Tag: The Biz

The Texas Racing Commission has not allowed Thoroughbred tracks in the state to export their simulcast signal out of state since July 1, 2022, the implementation date of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority's racetrack safety program. In Texas, where advance deposit wagering is illegal and all legal bets must be made at a racetrack in-state, industry studies have shown that upwards of 90 percent of handle comes via simulcasting.

Through the first two weeks of the 2023 meet at Sam Houston Race Park, wagering is down a total of 91 percent. The Daily Racing Form reports that $11.75 million was wagered on six days of live racing over the same period in 2022, versus $1.04 million on seven days of live racing this year.

To mitigate the loss in handle, Sam Houston has planned to run 43 race dates this year, compared to 50 in 2022. In addition, a portion of purses at Texas tracks comes from sales taxes on equine-related expenditures.

“It's not as dramatic as it might be in other states,” Amy Cook, executive director of the TRC, told DRF. “Eighty-five percent of the purse account is untouched.”

The TRC's simulcasting decision was made, Cook explained, because the Texas Racing Act does not allow federal regulation of racing operations.

Sam Houston's parent company, Penn Entertainment, is not planning to cut purses or additional race days for 2023. Nonetheless, vice president of racing Chris McErlean said the HISA dispute is an ongoing concern.

“We're hoping it gets resolved one way or another, in a way that is satisfactory to everyone,” McErlean told DRF. “Long-term, this is not sustainable.”

Read more at the Daily Racing Form.

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The crisis of 2019 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., saw 30 horses die during the meet that began on Dec. 26, 2018, and ran through June 23, 2019 (including a three-week shutdown). Management took a hard look at the track's safety practices, ultimately deciding to implement significant changes including additional veterinary scrutiny, new training protocols, and better track maintenance monitoring.

Those changes have made a difference: the Thoroughbred Daily News reports that not one horse died during a dirt race in 2022 at Santa Anita.

“We had an opportunity in 2019, albeit after an awful situation, to really reset the clock and look at every aspect of how we operate at Santa Anita,” Aidan Butler, chief executive officer at The Stronach Group 1/ST Racing and Gaming, told TDN. “Everybody understood that something had to change. Something had to give. Horsemen, owners, trainers, everyone, understood that business as unusual will not fly anymore. The emphasis on safety had to be the core of the sport because without it the sport could be in jeopardy.”

The numbers were not perfect: 12 deaths were reported during turf racing, main track training, and training track training. Sudden deaths are also included in that total.

Trainer Eoin Harty, president of the California Thoroughbred Trainers, believes the biggest difference has been made by the pre-work and pre-race inspections required to be performed by both veterinarian and trainer. In 2022, 5,381 veterinary exams were conducted on 4,673 unique horses.

Of course, not all trainers were immediately pleased with the new requirements, but Harty said that sentiment has changed.

“Initially, there was some push back,” he told TDN. “But trainers in California realized at the time that we were in a dire situation and unless everybody got on board and started pulling with the same oar potentially we were going to be out of business. There is always resentment when there is a change like that but in general horsemen have come to embrace this. People can adapt very quickly when they have to.”

Read more at the Thoroughbred Daily News.

The post ‘In General Horsemen Have Come To Embrace This’: Safety Changes At Santa Anita Led To No Main Track Fatalities In 2022 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association announced Wednesday the schedule for its 2023 educational seminars. These events feature various topics for prospective, new, and established Thoroughbred owners and breeders.

The 2023 schedule is listed below:

• March 19-20 – Ocala, Florida 
• June 23-24 – Toronto, Canada
• July 27-28 – Del Mar, California
• August 10-11 – Saratoga Springs, New York*
• October 23 – Lexington, Kentucky

*Tentative dates for Saratoga; All others confirmed

“We are excited to announce some great venues for the 2023 educational seminars,” said TOBA Director of Marketing, Events & Partnerships Samantha Smith. “We hope to reach more people by expanding the agenda to both ownership and breeding topics at each seminar, as well as offering a variety of locations across the U.S. and Canada.”

Specific topics, speakers, and sponsors for each seminar will be announced individually closer to each event. Each seminar for this year will cover topics pertaining to both Thoroughbred owners and breeders. Possible topics may include, but not limited to: racing and stable management, common training practices, common breeding practices, foaling and farm management, owner and trainer communications, horse selection with a bloodstock agent, common veterinary concerns, nutrition and health topics, partnerships, pedigree theory, conformation analysis, and equine business matters such as accounting and insurance.

Educational seminars are open to both members and non-members, with discounts for members of TOBA or any hosting/sponsor organizations. Meals, materials, and a TOBA gift bag are included with registration. 

Pricing is as follows:

• 2-Day Seminar: $295/Non-Member $245/Member
• 1-Day Seminar: $145/Non-Member $99/Member

There will be a special promotion for any individual who attends all five seminars this year. If an individual registers for all seminars throughout the year, they will receive the last seminar free. Registration is available on the TOBA website at: https://toba.memberclicks.net/seminars-clinics 

Questions about TOBA's educational seminars, or inquiries for seminar sponsorship may be directed to Samantha Smith at samantha@toba.org or (859) 276-6793.

The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA), based in Lexington, Ky., was formed in 1961 and is a national trade organization of leading Thoroughbred owners and breeders. TOBA's mission is to improve the economics, integrity and pleasure of the sport on behalf of Thoroughbred owners and breeders. Projects managed by TOBA include the American Graded Stakes Committee, Claiming Crown, Educational Seminars, OwnerView, Owners Concierge, US-Bred and the Sales Integrity Program. TOBA provides international representation for U.S. owners and breeders on the International Grading and Race Planning Advisory Committee, International Cataloguing Standards Committee and International Thoroughbred Breeders' Federation. Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA) is the charitable arm of TOBA. TOBA Media Properties, a subsidiary of TOBA, is the co-owner of BloodHorse LLC. 

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Churchill Downs announced Wednesday that submissions to participate in the 2023 Kentucky Oaks Survivors Parade will open on Saturday, Jan. 21. This year's Survivors Parade will honor 149 Breast and Ovarian cancer survivors and fighters with tickets for the selected recipient and a guest to attend the 149th Longines Kentucky Oaks on Friday, May 5, 2023, and include an unforgettable march on the historic track at Churchill Downs.

Those who have overcome or are battling a breast or ovarian cancer diagnosis who have never participated in the Oaks Survivors Parade are encouraged to submit their story at www.kentuckyderby.com/survivors between Jan. 21 and Feb. 22, 2023. Those who wish to nominate a potential participant for consideration are encouraged to share the submission link directly with the candidate so that they may submit the relevant qualifying information.

For the 15th Survivors Parade, Churchill Downs will feature and support Derby Divas through the Norton Cancer Institute Breast Health Program and Horses and Hope through Kentucky Cancer Program. Both organizations provide critical services that help deliver care to underserved women across the region, including those on the backside of racetracks across the state, who lack access to breast health screenings and services. The Kentucky Oaks charitable initiative has raised approximately $1 million to drive breast and ovarian health awareness and life-saving interventions over the past 14 years.

For the first time, the 2023 Survivors Parade participants will be chosen randomly rather than by public vote to optimize equal opportunity and consideration. This year's submission process will be the first open to the public in two years since the Survivors Parade was held in a virtual format for 2020 and 2021 in adherence of COVID-19 safety protocols. Last year, the survivors selected in 2020 were enthusiastically welcomed to Churchill Downs for one of the most moving, memorable and long-awaited tributes yet.

To celebrate the Road to the Kentucky Oaks qualifying races, Survivors Parade submissions will open on Saturday, Jan. 21, to align with the Silverbulletday at Fair Grounds Race Course and the selected participants will be notified on Saturday, Feb. 25, on the day of the Cincinnati Trophy Stakes at Turfway Park Racing & Gaming. In addition to a call for submissions, fans are encouraged to join the effort to raise money to support breast and ovarian health by donating to the Kentucky Oaks charitable partners at www.kentuckyderby.com/survivors.

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