Tag: The Biz

Turf Paradise announced on Sept. 18 that live racing and simulcasting at the Phoenix racetrack will cease on Oct. 1, 2023. The closure will also impact Turf's 37 off-track betting locations, which can only operate when live racing is happening at the track. According to its press release, the track's contract with the Arizona Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association ends Sept. 30. In a memo to employees, track management had indicated the planned sale to James Watson's CT Realty in partnership with Revolutionary Racing had fallen apart. In his comments at an August meeting of the Arizona Racing Commission, Turf Paradise owner Jerry Simms had indicated that Watson had a Sept. 15 deadline to secure financial approvals and had the option to back out up until that deadline. In August, Simms had said it was 50/50 on whether the deal would go forward. Larry Lucas of Revolutionary Racing, a partner in the proposed purchase, said he was grateful for the Arizona legislature's willingness to help support racing at Turf Paradise but frustrated by Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs' lack of interest in keeping the thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions of economic impact the industry has in the state. Lucas had sought historical Horse Racing legislation, similar to what helped Revolutionary Racing reopen Colonial Downs in Virginia and has had a significant impact on the growth of Kentucky racing in recent years. According to the memo, there are other candidates interested in purchasing the property and the unnamed potential buyers could be interested in continuing live racing at the property. Vince Francia, general manager of Turf Paradise, could not provide insight on timelines for deals with other purchasers and could only say that discussions continue between Simms and potential buyers. Turf Paradise had been scheduled to open its 2023-24 season in November. At the August racing commission meeting, officials with Arizona Downs indicated they were in discussions with the Arizona HBPA to shift dates from Turf to Arizona Downs. Arizona Downs did not apply for 2023 racing dates by the deadline this year, and rumors had indicated it was also under contract to sell. The track was previously the subject of criticism from the commission over its bleak finances, and that will likely come into play if the track wants to run run some of Turf Paradise's dates. The post Turf Paradise Announces Closure Of Live Racing, Simulcasting Oct. 1; Sale Of Track Has Fallen Through appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Canadian harness racing trainer Marc Campbell is facing an indefinite suspension over a series of four positives tests in the past year, reports CBC.ca, but three of those positives were for the commission veterinarian-administered medication Lasix. The four rulings are currently under appeal.

Canada is not under the purview of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, but the Atlantic Harness Racing Commission employs a similar method for race-day Lasix administration. A commission-approved veterinarian administers the medication several hours prior to the race.

Three violations occurred in the same horse, The Lady Sherriff, according to records obtained from the Standardbred Canada website. Two of the violations with The Lady Sherriff have occurred in the past 30 days at Charlottetown Driving Park in the province of Prince Edward Island.

“There was nothing he could've prevented,” Jim Whelan, president of the Ontario Harness Horse Association, told CBC. “When there's a mistake made — whether it's science, the horse not metabolizing stuff properly, whether it's a mistake made when the medication is administered to the horse — the trainer's held responsible, in this case when it wasn't part of his responsibility.”

A third violation, with a different horse, Galway Girl, also occurred at Charlottetown Driving Park within the past 30 days. Galway Girl is named on Standardbred Canada's list of indefinitely suspended horses.

Neither Campbell nor the Atlantic Harness Racing Commission commented on the rulings when contacted by CBC.

“He went from a hero to zero here in a matter of a week, and he's never had a chance to explain his side of the story, or literally have due process in this,” Whelan continued. “You could destroy his whole career and his family and it'll be a tainted career going forward if this isn't properly sorted out real quick.”

Read more at CBC.ca.

The post ‘Nothing He Could’ve Prevented’: Canadian Harness Trainer Facing Indefinite Suspension Over Multiple Lasix Overages appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Southern California-based trainers Peter Miller and Carla Gaines have each been fined $1,000 and ordered to serve a seven-day suspension after horses in their care tested positive for the tranquilizer acepromazine, according to the public disclosures section of the website for the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU), the enforcement arm of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA).

Three of Miller's trainees tested positive after racing at Santa Anita Park in early June. Each has been disqualified with purse money ordered returned.

• Forgiving Spirit tested positive after finishing second in an allowance optional claiming race at Santa Anita on June 11. A claim on the horse was voided.
• Anmer Hall tested positive after finishing first in a claiming race at Santa Anita on June 4; the horse was claimed by Steve Knapp. The claim may be voided under HISA rules, unless the new connections opt to keep the horse; Anmer Hall breezed once at Santa Anita on June 22, but has not started since that June 4 race.
• Giver Not A Taker tested positive after finishing fourth in an allowance optional claiming race on June 4 at Santa Anita. The horse has since finished third in an allowance optional race at Los Al, second in the Real Good Deal Stakes at Del Mar, and fifth in an allowance optional race at Del Mar.

Miller's seven-day suspension began on Sept. 16, 2023. The trainer was also assessed two Penalty Points, the accumulation of which can lead to suspensions (6-7 points leads to a 30-day suspension).

Gaines' trainee Summer Lake tested positive for acepromazine after a vet's list workout at Santa Anita on July 14. The 4-year-old daughter of Lakerville made two starts in April and May of 2022 for trainer Blake Heap; her best finish was a fourth in a maiden special weight event at Santa Anita. Summer Lake resumed workouts in April of 2023, and is not currently listed on the California Horse Racing Board vet's list.

The seven-day suspension for Gaines began on Sept. 16, 2023. She was also assessed two Penalty Points.

The post Peter Miller, Carla Gaines Will Each Serve Seven-Day Suspension For Acepromazine Positives appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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1/ST RACING announced Saturday that it expects to file a request with the California Horse Racing Board for an allocation of race dates at Golden Gate Fields for the first half of 2024. The request is tied to extending the announced closing date of the track located in the California cities of Albany and Berkeley to June 30, 2024.

The decision follows the passage of AB 1074 at the end of the 2023 legislative session in Sacramento, which authorizes the reallocation of purse and commission revenues generated in the Northern zone of California to support racing in the Southern and Central zones should there be unallocated weeks in future years. The bill will not be law until signed by Governor Newsom.

“We are pleased we could work out a solution with our industry stakeholders to be able to keep Golden Gate Fields open for an additional and final meet,” said Aidan Butler, Chief Executive Officer, 1/ST RACING & GAMING.

The extension request follows extensive consultation with various industry constituents, including the Thoroughbred Owners of California, the California Authority of Racing Fairs, California Thoroughbred Trainers, and the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association, who urged an extension in the interest of developing a statewide transition plan based upon thoughtful consideration of the challenges facing racing in California and across the country.

1/ST RACING said in a press release that it is committed to a final race meet at Golden Gate Fields that reflects a proud commemoration of the sport of Thoroughbred racing in Northern California.

The post Golden Gate Fields Owner To Request Race Dates For First Half Of 2024 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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