1/ST Racing

Starting the day after its Dec. 26 season opener, Santa Anita Park will drop its lowest-level claiming prices to $8,000 for maidens and $5,000 for other horses. The downward class-level moves, along with the possibility that Southern California's main meet could add additional dates and/or races to its upcoming six-month season that runs through June 15, are part of a negotiated effort to "give more opportunities for horses that have historically raced in Northern California," according to a license application amendment request by Santa Anita. The California Horse Racing Board...

The California Authority of Racing Fairs (CARF) board voted unanimously Monday to rescind a proposed Golden State Racing meet spanning the first half of next year, plunging an already tenuous situation for the horsemen and women in the North of the state into a world of even greater uncertainty. The decision was met with dismay and concern during Monday's online CARF meeting, with several stakeholders in Northern California voicing fears that the move would also jeopardize the future of the California fair meets. "I am in concert with Aidan Butler...

1/ST CONTENT has formed a partnership with American Racing Channel, a leading South American distributor which holds the rights to Hipódromo Nacional de Maroñas and Las Piedras Racetrack in Uruguay, the company said via a press release on Thursday. The outlet owned by 1/ST, which includes media and content companies, plans to broadcast live racing events from the two tracks with the intent to reach a global fanbase in their homes and through mobile devices. Grupo Codere, the international operator for Hispanic markets, has already agreed to integrate exclusive fixed-odds...

On Tuesday--just two weeks after two horses died on Laurel Park's dirt surface and not even 24 hours after Laurel announced its track superintendent would be retiring immediately--the head of the new non-profit organization that will run both Laurel and Pimlico Race Course starting in 2025 told the Maryland Racing Commission that an immediate search is underway for an expert to quell the main-track woes that have intermittently plagued Laurel the past two decades. "We will obviously do a search nationwide for a winter-weather superintendent. It's a very important position....

A license transfer that is needed for a new, non-profit group to take over the running of Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course starting on the first of the year got pushed off the agenda at Tuesday's Maryland Racing Commission meeting because of concerns over the lack of documentation for how the incoming entity will meet an estimated $6-million budget shortfall for 2025. But executives from the Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority (MTROA), which is facilitating the state-approved change of control of the two tracks from 1/ST Racing (The Stronach...

Tickets for the 90th Opening Day at Santa Anita Park on Thursday, Dec. 26 are now available online, the track said via a press release on Wednesday. The day will include an array of events and entertainment, plus racegoers will receive a free 2025 wall calendar which features the 13 top moments in the history of Santa Anita as voted on by the public. With a first post set for 11:00 a.m. PT, general admission is available for $10, and premium box seats and Loge Box Seats are also available...

The Maryland Racing Commission has approved a 2025 racing schedule that calls for Laurel and Pimlico to race just 120 days in 2025. The dates were approved at an Oct. 28 racing commission meeting. The story was first reported by the website the racingbiz.com. The number of racing dates has fluctuated in recent years, but the new schedule will mark a new era for Maryland racing. As recently as 2019 there were 174 racing dates. The dates will be divided between the state's two tracks with 114 dates at Laurel,...

Peter Rotondo picked a good time to go to work for 1/ST Racing. The company's new Senior Vice President of Racing and Wagering joined a team who is ready to put on an extravaganza this weekend at Santa Anita. It's called the California Crown and consists of three races, the GII $750,000 John Henry Turf Cup, the Grade II $750,000 Eddie D. Stakes and the $1 million GI California Crown Stakes. Meant to be Santa Anita's version of the Pegasus World Cup, the day will also include entertainment meant for...

It's the inagural weekend of the California Crown out at Santa Anita, and the Writers' Room team talks to 1/ST Racing's Peter Rotondo about what we can expect from the event.

Horseplayers will find a revised wagering menu for this year's 16-day Santa Anita Autumn Meet, which opens Friday, Sept. 27, 1/ST Racing said in a press release on Wednesday. The Pick Six is now has a $2 minimum after previously being a $1 base wager, but will continue to pay out 70 percent of each day's pool to tickets that have all six winners with the remaining 30 percent going to consolation payouts. If there are no tickets with six winners, 70 percent of the pool will carryover to the...

Nominations are now open for OwnerView's 2024 "New Owner of the Year" Award, sponsored by 1/ST RACING. The award, which honors a new Thoroughbred owner who has been successful in the sport and has had a positive impact on the industry, has previously gone to names such as Jim and Dana Bernhard, Alexander Bregman, and MyRacehorse. To qualify, nominees must have made their first start as a Thoroughbred owner in the past four years (since 2021), had an ownership stake in a horse at the time it won a stakes...

Construction that began earlier this summer on three horse show arenas is nearing completion in the Santa Anita Park infield and will not affect training or racing at the track, according to a Wednesday 1/ST Racing press release. Led by track consultant Dennis Moore, the construction will not impact morning training or afternoon racing as the Autumn Meet opens at the end of September. The arenas will be used for the first time in collaboration with The Lugano Diamonds Split Rock Jumping Tour, and will feature two weeks of back-to-back...