Tag: The Biz

Following the substantial completion of vehicular and pedestrian tunnels providing access to the Belmont Park infield, the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) announced that the main track will fully re-open for daily training on Tuesday, April 11, at 6 a.m.

The 40-day Belmont Park spring/summer meet in Elmont, N.Y., will open on Thursday, May 4, and continue through Sunday, July 9. Highlighted by the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival from June 8-10, the 2023 spring/summer meet will feature 54 stakes worth $15.5 million in total purses.

As part of a broad campaign to modernize Belmont Park, NYRA embarked on a series of major capital improvement projects this fall and winter. The completion of the infield tunnels will allow for the reconstruction of the three existing racing surfaces as well as the installation of a one-mile synthetic track, which will serve as the fourth racing surface to complement the main track and two turf courses.

In December, NYRA completed a renovation of the Belmont pony track with a Tapeta Footings surface. With the coming renovations to the two turf courses, work is soon to be complete on a new irrigation pond located on the west end of the infield.

The construction of the synthetic track and renovation of the inner turf course will begin following the conclusion of the Belmont Park spring/summer meet in July with work expected to be complete in the spring of 2024. As previously announced, the 2023 Belmont Park fall meet will be held at Aqueduct Racetrack to allow for this major capital improvement project.

Beginning Tuesday, the main track will be open seven days a week from 6 – 10 a.m. with a renovation break at 8:15 a.m.

For additional information, visit NYRA.com.

The post Belmont Park Main Track To Open For Training April 11 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Equibase, North American racing's official database, has released its March statistics for the industry's economic indicators, including field size, wagering, and other data.

March's metrics show a 2.14 percent increase in total wagering on U.S. races, an improving trend over the 5.21 percent decline from February of 2022 to February 2023, and the 7.19 percent decline from January of 2022 to January 2023. Overall, the first quarter statistics show a 3.40 decline in total wagering through the first three months of 2023.

The number of race days and races held both showed mild increases, leading to a first quarter average daily wagering figure that declined 5.16 percent.

The average field size in March rang in at 7.48 starters per race, a 1.62 percent increase over the same month in 2022. The first quarter figures show average field size for the first three months of 2023 at 7.59 starters; while that's a decline from the first two months of 2023, which saw average field size at 7.66 starters per race, the number remains slightly above average for the time of year.

Purses continue to show an upward trend: this March, the total purses offered was 9.16 percent higher than the same month of 2022, continuing the trend from January and February with year-to-date purses offered up 8.70 percent.

Equibase is continuing to provide monthly reporting of its Economic Indicators Advisories as a service to the industry and in consideration of the economic changes resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Advisory is typically disseminated on a quarterly basis to provide key metrics used to measure racing's performance throughout the year.

March 2023 vs. March 2022
Indicator	March 2023	March 2022	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$962,703,949	$942,491,814	+2.14%
U.S. Purses	$94,783,996	$86,833,249	+9.16%
U.S. Race Days	294	291	+1.03%
U.S. Races	2,469	2,423	+1.90%
U.S. Starts	18,466	17,833	+3.55%
Average Field Size	7.48	7.36	+1.62%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$3,274,503	$3,238,803	+1.10%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$322,395	$298,396	+8.04%

1st QTR 2023 vs. 1st QTR 2022
Indicator	1st QTR 2023	1st QTR 2022	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$2,700,226,520	$2,795,180,408	-3.40%
U.S. Purses	$266,034,135	$244,752,338	+8.70%
U.S. Race Days	822	807	+1.86%
U.S. Races	6,977	6,768	+3.09%
U.S. Starts	52,979	51,146	+3.58%
Average Field Size	7.59	7.56	+0.48%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$3,284,947	$3,463,668	-5.16%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$323,643	$303,287	+6.71%

* Includes worldwide commingled wagering on U.S. races.

The post Economic Indicators: Wagering Trends Begin To Shift Upward, Purses Continue Positive Trajectory appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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California Horse Power Coalition (CHPC), a growing partnership of Thoroughbred associations, organizations representing backstretch workers and jockeys, animal wellness advocates and more, announced today the coalition's commitment to fund the California breakout report as part of the American Horse Council's California Economic Impact Study.

The American Horse Council consistently produces the most comprehensive national economic impact studies that showcase the vast benefits that the equine industry brings to communities across the country,” said Josh Rubinstein, President of Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, an American Horse Council member. “As our industry continues to evolve, we are confident that the results will underscore our industry's commitment to advancing California's economy, expanding the travel and tourism industry, and creating a space for friends and family to create unforgettable shared experiences together.”

The American Horse Council's economic impact studies examine the industry's contributions to the national GDP as well as individual states, which includes employment, volunteers, equid population, acreage, and more. Each category is also broken down by sector: recreation, racing, competition and working horses.

“The CHPC mission is to preserve and protect California's vibrant equestrian culture. Funding the economic impact study affirms the coalition's commitment to not only uplift the equine industry but to encourage stakeholders, large and small, to use their voice to advance their shared interests,” said Bill Nader, President and CEO of Thoroughbred Owners of California. “To that end, if you benefit from the equine industry in any capacity at all, I encourage you to fill out the following survey links to make your voice heard.”

Please click the following links to view and complete the survey, which is open through September 29, 2023:

● Horse Owner Survey
● Horse Industry Supplier Survey

To learn more about the economic impact study, please visit: https://horsecouncil.org/economic-impact-study

About the California Horse Power Coalition
The California Horse Power Coalition is a growing partnership of Thoroughbred associations, organizations representing backstretch workers and jockeys, animal wellness advocates and more. Founded by Santa Anita Park, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, and Thoroughbred Owners of California, the coalition's partners include California Authority of Racing Fairs, Golden Gate Fields, Los Alamitos Racing Association, California Retirement Management Account, California Thoroughbred Breeders Association, California Thoroughbred Horsemen's Foundation, California Thoroughbred Trainers, Edwin J. Gregson Foundation, Jockeys' Guild, Pacific Coast Quarter Horse Racing Association, Square Peg Foundation, and Winner's Foundation.

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Turf Paradise in Phoenix, Az., completed the HISA-mandated repairs to its track rail prior to the March 31 deadline, reports Axios Phoenix, and has been permitted to continue simulcasting and thus finish out its final six weeks of racing.

A panel of three board members with Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority issued a notice to Turf Paradise about its track railing on March 17, after an inspection turned up “numerous gaps and exposed edges in the railing material that could inflict serious harm upon jockeys who might be unhorsed during a race and thrown into or over the railing.”

Marc Guilfoil, director of stewarding and state racing commission relations for HISA, conducted an inspection on March 31 and confirmed Turf Paradise took the necessary actions to be in compliance with the March 17 notice on a variety of issues, including the racing surface, safety rail, and ambulance. Guilfoil was accompanied by Jorge Estrada, HISA steward at Turf Paradise, and Darrel Haire, regional manager for the Jockeys' Guild. “It was very positive,” Guilfoil said.

The continuation of racing at Turf Paradise is a good thing for Arizona horsemen, who will likely need to use the purse money earned during those six weeks to ship their horses north for the summer months due to a lack of racing in the state.

Arizona Downs did not submit any 2023 race dates to the state racing commission, and the deadline to do so has passed. Last year, the Prescott Valley track raced from June 25 through Sept. 5.

Turf Paradise general manager Vincent Francia told Axios Phoenix that local horse owners are in “quite a state of panic” about the lack of racing this summer.

Costs to ship horses out of state ranged from $1,100 to $1,500 in 2022, according to Leroy Gessman, executive director of the Arizona Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association.

Read more at Axios Phoenix. 

The post Turf Paradise Completes HISA-Mandated Repairs, But Horsemen In ‘Quite A State Of Panic’ With No Summer Racing At Arizona Downs appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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