Horse Racing: 2020 conclusion: $323,000 (Santa Anita) and $106,000 (Aqueduct) Pick 6 hit on New Year's Eve

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Day 4 of 6 [Sept. 7, 9, 10, 12, 13 and 16]
Kentucky Downs

As a side note, a horse foaled in Washington state is in race 9. Washington foals in a $500,000 race in Kentucky doesn't occur very often. In two lifetime starts in Iowa and Minnesota, the horse is 2 2-0-0.

Race #	Purse	Race Type	Distance	Surface	Starters	Est. Post (CT)
Race 1	$35,000	Starter Allowance	6 1/2 Furlongs	Turf	10	12:15 PM
Race 2	$90,000	Maiden Special Weight	1 Mile	Turf	12	12:47 PM
Race 3	$95,000	Allowance	1 5/16 Miles	Turf	13	1:19 PM
Race 4	$90,000	Maiden Special Weight	1 Mile	Turf	10	1:51 PM
Race 5	$95,000	Allowance	1 5/16 Miles	Turf	13	2:23 PM
Race 6	$90,000	Maiden Special Weight	1 Mile	Turf	14	2:55 PM
Race 7	$500,000	Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf S.	1 Mile	Turf	8	3:27 PM
Race 8	$500,000	Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint S.	6 1/2 Furlongs	Turf	15	3:59 PM
Race 9	$500,000	Kentucky Downs Juvenile Turf Sprint S.	6 1/2 Furlongs	Turf	10	4:32 PM
Race 10	$1,000,000	Calumet Farm Kentucky Turf Cup S.	1 1/2 Miles	Turf	16	5:04 PM
Race 11	$700,000	Runhappy Turf Sprint S.	6 Furlongs	Turf	16	5:36 PM

[TBODY] [/TBODY]
[TBODY] [/TBODY]

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Woodbine's card for Saturday:

Race #	Purse	Race Type	Distance	Surface	Starters	Est. Post (ET)
Race 1	$108,700	Allowance Optional Claiming	1 Mile	Turf	7	12:30 PM
Race 2	$100,000	King Corrie S.	5 Furlongs	Turf	7	12:59 PM
Race 3	$126,800	Maiden Special Weight	1 Mile	Turf	10	1:29 PM
Race 4	$48,300	Maiden Optional Claiming	1 1/16 Miles	Turf	12	2:00 PM
Race 5	$60,300	Optional Claiming	About 1 1/8 Miles	Turf	12	2:38 PM
Race 6	$64,300	Maiden Optional Claiming	5 Furlongs	All Weather Track	11	3:11 PM
Race 7	$101,200	Allowance	6 1/2 Furlongs	Turf	12	3:44 PM
Race 8	$250,000	Bison City S.	1 1/16 Miles	All Weather Track	8	4:17 PM
Race 9	$250,000	Canadian S. Presented by the Japan Racing Association	About 1 1/8 Miles	Turf	10	4:51 PM
Race 10	$1,000,000	Queen's Plate S.	1 1/4 Miles	All Weather Track	14	5:41 PM
Race 11	$101,200	Allowance	6 1/2 Furlongs	Turf	14	6:30 PM
Race 12	$100,000	Ruling Angel S.	6 1/2 Furlongs	All Weather Track	7	7:01 PM
Race 13	$49,700	Claiming	1 1/16 Miles	All Weather Track	13	7:31 PM

[TBODY] [/TBODY]
[TBODY] [/TBODY]

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Three riders have earned over $10,000,000 this year:

Angel Cordero (left), Irad Ortiz, Jr. (right)​

1. Irad Ortiz, Jr. ($13 m)
2. Joel Rosario ($11 m)
3. Tyler Gaffalione ($10 m)

Four conditioners have earned over $10,000,000 this year and the battle for second place is very close:

1. Steve Asmussen ($14 m)
2. Bob Baffert ($10.6 m)
3. Brad Cox ($10.5 m)
4. Chad Brown ($10.0 m)

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

The Irish "Win and You're In" Breeders' Cup races will be aired on FS2.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Not much creativity in today's announcement that the 2022 Breeders' Cup will be awarded to Keeneland but it is an ideal setting and the center of the sport. International connections love the atmosphere and ability to visit first-hand the breeding makes it incomparable.

Another day awaits for tracks such as Laurel.

Belmont eventually will get the event, should New York apply, despite past debacles with weather on at least three occasions in the NY/NJ area.

But for now, Keeneland's charisma won out. That will make 15 consecutive years the event has been held at Kentucky or California since the monsoon at Monmouth (NJ) in 2007.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

More following today's review which included one of the most entertaining days of the year. Despite races off the turf in Florida, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and elsewhere, the days had many thrills with Kentucky and Woodbine at the top of the list.

KENTUCKY DOWNS: all-time single card betting record in just 11 races: $17,437,731.

Kentucky Downs has postponed the card for tomorrow (Sunday). It will race Tuesday and Wednesday instead. Likely due to track maintenance.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Saturday, September 12, 2020

• Michael Maker won four straight races at Kentucky Downs and another at Gulfstream for a 5-win day.
• Mark Casse also trained five winners. He was 14 5-3-2 and won at all three tracks he entered.
• Bad timing: Kentucky Downs was sent off the same time as the Queen's Plate at Woodbine. Saturday's can be difficult to time races properly and each track has self-interests in mind bu there is no excuse for a Grade 3 in Kentucky and a $1,000,000 Grade 2 in Ontario to have simultaneous posts.
• Quarantine: I am guessing that some jockeys who rode in the Kentucky Derby are currently in quarantine protocol as they have not ridden since that day. Luca Panici and Paco Lopez are two who come to mind.

Monmouth (New Jersey):

• Handle: Approximately $4.5 million.
• Jump on board: It is getting late but there is still room on the Ferrin Peterson bandwagon. I have mentioned her story many times in this thread but she had a 4-win day today. A former veterinary student and pole vaulter at Cal-Davis whose book is handled by Hall of Fame rider Julie Krone. The Californian was enthusiastic following her biggest win to date. She is second at the meet with 36 victories. She is a cool story.
• Jersey Joe Bravo doing Jersey Joe things: Three wins today to make 33 at the meet.
  
• Race 11: Share the Ride (Ferrin Peterson/Antonio Arriaga) won the $100,000 Mr. Prospctor Stakes. The jockey was thrilled. See above.
• Race 10: Wicked Mercury (Christopher DeCarlo/Jane Cibelli) won at 16-to-1 in a race in which Chad Brown sent out a pair and others including Christophe Clement also lost. DeCarlo, a perennial personal favorite, had this one ride all day and rarely takes the reins at this stage of his life.
• Race 5: Downsideprojection (Jorge Vargas, Jr./Chad Brown) entered the stretch in fourth and debuted to a win to pay $10.60 -- a steal with those connections led by Eclipse Award winner Klaravich Stables who purchased the horse for $400,000. Runner up Dialed to Win (Romero Maragh/Timothy Hills) placed at 28-to-1 and nearly pulled a massive upset as the second longest shot on the board.

Laurel (Maryland):

• Handle: Over $3 million.
• Katie Davis, a member of the established Davis family, won three times.

Kentucky Downs (Kentucky):

• Handle: Over $17 million bet which established another track record. The records have been shattered throughout the U.S this year.
• Card: Five of the 11 races held purses of $500,000 or more including one at $1,000,000.
• Race 1: Tia Flor (Thiago Canuto/Kelly Fernandez) was 4-for-63 lifetime but this win gave the jockey his first lifetime victory with his 56th mount and the trainer a second career win in nine starts at 30-to-1 and a $62.60 return. That had to be an "all" win for anyone who cashed. The horse was scratched from a race less than a month ago at Thistledown.
• Race 7: Regal Glory (Jose Ortiz/Chad Brown) won the $500,000 Grade 3 Ladies' Turf Stakes.
• Race 8: Got Stormy (Tyler Gaffalione/Mark Casse) won the $500,000 Grade 3 Ladies' Sprint Stakes.
• Race 9: Outadore (Irad Ortiz, Jr./Wesley Ward) won the $500,000 Juvenile Turf Sprint. He was out for the second time and as I mentioned in the July 26 review, following his first race, the owners "may have something (special)." I think he will get better. Ward finished 1-2 in this race and continues to impress in the 2-year-old division

​

• Race 10: Arklow (Florent Geroux/Brad Cox) won the Grade 3 $1,000,000 Kentucky Turf Cup. The win catapulted Arklow into the $2.4 earned area with seven victories in 29 starts.

​

• Race 11: Imprimus (Irad Ortiz, Jr./Joe Orseno) won the Grade 3 $700,000 Runhappy Turf Sprint and with it an invitation to the Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" turf sprint. The Philadelphia-born trainer has won two Breeders' Cup races.
• Michael Maker was the star of the day as the winning trainer in four straight races. He excels at this meet and is now tied with Wesley Ward with six wins.
• Irad Ortiz, Jr., who had never raced at this track prior to 2020, won four times. His five wins are second best at the meet. More evidence that he is the runaway leader for Jockey of the Year.
• Tyler Gaffalione added two wins to his meet lead of eight. If Corey Lanerie is the King of Kentucky then Gaffalione may be the Prince. He has found quite the comfort zone in Kentucky.
• Brian Hernandez, Jr. snapped his winless mark at the meet and is now 1-for-20.
• Ricardo Santana, Jr. (25 mounts) and John Velazquez (14 starts) are a combined 0-for-39.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Miguel Vasquez won twice and has now enjoyed multiple wins in six straight racing days.

Woodbine (Ontario):

• Handle: The card was exceptional and the handle followed with over $14 million wagered which was the third highest in 161 years the Queen's Plate has been run. Woodbine seems universally lauded by those who have visited. If not for the obvious, lack of a dirt track, it could be in the mix for a Breeders' Cup revisit.
• Card: There were 13 races in which nine held purses of $100,000 or more including the $1,000,000 Queen's Plate.
• Race 10: Mighty Heart (Daisuke Fukumoto/Josie Carroll) won the $1,000,000 Queen's Plate at 13-to-1 in a romp by 7 lengths. It was the trainer's third Plate win and first since 2011. This was the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown. Belichick (Slade Callaghan/Josie Carroll) was runner up at 26-to-1. The all-Carroll (she had three entered) exacta was over $700 for a deuce. The $2 double edged over $1,000. The $.20 Pick 3, comprised of the three highest purses, paid a stellar $538. The $.50 Pick 5 paid over $56,000.

​

• Race 9: Rideforthecause (David Moran/Gail Cox) is a horse for the course in winning on Woodbine turf for the fourth time in five tries among 10 lifetime starts. The 4-year-old filly shocked as the second longest shot on the board at 22-to-1 in winning the $250,000 Grade 2 Canadian Stakes.
• Race 8: Mizzen Beau (Stephen Bahen/Norm Casse) won the $250,000 Bison City Stakes.
• Mark Casse trained three winners. His son Norm had a winner.
• Justin Stein rode three winners and now has a 3-win lead among jockeys at the meet.
• Leo Salles rode three winners.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

By finishing first and second in the $1,000,000 Queen's Plate, Josie Carroll ingested about $80,000 from what I estimate. 60% of the $1,000,000 goes to the winner and 20% to the runner up. The trainer receives roughly 10% of that ($800,000) which comes to $80,000. Not a bad score.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

It is very rare that Kentucky, southern Cal and New York are dark on the same day but that is the situation today with Kentucky Downs postponing their Sunday card until Tuesday.

Gulfstream, Woodbine and Monmouth are among the few tracks going early.

Gulf is off the turf but at last check only 12 scratches show, five of which are in the finale.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Sunday, September 13, 2020

• Quiet: Few tracks operated this Sunday in the US, some of which was related to the extended racing weekend from Labor Day and cancellations in Kentucky (track maintenance) and northern California (air quality). Southern Cal and New York were scheduled to be closed as transition of meets in both states continues into this week.
• Steve Asmussen is eight (8) wins shy of 9,000. He has 33 entered Monday through Wednesday at various places. He is 453 wins away from tying Dale Baird's record. Considering Asmussen's relatively young age and success, it is not inconceivable that he will hit the all-time record within the next year+. If he gets 9,446, that number could be the sport's version of DiMaggio's 56, Ruth's 714, Ripken's 2,131 or Chamberlain's 100.

Woodbine (Ontario):

• Handle: A hair under $10,000,000 handled today. The past two days, Woodbine handled close to $25 million.

Assiniboia (Manitoba):

• Add Assiniboia Downs to the list of record setters. Last year, the track handled $12 million over 50 days. In 2020, the track has handled $59 million over 48 days heading into Tuesday's finale.

Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In": The Breeders’ Cup Challenge | Breeders' Cup

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Day One of the Keeneland September Yearling sale was concluded with over $40,000,000 spent. The sale continues September 14 daily through September 25 with the exception of Sept. 16.

There were four fillies and one colt purchased for $1,000,000 or more. The colt was bought by Boston-area based businessman Larry Best who dropped $1 million on an Into Mischief son. The colt will race under Best's name of OXO Equine.

The high price was $1.25 million for a Tapit filly purchased by Claiborne Farm.

Tapit is a legendary stallion with impeccable virility. Into Mischief, who sired this year's Kentucky Derby winner, has been, excuse the pun, flawless lately. Flawless is Authentic's mother name.

Gun Runner, who was one of the best horses of his era, was the leading first-crop sire by average sale price at $401,000. His topper was $750,000. The total spent on horses he sired was over $2,000,000. Big things are expected.

Over $60 million was spent in the recently concluded Fasig-Tipton sale. The combined total through three dates of these two sales surpassed $100,000,000.

Results and streaming:
Sale Index
Keeneland Sale Summaries

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

@Cyclones Rock

In case you were not aware... Ohio racing....

Belterra Park, Ohio HBPA End Impasse, Simulcasting Set To Resume Under New Three-Year Contract - Horse Racing News | Paulick Report

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

A running tab of DAY TWO as the festivities occur...

Early on, the high bid was in part by Mike Repole (Vitamin Water) and Vinny Viola (Florida Panthers) who teamed with others to purchase a Curlin colt for $1.2 million.

An American Pharoah filly was also purchased for $1.2 million by Texas oilman and longtime owner Mike Rutherford.

A Pennsylvania bred just sold for $450,000.

And a new sales topped for DAY TWO as the bidding is ongoing (the 4th million dollar seller today):



Did Tapit euphemistically just say nice try to Into Mischief?

The latter just had a filly sold for $1.9 million. Once again, Boston-based businessman Larry Best and his OXO Equine.

But then the granddaddy of them all, Tapit, just had a son sold for $2 million. The owners include Californian Aron Wellman's Eclipse Thoroughbreds.

This is entertaining as all hell. But truly informative as the babies develop and then perhaps see the track next year.

DAY TWO: $44 million spent on exactly 100 horses sold at the Keeneland Yearling Sale. That makes $86.4 million spent through two days. Last week's, 2-day F-T sale accumulated $61 million. Approximately $148 million spent through four days of the two sales in the past week.

Nine babies bought for $1,000,000 or more seven of which were fillies but the high price was a $2 million colt.

Larry Best has spent $2.5 million on two horses. He has spent the third highest total.

Liz Crow, who represents private sales clients, has spent the most capital with $2.84 million spent on four horses.

Don Adam, who is a Florida banking exec, is second with $2.6 million spent on three horses.

Into Mischief babies have amassed over $8 million in sales, the runaway leader. Uncle Mo, Tapit, Quality Road and Medaglia d'Oro are also in high demand. Add Curlin, American Pharoah, Pioneerof the Nile and Arrogate and the battle ensues.
===============================

SONGBIRD

The first foal by Songbird which was sired by Arrogate was pulled from auction. Mandy Pope may be keeping the filly for herself. This was the one that of course received my attention as Songbird is a personal favorite. Hopefully she produces some healthy and prosperous offspring.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Monday, September 14, 2020

Finger Lakes (New York):

• Tammi Piermarini, who made much of her success at the shuttered Suffolk Downs (Mass.), won for the 2,595th time. She is unofficially the third winningest female jockey in North America history behind only Julie Krone (3,704) and Rosemary Homeister, Jr. (2,784).

Delaware Park (Delaware):

• Angel Suarez rode four winners.

Louisiana Downs (Louisiana):

• Steve Asmussen won twice. He now has 8,994 victories. He is six away from becoming the second trainer in history to record 9.000 wins.

Santa Anita (California):

• Postponed opening day: Scheduled for Saturday, the opener has been postponed to Friday, September 25 due to air quality in southern Cal.

Arizona racing:

• The one state that has yet to resume any sort of racing in 2020 is Arizona. The way I understand the disputes is that Turf Paradise has not applied for any dates with concern related to the C-virus. The smaller Arizona Downs, which reopened in 2019 after being dormant for about seven or so years, has not been granted permission to run by local authorities due to the C-virus. There is the much debated issue regarding money from OTBs and who controls that. The horsemen want live racing with the funds from OTBs put into purses. As of now, there does appear to be any live racing scheduled for the rest of 2020.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Belmont opens Friday. TV for Belmont is as follows:

Friday, September 18 Belmont Fall Opening Day	FS2 - 12:30 - 5:30pm
Saturday, September 19	FS1 - 12:30 - 4pm FS2 - 4 - 6pm
Sunday, September 20	FS1 - 12:30 - 4pm FS2 - 4 - 5:30pm

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

For all racing:

FRIDAY Sept. 18	"America's Day at the Races"	12:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.	FS2
Sept. 18	"Woodbine Live" special edition	4:30 p.m.	Facebook Live, Twitter and YouTube
Sept. 18	Live coverage of horse racing	post time varies	TVG
SATURDAY Sept. 19	"America's Day at the Races"	12:30 p.m.-4 p.m. on FS1; 4 p.m.-6 p.m. on FS2	FS1 and FS2
Sept. 19	"Breeders' Cup Live"	4:30 p.m.	Facebook Live, Twitter and YouTube
Sept. 19	Live broadcast of the Woodbine Mile	5 p.m.	NBCSN
Sept. 19	Live coverage of horse racing	post time varies	TVG
SUNDAY Sept. 20	"America's Day at the Races"	12:30 p.m.-4 p.m. on FS1; 4 p.m.-5:30 p.m. on FS2	FS1 and FS2
Sept. 20	Live broadcast of the Summer Stakes and Natalma Stakes	4 p.m.	NBCSN
Sept. 20	Live coverage of horse racing	post time varies	TVG

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Purple = Breeders' Cup

Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" races:

Friday: One at Woodbine (Ontario)
Saturday: Two at Woodbine (Ontario)​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Tuesday, September 15, 2020

• Brad Cox had a 5-win day spanning two tracks.
• Pat Smullen, a multiple champion jockey in Ireland the past few years, died at the age of 43 today due to pancreatic cancer. Far too young. Rest peacefully.

https://twitter.com/RacingTV/status/1305968690622541824

Mountaineer (West Virginia):

• Race 8: The $2 Pick 5 was $24,000+.
• Trainers: Jay Bernardini's (40 wins) lead in the standings is down to two victories with last year's runaway winner Eddie Clouston in second place (38 wins).

Thistledown (Ohio):

• T.D. Houghton became the 20th jockey in North America annals to reach 6.000 wins.

​

Indiana Grand (Indiana):

• Fernando De la Cruz + Brad Cox teamed for four winners including three in succession. A natural hat trick with the same jockey-trainer combination is a rarity at any track.
• Brad Cox was 6 4-1-1 (67%/100%).
• Race 2: The longest shot on the board won at 52-to-1 and paid $107.20.

Kentucky Downs (Kentucky):

• Card: The penultimate day of racing at the annual meet. Tomorrow is the conclusion of the 6-day meet. Today had three races worth $400,000 or more.
• Race 3: Arm Candy (Ricardo Santana, Jr./Steve Asmussen) won at 14-to-1 and became the first debut winner at the meet. The rider ended the day 1-for-33 at the meet. A staggering total considering he rides for Asmussen often.
• Race 5: Austrian (Adam Beschizza/Jose Fernandez) completed a remarkable run to start the day with a 28-to-1 shot. The $.50 Pick 3 was $5,600+. The $.50 Pick 4 was $23,000+. The $.50 Pick 5 was $148,000+. Now you can see why so many true handicappers love playing this track!
• Race 9: Theodora B. (Irad Ortiz. Jr./Michael Dickinson) won the $500,000 TVG Stakes. The 70-year-old British-born trainer doesn't send out many horses -- he currently trains just two -- but is 3-for-4 in 2020 with this 5-year-old mare. She won at 3-to-1.

​

• Race 11: Lighthouse (Umberto Rispoli/Simon Callaghan) won the $400,000 Music City Stakes. It was Rispoli's second ride at the meet. It was his 100th lifetime win. Remember, this was an international star who tried the U.S. for the first time late last year. To compile 100 wins, mostly in California, is astonishing. He is batting at 21% and better at 26% on turf.

​

• Steve Asmussen added a win to his career total which now stands at 8,995.
• Pop the champagne: Six trainers won today for the first time at the meet and five sent out their initial starters. Three trainers with whom I am unfamiliar Byron Hughes, Jose Fernandez and Lilla Gonzalez (who won for the third time in her career with six starts) along with Michael Dickinson and Simon Callaghan all won with their first starters this meet while Michelle Nihei won with her second starter. Expect the unexpected and never be surprised.
• Jockeys: Tyler Gaffalione (8) and Irad Ortiz, Jr. (6) lead the jockeys' race.
• Trainers: Michael Maker (7) and Wesley Ward (6) lead the trainers' standings.
• John Velazquez has never won at this track (0-for-2 prior to this year, 0-for-14 in 2020) and combined with Flavien Prat they are 0-for-25 this meet. Hey, what has T.D. Houghton accomplished in one race today that John Velazquez has not done since winning the Kentucky Derby? The answer? Win a race! I couldn't resist. 0-for-14 and counting.

Assiniboia Downs (Manitoba):

• Handle: Over $3.5 million bet on the final night of racing for the meet. The $.20 Pick 5 had over $1.3 million in the pool.
• Meet handle: The unofficial tally was over $64 million bet in 50 days of racing. In 2019, approximately $12 million was wagered spanning 50 days. The final numbers will eventually be revealed.
• Race 7: Shelley Brown trained the winner. She was diagnosed within the week with Stage IV cancer related to her lung. She won the track's training title in 2012. Win this battle!
• Race 5: Simply Fablus had a 40-to-1 morning line but was sent off and won at 5-to-1. The 6-year-old mare entered off a win. Chalk it up to someone knew something or a bad morning line.
• Antonio Whitehall won 74 times to take the jockeys' title.
  
• Jerry Gourneau won 73 times, the most for any trainer in the track's history for a 50-day meet.
  
• Starting gate: The red starting gate is appealing. While the signage above is nothing exceptional, more tracks should -- if feasible -- emphasize their gates and/or signage. It has been mentioned but Laurel and Gulfstream (two Stronach tracks) have been weakened in these areas recently since the transformation.

Keeneland sales

• Day three: Today is the lone off day from the sales that are daily from September 13-25. Day three is Wednesday.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Sept. 16 is the finale of the 2020 racing season for Kentucky Downs.

American Pharaoh horses in the feature will get many eyes.

Race #	Purse	Race Type	Distance	Surface	Starters	Est. Post Central Time
Race 1	$90,000	Maiden Special Weight	1 Mile	Turf	9	12:15 PM
Race 2	$45,000	Starter Allowance	1 1/2 Miles	Turf	10	12:47 PM
Race 3	$90,000	Maiden Special Weight	6 1/2 Furlongs	Turf	10	1:19 PM
Race 4	$95,000	Allowance	6 1/2 Furlongs	Turf	12	1:51 PM
Race 5	$90,000	Maiden Special Weight	6 1/2 Furlongs	Turf	10	2:23 PM
Race 6	$100,000	Starter Allowance	6 1/2 Furlongs	Turf	9	2:55 PM
Race 7	$100,000	Starter Allowance	1 Mile 70 Yards	Turf	8	3:27 PM
Race 8	$100,000	Starter Allowance	1 Mile 70 Yards	Turf	10	3:59 PM
Race 9	$500,000	Franklin-Simpson S.	6 1/2 Furlongs	Turf	16	4:32 PM
Race 10	$45,000	Starter Allowance	1 1/2 Miles	Turf	10	5:04 PM

[TBODY] [/TBODY]
[TBODY] [/TBODY]

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

As Steve Asmussen goes for 9,000 wins to join Dale Baird as the only trainers to reach that mark, this is his upcoming schedule:

WEDNESDAY:

Kentucky Downs (6)
Louisiana Downs (4)
Remington Park (6)​

THURSDAY:

Churchill Downs (4)
Indiana Grand (1)
Remington Park (2)
​

His career earnings of $337,997,176 is second only to Todd Pletcher's $394,175,201. Pletcher has earned over $7 million in 2020 and needs less than $5 million to reach $400 million lifetime.

 

[Cyclones Rock]

Houghton Becomes 20th Jockey to Win 6,000 races - BloodHorse

He has ridden more than 37,000 races and his mounts have earned more than $63.7 million in purses. His richest year by earnings came in 2015 when his mounts made nearly $3.5 million. Four times from 1995-2001, he won more than 300 races during a calendar year.
Going down in a spill in 2002, Houghton suffered a brain injury and didn't return to riding until more than 15 months later.
Years afterward, his reputation was questioned after he and other jockeys were part of a lengthy investigation by the Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau regarding allegations of race-fixing in Michigan and Florida in 2006. Houghton maintained his innocence.

It's already been posted, but here's a full article on Houghton. 6000 wins is a remarkable number-especially when the guy was off for 15 months after a horse either stepped on his head or kicked it and caused a brain injury. Also, Houghton was allegedly involved in a race fixing deal (at Tampa Downs IIRC) which cost him numerous mounts. He was never charged with any crime.

 

[Cyclones Rock]

@Cyclones Rock

In case you were not aware... Ohio racing....

Belterra Park, Ohio HBPA End Impasse, Simulcasting Set To Resume Under New Three-Year Contract - Horse Racing News | Paulick Report

I was wondering what was going on-Monday and Tuesday cards didn't happen and had DRF products out on them. Despite its proximity, I never go there and rarely bet it online for a number of reasons.

 

[GKJ]

War of Will going to show up in the Woodbine Mile

 

[Cyclones Rock]

As Steve Asmussen goes for 9,000 wins to join Dale Baird as the only trainers to reach that mark, this is his upcoming schedule:

Baird used to win 5 or more races on nightly cards at Mountaineer. He probably bought, sold, and put down more stock than any trainer in the history of the game. He died in an accident with an empty horse trailer in tow behind his SUV.

Dale Baird Killed in Auto Accident - BloodHorse

A modest, reserved man with a sense of humor, Baird was at home on the backside wearing jeans. That modest man, in 1973, became the first trainer to win more than 300 races in a year. He passed that mark in seven other years. Baird, who has been active in the Mountaineer Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, also has been the leading trainer by wins and leading owner by wins numerous times.
A native of Martinsville, Ill., he won his first race in the summer of 1961 with a horse named New York. Through the years, perhaps the most amazing thing about Baird's winners is that besides training them, he has owned nearly all of them as well. He also owns a farm not far from Mountaineer in West Virginia's panhandle region.
During many of the years in his heyday, Baird would buy and sell more than 200 horses each year. He had said in recent years he planned to cut back, but again this year is the leading trainer at Mountaineer.

Asmussen's purse money for this year is probably more than double what Baird's entire career take was.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Baird used to win 5 or more races on nightly cards at Mountaineer. He probably bought, sold, and put down more stock than any trainer in the history of the game. He died in an accident with an empty horse trailer in tow behind his SUV.

Dale Baird Killed in Auto Accident - BloodHorse


Asmussen's purse money for this year is probably more than double what Baird's entire career take was.

Baird did $35 million in career earnings. Asmussen's all-time single-year best was $27 million in 2019.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

How things can change in a flash.

Wayne Rice, who is the son to Clyde (now deceased) and brother to Linda (who is based in New York), has been associated with Arienne Cox for ages. She was involved in a tumultuous spill earlier in the week with rider Kris Fox who seems to have escaped anything as severe but is also in what has been reported as suffering serious injuries.

Best wishes to both riders. Jockeying is not an easy industry.

Jockeys Arienne Cox, Kris Fox Recovering From Serious Injuries Sustained In Presque Isle Downs Accident - Horse Racing News | Paulick Report

COX

“We've had a successful day or two,” Rice said Tuesday afternoon. “The fractured vertebrae in her neck have been fused, and it did not bother the spinal cord.

“They haven't been able to re-Xray her because she is still on a ventilator,” he said. “But she's working toward breathing on her own, and maybe will be off the ventilator tomorrow, which would be fabulous.

“We had what appeared to be a paralyzed right arm and leg the first five days,” Rice said. “As the medication has been lightened up, we can tell she has cognitive function in the brain. We also found she has complete sensation to touch all over her body, including both the right arm and right leg. And there's now movement in the two limbs. She can blink her eyes when I rub those areas and ask if she can feel it. So we've had pretty good signs the last couple of days.”

In the meantime, Rice said, he's had a “fire sale” of the horses in his barn at Presque Isle Downs as he looks forward to taking Cox back to their home in Florida to recuperate.

“I've sold 10 head already and have some 2-year-olds on the market that I really like that haven't started yet,” Rice said.​

FOX

Fox's wife, Michelle, said on Tuesday via text message: “Kris is in very good spirits despite discomfort and pain” and was expected to be discharged from the hospital Tuesday evening. “Kris says, 'Live to ride, ride to live. Cowboy up,'” she added.​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Wednesday, September 16, 2020

• Steve Asmussen had three wins Wednesday. He needs two victories to reach 9000. He sends out seven at three tracks Thursday.
• Kentucky Downs' all-time daily record handles:
  • $17,437,731 — Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020
    $11,321,492 — Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019
    $10,039,008 — Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018
    $9,487,705 — Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020
    $8,983,981 — Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020
    $8,950,973 — Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020

Belterra (Ohio):

• Perry Ouzts + Larry Smith combined to win three times as a team. Ouzts has now won 7,125 times which is 16 away from 6th place and tying Hall of Famer Chris McCarron.

Kentucky Downs (Kentucky):

• Handle: $9,487,705 was bet today and a total of $59,828,444 wagered for the six days which established an all-time record. The prior mark was set in 2019 when $41,239,699 was wagered.
• Race 9: Guildsman (Tyler Gaffalione/Brendan Walsh), a French-bred who is just 3-for-11 lifetime including 2-for-5 in the US since relocating from Europe, won the Grade 3 $500,000 Franklin-Simpson Stakes. The horse was a 20-to-1 morning line bet down to 9-to-1. The $.10 superfecta was a stunning $6900 when the favorite ran off the board.

​

• Tyler Gaffalione won thrice and claimed the rider's title with 11 victories (five more than the runner up) at the highly anticipated all-turf meet. Gaffalione is developing into a top notch rider but especially in the commonwealth of Kentucky after much success in Florida. The usually humble rider said “This was incredible. This is such a fun place to ride."
• Michael Maker won the trainers' title for the fifth time at this track, something only he can boast. He won eight times in 56 chances. Wesley Ward, who has won four titles at this track, had seven victories.
• Steve Asmussen won twice. At the end of this day, he sat on 8,998 career wins.
• Onto 2021: Today was the final day of what was a 6-day meet.

Canterbury Park (Minnesota):

• Handle record: The track has seen a record handle $65,000,000+ which is about $17 million more than the prior mark set in 2019. The meet concludes today.
• Handle: More than $2.6 million bet on 13 races today.
• Ry Eikleberry rode 10 times and won four. He has a comfortable 7-win lead for the riders' title.
• Joel Berndt had three winners with Ry Eikleberry riding each. Berndt will win the trainers' title for this meet. He has been training since 1991.