Tag: The Biz

Track Superintendent Field Day has announced dates and locations for the next two editions of the annual gathering focusing on track safety and best practices. The 2023 renewal of the event will be held June 11-13 at Horseshoe Indianapolis and it will be hosted by Roy Smith, the current track super at the Indiana facility who founded the event more than 20 years ago at Philadelphia Park (Parx Racing). The 2024 event will be held at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course with tentative dates of June 9-11.

The 2022 meeting, held at Gulfstream Park, covered a wide variety of topics from turf science to equipment trends to rules and regulations related to the Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA).

“We are already planning speakers and topics for 2023, and we look forward to having one of our biggest events ever at Horseshoe Indianapolis,” said Smith, who is retiring as track superintendent at Horseshoe Indianapolis at the end of this year but will remain at the helm of the Track Superintendent Field Day. “It's been gratifying for me to see the relationships that have been formed at these meetings over the years and how we have all worked together for the greater good of the industry and to make racing as safe as possible for all participants.”

As always, the event will offer free registration and discounted hotel rates to track supers and staff thanks to the support of sponsors, including title sponsor Equine Equipment.

“This is one of the best and most important events each year for our industry, and we are proud to do our part to support it,” said Steve Andersen, founder of Equine Equipment. “We encourage anyone whose role is related to track safety or maintenance, regardless of breed and whether it's at a racetrack, training facility or farm, to make plans to attend in 2023.”

More information about Track Superintendent Field Day is available at www.tracksupers.com. Registration and hotel information will be posted in the coming months.

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Churchill Downs Racetrack officials have made slight modifications to the Road to the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve. Points will now be awarded to the Top 5 finishing positions in qualifying races, and the significance of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and select races traditionally run in late January have been increased.

The Road to the Kentucky Derby, a series of select races that award a sliding scale of points to the top finishing positions, has determined preference for its 20-horse Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade 1) field since 2013. The 1 ¼-mile classic for 3-year-old Thoroughbreds will be run at the historic Louisville, Ky. racetrack for the 149th consecutive year on Saturday, May 6, 2023.

The expansion of points awarded in qualifying races has been implemented to grow “Derby Fever” for more horses and ownership groups, which could potentially increase field size in Kentucky Derby Championship Series races in advance of the Derby.

Most Kentucky Derby Prep Season races will now award points on a sliding scale of 10-4-3-2-1. Previously, those races had been worth 10-4-2-1 since the inaugural qualifying points system was instituted for the 2013 Kentucky Derby.

Points awarded in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, which will be run this year at Keeneland on Nov. 4, will be increased from 20-8-4-2 to 30-12-9-6-3 in order to differentiate what has historically been a high quality Grade 1 race from others during the Prep Season.

Also, select Prep Season races that traditionally serve as steppingstones to the Kentucky Derby Championship Series have been elevated from 10-4-2-1 to 20-8-6-4-2 in an effort to increase the importance and awareness of these races and to incentivize horses to potentially begin their 3-year-old campaigns earlier in the season.

The elevated Prep Season races are the Lecomte (Fair Grounds), Southwest (Oaklawn Park), Withers (Aqueduct), Holy Bull (Gulfstream Park), Robert B. Lewis (Santa Anita), Sam F. Davis (Tampa Bay Downs) and John Battaglia Memorial (Turfway Park).

“We believe these modifications adhere to and amplify our goal of assembling the finest group of 3-year-olds in the starting gate for a race at the classic distance of 1 ¼ miles on the first Saturday in May,” said Mike Ziegler, Vice President and General Manager for Churchill Downs Racetrack.

This is the 11th straight year that Churchill Downs has used a point system to determine entrants for its famed Kentucky Derby. At least 20 horses have entered the “Run for the Roses” in 21 of the last 24 years.

The Road to the Kentucky Derby will begin Saturday at the home of America's greatest race as Churchill Downs stages the 41st running of the $300,000 Iroquois (Grade 3) for 2-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on opening weekend of its 14-day September Meet.

In addition to the primary 37-race Road to the Kentucky Derby series, there are two separate series that each carve out one spot for a potential horse from Europe and Japan.

The same changes made to the Road to the Kentucky Derby have been made to the 32-race Road to the Kentucky Oaks series, which awards points to fillies to qualify for the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) at 1 1/8 miles on Friday, May 5, 2023.

Kentucky Derby Prep Season

Date	Race	Racetrack	Grade	Purse	Distance	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th
Sept. 17, 2022	Iroquois	Churchill Downs	III	$300,000	1 1/16 M	10	4	3	2	1
Oct. 1, 2022	Champagne	Aqueduct	I	$500,000	1 M	10	4	3	2	1
Oct. 8, 2022	Breeders' Futurity	Keeneland	I	$600,000	1 1/16 M	10	4	3	2	1
Oct. 8, 2022	American Pharoah	Santa Anita	I	$300,000	1 1/16 M	10	4	3	2	1
Nov. 4, 2022	Breeders' Cup Juvenile	Keeneland	I	$2,000,000	1 1/16 M	30	12	9	6	3
Nov. 26, 2022	Kentucky Jockey Club	Churchill Downs	II	$400,000	1 1/16 M	10	4	3	2	1
*Dec. 3, 2022	Remsen	Aqueduct	II	*$250,000	1 1/8 M	10	4	3	2	1
*Dec. 10, 2022	Los Alamitos Futurity	Los Alamitos	II	*$300,000	1 1/16 M	10	4	3	2	1
Dec. 17, 2022	Springboard Mile	Remington Park		$400,000	1 M	10	4	3	2	1
*Dec. 26, 2022	Gun Runner	Fair Grounds		*$100,000	1 1/16 M	10	4	3	2	1
*Jan. 1, 2023	Jerome	Aqueduct		*$150,000	1 M	10	4	3	2	1
Jan. 1, 2023	Smarty Jones	Oaklawn Park		$250,000	1 M	10	4	3	2	1
Jan. 8, 2023	Sham	Santa Anita	III	$100,000	1 M	10	4	3	2	1
*Jan. 21, 2023	Lecomte	Fair Grounds	III	*$200,000	1 1/16 M	20	8	6	4	2
Jan. 28, 2023	Southwest	Oaklawn Park	III	$750,000	1 1/16 M	20	8	6	4	2
*Feb. 4, 2023	Withers	Aqueduct	III	*$250,000	1 1/8 M	20	8	6	4	2
*Feb. 4, 2023	Holy Bull	Gulfstream Park	III	*$250,000	1 1/16 M	20	8	6	4	2
Feb. 4, 2023	Robert B. Lewis	Santa Anita	III	$200,000	1 1/16 M	20	8	6	4	2
*Feb. 11, 2023	Sam F. Davis	Tampa Bay Downs	III	*$250,000	1 1/16 M	20	8	6	4	2
*Feb. 11, 2023	El Camino Real Derby	Golden Gate		*$100,000	1 1/8 M (AW)	10	4	3	2	1
*Feb. 25, 2023	John Battaglia Memorial	Turfway Park		*$125,000	1 1/16 M (AW)	20	8	6	4	2

Kentucky Derby Championship Series

*Feb. 18, 2023	Risen Star	Fair Grounds	II	*$400,000	1 1/8 M	50	20	15	10	5
Feb. 25, 2023	Rebel	Oaklawn Park	II	$1,000,000	1 1/16 M	50	20	15	10	5
*March 4, 2023	Gotham	Aqueduct	III	*$300,000	1 M	50	20	15	10	5
March 4, 2023	San Felipe	Santa Anita	II	$400,000	1 1/16 M	50	20	15	10	5
*March 4, 2023	Fountain of Youth	Gulfstream Park	II	*$400,000	1 1/16 M	50	20	15	10	5
*March 11, 2023	Tampa Bay Derby	Tampa Bay Downs	II	*$400,000	1 1/16 M	50	20	15	10	5
*March 25, 2023	UAE Derby	Meydan Racecourse	II	*$1,000,000	1 3/16 M	100	40	30	20	10
*March 25, 2023	Jeff Ruby Steaks	Turfway Park	III	*$600,000	1 1/8 M (AW)	100	40	30	20	10
*March 25, 2023	Louisiana Derby	Fair Grounds	II	*$1,000,000	1 3/16 M	100	40	30	20	10
*March 26, 2023	Sunland Derby	Sunland Park	III	*$500,000	1 1/8 M	50	20	15	10	5
*April 1, 2023	Florida Derby	Gulfstream Park	I	*$1,000,000	1 1/8 M	100	40	30	20	10
April 1, 2023	Arkansas Derby	Oaklawn Park	I	$1,250,000	1 1/8 M	100	40	30	20	10
*April 8, 2023	Wood Memorial	Aqueduct	II	*$750,000	1 1/8 M	100	40	30	20	10
*April 8, 2023	Blue Grass	Keeneland	I	*$1,000,000	1 1/8 M	100	40	30	20	10
April 8, 2023	Santa Anita Derby	Santa Anita	I	$750,000	1 1/8 M	100	40	30	20	10
*April 15, 2023	Lexington	Keeneland	III	*$400,000	1 1/16 M	20	8	6	4	2

* = Race dates and distances to be announced by host track; date based on recent historical placement. … Schedule subject to change. … (AW) = Synthetic.

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Churchill Downs Incorporated (Nasdaq: CHDN) announced Sept. 15 that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Ellis Park Racing & Gaming in Henderson, Ky., from Enchantment Holdings, LLC, an affiliate of Laguna Development Corporation, for total consideration of $79 million in cash, subject to certain working capital and other purchase price adjustments. CDI will also assume Ellis Park's opportunity to construct a track extension facility in Owensboro, Ky.

Churchill Downs previously owned Ellis Park from 1998 (when it paid a $22 million purchase price) until 2006, when the facility was sold to Ron Geary.

“This is an exciting announcement for the horse racing industry, the cities of Henderson and Owensboro, and the entire Commonwealth of Kentucky,” said Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear. “Churchill Downs has proven it has the experience, resources, and desire to reinvigorate Ellis Park into a premier racing destination and provide unmatched gaming entertainment.”

Ellis Park, located north of the Ohio River and just south of Evansville, Ind., celebrated 100 years of racing this year. In addition to being recognized as the historic home of summer Thoroughbred racing in Kentucky, Ellis Park also features a gaming facility venue with approximately 300 historical racing machines (“HRMs”).

“We are very enthused to welcome Ellis Park to the Churchill Downs racing family,” said Bill Carstanjen, chief executive officer of CDI. “Our team is committed to building a summer meet at the 'Pea Patch' that keeps more Kentucky-bred horses and Kentucky-based trainers in their home state while attracting top horse racing talent from across the country to the Bluegrass State each July and August.”

“Churchill Downs Incorporated is a proven partner in communities it already operates in, providing both entertainment and economic development benefits,” Kentucky House Speaker David Osborne said. “This acquisition is also a boost to one of our state's signature industries and the direct result of legislation we passed to help make our tracks more competitive. Churchill Downs' commitment to a year-round horse racing circuit in the Commonwealth is not only a smart business move, but also necessary to sustain and grow an industry that provides 80,000 jobs and millions to local and state economies.”

“Churchill Downs Incorporated is stepping up to the plate as we push towards our common goal of ensuring Kentucky has the strongest year-round horse racing circuit in the country,” said Kentucky Sen. Damon Thayer. “With Churchill Downs' commitment to upgrading the racetrack infrastructure and enhancing the experience for equestrians and visitors, Ellis Park will now become an even better choice for summer racing. Investments like this were partly made possible by the great work of the General Assembly to adopt SB 120 in 2021. I look forward to continuing our work of bolstering Kentucky's signature equine industry in coming legislative sessions.”

The closing of the transaction is contingent upon approval by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (“KHRC”). If change of control is approved, the parties expect to close the transaction shortly thereafter.

CDI has commenced planning to make both critical investments in the Ellis Park racing infrastructure and to construct Owensboro Racing & Gaming, a track extension and entertainment venue at Owensboro's Towne Square Mall that will feature 600 HRMs, a simulcast wagering center, and multiple food and beverage offerings. Over the next year, CDI expects its total investment in Henderson and Daviess Counties to be approximately $75 million in addition to the purchase price.

“The opportunity to bring Churchill Downs to Owensboro is particularly significant to us,” said Jason Sauer, senior vice president of corporate development for CDI, “We are eager to start the work to elevate Ellis Park's reputation as a summer destination for Thoroughbred racing while delivering a premier gaming and entertainment experience to Daviess County. We look forward to sharing more exciting details about our plans in the coming days.”

“This is a big day for our city and region. The announcement that Churchill Downs Incorporated will purchase Ellis Park is great news” said Steve Austin, mayor of Henderson, “Their plans to revamp the facility and provide unrivaled gaming entertainment will attract not only top-notch trainers and horses but also tourists and economic development. This investment will create jobs at the racetrack and gaming venue and increase employment opportunities in industries supporting those operations. Churchill Downs has proven to be a reliable community partner throughout the Commonwealth. We are excited to welcome them to Henderson and be working together.”

“Kentucky racing just took another step forward with the purchase of Ellis Park by Churchill Downs Incorporated,” said Rick Hiles, president of the Kentucky division of the Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association. “We've seen the results of CDI-owned properties and it is our pleasure as the KY HBPA to work with them to bring Ellis Park back to the place it use to be. We know as horsemen that they will do things right.”

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The FanDuel Meet at Kentucky Downs in Franklin, Ky., concluded Wednesday with record wagering topping $80 million for the seven-day run. Purses again set a record, reaching almost $18 million paid out to horse owners.

With $12,896,355 bet on Wednesday's closing card, total wagering on the meet reached $80,175,928, clipping Kentucky Downs' previous record of $74,088,532 over six days last year for an increase of 8 percent. A record $21,065,982 was bet on Saturday, Sept. 10. The average field size was 10.61 horses, the highest since 2019.

The impact of Kentucky Downs since the introduction of pari-mutuel wagering on Historical Horse Racing in 2011 can be measured through purses. Total purses have increased from $769,810 for 30 races 11 years ago to $17,863,177 for 73 races this year, including purse supplements for registered Kentucky-breds from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund. Kentucky Downs did not have any KTDF money in 2011. This year more than $6.7 million was paid out from the fund during the seven days.

“It started off like you didn't know what to expect here, and now people can't get here fast enough to run,” said Woodford County-based trainer Robert Medina, whose first victory at the track came with the Bill Parcells-owned Kentucky-bred Play Action Pass in Wednesday's inaugural $400,000 Pepsi Gun Runner Stakes. “It's an amazing thing they have done. I know it's money motivated, but it's fun. It's kind of laid back and you have a great time. We need more of that in horse racing.”

The record wagering comes in spite of adverse weather on both weekends during the meet that began Thursday, Sept. 1. The last four races on Saturday, Sept. 3, had to be rescheduled. Both Sundays were significantly impacted, with the entire Sept. 4 card transferred to Monday, Sept. 5, and the last nine of 11 races carded for Sept. 11 moved to Tuesday, Sept. 13.

“It was a fantastic meet, with world-class racing despite the challenges,” said Ted Nicholson, Kentucky Downs' vice president for racing. “Every weekend we ran, we were meteorologists. Losing both Sundays and having to shift one card to a Tuesday is not ideal. It was a testament to track superintendent Butch Lehr and the track crew how well the course held together. For us, along with our horsemen and horseplayers, to persevere and get to $80 million is huge.”

“There certainly is a sense of what might have been if we'd gotten anything close to the perfect weather we had for our weekday cards and our dark days,” said Ron Winchell, the co-managing partner with Marc Falcone in Kentucky Downs and The Mint Gaming Hall properties. “Only a couple of years ago we'd have been over the moon with these numbers. We still are. But we've continually set the bar higher. And through it all, we still had very full fields overall and saw spectacular racing.”

Horseplayers, sports enthusiasts and those just looking for a slice of Americana turned out to watch the racing over the undulating, kidney-shaped 1 5/16-mile turf course.

“We look forward to this every year,” said Jim Robbins, who was in the Finish Line Pavilion on closing day with a group of friends from New Albany, Ind. “You never have so many 12-horse fields anywhere else. We come down here and we fire at 'em. It's wonderful. We go down to the paddock. We take selfies with the jockeys. The trainers are nice to us. It's just a casual, fun atmosphere.”

Trainer Mike Maker, already the track's all-time win leader and money-earner, won a record 12 races and $2,341,636 in purses. That was highlighted by his stakes victories with the New York-bred Somelikeithotbrown in the Grade 3 WinStar Mint Million and Red Knight in the Grade 2 Kentucky Turf Cup.

“We love this place,” said owner Harvey Diamond, whose Skychai Racing owners Somelikeithotbrown. “We run well here. Our trainer runs well here. We'll be back.”

Red Knight and the French-bred Bran earned fees-paid trips to the corresponding Breeders' Cup events Nov. 5 at Keeneland by virtue of winning the $1 million Kentucky Turf Cup and $1 million FanDuel Turf Sprint (G2).

Jeremiah Englehart won with his first Kentucky Downs starter, the Kentucky-bred Freedom Speaks in the $500,000 Nelson's Green Brier Tennessee Whiskey Music City Stakes.

“Look at what they have done down there,” the New York-based Englehart said about the purses. “It just keeps getting better and better. It's like winning a race at Saratoga.”

Thrilling finishes proved the norm. Among the nose finishes: the 8-year-old Red Knight in the 1 1/2-mile Kentucky Turf Cup, Campanelle – a star in both America and Europe – in the $1 million Mint Ladies Sprint (G3), Danse Macabre in the $500,000 Ainsworth Untapable and Alms in the $400,000 One Dreamer.

At age 55, jockey E.T. Baird — who since the shuttering of Arlington Park in suburban Chicago has been a man without a home track — won his first race at Kentucky Downs as Kentucky-bred One Timer took the $600,000 Franklin-Simpson (G2).

Chris Emigh, 51 years old and the third-winningest jockey all-time at Arlington, also won his first Kentucky Downs race as Bad Beat Brian prevailed for his wife, trainer Brittany Vanden Berg, in an $180,000 allowance race with an optional claiming price of $80,000.

“I can pay my gas bill this winter,” Emigh joked, adding more seriously, “I can't wrap my head around how big the purses are. I mean, we used to run for $50,000, maybe $100,000 in stakes races.”

Participation was broad-based: An even 100 trainers ran at least one horse, with Maker leading the way with 66 starts – more than double No. 2 Steve Asmussen's 32. Ninety-eight unique owners or ownership groups participated, highlighted by Three Diamonds Farms' 21 starters. Sixty-two jockeys rode at least one race, led by meet-leader Tyler Gaffalione (nine wins) riding 66 of 73 races.

The King of the Turf Handicapping Challenge continued to stamp itself as one of the most popular handicapping competitions in the country. In its third year, the event had a total of 640 entries, including 126 entries participating in all three stand-alone, live-money contests. Tom Rapps of suburban Cleveland prevailed with a cumulative bankroll of $5,760.30 to earn the coveted title of National Turf Handicapper of the Year and the Global Tote King of the Turf Championship Belt.

“The third year of the King of the Turf Handicapping Challenge proved to be the most popular yet,” said tournament director Brian Skirka. “The prize structure of our three contests matches the high quality of racing put on by Kentucky Downs. Congrats to Tom Rapps, a very deserving King of the Turf. Thanks to all the players who supported these contests and adapted to some curveballs from mother nature. It was a record-breaking year for these contests and I look forward to setting some new records in 2023.”

Total betting on Kentucky Downs' live racing since 2011
Year (dates) all-sources total

2022 (7) $80,175,928
2021 (6) $74,088,532
2020 (6) $59,828,444
2019 (5) $41,239,699
2018 (5) $36,421,721
2017 (5) $30,246,888
2016 (5) $22,540,764
2015 (5) $16,887,134
2014 (5) $15,880,755
2013 (5) $12,814,891
2012 (5)   $7,570,731
2011 (4)   $3,596,354

Evolution of purses at Kentucky Downs
since advent of Historical Horse Racing
Note: 2011 is the last year that purses weren't enhanced by HHR
Total purses since 2011
Year (days) total purses races avg per race

2022 (7) $17,863,177  73   $244.701
2021 (6) $15,974,800  63   $253,568
2020 (6) $11,668,473  62   $188,201
2019 (5) $11,520,380  50   $230,407
2018 (5) $10,273,630  50   $205,472
2017 (5)  $8,625,396  50   $172,508
2016 (5)  $7,923,476   50   $158,470
2015 (5)  $6,609,355   48   $137,694
2014 (5)  $4,875,772   50    $97,515
2013 (5)  $4,150,687   50    $83,013
2012 (5)  $2,086,650   43    $48,526
2011 (4)    $769,810    30    $25,660

Average number of starters per race since 2011

2022: 10.61
2021: 10.24
2020:   9.98
2019:  11.26
2018:  11.04
2017:  10.44
2016:  10.96
2015:  10.60
2014:  10.20
2013:   9.90
2012:   9.57
2011:   8.76

The post ‘We’ve Continually Set The Bar Higher’: Despite Weekend Weather Woes, Kentucky Downs Has Record Meet appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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