Tag: The Biz

The British Horseracing Authority has suspended the horse Hillsin from running in any race for 40 days after it received a controversial ride from jockey Dylan Kitts on Wednesday at Worcester. The matter was referred to the Head Office of the British Horseracing Authority for further review.

According to a stewards' report of the incident, “the gelding traveled strongly down the home straight, without appearing to ever be asked for its finishing effort and finished third of eleven runners, beaten 1¼ lengths.”

A veterinary official reported that two post-race examinations of Hillsin failed to reveal any abnormalities.

Interviews were conducted with jockey Kitts and Hillsin's trainer, Chris Honour.

“The rider stated his instructions were to drop Hillsin out early, keep a good hold of the horse's head and take his time, before mounting a late challenge,” the stewards' report explains. “Kitts explained that the gelding settled well and found a nice jumping rhythm, and he had been able to make ground easily mid-race when the pace steadied up, however Hillsin made a respiratory noise towards the end of the back straight, which continued on several more occasions throughout the race, and the gelding had also hung badly right-handed, both facts he had reported at scales and which restricted his ability to be more vigorous in the home straight.”

The report continues: “The trainer confirmed the instructions and that Hillsin had been ridden in accordance with them, however whilst acknowledging the gelding had hung-right handed, he did express concerns over the manner in which Hillsin was ridden specifically from jumping the last hurdle. Honour also reiterated that he had emphasized to the rider that Hillsin needed to be held together for as long as possible based on his analysis of the gelding's run at Exeter two starts back, where he didn't get home for a different yard.”

In a subsequent interview on the Nick Luck Daily Podcast, Honour shared his frustrations with the incident.

“I would never tell someone not to win, it's not fair to ask someone not to win – at the end of the day, lads go out there with their neck on the line,” Honour said. “I don't want people to think bad or ill of us because it's not us and it's not what we do. But I cannot dispute it looks awful.

“I don't want to be dropping the jockey in trouble … but I told him not to let go of his head and he's gone to an extreme,” Honour added. “In my mind, if he was to look back this morning I'm sure he would be disappointed with the ride he has given it.”

Watch the white and red colours here!

Dylan Kitts' ride on Hillsin in the last at Worcester today has been referred to the BHA Head Office and the horse suspended from running for 40 days… pic.twitter.com/9uvuhMRLVy

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) July 5, 2023

The post ‘I Would Never Tell Someone Not To Win’: Horse Suspended 40 Days, Jockey Referred To BHA After Controversial Ride appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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For the fifth time in six months in 2023, wagering on U.S. races was down from the corresponding month in 2022, according to Equibase. Declines in June can be blamed in part on numerous cancellations, some the result of poor air quality created by Canadian wildfires and some due to extreme weather.

For the month of June, wagering fell by 4.05 percent on 9.35 percent fewer race days and and 8.76 percent fewer races. With field size up marginally in June and the number of races down, the average amount wagered per race increased by 10.35 percent from June 2022.

Total purses in June were down but average available purses per race day increased by 10.35 percent. Equibase included a new metric for this month's economic indicator report: in addition to aggregate purses, which is now listed as “purses available,” the monthly reports will also include the actual purses paid out (“purses paid”). The discrepancy can be caused by available purses in some states including state-bred purse enhancements that are not always paid out, depending on where the winning horses were bred.

Second quarter and year-to-date wagering statistics also show declines across the board, with year-to-date wagering down 3.00 percent, fractionally more than the 2.87 percent drop in races run. On the plus side, both available and paid U.S. purses year-to-date are up despite the declines in wagering, with average available purses jumping by 9.46 percent per race day. Average field size for the year, 7.38 runners per race, is up 1.88 percent from the first six months of 2022.

The biggest day of the month was June 10, when the New York Racing Association reported $118,283,455 in wagering on the Belmont Stakes program – a record high for a non-Triple Crown attempt.

The only month this year that has generated higher handle compared with corresponding months in 2022 was March, when wagering, races and race days all increased.

June 2023 vs. June 2022
Indicator	June 2023	June 2022		% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$934,855,612	$974,337,208		-4.05%
U.S. Purses (Available)	$110,957,092	$115,387,638		-3.84%
U.S. Purses (Paid)	$107,230,717	$110,913,314		-3.32%
U.S. Race Days	388	428		-9.35%
U.S. Races	3,061	3,355		-8.76%
U.S. Starts	21,521	23,258		-7.47%
Average Field Size	7.03	6.93		+1.42%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$2,409,422	$2,276,489		+5.84%
Average Available Purses Per Race Day	$285,972	$259,143		+10.35%
2nd QTR 2023 vs. 2nd QTR 2022
Indicator	2nd QTR 2023		2nd QTR 2022		% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$3,374,251,997		$3,467,438,817		-2.69%
U.S. Purses (Available)	$332,698,719		$343,975,925		-3.28%
U.S. Purses (Paid)	$320,777,855		$331,096,968		-3.12%
U.S. Race Days	1,039		1,122		-7.40%
U.S. Races	8,437		9,102		-7.31%
U.S. Starts	60,826		63,868		-4.76%
Average Field Size	7.21		7.02		+2.74%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$3,247,596		$3,090,409		+5.09%
Average Available Purses Per Race Day	$320,211		$295,095		+8.51%

 

YTD 2023 vs. YTD 2022
Indicator	YTD 2023	YTD 2022	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$6,074,478,517	$6,262,619,225	-3.00%
U.S. Purses (Available)	$598,797,368	$588,728,263	+1.71%
U.S. Purses (Paid)	$576,368,032	$567,057,608	+1.64%
U.S. Race Days	1,861	1,929	-3.53%
U.S. Races	15,414	15,870	-2.87%
U.S. Starts	113,805	115,014	-1.05%
Average Field Size	7.38	7.25	+1.88%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$3,264,094	$3,246,563	+0.54%
Average Available Purses Per Race Day	$321,761	$293,965	+9.46%

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

The post Economic Indicators: Wagering Falls In June For Fifth Time In Six Months appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The New York Racing Association. Inc. (NYRA) has announced a new partnership at Saratoga Race Course establishing the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame as the official curator of the space currently known as the Saratoga Walk of Fame. Through this collaboration, the Hall of Fame will present fans with a rotating display of informational panels, multi-media presentations and a variety of relevant historic artifacts culled from its extensive collections.

The displays will vary each week during the Saratoga meet, which runs from Thursday, July 13 to Monday, September 4. Located behind the grandstand just across the pedestrian path from the Miller Time Fourstardave Sports Bar, the open-air Walk of Fame is easily recognizable from oversized displays of racing memorabilia and its Saratoga-style, turret-spiked slate roof.

“We're excited to share some of the most popular items in our collection at Saratoga Race Couse, a place synonymous with racing history,” said Hall of Fame and Communications Director Brien Bouyea. “We hope it will help fans feel and appreciate the pageantry of our sport, so much of which happened right in Saratoga, and we're grateful to NYRA for the opportunity.”

Among the items to be featured this summer are informational panels about each Hall of Fame category; panels and bios in recognition of the Hall of Fame Class of 2023; video features of select Hall of Fame members and a virtual reality jockey experience.

The Hall of Fame will present rotating trophies of historical significance from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. each Friday of the meet. In general, the trophies will represent winners of a significant stakes race to be run that weekend. The series begins on Friday, July 14 when two trophies will be displayed: the 1976 Diana Handicap Trophy won by Glowing Tribute and the 1934 Sanford Stakes won by Psychic Bid.

The Saratoga Walk of Fame has honored greats of the game beginning in 2013 with jockeys John Velazquez, Angel Cordero Jr. and Jerry Bailey. Inducted in 2014 were trainers H. Allen Jerkens and D. Wayne Lukas and legendary race caller Tom Durkin. Marylou Whitney and Ogden Mills “Dinny” Phipps were enshrined in 2015; trainer Bill Mott and Cot Campbell in 2016; jockey Ramon Dominguez in 2018; and trainer Bob Baffert in 2018. Plaques for the “Walk of Fame” honorees have been relocated to the outside west wall of the 1863 Club.

Highlighted by the 154th edition of the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers on August 26 and the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney on August 5, the 2023 summer meet at historic Saratoga Race Course will open on Thursday, July 13, and continue through Monday, September 4.

Following the four-day opening weekend, racing will be conducted five days a week, Wednesdays through Sundays, apart from closing week, when the meet will conclude on Labor Day.

For more information about Saratoga Race Course visit NYRA.com/Saratoga.

For more information about the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, visit www.racingmuseum.org.

Trophies to be displayed during the 2023 Meet at Saratoga Race Course:

Fri., Jul. 14: The 1976 Diana Handicap Trophy won by Glowing Tribute (owner: Rokeby Stable; jockey: Ron Turcotte; and trainer: J. Elliot Burch) and the 1934 Sanford Stakes won by Psychic Bid (owner: Brookmeade Stable; jockey: Mack Garner; and trainer: Robert Smith).

Fri. Jul. 21: The 1961 Coaching Club American Oaks Trophy won by Bowl of Flowers

(owner: Brookmeade Stable; jockey: Eddie Arcaro; and trainer: J. Elliot Burch).

Fri. Jul. 28: The 1965 Jim Dandy Stakes Trophy won by Cornish Prince (owner: George D. Widener; jockey: Ron Turcotte; and trainer: Sylvester Veitch).

Fri. Aug. 4: The 1966 Test Stakes Trophy won by Belle de Nuit (owner: Mrs. George D. Widener; jockey: John Ruane; and trainer Bert Mulholland) and the 1955 Whitney Stakes Trophy won by First Aid (owner: Brookmeade Stable; jockey Hedley Woodhouse; and trainer J. Elliot Burch).

Fri. Aug. 11: The 1930 Saratoga Special Trophy won by Jamestown (owner George D. Widener, Jr.; jockey Linus McAtee; and trainer A. Jack Joyner).

Fri. Aug. 18: The 1938 Alabama Stakes Trophy won by Handcuff (owner: Brookmeade Stable; jockey: Jack Westrope; and trainer Hugh Fontaine).

Fri, Aug. 25: The 1959 Travers Stakes Trophy won by Sword Dancer (owner: Brookmeade Stable; jockey Manny Ycaza; and trainer J. Elliot Burch).

Fri. Sep 1: The 1927 Jockey Club Gold Cup Trophy won by Chance Play (owner: Log Cabin Stable; jockey: Earl Sande; and trainer John Smith) and the 1979 Prioress Trophy won by Fall Aspen (owner: Joseph Roebling; jockey: Roger Velez; and trainer Jimmy Picou).

The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame is at 191 Union Avenue, across the street from Saratoga Race Course, in Saratoga Springs. It is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Museum's signature film, What It Takes: Journey to the Hall of Fame, is currently showing at 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., and 4:30 p.m.

The post Saratoga Walk Of Fame To Feature Rotating Collection From National Museum Of Racing And Hall Of Fame appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Reserved seating is now on sale for Kentucky Downs' unique race meet, the most lucrative in America.

Tickets can be purchased at https://kentuckydowns.ticketspice.com/tickets2023. The FanDuel Meet at Kentucky Downs runs Aug. 31 and Sept. 2, 3, 7, 9, 10 and 13. Reserved seating is available in the popular open-air Finish Line Pavilion near the paddock and every day except Sept. 3 and 9 in the air-conditioned FanDuel VIP Chalet, with ticket prices for both venues including buffet and open bar throughout the race card.

Reserved seats for both venues are sold in sets of two, four, six and a full table of eight for the first time since 2019. Individual tickets may be available for purchase on race day, depending on inventory, at https://kentuckydowns.ticketspice.com/tickets2023 or at the track.

New this year: Kentucky Downs will offer a “Pool Party” ticket on Sunday Sept. 10. Ticketholders have access to the SpringHill Suites Franklin Mint pool and Summerly Event Lawn, music poolside between races and a 30 X 90 tent overlooking the race course. Tickets are $50 per person, with concessions available for purchase at food trucks and a cash bar.

“Each year the demand for tickets grows,” said Ted Nicholson, Kentucky Downs' Vice President for Racing. “Our high-quality racing in a festive and pastoral atmosphere makes Kentucky Downs an annual stop for racing and sports enthusiasts and a bucket-list destination for many more. We encourage those wanting to experience the best turf racing in America up-close in a one-of-a-kind environment to purchase tickets early, especially on Sept. 9 when we'll have six graded stakes worth $1 million each. In response to our guests' request, we also are bringing back the option for the public to purchase tickets in the VIP Chalet on most days.”

Free general admission is available throughout the upper stretch and into the turn, where tailgating also is an option.

The racing office's ticket team will notify horsemen about race-day hospitality.

The post Reserved Seats Now On Sale For Kentucky Downs Meet appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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