Wednesday, December 08 2010

NTRA ESTABLISHES CO-OP PRICING PROGRAM FOR ITS SAFETY AND INTEGRITY ALLIANCE

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) announced today that it has created a co-op pricing program whereby racetracks accredited by the NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance would receive a credit against its following-year NTRA membership dues for any Alliance accreditation fee (less inspection expenses) paid during the current calendar year. In addition, future Alliance accreditation fees will also be tiered for both NTRA-member and non-member tracks based on a formula derived from annual purse monies offered.

“The goal here is to create an additional incentive for tracks to avail themselves of the accreditation process,” said Mike Ziegler, Executive Director of the NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance. “Complying with the Alliance’s Code of Standards can be labor-intensive and costly for some facilities. But we feel it is an investment well worth making on behalf of the sport’s human and equine athletes, and we want to make it as economical as possible for tracks large and small to get accredited.”

SUNLAND PARK RECEIVES FULL ACCREDITATION BY NTRA SAFETY AND INTEGRITY ALLIANCE

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) announced today that Sunland Park in Sunland Park, N.M., has received full accreditation by the NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance following a complete review of all racing operations at the facility.

Last May, Sunland Park was granted provisional accreditation by the Alliance after the New Mexico racetrack was found to be in compliance with the majority of standards set forth in the Alliance code, but in need of upgrades in the specific areas of pre-race veterinary inspections; uniform medication regulations; safety equipment and cushioned riding crops; testing for alkalinizing substances; and independent security assessment and training. Since then, all areas previously deemed deficient have been improved to either meet or exceed parameters set forth in the Alliance Code of Standards.

REGISTRATION FOR 2011 NHC TOUR MEMBERSHIPS NOW UNDERWAY

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) announced today that signups for the 2011 Daily Racing Form NHC Tour are now being accepted at at http://www.ntra.com/nhctour. The Daily Racing Form NHC Tour is a yearlong bonus series offering additional prize money and qualifying berths to the DRF/NTRA National Handicapping Championship to be held in January 2012 in Las Vegas with a total estimated prize pool of $2 million, including $1 million to the Grand Prize winner.

Membership in the 2011 Daily Racing Form NHC Tour is open to adults 21 years of age or older and requires a one-time membership fee of $45. Membership in the 2011 Daily Racing Form NHC Tour is mandatory in order for top finishers of sanctioned NHC qualifying events to be eligible to compete in the January 2012 NHC Finals in Las Vegas. The NHC Tour membership must be in place prior to the start of any given qualifying tournament in order for one to qualify for the NHC Finals at that qualifying tournament.

Thursday, December 02 2010

American Graded Stakes Committee—2011 Graded Stakes Announced

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association today presented its listing of U.S. Graded Stakes for 2011, the results of its annual grading session conducted December 1 in Lexington.

The Committee reviewed 689 unrestricted U.S. stakes races with a purse of at least $75,000, and assigned graded status to 474 of them, 13 fewer than were graded in 2010. A total of five graded races were upgraded, including one new Grade I race and four new Grade II races; five new Grade III races were identified. Eight races which carried graded status in 2010 are no longer eligible for grading.

Wednesday, September 29 2010

REGISTRATION OPEN FOR SATURDAY’S FREE “TVG ONLINE CHALLENGE”; TOP TWO FINISHERS TO RECEIVE NHC

Signups are being accepted for the “TVG Online Challenge,” a free, online handicapping tournament that will take place this Saturday, October 2. The top two finishers will receive a guaranteed berth in the $1.1 million (estimated) Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship (NHC) on January 28-29, 2011 in Las Vegas. The two winners will also receive roundtrip air travel and hotel accommodations at the Red Rock Casino, Resort & Spa, site of the NHC. Prospective competitors do not need to be TVG account holders in order to register.

The TVG Online Challenge requires contestants to place hypothetical $2 win and place wagers on 10 designated contest races on Saturday. The 10 contest races will be chosen by tournament officials on Thursday, September 30, and will take place at Monmouth Park, Woodbine and Oak Tree at Hollywood Park. Free DRF past performances for the Challenge races will be available at the contest site. All selections must be made no later than one minute prior to the scheduled post time of each mandatory race. The two players amassing the highest number of points based on the Players' earnings (i.e. the highest final bankroll) from all $2 win and place wagers at the end of the Challenge will be declared the "Grand Prize Winners" and receive berths in the NHC in January in Las Vegas.

Tuesday, September 28 2010

RACHEL ALEXANDRA RETIRES

LEXINGTON, KY - Rachel Alexandra, the filly who shocked the racing world in 2009 by winning the Preakness and defeating the colts and male horses in two other G1 races en route to an 8-0 campaign and a Horse of the Year title, has retired, majority owner Jess Jackson announced today.

“As you know, despite top training and a patient campaign, Rachel Alexandra did not return to her 2009 form. I believe it’s time to retire our Champion and reward her with a less stressful life. We are delighted that she will retire healthy and happy to our beautiful farm in Kentucky.

Friday, September 24 2010

ROBINSON ELECTED, LIEBAU RE-ELECTED TO NTRA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Following a meeting today of The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) Board of Directors, the NTRA announced that Dennis Robinson, President and CEO of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority (NJSEA), has been elected to the NTRA Board of Directors as an Eastern Region Independent Racetrack representative. Robinson fills an open seat previously held by William Fasy.

Also at today’s meeting, Hollywood Park President Jack Liebau was re-elected to his NTRA Board seat as a Western Region Independent Racetrack representative.

Thursday, September 23 2010

Agenda Set for NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance Professional Education Seminar

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) today announced the agenda for the NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance Professional Education Seminar to be held Tuesday, October 19 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky. The Seminar, sponsored by Keeneland and Pfizer Animal Health, will feature expert speakers from across the country who will discuss health and safety topics targeted specifically to trainers, aftercare organizations, track medical directors, racing officials, farriers and veterinarians. Attendance at the seminar will help satisfy continuing education requirements for racetracks as mandated by the Alliance’s Code of Standards.

One portion of the Seminar will focus on continuing education for trainers. Topics to be covered will include exercise protocol for the young horse; managing post-exercise body temperature, musculoskeletal injuries; nutrition; knowing when to retire a racehorse; importance of voluntary injury reporting; dealing with the media; the importance of pre-race examinations; and working with stewards. Speakers will include: Dr. Reid McLellan, Executive Director, Groom Elite Program; Randal Raub, Director of Horse Business Development, Purina Mills, LLC; Anna Ford, New Vocations; Dr. Jeffery Berk, Ocala Equine Hospital; Dr. Mary Scollay, Equine Medical Director, Kentucky Horse Racing Commission; Stan Bowker, Chairman, Racing Officials Accreditation Program; Dr. Bryce Peckham, Chief Veterinarian, Kentucky Horse Racing Commission; and Eric Wing, Senior Director of Media Relations, NTRA.

Friday, September 10 2010

National Turf Writers Association to honor Migliore, Old Friends, Milbert

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The National Turf Writers Association will honor retired jockey Richard Migliore, the equine retirement facility Old Friends, and veteran Chicago Turf writer Neil Milbert at its annual awards dinner on November 3 in Louisville.

Migliore, who rode the winners of 4,450 races and earned the Eclipse Award for outstanding apprentice jockey in 1981, will receive the Mr. Fitz Award during the 51st annual NTWA Awards Dinner on at the Muhammad Ali Center in Downtown Louisville.

Wednesday, August 25 2010

SATURDAY’S PACIFIC CLASSIC FROM DEL MAR TO BE SHOWN LIVE ON NTRA.COM

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association’s (NTRA) Website, NTRA.com, will offer free, live video streaming this Saturday of Del Mar’s Grade I, $1,000,000 Pacific Classic Presented by TVG. The Pacific Classic, to be run at 1 1/4 miles on the main track, drew a field of 10, including the venerable seven-year-old Awesome Gem, who ran the best race of his life last time out while capturing the Hollywood Gold Cup for his owners, West Point Thoroughbreds. The Pacific Classic is also a Breeders’ Cup Challenge contest, assuring the winner a starting berth in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on November 6 at Churchill Downs.

The Pacific Classic is one of several important races leading to the Breeders’ Cup World Championships that will be Webcast this year on NTRA Live! The series will feature interviews with on-track analysts; live chats with viewers; pre-and post-race analysis; free DRF past performance data, including its new EasyForm past performances; handicapping selections; a one-click link to wagering opportunities at TVG; and other original and unique programming components.

Tuesday, August 03 2010

National Thoroughbred Racing Association National Poll for Monday, Aug. 2. Poll Week #22

NATIONAL THOROUGHBRED RACING ASSOCIATION NATIONAL POLL

Week 22 of the 2010 NTRA Thoroughbred Poll conducted by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), covering racing performances through August 1. Current Horse of the Year ranking of the top Thoroughbreds on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis with first place votes in parentheses, 2010 record and total points.

Thursday, July 22 2010

SATURDAY’S LADY’S SECRET STAKES, FEATURING RACHEL ALEXANDRA, TO BE SHOWN LIVE ON NTRA.COM

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association’s (NTRA) Website, NTRA.com, will offer free, live video streaming this Saturday of the $400,000 Lady’s Secret Stakes from Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J. The Lady’s Secret, to be run at 1 1/8 miles on the main track, is scheduled to attract 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra.

The Lady’s Secret Stakes is one of several important races leading to the Breeders’ Cup World Championships that will be Webcast this year on NTRA Live! The series will feature interviews with on-track analysts; live chats with viewers; pre-and post-race analysis; free DRF past performance data, including its new EasyForm past performances; handicapping selections; a one-click link to wagering opportunities at TVG; and other original and unique programming components.