Tag: Horseplayers

The New York Racing Association Inc. (NYRA) will host a Cross Country Pick 5 on Sunday afternoon, featuring action from Aqueduct Racetrack and Oaklawn 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 Aqueduct Racetrack and partner tracks across the country.

The sequence kicks off in Race 7 [4:38 p.m. Eastern] at Aqueduct – a six-furlong state-bred allowance optional claimer– where Clear Stars Stable and Mitre Box Stable's Unique Unions will make his debut for trainer David Duggan. Bred by Larry F. Botting, the 4-year-old Union Jackson gelding was twice stakes-placed for the recently retired Rick Schosberg, finishing second in the NYSSS Times Square here last April and third in the NYSSS Great White Way in December 2021. Other formidable contenders include last out winners Thrill of It for trainer John Terranova and Foolish Ghost, who makes his first start off the claim for trainer Oscar Barrera, III.

The action shifts south to Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas for the second leg where Tom Van Berg will saddle Amy Patruno's Silvia in a 5 1/2-furlong allowance optional claimer for older fillies and mares [Race 7, 4:54 p.m.]. The Ontario-bred Exaggerator mare seeks her fifth career win, entering off a runner-up effort going the same distance to dual stakes-placed Hypersport. Glynn Puryear, Jr. and Cheryl Stimson's Hartley will try to recapture her winning form from her 2023 debut for trainer Lynn Chleborad. The 4-year-old Cairo Prince grey was stakes-placed twice last year when third in the Goldfinch and second in the Panthers – both at Prairie Meadows.

The middle leg will see the Linda Rice-trained Sheriff Bianco wheel back off one week's rest in the $100,000 Affirmed Success at Aqueduct [Race 8, 5:10 p.m.]. The 5-year-old Speightster gelding, bred by SF Bloodstock, enters the six-furlong test for New York-breds from an off-the-turf open company allowance win. Trainer Ray Handal will saddle Merrylegs Farm's homebred Listentoyourheart, who ran a field-best 100 Beyer Speed Figure in a last-out seven-furlong state-bred allowance event on April 7 at the Big A. Trainer, breeder and co-owner Michelle Nevin's seasoned veteran My Boy Tate will vie for a seventh stakes victory.

Joey Keith Davis and JD Thoroughbreds' All West will attempt to keep his consistent form afloat in the penultimate leg – a nine-furlong allowance optional claimer at Oaklawn Park [Race 8, 5:26 p.m.]. The 7-year-old Flashback gelding finished in the money in his last seven starts. Three Chimneys Farm and Harrell Ventures' Ten Gauge is in pursuit of his first victory since a November maiden coup at Churchill Downs. The Gun Runner colt, trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, has finished either third or fourth in his seven starts since breaking his maiden.

Closing out the sequence is Race 9 [5:42 p.m.] from Aqueduct – a seven-furlong starter allowance that features last-out winners Inspeightoftrainer and Always Charming. While the Linda Rice-conditioned Inspeightoftrainer cuts back from a one-turn mile, the Bob Klesaris-trained Always Charming will see added ground from his 6 1/2-length win going six furlongs on April 1 at the Big A.

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

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

NYRA Bets is the best way to bet every race of the Aqueduct Racetrack spring meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

Cross Country Pick 5 – Sunday, April 30:

Leg A: Aqueduct Racetrack – Race 7, optional claiming (4:38 p.m. Eastern)

Leg B: Oaklawn Park – Race 7, optional claiming (4:54 p.m.)

Leg C: Aqueduct Racetrack – Race 8, $100K Affirmed Success (5:10 p.m.)

Leg D: Oaklawn Park – Race 8, optional claiming (5:26 p.m.)

Leg E: Aqueduct Racetrack – Race 9, starter allowance (5:42 p.m.)

The post Sunday’s Cross Country Pick 5 Includes Racing From Aqueduct, Oaklawn appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The 2023 renewal of the Kentucky Derby will be the first in modern history where wagering payouts are calculated to the penny, instead of the dime, a product of a Kentucky law change which has returned millions to horseplayers since the law took effect in July 2022.

“Lawmakers made the sharp decision that ensures, at least until other states catch up, that racetracks in Kentucky pay winning bettors – wherever they place that bet – more,” said Patrick Cummings, executive director of the Thoroughbred Idea Foundation (TIF) which advocated for the change following its 2018 white paper on the topic.

House Bill 607, which garnered bi-partisan support, standardized many other elements of pari-mutuel taxation. It was sponsored by Representatives Adam Koenig and Al Gentry while Senate Majority Leader Damon Thayer guided its passage in that body. Governor Andy Beshear signed the bill soon after passage.

A year ago, more than $75 million was bet in the win, place and show (WPS) pools for the Kentucky Derby, with over $112 million in those pools across the entire day. TIF estimates that over $745,000 was withheld from winning bettors as breakage from the 2022 Derby Day WPS pools.

While 81-1 longshot Rich Strike shocked the field for the win a year ago, favored Epicenter finished second, paying $7.40 to place and $5.20 to show. If today's penny breakage provision had been in place in the 2022 race, Epicenter's place payout would have been $7.52, and the show payout $5.38.

Prior to the law passing, winnings were rounded down to the dime. Bet-takers – racetracks, off-track betting sites and most often now, advanced deposit wagering platforms via the Internet – keep breakage, a practice initiated in the early 1900s to facilitate a smoother customer experience when all bets were made in person, in cash, at the track hosting the race.

It is estimated that the total of all breakage on U.S. Thoroughbred racing exceeds $60 million annually.

On a favored outcome, such as a horse that pays just $2.40 to show for each $2 bet, it is possible that more than 30% of a horseplayer's profit is kept by the bet-taker because of antiquated breakage provisions.

“Rounding winning dividends to the penny has put more money back in the pockets and accounts of horseplayers choosing to wager on Kentucky's races,” Cummings said. “Thanks to the legislative leaders here in the commonwealth that brought this bill to the fore and their many colleagues that supported it,” Cummings added.

Since penny breakage has been in place on Kentucky's races, an additional $3.4 million from WPS pools alone, and in total well more than that, has been distributed to winning bettors.

“For the greater horse racing industry, this money is better back in the hands and accounts of horseplayers.”

While there are many factors which impact overall wagering, notably the effective takeout rates paid by massive computer-assisted wagering teams, wagering on Kentucky's races appeared to grow far more in 2022 than other states.

“The penny breakage provision likely played a very small, but meaningful, role in Kentucky's pari-mutuel successes from 2022. But every penny counts and we hope other states and track operators follow suit and recognize the sport and world has changed, and it is far beyond time to pay customers the entirety of their winnings.”

The 2023 Kentucky Derby will be contested on Saturday, May 6, but the penny breakage provision exists for every live race conducted in Kentucky.

The post Penny Breakage: Winning Derby Bettors Will Get Paid More This Year After Kentucky Law Change appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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FWD Champions Day will be held this coming Sunday, April 30, at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong (late Saturday night Pacific Time or early Sunday morning Eastern Time). The three feature races are the G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize for HK$20 million (US$2.5 million) going 1200m, the G1 FWD Champions Mile for HK$20 million (US$2.5 million) going 1600m and the G1 FWD QEII Cup for HK$ 25 million (US$3.0 million) going 2000m.

Four of the world's highest rated turf horses will be representing the home Hong Kong home team and it is very possible, if not likely, that the home team will occupy the top spot on the podium in all three races. At the minimum, they will be favored in all three races.

The G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize features Lucky Sweynesse, who has emerged as the dominant sprinter in Hong Kong. Last season, he was a progressive horse that won five of his first seven starts including his first three at Happy Valley. This season, he came out with an easy win in a Class 1 then he held on for second in the G2 Premier Bowl Handicap when he was run down by Wellington.

Next time out in the G2 Jockey Club Sprint, he sat off the pace and rallied to win by a nose in 1:07.55 seconds while getting five pounds from Wellington. Wellington got his revenge in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint when Lucky Sweynesse had all sorts of traffic problems in the stretch.

But since then, Lucky Sweynesse won two straight Group 1 stakes races and a Group 2 to prep for this. Left in his wake two starts back was California Spangle in the G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup going 1400m in 1:21.12 seconds as much the best. Only aged four, Lucky Sweynesse is the fastest of the fast and looks to have the sprint division at his mercy for the foreseeable future.

With four superstar local runners and three Group 1 stakes races, something had to give and the G1 FWD Champions Mile is the beneficiary. Horse of the Year Golden Sixty has won this race the past two years and beat California Spangle in last year's renewal. California Spangle is fast enough to try the Sprint but I think Lucky Sweynesse might have changed his connections' mind.

Instead, he will take on Golden Sixty at a distance where he was able to beat him in December's G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile. Golden Sixty reversed that decision in the G1 Stewards' Cup going Sunday's distance and then came back to beat Romantic Warrior in the G1 City Hong Kong Cup going 2000m. He is an amazing 12 for 14 going a mile and even at the age of seven he shows no signs of slowing down. No matter the circumstances, Vincent Ho is able to find a gear that gets him home; something they have done 24 times.

It will be fascinating to see what tactics Zac Purton employs aboard California Spangle. Yes, he did set a dawdling pace in the Hong Kong Mile to hold off Golden Sixty's late surge but I still feel that his best chance is to use his brilliant speed to open up as big a lead as possible turning for home. The third 400m split will be the key, not the fourth one in my humble opinion.

That said, I'm going with California Spangle to grimly hold on in the stretch duel that we are all hoping for.

The G1 FWD QEII Cup at 2000m has the strongest international field of the three races and as good as Romantic Warrior is going this distance (4 out 5), he could get beat. Dubai Honour is a world traveler from William Haggas that won the G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes in Australia last start going this distance on soft ground.

Danon the Kid was a distant second here in December in the G1 Hong Kong Cup and ran well last out in Hanshin going this distance in super time. Prognosis is a lightly raced son of the immortal Deep Impact that has a wicked finish and is still improving in only ninth career start. Geraldina is a daughter of the immortal seven-time G1 winner Gentildonna that was third to Equinox two starts back to finish last year and had an easy prep for this last out.

If there is going to be an upset in the Champions Day G1 trio, it will come in this race and I think Geraldina can fly the flag for Japan as they continue to thrive on the international stage.

The post Powell: Will Japan Spoil Home Team’s Chances To Sweep Champions Day G1 Races In Hong Kong? appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The catch-phrase 'Watch Wager Win' takes on added emphasis with a new wagering profile being introduced at Hastings Racecourse for the 45-day live racing season beginning Sunday, April 30 at 2:00 p.m.

Effective immediately, Hastings will be offering a unique $1 minimum Pick 5 starting in Race 2 of each race date with a 100% carryover should there be no winning tickets. Also, there will be Hi-5 wagering on the last race of each card with a $0.20 and 100% carryover if there are no winning tickets.

The track offers a low 15% takeout on both the Pick 5 and Hi-5 as well as the majority of wagering pools offered including Win, Place, Show, Double, Pick 3 and Pick 4.

The 2023 Hastings Thoroughbred schedule includes 28 stakes races with purses totaling $1.75 million, highlighted by the 76th running of the $125,000 Grade 3 BC Derby on Saturday, September 16.

More information is available at hastingsracecourse.com.

The post Hastings Racecourse Introduces $1 Pick 5 With 100 Percent Carryover appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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