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New Vocations Launches 13th Annual BC Pledge

New Vocations has launched its 13th annual Breeders' Cup Pledge, in which connections of Breeders' Cup contenders pledge a percentage of their earnings to support the charity. To date, the pledge has raised over $950,000 to support New Vocations.

“This year's Pledge is extra special as New Vocations is celebrating its 30-year anniversary and the Breeders' Cup is being hosted minutes away from our main facility in Lexington,” said Anna Ford, New Vocations Thoroughbred Program Director. “We are so thankful for the owners and trainers who have supported this important fundraiser and have made it so successful. We are hopeful the pledge will continue to grow as it has in the past and welcome even more participants to help us raise the much-needed funds to support our aftercare efforts.”

Last year's pledge raised $150,000, in which over 60 Championship contenders had owners and/or trainers who pledged a percentage of their Breeders' Cup earnings.

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Poll Shows New Yorkers Support Belmont Construction

We Are NY Horse Racing, a coalition of small businesses, labor unions, non-profits, and trade associations, released a public opinion poll that found 68% of voters statewide and 75% of voters on Long Island support using state bonding authority to construct new horse racing facilities at Belmont Park. In addition, New Yorkers view horse racing favorably by a 3-to-1 margin.

In 2022, legislation was introduced for the first time that would allow the New York Racing Association to finance the modernization of Belmont Park through state-backed bonds.

“Constructing a new Belmont Park will create jobs for New Yorkers, expand economic opportunity on Long Island, and drive tourism throughout the region,” said Jack Sterne, spokesperson for the We Are NY Horse Racing Coalition. “That's why New Yorkers here on Long Island and across the state overwhelmingly support this transformative economic development project. This year, our coalition is ready to crisscross New York to make the case that a new Belmont Park is a win for our economy, for our state, and for all New Yorkers.”

The poll found that a supermajority of voters (68%) support legislation to grant this bonding authority to NYRA so it can modernize Belmont Park on Long Island. Both Democrats (70%) and Republicans (70%) support the legislation in equal amounts, and support on Long Island nearly reaches a 5-to-1 margin (75% support to 16% oppose).

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Michael Copeland and Tom Via Promoted at Woodbine

Woodbine Entertainment has made some changes to its senior leadership team, promoting Michael Copeland to President, Commercial and Tom Via to President, Operations. Both will report to CEO Jim Lawson.

“We have a tremendous amount of opportunity before us to grow our business and the horse racing industry in Ontario,” said Lawson. “I strongly believe we have the right leadership and people in place–and now we have the right structure that will enable us to maximize and fully leverage those opportunities.”

Copeland, who joined Woodbine Entertainment in 2021 as Chief Commercial Officer, will lead revenue and brand-driving functions including horse racing, wagering, technology, marketing, broadcast, customer experience, and events. He has previously run his own consulting business in the sports and entertainment sector and has been president and CEO of the Toronto Argonauts, as well as the president and COO of the Canadian Football League.

Via joined Woodbine Entertainment in 2016 as COO and will now lead operations at both Woodbine Racetrack and Woodbine Mohawk Park, while also overseeing hospitality, finance, human resources, legal, and project management. He has previously served as president and CEO of the retail chain Brookstone, been president of the Australian operations of Toys R Us, and held senior management positions at Babies R Us in both the U.S. and Canada.

Property Development at Woodbine Entertainment will continue to be led by Chief Development Officer Will Fleissig.

“While horse racing will always be at the core of everything we do, our business is becoming more and more complex and having strong leadership at the helm of operations and revenue positions us for the future growth we have in our sights,” said Lawson.

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Canada’s Assiniboia Downs Wraps Up Solid Meet

Assiniboia Downs recorded near-record wagering for the 2022 meet, which ended Sept. 28. with the second-highest wagering handle in the track's history. A total of $55,326,730 was wagered over the 50-day meet, which was second only to the amount recorded in 2020.

“To conclude this season with the positive results we achieved is a true testament to the team we have out here working for us, and the will and determination of the horse people involved at all levels,” said CEO Darren Dunn. “It seemed challenge followed us throughout 2022. We lost our Board Chair, Harvey Warner, unexpectedly during spring training and then saw a long winter and late wet spring force our hand to adjust the racing calendar. Add a lightning storm and a track lighting outage that caused further cancelled races that had to be made up and it was a live race meet that will not soon be forgotten.”

North Dakota's Jerry Gourneau captured the Assiniboia Downs training title, his fourth in the last five years. Jorge Carreno took honors as the leading jockey, making it his second consecutive title at Assiniboia.

Assiniboia Downs is open year-round for daily simulcasting. The live Thoroughbred season for 2023 will begin May 22.

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