Tag: People

Churchill Downs Incorporated (“CDI” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: CHDN) announced Tuesday  appointments in racing leadership for Colonial Downs Racetrack (“Colonial Downs” or the “Racetrack”) in New Kent, Virginia. CDI assumed ownership of Colonial Downs in November 2022, upon completing the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Peninsula Pacific Entertainment.

Frank Hopf has been appointed Sr. Director of Racing Operations for Colonial Downs where he will oversee all racing operations including mutuels, track surfaces and racing office personnel. Hopf brings 13 years of career experience from Sam Houston Race Park where he served in a variety of leadership roles, most recently as Assistant General Manager. In his new role at Colonial Downs, Hopf will manage the relationship with valued horsemen's group partners in Virginia, including the Virginia Equine Alliance (VEA) and the Virginia National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (Virginia HBPA).

Stanley Shina has been promoted to Racing Secretary at Colonial Downs after previously serving as Assistant Racing Secretary for the Racetrack. Shina has been a staple in the racing industry having served over 40 years in a number of roles as well as 10 years as a trainer. In addition to his promotion at Colonial Downs, Shina will still serve as the Assistant Racing Secretary at Tampa Bay Downs, a position he has filled for 19 years.

“We are extremely excited to announce these qualified appointments as the company focuses on building racing in Virginia and taking it to new heights,” said Gary Palmisano, Executive Director of Racing for CDI. “Frank's vast experience at Sam Houston make him well-suited for this position at Colonial Downs and we are thrilled to welcome him to the CDI team. Stanley brings a wealth of racing industry knowledge and is certain to thrive in his new role. Frank, Stanley and the entire racing team at Colonial Downs are poised for a successful 2023 meet.”

CDI announced that Colonial Downs' 2023 meet will include three internationally-renowned Thoroughbred stakes races for the first time: the Arlington Million, Beverly D. Stakes and Secretariat Stakes. Live racing will return to Colonial Downs July 13 to September 9, Thursday through Saturday with free General Admission access.

The post Colonial Downs: Frank Hopf, Stanley Shina Among Newly-Appointed Racing Leadership appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Prairie Meadows Casino, Racetrack, & Hotel in Altoona, Ia., is proud to announce the hire of Ryan Noffsinger as Track Superintendent.

Noffsinger is a third-generation horseman with work experience at tracks from California, Arizona, New Mexico and most recently in Florida.

“In my 18 years working in various roles with track maintenance, I've been able to gain valuable knowledge at tracks like Del Mar, Turf Paradise, Zia Park, Sunland Park, Gulfstream Park West and Palm Meadows which will serve me well as Track Superintendent for Prairie Meadows,” Noffsinger explained.

“Just in my short time here in Iowa getting settled in, I already feel a level of comfort and working with good people that are just as passionate about the racing industry as I am,” Noffsinger said.

Derron Heldt, Prairie Meadows Vice President for Racing, echoed the same aspects in hiring Noffsinger and looks forward to working together to provide a fair and balanced training and racing surface for both Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses each season.

“Ryan brings so much to the table with his experience, dedication and love of the industry as a third-generation horseman and having worked in various roles in track maintenance, I feel confident in his abilities to provide a solid and consistent racing surface for the horses, jockeys and racing industry participants that come to race in Iowa,” Heldt said.

The 2023 live racing season with 80 race days, begins with 20 days of Thoroughbred-only racing from May 12 – June 17 followed by a mixed Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse schedule of 60 race days from June 18 – September 30. The first condition book, stall application, stakes schedules and more are all available online through the Prairie Meadows website or by calling the Racing Office at 515-967-1205.

The post Ryan Noffsinger Hired As Track Superintendent At Prairie Meadows appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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In the movie “Hustle,” the character Bo Cruz is a street basketball player from Spain. Scouted by Stanley Sugarman, played by Adam Sandler, Cruz takes plenty of lumps before eventually making it to the NBA. Now the 3-year-old colt with the same name is following his own rags to riches script.

“Bo Cruz is a great fictional character who represents the plight of what we do,” said owner Bruno De Julio, a horse racing lifer who makes his living as a private clocker and bloodstock agent. “We are always looking for talent, and you never really know where you're going to find it. With limited resources, you have to be creative. Bo Cruz got pushed around and knocked down, but he overcame it. If you believe in the talent and harness it, you can make it.”

A good second sprinting despite a troubled trip in his career debut on Feb. 2, the son of Creative Cause stretched out to 1 mile & 70 yards on March 4 at Fair Grounds. Leaving from the rail, he wasted no time grabbing command into the first turn. He held the lead throughout for trainer Al Stall, Jr. and jockey Jose Riquelme, winning by a widening 12 ¼ lengths under a hand ride while stopping the timer in 1:42 1/5 over a fast track.

“He trains and acts like a good horse but I was blown away with what he did and the way he did it,” De Julio said about the effort. “He motored away on his own and Jose (jockey Riquelme) never asked him.”

Purchased for just $45,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale of 2021, Bo Cruz is the sixth foal to race out of the versatile Ghostzapper mare Quick Breeze, who won 2 of 9 starts and had a promising career cut short. She is the daughter of the multiple graded stakes router Quick Temper, who earned over $259,000, and is the dam of millionaire Preakness (G1) winner Cloud Computing, who now stands at stud.

“Rudy Delguidice and I buy a lot of horses together,” De Julio said. “We loved this horse. He had great conformation. We went above budget and after we bought him I'll always remember Rudy saying, 'He looks like Ghostzapper.'”

The following summer, Delguidice, a former jockey and longtime breeder and pinhooker, was involved in a serious spill at Classic Mile, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down.

“Bo was the last horse Rudy breezed before his accident,” De Julio said. “This horse's success will aid in all of his expenses. Owning Bo with Rudy makes it even that much more special for me.”

Bo Cruz received a 91 Bris speed figure for his Saturday win, which included an impressive 95 late pace rating. It's no surprise that offers for the colt are coming in.

“Right now it's business as usual,” De Julio said. “Al (trainer Stall) has talked about the Lexington (G3) at Keeneland and a two-turn allowance race on Kentucky Derby Day.”

The post ‘Pushed Around And Knocked Down, But He Overcame It’: Promising Maiden Winner Bo Cruz Supports Paralyzed Former Jockey Rudy Delguidice appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Jockey Vernon Bush, 61, did the unthinkable on Sunday's card, riding two 25-1 shot winners.

Both first-race winner Delta Ridge ($53.20), a 4-year-old Will Take Charge gelding, and 5-year-old Distorted Humor gelding Distorted Times ($53.40), winner of the seventh on the turf, are owned by Michael H. Rhodes and trained by former jockey Jennifer Quinones, who competed against Bush from 1978-89 at Rockingham Park in New Hampshire.

Bush seemed to be a bit disbelieving himself.

“If I won one today, I was going to be ecstatic,” he said. “But to win two against this caliber of riders, it feels beyond good.”

A lot of fans who didn't cash a ticket on either horse were in full agreement.

Bush has 3,250 career victories. He was recently named the recipient of the 2022 Randy Romero “Pure Courage” Award.

The post ‘It Feels Beyond Good’: Jockey Vernon Bush Pulls Unlikely Double At Tampa Bay appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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