Tag: The Biz

‘Off Turf’ American Oaks Retains Grade 1 Status; AGS Committee Alters Grading Schedule for 2022

The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association's American Graded Stakes Committee said the Dec. 26 American Oaks – taken off turf and run on dirt because of wet conditions at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif. – would have its Grade 1 standing reinstated. Under the AGS Committee's rules, races run on a different surface than that originally scheduled are automatically downgraded and reviewed for possible reinstatement.

The American Oaks, won by Queen Goddess, drew 11 entries. Only one original entry was scratched from the race, and it was not surface-related.

The committee also reinstated the Grade 2 standing for the Santa Anita Mathis Mile Stakes, run the same day as the American Oaks. Law Professor won the race in a field of eight. One horse, Zoffarelli, scratched because of the surface change.

A third stakes run Dec. 26, the San Gabriel, will remain a Grade 3 race for 2021 after automatically being downgraded from Grade 2 when it was taken off the turf. Three of the original seven entries were scratched after the surface change, including morning line favorite Hit the Road.

The AGS Committee will meet Jan. 26-27 to assign grades for 2022. The timing is a departure from previous years when the committee would meet in early December, assessing races run after the previous year's Breeders' Cup through the current year's Breeders' Cup.

The new schedule permits the committee to assess races for the entire calendar year.

Andy Schweigardt, TOBA's senior director of industry relations and development and the secretary of the AGS Committee, said, “The committee made the change to a calendar year for its statistical measurements so that the important Grade 1 and Grade 2 races conducted after the Breeders' Cup and before Dec. 31 could be included in the grading session workbooks in a timelier manner. Under the former Breeders' Cup to Breeders' Cup statistical year, a race run Thanksgiving weekend and the stats earned by the horses in it would not be reflected in the workbooks until a year later.”

Schweigardt said the 2022 grades are expected to be announced Jan. 28 and will cover the period from Feb. 1, 2022, through Jan. 31, 2023.

For more information on how the grading process works, click here.

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Emerald Downs Boosts Purse For Longacres Mile To $150,000 In 2022

Emerald Downs has announced 21 stakes worth $1,245,000 in purses for its 2022 live racing season that begins Sunday, May 15.

The track's signature race, the Grade 3 Longacres Mile, has been boosted to $150,000 and anchors an Aug. 14 stakes quadruple-header also featuring the $75,000 Emerald Distaff, $75,000 Muckleshoot Derby, and $75,000 Washington Oaks. The purse for the Mile is $50,000 larger than last year while the Distaff, Derby and Oaks are all up $25,000 from 2021.

The older horse division begins with the $50,000 Budweiser Stakes (six furlongs) on Sunday, June 26, followed by the $50,000 Governor's Stakes (6 ½ furlongs) on Sunday, July 24, and the 87th running of the Longacres Mile.

The stakes schedule features six stakes twin bills, along with two quadruple-headers, and a closing day triple-header on Sunday, Sept. 18, featuring the $70,000 Gottstein Futurity, the track's top race for 2-year-olds.

The $50,000 Seattle Stakes for 3-year-old fillies and $50,000 Auburn Stakes for 3-year-old colts and geldings kick off stakes action on Sunday, June 19.

Seven stakes are offered for 2-year-olds—three apiece for colts and geldings and fillies—climaxing with the Gottstein Futurity at a mile and one-sixteenth.

Washington Cup features four stakes—$50,000 Washington Cup Juvenile Colts & Geldings and $50,000 Washington Cup Juvenile Fillies on Sunday, Aug. 28; $50,000 Muckleshoot Tribal Classic and $50,000 Washington Cup Fillies & Mares on Sunday, Sept. 18. Both 2-year-old races are restricted to Washington-breds while the older horse events are open to both Washington and British Columbia-breds.

In addition to 21 Thoroughbred stakes, Emerald Downs offers two stakes races for Quarter Horses—$30,000 John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship for 2-year-olds at 350 yards and the 12th running of the $40,000 Bank of America Emerald Championship Challenge for 3-year-olds and up at 440 yards.

Opening day for the 2022 season is Sunday, May 15. The 52-day meet concludes Sunday, Sept. 18.

2022 EMERALD DOWNS STAKES SCHEDULE
Date. . . . . .Stakes. . . . . .Distance. . . . . .Purse
Sun June 19 Seattle Stakes (3YOF) 6F $50,000
Sun June 19 Auburn Stakes (3YO) 6F $50,000
Sun June 26 Hastings Stakes (3&UP F&M) 6F $50,000
Sun June 26 Budweiser Stakes (3&UP) 6F $50,000
Sun July 10 Angie C Stakes (2YOF) 5 ½ F $50,000
Sun July 10 King County Express (2YO C&G) 5 ½ F $50,000
Sun July 17 Kent Stakes (3YOF) 6 ½ F $50,000
Sun July 17 Irish Day Stakes (3YO) 6 ½ F $50,000
Sun July 24 Governor's Stakes (3&UP) 6 ½ F $50,000
Sun July 24 WA State Legislators Stakes (3&UP F&M) 6 ½ F $50,000
Sun Aug 7 Barbara Shinpoch Stakes (2YOF) 6 ½ F $50,000
Sun Aug 7 WTBOA Lads Stakes (2YO C&G) 6 ½ F $50,000
Sun Aug 14 Muckleshoot Derby (3YO) 1 1/16 M $75,000
Sun Aug 14 Washington Oaks (3YOF) 1 1/16 M $75,000
Sun Aug 14 Emerald Distaff (3&UP F&M) 1 1/16 M $75,000
Sun Aug 14 Longacres Mile (G3) (3&UP) 1M $150,000
Sun Aug 28 Bank of America Emerald Downs Challenge** (3&UP) 440Y $40,000
Sun Aug 28 John Deere Juvenile Challenge** (2YO) 350Y $30,000
Sun Aug 28 Washington Cup Juvenile Filly (2YOF WA) 6 ½ F $50,000
Sun Aug 28 Washington Cup Juvenile Colts & Geldings (2YO WA) 6 ½ F $50,000
Sun Sept 18 Muckleshoot Tribal Classic* (3& UP) 1 1/16 M $50,000
Sun Sept 18 Washington Cup Filly & Mare Stakes* (3&UP F&M) 1 1/16 M $50,000
Sun Sept 18 Gottstein Futurity (2YO) 1 1/16 M $70,000
*Washington & British Columbia bred
**Quarter Horse

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Minnesota Racing Commission Approves 2022 Race Dates For Canterbury Park, Running Aces

The Minnesota Racing Commission (“MRC”), the State regulatory body for Minnesota horse racing, has approved requests from Canterbury Park and Running Aces Casino, Hotel & Racetrack to host live horse racing in 2022.

Pursuant to State of Minnesota rules and statutes, the MRC held a public hearing to receive public testimony and comments regarding the dates proposed by the two racetracks. The hearing began on Dec. 16, 2021 and resumed after a recess on Dec. 28. Both requests were approved.

In 2022, Canterbury Park will have 65 days of live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing, beginning May 18 and ending Sept. 17. Racing will take place every Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. Post time will be at 5:00 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, and 1:00 p.m. on Sundays. From July 18-26 there will be a weeklong break from racing, as Canterbury Park is hosting the Twin Cities Summer Jam concert series, and Sunday, July 3 post time will be at 4:00 p.m. in recognition of Independence Day.

Running Aces Casino, Hotel & Racetrack plans to host 56 days of live Standardbred racing, from May 15 through Sept. 17. Racing will be Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. Special out-of-schedule racing is planned on Aug. 3, Sept. 16, and Sept. 17. All post times will be at 7:00 p.m.

At the hearing, the Minnesota Racing Commission also took time to commemorate the individuals lost by the racing community of Minnesota this year.

“The MRC is happy to continue the tradition of honoring those in the industry that we have lost since last December. The horsepeople of Minnesota are the key to this great industry, and we are saddened by the loss of these individuals,” said Steve May, MRC Executive Director.

Those remembered by the MRC include:

  • Jay Corey, Standardbred breeder
  • Ramiro Flores, Track Superintendent at Canterbury Park.
  • Cliff Owens, Standardbred trainer and driver
  • Rodney Pinsky, Standardbred owner and trainer
  • Nat Wess, longtime racing executive at many tracks, including Canterbury Park, and
  • Steve Wiseman, longtime Standardbred owner, trainer, and driver

The Minnesota Racing Commission is responsible for the oversight and regulation of horse racing and card casinos in the state of Minnesota. For questions about licensing for 2022, please contact us by calling 952-496-7950 or by emailing mrclicensing@state.mn.us. For questions about backside opening dates and stall applications, please contact the relevant racetrack.

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