Turfway to Boost Purses With KTDF Supplements
A surplus in the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund will allow Turfway Park to increase purses for allowance and maiden special weight races through the end of its winter/spring meet.
Tom LaMarra
Ohio Tracks, Horsemen Sign 10-Year Deals
The Ohio Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association has signed 10-year racing agreements with the under-construction Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course and ThistleDown Racino, formerly known as Thistledown.
Palace Malice Returns a Winner in GP Handicap
Dogwood Stable's Palace Malice, on the shelf since an even sixth-place finish in the 2013 Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I), showed no signs of rust with a gritty victory in the $250,000 Gulfstream Park Handicap (gr. II) March 8.
Indiana Downs Has New Name as Part of Rebrand
Indiana Downs, which will begin its lengthy live Thoroughbred racing season May 6, has a new name to coincide with its casino offerings.
KEEP Opposes Open-Ended Gambling Measure
A proposed constitutional amendment that would give the Kentucky General Assembly the power to authorize any and all forms of gambling has met with opposition from the Kentucky Equine Education Project.
Mountaineer Opens Meet With Steady Purses
Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort will kick off its 210-day season March 1 with average daily overnight purses of about $115,000, a figure on par with 2013.
NYRA Committee Eyes House Rule on 'Stacking'
A New York Racing Association committee could recommend to the full board of directors adoption of a house rule to combat use of multiple non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
PNGI, Horsemen Have Agreement on Ohio Track
Penn National Gaming Inc. and the Ohio Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association have reached an agreement in regard to the under-construction Youngstown-area racetrack that will replace Beulah Park.
KY Instant Racing Handle Nears $600 Million
If the monthly average holds, total wagering on historical races in Kentucky will top $600 million by the end of February. The devices have been operating in the state for 29 months.
Growing Pains for Handicapping Tourney?
The National Handicapping Championship is growing, but there could be changes on the way. read blog
Fair Grounds Cuts Overnight Purses 10%
Overnight purses at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots have been reduced 10% for the rest of the current race meet, track officials said Feb. 20.
Live Chat - Friday, February 21 at NOON EST
- By Tom LaMarra
The transcript for today's chat is now available. Read Transcript
Like Snow and Ice, Cancellations Piling Up
Harsh winter weather and and poor track conditions have led to the cancellation of almost 70 full racing programs through the first seven weeks of 2014.
EHV-1 Positive Leads to Quarantine at Parx
Just weeks after a lengthy quarantine ended, Parx Racing in Pennsylvania has locked down two more barns because of a positive test for equine herpesvirus.
Turfway, Horsemen Play Weather Waiting Game
Turfway Park expects much warmer temperatures the week of Feb. 16 that will allow proper maintenance of its Polytrack surface and a return to live racing Feb. 21.
At Large: Things That Make You Go Hmmmm (14)
- By Tom LaMarra
More musings on the horse racing industry, and some unanswered questions. read blog
Fort Erie to Race in 2014, Horsemen Say
Fort Erie Race Track in Ontario, Canada, will offer a live meet this year, with details to be released at a later date.
Couple Banned for Eight Years Have Hearing
A husband and wife that have been banned from Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races for more than eight years in connection with a horseman's group civil lawsuit finally had their appeal heard Jan. 29.
Report Reflects Competition Faced by Delaware
Total on-site pari-mutuel wagering at Delaware Park in 2013 totaled $149.2 million, down 4.1% from $155.5 million in 2012, according to the annual report released Feb. 6 by the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission.
PNGI Remains Bullish on Casino Properties
- By Tom LaMarra
Penn National Gaming Inc. officials said Feb. 6 they don't believe a roughly $100 million decline in net revenue is associated with customers opting for other forms of gambling or entertainment.
Racing, Others Oppose VLT Revenue Shift in WV
Racing stakeholders and government officials Feb. 4 publicly stated their opposition to legislation that would shift 15% of video lottery and table games revenue to fund other programs in West Virginia.
WV Court Upholds Penalties for Trainer Grove
A circuit court in West Virginia has upheld the penalties levied against trainer Chris Grove for a Class 1 positive at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in 2012.
Pennsylvania Bill Would Gut Horse Racing Fund
A Pennsylvania lawmaker's proposal to gut the Race Horse Development Fund supported by revenue from slot machines generated a strong response from the Pennsylvania Equine Coalition.
When Is Uniformity Not Really Uniformity?
A Jan. 30 meeting of racing stakeholders in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions showed how difficult it can be to achieve uniformity, even with the best intentions or most basic of regulations.
Live Chat - Friday, January 31 at NOON EST
The transcript is now available.
Mid-Atlantic Moves Forward With Drug Reform
Racing jurisdictions concentrated in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions are finding progress to be a subjective term: Much has been accomplished, but much remains to be done.
VLT Purse Percentages? Take Your Pick in Ohio
It appears rather than having one percentage for the amount of revenue that goes to purses from video lottery terminals, Ohio could have a different number for each of its seven racetracks.
Ohio-Bred Program Gets Financial Boost
Growth and new revenue for the Ohio Thoroughbred industry has led to projected increases in breeders' awards and an expanded state-bred stakes schedule for 2014.
Ohio Panel, PNGI Clash Again Over Track Plan
Construction of a new racetrack gaming facility in the Mahoning Valley is well under way, but the track's owner and the Ohio State Racing Commission continued a battle over a commitment on the number of stalls Jan. 23.
Detroit-Area Tracks Authorized for Live Meets
The Michigan Gaming Control Board has authorized Thoroughbred meets at Hazel Park and Northville Downs in the Detroit metropolitan area for 2014, horse racing interests in the state reported Jan. 21.
Drug Penalty System Next Up in West Virginia
The West Virginia Racing Commission will soon consider a penalty system for drug violations that dovetails with uniform model rules making their way through the state legislature.
Proposed Drug Rules Debated in New York
The New York Gaming Commission, during a Jan. 21 public hearing, heard the pros and cons of having different medication rules for Thoroughbred and Standardbred racehorses.
Charles Town Gets Funds for Barn Surveillance
Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races Jan. 21 received funding to install a camera surveillance system in its barn area and make upgrades to existing equipment.
Tanzanite Cat Handy Winner of Smarty Jones
James and Ywachetta Driver's Tanzanite Cat gave up the lead on the backstretch but took it back in mid-stretch and went on to a smooth victory in the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes for 3-year-olds at Oaklawn Park Jan. 20.
Study: WV Racing, Breeding Has $321M Impact
An economic impact study shows the Thoroughbred and Greyhound racing and breeding industries account for at least $321 million a year in total business volume in West Virginia.
Nine-Stop Racing-on-TV 'Tour' Announced
- By Tom LaMarra
Nine live racing telecasts that are part of the "The Jockey Club Tour on FOX" will be broadcast on FOX Sports 1 from early February through mid-September, the partners in the project announced Jan. 20.
Horse Tests Negative; Penn Quarantine Lifted
The quarantine of a barn at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course was quickly lifted the afternoon of Jan. 17 when the horse in question tested negative for equine herpesvirus.
Penn Barn Quarantined; One Horse Being Tested
A barn at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course has been placed under quarantine because of suspected equine herpesvirus in one horse.
Charles Town Eyes Barn Surveillance Project
Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races plans to ask state regulators Jan. 21 for approval to spend almost $200,000 for surveillance equipment for its stable area.
Sponsors Tout Aspects of Kentucky Casino Bill
Casinos at five racetracks in Kentucky would generate about $86 million a year for the horse industry, a sponsor of expanded gambling legislation told the House Licensing and Occupations Committee Jan. 15.
KTDF Adjustment Bill Sails Through Committee
Legislation authorizing a more liberal use of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund sailed through a Senate committee Jan. 14.
NJRC to Discuss Closure of Casino Race Books
An agenda for the Jan. 15 New Jersey Racing Commission meeting lists the following item for discussion and information: a shutdown of four Atlantic City casino race books.
Champion 2-Year-Old Male: Who's Your Pick?
The three finalists for champion 2-year-old male of 2013 each made three starts, and each has a grade I victory. The situation didn't make it easy for Eclipse Award voters. Or did it?
Parx Officially Lifts EHV-1 Quarantine
An almost two-month quarantine tied to equine herpesvirus at Parx Racing in Pennsylvania has been officially lifted, a track official said Jan. 13.
Study Offers Look at Racehorse Transition
A study on former racehorses transitioned to second careers indicates a large percentage of them are acquired from their owners, not auctions.
Suffolk Outlines Position on Live Racing
Suffolk Downs said Jan. 9 it is committed to live racing should its new partner, Mohegan Sun, win the license to build a casino on track property.
Beshear Makes Push for Casino Referendum
Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear Jan. 7 again said the state needs sources of new revenue, one of which is casino gambling.
Wagering on U.S. Harness Races Up 6% in 2013
- By Tom LaMarra
Wagering on harness races in the United States increased 6.07% in 2013, while purses paid were up 4%, according to statistics released Jan. 6 by the United States Trotting Association.
Average Daily Handle, Purses Up in Maryland
The Maryland Jockey Club reported average daily pari-mutuel handle on live racing was up 4.1% in 2013 versus 2012 thanks to growth in export wagering. Purses, meanwhile, continued to increase in Maryland.
That Handicapping Show: The Jerome
Tom LaMarra and Frank Angst preview the Jerome Stakes (gr. II) at Aqueduct. Watch Video
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