Turfway Park Posts 34.6 Percent Handle Increase In December Despite Three Fewer Race Dates

Turfway Park in Florence, Ky. delivered positive results in wagering and average field size during its 13-day Holiday Meet, which wrapped up a five-week run on Dec. 31.

Despite three fewer race dates compared to 2019, all-sources wagering at Turfway Park soared to $32.3 million, an $8.3 million jump and 34.6 percent increase from last year's $24.0 million. The average daily handle skyrocketed 65.6 percent from $1.5 million in 2019 to $2.48 million in 2020.

The average starters per race grew from 10.3 horses in 2019 to a strong 10.5 this year, which produced highly competitive racing over the track's newly-installed Tapeta synthetic surface. Installed during the summer of 2020, the new Tapeta surface has received positive reviews from horsemen and jockeys alike and has proven to be a fair and rewarding surface for horseplayers.

Gerardo Corrales (53-15-8-4—$226,928), who has ridden in the U.S. since 2015 after graduating from the Laffit Pincay Jockey Training Academy in his native Panama, earned his first Turfway Park riding title with 15 wins, four more than runner-up Albin Jimenez (56-11-9-4—$199,469). They were followed in the jockey standings by top money-earner Rafael Bejarano (60-10-14-10—$234,511), Chris Landeros (42-9-8-6—$219,045) and Santiago Gonzalez (35-7-5-2—$100,949).

Bill Morey (21-6-3-2—$127,900), who relocated to Kentucky from California last year, was the top trainer with six wins – one more than Wesley Ward (20-5-3-2—$101,169) – and also led all trainers in money-won. There was a five-way tie for third between Mike Maker (37-4-5-5—$97,508), Kenny McPeek (11-4-2-0—$78,879), Brad Cox (11-4-0-2—$78,430), Genaro Garcia (19-4-2-1—$58,045) and John Ortiz (11-4-0-0—$42,844).

Ten owners had two winners, including top money earner Gladys Campos' Campos Family Ventures LLC (8-2-3-0—$44,785).

Two horses won twice during the five-week stand: Prairie Bayou Stakes winner Set Piece (GB) (2-2-0-0—$41,740) and low-level claimer Drink (2-2-0-0—$12,600).

The Winter/Spring Meet at Turfway Park began Jan. 1 and will continue through March 28. Racing is conducted on a Thursday-Saturday schedule, although there is a special Wednesday, Jan. 6 program. The first race is 6:15 p.m. (all times Eastern) and most programs feature eight races. All Turfway Park races can be watched and wagered on TwinSpires.com, the official advance-deposit wagering service for Churchill Downs Incorporated and its family of racetracks.

With increased interest by Kentucky horsemen and Churchill Downs Incorporated's investment and redevelopment of Turfway Park to enhance winter/spring racing on the Kentucky circuit, Turfway Park's Winter/Spring Meet features a nine-race, $1.045 million stakes schedule, including four stakes that will offer points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby and Road to the Kentucky Oaks.

The $250,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (Grade 3) for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles has been repositioned to Saturday, March 27 and will offer 170 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby (Top 4 Points: 100-40-20-10). Additionally, the $100,000 John Battaglia Memorial at 1 1/16 miles on Friday, Feb. 26 has been added as a “Prep Season” race (Top 4 Points: 10-4-2-1).

The $150,000 Boubonette Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at one mile on March 27 will feature 85 points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks (Top 4 Points: 50-20-10-5) and its prep race, the $65,000 Cincinnati Trophy at 6 ½ furlongs on Friday, Feb. 26 will be worth 17 points (Top 4 Points: 10-4-2-1).

As was the case during the Holiday Meet, Turfway Park's wagering menu will feature a 15 percent takeout 50-cent Pick 5 that starts in Race 1 each night as well as the 15 percent takeout 20-cent Single 6 Jackpot on Races 3-8. There are two 14 percent takeout 50-cent Pick 4 sequences on each card with the first offered on Races 2-5 and the second on Races 5-8.

Established in 1959 as Latonia, Turfway Park is a Thoroughbred racetrack in Northern Kentucky. The track hosts live racing from late fall through early spring, maintaining the winter dates for Kentucky's year-round live racing circuit, and offers simulcast wagering year-round. Turfway Park recently installed a new all-weather Tapeta synthetic racing surface in 2020 for live racing and has been home to the Jeff Ruby Steaks and Bourbonette Oaks, qualifying races for the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks, respectively. Turfway Park was purchased by Churchill Downs Incorporated in October 2019.

The post Turfway Park Posts 34.6 Percent Handle Increase In December Despite Three Fewer Race Dates appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Lots Of New Faces At Turfway Park This Winter; New Tapeta Surface Getting Rave Reviews

Turfway Park in Florence, Ky. is set to open for live racing on Wednesday, Dec. 2. Racing will be conducted Wednesday through Saturday until Jan. 3, 2021, after which the schedule will shift to Thursday through Saturday from Jan. 7 through March 28.

First post is scheduled for 6:15 p.m., Eastern time.

Several new trainers highlight the 2020 – 2021 racing season including Brad Cox, winner of four Breeders' Cup World Championship races at Keeneland this year, and Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse. Other new notable trainers that will have stalls on the Turfway backside include Mike Tomlinson, Ray Handal, Jonathan Thomas and Eddie Kenneally. Returning Turfway mainstays who will again be stabled on the grounds include 2019 – 2020 leading trainer Mike Maker, Wesley Ward, Jeff Greenhill and Kim Hammond.

“I am really looking forward to having horses stabled at Turfway Park this winter,” Brad Cox said. “It will be the first time I have had horses stabled at Turfway since 2008 and this allows me the opportunity to race year round in Kentucky. Our horses have been training for a few weeks over the new Tapeta track and it appears to be an excellent racing surface. We are excited to be there and are looking forward to the race meet.”

Several new jockeys will be calling Turfway home this winter including Chris Landeros, who will stay in his home base of Kentucky for the winter, and Reylu Gutierrez, who has spent previous winters in New York. Other new faces that will ride at Turfway for the first time this winter include Rocco Bowen, Declan Cannon, and Jermaine Bridgmohan.

Last year's leading jockey Albin Jimenez as well as other Turfway Park regulars John McKee, Malcolm Franklin, Rodney Prescott and Gerardo Corrales will be back for the 2020 – 2021 race meet.

Turfway Park will be closed to only essential personnel and licensed thoroughbred owners with horses racing on the evening for the 2020 – 2021 race meet. Racing fans in the Northern Kentucky area are encouraged to visit Newport Racing and Gaming to watch and wager on races from Turfway Park, while fans from outside the area are encouraged to wager on Twinspires.com.

The Wagering Menu will consist of a $.50 Pick 5 on races 1-5 as well as the popular $.20 Single Six Jackpot wager on races 3-8, both of which offer a low 15 percent takeout. Pick 4 wagers will be offered on races 2-5 and races 5-8. Traditional win, place, show, exacta, trifecta, superfecta, daily double and Pick 3 wagers will also be available.

The post Lots Of New Faces At Turfway Park This Winter; New Tapeta Surface Getting Rave Reviews appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Churchill Pauses Turfway Construction Due To Kentucky Supreme Court’s Historical Racing Decision

On a Thursday's third-quarter earnings call with investors, Churchill Downs Inc. CEO Bill Carstanjen announced that the company's construction of a new grandstand and historical racing facility at Turfway Park will be paused, reports the Thoroughbred Daily News. The announcement follows the Sept. 24 news of the Kentucky Supreme Court decision that the Encore brand of historical racing machine does not constitute legal pari-mutuel wagering.

“Regarding the Turfway Park HRM and grandstand project, we have temporarily paused the construction of this facility,” Carstanjen said. “In late September, the Kentucky Supreme Court issued a decision concerning the legality of the company called Exacta HRMs under Kentucky law. While we do not have any Exacta HRMs at any of our facilities, and therefore are not directly impacted by the Kentucky Supreme Court ruling, we feel it is prudent to refrain from further significant capital investment until the Kentucky legislature has an opportunity to review the decision and the technicalities in the current law during the legislative session starting in early 2021.”

Also on hold are a hotel and historical racing facility at Churchill Downs, though Carstanjen attributed that delay to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Both the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and Keeneland have petitioned the Kentucky Supreme Court for a rehearing.

Read more at the Thoroughbred Daily News.

The post Churchill Pauses Turfway Construction Due To Kentucky Supreme Court’s Historical Racing Decision appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Kentucky Horse Racing Commission Approves Race Dates For 2021

At its virtual board meeting on Tuesday, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission approved 2021 race dates for the state's five Thoroughbred tracks.

Chairman Jonathan Rabinowitz made a statement acknowledging the uncertainty caused by the Kentucky Supreme Court's Sept. 24 decision on historical horse racing, though he did not discuss any specifics: “While I cannot say too much, I do want everyone to know that if the current Supreme Court opinion is rendered final, that this commission is committed to finding a solution,” Rabinowitz said.

In addition, the KHRC tabled a discussion on whip rule penalties that had been listed on the meeting's official agenda.

The race dates approved for 2021 are as follows:

Turfway Park

  • Jan. 1 – March 28, Thursday to Sunday (Thursdays all marked as “optional”)
  • Dec. 1 – Dec. 21, Wednesday to Sunday (Wednesdays all marked as “optional,” no racing Dec. 24 or 25)

Keeneland

  • April 1 – April 23, Wednesday to Sunday
  • Oct. 8 – Oct. 30, Wednesday to Sunday

Churchill Downs

  • April 24 – June 26, Wednesday to Sunday (Wednesdays all listed as “Optional,” except April 24)
  • Additional spring meet cards to be held on April 27 (Tuesday) and May 31 (Monday)
  • No racing May 2 (Sunday)
  • Sept. 15 – Oct. 3, Wednesday to Sunday (Wednesdays listed as “optional”)
  • Nov. 3 – Nov. 28, Wednesday to Sunday

Ellis Park

  • June 27 – Sept. 1 (all Mondays through Thursdays listed as “optional”)

Kentucky Downs

  • Sept. 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12

The post Kentucky Horse Racing Commission Approves Race Dates For 2021 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights