turf racing | Horse Racing Free Tips

Woodbine Closes Turf Racing Season With Average Field Sizes Of 9.5

Woodbine Racetrack recently wrapped up turf racing for the 2021 season, posting steady numbers over a total of 241 races contested over its two turf courses.

Races run on the world renowned E.P. Taylor Turf Course generated an average handle of $577,895 per-race, with an average field size of 9.5. The Inner-Turf Course, which opened in June of 2019, held 99 races, with an average handle of $459,637 and field size 8.8.

A total of 26 stakes races were run on the E.P. Taylor, including six Grade 1 events, while eight stakes were run on the Inner Turf.

“Despite our season being delayed by two months due to the pandemic, we had another terrific year of turf racing at Woodbine Racetrack,” said Jim Lawson, CEO, Woodbine Entertainment. “We are really looking forward to starting our 2022 season on time and running the most turf races in a single season in our history. Woodbine is a premier turf destination in North America and the best is yet to come.”

In 2019, Woodbine ran 363 turf races on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course and the Inner Turf Course combined, the most turf races its ever run in a single meet.

Highlights of turf racing in 2021 includes the Ricoh Woodbine Mile, won by Town Cruise, and the return of the Pattison Canadian International, captured by Walton Street (GB), were held on September 18 as part of Woodbine's Turf Festival weekend. The pair of Grade 1 turf races had $2.2 million and $1.7 million wagered, respectively, to help push a Woodbine Mile card record handle of $13.8 million.

Woodbine played host to three Breeders' Cup Challenge Series “Win and You're In” races (Ricoh Woodbine Mile, Summer, Natalma) in 2021, with all three contested on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course.

The final turf race for the 2021 meet was contested on October 28 and the Woodbine Racing Surfaces has immediately begun preparing the course for 2022.

The 2021 Woodbine Thoroughbred season runs until December 5 with live racing held every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. For more information, visit www.Woodbine.com.

The post Woodbine Closes Turf Racing Season With Average Field Sizes Of 9.5 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Pair Of Turf Stakes In The Spotlight Friday At Woodbine

A pair of turf stakes, the Lake Superior and Thunder Bay, will share the spotlight on Friday's eight-race card at Woodbine.

The seven-furlong tilts are part of the Ontario Sire Heritage Series, an eight-leg stakes series which are contested at Woodbine and Fort Erie racetracks.

Ontario Racing and its Thoroughbred Improvement Program (TIP) Committee unveiled the series in March. With a total purse structure of $750,000, the Heritage Series features a total of four races – three opening legs and one final – for both three-year-old colts and three-year-old fillies that are sustained to the Ontario Sires Stakes program.

On Aug. 7, Forest Survivor won the $80,000 Lake Huron Stakes, a five-furlong Inner Turf race for colts & geldings, while Artful Ballerina took top prize in the companion $80,000 Georgian Bay for fillies, contested at the same distance and over the same surface.

Five weeks later, at Fort Erie, Red River Rebel won the six-furlong $80,000 Lake Erie Stakes, for colts & geldings, and Red Equinox bested her filly rivals in the six-furlong $80,000 Rondeau Bay Stakes.

The $80,000 Lake Superior, which goes as race three, has attracted 11 colts & geldings, including Darwin Banach pupil I'm Dashing.

Bred and owned by Martin and Victoria Earle, the son of Society's Chairman has compiled a record of 2-0-1 from five career starts.

The bay arrives at the Lake Superior off a smart score on Sept. 26 at Woodbine. Under Antonio Gallardo, who gets the call again on Friday, I'm Dashing broke outwardly in the 7 ½-furlong Inner Turf race, but quickly recovered and then rallied to notch a one-length win in 1:31.75 over firm ground.

“We were excited about that effort,” said Banach. “I spoke with the owners and we had this spot in the back of our minds, if he could step up and win that race. And he did it quite impressively I thought. It set up everything for the Lake Superior, so now, this is where we're aiming.”

After a ninth-place result in his career bow last October, I'm Dashing finished fourth in his next start, his three-year-old debut, this June at Woodbine.

He broke his maiden via a three-quarter-of-a-length victory on Aug. 1 in a seven-furlong race over the E.P. Taylor Turf Course, following that effort with a third-place finish in another seven-panel grass engagement on Sept. 4.

Banach, enjoying a strong season at the Toronto oval, is looking for another top showing from his sophomore.

“He's been doing, well, developing and maturing. He's very easy to work with, just a very cool dude to be around. He wants to go out there and please you. He was very laid back and now he's a little more playful coming home. He's talking to us, telling us he's feeling pretty good.”

The Thunder Bay, slated as the first race, has drawn eight hopefuls, including multiple stakes winner Lorena, trained and co-owned by Stuart Simon.

First post time is 4:45 p.m. Fans can also watch and wager on all the action via HPIbet.com and the Dark Horse Bets app.

FIELD FOR THE $80,00 LAKE SUPERIOR

POST – HORSE – JOCKEY – TRAINER

1 – Forest Survivor – Shaun Bridgmohan – Norman McKnight

2 – Speed Way (S) – Simon Husbands – Sid Attard

3 – Master Spy – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse

4 – Perfect Crime – Eswan Flores – Patrick Dixon

5 – Maakwa – Gary Boulanger – Shana Lopez

6 – I'm Dashing – Antonio Gallardo – Darwin Banach

7 – All Canadian – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Gail Cox

8 – Kosmonavt – Luis Contreras – Norman McKnight

9 – Dragon's Brew – Kazushi Kimura – Robert Tiller

10 – Secret Reserve – Rafael Hernandez – Mike Mattine

11 – Red River Rebel – Justin Stein – Kevin Attard

FIELD FOR THE $80,000 THUNDER BAY

POST – HORSE – JOCKEY – TRAINER

1 – Red Equinox – Christopher Husbands – Jamie Attard

2 – Imaginary Sky (S) – Daisuke Fukumoto – Suzanne Drake

3 – Meet the Soprano – Rafael Hernandez – Mark Casse

4 – Cleomenes – Patrick Husbands – Josie Carroll

5 – Jilli Marie – Steven Bahen – Katerina Vassilieva

6 – Lorena – Gary Boulanger – Stuart Simon

7 – Sunsprite – Justin Stein – Kevin Attard

8 – Dejas Too – Luis Contreras – Josie Carroll

The post Pair Of Turf Stakes In The Spotlight Friday At Woodbine appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

New Jumeirah Series on Turf Added to Dubai World Cup Carnival

Following the announcement last week of a purse increase to $30.5 million for Dubai World Cup night, a new four-race Jumeirah Series on turf for the Classic generation at the Dubai World Cup Carnival was revealed on Thursday. In addition, a new race has been added to the Mar. 5 Super Saturday card-the $300,000 Ras Al Khor over 1400 metres on grass.

Sheikh Rashid bin Dalmook, Chairman of Dubai Racing Club, said, “The introduction of new races within the framework of the Dubai World Cup Carnival is part of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's effort to continually improve Dubai's equestrian offering and support racing both within the UAE and overseas. Fourteen-hundred metres, or seven furlongs, is one of the most popular distances in thoroughbred racing yet has very few high valued feature events run over the trip. We believe the Ras Al Khor will eventually become a global fixture that will be promoted to our Dubai World Cup meeting.”

The DWCC, which begins on Jan. 13, will also feature enhanced purses for the sophomore open dirt Classic races.

Sheikh Rashid bin Dalmook, added, “Moreover, the Classic generation are well catered for on both turf and dirt in the upcoming season. Longstanding 3-year-old dirt events such as the UAE 2000 Guineas, Al Bastikaya and UAE Derby have all been given prizemoney increases. We have also introduced the Jumeirah Series of turf races which is a significant addition to the program. The series features the US$150,000 Jumeirah Classic Trial over 1400m, the US$75,000 Jumeirah Derby Trial over 1800m, the US$150,000 Jumeirah Classic over 1600m and the US$200,000 Jumeirah Derby over 2000m.”

As previously announced, during Dubai World Cup week the Dubai World Cup Breeze-Up Sale in association with Goffs will be held for the first time. All Dubai World Cup night races will also boast prizemoney of at least $1 million, the G1 Longines Sheema Classic will now be worth $6 million; the G1 Dubai Turf will be run for $5 million; and the G1 Dubai World Cup, sponsored by Emirates Airline, will offer $12 million in prizemoney.

The post New Jumeirah Series on Turf Added to Dubai World Cup Carnival appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Live Racing Returns To Churchill Thursday; New Turf Course Won’t Be Ready Until Spring 2022

Horse racing on the booming Kentucky circuit shifts to Churchill Downs on Thursday, Sept. 16 with the first of three Twilight Thursday programs at 5 p.m. (all times Eastern) as the famed Louisville racetrack opens its ninth September Meet for an action-packed 12-date run through Sunday, Oct. 3.

Thursday's eight-race opener lured 82 entries, including a field of eight fillies and mares for the featured seventh race, a $134,000 second-level allowance at 1 1/8 miles. The program also has a first-level allowance for 3-year-olds and up at 6 ½ furlongs (Race 6) and a $120,000 maiden special weight for 2-year-olds at six furlongs (Race 5).

Each of the September Meet's 117 scheduled races will be contested on the main dirt track. In July, Churchill Downs began work to install a new $10 million turf course that will be ready for turf racing to resume at the start of the 2022 Spring Meet.

Horsemen will compete for more than $12.3 million (all purses include prize money from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund) offered in Vice President of Racing Ben Huffman's September Meet condition book, including an 11-race stakes schedule cumulatively worth $3.26 million.

Five stakes races, including two important fixtures for juveniles that could produce starters in this year's Breeders' Cup and next spring's Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade 1) and the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1), will be showcased in primetime under the lights on Saturday as part of Downs After Dark presented by Budweiser.

The $300,000 Iroquois (G3) kicks off the “Road to the Kentucky Derby” series (Top 4 Points: 10-4-2-1), while the $300,000 Pocahontas (G3) starts the “Road to the Kentucky Oaks” (Top 4 Points: 10-4-2-1). Additionally, both 1 1/16-mile races are Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” Challenge events, which means the winners will receive automatic berths in the starting gate for their respective Breeders' Cup races on Nov. 5 at Del Mar with full entry fees and travel expenses paid.

Two Saratoga maiden winners are under consideration for the Iroquois: the Todd Pletcher-trained Major General and Stellar Tap, who gave Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen his North American record-breaking 9,446th career win. Ellis Park Juvenile one-two, Roger McQueen and Lucky Boss, and Ellis Park maiden winner Guntown also could run. Hidden Connection, a fast 7 ½-length winner in her debut at Colonial Downs for trainer Bret Calhoun, and trainer Norm Casse's Debutante runner-up Ontheonesandtwos are among the fillies likely to run in the Pocahontas.

Meanwhile Distaff and Filly & Mare Sprint prospects may surface in a pair of Saturday stakes for fillies and mares, the $400,000 Locust Grove (G3) over 1 1/16 miles and the $300,000 Open Mind (Listed) at six furlongs. Last year's Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Shedaresthedevil, winner of this year's La Troienne (G1) and Clement L. Hirsch (G1) for trainer Brad Cox, is likely to headline the Locust Grove against trainer Kenny McPeek's Envoutante, who won last year's Falls City (G2) and this year's Shawnee at Churchill Downs. Winning Colors (G3) winner Sconsin, conditioned by Greg Foley, is expected for the Open Mind.

The inaugural $275,000 Louisville Thoroughbred Society, an open sprint for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs, wraps the stakes-laden program. Streaking stakes winner Bango, trained by Foley, is expected to run in pursuit of his seventh Churchill Downs victory.

Entries for Saturday night's 11-race card will be taken Wednesday morning.

Thoroughbred Racing will meet Louisville Cardinals Basketball when Louisville Live, the University of Louisville's annual preseason basketball event, comes to Churchill Downs for Downs After Dark. To celebrate the theme of “Horses & Hoops,” fans are encouraged to wear Cardinals gear to this one-of-a-kind experience that will bring together two Louisville sports legacies under the famed Twin Spires. Gates will open at 5 p.m. with the first race scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.

Other marque events during the September Meet include the $275,000 Dogwood (G3) for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs on Saturday, Sept. 25. The eventual Champion Female Sprinter Covfefe used the race in 2019 as a springboard to a successful run in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) at Santa Anita. Also on Sept. 25 are the newly-created $275,000 Bourbon Trail for 3-year-olds at 1 3/16 miles and $275,000 Harrods Creek for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs.

Closing weekend is anchored by the $400,000 Lukas Classic (G3) for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles and honors Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, the iconic four-time winner of the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks and conditioner of 26 Eclipse Award-winning champions who has been based at Churchill Downs' Barn 44 since 1989.

Knicks Go, the top-ranked horse in the NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll after convincing wins in this year's Pegasus World Cup (G1) at Gulfstream Park and Whitney (G1) at Saratoga, is expected to prep for the Breeders' Cup's $6 million Longines Classic in the Saturday, Oct. 2 Lukas Classic, according to Cox.

Also run that day is the $300,000 Ack Ack (G3) for Dirt Mile prospects. The new $160,000 Seneca Overnight Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles will be run Friday, Oct. 1.

Churchill Downs' 12-day meet will be staged over three weekends through Sunday, Oct. 2 with racing on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Outside of the three Twilight Thursdays (5 p.m.) and Saturday night's lone Downs After Dark (6 p.m.), the first race for all other race days will be 12:45 p.m. (admission gates open at 11:30 a.m.). Eight races are scheduled on Thursdays with 10-race programs on Fridays and Sundays. Eleven races will be showcased each Saturday.

The post Live Racing Returns To Churchill Thursday; New Turf Course Won’t Be Ready Until Spring 2022 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post