COVID-19
The New York Racing Association announced Thursday the schedules for the 2020-21 winter and spring meets at Aqueduct Racetrack. In addition, NYRA announced that the purse increases now in effect across a number of categories at the Belmont Park fall meet will be extended to the fall, winter and spring meets at Aqueduct. Purses for open claiming and maiden claiming races at NYRA are the highest in the country. The open $25,000 claiming category will see a $4,000 increase to $50,000, while the $40,000 maiden-claiming condition will now offer a...
The Maryland Jockey Club has been the green light by state and county officials to reopen Laurel Park to the public on a limited basis beginning with the Thursday, Oct. 15 program. The move stems from gaining approval from Anne Arundel County, where Laurel Park is located, in addition to Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan's revised executive order issued Sept. 28, which allows up to 250 spectators at state racetracks. Laurel Park opened its calendar year-ending fall meet Oct. 8, five days after the conclusion of the six-day Preakness Meet at...
The Racehorse Relief Fund (RRF) has been started by the Racehorse Owners Association on Wednesday. The fund is a last resort to support the needs of racehorses whose owners are suffering financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Applications for the RRF opened on Oct. 14 and is part of a package of measures agreed and announced in April by the leadership of racecourses, horsemen and BHA. It will be initially funded by the Racing Foundation. "This is about protecting horses and livelihoods," said ROA Chief Executive Charlie...
With impressive gains in handle and with the reopening of the casino at Aqueduct, NYRA will increase purses starting Oct. 18 and for the remainder of the Belmont meet. Like many tracks, NYRA was forced to make purse cuts due to COVID-19 related problems that reduced revenue sources. Rather than an across-the-board purse increase, NYRA will put more money into certain categories, in particular maiden races. The purse for an open maiden special weight race will go from $63,000 to $80,000. New York-bred maidens will see a purse increase from...
A virtual preview evening to celebrate the 10th edition of QIPCO British Champions Daywill be held live on the QIPCO British Champions Series Facebook page from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15. Sponsored by QIPCO and the Tote and hosted by ITV Racing's Francesca Cumani, the preview evening will raise money for charity Racing Welfare. Other panelists will be Chris Dixon (Racing TV), Kevin Blake (Sky Sports Racing), Lee Mottershead (Racing Post), champion jockey Oisin Murphy, and Jamie Hart (Tote). All viewers are encouraged to make a...
When Gulfstream kicks off its Championship Meet on Dec. 2, fans will be welcomed back to the South Florida track. Bill Badgett, the executive director of Florida racing operations for The Stronach Group, said the current plan is to allow fans to attend, with a limit of 50% of the track's capacity. He said that would allow as many as 6,000 or 7,000 fans to attend races like the GI Pegasus World Cup and the GI Florida Derby. "It will be great to see people down on the rail watching...
BBAG's October Mixed Sale, set for Oct. 16-17, is restricted to 500 people. Both Ireland and the UK have been placed on Germany's COVID-19 High Risk list, as cases of the coronavirus have increased in recent times. In order to attend the sale, a negative COVID-19 test must be taken within 48 hours before arriving in Germany. Certification of the negative COVID-19 test is required for admittance to the sales grounds. The sale begins on Friday at 10 a.m. and Saturday at 5 p.m.
Turfway Park, currently in the midst of being demolished and rebuilt under new corporate ownership, is projecting 2,400 applications for 900 stalls for the upcoming 52-date combined holiday, winter, and spring meets that will open Dec. 2. But even though a larger-than-usual number of Kentucky racing outfits are expected to remain at Turfway for the winter instead of shipping out to warmer-climate race meets, track officials told members of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund (KTDF) advisory committee during an Oct. 6 video meeting that purse expectations should be tempered because...
A united approach regarding Levy reform has been agreed upon by the British Horseracing Authority and other industry leaders. Involved parties, among them racecourses, horsemen and the BHA met at the BHA Members Committee meeting last week and agreed upon the creation of a new steering group with regards to Levy reform which would analise all the options available as the COVID-19 pandemic continues alongside the economic downturn. Joe Saumarez-Smith will chair the new group which meets this week. The group will work alongside the BHA's Public Affairs team. Other...
The trio of remaining sales at Goffs in 2020-the Autumn Sale (Nov. 4-5), November Sale (Nov. 15-22) and December National Hunt Sale (Dec. 9-10)-are all on schedule to remain at Kildare Paddocks in Ireland, the sales company announced on Tuesday. The COVID-19 pandemic has seen several sales move to the Goffs UK complex at Doncaster, including the Orby Sale held at the end of last month. Ireland returned to level three restrictions due to an increase in coronavirus cases on Monday. "Goffs' purpose is to provide the best marketplace for...
Owners in Ireland are once again banned from watching their runners in person, as Irish racing will continue behind closed doors due to the coronavirus. The Irish government moved the whole country to level three restrictions on Monday evening following an Irish Cabinet meeting with chief medical officer Dr. Tony Holohan earlier in the day. The National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) had recommended all of Ireland be placed under level five restrictions for the next four weeks. Under level five restrictions all organised sports are halted. Prior to tonight's...
According to Equibase figures, total wagering on U.S. races in September was $1,039,737,336, a 29.64% increase over 2019 numbers. The handle for the GI Kentucky Derby day card at Churchill Downs fell dramatically this year. A total of $128.3 million was bet on the 14 races. In 2019, $250.9 million was wagered on the card. Nonetheless, the $128.3 million was the most bet on any racing program this year and was a major factor in the overall increase for September. With the increase in numbers during September, total handle for...