Tag: thoroughbred

Agenda Set For Track Superintendents’ Field Day At Indiana Grand

After a one-year hiatus due to COVID-19, the 20th Annual Track Superintendents' Field Day is set to be held June 14-15 at Indiana Grand Racing and Casino and registrations are on pace for possible record attendance. Organizers have announced the agenda for the gathering that brings together track superintendents and staff to discuss best practices related to track maintenance, safety and operational issues for racing and training facilities.

“Track Supers Field Day has been growing just about every year, and we've seen even more interest this year as the industry continues to focus on the vital issues of track maintenance and safety,” said Roy Smith, founder of the event and track superintendent at Indiana Grand. “This year we've tried to expand the scope of the meeting to include more attendees from training centers and farms with training tracks, and so far we've had a very good response. We are still accepting registrations, so we encourage anyone who works with track surfaces to join us.”

An optional golf event will be held June 13, and then the meetings will begin on June 14 with workshops all day and a trackside BBQ that night with cigars and live music. Meetings will continue on the morning of June 15, followed by a keynote address at lunch and then an afternoon of racing at Indiana Grand.

There are no registration fees for track supers and staff thanks to the support of sponsors.

The speakers on the agenda include Joe Morris, senior vice president of racing for Caesars; Mike Ziegler, senior vice president and general manager of Churchill Downs; Dr. Michael DePew, an agronomist/soil scientist and industry-leading leading soil expert; trainer Michael Dickinson, president of Tapeta Footings Inc.; Dr. William Farmer, equine medical director for Churchill Downs Inc.; Eric Hamelback, CEO of the National HBPA; Ginny Smith of Advanced Turf Solutions; and Brett Davis and Mark Lowery of New Holland.

For more information, go to www.tracksupers.com.

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Pennsylvania Commission Bans Lasix In 2-Year-Old, Graded Stakes Races

The Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission has banned the use of race-day furosemide (Lasix) in both 2-year-old races and graded stakes races at the state's Thoroughbred tracks, effective June 1, 2021.

“In order to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of Thoroughbred racehorses and to properly safeguard the integrity of racing, the Commission adopted this policy of limiting the use of Lasix as set forth below in accordance with national standards,” reads the Administrative Policy Notice distributed by the PSHRC.

In addition, an update from Pennsylvania HBPA executive director Todd Mostoller indicated that Tuesday racing will be added to the schedule at Penn National beginning June 8, with races being held Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

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Trainer Wesley Ward ‘Getting Excited’ About Royal Ascot Contingent

Richard Ravin's Maven, a Group 3 winner in France in 2019 who captured his 2021 debut in April at Keeneland, joined a group of 2-year-olds who turned in half-mile works on the firm Keeneland turf course Friday for trainer Wesley Ward in preparation for possible trips to England to compete at Royal Ascot in June. Since 2009, when he became the first American trainer to win a race at Royal Ascot, Ward has 11 victories at the prestigious meet.

The Royal Ascot meet will be held June 15-19.

“We had some really nice works,” Ward said about today's performances. “(The Keeneland turf course) is a true grass course. It's similar to the courses in England.”

Keeneland clockers caught Maven, working in company with Madison (G1) winner Kimari, in :47.80. A 4-year-old gelding by American Pharoah, Maven is intended for the 5-furlong King's Stand (G1) on June 15 at Royal Ascot, while Kimari is being pointed to Saratoga for her next start in the July 28 Honorable Miss (G2).

Ward's juvenile turf workers all won their career debuts in April:

· Marc Detampel's Nakatomi (June 17 Norfolk-G2) was clocked in :50.40 in company with Hat Creek Racing and Cheyenne Stable's Tea Olive (:52)

· Two horses owned by Stonestreet Stable worked in company – Ruthin (GB) (June 16 Queen Mary-G2) in :48.60 and Napa Spirit (IRE) (Norfolk) in :48.80.

· Hat Creek Racing and Cheyenne Stable's Golden Bell (June 18 Albany-G3) was timed in :48.20 in company with her faster workmate, Gregory Kaufman's Kaufymaker (:47.80).

Ward said Kaufymaker earned consideration with today's work to compete at Royal Ascot.

Set to return to Royal Ascot for Ward is Stonestreet's 3-year-old filly Campanelle (IRE), who last year captured the Queen Mary before taking the Darley Prix Morny (G1) at Deauville in France. Campanelle is based at Keeneland but has been working Sundays on the turf course at Churchill Downs in a schedule based on the availability of the Keeneland course.

Ward has Campanelle scheduled to make her 2021 debut in the June 18 Commonwealth Cup (G1) at 6 furlongs against males. With a win at Royal Ascot two years in a row, Campanelle would equal the feat of Stonestreet's Lady Aurelia, who Ward trained to win the 2016 Queen Mary and 2017 King's Stand.

The trainer's other possible 2-year-old starters at Royal Ascot this year include Peter Leidel's Overbore (June 15 Coventry-G2); Andrew Farm, For the People Racing Stable and Windmill Manor Farm's Lucci (Norfolk) and Stonestreet's Twilight Gleaming (IRE) (June 16 Windsor Castle-L).

Ward said the horses would depart June 1 on a flight from Indianapolis and be based at the English National Stud. He plans to fly to England following Bound for Nowhere's start in the Jackpot Jaipur (G1) on June 5 at Belmont Park and oversee the final works by his contingent before their Royal Ascot races.

“I'm getting excited,” he said.

Another Royal Ascot hopeful stabled at Keeneland is DARRS Inc.'s Extravagant Kid, who won the $1 million Al Quoz Sprint (G1) Sponsored by Azizi Developments during the March 27 Dubai World Cup card. Trained by Brendan Walsh, Extravagant Kid is being considered for two races at the meet: the 5-furlong King's Stand (G1) on June 15 and the 6-furlong Diamond Jubilee (G1) on June 19.

Extravagant Kid has recorded half-mile breezes at Keeneland on dirt on May 4 (:50.20) and May 13 (:48.20). Walsh said he is scheduled to work again Saturday at 7:30 a.m.

“Flying out on the first or second (of June),” Walsh said via text about travel plans for Extravagant Kid. “I'm not sure if I'm going yet. Depends on the quarantine restrictions.”

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Live Racing Returns To Fort Erie Race Track On June 15

Fort Erie Live Racing Consortium announced Friday the rescheduled opening day for Fort Erie Race Track. Live racing for the 2021 racing season will return on Tuesday, June 15 at 4 p.m. This year's racing season was originally scheduled to begin on June 1 but due to an extended provincial lockdown, the track's opening day was postponed.

Thursday, the Government of Ontario announced a three-step plan to gradually reopen the economy. Horse racing will be allowed to reopen in Step One of their 'Roadmap to Reopen.' Live racing will resume on June 15 pending the province meets its target to complete 60 percent of first dose COVID-19 vaccinations for adults in Ontario.

“We are very grateful that the province has recognized the importance of racing in Ontario in Step One of their 'Roadmap to Reopen,” said Drew Cady, general manager of the FELRC. “All the horse people at the Fort are following strict COVID-19 protocols in order to get this racing season up and going as soon as possible.”

Live racing at the border oval will take place on Mondays at 1 p.m. as well as Tuesday afternoons at 4 p.m. Following strict COVID-19 protocols in line with the provincial government, the track will remain closed to spectators. The backstretch remains open to essential workers who oversee the care of the horses.

Three race days will be lost at the start of the season. The FELRC may consider adding these race days at the end of the season, however, this is to be confirmed and pending regulatory approvals. Despite the delayed meet, Fort Erie has increased the number of race days from 40 to 42 for the 2021 racing season.

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