Tag: Horseplayers

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) has announced that the 98th running of the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial will air on FOX from 6 – 6:30 p.m. Eastern on Saturday, April 8 from Aqueduct Racetrack.

The final local stop on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, the 1 1/8 mile Wood Memorial awards 100-40-30-20-10 qualifying points to the top-five finishers vying for a start in the “Run for the Roses” on May 6 at Churchill Downs.

In addition to the Wood Memorial, Saturday's program will include the Grade 1, $300,000 Carter Handicap presented by NYRA Bets; the Grade 3, $250,000 Gazelle, a nine-furlong test for sophomore fillies offering 100-40-30-20-10 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points to the top-five finishers; and the Grade 3, $200,000 Bay Shore.

The Wood Memorial on FOX broadcast team will include Greg Wolf, Andy Serling, and Jonathon Kinchen with paddock analysis and reporting from Acacia Clement, Maggie Wolfendale and Richard Migliore

Prior to the Wood Memorial on FOX, coverage and analysis of Saturday's racing from Aqueduct will air across the FOX Sports family of networks beginning at noon. For the complete America's Day at the Races schedule, visit NYRA.com/TV.

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

The post NYRA: Wood Memorial To Air Live On Fox appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

The 2023 Thoroughbred season opens at Evangeline Downs on Friday, April 7. The meet will consist of 61 racing days running through August 12. First post each night will be at the new time of 5:30pm Central. The racing schedule will feature racing on Wednesday through Saturday for the first five full weeks of the meet. Beginning the week of May 18, racing will switch to a Thursday through Saturday schedule.

Vicente Del-Cid has taken the Louisiana racing scene by storm and will be the top returning rider in 2023. Del-Cid captured his first riding title at Evangeline Downs last summer and followed that up with a runaway championship at the recently concluded Delta Downs meet. C.J. McMahon, Tim Thornton, and Joe Stokes are among some of the other riders looking for a big season. Jose Luis Rodriguez joins the jockey colony and will be represented by former trainer Ron Faucheux.

Karl Broberg regained his spot at the top of the trainer standings in 2022 following a runner-up finish in 2021. The Broberg barn connected with 44 winners from 228 starters to take top honors last season. Eduardo Ramirez, the 2021 training champ, is among the trainers looking to unseat Broberg. Robertino Diodoro will bring a division of his stable to the Opelousas oval this year. Trainers Justin Jeansonne, Isai Gonzalez and Allison Escobar will also be new additions to the backside. Other notable trainers include Keith Bourgeois, Sam David, Sam Breaux, Rylee Magnon, and Allen Landry.

The popular “Exotic Animal Racing” will make a return to Evangeline Downs on April 22. The Saturday card will include a couple of non-wagering events featuring racing camels and zebras sure to delight and entertain the crowd.

The 2023 season will feature an expanded stakes schedule, starting with a pair of stakes on opening night. The $60,000 Spotted Horse and $60,000 Acadiana are the main events. The first Saturday card includes the $60,000 Lafayette and Strong Eagle will look to defend his title in the $100,000 Evangeline Mile.

Racing fans will want to make plans to attend the races the first weekend of May for simulcasting of the Kentucky Oaks on Friday and the 149th Kentucky Derby on Saturday from Churchill Downs. The EVD Classic highlights the live Derby Day card.

The marquee night of the season will take place on Saturday, June 3 with Louisiana Legends Night. The program will feature six stake races for Louisiana-bred runners, with each purse increased to $100,000 guaranteed this year. Free Like a Girl and Net a Bear were popular winners on the 2022 Legends Night.

The Friday, July 7 card features the $75,000 Louisiana Stallion Stakes presented by Coteau Grove Farms and the filly division of the $60,000 Shine Young Futurity. Saturday, July 8 will have the $60,000 Shine Young colts and gelding division, along with the $75,000 Louisiana Stallion Stakes presented by Coteau Grove Farms.

For more information on Evangeline Downs, including a full stakes schedule, visit the track's website at www.evdracing.com. Evangeline Downs information can also be found on Twitter @EVDracing and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/EvangelineDownsRacing.

Evangeline Downs Racetrack Casino and Hotel, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE:BYD), features exciting casino action, live horse racing, the Fan Duel sportsbook and fun dining experiences. Evangeline Downs is located in Opelousas, Louisiana, off I-49 on Cresswell Lane at Exit 18.

The post Evangeline Downs’ 61-Day Thoroughbred Meet Begins April 7; New First Post At 5:30 Central appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Equibase has adjusted the final time for Saturday's Grade 1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park, won by champion Forte, from 1:48.51 to 1:49.37. According to a statement, “the finish line beam may have been inadvertently tripped before the horses reached the wire.”

The final eighth time was also adjusted from 12:16 to 13:02. None of the other times were changed.

According to TimeformUS's Craig Milkowski, the error was first located by the Beyer Speed Figure team.

The post Equibase Adjusts Final Time For Florida Derby appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Through Wednesday, March 22, 2023, there have been 227 races run at Happy Valley. The average field size is a robust 11.53 starters per race. But, as impressive as that stat is, taking a deeper look at the field sizes at Happy Valley is even better.

Averages can be skewed with an extreme range of numbers. A course like Ascot usually has a handicap race with 24 starters. With another race with 10 starters and four more with 8 starters, the average number of starters per race would be 11. But only one race would have more than 11 starters.

The median is the number that separates the higher half of a sample from the lower half. In the case of Happy Valley, the median number of starters per race is 12.

The mode is the value that occurs most frequently in a set of numbers. In the case of Happy Valley this season, the mode is 12.

The starting gate at Happy Valley is limited to 12 starters. In 172 races so far this season, the starting gate has been full. In some cases, there were more than 12 starters entered but did not draw in and were not able to run. So, 76% of the races run at Happy Valley this season had a full gate of 12.

There were 26 races run where there were 11 starters in the gate. In some cases, the reason that the starting gate was not full was a late scratch. Still, 87% of the races run at Happy Valley this year have 11 or more starters per race.

The following chart illustrates the number of starters in each of the 227 races run at Happy Valley this season.

6 starters – 1 race
7 starters – 1 race
8 starters – 3 races
9 starters – 9 races
10 starters – 15 races
11 starters – 26 races
12 starters – 172 races

Let's look at this from a reverse angle with not how many horses have started but how many stalls were empty. For example, with 26 races with 11 starters, that equals 26 empty stalls. 10 races with 10 staters equals 30 empty stalls. The total number of empty stalls in 227 races this season is only 106 or less than one half stall per race.

What makes this meaningful is the positive impact on the racing and the betting. For example, an eight-horse field means 56 possible exacta combinations (8 times 8 minus 8). But a 12-horse field means 132 possible exacta combinations (12 times 12 minus 12) which spreads betting out even more. A 50% increase in field size means a 135% increase in exacta combinations.

Full fields, especially on Happy Valley's tight seven-furlong turf course, results in a scramble for the lead. Riders have to break their mount alertly to keep from racing too wide around very tight turns. Even over firm going, a winner rarely makes all the running since the leader is under constant pressure. Rivals are stacked up behind the lead and no matter what the distance, it is hard to get a breather.

The proof is even with a relatively short homestretch of around 340 meters, depending upon rail placement, horses are able to rally from off the pace even after going around a very tight final turn. The only exceptions might be the races going around two turns – 1650m and 1800m.

So when racing resumes at Happy Valley on Thursday, April 6, expect the “No Vacancy”' sign on nearly all of the stalls of the starting gate.

The post Hong Kong Racing Study Guide: Full Starting Gate Means Great Betting Opportunities appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post