The Biz | Horse Racing Free Tips

Presque Isle Files Suit Against Pennsylvania HBPA To Block Arbitration Over ADW Revenue Dispute

An ongoing legal dispute between Presque Isle Downs and the Pennsylvania Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association saw a new development last week when PID filed a lawsuit seeking to prevent the PAHBPA's “unsupported allegations” from going to arbitration, reports the Thoroughbred Daily News.

The dispute centers around revenue-sharing of advanced deposit wagering dollars, which is laid out in a Live Racing Agreement between the PAHBPA and PID. PAHBPA has two complaints: first, that PID's parent company Churchill Downs, Inc. is breaching the Live Racing Agreement by promoting its own ADW to on-track patrons, then not treating those wagers with the same return to the purse account as on-track wagers; and second, that the source market fee (from ADW bets made by in-state residents) agreed to by PID with CDI is too low compared to industry standards.

“PAHBPA's asserted allegations of breach are nothing more than a money grab without legal merit,” the PID's latest complaint contends. “Rather than raising questions as to PID's compliance with the terms of the Live Racing Agreement, PAHBPA's asserted allegations are an attempt to renegotiate through arbitration a long standing contractual provision, that with the benefit of hindsight and changed circumstances, they now disfavor. In essence, PAHBPA alleges that the source market fee received by PID from the collateral agreement is too low.”

Read more at the Thoroughbred Daily News.

The post Presque Isle Files Suit Against Pennsylvania HBPA To Block Arbitration Over ADW Revenue Dispute appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Kentucky’s Harness Horsemen Embracing New ‘Corbin At The Red Mile’ Dates

The reaction from standardbred horsemen to Kentucky gaining an additional harness meet has been overwhelming. Now the problem facing racing secretary Kevin Mack is trying to accommodate as many stables as possible for The Red Mile meet that will serve as a prelude to Kentucky's third harness track. The 12-date meet runs Sunday July 4 through July 27, with racing on Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays over the famed Red Mile's red-clay oval in Lexington. Post time will be 1 p.m. EDT.

“I couldn't be more pleased with the response,” Mack said. “We have an overwhelming number of stalls applied for — more than we have stalls. We're delighted with the response for a new meet. Looking forward to seeing all the horsemen and to hit the ground running coming July 4.”

Ron Winchell and Marc Falcone, Kentucky Downs' majority owners and managing partners, are building a harness track in Corbin in southeastern Kentucky in partnership with Keeneland Race Course. The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission granted the owners dates at The Red Mile while the Corbin facility is being constructed. A satellite Historical Horse Racing gaming operation also will be built in nearby Williamsburg to create money for purses as well as jobs in the region.

“Marc and Ron believe in this industry and really want to make a big difference,” said Ted Nicholson, Kentucky Downs' vice president for racing who will oversee the Corbin at The Red Mile meet. “This is the first step. We thank the racing commission for granting us the dates until Corbin can be up and running and can't say enough about The Red Mile for working with us.”

Winchell said that he believes harness racing can mirror the growth that Kentucky Thoroughbred racing has experienced since Kentucky Downs introduced Historical Horse Racing into the state in 2011.

“That includes expanding entertainment and job options in the southeastern part of the Commonwealth,” Winchell said. “We so believe in this project and its bright future that we didn't want to sit out a year while building the track. By funding a 2021 Corbin meet at The Red Mile, we are showing our commitment to harness racing.”

The meet will include two days showcasing Kentucky's county-fair circuit, offering racing for 2- and 3-year-old trotters and pacers. The Mercer County Fair races will be conducted at the meet on July 13. The highest point-earners from the seven-stop fair circuit will face off in the $200,000 series finals on July 20.

The Corbin at Red Mile meet also will include prep races for the Kentucky Sire Stakes Championship and the Commonwealth Series. Both series are for Kentucky-sired horses, as well as the foals of mares who spent at least 180 days in Kentucky in the year of the foal's conception.

The meet's regular races, not counting those funded by the Kentucky Sire Stakes program, is scheduled to average about $45,000 a card while being underwritten by the owners of the Corbin track.

“This is a much-needed boost to harness racing in Kentucky,” Mack said. “We were down at one point to having only one track, The Red Mile, after some of the others closed. Then we added Oak Grove last year and now the new Corbin meet. It's giving Kentucky-sired horses better money to go for, and it's going to provide more days of racing in the state, which was desperately needed.”

Entries for the July 4 opening card will be taken July 1.

The post Kentucky’s Harness Horsemen Embracing New ‘Corbin At The Red Mile’ Dates appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Charity Auction Features American Pharoah, Zenyatta Items To Benefit KEMI

Through the generosity of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers Club, the Kentucky Equine Management Internship is auctioning five halters and one horseshoe plaque to benefit its program.

The items include halters worn by American Pharoah (donated by Coolmore/Ashford Stud), Zenyatta (donated by Lane's End Farm), Hard Spun (donated by Godolphin/Darley America), Serengeti Empress (donated by Taylor Made Farm), New Money Honey (donated by e5 Racing Thoroughbreds) and a plaque of a shoe worn by War Front (donated by Claiborne Farm).

All proceeds benefit the KEMI program, which is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving opportunities for students wishing to pursue a career in equine management. KEMI works with students currently enrolled at a sponsoring college or university or with recent graduates of those institutions. Their internships provide students with opportunities to combine their academic work with hands-on experience at central Kentucky farms

The items are being auctioned off on eBay. The auction ends July 3, 2021 at 3 pm. Find the auctions here.

For more information about the KEMI program, check out their website at www.kemi.org.

The post Charity Auction Features American Pharoah, Zenyatta Items To Benefit KEMI appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Woodbine To Allow Spectators At 25 Percent Capacity Beginning July 1

Beginning on Thursday, July 1, Woodbine Racetrack in Ontario, Canada will be able to welcome back spectators at 25 percent capacity, reports cbc.ca. The news comes as the provincial government moves into Phase Two of its reopening plan after the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It's obviously exciting for all of our fans, owners and wagering customers to be able to get back to the racetrack,” Woodbine CEO Jim Lawson told cbc.ca. “A big part of horse racing is the live experience of being around the horses and watching the races.

“As great as Woodbine does in terms of simulcasting and broadcasting our product, what people really like and love is being there in person and seeing the air of excitement around the jockeys, the drivers and racing. It's a great experience.”

The reopening to spectators also applies to Woodbine Mohawk Park. More details on specific numbers will be released in the coming days.