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Del Mar Boosts Ship & Win Program To Record Levels For 2021

Del Mar's highly successful Ship & Win program will increase to record levels this year as part of the seaside track's 82nd season which kicks off on Friday, July 16.

Ship & Win will provide horsemen and horsewomen who bring in out-of-state runners to race at Del Mar this summer a $4,000 starter bonus for their initial outing with a further 50% purse supplement for all dirt starters and a 40% purse supplement for all races run on turf. Those are the highest incentives provided since the program began in 2011.

The purse bonuses extend to additional starts at the summer meet and are designed to enhance all purses won by first through fifth finishers. Further, should a Ship & Win horse be claimed out of its first outing and subsequently run back at the meet, the original owner will receive all bonuses.

“The Ship & Win program has been essential to Del Mar's racing program and for racing in California,” said Del Mar's racing secretary David Jerkens. “Our local owners and trainers are our biggest backers of the program, providing over 70% of the runners. Doubling the bonus levels this year has got people really excited. My phone is ringing off the hook.”

Del Mar has been working in conjunction with Santa Anita to attract runners to Southern California and this year the seaside track will extend purse benefits to a horse which makes its initial Ship & Win start in either May or June at Santa Anita. Further, that same horse may make up to two starts during that period and still have its purse benefits extended through the Del Mar summer meet.

The simple rules for Ship & Win runners are as follows:

Horses must have made their last start outside of California
Horses cannot have raced in California in the past 12 months
First-time starters are not eligible
$4,000 first-race starter fee to all qualifying horses
50% purse bonus for dirt finishers first through fifth; 40% purse bonus for turf finishers; bonuses stay the same for subsequent
starts at the meet
If a Ship & Win horse is acquired after its initial S & W start, the original owner earns purse bonuses for subsequent outings through the summer meet
Stakes runners (including overnight stakes) are not eligible for the 50% or 40% purse supplement, but will receive the $4,000 starter bonus
Those with questions concerning the program are encouraged to contact Jerkens or Del Mar's executive vice president for racing Tom Robbins at (858) 792-4230 or via e-mail: david@dmtc.com or tomr@dmtc.com.

“Del Mar's Ship & Win program benefits owners, and the entire ecosystem,” said Thoroughbred Owners of California chairman Gary Fenton. “Del Mar Ship & Win graduates have accounted for over 100 starts during the first 10 weeks of racing at Santa Anita Park 2021. TOC is very appreciative of Del Mar's continued efforts in providing great opportunities for everyone.”

In February Del Mar announced a major purse increase for the 2021 season. The track expects to average more than $700,000 per day in purses. Del Mar will begin its 31-day summer meet on July 16 and race through Labor Day Monday, September 6.

The post Del Mar Boosts Ship & Win Program To Record Levels For 2021 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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After Close Vote, CHRB Tables Question Of Increased Penalties For Whip Violations

After hearing a variety of opinions on the question of increasing financial penalties for whip rule violations, the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) voted Tuesday to put off making a decision.

The proposed rule change before the board would have required stewards to issue a minimum $500 fine for a whip rule violation and would have given them leverage to fine a rider as much as 50 percent of their earnings in a graded stakes if they finish first, second, or third and have a history of violations. The current rule language caps fines at $1,000 and a minimum suspension of three days.

The reasoning for the proposed change was that riders may see the existing fine structure as either “the cost of doing business” or a worthwhile trade off for a better finish in a prestigious race, reducing compliance in situations with higher earning potential.

Attorney Shane Gusman, representing The Jockeys' Guild in the matter, objected to the proposed rule language, saying that it made the jockeys' behavior the sole subject of criticism and said the proposed fine was unreasonably high for riders who don't earn huge checks regularly.

“The penalty revisions exacerbate what is already an unfair system in our view, which focuses on the conduct of the jockeys, rather than a more equal system that looks at the conduct in racing as a whole,” said Gusman, who points out the rule language would allow for a minimum $500 fine for even one hit over the limit. “There are other penalties under the CHRB rule structure where if there's a violation, the entire team is penalized.”

“The jockey is the one who has control of the crop, sir,” said CHRB chairman Dr. Greg Ferraro. “There's an easy way to avoid this fine and that's to not violate the rule.”

The Thoroughbred Owners of California president Greg Avioli voiced concern about “unintended consequences” of the proposed changes to the rule and urged the CHRB to hold off further rule changes until a national rule regarding the whip can be implemented.

Predictably, non-industry observers used the public comment period to point out incidents of excessive whip use — some of which took pace outside the state — and highlight the negative public perception around permissive whip rules. Industry representatives, including trainers Doug O'Neill and Jenine Sahadi, voiced opposition to the proposed rule, which they thought was unfairly harsh on riders and was designed to address public misconceptions about the use and construction of the modern whip.

There was division within the board, also.

“I'm watching the races here and I feel like all jockeys are doing a great job, riding with the crop down,” said CHRB board member and former jockey Alex Solis. “The other thing is we keep losing riders … We've lost a bunch of riders and I'm afraid we're going to lose more. People think the jockeys make so much money but they don't remember you have to pay 20 percent to your agent, 5 percent to your valet, and your taxes. California is an expensive state to live in. We're really going to add more?”

CHRB board member Oscar Gonzales said he believes California riders have made an effort to change to comply with the new rules and that the board needs to work harder to retain riders — but he is worried about the issue at big events.

“I believe that in protecting the brand of horse racing, we have to continue to innovate,” said CHRB board member Oscar Gonzales, citing the upcoming Breeders' Cup as the main impetus for this potential change.

Commissioners Gonzales, Davis, and Mitchell voted not to table the motion, while commissioners Alfieri, Ferraro, Castellanos, and Solis voted to table it.

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NYRA: Beginning April 1, Fully Vaccinated Jockeys No Longer Required To Undergo COVID Tests

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) today announced COVID-19 health and safety protocols for jockeys competing at the 2021 Aqueduct Racetrack spring meet, which will run April 1 through April 18.

The 11-day Big A spring meet will include 13 stakes worth $2.7 million in purses highlighted by the 96th running of the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino on Saturday, April 3. Live racing will be conducted on a Thursday-Sunday schedule with a 1:20 p.m. first post.

NYRA will continue to permit out of town jockeys to compete at Aqueduct during the 2021 spring meet. Those jockeys must provide a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken in New York State within 48 hours of the day they intend to compete at Aqueduct. Out of town jockeys will be provided isolated jockey quarters at Aqueduct.

Members of the regular NYRA jockey colony who travel to ride at any other racetrack during the Aqueduct spring meet will be required to provide a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken in New York State within 48-hours of the day then intend to compete at Aqueduct. Jockeys who have traveled and returned to Aqueduct will be provided isolated jockey quarters at Aqueduct.

Beginning on April 1, all jockeys who have been fully vaccinated will no longer be required to undergo COVID-19 testing in order to compete at Aqueduct. Vaccinated jockeys traveling to ride at Aqueduct, as well as members of the NYRA jockey colony who travel outside of New York State, will continue to be provided isolated jockey quarters at Aqueduct.

According to current Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidance, individuals are considered fully vaccinated 14 days or more after receiving the second dose in a two dose series (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna), or 14 days or more after they have received a single-dose vaccine (Johnson & Johnson / Janssen). NYRA will adhere to the current CDC guidance regarding COVID-19 vaccination standards.

Beginning on April 1, all jockeys who have been fully vaccinated to the satisfaction of CDC guidelines will be permitted to enter NYRA barn areas for morning training. Jockeys who have not been fully vaccinated will not be permitted in the barn area but can continue to meet horses in the Belmont paddock and utilize the main track.

In accordance with current CDC guidelines, jockeys who have traveled internationally will be required to quarantine for seven days upon their return. Four days after arrival in the United States, the jockey must be tested for COVID-19. Upon receipt of a negative COVID-19 PCR test, and completion of the seven-day quarantine, the jockey may compete at Aqueduct. All jockeys who have traveled internationally will be provided isolated jockey quarters.

In addition to race day safety protocols which include standard health screening and temperature checks, the jockey quarters at Aqueduct have been substantially altered to provide maximum social distancing and reduce density. All areas accessed by jockeys during the regular course of a race day are closed to outside personnel, including credentialed media, and are cleaned and disinfected throughout the day.

Jockey agents must produce a negative COVID-19 PCR test in order to gain access to the barn area. Races will continue to be drawn via Zoom.

Beginning on April 1, jockey valets who have been fully vaccinated to the satisfaction of CDC guidelines may enter the barn area for morning training. In addition, jockey valets that have been working in the barn area and only saddling horses in the afternoon that have not been fully vaccinated may re-enter the jockeys quarters after completing a 10-day quarantine and providing a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 48-hours of their intended return.

For additional information, and the complete stakes schedule for the 2021 Aqueduct spring meet, visit NYRA.com.

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‘This Is About To Become A Crisis’: COVID Restrictions May Affect Woodbine’s Opening Day

Opening day at Woodbine Racecourse is scheduled for April 17, 2021. However, the Thoroughbred Daily News reports that the Ontario track is currently designated a coronavirus “Grey Zone,” where racing is among the activities that is not allowed. This is the same restriction that forced the track to close two weeks early at the end of 2020.

“I am very concerned and this is about to become a crisis for us,” Woodbine CEO Jim Lawson told the TDN. “It's a crisis because soon there will be 2,000 people back there looking after these horses. If these people lose their jobs, there's nothing else that they can do. Especially after I had heard from trainers that may not come back, I am trying to impress upon people that we are on the cusp of a very big problem that could do irreparable damage to us as a business. We will need some answers very soon as to whether or not we can make an Apr. 17 opener.”

The Woodbine backstretch is open and horses are able to train; it is the afternoon racing which is currently restricted by the provincial government.

“We have made the argument all along that this is an outdoor activity and we wouldn't be allowing spectators,” Lawson said. “Our risk profile in the afternoon is the same as our risk profile in the morning. We should be able to run.”

Read more at the Thoroughbred Daily News.

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