Tag: The Biz

The next trial scheduled for a defendant in the federal doping case is off after Rick Dane, Jr., accepted a plea deal.

A letter filed by prosecutors on Feb. 11 indicated that the government extended a deal to Dane, and he has accepted. Dane is expected to formally enter a change of plea next week.

Dane, who was a harness trainer, had been the last defendant standing in the second trial grouping, after Dr. Rebecca Linke took a deferred prosecution agreement in December.

Dane's trial was originally scheduled to begin March 23. He is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit drug adulteration and misbranding and one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States. In the original indictment released in March 2020, Dane is characterized as having assisted Fishman in distributing his adulterated and misbranded products. He is specifically alleged to have asked Fishman to provide him with performance-enhancing drugs for trainee Glass Prince in February 2018, and to have asked Giannelli in 2019 about purchasing and delivering more misbranded and adulterated drugs.

A new trial date has yet to be set for Lisa Giannelli, the Seth Fishman employee whose trial was cut short in January after her attorney tested positive for COVID-19. Attorneys had discussed combining her trial with Dane's at the request of U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil, but neither side was amenable to that. It remains unclear if her trial date could be impacted by the opening on the court's calendar left by Dane's plea change.

The post Dane Takes Plea Deal, Will Not Go To Trial In March appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Woodbine Entertainment today unveiled the stakes schedule for the 2022 Thoroughbred racing season at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario.

The lucrative 2022 Thoroughbred stakes program offers more than $16.9 million in stakes events, including 37 graded stakes and two $1 million classics, The Queen's Plate and Grade 1 Ricoh Woodbine Mile.

After delayed starts in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19, Woodbine is eyeing its first full racing season since 2019, with 133 race dates schedule for the upcoming campaign.

“We are feeling very optimistic that 2022 will be a strong season for our entire team and racing community at Woodbine,” said Jim Lawson, CEO of Woodbine Entertainment. “We're heading in the right direction for a return to normal and our racing team has done a great job lining up a stakes calendar that provides excitement all season.

“All horseplayers, fans and participants will immediately take note of several significant days on the calendar that will shine a tremendous light on our world class racing product at Woodbine.”

As announced in December, the 163^rd running of The Queen's Plate is slated for Sunday, Aug. 21, joined on that date by the Grade 2 Canadian Stakes, presented by Japan Racing Association, and Grade 2 King Edward, for Canada's biggest racing party of the year. The “Path to the Plate” includes the Woodstock (May 1), Queenston (June 12), Grade 3 Marine (July 2) and Plate Trial (July 24).

The Queen's Plate kicks off the 2022 Canadian Triple Crown, which is completed by the $400,000 Prince of Wales on Tuesday, Sept. 13 at Fort Erie Race Track and the $400,000 Breeders' Stakes on Sunday, Oct. 2 at Woodbine.

The Canadian Triple Tiara for 3-year-old fillies launches on Sunday, July 24 with the prestigious $500,000 Woodbine Oaks, presented by Budweiser. The series also consists of the $250,000 Bison City (Aug. 14) and $250,000 Wonder Where (Sept. 11).

The $1 million Grade 1 Ricoh Woodbine Mile is again part of Breeders' Cup Challenge Series 'Win and You're In'. The marquee turf event of the season is joined by the Grade 1 Pattison Summer Stakes and Grade 1 Natalma Stakes for 2-year-olds on Saturday, Sept. 17. The 2-year-old events remain part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series and have received purse increases to $500,000 for 2022.

The Grade 1 E.P. Taylor has also received a purse increase, vaulting from $600,000 to $750,000 for the 2022 edition. The mile and a quarter Grade 1 for fillies and mares will be run on Saturday, Oct. 8 along with the Grade 2 Nearctic and Grade 3 Durham Cup.

The E.P. Taylor is also the final leg of the returning Ladies of the Lawn Series. The three-race event consists of the Grade 2 Dance Smartly (July 24), Grade 2 Canadian Stakes, presented by Japan Racing Association, (Aug. 21) and the E.P. Taylor.

Another highlight of the season is a group of five graded stakes to be run over Canada Day weekend. The Grade 3 Dominion Day holds its traditional slot on Friday, July 1, followed by the Grade 2 Highlander, Grade 2 Nassau, Grade 3 Selene and Grade 3 Marine on Saturday, July 2.

Other notes from the 2022 stakes schedule include the return of the Ontario Sired Heritage Series and a pair of overnight stakes added to opening weekend.

The entire 2022 Thoroughbred Stakes schedule can be viewed here.

The 2022 Thoroughbred season at Woodbine Racetrack opens Saturday, April 16 and runs through Sunday, December 11. A total of 133 race dates are scheduled for 2022. For more information and news leading up to the new season, visit www.Woodbine.com.

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The date has been set for the 87th running of the Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie Race Track. The top 3-year-old Canadian thoroughbreds will be called to the post at the border oval on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022 to compete for the second jewel in the Canadian Triple Crown. The race sits between the Queen's Plate and the Breeders' Stakes, both hosted at Woodbine Racetrack.

This marks the third year in a row where the event will be held in September due to COVID-19, slightly later than the traditional July date.

“A fall Prince of Wales Stakes has proven effective for us, attracting competitive field sizes for the event,” said Drew Cady, general manager of the Fort Erie Live Racing Consortium. “We hope that this year we will be able to host fans and celebrate this event with the prestige it deserves.”

In 2021, Haddassah was first across the wire to capture the 86th edition of the race. The son of Air Force Blue, trained by Kevin Attard and owned by Al and Bill Ulwelling was piloted to victory by journeyman Gary Boulanger.

Fort Erie Race Track's 125th season is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, May 31, and will run primarily on Mondays and Tuesdays through to October 18.

More information about the upcoming season is available at www.forterieracing.com.

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The BHA has today set out its response to the ruling in December of the High Court in favor of Freddy Tylicki, which was brought following catastrophic injuries he suffered in a fall at Kempton Park in October 2016.

Following the judge's ruling, the BHA obtained transcripts of the proceedings, which have been reviewed in detail, and held discussions with industry stakeholders in order to consider what implications there may be for the sport as a result of the judgment.

Stewarding

Due to the significant reforms of British racing's stewarding model and processes which have taken place since 2016, the BHA is satisfied that the High Court has not identified any further actions that must be taken as a result of this ruling beyond those which have already taken place or are already committed to. The reforms since 2016 have included:

• A transition from a majority amateur panel quorum model to a majority professional panel quorum model of stewarding in Britain;
• Mandatory competency-based training, developed externally in collaboration with legal training experts, has been introduced for all stewards;
• State-of-the-art technology introduced on course that allows for more enhanced analysis of races;
• Updated guidance provided to stewards as part of the competency-based training on enquiry procedure, and specifically regarding the adjournment of enquiries where material witnesses are unable to be present.

Work is already underway, following the adoption of the new Rules of Racing in 2019, to review British racing's sanctions framework and guidance. This work will address the full range of sanctions, including those for interference, and discussions with stakeholders have already begun on this process.

During the hearing, it was suggested that there exists an informal code of conduct, whereby jockeys do not “get too involved or [say] too much… try to stay as neutral as possible” when giving evidence to stewards following a race. Evidence given by Jockeys during enquiries is just one piece of the evidence stewards are required to carefully consider and weigh against all other evidential material. Experienced and trained Stewards objectively undertake this task and make decisions based on the required standard at every fixture every day. The BHA is committed to furthering the professional development of all stewards in line with international best practice, enabling them to develop the skills required to hear, test, interrogate where appropriate, and balance all evidence given in enquiries.

Further implications

Away from stewarding, it is considered that there could be implications for jockeys' insurance arising from this ruling, something the BHA and PJA have met to discuss.

The BHA has committed to supporting the PJA in whatever way necessary in their discussions with their insurer, in particular by providing whatever material they may need to demonstrate the level of risk mitigation that is now in place in British racing. It is essential for all sectors of our sport that jockeys are provided with adequate cover to allow them to compete.

Such risk mitigation includes the introduction of saliva testing in 2021, whereby oral swabs are used to provide on-the-day screening for cocaine and a range of other banned substances at racecourses. Over 900 saliva samples were taken in 2021.

Saliva testing is designed to be used in addition to breath and urine testing, which is capable of detecting a broad range of substances. Raceday saliva and breath tests act as a preliminary screen, and any jockey who does not test negative on raceday is stood down from riding that day, as well as being subject to further investigation.

Funding has also been made available by the Levy Board for hair sampling to become a mandatory element of any jockey's licensing process in the future, as part of a widening of the matrices used to test for prohibited substances.

The BHA would like to thank all of those who have contributed to discussions on the topic of this ruling in the last month and would also like to place on record once again its very best wishes for the future for Freddy Tylicki and his family.

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