thoroughbred racing

Weekly Rulings: November 14-20

Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country. Among the key rulings from the last seven days, trainer Jaime Cruz has been suspended for 15-days--beginning on Nov. 21--after his runner, Animal Princess, tested positive post-race for Detomidine, which is used primarily as a sedative in horses. Detomidine is also labelled as an analgesic. Trainer Tanner Tracy has also been suspended for seven days--beginning Nov. 15--after a post-race sample from his trainee, Carry On, tested positive for...

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Letter to the Editor: Vicky Leonard

Trust in institutions, across all industries around the world, has reached an all-time low. Why? Well, as Jason Litt said in his letter to the editor, it's because the 'old guard' have not been held to the same standards as the rest of us in terms of performance, accountability, and transparency. Too arrogant to admit failure, too entrenched to change and too shrouded in secrecy. Confidence in horse racing's industry leaders has evaporated, just like the confidence and favourable opinion the public. So why wait for these very same institutions...

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Thoroughbred Racing Economic Indicators Show Mostly Declines for October

Wagering on U.S. races, available and paid purses, as well as the total number of racing days, all saw declines to varying degrees during the month of October, according to information released by Equibase on Monday. Total wagering of $818.9 million on races during the month represented a 9.34% decrease over the same period from 2022, while available purses of $108.5 million were down by 10.43%. The figure of $104.2 million for paid purses in October was down 10.81%, while the total number of race days dropped from 332 to...

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Ellis Park Friday Card Moved to Monday

Ellis Park has postponed its nine-race Friday card to Monday, due to an excessive heat warning in the Henderson, Kentucky area. The entirety of Friday's card will shift to Monday and will not be re-drawn. First post will be 11:45 a.m. The final three days of the Ellis Park meet will now be held Saturday to Monday. At this time there are no changes to Saturday or Sunday's cards and first posts each day are scheduled at 11:45 a.m.

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Horseshoe Indianapolis Adjusts Post Times, Race Days Due to Extreme Heat

Horseshoe Indianapolis has moved up its first post Wednesday to 10 a.m. and has moved its entire Thursday card to next Monday due to excessive heat warnings for Central Indiana this week. "Safety for our equine athletes and all the individuals who work outdoors during our racing program always comes first at Horseshoe Indianapolis," said Eric Halstrom, Vice President and General Manager of Racing. "After reviewing weather predictions for this week that includes excessive heat warnings, we want to be proactive and get the necessary changes in place. We wanted...

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Judge Rules Belterra Owes Ohio HBPA $2.7M In 'Deprived' VLT Money

A money disagreement that has simmered for nearly a decade got a step closer to settlement Thursday when a federal judge ruled the Ohio Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (OHBPA) is entitled to $2,769,652 in gaming revenues that the present and former owners of Belterra Park withheld between 2014 and 2018. The dispute arose from Belterra's failure to pay the OHBPA its share of net-win video lottery terminal (VLT) commission from Belterra Park. The quarrel was exacerbated when the two sides disagreed over the rate that was supposed to be...

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Lone Star Park Announces 2023 Season

The Thoroughbred racing season at Lone Star Park will begin Thurs., April 13, with 44 live racing days and will conclude Tues., July 4. The calendar will feature live racing on Thursdays and Fridays at 6:35 p.m., Saturdays, Sundays and Memorial Day at 1:35 p.m., and special twilight post times of 5:00 p.m. on July 3 and July 4. The 2023 stakes schedule has a total of 21 stakes worth a combined $2,925,000. The highlight of the schedule is Lone Star Million Day on Memorial Day featuring the GIII Steve...

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12 Questions: Sue Finley

Sue Morris Finley, Publisher & CEO of the Thoroughbred Daily News, spent her childhood driving back and forth to Aqueduct, Belmont and Saratoga with her family. In 1993, she was part of the team that took over the production of the Thoroughbred Daily News, and oversaw its move to Red Bank, NJ, becoming its co-publisher. For 12 years, she was the First Vice President of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, a national organization dedicated to the humane retirement of former racehorses, and served three years on the board of the Thoroughbred...

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NYTB, SUNY Cobleskill Launch Thoroughbred Industry Course

The New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc., and SUNY Cobleskill will team up to offer an accredited course for upper-class students in the Animal Science program to experience all aspects of the Thoroughbred breeding and racing industry. The pilot program will be offered to 15-20 junior undergraduate students that have met prerequisites. The course, which runs from late August to early December, falls in line with the NYTB's goals to make outreach with students interested in equine studies and finding the next generation of the industry's workforce and leaders in racing...

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NTRA Offers D.C. Internship Program

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association is seeking current students or recent graduates for its internship program in Washington, D.C. The NTRA's new Washington office is located on Capitol Hill under the operation of former U.S. Congressman Tom Rooney, the President and CEO of the NTRA. "With the new Congress in January and everything in Washington reopening after COVID, we are very eager to welcome interns into our D.C. office," Rooney said. "The dynamic work environment of Capitol Hill is great for young people, and we hope to bring students with...

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Twelve Days a Racing: Drumming with Frank Brothers, Q&A

Beginning in 1980, Frank Brothers trained Thoroughbreds for nearly 30 years. During that time, he amassed a career win percentage of just over 23%, with 2,291 races to his credit, including 262 stakes victors of which 50 were graded. Chief among them was Hansel (Woodman), a multiple Grade I winner of the Preakness S. and Belmont S., who was the 1991 three-year-old Champion. Others in his barn included Grade I winners like Secret Hello (Private Account), Arch (Kris S.), Oath (Known Fact), Madcap Escapade (Hennessy), First Samurai (Giant's Causeway), and...

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Horseshoe Indianapolis Seeks Four-Date Thoroughbred Trim in '23

Horseshoe Indianapolis is proposing a 2023 mixed-meet racing schedule of 123 dates that pares four dates from the Thoroughbred portion of the calendar, down to 117 from the 121 Thoroughbred dates that had been granted this year. Pending approval at this Thursday's Indiana Horse Racing Commission (IHRC) meeting, the 2023 mixed meet will run Apr. 18-Nov. 17. That's roughly the same template that Horseshoe Indianapolis used this past season, although next year's meet is scheduled to end on the Friday before Thanksgiving instead of running into the holiday week and...

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