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Cal Expo Extends Harness Track Lease Through 2030

The board of Webis, the Group specializing in pool wagering and the operators of WatchandWager Cal Expo, the Californian harness track, is pleased to announce that its principal USA based subsidiary WatchandWager.com LLC (“WatchandWager”) on Friday, March 25, received formal approval from the Board of the California Exposition and State Fair in Sacramento, Calif., to extend its lease of the operation of Cal Expo Harness racetrack until May 2030.

The current lease runs to May 2025, so WatchandWager has taken up its option to extend the lease for a further five years.

This approval is subject to a signed contract between the landlord and WatchandWager, but the key commercial terms of the extension have been agreed, so the contract is expected to be a formality. Shareholders will be informed when the contract extension has been signed.

WatchandWager has been operating live racing at the Cal Expo venue since 2012 and continues to improve the quality of racing at the venue. In addition, this sector of the business has proven to be profitable in the past and indeed currently. The Board sees no reason why this positive trend should not continue to be the case into the extension. The racetrack also enjoys an excellent health and safety record for equine and human participants, and this continues to be a key focus for the operation.

This approval secures the WatchandWager physical licensed presence in California for a further significant period, alongside its existing online license. This commitment to the state is important, as the state government continues to consider its options for the legalization of sports betting in California, the biggest market in the USA. While this subject is complex and currently subject to change, the Board believes cementing its position in California as a racing and gaming operator can only enhance its prospects in the key state of California.

It should be noted that the above extension approval does not require approval from the state regulator, with WatchandWager already being approved by the California Horse Racing Board to conduct its operations.

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NY Racetrack Chaplaincy Breaks Ground On Multi-Purpose Building At Belmont

The New York Race Track Chaplaincy of America held a groundbreaking ceremony Monday, March 28, 2022, for a multi-purpose building and chapel on the grounds of Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

The 3,500-square foot facility, designed by Frost Hurff Architects of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., will be located just inside the Gate 6 entrance to Belmont Park.

The New York Race Track Chaplaincy Center will include a chapel that will also function as a multi-purpose room, office space for the chaplaincy staff, and a classroom that will be used as a learning center.

Among those who participated in the groundbreaking ceremony were David O'Rourke, president and CEO of NYRA; Ramon Dominguez, a retired Hall of Fame jockey who serves as president of the chaplaincy; Michael Dubb, a Thoroughbred owner and the founder and principal of the Beechwood Organization; and Nassau County Comptroller Elaine Phillips.

“NYRA continuously seeks ways to enhance the quality of life for the backstretch community, whose dedication and skill truly make horse racing possible,” said O'Rourke. “The Racetrack Chaplaincy plays a central role in the lives of so many here at Belmont Park, and this new building will be a center of spiritual fulfillment for decades to come. NYRA congratulates Chaplain Chavez and his team, as well as those who have made this project possible.”

“This facility is a dream come true for the chaplaincy and for all the people it helps,” said Dominguez. “We are extremely grateful to all those who played a part in making it a reality.”

NYRA television personality Andy Serling served as the master of ceremonies for the event.

The New York chaplaincy was created in 1986. It ministers to the needs of the backstretch community at the NYRA racetracks (Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course) through a wide variety of programs. They include enrichment programs for children, social service programs, recreational programs, educational opportunities and non-denominational religious services.

Major funding for the new building was provided by Lisa and Kenny Troutt of WinStar Farm, Kristine and Chris Kay, the late Marylou Whitney and her husband John Hendrickson, and the estate of the late Dolores Ochota. Michael Dubb, who donated the two trailers where the Chaplaincy is currently housed, has donated building materials for the entire facility.

Chaplaincy officials are hopeful the building will open this fall.

Additional information may be found at www.rtcany.org.

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Frankie Dettori Fined $13,600 For ‘Using The Whip To Excess’ Aboard Country Grammer In Dubai

Jockey Frankie Dettori has been fined $13,600 for “using the whip to excess” with 13 strikes on the winning Country Grammer in Saturday's $12 million Dubai World Cup, according to a stewards' report from the Emirates Racing Authority. The news was first publicized by Thoroughbred Racing Commentary.

The report said: “Jockey L Dettori (COUNTRY GRAMMER (USA)) was fined AED 50,000 (US$13,600) under the provisions of ERA Rule 69B(a) for using the whip to excess, in that he used it on 13 occasions. In assessing the penalty Stewards noted that today's event was a Group 1 race worth US$12million and that he won the race.”

Trained by Bob Baffert for owner Amr Zendan (the same connections as Medina Spirit), Country Grammer earned the first-place prize of $7.5 million for his victory in the desert. Dettori's cut of that purse would be 10 percent, or $750,000.

Dettori previously captured the Dubai World Cup three times, on Dubai Millennium in 2000, Moon Ballad in 2003, and on Electrocutionist in 2006.

Read more at the Thoroughbred Racing Commentary.

The post Frankie Dettori Fined $13,600 For ‘Using The Whip To Excess’ Aboard Country Grammer In Dubai appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Baffert In Britain? Racing Authority Defers Question Of Trainer’s Participation

Monday's The Front Runner published at racingpost.com posed an interesting question to the British Horseracing Authority. Following his success in Saturday's Dubai World Cup with Country Grammer, and considering his pending 90-day suspension and subsequent court battle, should “controversial” trainer Bob Baffert be allowed to have runners in Britain, should he so desire?

“The BHA are signatories to the IFHA International Agreement,” a spokesperson told The Front Runner, “and in that respect apply the reciprocation framework as set out within that agreement. Any case, whether it's Bob Baffert or anyone else, would be considered on its own set of circumstances within that reciprocation framework.

“If a sanction has or has not been imposed, is just one aspect of whether entries from a particular trainer or ownership group may be considered. There may be other factors, but that's relevant to the individual circumstances of the matter at hand.”

The answer, surmised the author of The Front Runner, appears to be: “we'll make that decision if we have to, when we have to, based on the circumstances that prevail at the time.”