Tag: The Biz

Owner Mike Repole remains frustrated with the state veterinarian's decision to scratch Forte, the morning-line favorite, from this year's Kentucky Derby due to a bruised hoof, he told Horse Racing Nation this week. The vet's decision kept the colt out of the Preakness as well, and Repole believes the unintended 10-week gap between races played a role in Forte's subsequent loss in the Belmont Stakes.

The colt is expected to start in Saturday's Grade 2 Jim Dandy at Saratoga as a prep race for the G1 Travers on Aug. 26, and while Repole is excited to get back on track with his Champion 2-Year-Old of 2022, the owner has expressed skepticism about his own future in the sport.

“If I can't make change in the next three years, I don't see myself being in the game after that,” Repole told HRN. “For someone who loves the sport and is highly passionate, I would be disappointed.”

Repole didn't specify what type of changes he hoped to make, but he compared horse racing to “a board game without instructions” and pointed out that commissioners answer to owners in all other major sports. He also said more should be done to educate fans and improve racing's image.

“The negativity is all people want to talk about in every business and every sport, whether it's baseball with steroids, whether it's the NFL with concussions or whether it's the less than 1 percent cheaters that we have in the game that we all want out of the game,” Repole said.

Read more at the Thoroughbred Daily News.

The post Lingering Frustration Over Forte’s Derby Scratch: Repole Considers Leaving Sport Unless Changes Can Be Made appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The 24^th horse racing meet at Zia Park Casino, Hotel and Racetrack which starts Friday, Nov. 3, will be its richest ever with overnight purses expected to average $360,000 per day for the 30-day mixed Thoroughbred/Quarter Horse meet.

Quarter Horse racing will take place every Saturday and Sunday (plus Friday, Nov. 3) with Thoroughbred racing every Monday and Tuesday (plus Wednesday, Dec. 20.)

“With the realignment of the 2023 New Mexico racing calendar this is a tremendous opportunity to showcase New Mexico horse racing,” said Christopher McErlean, Vice President of Racing for PENN Entertainment, parent company of Zia Park.  “There will be racing opportunities for all categories – New Mexico-breds and Open horses, wide ranges of allowance classes and plenty of spots for different claiming levels – and the purses will be unlike anything seen in this region of the country.   If horsemen don't have Zia Park on their radar yet, they should take notice and make plans to participate,” he added.

An example of the expected purse levels is the Maiden Special Weight category with a $45,000 base purse –  New Mexico bred exclusive races will go for $55,000. Open allowance categories will range from $52,500 up to $65,000 while New Mexico bred allowance races will get an added $12,000 per race. Claiming race purses will range from $24,000 to $46,500 (plus $7,000 to $8,000 added for New Mexico bred races) with claiming categories from $7,500 to $25,000.

Stall applications for the 2023 Zia Park race meet at due Aug. 15 and can be found at https://www.ziaparkcasino.com/racing. The stable area is expected to open the week of Sept. 25 and interest will be high for the 1,500 available stalls.

The $4.2 million purse schedule will be highlighted by back-to-back-to-back million-dollar stakes days. On Sunday, Nov. 26, seven New Mexico-bred stakes races totaling over $1.2 million in purses will be in the spotlight, headed by the $350,000 (est.) New Mexico Classic Cup Futurity and the $225,000 (est.) New Mexico Classic Cup Derby.

On Monday, Nov. 27, New Mexico-bred Thoroughbreds will be front and center with eight New Mexico Classic Cup championship races worth over $1.2 million, including the $200,000 Peppers Pride for older fillies and mares going one mile and the $200,000 Rocky Gulch for older male horses going one mile and seventy yards.  The trifecta of million-dollar stakes days concludes Tuesday, Nov. 28, with the Land of Enchantment Stakes Day featuring seven stakes worth over $1.1 million including the $300,000 Zia Park Derby and $300,000 Zia Park Oaks, both at one mile and one sixteenth.

Sunday, Dec. 17 features six graded Quarter Horse stakes worth over $600,000, including the Grade 1, $125,000 Zia Park Quarter Horse Championship at 440 yards for the best older Quarter Horses in the Southwest.

The post Zia Park Plans For Average Overnight Purses To Reach $360,000 During 30-Day Fall Meet appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Tickets for Keeneland's 2023 Fall Meet, slated for Oct. 6-28, will go on sale to the public on Tuesday, Aug. 15, at 9 a.m. ET. A variety of ticket options for Dining, Grandstand reserved seating and General Admission are available, and all tickets must be pre-purchased via Keeneland's Official Online Ticket Office at tickets.Keeneland.com/racing.

This fall, Keeneland will award $9.05 million in purse money – a record for any racing season at the track – for 22 stakes. The meet's richest race is the $1 million Coolmore Turf Mile (G1) during the signature opening Fall Stars Weekend. Eight stakes that weekend are part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In, with winners earning automatic starting positions and free entry into the 40th Breeders' Cup World Championships on Nov. 3-4 at Santa Anita Park.

“Keeneland's Fall Meet is an exciting time as we showcase racing stars that are competing for berths in the Breeders' Cup and year-end honors,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “The gorgeous fall landscape, the pageantry of racing and the world-class competition all combine to make the fall an exceptionally memorable experience for our horsemen and fans.”

Keeneland 2023 Fall Meet: Know Before You Purchase

Ø  Plan ahead: Demand is expected to be high, and fans are encouraged to browse ticket options, pricing and the process to purchase in advance on tickets.Keeneland.com/racing.

Ø  Pre-purchase tickets online: All Dining, Grandstand and General Admission tickets must be purchased in advance at tickets.Keeneland.com/racing for easy entry and to ensure attendance on preferred dates because tickets do sell out. Cash and walk-up purchases are not accepted at the main gates on race days. Season passes, which offer General Admission throughout the meet, are available for purchase prior to opening day.

Ø  Check availability during the meet: Keeneland offers a return policy of up to 48 hours in advance of race day. Ticket inventory is updated automatically and available for purchase at tickets.Keeneland.com/racing, so fans are encouraged to check the site regularly.

Keeneland's ticket pricing and packages for General Admission, Reserved Seating and Dining for the Fall Meet are as follows:

Ø  General Admission: Wednesday/Thursday tickets are $7; Friday/Saturday/Sunday tickets are $10; Fall Stars Weekend tickets are $15. Children 12 and under are free.

Ø  General Admission Fall Meet Season Passes: $50. Passes are pre-sold until Oct. 5.

Ø  Reserved Grandstand Seats: Wednesday/Thursday seats are $15; Friday/Saturday/Sunday seats are $25; Fall Stars Weekend seats are $30. Price includes General Admission.

Tailgating on The Hill available Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays this fall

No ticket or reservation is required to experience a Keeneland race day in this unique setting.

This fall, The Hill is open for tailgating on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays during the meet. Fans can watch racing and football via a jumbo TV and place their bets in a wagering tent while live music and food trucks create a festive atmosphere.

For those who want to elevate their experience, Keeneland will partner with RevelXP to offer tailgate packages for groups of any size. Whether a party of 10 or 750, RevelXP can organize your tailgate by furnishing a designated tent, catering, amenities and more. Visit Keeneland.com/tailgating for full details.

Additionally, simulcast wagering on Keeneland's Fall Meet is available at Red Mile, where admission and parking are free.

The post Keeneland Fall Meet Tickets Will Go On Sale Aug. 15 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The Maryland State Fair and Agricultural Society, Inc. is pleased to announce the 2023 Thoroughbred racing schedule for the Timonium meet. Running from August 25 through September 4, this year's seven days of racing held during the Maryland State Fair will offer purses of $287,000 daily.

The meet will conduct two added-money events this year: The $100,000 Timonium Distaff for fillies and mares, 3-years-old and up, going 61⁄2 furlongs on Saturday, August 26 and the $100,000 Timonium Juvenile for 2-year-olds going 61⁄2 furlongs on Saturday, September 2. Both races are $75,000 guaranteed, plus $25,000 for Maryland-bred or Maryland-sired).

Once again, the Maryland State Fair is sponsoring $20,000 in trainers' awards. Grooms' awards to the best turned out horse in each race will also be awarded.

The Maryland State Fair thanks the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, the Maryland Horse Breeders Association, the Maryland Jockey Club and the Maryland State Fair board for bringing this all to fruition.

Annual College Day at the Fair will take place on August 26. Ten $1,000 college scholarships are awarded to preregistered full time college students in attendance. College Day is designed to attract young millennials to experience Thoroughbred racing and the Maryland State Fair. In addition, August 26 has been designated Ladies Day at the Races.

“Without the leadership of Gerry Brewster, Chairman of our Board, Donna Myers, President, Bill Marlow, Race Committee Chairman, and the support of the entire Board of Directors and staff of the Maryland State Fair, these developments would not be possible. As always, we are particularly excited about College Day at the Fair on August 26, along with the two added money events offered this year, and thank the sponsors and horsemen for supporting us,” stated Bill Reightler, Director of Racing Operations.

Highlights for Timonium's seven days of Thoroughbred live racing, running August 25-27 and September 1-4, with post time 12:25 daily:

August 25 Opening Day of meet

August 26 College Day at the Fair, featuring the Timonium Distaff. Ladies Day at the Races

September 2 Featuring the Timonium Juvenile

The post Two Added-Money Thoroughbred Events Scheduled For 2023 Timonium Meet At Maryland State Fair appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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