Thursday, August 21 2008

NYRA STATEMENT RE: TAKEOUT

NYRA STATEMENT ON POSTPONEMENT OF ONE-PERCENT TAKEOUT INCREASE ON OUT-OF-STATE THOROUGHBRED RACES

The New York State Legislature has amended the bill passed in June authorizing the state takeover of the New York City Off-Track Betting Corporation which would have required a one percent takeout increase on all bets made in New York on out-of-state Thoroughbred races.

The increase, set to become effective on September 15, was postponed until March 15, 2009 and inserted into the state budget cut bill passed by the legislature in a special session this week and signed by Governor David Paterson on Wednesday.

Friday, August 15 2008

NYRA BANS TOE GRABS

NYRA TO LIMIT HEIGHT OF TOE GRABS ON FRONT HORSESHOES AT START OF AQUEDUCT FALL MEETING, OCTOBER 29

Following the recommendation of the Thoroughbred Safety Committee of The Jockey Club, toe grabs with a height greater than two millimeters (.07874 inches) on front horseshoes will be banned from all horses racing at Saratoga Race Course, Belmont Park, and Aqueduct Racetrack. The limitation takes effect on October 29 with the opening of the Aqueduct Fall Meeting, the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) announced today.

The committee announced its recommendation to ban all toe grabs other than two-millimeter wear plates on June 17.

Saturday, August 02 2008

JOHN PASSERO TO RESIGN AS NYRA DIRECTOR OF RACING SURFACES

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) today announced that John Passero has resigned as Director of Racing Surfaces, effective September 1st at the conclusion of the Saratoga Race Course meeting.

Passero has served in the position, where he is responsible for 11 racing surfaces at Saratoga, Belmont Park, and Aqueduct Race Track, since January 2005. Prior to that he was Senior Vice President, Racing Surfaces, for the Maryland Jockey Club

NYRA also announced that Glen Kozak will assume the post of Director of Racing Surfaces on September 5th at the start of the Belmont Park Fall Championship Meeting.

Sunday, July 27 2008

PACE THE `KEY’ IN AMSTERDAM

Key members of the field for Monday’s 16th running of the Grade 2, $150,000 Amsterdam for three-year-old sprinters may be light on experience they make up for it with potential and plenty of speed.

Desert Key, lead contender in the 6 ½-furlong contest, will be making only his fifth start in the Amsterdam for Centennial Farms. The son of E Dubai out of the Storm Cat mare, Storm Key, finished a well-beaten sixth in his debut at Gulfstream Park on March 5th before breaking his maiden next time out at Aqueduct.

Thursday, July 24 2008

ON-TRACK HANDLE UP AT BELMONT PARK SPRING/SUMMER MEET

On-track handle increased 1.5 percent at the recently-concluded 58-day Belmont Park Spring/Summer Meet, despite the loss of one racing day. Wagering for Belmont Stakes Day’s 13-race card (June 7), which included five other graded stakes, was the second highest on-track in history.

On-track handle for races conducted at Belmont Park totaled $69,722,257 for a daily average of $1,202,108, up from $68,718,518 for a daily average of $1,164,721 in 2007.

Wednesday, July 23 2008

“SARATOGA AT BELMONT” TO OPEN ON SCHEDULE

“Saratoga at Belmont” will be up and running on Wednesday, July 23, despite last weekend’s transformer fire that short-circuited the final day of the Belmont Park Spring/Summer season on Sunday.

As the faulty transformer is being replaced, generators have been installed to provide more than enough electricity to power Belmont Park’s simulcasting of the prestigious Saratoga meet and action from other top tracks. Air-conditioning has already been restored to the Belmont Café (first floor clubhouse), and could be restored to the Paddock Dining Room, along with the adjacent Players Club and Paddock Bar, as early as Friday.

Monday, July 14 2008

BELMONT NOTES, Sunday, July 13, 2008

2007 Horse of the Year Curlin came out of his second-place finish to Red Rocks in Saturday’s Grade 1 Man o’War Stakes in good order and was on his way to Saratoga Sunday morning. The Man o’War was Curlin’s first start on turf.

“Physically, he came out of the race great,” reported trainer Steve Asmussen.

The trainer added that he would evaluate the colt during the weeks ahead and that at this point, he was considering “all options.”

Saturday, July 12 2008

RED ROCKS ROCKS MAN O’WAR AT CURLIN’S EXPENSE

The five-race winning streak is over, but the future on turf for 2007 Horse of the Year Curlin is anyone’s guess.

Saturday’s 49th edition of the Grade 1, $500,000 Man O’War Stakes at 11 furlongs was the first start on grass for 4-year-old Curlin, whose owner, Jess Jackson of Stonestreet Stable, is intent on making the Smart Strike horse an international star and a fan favorite.

The reason for running here was to see if Curlin, a monster on dirt, fit with quality turf horses.

BELMONT PARK NOTES, Saturday, July 12, 2008

BELMONT NOTES

The final week of racing for the 2008 Belmont Park Spring/Summer Meet will conclude on Sunday, July 20.

Saturday, July 19, will feature the 92nd running of the Grade 1, $300,000 Coaching Club American Oaks for three-year-old fillies at a mile and a quarter. Likely starters here are Acoma, Little Belle, Music Note, Never Retreat and possibly Ms. Margaret H, Seattle Smooth and Smooth Performer.

Godolphin Stable’s Music Note stumbled early then got a clean trip to win the Grade 1, nine-furlong Mother Goose here on June 28, defeating Proud Spell, who had a horrible trip and was finally disqualified from second and placed third.

POKER ADVANCE FOR SUNDAY, JULY 13, 2008

IEAH Stable and Pegasus Holding Group’s Kip Deville campaigned out West and even in Canada last year before scoring a one-length victory over Excellent Act in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Monmouth Park.

Now, trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. will try the East to open Kip Deville’s summer season, as the 5-year-old Kipling horse is entered for Sunday’s 24th running of the Grade 3, $100,000-added Poker for three-year-olds and up at a mile on the turf. The race is carded as the fourth on Sunday (2:35 p.m.).

Friday, July 11 2008

CURLIN TRIES THE TURF WITH PLENTY OF COMPANY

It is a seven-horse field, but there are horses entered to run at Belmont Park in Saturday’s 49th edition of the Grade 1, $500,000 Man o’War Stakes that are among the more accomplished anywhere.

And then there’s Curlin.

The reigning Horse of the Year is trying the grass for the first time in the Man o’War, hoping to make the transition that will set him up for the Prix Foy and, ultimately, the Prix de L’arc de Triomphe at Longchamp Race Course in Paris on October 5.

Thursday, July 10 2008

BELMONT PARK NOTES

Here’s a superstar that’s gone pretty far.

Curlin, the reigning Horse of the Year and quite possibly the top Thoroughbred on the planet, is expected to return to trainer Steve Asmussen’s barn at Belmont Park on Thursday and then make his turf debut in Saturday’s 49th running of the Grade 1, $500,000 Man o’War Stakes at 11 furlongs.