1/ST

By the beginning of April, there had been two fatal musculoskeletal injuries during the current Santa Anita meet. Wind the clock back to an identical window in 2019, there had been 22. During Aqueduct's benighted 2011-2012 Winter meet, 21 horses died, 18 of which were fractures sustained during racing. Over the next seven years, New York's four racetracks saw a 50% reduction in racing fatalities. What is the common denominator? Huge advances in identifying those horses at higher risk of sustaining fatal injuries in racing and training, and much tighter...

Officials at 1/ST, the consumer-facing brand of The Stronach Group--parent company of a portfolio of several California racetracks and/or training facilities--have issued a statement in the aftermath of the 90-day suspension handed down to trainer Bob Baffert. The statement, in its entirety, reads: "The California Horse Racing Board announced on Saturday, Apr. 2 that "[trainer Bob Baffert is now suspended pursuant to CHRB Rule 1484]."  California has thus reciprocated the suspension against Bob Baffert imposed by the Kentucky Racing Commission, which will begin on Apr. 4, 2022. Because of the...

Voting is officially open for The Art of Racing, a unique art competition presented by 1/ST and the Maryland Jockey Club in partnership with the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) to honor the GI Preakness S., Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown, and its impact on Baltimore. A total of 147 entries of original, two-dimensional visual art that depict the unique elements of Thoroughbred racing and the Preakness Stakes were submitted for the contest. The winning artist will receive a $4,000 stipend and their artwork will be reproduced and...

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance's Off to the Races online auction, which closed Feb. 10, raised $35,125. From Jan. 28 to Feb. 10 the public had the opportunity to bid on experience packages on 12 major race days in 2022 and 2023. Each experience package offered a unique itinerary of horse racing-related bucket list activities and tickets to the specified race day(s). In total, 23 donors contributed to the 12 experience packages offered in the TAA's Off to the Races auction: 1/ST, America's Best Racing, Anne's Washington Inn, Breeders' Cup Ltd.,...

1/ST and the Ed Brown Society have teamed up to offer a paid internship program for African American students. Founded by Living the Dream Racing & Stables and led by Greg Harbut and Ray Daniels, the Ed Brown Society celebrates the rich history of African Americans in the equine industry and creates opportunities for young people of color to gain industry exposure, training and experience through internships and scholarships. The multi-year commitment of $150,000 made by 1/ST will cover all costs associated with the paid internship program which will enable...

Jockey Mychel Sanchez, who has been suspended 60 days by the Pennsylvania Racing Commission for betting on horses other than the ones he rode, is not a cheat or a race-fixer, his attorney told the TDN Friday. Rather, said lawyer Alan Pincus, Sanchez was dealing with a serious case of depression and took to gambling as an outlet. Pincus said that in all instances Sanchez tried his best to win the races in question, whether he had bet against his own horse or not. "It was clear he was giving...

Equibase Premium Past Performances for all racing cards at Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park, Laurel Park and Golden Gate Fields will be available through the end of the year for free effective immediately, 1/ST Racing announced Monday. The fan-friendly initiative provides the ability to unlock the data for all 1/ST races without a signup or membership fee. The free Equibase Premium Past Performances will be available online at XBTV.com. "This is an important innovation for Thoroughbred racing since most sports make their statistical information available for free," said Aidan Butler,...

1/ST has released the following statement in support of the Save America's Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act of 2021, "1/ST, as an industry leader in Thoroughbred horse racing committed to achieving the highest level of horse health and safety standards, wholly supports the recently introduced Save America's Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act of 2021, as well as any amendments to current or future federal legislation that would prohibit the transportation of horses destined for slaughter across state or international borders. It is the collective duty of all industry stakeholders to ensure that...

Maryland Jockey Club and its parent company, 1/ST RACING (The Stronach Group), is hopeful horses will be able to return to Laurel Park the first week in August barring any delays in the ongoing renovation of the dirt surface, but even if they do, racing will likely continue at Pimlico Race Course in August until the Maryland State Fair at Timonium meet begins. An update on the project and a timeline were discussed June 14 during a Zoom community meeting hosted by the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association. It was also...

Aidan Butler, Chief Operating Officer, 1/ST RACING and President, 1/ST CONTENT, has been selected by the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC) as recipient of the 2020 Ed Friendly Industry Service Award. The award is presented annually to recognize outstanding contributions and service in the Thoroughbred racing industry. Originally known as the TOC Chairman's Award, it was renamed for the legendary television producer, Thoroughbred owner and TOC founding member following his death in 2007. Former recipients include Mace Siegel, John Harris, Bob and Beverly Lewis, Jerry and Ann Moss, and Clement...

The Preakness Stakes card will be run in front of a limited crowd of 10,000 when it returns to its traditional date May 15 at Pimlico, 1/ST and the Maryland Jockey Club announced Tuesday. The decision to include fans was made in consultation with, and by approval of, local and state health and governmental authorities and includes the approval for a limited number of fans for Black-Eyed Susan Day May 14. A limited number of tickets will go on sale to the public Apr. 5. Tickets will be available for...

1/ST has appointed former Federal Bureau of Investigation Supervisory Special Agent Rob D'Amico as Chief Security Officer for the 1/ST group of companies. D'Amico will lead an integrated security team that will focus on elevating and enforcing safety and integrity protocols across 1/ST businesses. The appointment of D'Amico as Chief Security Officer provides an increased layer of protection and security oversight on the backstretch, for guests at 1/ST venues and online, for employees and the company's advanced IT systems. "I am thrilled that Rob has joined our team as Chief...