 due to restructuring of the stakes calendar caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Average daily handle (net of partial cancellations) has also increased steadily since the introduction of the big-day concept. In 2014, the average daily handle was $8,760,208. In the years 2015 through 2019, daily handle averaged $9,644,765 and a high of $9,906,155 in 2019. For 2020, average daily handle was $11,553,727 representing an increase of $2,793,519 or 32 percent since 2014.

Supporting these big race days along with daily overnight races are purse offerings that averaged $761,567 daily and $170 million annually over a period of five years predating 2020. The three days of the 2019 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival alone saw almost $11 million in purse money distributed.

The results reinforce the growth of the big-day concept and is further solidified by the increase in daily average handle over this time frame. By coupling marquee days with our broadcast television strategy and robust purse offerings, more eyes are on our content than ever before and horseplayers are supporting it on a daily basis.

For additional information and details on hospitality offerings, ticket packages and pricing, visit BelmontStakes.com. For full terms and conditions, visit https://www.belmontstakes.com/tickets.

For additional information on health and safety protocols in effect for the 2021 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, please visit: https://www.belmontstakes.com/tickets/know-before-you-go.

Send your questions for Between The Hedges to betweenthehedges@nyrainc.com.

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Registration Open For Belmont Stakes Handicapping Challenge

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) today announced registration is now open for the two-day Belmont Stakes Challenge presented by Jackpocket slated for June 4-5.

NYRA Handicapping Challenge entrants will be able to register and compete online in all contests via NYRA Bets. The leaderboard for all of these contests will be posted on NYRABets.com and throughout the day on America's Day at the Races, the acclaimed national telecast produced by NYRA in partnership with FOX Sports.

In order to enter and play online, contestants must be registered NYRA Bets account holders. To learn more, visit www.NYRA.com/challenge.

Entrants for the two-day Belmont Stakes Challenge will compete for cash prizes through fourth place as well as one seat to the 2022 Belmont Stakes Challenge, four seats to the 2022 National Horseplayers Championship (NHC), and two seats to the Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge (BCBC).

The 2021 Belmont Stakes Challenge has an entry fee of $10,000, of which $2,500 will go directly to the prize pool, with the remaining $7,500 comprising each participants' bankroll. Eligible tournament races at Belmont Park will start on Friday, June 4, and end with the 153rd running of the Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets on Saturday, June 5. Contest players can make win, place, show, exacta, trifecta, quinella and daily double wagers.

Online registration for the Belmont Stakes Challenge is available now at https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/handicapping-challenge.

In addition, there are a number of upcoming Jackpocket Handicapping Challenges, a series of one-day high-stakes handicapping contests at NYRA tracks that require a $3,000 buy-in fee for each of the following marquee race days:

· The Stars & Stripes Challenge presented by Jackpocket on July 3 at Belmont
· The Whitney Challenge presented by Jackpocket on Aug. 7 at Saratoga Race Course
· The Jockey Club Gold Cup Challenge presented by Jackpocket on September 4 at Saratoga Race Course
· The Cigar Mile Challenge presented by Jackpocket on December 4 at Aqueduct Racetrack

Each Saturday throughout the racing season – with the exception of the NYRA Bets challenge series dates and November 6 – NYRA Bets will offer a $300 live-money handicapping challenge.

The unique NYRA Bets $300 live-money handicapping challenge ($200 live bankroll / $100 prize pool) offers cash prizes to the top seven finishers, while players that land eighth through tenth in the standings will receive an entry in next week's contest ($300 value).

Jackpocket is the official mobile lottery partner of The New York Racing Association, Inc. Fans can download the Jackpocket app and use code “PONIES” at checkout to receive a free lottery ticket.

New NYRA Bets members are currently eligible to receive a bet $200 get $200 bonus. NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of The New York Racing Association, Inc. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

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