Tag: The Biz

A strong card of exciting races drove big crowds to the wagering windows on opening day at the Fort Erie Race Track on Tuesday.

Total wagering for the day topped $1.75 million, which was up 6 per cent over opening day last year, despite having two fewer races than in 2022. The day's signature race, the Spring into Summer Cup, was a stakes race with a $30,000 purse which attracted plenty of attention from bettors to cap off a busy day at the historic border oval as the final horse crossed the line just before sunset.

“It feels good to win any race, but winning a big stakes race feels even better,” said trainer Kevin Buttigieg, who was surprised to see his horse, One More Ring, cross the finish line first and bring home the cup. “He got sick on me recently, but we sent him up to the farm for a couple weeks to recover and he came back strong.”

Winning jockey Chris Husbands said the horse felt good from the gate to the finish line.

“He broke sharp,” said Husbands after the race. “There were two in front of me down the stretch but I could tell he was a runner so I just let him go.”

The action didn't end there though, as The Figure Four took to the stage as soon as the last horse was back in the stable. The rock band kicked off the first of the track's seven free summer concerts in style, entertaining the crowd well into the night.

Live racing returns on May 30 at 4:30 p.m. Tragically Hip cover band The Hip are next up on the concert schedule, and will hit the track's stage on June 27.

But before that, the track will host a special Sunday race card for Father's Day on June 18 with a noon post time so that dad's can spend the day at the races with the family while enjoying food trucks and a farmer's market.

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The Jockeys' Guild and the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) hosted a symposium at Keeneland today in order to bring the critical issue of jockey mental health to the forefront and generate discussion on how the Thoroughbred industry can work together to advance the mental wellness of jockeys across the country.

Jockeys' Guild President and CEO Terry Meyocks and HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus welcomed attendees and opened the symposium with remarks on the two organizations' shared goals of addressing the factors that adversely affect rider mental health and developing mechanisms for increased access to mental wellness resources.

The symposium's keynote address was delivered by former NFL player Randy Grimes, who in his retirement from football has traveled the country to advocate for substance abuse counseling and share his story of past addiction to prescription drugs. Grimes' personal story served as a powerful example of the need for appropriate and accessible mental wellness and addiction-related resources for professional athletes.

Retired jockey and author of “Riding for Freedom,” Eurico Rosa Da Silva also spoke on his lifelong struggles with mental wellness and his goal of helping others, particularly other jockeys, overcome similar difficulties off the track. Throughout his career as a highly decorated jockey, Da Silva struggled with various addictions before eventually finding help through therapy.

Following Grimes and Da Silva's moving remarks, FGS Global shared the results of an anonymous survey of jockeys recently conducted to evaluate jockeys' mental wellness needs and determine what kinds of resources and support services would be most impactful in strengthening their overall health and wellbeing. 230 jockeys across the country responded to the survey, which found:

• 10% of jockeys describe their mental health as “poor”
• A third have had challenges in their daily lives over the past month due to feelings of sadness, depression, or anxiety.
• 93% are concerned about financial stability and providing for their families

The surveyed jockeys said that such worries about lack of financial security, making weight, the pressure to win and lack of a livable wage were among the biggest pressures they consistently face. The barriers to seeking help most often cited by jockeys included the fear of losing work and a general stigma around asking for support.

Potential resources that respondents expressed the most interest in to help address their challenges included nutritional support services to help safely maintain weight, access to a sports psychologist, career transition resources for retirement and personal finance assistance.

“The Jockeys' Guild appreciates all of the jockeys who took the time to complete the survey,” said Meyocks. “The number of responses just reiterates the importance of mental health and wellness for our athletes. We also appreciate all of the input and interest by industry participants in this first step in addressing jockeys' mental health. It is a very complex topic and it is necessary to have discussions like today on the best way to move forward. The ultimate goal is that we as an industry will be able to support and find solutions for, not only the jockeys, but everyone in our industry.”

“HISA's responsibility to oversee safety in racing certainly includes the mental wellbeing of its athletes,” said Lazarus. “The results of this survey serve as a reminder of the many challenges jockeys face. We are grateful to all the jockeys who shared their experiences and feedback, all of which will be crucial in our efforts to advance the wellbeing of current and future riders across the country.”

Following the discussion of the survey results, Horse Racing Radio Network (HRRN) host Mike Penna moderated a roundtable discussion that focused on exploring existing mental health programs developed by other professional sports and offering employment counseling for jockeys after their professional riding career has ended. The inclusion of family members and the Race Track Chaplaincy in future discussions was also identified as an important next step.

Following today, the Jockeys' Guild, HISA and other industry groups will use the survey results and learnings from the symposium to finalize and share a plan to develop and implement a network of resources to support rider mental wellness.

About The Jockeys' Guild

Jockeys' Guild, Inc. is the organization representing professional jockeys in Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing in the United States. It was founded in May 1940 and has approximately 1,050 members, including active, retired and disabled jockeys. The purpose is to protect jockeys, strive to achieve a safer racing environment, obtain improved insurance and other benefits for members and to monitor developments in local, state and federal laws affecting the racing industry, and in particular, the jockeys. For more information about the Guild, visit www.jockeysguild.com or www.facebook.com/jockeysguild

About the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority

When the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act was signed into federal law, it charged the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) with drafting and enforcing uniform safety and integrity rules in Thoroughbred racing in the U.S. Overseen by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), HISA is implementing, for the first time, a national, uniform set of rules applicable to every Thoroughbred racing participant and racetrack facility. HISA is comprised of two programs: the Racetrack Safety Program, which went into effect on July 1, 2022, and the Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) Program, which went into effect on May 22, 2023.

The Racetrack Safety Program includes operational safety rules and national racetrack accreditation standards that seek to enhance equine welfare and minimize equine and jockey injury. The Program expands veterinary oversight, imposes surface maintenance and testing requirements, enhances jockey safety, regulates riding crop use and implements voided claim rules, among other important measures.

The ADMC Program includes a centralized testing and results management process and applies uniform penalties for violations efficiently and consistently across the United States. These rules and enforcement mechanisms are administered by an independent agency, the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU), established by Drug Free Sport International (DFS). HIWU oversees testing, educates stakeholders on the Program, accredits laboratories, investigates potential ADMC violations and prosecutes any such violations.

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Grade 1 Florida Derby winner White Abarrio has been transferred from the barn of trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. to that of the recently-returned Rick Dutrow, so that his connections can target races like the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap on Belmont Stakes day.

Owners Clint and Mark Cornett of the C2 Racing Stable announced the news via Twitter on Tuesday, stating that despite having the “utmost confidence and trust” in Joseph, a change was necessary due to multiple jurisdictions' lack of answers as to whether the trainer's entries and nominations would be accepted.

Last week, the New York Racing Association reported that Joseph did not plan to run horses at NYRA tracks while he remains under investigation.

Joseph saw his horses scratched from races at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby week by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission following two sudden deaths of horses from his barn during or after racing events at the track. Subsequently, Churchill Downs announced it had banned Joseph from its property. No ruling has been issued against Joseph by the commission, though a spokeswoman told the Paulick Report on May 10 that the investigation into Joseph's operation continues.

In media interviews after the track's announcement, Joseph expressed frustration over the situation, characterizing the track's actions against him as an attempt to distract from a broader issue with equine fatalities there. A total of seven horses died at the racetrack in the span of 10 days.

NEWS: WHITE ABARRIO. Uncertainty forces trainer change for The Metropolitan Mile (G1) on June 10, 2023 for @C2RacingStable. pic.twitter.com/bqQTR9dGvI

— C2 Racing Stable (@C2RacingStable) May 23, 2023

The post ‘Lack Of Answers’: White Abarrio Transferred From Saffie Joseph To Rick Dutrow For Remainder Of 2023 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The National Thoroughbred League (NTL) announced on Tuesday a new, first-of-its-kind racing league, reimagining America's oldest spectator sport by creating a team-based professional sports league.

In creating city-based teams, the NTL encourages the same kind of civic pride and natural rivalries that occur in most major sports. Each NTL race weekend will take place in one team's city, creating an opportunity for fans to root for their home squad – and their favorite horses. In returning its best horses to compete month after month, year after year, the NTL creates long-term stars, like every other sport, rather than immediately retiring top performers to breed.

With a weekend-long festival-like atmosphere, akin to Formula I, featuring food and fashion, concerts, and parties, the NTL makes race weekends a lifestyle. The race days themselves will be reimagined, with pageantry and action between races, creating an experience unlike anything in the 300-year history of this great sport. The league debuts over Labor Day weekend 2023 in Nashville and will include a major concert and a whiskey and bourbon lawn party, featuring Pappy Van Winkle. Other highlights include a trackside celebrity chef competition at the New York Cup, in partnership with the New York City Wine and Food Festival, and a blowout New Year's Eve championship weekend at Tampa Bay Downs.

The NTL will debut as one of the first truly co-ed sports leagues, featuring both fillies and colts (as well as male and female jockeys), competing on the same teams at these multirace competitions. The NTL places the health and safety of its equine athletes as its top priority – a league structure allows for centralized oversight over all safety protocols, led by an independent chief safety officer, who can mandate which horses can run, adding an extra safety layer on top of adherence to the new standards set by the federal Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA). The competitions, or Cups, will generally consist of a three-race series, run consecutively, with horses from each of the six teams entered in every race, accruing points to determine the overall winner, and offering simpler ways to bet. The championship at the end of the season takes home a $1 million grand prize.

The six original teams will represent New York, Los Angeles, New Jersey, Seattle, Nashville, and Philadelphia, with names, logos, and uniforms to be unveiled next month. The inaugural 2023 NTL Season One Schedule will be:

September 2-3: Nashville (Kentucky Downs)
September 15-16: Seattle (Emerald Downs)
October 13-14: New York and New Jersey (Meadowlands Racetrack)
November 10-11: Los Angeles (Los Alamitos Race Course)
December 30-31: Tampa – Championship Weekend (Tampa Bay Downs)

Tickets will go on sale starting Tuesday, May 23, and can be found at the NTL official site here.

Co-Founded by Randall Lane, the chief content officer for Forbes and a long-time events creator, and Robert Daugherty, a leading American investor, and educator, the NTL is reimagining the sport for a new audience. Sitting beside Lane and Daugherty are other high-profile owners who will bring the NTL to life, among them Nelly, Rick Ross, and Kayvon Thibodeaux.

“My grandfather spent his entire life at the track and taught me so much respect for this sport and the horses within it,” said Lane, who lives in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. “It's so exciting to reimagine it all for new fans and a new generation.”

“Thoroughbred racing is a great American tradition and one that taught me more about math than any class,” said Daugherty, who lives in Del Mar, Calif. “I can't wait to share that, in a way that prioritizes the safety of our athletes.”

Lane and Daugherty are also owner-operators for the New York and California teams, respectively. Managing partners in the other markets feature top financiers and entrepreneurs, including Joe Besecker and Michael M. Carter (Philadelphia), Bruno and Victor Costa (New Jersey), Terry McCrary (Seattle), and Gene Rice (Nashville). The NTL already has a partnership in place with Wazuzu Racing, a leader in thoroughbred tokenization and blockchain applications, cofounded by Besecker, who has won more than 1,000 races as a horse owner.

The NTL has recruited some of the top talent in thoroughbred horse racing, led by the President of Horse Operations, Tom Ludt, the former chairman of the Breeders' Cup. Team trainers include legends Chad Brown and Steve Asmussen, while the equally legendary jockeys include Mike Smith and Chantal Sutherland.  “The idea of introducing a team-based competition structure, akin to other sports, with a focus on engaging a new wave of fans, resonated with me instantly,” said Sutherland, who will be the jockey for Los Angeles. “I am all in!” Added Brown, the trainer for New York: “This is a groundbreaking initiative and I am thrilled to be part of it.”

Besides Ludt, the NTL has secured the service of COO Leonard Armato and General Manager Lexie King, through their company, Management Plus Enterprises (MPE), which has a rich history of creating iconic sports franchises, including the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour, and the Shaq and Golden Boy brands. The NTL's chief revenue officer is media veteran Rob Gregory, and the advisory board is chaired by Lisa Baird, the former Commissioner of the National Women's Soccer League and the CMO of the U.S. Olympic Committee.

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