racing

In a first-quarter earnings conference call on Thursday, Bill Carstanjen, the chief executive officer of Churchill Downs, Inc. (CDI), said he was "more than cautiously optimistic" that the Sep. 5 GI Kentucky Derby will proceed as rescheduled, ideally with spectators allowed to attend by adhering to whatever form of COVID-19 social distancing is appropriate at that time. As part of a broader scope of fiscal progress reports, Carstanjen also gave updates on construction projects at the gaming firm's two Thoroughbred racetrack properties in Kentucky, where work is both ongoing and...

Golden Gate Fields has cancelled racing for the rest of the week after repairs from a gas leak in the area surrounding the track damaged the facility's hot water system. In addition to affecting food and beverage at the track, the issue impacts backstretch workers and the track is installing portable hot water showers for them during the repair process. "There is no concern of a gas leak at Golden Gate Fields," said David Duggan, Vice President & General Manager, Golden Gate Fields. "Unfortunately, there was a leak in the...

The Empire 6, a jackpot-style multi-race wager replacing the traditional Pick 6, will be launched at Saratoga by The New York Racing Association, Inc. Featuring a $0.20 bet minimum and 20% takeout, the Empire 6 will be added to the wagering menu beginning Wednesday, Aug. 7 and continue through the remainder of the 2019 meet at the Spa. If one unique ticket exists, then 100% of the net pool, plus the jackpot carryover if applicable, will be paid to the winner. If there is no unique wager selecting the first-place...

Moon Colony (Uncle Mo) and Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed), one-two across the line in the GII Penn Mile S. June 1, lock horns again in Friday's GII National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame S. at Saratoga. Moon Colony turns back to a mile after setting a pressured pace and tiring to ninth in the GI Belmont Derby Invitational S. going 1 1/4 miles July 6. "I think the cut back to a mile will be good for him," trainer Mark Casse said. "He's already well proven at a mile,...

In the week that Japan lost Deep Impact (Jpn), there was a piece of consolation as the country's Deirdre (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) swooped late to cause an upset in Thursday's G1 Qatar Nassau S. at Goodwood. Seemingly shy of her best so far this season, Toji Morita's 5-year-old who had captured the 2017 Shuka Sho was 20-1 taking on the Classic generation but had an ideal pace scenario settled towards the rear as the free-running Mehdaayih (GB) (Frankel {GB}) tanked along in front under Frankie Dettori. That rival looked to...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Imperial Hint (Imperialism) put on a show for the Saratoga faithful to capture back-to-back renewals of Saturday's GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. in track-record time. The 'little rocket,' off at odds of 5-1, was placed in a perfect spot in a tracking third by Javier Castellano as the rail-drawn Mitole (Eskendereya)--off as the imposing 1-2 favorite riding a seven-race winning streak headed by a sensational score in the GI Runhappy Metropolitan H.-slugged it out with the speedy Strike Power (Speightstown) through an opening quarter in :21.77....

Arc runner-up and MG1SW Sea of Class (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}-Holy Moon {Ire}, by Hernando {Fr}) was euthanized after developing complications following colic surgery on Monday, Racing Post reported. The chestnut, who carried the same Sunderland Holdings silks as her sire to victory in both the G1 Darley Irish Oaks and the G1 Darley Yorkshire Oaks, was only four. She underwent colic surgery in early July. "The reason for colic surgery on Sea Of Class in the first place was to remove an abdominal mass sitting between the spleen...

The American Association of Equine Practitioners has introduced a multi-part initiative to protect the health and welfare of the racehorse and help ensure the long-term viability of the racing industry in the United States. The central component of the AAEP's Prescription for Racing Reform is the association's commitment to identifying non-race day treatment alternatives for exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH). The AAEP Racing Committee developed the Prescription for Racing Reform, a 10-point plan designed to both protect the health of racing's equine athletes and strengthen the integrity of the sport. Key...

Parx Racing and the Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (PTHA) announced Friday the creation of the $20 Million Parx Racing Fall Festival from Aug. 29-Oct. 20. The purse level at the Bensalem oval will be doubled for the meet duration of 32 live race days, with the aim of increasing field size, enhancing betting interest and drawing new fans to the racetrack. During the past several years, Parx and the PTHA have built up the Fall Festival around the $1 million GII Pennsylvania Derby, won in 2015 by GI Breeders' Cup...

One week from tomorrow Fasig-Tipton kicks off the 2015 North American yearling market with the Kentucky July yearling sale, in which 40 years ago this year, Seattle Slew sold as a yearling for $17,500 to Karen and Mickey Taylor, and it's been producing good horses ever since. This year 332 yearlings are catalogued--a 25% increase on last year's 265--to be followed by around 100 horses of racing age, minus withdrawals, plus 'wild cards'. Fasig catalogued 258 yearlings in 2013, significantly down from the 338 catalogued in 2012. That year 189...

Dual Group 1-winning juvenile Pride Of Dubai (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) has returned to the stable of trainers Peter and Paul Snowden after taking a winter spell. The Sheikh Khalifa bin Mohammed al Maktoum homebred broke his maiden in Victoria's most important 2-year-old race--the G1 Blue Diamond S.--in his third start, after which Coolmore bought into him. He was an eye-catching winner of the G1 Sires' Produce S. at The Championships Apr. 6 before being turned out. "This is his fourth week in from the paddock and he's come back in great...