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Fixed Odds Wagering At Monmouth Moves One Step Closer To Reality

Fixed Odds wagering moved a step closer to becoming a reality during the upcoming Monmouth Park Thoroughbred meet after the New Jersey State Assembly approved a bill on Thursday by a 74-0-1 vote that would permit the new betting platform.

The bill now moves onto to the State Senate and if successful would then go to Gov. Phil Murphy for a signature.

Monmouth Park's 76th season gets underway on Friday, May 28.

“This is an exciting new wagering opportunity for our fans and we're grateful for the support from our legislators and Governor Murphy, who continue to ensure the success of Thoroughbred racing in the state,” said Dennis Drazin, CEO and Chairman of Darby Development, LLC, the operators of Monmouth Park. “Our hope is that we can be up and running with Fixed Odds wagering in time for the TVG.com Haskell Stakes on July 17 — or sooner if possible.”

The bill was sponsored by Assemblymen Ralph Caputo and Ronald Dancer.

The Senate version of the bill is sponsored by State Senators Vin Gopal and Paul Sarlo and is co-sponsored by State Senators Steven Oroho and Declan O'Scanlon, Jr.

The bill has also been supported throughout the legislative process by Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin and Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney.

Fixed Odds wagering allows bettors to retain the odds at the time of their bet, as opposed to pari-mutuel wagering, where odds are not finalized until betting is completed.

The wager has proven to be extremely popular in Australia and Europe. Monmouth Park would become the first track in the United States to offer the wager.

Australia-based BetMakers Technology Group would deliver and manage Fixed Odds wagering at Monmouth Park after entering into an exclusive 10-year agreement with New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association and Darby Development, LLC, last year.

Though odds will continue to change as usual as the pari-mutuel pools dictate, bettors have the option of locking into odds at the time of their bet under Fixed Odds wagering.

Monmouth Park's 53-day meet kicks off with four straight days of live racing from Friday through Monday over the Memorial Day weekend May 28-31. Post time on Fridays is 5 p.m. Post time on Saturdays, Sundays and Monday holidays is 12:15 p.m.

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New Jersey Commission Bans Aparna Battula 2 1/2 Years, Issues $7,500 Fine

Trainer Aparna Battula has had her license suspended 2 1/2 years and been fined $7,500 dollars by the New Jersey Racing Commission following a case in which investigators confiscated 83 injectable medication vials and 36 needles from her Monmouth Park tack room on July 29, 2019, reports the Thoroughbred Daily News.

Stewards had originally voted to impose a nine-year suspension with an $18,500 fine, but Battula appealed, and an administrative law judge (ALJ) later recommended a ban of two years with a $6,500 fine.

“Although the final decision accepts most of the ALJ's findings and conclusions, it rejects the ALJ's use of the criminal merger doctrine and her recommended penalties,” said NJRC chair Pamela Clyne at Wednesday's meeting. “The final decision finds that the appropriate penalties for possession of the vials, needles and drugs are a one-year and six-month suspension and a $5,000 fine.

“The final decision also adopts the ALJ's imposition of a one-year suspension and a $2,500 fine for injecting the horse at Monmouth Park in July 2019. Considering the trainer's penalty history, which includes two other drug positives, the final decision concludes that the appropriate penalties in this matter are suspensions totaling two years and six months and fines totaling $7,500. Finally, the final decision also clarifies that the rule prohibits possession of the injectable bottles as well as possession of the prohibited drugs that may be in them.”

Read more at the Thoroughbred Daily News.

The post New Jersey Commission Bans Aparna Battula 2 1/2 Years, Issues $7,500 Fine appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Haskell The Primary Summer Target For Kentucky Derby Runner-Up Mandaloun

The Paulick Report stopped by reigning champion trainer Brad Cox's barn just minutes after Bob Baffert's press conference announcing the positive test of Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit, wondering if Cox would reconsider his stance on starting Derby runner-up Mandaloun in the Preakness Stakes. Cox laughed, and said he'd have to double check with owner Juddmonte Farm, but would most likely stick to his plans to target big summer races with the talented, quirky son of Into Mischief.

On Thursday, Cox told the Daily Racing Form that he plans to point Mandaloun to the G1 Haskell Invitational on July 17 at Monmouth Park, skipping the rest of the Triple Crown series altogether.

Mandaloun worked for the first time since his half-length defeat in the Kentucky Derby on May 15 at Churchill Downs, covering a half-mile in 48 2/5 seconds. It's possible the colt could run before the Haskell, Cox said, but he'll wait to develop a plan until Mandaloun shows he's ready for the next step.

Should Medina Spirit be disqualified from first in the Kentucky Derby, it would mark Cox's first victory in the Run for the Roses, as well as the first Derby win for a Louisville-born trainer.

“Everybody is asking me, 'What's it feel like?' ” Cox told DRF. “Well, I don't know. It's a feeling I've never had before. It'd be cool . . . I guess? It'd be something you'd mark off your bucket list, but something you'd want to do again, maybe in a different way. It's certainly not the way you'd expect to win a race, especially as something as special as the Kentucky Derby.”

Despite Boycott Threat, Monmouth Doesn’t Expect Jockey Shortage Over New Whip Rules

The strictest whip rules in the country will see their first use on May 28, opening day at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, NJ. Instituted by the state's racing commission, the rules allow jockeys to use the whip when needed for safety reasons.

According to the Asbury Park Press, some jockeys have threatened to boycott the 2021 meet at Monmouth, with several regular NJ riders indicating plans to head elsewhere on social media.

“I wouldn't say it's a boycott. It's a decision,” Terry Mayocks, president and CEO of the Jockeys' Guild, told APP earlier this month. “We had a meeting when the stay was denied and just explained it to everyone and the process we've gone through the last year-and-a-half, and everyone basically said we don't feel comfortable. And if they can stay in Florida or go to other racetracks, that's an individual decision they will have to make.”

Dennis Drazin, chairman and CEO of Darby Development LLC, which operates Monmouth Park, isn't concerned, saying: “We expect to have enough riders to put on the show and I think we will be successful.”

The purse structure at Monmouth will draw jockeys from other states if positions are open, Drazin continued.

In addition, Drazin has spoken with Meyocks about repercussions for jockeys accepting mounts at Monmouth and then not showing up to ride, forcing cancellation of racing.

“The Racing Commission would have the power to bring them in and give them a hearing and suspend them for conduct detrimental to racing and then they can't ride anywhere in the country, because there's reciprocity between racing commissions,” Drazin explained.