Michael Campbell

New Jersey owner and breeder John Bowers Jr. of Roseland Farm Stable has been named the 2024 recipient of the Virgil "Buddy" Raines Distinguished Achievement Award, Monmouth Park announced Tuesday. The Raines Award, in its 29th year, honors men and women who have demonstrated a continuing commitment to the sport of Thoroughbred racing as an owner, trainer or administrator, and whose conduct has been exemplary for professionalism, integrity and service to the sport. Bowers has twice been honored by the state's Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association as the Breeder of...

Wanamaker's, in partnership with the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association of New Jersey, will be holding its first-ever New Jersey-Bred Sale on Thursday, Nov. 16. "We are excited to partner with Wanamaker's on a New Jersey-bred mixed sale," said Michael Campbell, executive director of Thoroughbred Breeders' Association of New Jersey. "The New Jersey-bred program is gaining attention from breeders and owners across the country.  The partnership with Wanamaker's is a great benefit to New Jersey breeders who can sell their horses without the stress and financial commitment of bringing them to the sales grounds. With...

Dear Editor: In your article, "Arlington Horsemen Beg for Help," published Aug. 17, it is was stated by President Michael Campbell of the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (ITHA) at the public comment period before the Illinois Racing Board, that Churchill Downs may not sell Arlington Park to the highest bidder in order to avoid competition. Mr. Cambell said, it is "the worst-kept secret in Illinois--and we all know it--is that Churchill Downs and [that corporation's business entity at] Rivers Casino is attempting to eliminate horse racing at Arlington Park because...

For the fourth consecutive meeting of the Illinois Racing Board in the six months since Churchill Downs, Inc. (CDI), announced its industry-devastating intention to sell Arlington International Racecourse for "non-horse racing" purposes, the 10-member board on Tuesday remained stunningly silent on the prospect of suburban Chicago's premier Thoroughbred venue going dark forever after Sept. 25. How pronounced was the "elephant in the room" syndrome during the IRB's one-hour Aug. 17 teleconference? After listening to impassioned pleas from the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (ITHA) and members of Arlington's backstretch community for...

4th-Colonial Downs, $40,400, Msw, 8-3, 2yo, f, 5f, :57.65, ft. FEELING MISCHIEF (f, 2, Into Mischief--True Feelings {GSP, $111,205}, by Latent Heat) broke like a shot and led Some Nights (Street Boss) and 21-1 shot Bravo Regina (Congrats) through a :22.38 quarter. Clear and moving easily turning for home, the 6-5 choice pulled away with aplomb, crossing the wire a geared-down eight-length winner over Bravo Regina. Palmgirl (Commisioner) completed the trifecta. The winner is a half to Grade III-placed Royal Act (American Pharoah). Grade III-placed True Feelings--a half-sister to Flirtaious...

Purse contract negotiations between the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (ITHA) and Arlington Park remain deadlocked three weeks after missing a state-mandated deadline to have one in place for the 2020 meet. Despite the issue taking center stage with 90 minutes of testy back-and-forth debate at Tuesday's Illinois Racing Board (IRB) meeting, the two sides appear no closer to bridging the gap, which chiefly hinges on a daily average purse figure of $130,000 versus $200,000 for the 68-date, May-through-September meet. IRB chairman Jeffrey Brincat did underscore on Tuesday that the horsemen...