Horse Racing: Good news for Arizona racing, Turf Paradise; Oaklawn releases 2024-25 schedule with some interesting caveats

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Sierra Leone did well as the #2 which is traditionally hard to race from

Yup. I made the note earlier that while the 1-slot gets bashed annually (no winners since 1986), the 2 hasn't had a victory since 1978 (Affirmed) and the 17 (the favorite this year) has never had a winner. Those pieces of trivia remain. That said, a longtime handicapper-friend laid it in with a 1-2-3 exacta box. Odd choice I thought at the time. The exacta finished 3-2. He got $258 for every deuce he invested.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

NYRA and Monmouth Park (NJ) are teaming with FOX Sports to broadcast from New Jersey. It appears NYRA's betting app will be used for wagering purposes which will include cross-track bets.

Very interesting and another good move for the sport.

Monmouth may not be Keeneland. Saratoga or Del Mar but its scenery pops.

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

Monmouth Park/NYRA Bets/Fox Sports sign contract;

European Home

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www.thoroughbreddailynews.com

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Stronach is partnering with another group to build a racetrack and OTB in Wyoming. Sounds similar to a boutique meet.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

$3.5 billion bet on U.S. races through April in 2024, down 6% from 2023. I expect the next quarter to see gains considering the significant numbers registered on the Kentucky Derby card but also last year during summer months there were many cancellations ranging from rainy conditions in key spots such as Saratoga and forest fires emanating from Canada which was critical to 2023's downturn.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Monmouth Park Opening Day: May 11

Race	Purse	Race Type	Distance	Surface	Starters	Est. Post
1	$55,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	6 F	Dirt	8	12:50 PM ET
2	$17,500	Claiming	1 M 70 Y	Dirt	8	1:21 PM ET
3	$52,500	Maiden Special Weight	6 F	Dirt	7	1:52 PM ET
4	$21,000	Claiming	1 1/16 M	Turf	12	2:20 PM ET
5	$19,000	Claiming	6 F	Dirt	9	2:53 PM ET
6	$21,000	Claiming	1 1/16 M	Turf	13	3:24 PM ET
7	$100,000	Long Branch S.	1 M 70 Y	Dirt	8	3:53 PM ET
8	$50,000	Allowance	1 1/16 M	Turf	13	4:28 PM ET
9	$68,750	Allowance	6 F	Dirt	10	5:01 PM ET
10	$18,500	Claiming	1 M 70 Y	Dirt	8	5:33 PM ET

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

The Belmont is at Saratoga, so if mystik dan loses, why not both?

it's only a 4 day meet

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

Woodbine (ON) Friday preview:

Daily Racing Form | Horse Racing | Entries | Results | PPs (Past Performances)

127 years of horse racing news and handicapping analysis. Trusted from Kentucky to Hong Kong. Expert picks, live race video, and home to Beyer Speed Figures.

www.drf.com

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

thank you Nest FOR your outstanding career.... Nest is being retired

 

[PANARIN BREAD FAN]

thank you Nest FOR your outstanding career.... Nest is being retired

uncle mo is waiting and chomping on his bit.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Barring something unforeseen, Mystik Dan is likely to race in the Preakness.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Wednesday, May 8, 2024

Parx (Pennsylvania):

• Handle: $3.5 million. Parx was probably the biggest track running this day.
• Race 10: The $.50 Pick 5 was an enormous $160,000+.
• Race 7: The $.50 Pick 4 paid over $11,000.

Thursday, May 9, 2024

• Tampa Bay Downs: The meet handle of $361.4 million exceeded last year's total more 2.6%. Good showing despite the catastrophic misadventure due to technological issues during the Tampa Bay Derby, the track's signature event, which resulted in an abandonment of wagering opportunities and canceled races that night.
• Oaklawn Park (AR): $450,263,230 handled for the meet. Daily handle averaged $7,147,035 over 63 racing days. This represents a 7.1% increase from last season's 68-day meet. Oaklawn has become a top 10 track in North America and is rising steadily.

Pimlico (Maryland):

• Opening Day: Pimlico runs 5/9/2024-5/27/2024.
• Laurel Runs: 5/31/2024-8/18/2024
• Timonium (state fair) runs: 8/23/2024-9/2/2024.

Horseshoe Indianapolis (Indiana):

• Race 7: Nine of the 11 horses were scratched. The winner of the unintended match-race romped by nine lengths.

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

Friday previews;

First Tracks Cumberland – Maine Harness Racing

www.firsttrackscumberland.com

https://www.HollywoodCasinoBangor.com

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

Plainridge Park (Milford, MA) has been the winter base of operations for owners/drivers/trainers that feed Bangor and Cumberland; similiar setup TO Bangor

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Maryland's governor officially signed the $400 million bond bill which means the state will take control of Pimlico beginning July 1.

The 2025 Preakness will be run at Pimlico despite the redevelopment of the track to a modernized facility.

The 2026 Preakness will be run at Laurel.

Laurel is expected to be closed by owners The Stronach Group possibly in 2027.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Tyler Gaffalione fined $2,500 for his ride in the Kentucky Derby. While I don't think the conversation of question is as egregious as the 2018 Wood (Vino Rosso vs. Enticed), the similarity is a jockey was fined with the stewards probably opting to believe that placement of finish wouldn't have been altered with own without the contact.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Oaklawn may be a top five track in America and if not is making buzz annually. The 2024-25 schedule was released today with December 6 the opener. The track will concentrate even more so on weekend racing, its strength and familiarity, but a quote from an exec that other tracks may follow suit is intriguing. Racing is one of the few sports operating midweek daily in some places, will more tracks on three days lead to a glut? Maybe it will increase handles? Will smaller tracks opt to be the star attraction early in the week as part of a limited product?

Also, the Smarty Jones may move to December which would mean 2-year-olds battle for Kentucky Derby points.

Keep an eye on Oaklawn as I have stated often the past handful of years. It is a vibrant scene.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

For Arizona, a state that desperately needs something positive, Turf Paradise is in the verge of a 3-year contract with horsemen. Turf was on the endangered list amud other inconsistencies of fodder, the last year or so but this time there seems to be some harmony. Arizona's complicated simulcast agreements is part of the process.but one step at a time.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

A confirmation pertaining to Mystik Dan's status for next Saturday's Preakness could be made tomorrow (Saturday).