Wednesday, July 01 2009
LOUIS ROMANET TO DELIVER KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT ROUND TABLE CONFERENCE ON AUGUST 23
Louis Romanet, chairman of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA), will discuss the importance of and need for international harmonization of medication policies when he delivers the keynote address at The Jockey Club’s 57th annual Round Table Conference on Matters Pertaining to Racing at the Gideon Putnam Resort in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., on Sunday, August 23.
Romanet has served as chairman of the IFHA since its creation in 1993. As the single representative body for the global racing industry, the IFHA’s primary mission is to coordinate and harmonize the rules regarding breeding, racing and wagering among its more than 50 member countries. Such efforts promote cross-border commerce and ensure the integrity of the sport and of member nations’ stud books.
“EMIRATES AIRLINE SUMMER RACING PRESENTED BY THE NTRA”
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) announced today the broadcast schedule for “Emirates Airline Summer Racing Presented by the NTRA” to air on the ESPN networks beginning Saturday, July 25. The series will provide comprehensive, live coverage of Grade I summer racing fixtures from three of America’s most loved racing venues.
Beginning with the Grade I, $350,000 Eddie Read Stakes on the turf from Del Mar, “Emirates Airline Summer Racing Presented by the NTRA” will take viewers from coast to coast as it showcases some of racing’s biggest stars—many of whom will go on to compete in the November 6-7 Breeders’ Cup World Championships.
Thursday, June 25 2009
NTRA 2009 RADIO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS GOLD LION AWARD
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association's (NTRA) radio advertising campaign won a Gold Lion Award at this week's 56th International Advertising Festival in Cannes, France. The award is one of the highest honors handed out at the radio industry's most prestigious international awards competition. The NTRA radio campaign also won a Gold Lion Award at Cannes in 2005.
The 2009 NTRA campaign, produced by the New York advertising agency DeVito/Verdi, defeated hundreds of entries from around the world including major marketers and brands like Kraft, General Mills, Proctor & Gamble, Anheuser-Busch, Pepsi, Toyota, and McDonald’s. The NTRA campaign, entitled "And They're Off," features a race announcer calling the proceedings of everyday leisure events with the same brio as he would a horse race.
Tuesday, June 23 2009
$100,000 Red Rock Firecracker Shootout to Offer Three NHC Spots to NHC Tour Members
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) announced today that registration is now open at Red Rock Casino, Resort & Spa in Las Vegas for the Red Rock Firecracker Shootout—a Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship (NHC) qualifying event—on July 4-5, 2009. In addition to cash prizes, the Red Rock Firecracker Shootout will award the top three finishers qualifying berths in the $1 million DRF/NTRA National Handicapping Championship to be held January 29-30, 2010, at Red Rock.
Friday, June 05 2009
SECRETARIAT FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES 2009 BENEFICIARIES
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (June 4, 2009) -- On the eve of the 141st running of the Belmont Stakes, the legacy of the race’s most illustrious winner continues to shine throughout the equine community. Mrs. Helen “Penny” Chenery, owner of 1973 Triple Crown champion Secretariat and President of the Secretariat Foundation, is pleased to announce the Foundation's recipients of charitable grants for 2009.
Most of this year’s grants, with a sum of $27,000, are aimed toward Mrs. Chenery's continued focus on the plight of unwanted Thoroughbred racehorses and the ongoing battle against laminitis, the disease that claimed the lives of both Secretariat and 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro as well as thousands of other horses worldwide. Mrs. Chenery said she is delighted by the opportunity to give back to a generous equine community that has given her a lifetime of memories.
Thursday, June 04 2009
Jockeys Across North America To Recognize Rene Douglas, PDJF On Belmont Stakes Day
On Saturday, riders at racetracks across the U.S. and Canada will take part in a unified show of support for recently injured jockey Rene Douglas and the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF).
Riders at Belmont Park and other racetracks will participate in a moment of tribute and support for Douglas and his fellow injured riders at approximately 4:15 p.m. (ET). All active riders are being asked to consider contributing, as a sign of unity, one losing mount fee from their Saturday earnings to Douglas.
Sunday, May 10 2009
JOCKEY VERNON BUSH SCORES VICTORY #3,000
Jockey Vernon Bush started his day working with students from Cincinnati Therapeutic Riding and Horsemanship and later in the day reached an impressive milestone in racing as he recorded his 3,000th lifetime victory. The 47-year-old reinsman piloted Loadthewagon to a wire-to-wire win in the eighth race. "Maybe those kids brought me luck, I rode the hair off that horse," said Bush after posing for a group photo with the rest of the jockey colony. "The closer you get to a career plateau like this, the harder it seems to get. The monkeys off my back now."
"I made my reputation in the Northeast, but this (River Downs) will always be home. It's where I won my first race when I was 16-years-old," stated Vernon who captured six riding titles at Suffolk Downs and four at Rockingham Park. "I was actually born in Methuen, Massachusetts, but that was because my dad was riding at Rockingham Park. I grew up in Alexandria, Kentucky with my brother George and sister Ruth Ann. I really wanted to reach the 3,000 milestone here where my father won so many races and it would be so special if I could win it on a horse trained by my brother." Bush's father was a top rider at the Cincinnati oval in the 50's."
Wednesday, April 29 2009
Federal Bill Introduced that Would Eliminate Automatic 25% Withholding on Pari-Mutuel Winnings of $5
A bill was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives last night that would eliminate the automatic 25 percent federal withholding on pari-mutuel winnings of $5,000 or more for bets that carry odds of 300-1 or higher. The “Pari-Mutuel Conformity and Equality Act” (PACE Act) was introduced by Rep. John Yarmuth (D-KY). Rep. Charles W. Boustany, Jr. (R-LA) is the lead co-sponsor.
Unlike any of its competitors in other gaming industries, the pari-mutuel industry is burdened by an inequitable tax law that requires waging facilities to withhold federal taxes on winnings over $5,000 if the odds are at least 300 times the amount wagered. The PACE Act (H.R. 2140) would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, whose withholding threshold has remained unchanged for 17 years and was last increased in 1992, from $1,000 to $5,000.
Monday, April 27 2009
Delaware Park, Pimlico to be Reviewed by NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance Inspection Teams
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) announced today that Delaware Park in Stanton, Del., and Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore will be the next U.S. racetracks reviewed by an inspection team as part of the NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance accreditation process. The Delaware Park inspection will take place Monday and Tuesday, April 27-28. The review of Pimlico, home of the Preakness Stakes, will occur on Wednesday and Thursday, April 29-30. Earlier this month, Churchill Downs and Keeneland became the first North American racetracks to garner Alliance accreditation.
In preparation for their accreditation visits, Delaware Park and Pimlico each completed a 48-page written application that serves as the first step in the accreditation process. The tracks also hosted several meetings with Alliance officials. The on-site visits will include inspections of all facets of the racing facility, and interviews with track executives, racetrack personnel, jockeys, owners, trainers, stewards, regulators and customers.
Friday, April 24 2009
Statement from hoof specialist Ian McKinlay, regarding Quality Road:
“I saw Quality Road (Thursday) morning and that’s when we noticed the crack [in the right-front hoof]. I did him up with Animalintex (poultice), which draws out the infection. This morning, the crack was very clean. Obviously, he didn’t go to the track, so they tubbed him. They’ll dry him up and I’ll see him later this afternoon.
NTRA Offering “Summer Dream Getaway Sweepstakes”
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) will give away to one lucky racing fan and a guest a three-day, two-night trip to a major summer racing event of the winner’s choosing in the “NTRA Summer Dream Getaway Sweepstakes”.
A single Grand Prize winner will be selected at random from all valid entries received, and he or she will have the choice of visiting Del Mar during its opening weekend (July 24-25); Arlington Park during Arlington Million weekend (August 7-8); or Saratoga Race Course for Travers weekend (August 28-29). The winner will receive air transportation and hotel accommodations as well as a $500 betting voucher.
Thursday, April 23 2009
NTRA Advantage Partner Hallway Feeds Donates Feed for Neglected Horses
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) Safety and Integrity Alliance today announced that longtime NTRA Advantage Partner and Official Supplier Hallway Feeds has donated 6,000 pounds of top quality feed to aid the 170 horses suffering from malnourishment at Center Brook Farm in Climax, N.Y.
The feed donation by the Lexington, Ky., based company, as well as a recent donation of equine health care products from Alliance partner Pfizer Animal Health, came following emergency requests from the Columbia-Greene Humane Society, which is currently caring for the horses.
