Tag: The Biz

The 2023 Claiming Crown will be staged for the first time since 2011 at the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans on Saturday, Dec. 2, announced Claiming Crown co-founders National HBPA and TOBA along with the Fair Grounds. The event will feature eight races totaling $1 million in base purses, headlined by the $200,000 Claiming Crown Jewel.

The 25th Claiming Crown marks the second straight year that the series has gone to a Churchill Downs Inc.-owned locale. The 2022 races were held for the first time at the company's flagship track in Louisville after a 10-year-run at Gulfstream Park in Florida. The Fair Grounds staged a truncated version of the event in 2011, when the Claiming Crown moved from the summer to the late fall for the first time.

The Claiming Crown races are conducted under starter-allowance conditions, meaning they are restricted to horses that have competed at least once for a certain claiming level or cheaper during a designated time frame, in this case 2022 or 2023. Purses for the eight Claiming Crown races will range from $75,000 to $200,000 for the Jewel. Another $25,000 in each race will be available in purse supplements for accredited Louisiana-bred horses.

Conceived to be a Breeders' Cup-style event for claiming horses, the Claiming Crown was created in 1999 by the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (NHBPA) and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA). The program gives Thoroughbred racing's workhorses, their owners and trainers a day in the spotlight in recognition of their importance to filling out race cards across the nation.

“Big Easy, here we come,” said Eric Hamelback, CEO of the National HBPA, who was raised in the Pelican State and graduated from Louisiana State University. “The Claiming Crown was designed to celebrate our hard-knocking, unsung heroes of the turf. What better place — especially for our 25th running — than New Orleans? Beyond what we know will be a festive atmosphere, the Fair Grounds is iconic in American racing history, first running races in 1838 and with a track surface long acclaimed among the best in the country.”

“We are honored and excited to return to the Fair Grounds and New Orleans,” said Dan Metzger, president of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. “We would like to thank the Louisiana HBPA and Churchill Downs for their commitment to the event and the owners and trainers who will participate in the 2023 Claiming Crown for their support.”

“We were thrilled with the response to the first Claiming Crown at Churchill Downs and look forward to bringing this wonderful event back to New Orleans,” said CDI Executive Director of Racing Gary Palmisano, who grew up in New Orleans and is the son of the late trainer Gary Palmisano Sr. “Fair Grounds played host to the Claiming Crown in 2011 but there is no denying this event is bigger and better than ever. We are excited to partner with the National HBPA, TOBA and the Louisiana HBPA to make 2023 among the best and the most memorable Claiming Crowns ever.”

The eight 2023 Claiming Crown races all are for horses 3 years old and up, with two of those restricted to fillies and mares. Headlining the card is the $200,000 Jewel at 1 1/8 miles for horses that have started for a claiming price of $35,000 or less in 2022-23. Three other races — all on turf — will offer a $150,000 purse and have a $25,000 claiming requirement. Those races are the Emerald at 1 1/16 miles; its filly and mare counterpart, the Tiara; and the Canterbury Tom Metzen Memorial at 5 1/2 furlongs.

The other Claiming Crown races are the $100,000 Rapid Transit ($16,000 claiming requirement) at six furlongs; $100,000 Glass Slipper ($12,500 claiming requirement) at a mile for fillies and mares; $75,000 Iron Horse Kent Stirling Memorial ($8,000 claiming requirement) at 1 1/16 miles, and $75,000 Ready's Rocket Express ($8,000 claiming requirement) at six furlongs.

The deadline to make horses eligible for the Claiming Crown is November 18, with entries to be taken November 25. Eligibility Request Forms will be available at https://claimingcrown.com/

Past Claiming Crown venues include inaugural site Canterbury Park (1999-2001, 2003-2006, 2008-2010), Philadelphia Park (2002), Ellis Park (2007) and Gulfstream Park (2013-2021).

The post $1 Million Claiming Crown Returns To New Orleans On Dec. 2 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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With simulcasting unavailable due to ongoing disputes with the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, Sam Houston Race Park saw total handle down nearly 93 percent this year, from over $101 million in 2022 to about $6.39 million in 2023, reports the Thoroughbred Daily News.

Purse levels have remained fairly steady, thanks to a state sales tax on equine products, but several Texas stakeholders shared their concerns with the TDN for the industry's future.

“We have some serious concerns about the direction that Texas Thoroughbred racing is headed given the resistance to participate with HISA,” Jeff Hooper, chairman and CEO of Texas' Highlander Training Center, told TDN. “We're certainly not saying HISA is 100% hitting on all cylinders. [But] we feel that it is in Texas's long-term best interests to find a way to participate with HISA.”

The Texas Racing Commission continues to insist that it cannot comply with HISA regulations because of state law assigning regulatory authority to the agency. As a result, the commission has not allowed tracks to export their simulcast signal, since the federal law defines “covered tracks” as those which conducted interstate simulcasting.

One trainer suggested Texas should have gone the way of Louisiana and West Virginia, which secured legal injunctions to allow simulcasting while still operating outside the bounds of HISA.

Sam Houston's parent company, Penn Entertainment, has not made any specific decisions for 2024, but vice president of racing Chris McErlean warned that the time for such a decision isn't far away.

“We're going to have to step back and evaluate at that point what the landscape is, and start making decisions for 2024,” McErlean told TDN. “We obviously want to get the races out to as many people as we can. Unfortunately, this is a complicated, multi-pronged issue. It's not as cut and dried as many people make it out to be.”

Read more at the Thoroughbred Daily News.

The post Texas Racing’s Future Remains Uncertain; Several Stakeholders Hoping To ‘Find A Way To Participate With HISA’ appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association issued a reminder to owners and trainers Wednesday that, barring any further judicial rulings, HISA's Anti-Doping and Medication Program (ADMC) regulations will go into effect May 22, 2023.

In an effort to assist our horsemen and women in complying with the ADMC, the THA has produced a four-page handbook that includes the Withdrawal Guidelines provided by the RMTC, as well as highlighting some of the more impactful changes.

Click here for the Quick Reference Guide for the Anti-Doping and Medication Program. 

The handbook does not include a complete list of the changes. For all ADMC Program rules, click here.

Please be aware that the samples collected from any horse working off the Vet's List will be tested to the same standards as a post-race sample, and any positive test will result in the same penalties as a post-race positive.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

Dr. Mary Scollay has provided the PowerPoint Presentation from her seminar on the ADMC Program for review. There is also a recording of an earlier seminar on HorsemenU – just register for a free HorsemenU account and you can view the recording online.

Dr. Scollay – PowerPoint Presentation

Dr. Scollay – Recorded Seminar 

If you have any questions about the Anti-Doping and Medication Control Program, Dr. Scollay has invited horsemen and women to contact her. Her contact information is below:

Email: mscollay@hiwu.org; Telephone: (859) 489-7677

Click here for information on “How to Manage Your HISA Account”

If you have other questions or comments, you can contact:

Lisa Lazarus, Chief Executive Officer, lisa.Lazarus@hisaus.org

Ann McGovern, Dir. Racetrack Safety, ann.mcgovern@hisaus.org

Dr. Jennifer Durenberger, Dir. Equine Safety & Welfare, Jennifer.Durenberger@hisaus.org

Marc Guilfoil, Dir. Stewarding & State Racing Commission Relations, marc.guilfoil@hisaus.org

HOUSE CLEANING: Dr. Scollay advises trainers to give your barn, tack room and feed room a “house cleaning.” Ensure that all medications are properly labeled and stored, and remove any banned substances from your premises. Contact Dr. Scollay if you have a question about any supplements you may be using – you can text her a photo of the label to (859) 489-7677 to help determine if it is considered a banned substance.

The post Anti-Doping And Medication Program: THA Releases Four-Page Handbook Highlighting Impactful Changes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Sam Houston Race Park is pleased to announce that a purse increase of 10% will go into effect with the Thursday, May 18 race card. The boost will cover each of the overnight races for the 2023 Quarter Horse meet which concludes on Saturday, June 17.

The 2023 Sam Houston Race Park Quarter Horse live racing season began on April 21 with maiden claiming purses ranging from $7,500 – $10,000; 3 year-old maiden at $17,500 and allowance purses between $18,500 – $21,500. Entries have been strong throughout the meet with average field size of 8.58 horses per race.

Michael Acton joined Sam Houston Race Park as racing secretary on February 3, 2023 and will also oversee the racing meets at the Penn Entertainment owned racetracks Retama Park and Zia Park.

“We are pleased to offer this increase as a way of thanking our loyal horsemen for their support,” said Acton. “With live Quarter racing currently in Louisiana and Oklahoma, trainers have options where they choose to run; we appreciate their loyalty to Texas racing.”

Live racing continues Thursday, May 18 through Saturday, May 20. Friday's card will feature two excellent features, the $209,200 Sam Houston Derby (G3) and $50,000-added Sam Houston Classic (G2).

Trials were run for the Sam Houston Derby on April 29 with Jess Good Wine setting the fastest 350-yard time of the evening of :17:323 seconds, aided by a 12 mph tail wind. Owned by Guns Up Racing, the Oklahoma-bred son of Jess Good Reason Sa out of the Mr Jess Perry mare Mr Perrys Wine, has been installed as the 2-1 morning line favorite and will break from post eight under rider Bryan Candanosa. Delight Interest will break from post seven for owners Triple Five with Juan Pulido in the saddle. The son of Separate Interest, also trained by Diaz, has won his last three races, setting the fourth fastest qualifying time. Here is a link to the ten fastest qualifiers for the Sam Houston Derby, which will run as the tenth race on the card with an approximate post time of 10:18 pm (Central).

A field of eight will compete in the Sam Houston Classic at the distance of 440 yards. Carlos Ponce's Jet Black Grace drew the rail for trainer Juan Diaz, Jr. at odds of 2-1. The son of Jet Black Patriot ran in the 2022 Texas Classic Futurity and followed that with back to back victories. Juan Pulido will pilot the 4-year-old gelding, who has finished in the money in seven of his eight career efforts. A field of eight will compete in the Sam Houston Classic at the distance of 440 yards. Carlos Ponce's Jet Black Grace drew the rail for trainer Juan Diaz, Jr. at odds of 2-1. The son of Jet Black Patriot ran in the 2022 Texas Classic Futurity and followed that with back to back victories. Juan Pulido will pilot the 4-year-old gelding, who has finished in the money in seven of his eight career efforts. Two 870-yard Sam Houston stakes winners, Shockinglyfamous, owned by Stone Chase Stables LLC and Kasey Willis and Rockin J Running Horses' Viva Le Don will shorten up and have the experience to rival their younger competitors. Willis trains Shockinglyfamous, who has won ten of his 37 races and Tammy Kay Johnson has saddled Viva Le Don 33 times. The 7-year-old son of Rock Solid Jess has earned $500,066 in his exceptional career.

Post time for Friday's program is 6:15 pm with the Sam Houston Classic running as race nine and the Sam Houston Derby as the 10th race.

The post Sam Houston Boosts Quarter Horse Purses By 10 Percent appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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