Tag: The Biz

The Arkansas Racing Commission issued exercise rider Cristian Garcia a 90-day suspension due to “inhumane or improper treatment of an animal” as well as for testing positive for prohibited substances, according to a ruling posted on the Association of Racing Commissioners International website.

Garcia, previously employed by champion trainer Brad Cox, injured the horse Blue Norther in the eye with his crop on March 5, 2022. The incident occurred at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., and on the same date the 3-year-old son of Frosted was recorded breezing a half-mile in 49.40 seconds.

Cox indicated that Blue Norther, a winner of a maiden claiming race at Oaklawn on Feb. 20, was doing well and would be fine.

Garcia later tested positive for prohibited substances while at Oaklawn on March 7, 2022.

After a hearing on March 11, stewards suspended Garcia for 90 days over the riding crop incident. He was suspended an additional 30 days for the prohibited substances infraction.

The two penalties will be served concurrently from March 7, 2022 through June 5, 2022, and Garcia must submit a sample clean of prohibited substances in order to be considered for reinstatement.

The post Arkansas Commission Bans Exercise Rider 90 Days For ‘Inhumane Treatment,’ Prohibited Substances appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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In order to make up for six race dates canceled due to inclement weather this winter, the Daily Racing Form reports that Aqueduct Racetrack will add extra races to each card over the next several weeks.

New York Racing Association officials made this decision instead of adding more race days to the schedule on short notice.

“March is a tough month,” said Keith Doleshel, NYRA's racing secretary. “At the end of the day, you don't get an influx of horses until April or May.”

Ten races have been carded for Friday, March 18, and an additional 10 are expected to be carded on both Saturday and Sunday.

Live racing is planned for Friday through Sunday each week until March 31, when Thursday cards are added to the schedule.

Read more at the Daily Racing Form.

The post Aqueduct: Additional Races Per Day Planned To Make Up For Canceled Cards appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Following another successful year, including record pari-mutuel performance, Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races has announced it will be increasing overnight purses by 10 percent, effective on March 23, which coincides with the first live racing program in the track's next full condition book.

Following the purse hike, maiden special weights will be run for $32,700 with allowance purses ranging from $33,900 to $38,700, while horses at the bottom rung of the claiming ranks will compete for no less than $9,700.

The purse increase will apply to both West Virginia-bred and unrestricted company.

The increase in the purse schedule comes on the heels of the track announcing it would again be supplementing West Virginia-bred stakes program allowing their purses to stand at $75,000 for 2022 and the Charles Town Classic (G2) and Charles Town Oaks (G3) receiving bumps to $1,000,000 and $500,000, respectively.

Charles Town's next day of live racing is scheduled for Wednesday, March 16 and will get underway at the track's standard first post time of 7:00 P.M. EST.

The post Charles Town To Boost Purses 10 Percent Effective March 23 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Churchill Downs, Inc. CEO Bill Carstanjen told the Richmond Times-Dispatch that the company's plans for Colonial Downs in New Kent, Va., include expanding the track's race dates, hosting a Kentucky Derby qualifying race, and adding to the number of Rosie's historical horse racing facilities.

“We're bringing our checkbook,” Carstanjen said.

CDI announced the purchase of Colonial Downs on Feb. 22. The $2.5 billion deal includes six historical horse racing facilities in Virginia, the del Lago Resort & Casino in Waterloo, New York, the operations of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Sioux City, Iowa, and the rights to Peninsula Pacific Entertainment's ongoing effort in partnership with Urban One to develop a destination casino in Richmond, Va.

Colonial Downs completed a record-setting meet in 2021, featuring 21 race days and an average daily betting handle of $2,240,000. A total of $10.4 million in purse monies were distributed and average field size was a healthy 8.36 starters per race.

The Virginia Racing Commission approved Colonial Downs to expand from 21 days to 27 race days in 2022, with dates from July 11 through Sept. 7.

Carstanjen hopes to increase the number of race dates, possibly up to 50, at Colonial Downs.

Immediately, CDI's plans involve expanding the number of Rosie's facilities from the six currently in operation to the maximum number allowed, ten across the state.

“We have a lot of confidence in our product,” Carstanjen told the Richmond Times-Dispatch. “We have a lot of confidence in our business model, which is very similar to Rosie's business model. So we think there's a niche for us that we've demonstrated in Kentucky, and think we will demonstrate in Virginia, even though there'll be more competition than there is currently.”

Read more at the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

The post ‘We’re Bringing Our Checkbook’: Expansion The Theme Of Churchill’s Plans For Colonial Downs appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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