Tag: The Biz

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission voted unanimously Monday to approve new partners in the racetrack and equestrian center set to be built in eastern Kentucky.

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians will serve as a financial partner to Revolutionary Racing Kentucky, while Keeneland Association will also be a partner. Both bring deep experience in racing and project development to the existing leadership team.

Commissioners also gave the green light to the group's first week of quarter horse races, set for April 1-6, 2023. The races will take place at The Red Mile in Lexington, while the new Boyd County track is under construction.

“We appreciate the support the KHRC has shown for this project throughout this process,” said Larry Lucas, Chairman of Revolutionary Racing Kentucky. “We are excited to welcome our new partners and even more excited about the positive impact we can make in eastern Kentucky.”

Revolutionary Racing Kentucky will invest $55 million to build a world-class quarter horse track, equestrian center and entertainment complex in Ashland, Kentucky.

In addition to hundreds of union construction jobs, it is expected to create more than 200 good-paying, full-time positions. Operating year-round with shows and competitions, it is projected to generate nearly $1 million in new annual tax revenues.

Serving as Kentucky's only track dedicated to quarter horses, it will feature a 660-yard sprint track and daily purses of up to $500,000, placing it among the nation's leading quarter horse tracks. Plans call for the track to host its first race in 2024.

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians will make their investment through EBCI Holdings, a commercial gaming entity created in December 2020 to diversify the North Carolina-based tribe's economic interests. Among the group's holdings are casinos, as well as a gaming technology incubator.

“We couldn't have found a better group to partner with or a better project to support,” said Richard Sneed, Principal Chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. “We have a long-term commitment to community reinvestment and providing best-in-class entertainment offerings to underserved markets. This world-class project aligns perfectly with that commitment.”

Keeneland brings a storied racing tradition to the team, as its Lexington-based track is considered one of North America's premier operations. The company's founder, Jack Keene, even opened and operated Raceland, a track in nearby Greenup County, in the 1920s. Since 2014, Keeneland has also partnered with The Red Mile on their historical horse racing facility in Lexington.

“Keeneland is excited to partner with Revolutionary Racing Kentucky on this initiative, which continues our mission to strengthen the state's vital horse industry,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “Additionally, this project will positively impact the local community and stimulate economic growth in the region.”

Revolutionary Racing Kentucky was awarded the commonwealth's ninth and final horse racing license in July. Monday's approval marks the first time in history that all nine license holders were awarded race dates. The group's initial races at The Red Mile – which are supported by the American Quarter Horse Association – marks the return of quarter horse racing there for the first time in more than a decade.

Last week, Gov. Andy Beshear joined dozens of state and local leaders in a groundbreaking ceremony for the track, which he said “will help build the future of horse racing in Kentucky, and it will create great jobs for our people in Ashland, adding even more economic momentum to what the commonwealth is seeing as a whole.”

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C. Reid McLellan, aka Dr. Mac, will be back at Gulfstream Park this winter to teach the Groom Elite 101 program to backstretch workers and individuals interested in working with racehorses. The five-week program offers an overview of a variety of topics, including Horse Behavior, Health, Conformation (including bones of front and rear leg), Digestive System and Feeding (with an emphasis on colic), and Bandaging and Tacking.

The classes are designed to help grooms improve their horsemanship skills, to assist hotwalkers in taking the next step to becoming grooms, and to provide the groundwork for newcomers looking to get into horseracing. At the end of the course, the students are tested and, if they pass the requirements, are awarded certification at one of five levels (Entry, Basic, Qualified, Experienced, and Elite).

“Certified grooms increase their value as an asset to the team,” McLellan said. “Trainers report that certified grooms, even those with many years of experience, pay closer attention to their horses and provide information that helps trainers act before a small problem becomes a serious injury.”

Classes start the week of Jan. 9, 2023, and will be held on Mondays and Tuesdays through the week of Feb. 13, 2023. Groom Elite 101 is sponsored jointly by FTHA and 1S/T RACING. There is no cost to the students, and they will receive lunch on class days, as well as a jacket upon completion of the program.

“The Groom Elite Program was a staple of backstretch education sponsored by the horsemen's group and the track for many years, but had to be suspended when the pandemic hit,” FTHA Executive Director Andy Belfiore said. “We're thrilled to be able to bring this great program back to Gulfstream Park. We believe it will be a benefit to the workers, the trainers, and the horses.”

Trainers are encouraged to enroll workers in the program. For more information, contact Herb Oster at hoster@floridahorsemen.org.

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Four stakes for 2-year-olds, including a pair of graded races, highlight the upcoming Winter Thoroughbred meet at Los Alamitos in Cypress, California.

The six-day season is scheduled to begin Friday, Dec. 9 and continue through Sunday, Dec. 18. Post time will be 12:30 p.m. (PT) with racing conducted Friday-Sunday (Dec. 9-11 and Dec. 16-18) both weeks.

The $300,000 Starlet (G1) for 2-year-old fillies, which will be renewed for the ninth time at Los Alamitos, is set or Saturday, Dec. 10, one week before the  $200,000 Los Alamitos Futurity (G2). The Starlet and the Futurity will be run at 1 1/16 miles.

Nominees to the Starlet include And Tell Me Nolies, winner of the Del Mar Debutante (G1) and Chandelier (G2), Home Cooking, runner-up in the Del Mar Debutante, and Los Alamitos maiden winner Carla.

Los Alamitos Futurity nominees include two-time Grade 1 winner Cave Rock, Gandolfini, and Capote Stakes winner Hard to Figure.

The other two scheduled stakes for juveniles will be run at one mile. The $100,000 Soviet Problem for fillies will be offered Sunday, Dec. 11, and the $100,000 King Glorious is set for Sunday, Dec. 18. Both are for horses bred or sired in California.

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Keeneland concluded its 2022 Fall Meet on Saturday with a season record all-sources handle of $208.9 million, which was boosted by record purses, full race fields, and championship-caliber competition provided by the nation's best horses and riders.

The 17-day season was enhanced by picture-perfect fall weather and a special events schedule that offered family fun and philanthropy, all conducted in a unique setting as the track prepares to host the Breeders' Cup World Championships on Nov. 4-5.

Held Oct. 7-29, the Fall Meet marks the fourth consecutive season of record handle at the track to reflect the continuing elevation of Keeneland's racing program.

“This Fall Meet embodied everything our founders envisioned for Keeneland – a place where families and friends could gather and enjoy great horse racing – all heightened by anticipation for the Breeders' Cup,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “We thank everyone involved in making the Fall Meet a success and look forward to the fun continuing as we host the World Championships next weekend.”

All-sources wagering (not including whole-card simulcasting at Keeneland) this fall totaled $208,907,655, up 15.41 percent over last year's Fall Meet record of $181,009,626.

Wagering was boosted when on Fall Stars Saturday, Oct. 8, Keeneland set records for Fall Meet single-day all-sources and Pick 5 wagering, besting previous records set on Fall Stars Saturday in 2021. All-sources handle on Fall Stars Saturday, which featured five graded stakes on the 11-race card, was $21,695,896, surpassing the $20,926,640 on Oct. 9, 2021. Wagering on the All-Stakes Pick 5 totaled $1,431,736 to exceed last year's $1,255,080.

Additionally, a Keeneland record payoff of $72,863.72 for a 10-cent superfecta wager occurred in the seventh race on Oct. 20. The ticket, which swept the entire pool, was placed through NYRA Bets and cost only $18. Keeneland's previous record high superfecta payoff for a dime was $27,228.80 established in the seventh race on Oct. 18, 2014.

On-track wagering for the Fall Meet totaled $15,351,232, up slightly from last year's $15,162,221.

Average daily purses at Keeneland climbed to a record $1,168,120, up 32.66 percent from $880,511 per day during the 2021 Fall Meet. Average starters per race was 9.2.

Keeneland awarded a record $8.9 million for 22 stakes this fall. The season opened with the track's signature Fall Stars Weekend, which featured 11 stakes. Nine stakes were “Win and You're In” events part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series with total purses of $5.45 million.

“Fans were treated to thrilling performances from start to finish this fall, and our sincere thanks go to the owners, trainers and jockeys who always bring their very best to Keeneland,” Keeneland Vice President of Racing Gatewood Bell said. “We are proud of our elevated racing program, which when coupled with the excitement surrounding Breeders' Cup at Keeneland, produced a Fall Meet unmatched in competition and quality.”

Fall Meet Leaders

The races for Fall Meet leading honors, which featured the country's top owners, trainers and jockeys proved as exciting as those contests among the four-legged stars, and all were decided on the final day of racing.

Gary and Mary West won their first Keeneland leading owner title, coming from behind to capture two races on closing day, led by the Hagyard Fayette (G2) with West Will Power, for a total of four meet wins.

West Will Power's victory also wrapped up leading training honors for Brad Cox, who with 11 wins earned his third consecutive fall training title and fourth Keeneland title overall. In addition to the Hagyard Fayette, Cox sent out Caravel to win the Franklin (G3) and Keyof Life to win the Myrtlewood.

Todd Pletcher and Wesley Ward finished in a tie for second with 10 wins each.

The jockeys' title race turned into a seesaw battle between Tyler Gaffalione and Luis Saez.

Winner of three races on closing day, Saez won the final race of the meet to edge Gaffalione 21-20 and clinch his second Keeneland riding title.

Saez also won the JPMorgan Chase Jessamine with Delight. Gaffalione tallied six stakes wins, one shy of Pat Day's single-season record of seven stakes wins.

Though Saturday marks the conclusion of Keeneland's Fall Meet, it is the beginning of an exciting Breeders' Cup Week at the historic race track.

From Sunday through Thursday, fans are invited to visit the track to watch Breeders' Cup horses during morning training at Breakfast at the Breeders' Cup. Keeneland will host the Breeders' Cup World Championships on Friday-Saturday.

The post Keeneland’s Record Fall Meet Sets Stage For Breeders’ Cup Nov. 4-5; Saez, Cox Take Meet Titles appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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