Tag: The Biz

In a scene-setting opening address at the 39th Asian Racing Conference in Melbourne on Wednesday, Feb. 15, Asian Racing Federation (ARF) Chairman and Hong Kong Jockey Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges encouraged racing leaders to embrace change and collaborate more in the face of global challenges.

Speaking to an audience of more than 700 delegates from 35 countries, Engelbrecht-Bresges delivered an address titled 'The Landscape,” saying: “As racing's leaders, we must embrace change and we have to drive necessary changes more rapidly. We have to collaborate more to drive these changes from sharing our experiences to joint initiatives.

“Most of the challenges we face can only be solved when we work together in a more strategic way and overcome the fragmented way of how racing is run, being at national, regional and global levels.”

Calling for joint efforts to uphold global standards in rules and practices to safeguard integrity, Engelbrecht-Bresges said collaboration was needed to fight the illegal betting market; to brand racing as a sport of the highest integrity – and not only wagering.

He also said racing needs more cohesive efforts to better market the sport and to expand audiences.

This could be done through the creation of a new technology platform to enable racing to grow in the international wagering business via global simulcasts and the World Pool.

Engelbrecht-Bresges said combined efforts were required to build a technology platform to enable racing to embrace Web 3.0 development and to ensure relevance to Gen Z consumers, while seeking ways to make racing more sustainable and reach Carbon Zero 2040 to ensure the long-term future of the sport.

Pointing to key performance indicators such as rising average yearling sales prices, betting turnover and prize money increases, Engelbrecht-Bresges said racing “has successfully emerged from the COVID crisis and has shown great agility and resilience.”

“However, beyond these figures, racing faces significant global challenges going forward which, in my view, cannot be solved without fundamental changes and strengthening of collaboration and joint efforts to address these challenges,” he said.

Engelbrecht-Bresges said racing faced nine key challenges – industry fragmentation, integrity, illegal and off-shore betting operators, social acceptability, competition from other sports, an ageing customer base and engaging Gen Y & Z, branding racing as a global sport; sustainability and human resources.

Engelbrecht-Bresges asked “whether racing can move on to solve its structural problems and final strategic solutions to ensure its long-term viability” while also addressing climate change – but he remains optimistic over the sport's future.

“While I have outlined what our key challenges are – which seem to be daunting – but in light of the great resilience and innovation racing has shown during the pandemic, I see significant opportunities by embracing challenges and changes,” he said.

After his keynote presentation, Engelbrecht-Bresges was joined on a panel by the ARF Vice-Chairman and President and CEO of the Japan Racing Association, Masayuki Goto; Chief Executive of the British Horseracing Authority, Julie Harrington; Chairman of the Australian Turf Club, Peter McGauran; former Victorian Racing Minister, Martin Pakula; CEO of Harvey Norman and co-owner of Magic Millions, Katie Page-Harvey; and Chairman of JAM TV and media personality, Eddie McGuire.

In the second session of the conference business program, titled 'The Wager', Mr. Engelbrecht-Bresges pointed to a desired further advance of World Pool growth against a backdrop of a widening gap between sports and racing betting – and disturbing illegal betting growth at almost twice the rate of the legal market between 2019 and 2021.

“Global liquidity is the key for all pari-mutuel operators and in turn for racing industry revenue and updating racing wagering, integration protocols for a global platform is imperative,” Engelbrecht-Bresges said.

Michael Fitzsimons, Executive Director, Wagering Products, Hong Kong Jockey Club, reinforced the view saying improved technology would power global liquidity.

“Significant changes to protocols are required to enable a wider range of exotic products and synchronize the betting cut-off time with all operators to ensure customer confidence,” Fitzsimons said.

The third session, 'The Fan' saw Masayuki Goto, Gary Liu, Founder and CEO of Artifact Labs; Andrew Jones, Racing Victoria Chief Executive Officer; Jamie Barkley, Australian Turf Club Chief Executive Officer; and Tim Bulley, World Horse Racing Managing Director & Chairman discuss ways of enhancing fan engagement.

Andrew Harding, Secretary General, Asian Racing Federation and Hong Kong Jockey Club Executive Director, Racing and Dr. Chris Riggs, Hong Kong Jockey Club Equine Welfare Research Foundation Director and Chief Advisor, Mainland Veterinary Engagement will feature in two separate sessions on Thursday (Feb. 16), when champion trainer Chris Waller will feature in a one-on-one interview.

The post ‘We Must Embrace Change’: Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges Outlines Racing’s Nine Key Challenges At Asian Racing Conference appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The Thoroughbred Stakes Schedule has been set for the 2023 racing season at Horseshoe Indianapolis. A total of $4.75 million will be dispersed over 38 events led by the Grade 3 $300,000 Indiana Derby slated for Saturday, July 8.

The Grade 3 Indiana Derby and the Grade 3 Indiana Oaks will be part of the $1.1 million eight-stakes lineup for Indiana Derby Day. Joining the Derby and Oaks includes the $100,000 Michael G. Schaefer Memorial and the $100,000 Mari Hulman George Memorial, both Listed events. Also, four turf stakes are on the card led by the $100,000 Indiana General Assembly (Listed), the $100,000 Jonathan B. Schuster Memorial (Listed), the $100,000 Snack Stakes, and the $100,000 Ellen's Lucky Star Stakes.

“Each year, Indiana Derby Day continues to grow and sets new handle records,” said Eric Halstrom, Vice President and General Manager of Racing. “Our racing office staff works very hard to assemble top quality fields for each of these stakes. With all the activities surrounding the event, Indiana Derby Day has become one of Indiana's biggest summer sporting events and attracts some of the nation's top three-year-olds. It's definitely a day to put on your calendars each July.”

The 2023 stakes schedule also includes 10 stakes slated for the turf course. The turf stakes are led by the 18^th running of the $150,000 Caesars Stakes set for Wednesday, May 17. The one-mile Black Type event leads four stakes on the day and will be joined by the $150,000 Horseshoe Indianapolis Stakes for the fillies, also running at one mile.

“We have a great balance of stakes for younger horses, older horses, and events on the dirt and the turf,” said Chris Polzin, Director of Racing. “We have moved a couple stakes to the day before Indiana Derby for the first time this year to create more stakes racing opportunities for those coming in for the Indiana Derby program. We work alongside our horsemen's group to ensure we have the best possible schedule that accommodates everyone.”

Of the 38 stakes for the 123-day racing season, 28 stakes are dedicated to Indiana bred and sired horses. More than $2.9 million will be dispersed to horses that are part of the lucrative breeding program in Indiana.

The 21^st season of live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing will resume Tuesday, April 18 for a 123-day meet. The season extends through Friday, Nov. 17. Live racing will be held Monday through Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. with Thursday post time set for 2:10 p.m. Saturday racing will be held during the summer months featuring six all-Quarter Horse dates June 3, July 1, July 22, Aug. 12, Sept. 2, and Oct. 7 beginning at 10:45 a.m. Indiana's featured event, the Grade 3 $300,000 Indiana Derby is set for Saturday, July 8 with a first post time of 12 p.m.

For more information on live racing at Horseshoe Indianapolis, visit www.caesars.com/horseshoe-indianapolis.

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Canterbury Park racing officials have released the first condition book for the 54-day race meet that begins Saturday, May 27. Daily average purse distribution is expected to be $220,000. The initial book covers the first 11 days of racing through June 18 with turf and dirt races offered each day.

“We are happy to be offering a wide range of conditions for our trainers and owners on both dirt and turf,” Sr. Director of Racing Operations Chris Merz said. “Over the last few seasons, we have seen a rise in the number of turf races used. We plan on building upon that this meet.”

In 2022, Canterbury averaged 2.9 turf races per day. The seven-furlong inner grass course can accommodate multiple distances from five furlongs to 1 1/16th miles using the turf chute. Eight stakes will be contested on the turf this season including five on Wednesday, June 21, the Northern Stars Turf Festival.

Maiden special weight purses for open company are set at $27,000. The condition book along with stall applications can be found at canterburypark.com/horsemen/ . Earlier this month officials at the Shakopee, Minn. racetrack announced a starter incentive bonus that will pay the owner of each starter $700 per start through the first eight days of racing as well as a shipping loan program and guaranteed minimum purse payments for the entire meet.

Merz and Racing Operations Manager Amber Carlisle have begun an aggressive recruiting tour that will take them to tracks in Kentucky, Florida, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Illinois. Racing Secretary Rob Junk holds a similar position at Turf Paradise in Phoenix, a source of many horses that summer at Canterbury.

“I am looking forward to visiting with trainers to explain the array of options available to them at the meet,” Merz said. “Canterbury Park is gearing up to be the hot spot of the summer.”

Questions about the upcoming meet can be emailed to acarlisle@canterburypark.com . The season concludes Sept. 16.

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Two harness racing trainers have been issued one-year suspensions after the Ohio State Racing Commission found that post-race samples contained traces of D-Methamphetamine, according to rulings posted on the Association of Racing Commissioners International website on Feb. 11, 2023.

A central nervous system stimulant and DEA Schedule 2 controlled drug, meth in racehorses is a Class 1, penalty category A offense.

On Nov. 8, 2022, Sheswildnfree ran at Northfield Park for trainer William Rhoades. The horse's post-race test sample returned a positive result for D-Methamphetamine. The OSRC ordered that the $2, 750 in purse money be returned, and that Rhoades be suspended for 365 days. If Rhoades chooses not to appeal, the suspension will be reduced to 60 days (with 305 days stayed) pending no Class 1 or 2 positives within the next 365 days.

Rhoades scored his 1,000th training victory on Jan. 3, 2023, and is currently leading the standings at Northfield Park.. The trainer, whose career began in 2004, had his biggest season yet in 2022: he earned shy of $1.5 million in earnings, winning 185 starts earning him a twelfth place finish in the national trainer standings and third in the standings at the Flying Turns.

On Nov. 26, 2022, Dashintothebeach N ran at Northfield Park for trainer Herman Hagerman. The horse's post-race test sample returned a positive result for D-Methamphetamine. The OSRC ordered that the $9,000 in purse money be returned, and that Hagerman be suspended for 365 days. If Hagerman chooses not to appeal, the suspension will be reduced to 60 days (with 305 days stayed) pending no Class 1 or 2 positives within the next 365 days.

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