Top News | Horse Racing Free Tips

NYRA Announces Post Times for Saratoga Meet

The New York Racing Association, Inc. has announced post times for the 2023 40-day summer meet at historic Saratoga Race Course, which will include 71 stakes worth $20.8 million in total purses.

Highlighted by the GI Travers S. card Aug. 26, the 2023 summer meet will open on Thursday, July 13 and continue through Monday, Sept. 4.

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

First post time is 1:10 p.m. Eastern with the exception of GI Whitney S. and Travers Days and throughout closing weekend. Admission gates will open for live racing at 11 a.m. for all but the Travers Day card when gates will open at 7 a.m.

The lucrative Travers Day card, which will have an 11:40 a.m. first post, features five Grade I stakes.

Whitney Day on Saturday, Aug. 5, which offers a 12:35 p.m. first post, provides a trio of Grade I events.

Closing Weekend of the Saratoga meet from Saturday, September 2, through Monday, September 4, will offer a 12:40 p.m. post time.

The post NYRA Announces Post Times for Saratoga Meet appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Uncle Mo Filly Dominates In Laurel Unveiling

3rd-Laurel, $52,520, Msw, 7-1, 2yo, f, 5f, :58.39, ft, 8 lengths.
TOUPIE (f, 2, Uncle Mo–Amertume {GSP}, by Tapit) was a deserving even-money favorite in this unveiling, jumping up to strike the front from the early jumps to set the pace just outside of Remember Me (Imagining). The pair stayed in close quarters through fractions of :22.93 and :45.79 before Toupie eagerly shook off her shadow past the quarter pole and spurted clear, opening up a dominant advantage that was eight lengths on the wire. Remember Me held on for second. From the extended female family of third dam Honest Lady, herself a half-sister to late sire Empire Maker, Toupie traces back to GI Forego H. winner First Defense (Unbridled's Song) and SW/GSP Honest Mischief (Into Mischief). She is her dam's last reported foal. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $31,200. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
O/B-Wertheimer Et Frere (KY); T-H. Graham Motion.

The post Uncle Mo Filly Dominates In Laurel Unveiling appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Raymond Handal Provisionally Suspended After Alleged Positive Test for Zeranol

Trainer Raymond Handal has been provisionally suspended by the Horse Racing Welfare and Integrity Unit after his horse Barrage (War Dancer) allegedly tested positive for the banned substance zeranol after finishing second in an optional claiming allowance at Belmont May 28.

Handal's provisional suspension starts July 1. Under the regulations, Handal has the right to request a provisional hearing and the analysis of the B sample, but must do so by July 5.

The ruling was posted on the HIWU website Saturday morning. No further details were given.

Zeranol is a synthetic nonsteroidal estrogen, approved for use to promote growth in livestock, including beef cattle. It is sold under the brand name Ralgro by Merck Animal Health in the U.S. It is used to increase weight gain and improve feed efficiency. According to the U. S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), zeranol is banned in humans due to its presumed anabolic effect, and appears on the World Anti-Doping Agency's prohibited list.

Handal has won 28 of 130 races in 2023, good for a win percentage of 22%, and his horses have earned just over $1.5 million. He is currently seventh in the Belmont Park leading trainer standings, with 12 wins from 42 starts.

“NYRA has been alerted via HIWU that a horse under the care of trainer Ray Handal has tested positive for the banned substance Zeranol,” said NYRA Vice President of Communications Patrick McKenna. “According to HISA rules, Handal is now under a provisional suspension nationally and cannot participate at NYRA tracks effective today.”

Handal's suspension comes under HISA rule 3212–Presence of a Banned Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers.

A first-offense violation of rule 3212 carries up to two years suspension and up to $25,000 or 25% of the total purse (whichever is greater), and payment of some or all of the adjudication costs and HIWU's legal costs.

Handal had two horses entered at Belmont Park Saturday; Certified Loverboy (Mendelssohn) in the fifth race and Daddy Knows (Scat Daddy) in the seventh. He had also entered Promiseher America (American Pharoah) in the GIII Delaware Oaks. Those horses have been scratched.

This story will be updated.

The post Raymond Handal Provisionally Suspended After Alleged Positive Test for Zeranol appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Hollendorfer Transfers Monmouth Horses to Dan Ward

Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, scaling back his operations to California only, has transferred 29 of his horses at Monmouth Park to long-time assistant Dan Ward effective Saturday, according to a press release from Monmouth Park.

Ward has overseen Hollendorfer's division at Monmouth Park and Oaklawn Park for the past four years.

“I just want to concentrate on what I'm doing here in California,” said Hollendorfer. “Dan and I have discussed for a while that he wanted a chance to go out on his own. Now seems like a pretty good time to do that.”

Hollendorfer said he expects to keep “12 to 15 horses” to race at Los Alamitos and Del Mar.

Ward, 64, spent 22 years as an assistant to Hall of Famer Bobby Frankel and has been Hollendorfer's assistant since 2007. He expects his official debut as the trainer of record to come next weekend at Monmouth Park. Entries have yet to be drawn for those Friday through Sunday cards.

“It's a great opportunity,” said Ward. “It's been a great experience working with Jerry. I'm grateful to be taking over for someone who has more than 7,700 wins. And I'm starting with 29 horses, not one or two, which you often do when you are on your own. It doesn't change what we do in the mornings with the horses. But now when I talk to owners they know the horses are in my name.”

A San Diego native, Ward said he intended to remain on the Monmouth Park-Oaklawn circuit, saying “we're established ourselves the past four years at both tracks. People know we're going to be there.”

He said “the timing is right – it's perfect timing” to go out on his own.

“It's been worth the wait,” he said.

Hollendorfer, who has a 6-6-7 line from 30 starts at Monmouth Park this year, said he is confident Ward is prepared for the opportunity he now has. “When he came to work for me I wanted someone who would be able to offer a good opinion on what was going on,” said Hollendorfer. “Dan certainly has the foundation to do that. It certainly seemed to work out for us. I have no doubt he will be successful.”

The post Hollendorfer Transfers Monmouth Horses to Dan Ward appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post