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The Jockey Club Donates To Tornado Relief In Western Kentucky

The Jockey Club, through its commercial subsidiaries, has donated $50,000 toward tornado relief in Western Kentucky in response to the areas that were devastated on Dec. 11.

The donation was made through a Go Fund Me site established by the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association (https://www.gofundme.com/f/relief-for-western-kentucky?qid=7d0f09ff33c007abc965aea444af5411).

In addition, The Jockey Club Safety Net Foundation, which provides financial relief and assistance to needy members of the Thoroughbred industry and their families, is prepared to help those in the racing community personally affected by the storms. Please visit tjcfoundation.org or call Shannon Kelly at (212) 521-5327 to inquire about eligibility.

The Jockey Club, founded in 1894 and dedicated to the improvement of Thoroughbred breeding and racing, is the breed registry for North American Thoroughbreds. In fulfillment of its mission, The Jockey Club, directly or through subsidiaries, provides support and leadership on a wide range of important industry initiatives, and it serves the information and technology needs of owners, breeders, media, fans and farms. It founded America's Best Racing (americasbestracing.net), the broad-based fan development initiative for Thoroughbred racing, and in partnership with the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, operates OwnerView (ownerview.com), the ownership resource. Additional information is available at jockeyclub.com.

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Traditional Wall Calendar, Mathis Brothers Plush Giveaway Headline Santa Anita Opening Day Promos

With Santa Anita's 85th Winter/Spring opener fast approaching on Sunday, Dec. 26, on-track fans will again be treated to a number of promotions, headed by the track's traditional Wall Calendar giveaway and the Mathis Brothers Plush Toy Horse charity donation. The Wall Calendar is free with paid admission, while the Mathis Brothers Toy Horse is available by making a $20 donation to the California Retirement Management Account (CARMA), which provides assistance to racing's retired Thoroughbreds.

Special early first post time for a blockbuster opening day card is at 11 a.m. Three Grade 1 stakes, the $300,000 Runhappy Malibu, the $300,000 La Brea and the $300,000 American Oaks, along with the Grade 2, $200,000 San Antonio, the Grade 2, $200,000 Mathis Mile and the Grade 2, $200,000 San Gabriel Stakes, will highlight what figures to be an unforgettable day at The Great Race Place.

Following is a complete schedule of important Opening Day times & promos Sunday, Dec. 26:

–Admission Gates Open at 9 a.m.

–General Admission, $10, includes General Parking, Program, Open Seating in Grandstand, Sirona's Sports Bar, Seabiscuit Court & Grandstand Paddock Room

–Experience Dining Offerings including a FrontRunner Menu curated by Celebrity Chef Jeremy Fall, a Silks (formerly Turf Terrace) menu featuring Santa Anita Classics and the Santa Anita BBQ in the Loge Box Seats & Trackside Dining. All packages include a reserved seat.

–Infield General Admission, $5, includes Parking & Program

–Children 17 & under admitted free with paid adult

–Preferred Parking, $6, Valet Parking, $10

–First post time at 11 a.m.

–Traditional Wall Calendar, free with paid admission

–Mathis Bros Plush Toy Horse available with $20 donation to CARMA

–Craft Beer & Cider Tasting on Grandstand Apron

–Infield Winter Family Fun Zone, including Pony Rides, Face Painting, Games & more

–Free Online “ShowVivor,” available at santaanita.com

Santa Anita will be open for a 10-race card on Monday, Dec. 27, with first post time at 11:30 a.m. The track will be idle on Dec. 28 & 29th and will then be open for a four-day week from Thursday, Dec. 30 through Sunday, Jan. 2.

Bring Proof of Vaccination: Per the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Mega Event Guidelines, fans 12 and older, must provide proof of vaccination status prior to entering Santa Anita Park. Alternatively, fans can show proof of a negative test result (taken within 72 hours from date of event). For more information on safety protocols, please visit santaanita.com/health.

Fans are encouraged to make reservations and purchase tickets for Opening Day events at santaanita.com/events. For additional information, please call (626) 574-RACE.

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Slow Down Andy, Art Sherman Among Highlights For Los Alamitos Winter Meet

An upset by Slow Down Andy in the $300,000 Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity, a fifth consecutive win in the G1 Starlet for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, and a retirement ceremony for trainer Art Sherman were among the highlights of the seven-day Winter Thoroughbred meet, which concluded Sunday at Los Alamitos Race Course in Cypress, Calif.

A homebred son of 2016 Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist owned by J. Paul Reddam and trained by Doug O'Neill, Slow Down Andy surprised 1-2 favorite the Baffert-trained Messier Dec. 11, ending Baffert's streak of seven wins in a row in the Futurity.

In the Starlet, Eda, the 11-10 favorite, prevailed, continuing a run for Baffert that has seen him win the prestigious race for 2-year-old fillies five of the eight years it has been offered at Los Alamitos.

Baffert also won the meet's other graded race, capturing the $100,500 G3 Bayakoa with favored As Time Goes By for Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith.

The two other stakes were for 2-year-olds bred or sired in California. Professors' Pride went gate-to-wire in the $101,500 Soviet Problem for Larry and Carolyn Samovar's Academic Farms and trainer Eddie Truman while 2-1 second choice Straight Up G led throughout to take the $102,000 King Glorious for owner-breeder Jim Rome's Jungle Racing LLC and trainer Richard Baltas.

Sherman, 84, was honored Dec. 10 minutes after he saddled his last career starter – Chasing Alchemy, who finished seventh in a $50,000 maiden claimer for 2-year-olds. The popular trainer, who has been involved in racing for more than 65 years, finished his career with 2,261 wins. His most famous pupil was two-time Horse of the Year and 2014 Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome, who was based at Los Alamitos for most of his career.

Baffert topped the trainer standings with five victories, one more than Lorenzo Ruiz. It was the 13th meet he has either led or shared the title since daytime thoroughbred racing returned to Los Alamitos in 2014.

Baffert had the most wins (13) for the year at Los Alamitos, combining the Winter meet with the Summer Thoroughbred Festival (June 25-July 5) and the Los Angeles County Fair season (Sept. 10-26). Peter Miller and Steve Miyadi tied for second with 11.

A closing day triple-double enabled Abel Cedillo to win the jockey title, his second in a row locally after taking the LACF meet. The 32-year-old native of Guatemala finished with nine wins, three more than Tyler Baze, apprentices Ricardo Ramirez and Diego Herrera, and Kyle Frey.

For the year at Los Alamitos, Cedillo totaled 35 wins, 14 more than closest pursuer Juan Hernandez. Frey and Herrera shared third with 16.

All sources handle for the Winter meet was up 11% on a comparative basis over 2019, which was also a seven-day season.

Handle at California satellite locations declined 23%, but advance deposit wagering in Southern California increased 61%. “We're pleased with how things went for the days we raced, but disappointed we aren't able to run next week,'' said F. Jack Liebau, vice president of the Los Alamitos Racing Association.

Daytime thoroughbred racing will return to Los Alamitos in 2022. The first of three meets is scheduled to begin Friday, June 24, and will continue through Sunday, July 10.

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HKJC’s Engelbrecht-Bresges Calls 2021 Hong Kong International Races ‘A Tremendous Sporting Success’

The Hong Kong Jockey Club's Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges has saluted Hong Kong's “can-do” spirit and commitment after another successful staging of the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races, which saw Group 1 glory shared between Japan and Hong Kong at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong, Sunday, Dec. 12.

On a day when Golden Sixty charged into Hong Kong racing history with a record 19th win in the jurisdiction with a triumphant defense of his LONGINES Hong Kong Mile crown, Mr. Engelbrecht-Bresges pointed to Hong Kong's ability to compete with racing super-powers with much larger horse populations.

“Hong Kong has a horse population of 1,350 horses and we hold our own against the best in the world, we compete successfully against countries with a horse population of 8,000 or 14,000,” Mr. Engelbrecht-Bresges said. “It is something Hong Kong can be very proud of.

“Golden Sixty is an incredible horse and he again showed today what a phenomenal horse he is. Francis Lui and Vincent Ho have done an incredible job and now he has bettered the record he shared with Beauty Generation and Silent Witness.”

Golden Sixty eclipsed world-class opposition to provide Hong Kong with pride and joy, Mr. Engelbrecht-Bresges said.

Caspar Fownes and Blake Shinn combined with Sky Field to win the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint, while Japan struck twice through Glory Vase (LONGINES Hong Kong Vase) and Loves Only You (LONGINES Hong Kong Cup).

The pair had previously prevailed at the HKIR.

“Today is a day which had tremendous sporting success and this is something everybody in the Club should be proud of,” Mr. Engelbrecht-Bresges said. “There are people you do not see who make a big commitment to the Club and to this event.

“I am extremely grateful for their contributions and I commend them for their dedication.

“I also thank the Government for trusting us to stage LONGINES HKIR in such trying circumstances. The closed-loop racing bubble has worked extremely well.

“As wonderful as the racing was today, we also had the unfortunate and tragic circumstances in the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint, where there was an accident. Our thoughts are with the injured jockeys and we wish Zac Purton, Lyle Hewitson, and Yuichi Fukunaga a speedy recovery. Nobody likes to see these accidents and the owners of the horses involved are also in our thoughts.”

“If this incident did not happen, it would probably have been one of the greatest achievements of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, to pull something like this off. Sometimes you have setbacks and you have to overcome challenges, which we have always proven to do.

“My thanks go to all the trainers and jockeys, especially from overseas, who have gone through tremendous sacrifices. I want to apologize to the owners because when your horse runs you want to see it but they still supported us, which shows that we have that trust. For us, it is extremely important that we stage this event because, if we had not staged it, you lose your spot in the world scene. We are extremely proud that we have achieved this but there is definitely sadness which over-runs everything.”

Turnover for the meeting was a record HK$1.728 billion.

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