Tag: The Biz

A quartet of Quarter Horse trainers in Louisiana are looking at serious suspensions after a rash of positive tests for zilpaterol in January and February. Stewards' rulings indicate that trainers Lanny Don Keith, Manuel H Macias, Manuel Pizana, and Rosendo Valdez Jr. picked up multiple zilpaterol overages at Louisiana Downs.

All four trainers declined their right to split sample testing and a stewards' hearing, and all rulings indicate the cases have been referred to the Louisiana State Racing Commission for further action. Some of the cases could be taken up by the commission as early as its April 26 meeting.

Zilpaterol is a drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in cattle heading to slaughter in order to increase body fat and muscle. The substance has been found in some horse feed products which are created in mills that also make feed for livestock.

Read more about zilpaterol in our archives.

Keith's positives came with Canaille in the fourth race (a maiden claimer) on Jan. 17, Tee Zo in the fifth race (an optional claimer) on Jan. 17, and Shiney Things in the first race (a maiden claimer) on Jan. 19. He was given three six-month suspensions which are scheduled to run until Sept. 19, 2023.

Keith is a multiple graded stakes-winning trainer, having conditioned Tf Racee Runaway to win the Grade 1 Louisiana QHBA Futurity in 2016. He also trained G2 winner Not Perry Pretty and G3 winner Going Noble. In 2019, he won back-to-back training titles at Louisiana Downs.

Macias' positives were with LD Winningwitheagles in the third race (a claimer) on Jan. 17, LD Andalay Tee Chic in the first race (a maiden claimer) on Jan. 18, and Jesstify Your Faith in the fourth race (a claimer) on Feb. 8. He faces suspension through Sept. 19, 2023.

Macias is a graded stakes-placed trainer who was ranked 31^st in the nation by Quarter Horse wins last year. So far in 2022, he has 10 winners from 38 starters for a win rate of 26 percent.

Pizana had zilpaterol positives with LZ King of the Kings in the second race (a maiden) on Jan. 17, Five Shots Later in the fifth (an allowance) on Jan. 18, and TDZ Foose Express in the third (a claimer) on Feb. 1. He also had bute and banamine overages with Bellas Fantasy in the fifth race (an allowance) on Jan. 24, for which he was fined $500 for his first Category 4 violation in a year. He was suspended through Sept. 19, 2023 on the zilpaterol positives.

Pizana is a multiple stakes-placed trainer in his fourth season training. So far this year, he has 13 winners from 42 starts for a win percentage of 31 percent.

Valdez' zilpaterol positives came with A Nother Zobilee in the sixth (an allowance) on Jan. 17, Del Quinto in the sixth (an allowance) on Jan. 18, Jess Sweet Enough in the second (an optional claimer) on Jan. 19, and G3 winner Dirtwater Dash in the sixth (an allowance) on Feb. 15. For four Category 2 violations in a year, he was suspended through Sept. 20, 2024.

Valdez was recently named leading trainer at Evangeline Downs for its 2021 Quarter Horse Meet, with 38 wins from 71 starts and a 54% win rate. He is the trainer of multiple G1 winner Blood Money, multiple graded stakes winner Apollitical B Snow, and other graded stakes winners. In 2021, he was first in the nation by wins in Quarter Horse races and third by earnings.

Valdez and Pizana had runners qualified for the G2 Mardi Gras Futurity on March 27. According to a stakes preview released by Louisiana Downs on March 22, those horses are no longer on the entry list for the race.

The post Four Quarter Horse Trainers Hit With Multiple Suspensions For Zilpaterol Positives In Louisiana appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP) released this statement following the the launch of a citizen advocacy campaign in support of HB 606:

KEEP applauds the Kentucky House of Representatives for advancing HB 606, legislation that would legalize sports wagering in Kentucky. As the bill moves to the Senate, KEEP has launched a citizen advocacy campaign in support of Senate passage of the legislation.

KEEP and Kentucky's horse industry have been actively involved for the past several years in advocating sports wagering legislation that protects the role of Kentucky's signature industry in the landscape of wagering options and provides additional revenue for the state.

HB 606 accomplishes this by allowing for sports wagering to be offered in-person at Kentucky's racetracks. Additionally, sports wagering will be governed by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, a testament to the trust that wagerers place in Kentucky's horse industry.

Overall, this bill will benefit Kentucky's horse industry and community by offering new revenue sources for the industry, as well as attracting new fans to the sport through the in-person experiences at Kentucky racetracks.

KEEP provides an easy tool for citizens to send messages to their Senators in support of HB 606. The tool can be accessed through this link, or by visiting www.horseswork.com/advocacy.

Elisabeth Jensen, KEEP's Executive Vice President who oversees the daily operations of the organization commented, “Nearly all of Kentucky's neighboring states have legalized sports wagering and sports wagering is already occurring illegally in Kentucky at a substantial level. It is our responsibility to regulate it for the consumers and to use it to provide additional revenue for the Commonwealth.”

ABOUT KEEP

The Kentucky Equine Education Project, Kentucky's equine economic advocate, is a not-for-profit grassroots organization created in 2004 to preserve, promote and protect Kentucky's signature multi-breed horse industry. KEEP is committed to ensuring Kentucky remains the horse capital of the world, including educating Kentuckians and elected officials of the importance of the horse industry to the state. KEEP was the driving force in the establishment of the Kentucky Breeders Incentive Fund, which has paid out more than $177 million to Kentucky breeders since its inception in 2006, and pari-mutuel wagering on historical horse racing, which has been responsible for more than $40 million to purses and more than $24 million to the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund.

KEEP works to strengthen the horse economy in Kentucky through our statewide network of citizen advocates. To learn more about how you can become a member or support our work, please visit www.horseswork.com.

The post KEEP Launches Citizen Advocacy Campaign In Support Of Sports Wagering Bill appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred Championships Series (MATCH), the only one of its kind in racing, returns for a 9th season with a $2.2 million stakes schedule that spans April 16 through Oct. 3 and more than $400,000 in bonus money for owners, trainers and breeders.

The Series, a competition among horses in four (4) divisions, is designed to identify the best horses, and their owners and trainers, in the Mid-Atlantic region. The Series, which has had to adapt to the complications caused by the pandemic, will be contested this year at Laurel Park, Hollywood at Penn Gaming, Colonial Downs and Parx. Parx will host this year's Championship Day.

Turf racing also returns to the schedule this year. The four divisions are 3-Year-Olds and Up Sprint—Dirt; Filly and Mare Sprint—Dirt; 3-Year-Olds and Up Long—Turf; and Filly and Mare Long—Turf. There will be five stakes in each division for a total of 20.

“MATCH is very popular with the horsemen in the Mid-Atlantic and we are grateful for the horsemen's organizations and tracks who continue to support and promote the Series,” said Alan Foreman, creator of MATCH and Chairman of the Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association.

“The stakes program at Parx in recent years has grown in monetary value, stature and interest, and we continue to look for opportunities to create event days for our on-track patrons and our growing simulcast audience,” said Joe Wilson, Chief Operating Officer of Parx Racing. “Hosting the MATCH Series Championship Day on a Monday afternoon this year fits in with those objectives.”

“We are very excited to participate this year and host Championship Day,” Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association President Sal DeBunda said.

Colonial, an original MATCH partner when the Series launched in 1997, was set for a return in 2020. In 2021, the track and the Virginia Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association stepped up to join with Maryland for an all-dirt Series.

“Colonial Downs is honored to host four MATCH Series stakes worth a total of $600,000 for 2022,” said Jill Byrne, Vice President of Racing Operations for Colonial. “The value of these races was certainly recognized again last season with top multiple stakes winners such as Cordmaker and Just Might providing popular victories here in Virginia.”

The bonus money distribution for 2022 offers up to $92,500 per division and $30,000 for the overall champion by points. For each division, first place pays $30,000 to the owner and $15,000 to the trainer; for second, $20,000/$10,000; and for third, $10,000/$7,500. For the overall champion, the owner receives an additional $20,000 and the trainer $10,000.

The 2021 champion was Hillwood Stable's Cordmaker, who competed in all six legs of the Series. The gelding won three MATCH stakes, collected 49 points and earned his connections $60,000 in bonus funds.

The Maryland Horse Breeders Association, Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association and Virginia Thoroughbred Association have each agreed to offer $5,000 bonuses to the breeders of the top male and female Maryland-bred, Pennsylvania-bred and Virginia-bred points-earners in the overall standings for a potential total of $30,000.

The 2022 participating organizations are the Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, Pennsylvania THA, Pennsylvania Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, Parx Racing, Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association, 1/ST Racing, Maryland THA, Laurel Park, Maryland Horse Breeders Association, Colonial Downs, Virginia HBPA and Virginia Thoroughbred Association.

The MATCH Series originally debuted in 1997 and ran for five years. It returned with great success in 2018 and was held in 2019 and 2021. The innovative regional racing series—the only one of its kind in horse racing—combines rich stakes and bonuses for participating owners and trainers who compete over a five- to seven-month span. Horses competing in MATCH earn points based on participation and order of finish in each series race, and the leading point-earners in each of the series divisions, as well as the owner and trainer of the overall points leader, win lucrative bonuses.

The post Turf Racing Returns To MATCH Series For 2022 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The Breeders' Cup announced Monday that tickets for the 2022 World Championships will go on sale to the public on Monday, May 9, at Noon ET at BreedersCup.com/2022.

The best horses from around the world are set to return to historic Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky on Nov. 4 and 5 for the 39th annual running of the year-end championship meet. This year will mark the third time the World Championships have been held in the Horse Capital of the World following the event's first running at Keeneland in 2015 and subsequent return in 2020.

“We couldn't be more excited to return to Keeneland for the 39th running of the Breeders' Cup World Championships,” said Breeders' Cup President and CEO Drew Fleming. “As the 2020 World Championships at Keeneland were held without fans due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we eagerly await the opportunity to return to Lexington in full force in support of local racing fans, businesses, and members of the Thoroughbred industry who are the backbone of our sport.”

Anticipation and demand for tickets are expected to be high.

Fans are encouraged to visit BreedersCup.com/2022 now to sign up to receive the latest ticket information and news. As announced in September 2020, fans who purchased tickets to the 2020 Breeders' Cup World Championship have the right to repurchase the same or similar seats as they had previously, and that process is currently underway.

Anyone who purchased Breeders' Cup tickets in 2020 and has not yet received emails from the Breeders' Cup Ticketing Department should call (859) 514-9428 or email Tickets@BreedersCup.com for assistance.

The 39th running of the Breeders' Cup World Championships on November 4 and 5 will be televised live by NBC Sports Group.

ABOUT BREEDERS' CUP

The Breeders' Cup administers the Breeders' Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred horse racing's year-end Championships, as well as the Breeders' Cup Challenge qualifying series, which provides automatic starting positions into the Championships races.

The 2022 Breeders' Cup World Championships, consisting of 14 championship races with purses and awards totaling more than $31 million, will be held on November 4 and 5 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky, and will be televised live by NBC Sports Group. Breeders' Cup press releases appear on the Breeders' Cup website, BreedersCup.com. You can also follow the Breeders' Cup on social media platforms Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

The post Breeders’ Cup 2022 Tickets To Go On Sale May 9 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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