Tag: Top News

Off The Turf Wednesday At Saratoga

Wednesday's four flat races carded for the grass at Saratoga will be contested on the main track, according to a tweet from the New York Racing Association.

The third race for state-bred 2-year-old filly maidens will retain its original distance and be run over 5 1/2 on the dirt. Originally scheduled for a mile and three furlongs an optional claimer/second-level allowance will now be run at a mile and a quarter on the main track as race four. Race six for open 2-year-old filly maidens will go at 5 1/2 furlongs on the dirt and race 10, a maiden special weight for older New York-breds will be run out of the Wilson Chute at a mile.

According to a tweet from NYRA's Patrick McKenna, a total of 2.33″ of rain has fallen over the last week in Saratoga and 5.17″ of rainfall has been recorded since the beginning of the meet July 13.

On Aug. 6, NYRA officials transferred the final three turf races on the program to the dirt after consultation with jockeys. The decision came after one horse was pulled up during the running of race four, an 11-furlong allowance, while another–Ever Summer (Summer Front)–suffered a catastophic injury at the quarter pole, the third turf fatality of the meet following the passing earlier in the meet of Sopran Basilea (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) and Blame It On Mary (Blame).

With the previous announcement that Wednesday's steeplechase race had been canceled, first post will be 1:46 p.m. ET. No information has been disclosed yet regarding the five races carded for Thursday's program.

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Saez To Partner With Mage In Travers

Luis Saez will ride Mage (Good Magic) in the upcoming GI Travers S., it was announced Tuesday afternoon in a tweet from trainer Gustavo Delgado, Sr.

He replaces Javier Castellano, who won the GI Kentucky Derby aboard the colt and also guided him to a third-place finish in the GI Preakness S. and a runner-up effort in the GI Haskell S. Saez rode Mage to a second-place finish in the GI Florida Derby. Saez opted to ride Tapit Trice (Tapit) in the Derby for trainer Todd Pletcher. Tapit Trice finished seventh.

Castellano is also the regular rider of Arcangelo (Arrogate) and won the GI Belmont S. on that colt for trainer Jena Antonucci. Like Mage, Arcangelo is being pointed to the Aug. 26 Travers.

“We have a tremendous amount of love and respect for Javier and we accomplished together what is a lifetime dream for everybody in racing,” said Mage co-owner Ramiro Restrepo. “We are fully cognizant, fully aware of the difficult decision that he was facing when it came to picking between two very talented colts, both winners of American Classic races.

“It is our understanding that there will be a full field in the Travers of 11 or 12 horses. With most of those horses, they have riders spoken for them. We know Javier was having a difficult time choosing between both horses. There's not many jockeys available as the field is starting to take shape. We didn't want to be put in a position where we were left without a top rider if Javier chose otherwise. It was in our best interest to secure a rider who knows the horse and rode him to a great second-place finish in the Florida Derby.”

Restrepo said the decision was made by the Mage camp and not by Castellano.

“We spoke with Javier a few days ago and chatted about the situation,” Restrepo said. “We asked them how they were going to proceed. Several days went by since then and Javier wasn't able to give us a decision. He said he was still mulling things over. At that point, we needed to be proactive and go ahead and make a decision.”

Earlier this week, Castellano sat down with Mike Kane to discuss the decision-making process.

 

 

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New Site Plan for Turf Paradise, but Future Racing Still Hinges on Gaming Legalization

A conceptual site plan newly submitted to the city of Phoenix for the proposed industrial development at Turf Paradise calls for the closure of the track once the under-agreement sale goes forward and development begins. But the incoming owner is still floating the idea of resuming racing at the 67-year-old Thoroughbred venue in the future if historical horse race gaming gets legalized in Arizona.

Audrey Jensen of the Phoenix Business Journal first reported Aug. 8 on the new details about the project, which has been named Winner's Circle Business Park. It proposes eight industrial buildings and two data centers on the 213-acre property that is being acquired by developer CT Realty. The sale, which was announced back in April, is on target to close by the end of this year.

James Watson, the managing partner of CT Realty, told the Phoenix Business Journal, “If we can get [gaming legislation] accomplished I think we can put the racetrack back on a really firm footing and build really beautiful product around it. We're at the moment trying to get some support from the governor…to create a big income stream to the state through these taxes.”

The new details about the Turf Paradise sale and development came one day after Arizona Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (AZHBPA) president Lloyd Yother wrote in an open letter that he would “fight like hell” to ensure racing in the state is not dead.

“There are still many avenues to consider that will save Arizona horse racing. There are even options that include the possibility of running a late race meet in 2023 or possibly early in 2024,” Yother wrote. “If these don't pan out, our board will continue to exhaust every means available to bring horse racing back to Arizona in the very near future.”

Back on Aug. 1, the current ownership that is selling at Turf Paradise announced it wouldn't be opening the track in November as planned for its 2023-24 race meet. In response, horsemen held out hope that the incoming ownership would be willing to operate the remainder of the scheduled season from January through May 4. That aspect of the plan has not been confirmed by CT Realty.

When Turf Paradise concluded its 2022-23 meet in May, Arizona was left without an operational commercial race meet.

Arizona Downs, 82 miles north of Turf Paradise in Prescott Valley, didn't apply for a June-through-September race meet this year because of financial difficulties. That track has been mentioned as being up for sale or lease for over a year. It formerly operated as Yavapai Downs between 2000 and 2010, when ownership at that time filed for bankruptcy.

Elsewhere in the state, Rillito Park in Tucson traditionally runs weekends from early February through early April. Earlier this year, Cochise County Fair in Douglas ran a two-day mixed meet Apr. 15 and 16, as did Santa Cruz County Fair at Sonoita May 6 and 7.

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James and Shari Ough Make Substantial Donation to TAA

James and Shari Ough have made a donation of $25,000 to the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. The charitable contribution was presented on Saturday, Aug. 5, at Saratoga Race Course.

“We are incredibly grateful for James and Shari Ough's heartfelt donation to Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance,” said Emily Dresen, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, Director of Funding & Events. “By championing our mission, their support enables us to provide crucial aid to accredited aftercare organizations, ultimately benefiting the well-being of countless horses in their deserving retirement.”

The check presentation took place following the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance named race at Saratoga Race Course, highlighting the invaluable role played by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance in safeguarding the welfare of Thoroughbreds beyond their racing days.

“Shari and I are incredibly fortunate, deeply humbled, and honored to support Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance and its mission to ensure a secure future for retired racehorses through accredited aftercare,” said James Ough. “Our heartfelt donation signifies not just a contribution, but a gesture of hope. It is our greatest hope that this, and future donations, will serve as an inspiration for others to unite with us in giving back to these exceptional equine athletes. We owe our success to them. Together, let's make a lasting impact and pave the way for a brighter future for the Thoroughbred – and Thoroughbred Racing.”

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