Tag: Horseplayers

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) will host a Cross Country Pick 5 on Saturday with racing from Churchill Downs and stakes action from Belmont Park and Monmouth Park.

The Cross Country Pick 5 requires bettors to pick the winner of five select races from tracks across the country. The minimum bet for the multi-track, multi-race wager is 50 cents. Wagering on the Cross Country Pick 5 is available on ADW platforms and at simulcast facilities across the country with each week featuring a mandatory payout of the net pool. The Cross Country Pick 5, boasting a low 15 percent takeout, offers sequences with races from Belmont Park and partner tracks across the country.

The sequence kicks off at 2:13 p.m. Eastern in Race 4 at Churchill Downs as an overflow field of fillies and mares 3-years-old and up contest a one-mile turf maiden special weight. The Eddie Kenneally-trained Just Say So earned a 70 Beyer Speed Figure two starts back for a closing runner-up effort in her first try beyond sprint distances before finishing fourth in her latest outing.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher saddles the well-bred Vanished for her first start off three works at Churchill, including a half-mile breeze in 49.40 seconds on Saturday. Evie's Hall, whose second dam is Grade 1-winner Sis City, also debuts for conditioner Tom Amoss off a series of works at Churchill.

The action switches to Belmont Park for graded action in the next two legs, beginning with Race 5 [3:07 p.m.], the Grade 1, $600,000 Man o' War for older horses traveling 1 3/8 miles over the inner turf. Trainer Charlie Appleby shipped Warren Point for his North American debut off two solid efforts in the Middle East. The son of Dubawi won the Al Khalifa Cup two starts back at Bahrain and enters from a close runner-up effort to Russian Emperor in the Group 1 HH The Amir Trophy at Doha.

A pair of multiple graded stakes-winning 9-year-olds in the Mike Maker-trained New York-bred Red Knight and Hall of Famer Bill Mott-trained Channel Maker will look to add to their accomplished resumes against the likes of 4-year-old opponents Verstappen and Howe Street, the former of which arrives from a victory in the Grade 2 Elkhorn on April 22 at Keeneland.

The sequence continues with the Grade 3, $200,000 Peter Pan [Race 6, 3:40 p.m.] as a field of nine assemble for the traditional local prep for the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes. Pletcher saddles Go Soldier Go for his U.S. debut after scoring a stakes victory two starts back in the U.A.E., as well as Classic Catch, who was last seen finishing a closing fifth in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino on April 8.

Two-time Eclipse Award-winning conditioner Brad Cox will also saddle two in the undefeated Bishops Bay and the graded stakes-placed Slip Mahoney, both of whom vie for their first stakes conquest. West Coast shipper Henry Q and the stakes-placed Summer Cause both look to make the grade for trainers Doug O'Neill and Christophe Clement, respectively.

The penultimate leg features a competitive allowance in Race 7 [3:50 p.m.] at Churchill as an overflow field of 12 have entered the 1 3/8-mile test over the turf. The Mike Maker trainee Jarreau seeks a breakthrough victory after hitting the board in each of his last five starts dating to a runner-up effort last May at the Louisville oval.

Bosque Redondo was a last-out winner by a nose for trainer Chad Brown and makes his first start for conditioner Alexis Claire while the Juan Cano-trained Policy Option looks to build off a narrow defeat last out in the same condition. Foreign Relations, trained by Conor Murphy, is still in search of his first victory against winners after he crossed the finish line first in an April 19 allowance at Keeneland, but was disqualified and placed 10th.

The sequence closes out in Race 8 [4:05 p.m.] from Monmouth Park, the $100,000 Long Branch for sophomores traveling one mile and 70 yards. Slip Mahoney was also entered here by Cox and would face steep opposition from the John Mc Allen-trained No Confession, who has won his last three races in a row. Trainer Butch Reid, Jr. saddles the duo of impressive last-out allowance winner Didinger and dual stakes-winner Ninetyprcentmaddie, while Offaly Cool boasts a 4 3/4-length optional claiming victory on April 18 at Parx Racing for trainer Jacinto Solis. The Kantharos gelding is a perfect 2-for-2 in races where he has set the pace.

Free Equibase past performances for the Cross Country Pick 5 sequence will be available for download at https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/cross-country-wagers.

Cross Country Pick 5 – Saturday, May 13

Leg A: Churchill Downs, Race 4 – MSW (2:13 p.m. Eastern)

Leg B: Belmont Park, Race 5 – G1 Man o' War (3:07 p.m.)

Leg C: Belmont Park, Race 6 – G3 Peter Pan (3:40 p.m.)

Leg D: Churchill Downs, Race 7 – allowance (3:50 p.m.)

Leg E: Monmouth Park, Race 8 – $100K Long Branch (4:05 p.m.)

The post Saturday’s Cross Country Pick 5 Features Racing From Churchill, Belmont, Monmouth Park appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Live racing returns to Pimlico Race Course Thursday for the opening of its 15-day Preakness Meet, highlighted by the 148th running of the $1.5 million Preakness Stakes (G1), Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown, Saturday, May 20.

The 1 3/16-mile Preakness for 3-year-olds is the centerpiece of a blockbuster program featuring 10 stakes, six graded, worth $2.6 million in purses that includes the 122nd edition of the $200,000 Dinner Party (G3) for 3-year-olds and up scheduled for 1 1/8 miles on the turf, Pimlico's oldest stakes race and the eighth-oldest in the country, debuting in 1870.

Other graded-stakes on the Preakness undercard are the $200,000 Chick Lang (G3) for 3-year-olds sprinting six furlongs, $100,000 Gallorette (G3) for fillies and mares 3 and up going 1 1/16 miles on the grass, $100,000 Maryland Sprint (G3) at six furlongs for 3-year-olds and up, and $100,000 Arabian Derby (G1) for Arabian 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles.

Preakness Day post time will be 10:30 a.m.

The 99th running of the $300,000 Black-Eyed Susan (G2) for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles is the focal point of a Preakness Eve program Friday, May 19 that offers six stakes, three graded, worth $1 million in purses. Among the supporting stakes are the historic $250,000 Pimlico Special (G3) for 3-year-olds and up at 1 3/16 miles and $150,000 Miss Preakness (G3) for 3-year-old fillies sprinting six furlongs.

Post time on Black-Eyed Susan Day will be 11:30 a.m.

For the seventh straight year, the Maryland Jockey Club is offering bonus money totaling $100,000 to trainers who run a minimum of five horses in the 15 Thoroughbred stakes races during Preakness weekend. The trainer with the most points will receive $50,000, second is worth $25,000, third $12,000, fourth $7,000, fifth $4,000 and sixth $2,000.

Points are accumulated for finishing first (10 points), second (seven), third (five), fourth (three) and having a starter (one) in the Skipat, Miss Preakness, Allaire du Pont, Black-Eyed Susan, Pimlico Special, Hilltop, Jim McKay Turf Sprint, Maryland Sprint, Chick Lang, Preakness, Gallorette, James W. Murphy, Dinner Party, The Very One and Sir Barton.

Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen has taken the top bonus four times (2017, 2018, 2021, 2022) since its inception. Other top winners have been Brad Cox (2019) and Mike Maker (2020).

There will also be bonus money totaling $50,000 for trainers with the most points in non-stakes races during Preakness weekend. The points are accumulated in similar fashion with $25,000 going to the leader, $10,000 to second, $7,000 to third, $4,000 to fourth, $2,500 to fifth and $1,000 to sixth. Trainers must start a minimum of three horses to be eligible.

Racing will be conducted at Pimlico Thursdays through Sundays with no live racing Sunday, May 21 or Thursday, June 1 and a special Memorial Day holiday program Monday, May 29. Closing day is scheduled for Sunday, June 4.­

Post time, with the exception of Preakness weekend, will be 12:25 p.m.

The Preakness Meet will kick off with a claiming sprint for 3-year-olds and up scheduled for five furlongs on the grass that drew an overflow field of 12 including Shadow Box, entered for main track only.

Thursday's feature comes in Race 7, a five-furlong turf allowance for Maryland-bred/sired 3-year-olds and up. Thirteen horses were entered, including three also-eligibles and Thataway for main track only. Among the horses are Tenax and Boss Man J J, separated by a neck in a 5 ½-furlong claiming sprint on the Laurel grass April 20. Prince Pere, third in that race, owns one win, two seconds and two thirds from five career tries over the Pimlico turf

Pimlico will serve up a nine-race program Friday, May 12 that includes three races scheduled for the grass that drew a total of 44 entries. The last of them is a five-furlong allowance for Maryland-bred/sired fillies and mares 3 and up in Race 8 that includes Island Philo, third in the Jameela at Laurel and Camptown at Colonial Downs last summer, beaten a total of two lengths.

A six-furlong maiden special weight for 3-year-old fillies in Race 3 serves as Friday's feature. Nine horses were entered including Ginger Girl, a last-out fifth in the Weber City Miss April 15 at Laurel; How Sweet She Is, second in two career starts, and She Got the Munni, who returns to dirt and adds blinkers after running seventh against older horses April 16, both trained by Mike Trombetta; Repole Stable's Fly High, making her second start and first for trainer Brittany Russell since debuting for Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher last summer; Run Around Slew, second to undefeated Goodgirl Badhabits in their March 10 unveiling; and first-time starter Goldrush Hottie, a Maryland-bred daughter of Golden Lad.

Kieron Magee, based year-round at Pimlico and 22 wins shy of 1,000 for his career, captured the Laurel spring meet that preceded the Preakness Meet, his 10th meet title in Maryland. He has one starter, 7-year-old gelding Wild Behavior, in Race 5 Friday.

Axel Concepcion, who rides with a five-pound weight allowance, won twice on Laurel's closing day card to pass Jeiron Barbosa and Jevian Toledo and win his first meet title. The 18-year-old native of Puerto Rico turned pro Jan. 1 and became just the fourth apprentice in a decade to win the jockey title at Laurel following Barbosa, Julio Correa and Yomar Ortiz. Concepcion is named in four races Thursday and seven races Friday.

The post Live Racing Returns To Pimlico Thursday; Preakness Meet Includes 15 Race Days appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Ten local New Jersey charitable organizations have been selected to compete in the Meadowlands Charity Handicapping Contest on Saturday, May 13.  The Contest offers a $15,000 total donation/prize pool, with every charity receiving a donation. Prizes will be awarded as follows: 1^st Place: $5,000, 2^nd Place: $3,000, 3^rd Place: $2,000, 4^th Place: $1,500, 5^th Place: $1,000, 6^th-10^th: $500.

The participating charities have different missions aimed at improving the lives of people and animals living in the Garden State.  The participating charities are:

1. 200 Club of Bergen County enriches the community by supporting the families of law enforcement, fire and EMS personnel in the event of their death or injury. They ensure our future by providing scholarships and assistance to agencies that protect us. 200Club.org
2.  It is the mission of Team Velvet Inc. to provide non-mounted equine mental health services to children ages 5-12 who have experienced trauma within an environment of natural horsemanship and good land stewardship; to develop a referral infrastructure for these services and to provide public education on the topic of child trauma. Team Velvet – Horse Facilitated Child Trauma Therapy | Flemington, NJ
3. Act Now Foundation Inc. raises awareness and educates communities about Alzheimer's disease, prevention and early detection; to provide support, education, evaluations testing, long-term care planning, resources and advocacy in order to improve the quality of life for families living and struggling with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. actnowfoundation.org
4. Round 2 Resources is a not-for-profit organization committed to protecting the environment. We accept all donations and redistribute them back into our community.  By redirecting resources to people & organizations in need, R2R prevents usable goods from going into a landfill and recycles unusable items. When donations are collected by Round 2, they are matched against our Community Wish Lists. Once a match is made, that item is redistributed back into the community to fulfill the requesting organization or client. Being a resource to other organizations and connecting donors to recipients in efforts to help one another, R2R  is able to serve every class of charitable organization without discrimination.  We are not fighting to champion one group or cause, we are fighting for the world! R2R – Round 2 Resources
5. The Travis Mills Foundation supports post-911 recalibrated veterans and their families through various programs that help these heroic men and women overcome physical and emotional obstacles, strengthen their families, and provide well-deserved rest and relaxation. www.travismillsfoundation.org
6. The Helping Horseshoe Therapeutic Riding Club has been established to provide exceptional, safe, fun and educational Equine Assisted Activities to individuals with and without special needs, of all ages and abilities.  Helping Horseshoe also provides horses with a second career keeping them from becoming part of the unwanted horse population. The Helping Horseshoe Therapeutic Riding Club has been established as a not for profit corporation in the effort to provide quality instruction by an experienced certified instructor at an affordable price. Helping Horseshoe Therapeutic Riding Program
7. Community Treasures of Jersey City gives out FREE clothes, and commodities, food items, household goods, resources and other vital information, to anyone in need no questions asked. Through CTJC (we) act as liaison, community resources, outreach, organizers, for Jersey City low income residents, undocumented, disabled and/or persons with emergency needs for FREE, (no documentation). CTJC is proactive in the Ward F of Jersey City NJ and beyond. https://m.facebook.com/groups/lovecommunitytreasures/?ref=share&mibextid=l066kq
8. The mission at Fighting H.A.R.D. Foundation is to help children with rare diseases and chronic illnesses to not feel alone. We started the foundation in 2015 when we were just 11 and 10 years old so that we could help other children like us who were sick. We have grown so much over the years, and we are now able to do so much more thanks to incredible sponsors and generous donors, along with incredible community opportunities such as this!  We are able to accomplish our mission by sending care packages to children with special needs, purchasing medical supplies not covered by insurance, assisting with travel costs as many of these families must travel for care of a specialist for rare conditions, and by providing resources and support for these kiddos and their families. In fact, one of our special programs includes horseback riding lessons as many of the children adore spending time with the horses. We host many gatherings for the families to help them to feel less alone in their battles, but this is surely a favorite! We also help to raise awareness for rare diseases (they are not so rare!) and offer financial assistance, dinners, fun nights out, and so much more to these wonderful and very special kids! www.fightinghardfoundation.org
9. Trot-Trot is a program to help educate the public on the retraining and history of the off-track standardbred, promote them in second careers, and an adoption program that works with the racing industry to find safe homes for retired standardbred racehorses by providing retraining under saddle, rehab, and matching horses with approved adopters. https://www.trottrot.org/
10. The mission of theBoys & Girls Club of Clifton is to empower and inspire young people, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring members of society. Through diverse programming and positive adult mentorship, we aim to create a safe and supportive environment that promotes academic success, healthy lifestyles, and character development. Our goal is to ensure that every child who walks through our doors has the opportunity to thrive and succeed in life. www.bgcclifton.org

For the Charity Handicapping Contest, organizations will select one (1) horse in each of the 10 designated Meadowlands live races.  The organizations will amass a mythical bankroll if their selection officially finishes first, second or third in the designated race. Official $2 WPS (Win, Place, Show) payoffs will be added to the mythical bankroll. Official race results will serve as the order of finish. The organization that accumulates the highest mythical bankroll is the winner.

The participating organizations are encouraged to make it a night at the races for their volunteers and employees.  Each organization will also have the opportunity to make winner's circle presentations and be featured on the track's jumbotron.

“This is one of our feel good promotions,” said Jason Settlemoir, COO and GM of Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment. “It not only brings new people out to experience and bet at the racetrack, it also helps to support and advance our community.”

For information on racetrack events visit playmeadowlands.com

The post Fourth Annual Charity Handicapping Contest At Meadowlands Set For May 13 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The new Western Canadian Triple Crown in Thoroughbred racing not only has a nice ring to it, there is also an awareness of companionship attached that transmits goodwill within the sport.

That is precisely the feeling shared among Assiniboia Downs, Century Mile, and Hastings Racecourse as the three western racetracks band together to present a combined Derby extravaganza during the 2023 live racing season.

The Western Canadian Triple Crown connects the $125,000 Manitoba Derby (Aug. 7), the $200,000 G3 Canadian Derby in Alberta (Aug. 26) and $125,000 G3 British Columbia Derby (Sept. 16).

In addition to $450,000 in purse money, there will be an additional $100,000 bonus should a horse win all three of the prestigious Derby events.

“To link a meaningful financial bonus to the already robust purse offerings should only elevate the participation and competitiveness of the races,” says Darren Dunn, Assiniboia Downs Chief Executive Officer. “It also results in a rewarding outcome for both the racing fans and related horse connections. We are excited to work collaboratively with our western provincial partners who are so energized to put an even brighter spotlight on these historic Derby events.”

Allen Goodsell, Racing Manager at Century Casinos, saluted officials at both Assiniboia Downs and Hastings Racecourse for their participation. “This initiative will bring additional fanfare and excitement to Western Canada's premier races for 3-year-olds,” Goodsell said. “We look forward to additional collaboration in the future which only strengthens our collective industries.”

Nichelle Milner, BC Director of Racing, is pleased Manitoba and Alberta asked Hastings Racecourse to be involved in the concept. “A Western Canadian Triple Crown has such great potential. I can see eventually awarding points for first, second and third place finishes and have the top three connections profit from it. We're thrilled to be part of it.”

Western Canadian Triple Crown

$125,000 Manitoba Derby Assiniboia Downs Monday, August 7, 2023
$200,000 Canadian Derby (G3) Century Mile Saturday, August 26, 2023
$125,000 BC Derby (G3) Hastings Racecourse Saturday, September 16, 2023

$100,000 bonus to the owner who wins all three of the 2023 Derby events.

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