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Details Emerge In Attempted Murder Charge Against Jockey C.J. McMahon

Jockey Charles J. (C.J.) McMahon, 26, was arrested by the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office in Louisiana on Jan. 2 and charged with attempted murder in the second degree, illegal use of weapons, and possession of schedule 1 drugs.

Bond, set at $80,000, was posted on Sunday, and McMahon was released.

According to the Thoroughbred Daily News, details of the case were confirmed Tuesday afternoon by Wayne Griffin, a spokesperson for the Lafayette Police Department.

“[McMahon] was allegedly involved in an incident where a vehicle was parked at a red light. He pulled up in his own vehicle next to the car. He shot into the car. And then he sped off,” Griffin told the TDN. “We were able to locate the vehicle through some investigative means and [by using traffic cameras]. And in turn we were able to locate him and make an arrest.”

The alleged incident is reported to have occurred on Dec. 27. No individuals were injured during the shooting, Griffin said.

Previously a leading rider at Lone Star Park and Delta Downs, McMahon is coming off his least productive year since 2014, winning 47 races from 391 mounts that earned $1,147,087. He enjoyed his best years in 2015 and '16, winning 219 races in 2015 (ranking 11th nationally) and compiling mount earnings of $4,989,625 the following year. McMahon has won three graded stakes: the 2016 Texas Mile Stakes (G3) with Great Minds and the Super Derby (G3) and Oklahoma Derby (G3) with Texas Chrome in 2016.

McMahon was suspended by the Indiana Horse Racing Commission for 30 days in 2017 for reportedly testing positive for methamphetamine and THC.

Most recently he rode the Delta Downs meet in Vinson, La., where he won with two of 41 mounts, his last appearance there on Dec. 28. He was named to ride the Jan. 8 and Jan. 9 programs at Sam Houston Race Park in Texas.

The TDN reports that McMahon's jockey license remains in good standing in Texas, but he may not be allowed to ride at Sam Houston.

“The thing with McMahon is his license remains in good standing with us,” Robert Elrod, the public information officer for the Texas Racing Commission, told the TDN. “But my understanding is Sam Houston is not going to let him ride. That's their call. As long as he doesn't have a conviction, he's afforded due process.”

Sam Houston officials did not return requests for comment.

McMahon has 1,046 career victories from 6,734 races for mount earnings of $22,682,202, according to Equibase.

Read more at the Thoroughbred Daily News.

The post Details Emerge In Attempted Murder Charge Against Jockey C.J. McMahon appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Economic Indicators: Average Wagering Per Race Day Increased In 2020 Despite Pandemic Challenges

Equibase, LLC released its year-end report on Economic Indicators in Thoroughbred Racing on Tuesday, Jan. 5. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, Equibase has been providing monthly economic indicators advisories, but this one is for the entire year.

Equibase has provided comparisons between 2019 and 2020 as a whole as well as comparisons between certain portions of 2019 and 2020. The average wagering per race day went up by 32.69% in 2020, which could be linked to more people participating in online wagering. As expected, there was on overall decline in U.S. races, race days, and starts due to a number of tracks having to shut down throughout the year due to COVID-19 safety measures.

Alex Waldrop, President and CEO, National Thoroughbred Racing Association released the following statement:

“The horse racing community is extremely resilient as borne out by the fact that despite the widespread and negative impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, pari-mutuel wagering on U.S. races held steady in 2020 at nearly $11 billion. We thank both our customers and all of our essential participants on the backside and beyond for keeping the sport going and supporting the industry during what continues to be an unprecedented and challenging period, not only in the United States but around the world.”

YTD 2020 vs. YTD 2019
Indicator	YTD 2020	YTD 2019	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$10,925,226,444	$11,033,824,363	-0.98%
U.S. Purses	$869,774,080	$1,167,920,667	-25.53%
U.S. Race Days	3,302	4,425	-25.38%
U.S. Races	27,700	36,207	-23.50%
U.S. Starts	220,006	272,553	-19.28%
Average Field Size	7.94	7.53	+5.51%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$3,308,669	$2,493,520	+32.69%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$263,408	$263,937	-0.20%

1st Half 2020 vs. 1st Half 2019
Indicator	1st Half 2020	1st Half 2019	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$5,055,522,519	$5,672,774,271	-10.88%
U.S. Purses	$324,168,648	$544,002,132	-40.41%
U.S. Race Days	1,301	2,104	-38.17%
U.S. Races	10,906	17,457	-37.53%
U.S. Starts	88,074	130,239	-32.38%
Average Field Size	8.08	7.46	+8.25%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$3,885,874	$2,696,185	+44.12%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$249,169	$258,556	-3.63%

2nd Half 2020 vs. 2nd Half 2019
Indicator	2nd Half 2020	2nd Half 2019	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$5,869,703,925	$5,361,050,092	+9.49%
U.S. Purses	$545,605,432	$623,918,535	-12.55%
U.S. Race Days	2,001	2,321	-13.79%
U.S. Races	16,794	18,750	-10.43%
U.S. Starts	131,932	142,314	-7.30%
Average Field Size	7.86	7.59	+3.50%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$2,933,385	$2,309,802	+27.00%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$272,666	$268,815	+1.43%

4th QTR 2020 vs. 4th QTR 2019
Indicator	4th QTR 2020	4th QTR 2019	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$2,576,411,336	$2,439,642,344	+5.61%
U.S. Purses	$240,537,331	$274,053,649	-12.23%
U.S. Race Days	793	910	-12.86%
U.S. Races	6,805	7,653	-11.08%
U.S. Starts	55,530	61,576	-9.82%
Average Field Size	8.16	8.05	+1.42%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$3,248,942	$2,680,926	+21.19%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$303,326	$301,158	+0.72%

December 2020 vs. December 2019
Indicator	December 2020	December 2019	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$751,865,995	$707,728,171	+6.24%
U.S. Purses	$57,535,084	$66,315,581	-13.24%
U.S. Race Days	229	252	-9.13%
U.S. Races	2,008	2,169	-7.42%
U.S. Starts	16,884	17,561	-3.86%
Average Field Size	8.41	8.10	+3.85%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$3,283,258	$2,808,445	+16.91%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$251,245	$263,157	-4.53%

* Includes worldwide commingled wagering on U.S. races.

Charts Courtesy Equibase

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Jockey C.J. McMahon Charged With Attempted Murder In Louisiana

Bond of $80,000 was set for the three charges and McMahon has a scheduled court date on Tuesday, Jan. 5.

McMahon was taken into custody at 4 p.m. CT on Saturday afternoon.

The son of a Quarter Horse jockey and grandson of a trainer, McMahon began riding horses at an early age and took out his apprentice jockey's license at 16, recording his first win at Evangeline Downs in 2011. Most recently he rode the Delta Downs meet in Vinson, La., where he won with two of 41 mounts, his last appearance there on Dec. 28. He was named to ride the Jan. 8 and Jan. 9 programs at Sam Houston Race Park in Texas.

McMahon has 1,046 career victories from 6,734 races for mount earnings of $22,682,202, according to Equibase.

McMahon was suspended by the Indiana Horse Racing Commission for 30 days in 2017 for reportedly testing positive for methamphetamine and THC.

The post Jockey C.J. McMahon Charged With Attempted Murder In Louisiana appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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NYRA Reports 19 Percent Increase In Daily Average Wagering During Pandemic-Shortened Year

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) has announced that its 2020 race meets conducted at Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course generated all-sources handle of more than $1.8 billion.

Total handle over the 157 race days contested in 2020 was $1,813,935,091 for an average daily handle of $11,553,727, a 19 percent increase over 2019. Average field size for the 1,507 races completed in 2020 was 7.82, a six percent increase over 2019.

Since the resumption of live racing on June 3 through the end of 2020, all-sources handle totaled $1,586,344,888, a $7,059,402 increase over the same period in 2019. Average daily handle from June 3 through the end of 2020 was $13,443,601, marking a 16 percent increase over the same period in 2019.

Despite the loss of 43 race days to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in 27 percent fewer race days and 25 percent fewer races than in 2019, all-sources handle declined year-over-year by just 14 percent compared to the $2,108,126,369 generated in 2019.

At the outset of the pandemic, NYRA voluntarily suspended live racing operations on March 19 to devote all resources, energy and attention to maintaining the health and welfare of the backstretch community. Live racing resumed June 3 when NYRA opened the Belmont Park spring/summer meet to mark the return of professional sports in New York. Since June 3, all NYRA tracks have been operated without spectators and with only a limited number of essential personnel, horsemen and owners on-site.

The abbreviated 25-day Belmont spring/summer meet generated $15,466,198 in average daily handle from all sources, a 42 percent increase over the 2019 spring/summer meet. Despite running 23 fewer days than in 2019, a 48 percent decrease, all sources handle during the spring/summer meet declined by just 26 percent for a total of $386,654,955.

The June 20 Belmont Stakes Day card, which featured 12 races and six graded stakes, highlighted by Tiz the Law's victory in the 152nd running of the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes, generated all sources handle of $67,753,336.

NYRA held its 2020 summer meet at historic Saratoga Race Course as scheduled and without interruption. All-sources handle for the 2020 summer meet totaled $702,535,468 compared to $705,343,949 wagered from all sources on Saratoga in 2019. Average daily handle for the 40-day meet was $17,563,387.

The 2020 fall meet at Belmont Park generated $9,923,813 in average daily handle from all sources, marking a 33.6 percent increase over the 2019 fall meet.

Despite running 10 fewer days than in 2019, the all sources handle for the Belmont fall meet totaled $267,942,961, just 2.5 percent lower than in 2019. Due to the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, NYRA adjusted the fall schedule by adding a one-week break following the conclusion of the summer meet at Saratoga. Consequently, the 2020 fall meet was contested over 27 days compared to 37 days in 2019, a 27 percent decrease in race dates.

The recently concluded Big A fall meet, which ran from November 6 through December 6, generated $9,261,276 in average daily handle from all sources for a 12.8 percent increase over 2019. Conducted over 18 race days, the Aqueduct fall meet generated all sources handle of $166,702,976. The 2019 fall meet, which was conducted over 25 race days, generated all sources handle of $205,249,710. A total of 175 races were run during the Aqueduct fall meet in 2020, equating to 58 fewer than the number of races run in 2019.

NYRA conducted a total of 127 stakes races in 2020, not including New York-bred and NYSSS races, accounting for 25 percent of all stakes run in the United States. Of the 127 stakes, 95 were of the graded variety, representing 25 percent of all graded stakes run in the United States. NYRA hosted 33 Grade 1 stakes in 2020, or 35 percent of all Grade 1 races run in the United States. Due to the myriad impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the reorganization of the stakes calendar, 36 stakes races scheduled for 2020 were not run, with 17 of them graded.

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