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Medina Spirit Case: New Hearing Officer Orders Briefs Filed By Dec. 22

A new order in the Medina Spirit case requires attorneys for the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, trainer Bob Baffert, and owner Amr Zedan to submit a set of documents to the new hearing officer, Eden Savis Stephens, by Dec. 22, reports bloodhorse.com.

The filings are to contain proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law based on the evidence submitted during a six-day appeal hearing before hearing officer Clay Patrick back in August. They may also contain briefs or written arguments.

Stephens, the deputy director of the Kentucky Office of Administrative Hearings, replaced Patrick after the original hearing officer recused himself from the case. Patrick made the decision after attorney Clark Brewster, who represents Medina Spirit's owner Amr Zedan, told the Paulick Report he unknowingly bought a horse at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale that was co-owned by Patrick.

Zedan appealed the disqualification of Medina Spirit – who has since died – and Baffert wants the $7,500 fine and 90-day suspension he already served erased. Medina Spirit was disqualified after a positive test for betamethasone, which Baffert and Zedan attorneys said resulted from an ointment used to treat a skin rash on the colt.

After the filings are submitted, Stephens will be able to make a recommendation to the KHRC which either affirms or denies Medina Spirit's disqualification. The recommendation would then go to the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, which can accept, reject or amend it. It remains to be seen if any commission members, a number of which have directly or indirectly conducted business with Baffert and/0r Zedan, will recuse themselves from the matter.

Emerald Downs Plans 52 Live Race Dates For 2023, Equal To 2022

Emerald Downs in Auburn, Wash., has announced a 52-day live racing season for 2023, with opening day Saturday, May 6, and closing day Sunday, Sept. 17. An equivalent number of dates was planned for the 2022 race season.

The 2023 season features 20 Saturdays, 19 Sundays, 11 Fridays, and two Mondays.

Opening Day shares billing with the 148th Kentucky Derby with a special 1 p.m. first post at Emerald Downs.

Post times are similar to recent seasons with Saturday post 2 p.m. May 13-June 24 and 5 p.m. July 1-Sept. 16. Sunday post is 2 p.m. throughout the meeting while Friday post (beginning June 9) is 7 p.m. Holiday racing is scheduled Monday, May 29, 2 p.m., and Monday, July 3, 5 p.m.

The 2023 meet—the 28th at Emerald Downs—features the 88th running of the Longacres Mile. The stakes schedule will be released in December.

Live racing dates were approved at last week's monthly meeting of the Washington Horse Racing Commission.

The post Emerald Downs Plans 52 Live Race Dates For 2023, Equal To 2022 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Popular ‘Ship & Win’ Program Returns To Santa Anita For 2022-23 Classic Meeting

With Santa Anita's Classic Meet opening day looming on Monday, Dec. 26, the track will again offer significant bonuses to horsemen bringing out of state horses to run at Santa Anita this winter and spring via a Ship & Win program that has also proven effective at Del Mar.

“Simply put, the Ship & Win program is a winner,” said Santa Anita Director of Racing and Racing Secretary Chris Merz. “Santa Anita is a great place to train and race in the winter and with these bonuses in place for out of state horses, it's made us even more attractive to many owners and trainers around the country.

“Field size is always a top priority and with Ship & Win bolstering our inventory, we're in a better position to present an attractive product for our players to bet on. We're optimistic for the new year and we encourage anyone with questions to please give us a call.”

Eligible Ship & Win horses will receive a $5,000 bonus as well as purse money at 35 percent above their allotted purse percentage for one start. Horses which became eligible at the 2022 Del Mar Crosby Season Meet will also be eligible for Ship & Win bonuses in their first start at Santa Anita's upcoming Classic Meeting.

The $5,000 bonus will also apply to any stakes horse that meets Ship & Win eligibility guidelines, but those horses will not be eligible for the 35 percent purse increase.

Santa Anita's Classic Meet condition book is available online at santaanita.com and in hard cover form in the Santa Anita Racing Office. For additional information, please visit our website or call (626) 574-6352.

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Live Racing Returns To Turfway Park On Wednesday; Holiday Meet Includes Four Stakes

Turfway Park Racing & Gaming is well known for its horse racing history in Northern Kentucky, and after two years of rebuilding the track is thrilled to welcome back live racing fans on Wednesday, Nov. 30, with first post time scheduled for 6:15PM.

The 19-day Holiday Meet covers a five-week stretch with live racing on Wednesday – Saturday through Dec. 31, with the exception of a switch from Saturday, Dec. 10, to Sunday, Dec. 11, and no racing on Christmas Eve, Saturday, Dec. 24.

Wednesday – Friday's first post-time is 6:15PM and Saturday's race program will start at 12:45PM.

Turfway Park will present four Stakes Races, each worth $125,000, during the Holiday Meet. They include: the 36th Running of The Holiday Inaugural on Dec. 3, the 34th Running of The My Charmer on Dec. 11, the 27th Running of The Prairie Bayou on Dec. 17, and the 29th Running of The Gowell Stakes on Dec. 31.

Maiden special weight races are worth $70,000 and Allowance races range from $72,000 to $80,000.

On Friday, Dec. 2, to celebrate the return of Live Racing, Turfway Park Racing & Gaming is hosting Legacy Night from 6PM – 11PM. Well known for its Friday night $1 Drafts & $1 Hot Dog specials, Turfway Park has partnered with Braxton Brewing Company to create the perfect homage to the tradition. Braxton has designed and brewed the all-new Legacy Lager, which will be available exclusively at Turfway Park's Legacy Night.

Not only is Turfway Park bringing back the much-anticipated $1 Drafts & $1 Hot Dogs, Legacy Night will also include a free live performance from the Naked Karate Girls, also known as The Best Party in the Galaxy. Legacy Night will be hosted in The Event Center. Guests must be 21 years or older to enter the gaming floor.

“We look forward to welcoming back our racing fans, who have made many memories at the historic Turfway Park. We cannot wait for them to join us for our first Legacy Night experience and to start creating new memories,” said Michael Taylor, President of Turfway Park and Newport Racing & Gaming

The gaming & entertainment venue, owned and operated by Churchill Downs Incorporated, is located in Florence, Ky., next to CVG, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, and offers over 800 historical racing machines (“HRM”) with the latest and greatest Vegas-style games including favorites such as Wheel of FortuneTM, Buffalo Chief, Quick Hits, Lock-It-Link, and more. Additional amenities include Churchill's Bourbon & Brew, Serena's Pizzeria, live entertainment, live horse racing, and simulcast wagering.

The post Live Racing Returns To Turfway Park On Wednesday; Holiday Meet Includes Four Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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