February 2011 horse racing news

[Gremlin Lad]

MONDAY FEBRUARY 14, 2011
Happy Valentine's Day!


Unbeaten Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I) and Eclipse Award winner Uncle Mo is among the 364 3-year-old Thoroughbreds that have been nominated early to 2011 Triple Crown series. The number is just two less than last year’s early total of 366. Six horses were made eligible for the Triple Crown series during last year’s late nomination period, which raised the final total of 2010 nominees to 372. The 137th Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) is set for May 7 at Churchill Downs. It will be followed by the 136th running of the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) May 21 at Pimlico and the 143rd Belmont Stakes (gr. I) June 11 at Belmont Park. The early nomination period, during which each nomination costs $600, closed Jan. 22. A late period for nominations – at $6,000 each – will conclude on March 26.

[Gremlin Lad]

The 2011 logo features Churchill's iconic Twin Spires (Courtesy of Breeders' Cup Ltd.)The Breeders' Cup and Churchill Downs Monday introduced the official event logo for the 28th running of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, to be held on November 4-5. The 2011 World Championships, consisting of 14 races and $26 million in purses over the two days, will be run at the historic home of the Kentucky Derby (G1) for a record eighth time. Tickets for this year's event are scheduled to go on sale to the general public in early June. Fans may register Monday at www.breederscup.com/tickets for a special pre-sale ticket opportunity in late May. Additional information on this year's Championships is also available at the event website www.bcwc11.com. Last year's Breeders' Cup at Churchill Downs set all time marks for both attendance and wagering. A total of 114,353 fans came to Churchill over the two days and a record $173,339,131 was wagered worldwide. The event was climaxed by one of the greatest finishes in horse racing history as the four-year-old Blame held off the remarkable six-year-old mare Zenyatta by a head in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). The 2011 event logo incorporates the Breeders' Cup elegant purple with the Thoroughbred mark in the center of the design. The graphic is combined with the Twin Spires at Churchill Downs shaded in silver on opposite sides of the logo. The center circle is enveloped by a silver outer ring. The words "World Championships" are placed in an arc over the top of the logo and "Louisville, Kentucky" under the circle. The words "November 4th and 5th" are inscribed on an alternate version...

[Gremlin Lad]

Wednesday Feb 16, 2011


Tapizar out with knee chip

Posted: Tuesday, February 15, 2011 3:02 PM

by Jeff Lowe
Sham Stakes (G3) winner Tapizar has been sidelined with a knee chip that will require surgery.

David Fiske, the racing manager for owner-breeder Winchell Thoroughbreds, said the Tapit colt will be flown to Kentucky on February 22, and Larry Bramlage, D.V.M., will perform surgery shortly thereafter.

“It’s not much of a chip—he should be back racing in a couple months,” Fiske said.

The injury was discovered after Tapizar finished fifth as the 3-to-10 favorite in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G2) on February 12 at Santa Anita Park. He was keen early and led the field through six furlongs in 1:09.92.
Trained by Steve Asmussen, Tapizar put himself in the Triple Crown picture with a 4¼-length victory in the Sham on January 15 at Santa Anita. That followed a 10½-length maiden win on November 27 at Churchill Downs.


“[We’ll] hope that he can come back and prove what a great horse he is,” Asmussen told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Jeff Lowe is a Thoroughbred Times staff writer

[Gremlin Lad]

Friday February 18, 2011


New York stewards have suspended trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. for 90 days for a positive drug sample in a winning horse from a race at Aqueduct last fall and for possession of hypodermic needles in his barn, racing regulators said Feb. 16.

Dutrow, who has had run-ins before with the state Racing and Wagering Board, is appealing the suspension. “We will review the case as expeditiously as possible,’’ said Joseph Mahoney, a spokesman for the racing board. An appeal puts the suspensions—one for 60 days and another for 30 days—on hold until the full board can review the steward’s findings.

The 60-day suspension is for a finding of Class 3 medication Butorphanol in a post race sample of the Fastus Cactus, who finished first on Nov. 20 last year in the third race at Aqueduct. Officials say the horse is disqualified and unplaced in the finish order.

The hypodermic needle finding carries a 30-day suspension. If upheld, the separate suspensions would be served consecutively. A suspension would bar Dutrow from training or being on the grounds of any racetrack in New York, or sharing in any purse or other payments. Horses owned or trained by Dutrow would also be barred from participating in any New York races.

[Gremlin Lad]

Fall racing returns to Santa Anita
By a vote of 6-0 on Thursday, Feb 17, 2011, the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) awarded fall dates to Santa Anita Park, to be run from September 28 through November 6., 2011.

[Gremlin Lad]

Wednesday Feb 23, 2011

NBC picks up Belmont, will air Triple Crown through 2015

The New York Racing Association (NYRA) and the NBC Sports Group have announced a five-year deal to air the Belmont S. (G1). The agreement marks the return of the third leg of the Triple Crown to the network that had previously shown it from 2001-2005, and includes additional coverage from Belmont Park airing on VERSUS. The deal also reunites all three Triple Crown races on NBC, which now owns the rights to the series through 2015

"We are thrilled to return our premier race to NBC Sports," NYRA Chairman C. Steven Duncker said. "They have done a terrific job covering horse racing, including their Kentucky Derby (G1) and the Preakness (G1) broadcasts over the prior decade. With an excellent production team that has pioneered innovative camera angles, and a tremendous group of on-air talent that offers unique insights into the races, NBC Sports will be a great partner for the Belmont Stakes."

The 143rd running of the $1 million Belmont Stakes will be held June 11 on a card that also features five additional graded races, including the Manhattan S. (G1), Just a Game S. (G1) and Acorn (G1).

NBC Sports announced Tuesday they have renewed the rights to the Preakness, and they already had previously announced a renewal for the Kentucky Derby.

"Everyone at NBC Sports Group is delighted that the Triple Crown has been reassembled. We are now uniquely positioned to significantly expand the reach of these iconic events with extensive coverage on VERSUS," NBC Sports Group Chairman Dick Ebersol said. "As we previously announced, we are continuing our long-standing partnership with the Kentucky Derby. To add this extension with the Preakness while reacquiring the Belmont gives our new NBC Sports Group the three most important events in Thoroughbred racing.

"And we want to thank Churchill Downs Incorporated and CEO Bob Evans for his leadership in paving the way for the Triple Crown to return to NBC."

[Gremlin Lad]

UPCOMING STAKES

Saturday, February 26





FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH S. (G2), Gulfstream Park, $400,000, 3yo, 1 1/8m.


DAVONA DALE S. (G2), Gulfstream Park, $250,000, 3yo, f, 1m.


HUTCHESON S. (G2), Gulfstream Park, $150,000, 3yo, 7f.


Valentine Dancer H. (r), Santa Anita, $100,000, 4&up, f&m, 1mT.


Borderland Derby, Sunland Park, $100,000, 3yo, 1 1/16m.


Stymie H., Aqueduct, $65,000, 3&up, 1 1/8m.


Allen Lacombe Memorial H., Fair Grounds, $60,000, 4&up, f&m, 1 1/16mT.


Gentilly S. (r), Fair Grounds, $60,000, 3yo, 1 1/16mT.


Sarah Lane's Oates S. (r), Fair Grounds, $60,000, 3yo, f, 1mT.


Miracle Wood S., Laurel Park, $50,000, 3yo, 7f.


Rainbow S. (r), Oaklawn Park, $50,000, 3yo, c&g, 6f.


Sam Houston Distaff, Sam Houston, $50,000, 4&up, f&m, 1 1/16m.


Wayward Lass S., Tampa Bay Downs, $50,000, 4&up, f&m, 1 1/16m.


Turf Paradise Derby, Turf Paradise, $50,000, 3yo, 1 1/16m.


Valdale S., Turfway Park, $50,000, 3yo, f, 1m.





Sunday, February 27





CANADIAN TURF S. (G3), Gulfstream Park, $150,000, 4&up, 1mT.


Sensational Star H. (r), Santa Anita, $100,000, 4&up, 6 1/2fT.


Patty's Positive S., Aqueduct, $60,000, 4&up, f&m, 6f.


Rainbow Miss S. (r), Oaklawn Park, $50,000, 3yo, f, 6f.


Island Fashion S., Sunland Park, $50,000, 3yo, f, 1m.





Wednesday, March 2





Wandering Cloud S. (r), Aqueduct, $60,000, 3yo, f, 6f.

[Gremlin Lad]

Thursday, Februaru 24, 2011

Gulfstream Park leading rider Paco Lopez, injured in a spill after the 6TH race Friday, will likely remain off his mounts through the weekend, according to agent Cory Moran. Lopez, who sprained his left elbow, is still experiencing soreness, Moran said. "Paco wants to ride, he wants to come back right now, but we have to monitor this and not have him return too soon," Moran said Wednesday morning. "We all want him out there, but he has to wait. We want him to extend his arm and be able to flex without any soreness. Right now I would say he won't ride this weekend. It's too bad because we're having a great meet and we were set to ride (Pomeroys Pistol [Pomeroy]) in the Davona Dale (G2). But Paco's young, he's 24, and maybe he'll come back quicker than we think."

[josicoyote]

Weather has been terrible here...

I hope we never ever get any snow again but that's not going to happen....yes alot of tracks have been closing but I'm looking forward to spring SOON!!!

[Gremlin Lad]

Monday Feb 28, 2011

Night School second session highlights class handicapping

Night School, the racing industry's first national, interactive online fan education forum, will offer its second of 40 weekly sessions on Monday.

Co-hosted by Horseplayernow.com owners Jeremy Plonk and Joe Kristufek, the weekly Night School lessons are offered free to any racing fan who wants to learn more about the game and will include both novice and advance-level fan education. The 40-week season runs through December 19 with 90-minute sessions taking place from 8:30-10 p.m. (ET) each week.

Other regular panelists will include Horse Player NOW's Caton Bredar and Churchill Downs analyst Jill Byrne. Topical experts will be brought in weekly to share their expertise.

This week's Night School session will feature the first of many Daily Racing Form video lessons, featuring Brad Free providing his take on "class handicapping." The video segments will take you inside the past performances and paddock side for a closer look.

Night School will also appoint Plonk as the panelist charged specifically with helping entry-level fans, providing tips for "newbies" and breaking down some of the sport's jargon in everyday terms.

The 90-minute program will begin with a 30-minute panelist discussion on what "class" means to the horseplayer, then follow with a 30-minute question-and-answer session during which racing fans worldwide can ask the experts about the evening's subject matter. The final 30 minutes of the program will be the weekly "Jump Ball" segment where fans can discuss anything in the world of racing, including reaction to this Saturday's Fountain of Youth S. (G2) from Gulfstream Park.

For an advance look at Monday night's video introduction from analyst Kristufek, visit the Night School Youtube page.

Each of the lessons over the 40 weeks will be archived, creating an educational library via the popular Cover It Live live-blogging technology used by many of the world's leading news agencies.

Web sites participating in Night School include:
ag.arizona.edu/rtip (University of Arizona)
Arlingtonpark.com
Calderracecourse.com
Churchilldowns.com
Fairgroundsracecourse.com
Gulfstreampark.com
Hawthorneracecourse.com
HorseplayerNOW.com
HRTV.com

[Gremlin Lad]

HIGHLIGHTS
For Monday 2/28/2011

FAIR GROUNDS (1:40): $51,000 alw, 4&up, 5 1/2fT (3RD); $51,000 ocl, 3yo, 6f (5TH)
.

PARX RACING (12:25): $47,000 alw, 4&up, 6f (9TH).

PENN NATIONAL (5:00): $34,000 alw, 4&up, 6f (6TH).


SAM HOUSTON (2:20): $22,500 alw, 4&up, f&m, 1 1/16mT (9TH).


TURF PARADISE (4:00): $15,300 ocl, 3&up, 5 1/2f (2ND).