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Track Superintendents Field Day Scheduled For June 14-15 At Indiana Grand

The organizers of the Track Superintendents Field Day are pleased to announce that the 20th edition of the event will be held June 14-15, 2021, at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino. The event brings together track superintendents and staff annually to discuss best practices related to track maintenance, safety and operational issues for racing and training facilities worldwide.

“Because Track Supers Field Day is the only annual gathering for the hard-working men and women who help ensure the safety of our horses and riders, we felt it was important to have the event this year after being forced to cancel in 2020 due to COVID-19,” said Roy Smith, founder of the event and track superintendent at Indiana Grand. “We are proud to do our part to contribute to the greater good of the industry by helping put on this event at Indiana Grand, and we look forward to hosting attendees for two days of education, idea-sharing and comradery.”

The event was originally scheduled to be held at Remington Park in Oklahoma City but was shifted to Indiana Grand for a central location that would allow more attendees to drive.

“We sincerely thank Remington Park for everything they did in the original planning of this event, and we hope to be able to hold a Track Supers Field Day there in the near future,” added Smith.

“Caesars Racing is dedicated to safety at all of our facilities, so hosting this year's event was an easy decision for us,” stated Joe Morris, Senior Vice President of Racing for Caesars.

“Thanks to the generosity of numerous sponsors, Track Supers Field Day invites track superintendents and staff to attend with no registration fee,” said Steve Andersen of Equine Equipment, the event's title sponsor. “Attendees are only responsible for their transportation expenses, and a discounted hotel rate will be available soon. Sunday is a travel day this year, and meetings begin Monday morning. We'll have more details to release soon.”

More than 100 attendees convened at the 2019 event held at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in West Virginia.

“For many years I never attended, and I didn't go the first 10 years or so,” said Doug Bowling, track superintendent at Charles Town. “And then when I started attending, I saw how valuable the networking and friendships are. The classes are always helpful, but you get to put faces with names and develop relationships, and then you have the ability to call someone when you might need a little help. It's one of the greatest tools we have as track supers.”

More information will be coming regarding registration, schedule and speakers at www.tracksupers.com.

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Hollie Doyle Among Four Finalists For Dubai Racing Club’s People’s Choice Award

Dubai Racing Club has announced the four finalists for the People's Choice Award, and as the name suggests, fans will vote to decide the winner of this accolade which recognizes the most compelling moment in horseracing worldwide since the 2019 Dubai World Cup. It is a part of the HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Horse Racing Excellence Awards, inaugurated in 2017, with Hong Kong female jockey Kei Chiong Ka-kei, winning the first award in this category for her record four race wins on one day.

In 2018 Lady Eli was the most popular among fans, for her miraculous recovery from a life-threatening condition and her remarkable courage allowing her to become an American champion. Australian superstar mare Winx was the most recent awardee in 2019, a crowd favourite, and among the many highlights earning her the nomination and award with a record four consecutive wins in the Cox Plate.

2021 FINALISTS

HAIL HOLLIE! JOCKEY DOYLE DARES THE MEN TO KEEP UP

When 24-year-old British jockey Hollie Doyle was named third in the 2020 edition of BBC's Sport Personality of The Year, she emulated a feat accomplished by the legendary Frankie Dettori and placed horse racing firmly in the spotlight. The award put her in the company of sporting legends like Formula One- star Lewis Hamilton and football icon Jordan Henderson.

It was a result of Doyle's very impressive list of extraordinary achievements in 2020. Riding five winners in one afternoon, a victory at Royal Ascot with G1 success on British Champions' Day, becoming the first woman to ride a winner at the International Jockeys' Championship in Hong Kong and her record-breaking 151 wins, with 373 podium finishes are just some excerpts from Doyle's remarkable year. In winning the award she also made a very important announcement to the world – that she had achieved success as an outstanding jockey, rather than a woman jockey.

Having learned to ride on a pony at a young age, Doyle claims, “I sat on a horse before I could even walk!”. Both her parents Mark and Caroline were jockeys, which meant Hollie was immersed in the sport from the very beginning, going on to attain unprecedented success through dedication and hard work.

One of the fittest jockeys on the circuit, amongst both men and women, Doyle is now a regular on the international arena, having earned a ride on the Breeders Cup card, Team Deirdre (Japan) called upon her services at the Bahrain International Trophy and she made history in Hong Kong, finishing third in the International Jockeys' Championship. Famous for her work ethic and relentless pursuit of excellence Hollie Doyle was named 2020 Sunday Times Sportswoman of The Year and HWPA Jockey of The Year in Britain, where many are of the opinion it is only a matter of time before she becomes the country's first female champion.

TONY MULLINS SCRIPTS PRINCESS ZOE'S RAGS TO RICHES STORY

On a damp Paris afternoon in the October of 2020, when a lucky few were allowed into Longchamp hoping to watch a great mare named Enable win a historic third Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, they were instead wooed by a previously less-heralded mare-Princess Zoe-who proved the unexpected star. Enable was gracious in defeat, while Princess Zoe announced her entry into an elite club, by winning the Group 1 Prix du Cadran at France's premier racecourse, reversing her previous poor form, and rising to the top of the ratings charts in just half a year.

Irish trainer Tony Mullins is credited with this remarkable success story, having spotted her potential. He was instrumental in transforming this gutsy mare as she rapidly travelled up the ratings from 64 to 110 in under six months.

Having raced for a couple of seasons in Germany, Princess Zoe joined Tony Mullins for the 2020 season. Defeated on her first start for new connections armed with a rating of just 64, the Princess showed off her true class, when running through the opposition in her five next races, for impressive successes culminating in that Group 1 Prix du Cadran triumph with the sight of owner Paddy Kehoe and Mullins' celebrations proving heart-warming to many after a difficult year.

Princess Zoe will race on in 2021 when her target will be the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe itself.

ALMOND EYE'S UNFORGETTABLE SAIYONARA

In 2020, Japan's richest, most successful and celebrated mare Almond Eye, shed her racing shoes and retired at the ripe old age of five after winning her second Japan Cup (G1). In a very short span of time, Almond Eye commanded the world's attention and respect with her phenomenal record-breaking success, winning nine Group One races, the highest ever by a Japanese horse. She also topped the Japanese earnings chart with a career haul of close to US$ 19 million, earned over 11 wins from 15 starts.

Trained by Japan's Sakae Kuneida, the 5-year-old daughter of Lord Kanola swept the Japanese Fillies' Triple Crown in 2018 and set a new world record while winning her first Japan Cup in a time of 2:20.6. She stepped on to the world stage, traveling well to Dubai to run in the G1 Dubai Turf in 2019. She showed her trademark turn of foot to win the race for her first overseas G1 title.

She was meant to try to defend her Dubai title in 2020, but the pandemic did not allow it, instead she rounded off her final year with three G1 wins, starting with the Victoria Mile in May, the Tenno Sho (Autumn) in November and she crowned her glorious career with victory in the Japan Cup in her final racecourse appearance. She has now been placed as a broodmare at Northern Farm, the place of her own birth.

PART-TIME TRAINER SCORES BIG WITH MESSI

Part-time horse trainer Timo Keersmaekers would spend an average of 70 days on the road as a successful tableware businessman based out of Antwerp. The Covid-19 Pandemic forced the Belgian, to cut down his travel, and instead focus on his modest stable housing just eight horses, one of whom was about to take him on a journey of a lifetime.

The main protagonist of this fascinating tale is Messi, an 8-year-old Purebred Arabian – who emerged as Keersmaekers' best racing prospect in the yard, winning back-to-back races in Belgium and Germany in mid-2020, beating serious global superstars, culminating in victory in the richest Arab Race in Abu Dhabi – the $US 1.9 million, 2200m Group 1 Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown.

Messi's victory made headlines across the world, as this small-time operation drew kudos from the global media; a feel-good story emerging out of the often-tragic Covid-19 experience. Owned and bred by Keersmaekers, Messi began showing signs of his potential, and the 'full extent of his speed' through a winning streak in Belgium and Germany, twice accounting for top-rated Saudi star Mashhur Al Khalediah including in the United Arab Emirates President Cup Listed Stakes. Keersmaekers decided it was time to take the show on the road to France, entering Messi for the prestigious G1 Qatar Arabian World Cup at the Longchamp racecourse in October. Messi finished a close second, and this was enough to inspire Keersmaekers' decision to travel to Abu Dhabi, where Messi reached the pinnacle of his career.

Fans will be able to vote on the HH Racing Awards website.

VOTE NOW

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‘I’ll Take A Barnful Like Her’: Mucho Unusual Does It All For Team Yakteen

If Mucho Unusual were human, she'd be considered an ideal employee. She's industrious, productive, honest and earns her keep.

Not much more one could ask for from an equine or a human.

A 5-year-old California-bred mare owned and bred by George Krikorian, Mucho Unusual lives up to her name as she has won sprinting on dirt and routing on grass, running her last 13 races in stakes competition, 12 in open company, including her most noteworthy triumph in the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive Stakes last September.

Next up: Saturday's Grade 2 Buena Vista Stakes at a mile on turf at Santa Anita Park, a race in which she was second last February. Victory would be worth $120,000, drawing her closer to millionaire status at $942,715.

“She's doing great,” said Tim Yakteen, who trains the bay for longtime client Krikorian. “She's in good form so we're good to go.”

Joel Rosario, who has ridden Mucho Unusual six times previously, winning three, pilots Knicks Go against Charlatan in the $20 million Saudi Cup Saturday, so Abel Cedillo rides her for the first time in the Buena Vista.

“It's been great working with an operation like George's,” said Yakteen, 56, the son of a German mother and a Lebanese-born father who joined the U.S. Army which earned him an assignment in Nuremberg, where Tim was born.

Krikorian built a career in real estate and commercial development before founding Kirkorian Premiere Theaters in 1984, but never lost sight of horses. His father, George Sr., trained horses in the 1960s and '70s.

Once asked what his father taught him, Krikorian quipped, “Well, he tried to teach me not to buy any horses, but I didn't listen.”

His steadfastness has paid off.

“George always puts the horse first and it's great working with someone like that,” observed Yakteen, who was assistant to Bob Baffert from 1988 through 1991 before working with another Hall of Fame trainer, the late Charlie Whittingham, for six years. Yakteen rejoined Baffert in 1997 and remained through 2004 before going on his own.

He is married to Millie Ball, a horsewoman in her native England and thus a knowledgeable TV commentator with XBTV.

“George raises fantastic horses,” Yakteen noted. “A number of them have been sold at auction and done exceptionally well. Honor A.P.is one. (The Honor Code colt sold for $850,000 at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton July sale and would go to win last year's Runhappy Santa Anita Derby). They are horses you want to get up for in the morning.”

Mucho Unusual is in that category, worth waking before sunrise.

“I'll take a barnful like her,” Yakteen said.

The Buena Vista, race seven of nine with a 12:30 p.m. first post time: Bohemian Bourbon, Jose Valdivia Jr., 20-1; Mucho Unusual, Abel Cedillo, 7-2; Warren's Showtime, Juan Hernandez, 5-1; Nasty, Ricardo Gonzalez, 6-1; Red Lark, Drayden Van Dyke, 8-1; Sedamar, Ruben Fuentes, 8-1; Going to Vegas, Mario Gutierrez, 6-1; Charmaine's Mia, Flavien Prat, 3-1; Sloane Garden, Tiago Pereira, 12-1; and Heathers Grey, Jessica Pyfer, 20-1.

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Weekend Lineup Presented By Laurel’s Winter Sprintfest: Saudi Cup Showdown

The $20 million Saudi Cup, headlined by 2020 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Knicks Go and fellow top-level victor Charlatan, will be broadcast on FS2 and FS1 as part of the NYRA-produced “America's Day at the Races” series on Saturday. Undercard races will air on FS2 from 8:30 a.m. to noon ET, and the Saudi Cup will air on FS1 during an hour-long broadcast from noon to 1 p.m. ET.

FOX Sports is the exclusive broadcast provider of the Saudi Cup in the United States. Scheduled post time for the Saudi Cup is 12:40 p.m. ET and wagering is available in the United States via NYRA Bets.

Saturday is also set to feature Laurel Park's Winter Sprintfest, a nine-race program featuring six stakes worth $900,000 in purses co-headlined by the Grade 3 Barbara Fritchie and Grade 3 General George.

Saturday, Feb. 20

12:40 p.m.—$20,000,000 Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racetrack on FS1

Multiple Grade 1 winner Knicks Go and fellow top-level victor Charlatan head up the American contingent set to go to post in the second edition of the $20 million Saudi Cup. Knicks Go captured the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile in track-record setting fashion last November to cap off his 2020 campaign and began his 2021 season with a triumph in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes on Jan. 23. The Saudi Cup will mark the seasonal bow for Charlatan as the son of Speightstown captured the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita Park on Dec. 26.

Entries: https://www.racingpost.com/racecards/1016/riyadh/2021-02-20/778770/

3:46 p.m.—$250,000 Grade 3 Barbara Fritchie Stakes at Laurel Park on TVG

With few remaining gaps on Hello Beautiful's resume, trainer Brittany Russell will seek to achieve a significant milestone for both herself and her stable star when they go up against seven rivals in Saturday's Barbara Fritchie. A graded win would fill an important blank on an otherwise stellar ledger for Hello Beautiful, a Maryland-bred daughter of Golden Lad that has won five career stakes and takes a three-race win streak into the richest and most prestigious event of the winter meet. Sporting a perfect 7-0 record over Laurel's main track, Hello Beautiful is three-for-four at seven furlongs including wins in the Maryland Million Nursery and Safely Kept last fall to cap her sophomore campaign.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/LRL022021USA7-EQB.html

4:19 p.m.—$250,000 Grade 3 General George Stakes at Laurel Park on TVG

Grade 3 winner Majestic Dunhill, exiting a pair of disappointing efforts off a career-best performance, trades the South Florida sunshine for Maryland's winter chill as he attempts to regain his winning form in the General George. Majestic Dunhill has placed in three stakes since, including the 2019 Polynesian at Laurel, and beat Share the Ride by a head to capture the Grade 3 Bold Ruler Stakes in the mud on Halloween at Belmont Park.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/LRL022021USA8-EQB.html

5:16 p.m.—$100,000 Grade 3 Royal Delta Stakes at Gulfstream Park on TVG

Edward Seltzer and Beverly Anderson's Eres Tu is scheduled to seek her fourth straight comeback victory in Saturday's Royal Delta. The 5-year-old daughter of Malibu Moon, who is undefeated since returning from an 18-month layoff and joining trainer Arnaud Delacour's stable, will also pursue her second straight graded-stakes triumph. The homebred mare returned to action with a 2 ¼-length optional claiming allowance victory last October at Keeneland. She followed with a 1 ½-length score in the Nov. 26 Thirty Eight Go Go Stakes and a length triumph in the Dec. 26 Allaire DuPont.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/GP022021USA11-EQB.html

6:46 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 2 Buena Vista Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

A pair of talented California-breds, Mucho Unusual and Warren's Showtime, head a competitive field of 10 older fillies and mares in Saturday's Buena Vista Stakes, to be contested at one mile over the Santa Anita turf. Owned and bred by George Krikorian and trained by Tim Yakteen, Mucho Unusual seeks her third consecutive graded stakes victory at the current meeting. A winner of the Grade 3 Robert J. Frankel on Dec. 27, she again stalked the early pace and registered a three quarter length victory at 2-5 in the Grade 3 Megahertz on Jan. 18.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA022021USA7-EQB.html

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