A jockey was sentenced to three years' probation and ordered to pay $30,000 in restitution after California investigators found he purposely fell off his mounts to collect disability benefits.
Major legislation that would authorize account wagering and unionization of backstretch workers cleared the California Assembly Friday on the heels of its passage in the Senate. It awaits the signature of Gov. Gray Davis.
The 33,526 fans who showed up for opening day at Del Mar got a little bit of everything Wednesday, including a Pick 6 payoff of more than $151,000 and a longshot win in one of the co-featured races.
After months of worry over the potential for power loss because of a statewide electricity crisis, Hollywood Park was energized by an exciting conclusion to its spring-summer meet Monday thanks to tight races for the jockey and trainer titles. Laffit Pincay Jr. edged Alex Solis in the race for leading jockey, while Jack Carava nipped Bob Baffert in the trainers' race.
After months of worry over the potential for power loss because of a statewide electricity crisis, Hollywood Park was energized by an exciting conclusion to its spring-summer meet Monday thanks to tight races for the jockey and trainer titles. Laffit Pincay Jr. edged Alex Solis in the race for leading jockey, while Jack Carava nipped Bob Baffert in the trainers' race.
The 43-day meet, which this year begins Wednesday, July 18, is often considered the jewel of California racing. One of the selling points of Del Mar is that it's nestled along the coastline with sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean. But management said atmosphere really hasn't been enough to lure big crowds.
The California Horse Racing Board is scheduled July 19 to consider a proposal that has been dormant for several months but which could provide an incentive to horse owners and jockeys -- advertisements on silks.
Major legislation that would authorize account wagering and unionization of backstretch workers cleared the California Senate Appropriations Committee Monday and now heads to the Senate floor.
More than a year after California Gov. Gray Davis vetoed a telephone account wagering bill, the revised legislation is running its course again through the state legislature.
With Golden Ballet retired, Dave Hofmans takes a shot and Starrer takes the Princess.
Hoping that sweetening the pot will attract more talent, Hollywood officials announced this weekend that the Swaps Stakes purse will be boosted to $600,000 if Preakness-Belmont winner Point Given or Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos decides to run in the race.
Staying at home has its advantages. Short commute. Close to the family. Favorite restaurant around the corner. For jockey Chris McCarron, it was sweeping a pair of $150,000 stakes races at Hollywood Park on the weekend of May 5-6.
Fusaichi Pegasus was the first favorite to win the Kentucky Derby in more than 20 years when he did so last year. Can Point Given follow in his footsteps as this year's likely Derby chalk?
Faced with the possibility of the lights going dark this summer, management planned ahead and purchased four back-up generators to ensure rolling blackouts don't affect operations. But the energy crisis has already come at a cost...The power crisis also prompted Hollywood to bump up its start time on Fridays from 7:15 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Running lights at night would be too costly considering electricity prices will be increased up to 46% by this summer. The move could result in a drop in on-track attendance.
Drive-through windows at simulcasting facilities and wagering from home are just some of the ideas on the table of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association. In addition, the CTBA hopes racing-related legislation passes this year.
Northern California has been without an equine hospital for many years. But a cooperative effort between veterinarians, Golden Gate Fields owner Magna Entertainment, and other agencies may change that.
Hollywood Park plans to move its Friday night racing to the afternoons to cope with the state's ongoing power crisis. Post time for the first Friday night, April 20, will start at its traditional 7:15 p.m. But the post time for the remaining 12 Fridays during the track's spring meet will begin at 3:30 p.m.
Police are looking for four people in connection with the beating of California Quarter Horse trainer Robert Gilbert seen leaving the same casino where Gilbert had just won several thousand dollars. Lt. Mike Idom said Gilbert had dropped off a horse in the area and was at the casino for about 13 hours before leaving about 3 a.m. Wednesday.
Quarter-horse trainer Robert Gilbert remained hospitalized in critical condition Thursday for injuries he suffered when he was attacked at Los Alamitos race track in California. Gilbert, 56, was found badly beaten early Wednesday morning in front of an area where trainers park their trailers.
The future of jockey Patrick Valenzuela's racing career may be decided during the next California Horse Racing Board meeting later this month.
A couple of hours after Santa Anita honored trainer Noble Threewitt on the occasion of his 90th birthday, 79-year-young Warren Stute provided the icing on the cake when he captured the Las Flores Handicap (gr. III) Feb. 24 as Go Go punched by the favored La Feminn.
The complicated details of a bicoastal series designed to generate more fans and boost field size at two Magna-owned tracks were announced Friday at a press conference. Now, track officials need to schedule a series of classes so people understand it.
Santa Anita Park racing secretary Mike Harlow has noticed a trend for several years, and it doesn't bode well for California's Thoroughbred industry. Harlow said California horses are being claimed by out-of-state trainers who have them shipped elsewhere when a meet concludes. As a solution to the problem, Harlow and other racing secretaries have asked the California Horse Racing Board to amend a rule so that any claimed
Horse of the Year Tiznow worked five furlongs in :59.60 under regular rider Chris Mc Carron on Friday at Santa Anita. Both McCarron and trainer Jay Robbins were pleased with the drill after the 4-year-old Cee's Tizzy colt lost as the odds-on favorite to Wooden Phone in the Strub Stakes.
Surfside is the probable morning-line favorite in Sunday's Grade I Santa Maria Handicap run at 1 1/16 miles for older fillies and mares. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas is hoping for good weather and a fast track after Surfside's third place finish as the odds-on favorite in her last start on a "wet-fast" track. Sunday's forecast calls for a 40 percent chance of rain.
California tracks will have their backstretch housing inspected if they want a license to conduct a horse racing meeting from the California Horse Racing Board. The state's racing board is nearing completion of an amendment to its license application that would require tracks to pass the inspection before the meet is approved. The new regulation is primarily due to a sweep last summer by state inspectors who found backstretch workers often live in substandard conditions.
Two men pleaded guilty Friday to breaking into the house of late jockey Chris Antley, who died last month from an accidental drug overdose. Antley's friend, Timothy Tyler Jr., 24, and Jeffrey Robert Jones, 22, pleaded guilty to a reduced misdemeanor charge of trespassing. They were charged with one count of first-degree residential burglary but because no one was living in the house at the time, the felony charge was reduced to a misdemeanor.
Two brothers accused of attempting to extort money from jockey Gary Stevens pleaded not guilty to criminal charges Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court. Mark Frankel, 25, of Sherman Oaks, Calif., and his 29-year-old brother, Adam Frankel of Encino have been charged with extortion and conspiracy. They are free on $35,000 bail. Their next scheduled court hearing is Feb. 26.
The three major tracks in Southern California have acknowledged a need for backup generators in light of the possibility of power blackouts, but Hollywood Park is prepared to invest $4 million in equipment to ensure the facility doesn't go dark. Rolling blackouts brought on the by the state's energy crisis forced Los Alamitos to switch to afternoon racing for a couple of programs last week.
A decision to reduce the number of pari-mutuel clerks at Santa Anita racetrack has angered union leaders, who say the cutback is having a ripple effect on the industry's labor work force in Southern California. For the first time in more than a decade, there are less than 100 clerks taking bets at Santa Anita during the week. There are somewhere between 85-90 clerks during the week about 200 clerks manning betting windows on the busier weekend days.
Two brothers who allegedly tried to extort $200,000 from jockey Gary Stevens are scheduled to appear in a Los Angeles courtroom Wednesday, authorities said. Mark Frankel, 25, of Sherman Oaks and his 29-year-old brother, Adam Frankel, of Encino were arrested and booked last month on suspicion of extortion and conspiracy. Although the case hasn't been filed with the Los Angeles District Attorney's office, investigators said the suspects' arraignment will occur Wednesday in an Inglewood courtroom.
Santa Anita officials said racing wouldn't stop, although the tote boards would be shut down, if the track faced a power outage. The wagering information, which is controlled by computers, wouldn't be lost. Furer said there are about 22 tote machines that could be up and running during a blackout. Escalators and elevators would be immediately turned off before the blackout to ensure no one gets hurt or trapped. The track is equipped with an emergency generator that would provide lighting.
The officials in the California city said the meeting to discuss Magna Entertainment chairman Frank Stronach's plans for Santa Anita Park went well.
Two Arcadia city council members met with Santa Anita racetrack owner Frank Stronach this past week and shared their concerns about his expansion plans. Although only some specifics about the plan were discussed, Arcadia Mayor Gary Kovacic and Councilman Mickey Segal said the meeting couldn't have gone any better.
The president of Santa Anita cautioned Tuesday that downsizing and possible layoffs may occur at the Arcadia, Calif. track, which was purchased by his boss, Frank Stronach, two years ago. Only on the job for two weeks, Jack Liebau said that Stronach's company, Magna Entertainment, is re- evaluating operations at its seven racetracks across the United States. Liebau issued a one-page memo to Santa Anita employees last Thursday alerting them to potential future changes.
A proposal to allow advertisements on jockeys' and horses' equipment is having a hard time getting off the ground in California. The trial project has received support among owners', jockeys and some racetracks but the California Horse Racing Board delayed making the needed changes at its meeting Friday.
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