winner's circle

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) has launched a new outreach program called the Students of Thoroughbreds and Racing (STAR), which will begin July 27 at Saratoga Race Course and continue on Saturdays and Sundays through September 1, the association said in a Thursday release. NYRA STAR is designed to give children, ages 12 and under, and their families, insider access. Participants will experience the sport through exclusive on-track events, educational opportunities and kid-friendly communications. Membership for NYRA STAR is free of charge. New members can join at any...

Jockey Tyler Baze, the Eclipse-winning outstanding apprentice jockey of 2000 who now sports 2,889 wins, returned from a major health scare with his first visit to the winner's circle since Apr. 14 at Oaklawn Park. "I needed it," Baze told the Santa Anita notes team Friday morning at Clocker's Corner. "It took a lot for me to get to this point after being in the hospital and almost dying." Baze was hospitalized for about two weeks in Arkansas after that last win at Oaklawn with severe pain as doctors sought...

The first annual "Race to Give" campaign, begun in September by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute and Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA) as an online giving and awareness program to support Thoroughbred aftercare, wrapped Friday with over $125,000 raised. Officials from Hagyard presented a check to TCA totaling $125,117 in a winner's circle ceremony at Churchill Downs. "Starting a new charitable effort is always a challenge and usually takes some time to build momentum," said Hagyard's Dr. Luke Fallon, DVM. "So we tried to set a realistic goal, but I think...

Beginning Friday, Sept. 25, with a donation of $200, fans can have their cut-out images appear in Santa Anita's Runhappy winner's circle. Friday is opening day of Santa Anita's 16-day Autumn Meeting. The personalized cut outs will be displayed throughout the meet, which concludes Oct. 25. The donation will support California Retirement Management Account (CARMA), which provides funding for the rehabilitation, retraining, and retirement of California-based runners, and the Permanently Disable Jockeys Fund (PDJF), which provides financial assistance to jockeys who have been injured on the racetrack, with 100% of...