Horse Racing: Horse racing (through 2021)

[GKJ]

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Monmouth (NJ) opens May 28 and runs 53 days through September 26. Most Saturdays and Sundays will have a 12:15 pm ET start, getting a jump on the majority, if not all, tracks.

The highlight of the schedule is the 54th edition of the $1,000,000 Haskell Stakes on July 17.

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

Cumberland Raceway will be on the World Stage Saturday 5/8/21

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Todd Pletcher, the seventh winningest trainer in North America history with 5,118 wins and the richest in purse money with over $405,000,000 earned, was elected to the Hall of Fame today. The Texas-born trainer is 53 years of age. He has won five Triple Crown races and 11 Breeders' Cups. Among his remarkable feats is 60 trainers' titles with Gulfstream (17), Belmont (16) and Saratoga (14) heading the list. He has won 166 Grade I races (Bob Baffert broke the record last week with 221) among his 708 graded stakes victories. His horses have won 11 Eclipse Awards. His most famous horse is debatable but it is tough to argue against English Channel and a 23 13-4-1 ($5 million earned) record. However, Street Saver winning the Kentucky Derby had to be the greatest relief for him after many failures in the race. Calvin Borel got it done and to see the stoic Pletcher celebrate (end of the YT clip) says it all.

​

American Pharoah, the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978, was also selected. He was 11 9-1-0 lifetime and earned $8.6 million. After losing his maiden effort in August 2014, Pharoah won eight straight races.

​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

More positive numbers:

• March + April U.S. handle -- up 12% in 2021 compared to 2019 (2020 = C-virus).
• Fonner Park (Nebraska) -- the little track that could as one of the few operating during the early stages of C-virus restraints in 2020 -- closed its 2021 meet May 1 and was up 19% from 2019. Out-of-state handle was up 447% (accurate total) for 2021 compared to 2019.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Now with complete numbers for April:

April 2021 vs. April 2020
Indicator	April 2021	April 2020	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$1,103,109,455	$639,331,643	+72.54%
U.S. Purses	$89,560,290	$17,500,400	+411.76%
U.S. Race Days	279	85	+228.24%
U.S. Races	2,425	746	+225.07%
U.S. Starts	18,039	6,810	+164.89%
Average Field Size	7.44	9.13	-18.51%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$3,953,797	$7,521,549	-47.43%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$321,005	$205,887	+55.91%

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YTD 2021 vs. YTD 2020
Indicator	YTD 2021	YTD 2020	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$3,869,205,732	$3,147,861,049	+22.92%
U.S. Purses	$304,560,597	$222,728,051	+36.74%
U.S. Race Days	1,045	878	+19.02%
U.S. Races	9,127	7,362	+23.97%
U.S. Starts	70,250	58,783	+19.51%
Average Field Size	7.70	7.98	-3.60%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$3,702,589	$3,585,263	+3.27%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$291,446	$253,677	+14.89%

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2019 Comparisons:

April 2021 vs. April 2019
Indicator	April 2021	April 2019	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races	$1,103,109,455	$845,958,246	+30.40%
U.S. Purses	$89,560,290	$85,910,830	+4.25%
U.S. Race Days	279	311	-10.29%
U.S. Races	2,425	2,612	-7.16%
U.S. Starts	18,039	19,728	-8.56%
Average Field Size	7.44	7.55	-1.51%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$3,953,797	$2,720,123	+45.35%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$321,005	$276,241	+16.20%

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YTD 2021 vs. YTD 2019
Indicator	YTD 2021	YTD 2019	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$3,869,205,732	$3,380,927,018	+14.44%
U.S. Purses	$304,560,597	$313,030,470	-2.71%
U.S. Race Days	1,045	1,155	-9.52%
U.S. Races	9,127	9,902	-7.83%
U.S. Starts	70,250	76,558	-8.24%
Average Field Size	7.70	7.73	-0.45%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$3,702,589	$2,927,210	+26.49%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$291,446	$271,022	+7.54%

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* Includes worldwide commingled wagering on U.S. races.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Saturday's card at Belmont is extraordinary.

A reminder, Belmont's first post is 3:05 pm ET on Thursdays May 6, 13 and 20. Belmont is dark on the 27th due to Memorial Day weekend, it will race on Monday, May 31.

Race #	Purse	Race Type	Distance	Surface	Starters	Est. Post
Race 1	$55,000	Claiming	1 1/16 Miles	Dirt	7	1:00 PM ET
Race 2	$80,000	Allowance	6 Furlongs	Turf	12	1:31 PM ET
Race 3	$37,000	Maiden Claiming	6 1/2 Furlongs	Dirt	16	2:02 PM ET
Race 4	$150,000	Runhappy S.	6 Furlongs	Dirt	5	2:31 PM ET
Race 5	$75,000	Maiden Special Weight	6 Furlongs	Turf	16	3:04 PM ET
Race 6	$150,000	Beaugay S.	1 1/16 Miles	Turf	6	3:34 PM ET
Race 7	$150,000	Vagrancy H.	6 1/2 Furlongs	Dirt	7	4:06 PM ET
Race 8	$90,000	Maiden Special Weight	1 1/16 Miles	Turf	10	4:38 PM ET
Race 9	$200,000	Peter Pan S.	1 1/8 Miles	Dirt	6	5:12 PM ET
Race 10	$700,000	Man o' War S.	1 3/8 Miles	Turf	8	5:44 PM ET
Race 11	$90,000	Maiden Special Weight	1 1/16 Miles	Turf	10	6:16 PM ET

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[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Thursday, May 6, 2021

• Little action early in the Eastern Time Zone as Gulfstream (FL), Pimlico (MD), Thistledown (OH) and Belterra (OH) were the offerings. Belmont (NY) began at 3:00 pm and will start that time the next two Thursdays. Churchill (KY) ran at 5:00 pm into the night.

Belmont (NY):

• Jose Ortiz (3) and Irad Ortiz, Jr. (2) combined to win five times.
• Race 4: Riding On a Winner (Trevor McCarthy/Thomas Morley) was the lone first-time starter in the race and won at 11-to-1.

Churchill Downs (KY):

• Wesley Ward won for the 2,000th time in North America.

​

------------------
NOTES:
Emerald Downs (WA): has added four stakes to its original schedule. The track will commence live racing May 19 and run into late September.

Monmouth Park (NJ): Still awaiting word on Monmouth Park and New Jersey for fixed odds. It would be the first race track in North America -- to my knowledge -- to incorporate fixed odds wagering rather than (or in addition to) parimutuel. The bill has to be approved by varying entities and it has passed most jurisdictions. Basically, if you bet a horse at 10-to-1, you get those odds rather than what is determined at post time.

Woodbine (ON): Because of the province's restrictions due to C-virus, the track will not operate until May 21 at the earliest. Personnel have to make decisions as to whether they will stay and wait or head elsewhere including spots in the U.S. Woodbine is the biggest track in Canada.

Preakness Stakes: France Go de Ina (Joel Rosario/Hideyuki Mori) will make the trek from Japan to Los Angeles to Newark and then van to Maryland in order to make the Preakness Stakes on May 15. Rosario rode the horse in the UAE Derby.

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

Thursday, May 6, 2021

• Little action early in the Eastern Time Zone as Gulfstream (FL), Pimlico (MD), Thistledown (OH) and Belterra (OH) were the offerings. Belmont (NY) began at 3:00 pm and will start that time the next two Thursdays. Churchill (KY) ran at 5:00 pm into the night.

Belmont (NY):

• Jose Ortiz (3) and Irad Ortiz, Jr. (2) combined to win five times.
• Race 4: Riding On a Winner (Trevor McCarthy/Thomas Morley) was the lone first-time starter in the race and won at 11-to-1.

Churchill Downs (KY):

• Wesley Ward won for the 2,000th time in North America.

​

------------------
NOTES:
Emerald Downs (WA): has added four stakes to its original schedule. The track will commence live racing May 19 and run into late September.

Monmouth Park (NJ): Still awaiting word on Monmouth Park and New Jersey for fixed odds. It would be the first race track in North America -- to my knowledge -- to incorporate fixed odds wagering rather than (or in addition to) parimutuel. The bill has to be approved by varying entities and it has passed most jurisdictions. Basically, if you bet a horse at 10-to-1, you get those odds rather than what is determined at post time.

Woodbine (ON): Because of the province's restrictions due to C-virus, the track will not operate until May 21 at the earliest. Personnel have to make decisions as to whether they will stay and wait or head elsewhere including spots in the U.S. Woodbine is the biggest track in Canada.

Preakness Stakes: France Go de Ina (Joel Rosario/Hideyuki Mori) will make the trek from Japan to Los Angeles to Newark and then van to Maryland in order to make the Preakness Stakes on May 15. Rosario rode the horse in the UAE Derby.

I believe it was reported that both Mandaloun, Essential Quality, & Caddo River are now off the TC Trail as they were withdrawn from the Preakness Stakes probable entry list

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Trevor McCarthy is moving his tack to southern Cal and will ride at all three tracks this year. He is moving with his jockey bride Katie Davis. From Maryland to New York to southern Cal in a few months spread. Interesting move. He will be at Santa Anita later this month and eventually Los Alamitos and Del Mar.

Edit:

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Friday, May 7, 2021

Belmont (New York):

• Handle: Around $8 million.
• Christophe Clement was the star of the day with a 6 4-1-0 mark. Trainers don't do that in New York very often. And as is his specialty, all wins came on turf.
• Race 1: A good duel between the brothers Ortiz with Jose getting up at 10-to-1.

Pimlico (Maryland):

• Payouts: I am not alone in noticing. Others have pointed that payouts seem to be to the handicappers favor with some exotics.
• Handle: $2.4 million.
• Race 7: Gracetown (Sheldon Russell/Jeremiah O'Dwyer) had all supporters across America yelling "find the hole" with a brilliant and gutsy ride by the jockey. The trainer is 4-for-7 this meet.

​

Gulfstream Park (Florida):

• And on this date: Luca Panici shall return. Panici has been sidelined since early February with multiple broken bones in his back. But he is expected to ride Saturday. It was a harrowing injury but you can't keep Luca down for long.

Churchill Downs (Kentucky):

• Wesley Ward won the first two races, both limited to 2-year-olds. His reputation and success rate with babies is so strong that the $1 double paid $2.10. Ward is 23 12-4-3 (52%/83%) in 2021 with 2-year-olds. He is 45% this year with first-timers.
• Ricardo Santana, Jr. won his first three rides. He continued a streak from the prior day that ended at five consecutive wins. Perhaps as intriguing is none of the trainers was named Steve Asmussen. Santana has around 57% of his wins for Asmussen.

Lone Star (Texas):

• Lane Luzzi rode three winners including a 15-to-1 m/l, sent off at 6-to-1, to an energetic conclusion.

Santa Anita (California):

• Handle: Over $6 million.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Broadcast Schedule for Saturday, May 8, 2021. All Posted Times are subject to change.

Belmont (NYRA) and some Churchill:

Saturday, May 8

FS2 - 2-6:30pm

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TVG
TRACK NAME	RACES	FIRST POST TIME (ET)
FR - La Capelle	1 - 6	5:05 AM
SE - Lindesberg	3 - 6	5:44 AM
ZA - Turffontein	1 - 4	6:15 AM
ZA - Kenilworth	1 - 2	7:00 AM
FR - Lyon-Parilly	1 - 8	7:23 AM
IR - Naas	1 - 7	8:00 AM
GB - Lingfield	1 - 7	8:05 AM
GB - Nottingham	1 - 7	8:15 AM
GB - Ascot	1 - 7	8:55 AM
GB - Haydock Park	5 - 6	10:45 AM
Gulfstream Park	1 - 12	12:20 PM
Pimlico	1 - 9	12:41 PM
Arlington Park	1 - 8	3:25 PM
Santa Anita	1 - 9	4:00 PM
Golden Gate Fields	1 - 9	4:20 PM
Lone Star	7 - 10	6:23 PM
Charles Town	3 - 8	8:00 PM
Meadowlands	5 - 13	8:05 PM
Evangeline Downs	5 - 9	8:38 PM
Los Alamitos	1 - 8	9:05 PM
Japan - Tokyo RC	4 - 12	10:35 PM
FanDuel Sportsbook and Horse Racing	6 - 7	10:55 PM
Remington Park	10 - 12	11:01 PM
Sam Houston Race Park	11 - 12	11:41 PM
AUD - Mudgee	3 - 7	12:25 AM
AUB - Sunshine Coast	4 - 9	12:34 AM
South Korea Busan	5 - 6	3:05 AM
South Korea Seoul	8 - 10	3:35 AM
TVG 2
TRACK NAME	RACES	FIRST POST TIME (ET)
Pocono Downs	1 - 12	12:30 PM
Pimlico	1 - 9	12:41 PM
Churchill Downs	1 - 11	12:45 PM
Lone Star	1 - 6	3:35 PM
Louisiana Downs	4 - 7	5:03 PM
Meadowlands	1 - 4	6:27 PM
Hoosier Park	1 - 2	6:34 PM
Evangeline Downs	1 - 3	6:50 PM
Charles Town	1 - 2	7:05 PM
AUA - Devonport Synthetic	1 - 6	9:50 PM
AUB - Sunshine Coast	1 - 4	10:50 PM
AUC - Goulburn	1 - 4	11:05 PM
AUD - Mudgee	1 - 3	11:15 PM

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[CHRDANHUTCH]

Cumberland Raceway officially debuts this afternoon @ 4:15

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Saturday, May 8, 2021

Belmont (New York):

• Handle: $19.1 million.
• Joel Rosario began the day with a natural hat trick and finished with four wins on nine mounts. He has ten wins the past four days at Belmont.
• Race 3: Sweeter (Joel Rosario/Ed Barker) won one of the most stunning finishes of the day. Rosario picked up the mount from Luis Saez and completed a natural hat trick with an exhilarating finish in which his mount was 14th of 14 at the half-mile pole and then improved to nothing best but eighth in the stretch before a driving finish that was made for a movie.
• Race 4: Firenze Fire (Irad Ortiz, Jr./Kelly Breen) won the $150,000 Grade 3 Runhappy Stakes. Firenze Fire ran in the 2018 Kentucky Derby. He won for the 13th time in 32 starts.
• Race 6: Harvey's Lil Goil (Junior Alvarado/Bill Mott) was out for the first time since November but won the $150,000 Grade 3 Beaugay Stakes. A daughter to American Pharoah and a multiple graded stakes winner, she has amassed $800,000+ in just 10 lifetime starts.
• Race 7: Victim of Love (Joel Rosario/Todd Beattie) won the $150,000 Grade 3 Vagrancy Stakes. The mid-Atlantic based trainer won a graded stakes for a rare time.
• Race 9: Promise Keeper (Luis Saez/Todd Pletcher) won the $200,000 Grade 3 Peter Pan Stakes.

​

• Race 10: Channel Cat (John Velazquez/Jack Sisterson) wired the field in the $700,000 Grade I Man o' War Stakes. He held on to win by a nose over Gufo (Joel Rosario/Christophe Clement) in a thriller. The 6-year-old horse had just five wins in 25 starts, had not won since July 2019 and was winless in five Belmont appearances. He was sent off 8-to-1. This was his second graded stakes win. Today was his day. Velazquez won for the first time on 14 mounts this meet. He knows when the bright lights are shining.

​

Pimlico (Maryland):

• Conditions: Sloppy and off-the-turf.
• Handle: $3.2 million.
• Race 8: Galerio (Xavier Perez/Dale Bennett) has a remarkable record of 24 9-11-1. To finish 1st or 2nd in 20 of 24 races is quite impressive but he is also on a 15 9-6-0 run. The Maryland-bred won again today.
• Race 5: Replicant (J. Acosta/Hugh McMahon) won a thriller over Sebastian (Sheldon Russell/Katherine Voss). The reaction post-wire from the jockeys says it all. A great battle in the slop.

​

Gulfstream (Florida):

• The Rainbow Six hit $3,000,000 with $2.6 million in new money added today.
• Handle: $14.3 million.

Churchill Downs (Kentucky):

• Florent Geroux won three times including two victories for Bob Baffert who sent out just two horses and both came back winners. Baffert is 9 5-0-0 at the meet. He is one win shy of the meet lead. Is it possible Baffert could win a meet in Kentucky?
• Florent Geroux (10 wins), Luis Saez (9) and Tyler Gaffalione (8) are in the top three for wins this meet. The meet ends June 26.

Arlington (Illinois):

• Race 5: A 5-to-1 nosed a 17-to-1 in one of the best finishes of the day. The winner was fourth in the stretch.
• Brittany Vanden Berg entered two races and won both. She is 6 4-2-0 this meet and 33 17-5-2 (52%/73%) in 2021. The former jockey, in her third year training, is 33% lifetime in victories. That is one bodacious figure. The Canadian-born trainer has been sizzling in her second career.

Santa Anita (California):

• Handle: $10.5 million.
• Race 7: Neige Blanche (Juan Hernandez/Leonard Powell) won the $100,000 Grade 3 Santa Barbara Stakes by a nose over Rideforthecause (Mario Gutierrez/Michael McCarthy) in another thriller. The French-bred won for the first time in five tries on American soil. The trainer was also born in France and recorded a rare graded stakes win in the U.S.

 

[John Price]

 

[John Price]

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

More info...

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Cumberland Raceway officially debuts this afternoon @ 4:15

A review for opening day:

First Tracks Cumberland opens for racing

CUMBERLAND, Maine - Saturday's opening day at First Tracks Cumberland enjoyed a large harness racing crowd and widespread support from on-track punters, as well as simulcast outlets, for the nine-race card.

The first extended pari-mutuel meeting to open in over twenty years that was not owned by a casino enjoyed mild temperatures that brought several hundred people to the Cumberland Fairground's apron to enjoy a full day of harness racing.

Over nine races, the swiftest of the day went to iconic driver and Maine-native Bruce Ranger, who steered 12-year-old Ira Chief to victory for trainer Dennis Whittemore and owner Diane Whittemore in 1:57.2. Six races went faster than 2:00 on the half mile oval and only two races were won by the betting favorites.​

 

[GKJ]

Baffert was clearly anticipating this if he’s got his lawyers before the split sample comes back

 

[GKJ]

 

[SJSharksfan39]

After the Derby I made a somewhat joke asking if there was such thing as Doping in Horse Racing. Evidently there is and I'm not surprised it's Baffert. I don't follow this sport at all, but considering how much this guy wins, how much TV time he has, and I just get a scummy vibe from him for some reason, I'm not entirely shocked at this news. If this is a repeat offense, ban him for life and clean up the sport because there is something nice and traditional about the Triple Crown (specifically the Kentucky Derby) that should never be tarnished.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

After the Derby I made a somewhat joke asking if there was such thing as Doping in Horse Racing. Evidently there is and I'm not surprised it's Baffert. I don't follow this sport at all, but considering how much this guy wins, how much TV time he has, and I just get a scummy vibe from him for some reason, I'm not entirely shocked at this news. If this is a repeat offense, ban him for life and clean up the sport because there is something nice and traditional about the Triple Crown (specifically the Kentucky Derby) that should never be tarnished.

There are different levels of authorization. In some cases, the medication is legal but depending on the time frame the administering is a violation. States have varying ruling bodies and though some rules are universally applied not all jurisdictions have the same language.

Medina Spirit Tests Positive for Betamethasone - BloodHorse

Betamethasone is a Class C drug that is allowed in Kentucky as a therapeutic. However, state rules require at least a 14-day withdrawal time and any level of detection on race day is a violation. The threshold was changed to zero from 10 picograms per milliliter of blood or plasma in August.

The KHRC confirmed the news early Sunday afternoon with the following statement: "Kentucky Horse Racing Commission officials are investigating the (betamethasone) medication test finding related to horse 'Medina Spirit' and trainer Bob Baffert. The test was conducted Derby Day, May 1. Test results were obtained May 7.​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Northern California is a different entity from southern California where the three main tracks (Del Mar, Santa Anita and Los Alamitos) exist.

In northern Cal, besides Golden Gate Fields -- its ongoing meet closes to live racing June 13 -- there are multiple fair tracks and the scheduling can be confusing. Some information was released this weekend while not confirmed here is a rough schedule:

Here is what seems to be the latest:

• Alameda County Fair (Pleasanton): June 18 - July 11 [confirmed: June 18-19-20-25-26-27; July 2-3-4-9-10-11] with a requested addition through August 1
• California State Fair (Sacramento): July 16 - August 1
• Sonoma County Fairgrounds (Santa Rosa meet to be held at Golden Gate Fields): August 5 start, though the schedule has yet to be approved
• Humboldt County Fair (Ferndale): August 20 - August 29
• Big Fresno Fair (Fresno): October 7 - October 17.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Sunday, May 9, 2021

• Steve Asmussen added three wins today (9,326 all-time) and is 119 shy of Dale Baird's record for North America training wins. The expectation is the record will be set some time this year.

Belmont (New York):

• Handle: Well over $9 million.
• Wesley Ward did it again...and again. Two more wins with 2-year-olds. He is 31 16-6-5 (52%/87%) in 2021. He is 46 21-5-7 (46%/72%) with first-timers in 2021.
• Race 8: Beren (Manny Franco/Butchy Reid) got the bob in the $100,000 Gold Fever Stakes, another thriller this weekend at Belmont. It was so close the track announcer hesitantly called the horse that didn't win. It was that close! A superb finish. The trainer is Philadelphia-based trainer and raced this horse at Parx six times before trying New York tracks the past two races.

​

Pimlico (Maryland):

• Handle: $2.5 million.
• Black-Eyed Susan (Friday) and Preakness Stakes (Saturday) Draws: 175 horses have been nominated for Friday's card. The May 15 Preakness Day card drew 244 nominations for 14 races. A welcoming weather forecast for the weekend, too.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Handle: $7.9 million.

Churchill Downs (Kentucky):

• Ricardo Santana, Jr. rode three winners, today twice for his customary trainer Steve Asmussen. Santana has won 8 of 18 rides the past four racing days.

Santa Anita (California):

• Juan Hernandez won three of his six mounts. He has six wins for six different trainers the past two days. He was feted with Jockey of the Week honors in North America for the week.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

LAUREL: The current meet at Pimlico (Maryland) has been extended through June 30. The main track at Laurel (Maryland) is undergoing extensive fixes to its surface. Pimlico was to run in May only but began earlier (April 22) and will run through at least June 30. Laurel's turf track appears to be a non-issue.

FRIDAY'S CARD: The Black-Eyed Susan card for Friday is to be drawn today barring a last minute change but a specific time has not been indicated.

SATURDAY'S CARD: The draw for the Preakness Stakes card is expected to be conducted at 4:00 pm ET on Tuesday.