After nearly four decades, New York's Cornell University is moving to close its world-famous equine drug-testing laboratory. An equine science program at a state university 70 miles up the road is eagerly willing to take over, and expand, an operation vital to the state's horse industry.
9 hours ago
Top state officials in New York are still discussing options for an operator of the long-delayed Aqueduct racetrack casino, but negotiators appear split on whether a final announcement needs to be a part of talks now underway to resolve the state's deficit.
Yesterday
Prominent jockeys Mike Luzzi and Rajiv Maragh will join boxing trainer and ESPN2 Friday Night Fights analyst Teddy Atlas in attending the annual Dr. Theodore A. Atlas Foundation Dinner.
2 days ago
Old Friends, located near Georgetown, Ky., has opened its first satellite for retired Thoroughbreds. Cabin Creek, a 40-acre farm just outside Saratoga Springs, N.Y., near Greenfield Center, will begin receiving horses immediately.
2 days ago
Repent, whose son Crown of Thorns ran second in the Nov. 7 Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I), will stand in 2010 at Empire Stud near Hudson, N.Y.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Negotiations for an Aqueduct casino operator have stepped up again, with a new flurry of talks between Gov. David Paterson and legislative leaders occurring in advance of a return by the state legislature the week of Nov. 16 to deal with New York's soaring deficit.
Friday, November 13, 2009
The Saratoga Race Course Local Advisory Board has asked state government leaders to resolve the issue of selecting an operator for the video lottery terminal project at Aqueduct.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
All five remaining bidders for the Aqueduct gaming project said they have met a Nov. 6 deadline to guarantee a quick $200-million payment to the state of New York if they are chosen to develop the video lottery terminal casino at the Queens racetrack.
Friday, November 06, 2009
Tim Ice, trainer of Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Summer Bird, will shift his stable from Louisiana to New York following the end of the Oaklawn Park meet next spring, he said Nov. 2.
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Catienus, a former New York leading sire, will stand in 2010 at Joe and Anne McMahon's McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds near Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
The six bidding groups vying for the Aqueduct casino rights have been asked to submit their "final" offers -- again -- to the state of New York, along with a new promise for a large and quick payment.
Monday, November 02, 2009
New York's top racetracks are off limits to trainer Jeff Mullins for six months in a case his attorney claims is a "witch hunt."
Friday, October 30, 2009
The New York Thoroughbred Breeders and New York Racing Association announced a price reduction in foal nominations to the New York Stallion Stakes Series for progeny of New York-based stallions.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Owner Andrew Berg, who races horses with partner Joseph Taub under the name Gumpster Stables, had his license revoked Oct. 21 by the New York State Racing and Wagering Board after he was indicted along with 29 other individuals and one corporation in the bust of an illegal multimillion-dollar off-shore sports betting operation.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
A weanling filly by City Zip sold for $55,000 to top the New York Breeders Sales Company's fall breeding stock sale Oct. 18 at Saratoga Race Course. New Jersey bloodstock agent Buzz Chace, acting on behalf of West Point Thoroughbreds, purchased her from Waldorf Farm, agent.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
After four months on the sidelines but not out of training, Johanna Louise Glen-Teven's millionaire, Proudinsky, returns to the grass wars Oct. 22 in the $100,000 Knickerbocker Handicap(gr. IIIT), a 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds and up at Belmont Park. Originally carded for Oct. 18, the race was moved when inclement weather forced racing off the grass in New York this weekend.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Because of a forecast for heavy rain in the New York area during the latter half of the week and weekend, the New York Racing Association moved the $100,000 Knickerbocker Handicap (gr. IIIT) to Oct. 22.
Friday, October 16, 2009
New York officials have a growing urgency to resolve the long-delayed Aqueduct casino project: a ballooning deficit.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Racing executives are listening to players, but not enough, according to a journalist and horseplayer. And one track executive who is willing to try some things believes the industry would balk and put up roadblocks. And so it goes in the pari-mutuel horseracing industry.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
In the opinion of a few of horse racing's customers, the sport has the best "video game" available but fails to capitalize on it.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
If the horseracing industry fails to make voluntary changes it has resisted for decades, the only things that may save it from doom are involuntary changes brought on by forces in the gambling and entertainment marketplace, officials said Oct. 13.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Officials assembled for the International Simulcast Conference said Oct. 12 public perception, not integrity, is the primary problem for the industry's wagering systems.
Monday, October 12, 2009
The Saratoga meet will expand by four days in 2010 and "for the foreseeable future," the New York Racing Association announced Oct. 7.
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Penn National Gaming Inc., believed to be facing an uphill battle in the bidding wars to develop a video lottery terminal casino at Aqueduct, has offered the cash-starved New York state government $250 million in a non-contingency, upfront payment for the exclusive contract and believes it's still in the hunt for the project.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Sequel Stallions New York will transfer its stallions Freud, Hook and Ladder, and Read the Footnotes to Keane Stud near Amenia, N.Y.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Negotiators in New York have tentatively narrowed down the bidding list to three entities to run the long-delayed video lottery terminal casino at Aqueduct, and a final decision could come as early as the week of Sept. 28.
Friday, September 25, 2009
The New York Breeders' Sales Company has cataloged 201 mares, yearlings, weanlings, and horses of racing age for its fall breeding stock sale, which will be held Oct. 18 at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. The auction will begin at noon (EDT).
Thursday, September 17, 2009
In a case that has ramifications for Thoroughbred racing, New York's highest court has refused to hear an appeal by a trainer suspended by state regulators for a pattern of alleged illegal equine drug violations involving horses at Monticello Raceway.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Ricardo Santana Jr., the leading apprentice rider in Panama, has arrived in the United States and will have his first mount Sept. 15.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Thoroughbred owner Gary Tanaka still awaits sentencing after his November 2008 conviction on three of 12 charges of securities fraud.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
This year's International Simulcast Conference will include a panel devoted to patrons' perspective on horse racing and wagering.
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
The New York Racing Association (NYRA) paid tribute to Commentator Sept. 6, at Saratoga Race Course. The 8-year-old chestnut gelding, owned by Tracy Farmer and trained by Hall of Famer Nick Zito, was retired from racing Aug. 9, a day after finishing third in the Whitney Handicap (gr. I). He was attempting to join Discovery and Kelso as the only three-time winners of the race in its 82-year history.
Sunday, September 06, 2009
New York Gov. David A. Paterson on Sept. 1 signed Executive Order No. 27, authorizing the New York City Off-Track Betting Corporation (NYCOTB) to file a petition for reorganization under Chapter 9 of the federal bankruptcy code. The governor issued the order after it was determined that NYCOTB requires major restructuring to regain solvency. Paterson has directed the NYCOTB board of directors, led by Chairman Meyer "Sandy" Frucher, to provide the governor's office with a restructuring plan within two months, which likely will include a Chapter 9 filing for NYCOTB.
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Saratoga Race Course will welcome college students back to their favorite course this fall with the first ever College Day Sept. 4, featuring a host of prizes, giveaways and $1,000 scholarships to be awarded after each race by The New York Racing Association.
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Attendance and handle turned down fractionally for the first time during the 2009 Saratoga Race Course meet after two inches of rain Aug. 28 and 29 lowered attendance on Shadwell Travers (gr. I) Day and forced seven of the weekend's 11 carded turf races off the turf. Attendance was down 1.6%, on-track handle down 1.6%, and all-sources handle down 2.8% from 2008 totals through week five.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Darley Stable's Justenuffhumor and Magnolia Racing Stable's Cowboy Cal resume what may be a budding rivalry when they meet Aug. 28 in the $200,000 Bernard Baruch Handicap (gr. IIT) at 1 1/8 miles on the inner turf at Saratoga.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Though there are differences of opinion on what should be done next in the area of medication reform, everyone seems to agree there is a continuing problem and something should be done.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Past-posting and late odds changes are major issues in racing, but more of perception than reality, Thoroughbred Racing Associations' executive vice president Chris Scherf said the morning of Aug. 22 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Online wagering companies TVG and Betfair have pledged an additional $400,000 to the New York Racing Association to invite Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta to participate in the Beldame Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont Park Oct. 3.
Friday, August 21, 2009
New York Racing Association-operated Saratoga has been fully accredited by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Safety and Integrity Alliance, officials announced Aug. 21.
Friday, August 21, 2009
International Equine Acquisitions Holdings (IEAH), through agent Nick Sallusto, was the biggest-spending domestic buyer at the recent Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select yearling auction in New York, paying $2,150,000 for six yearlings. All the horses could be offered next year at sales of 2-year-olds in training, according to IEAH president and director Michael Iavarone.
Monday, August 17, 2009
A Medaglia d'Oro colt brought the sale-topping price of $275,000 as the Fasig-Tipton New York-bred preferred yearling auction ended its two-night run Aug. 16 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y, well behind last year's record-setting pace. Trainer Seth Benzel, agent for Whitehall Stable, purchased the bay yearling. James Pippo is the president of Whitehall, which puts together racing partnerships.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
The Fasig-Tipton New York-bred preferred yearling sale got off to a rocky start Aug. 15 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. The gross revenue dropped 41.7% from a year ago while the average and median prices both plunged 47.1%. The buy-back rate was 54.3% compared to 52.5% in 2008.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Fasig-Tipton reversed the negative business trends seen at Thoroughbred auctions this year at its recent Saratoga select yearling sale, where the gross revenue, average price, and median price all enjoyed significant upswings from 2008. The second and final auction on the company's upstate New York calendar is the New York-bred preferred yearling auction, which will be held Aug. 15 and 16. Each session will start at 7 p.m. (EDT).
Friday, August 14, 2009
The American Graded Stakes Committee Aug. 12 made some changes to the eligibility requirements for stakes.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Looking ahead to a possible start on the grass in the fall, trainer Tim Ice had Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Summer Bird galloped the morning of Aug. 12 over the Oklahoma turf course as part of his preparations for the $1 million Shadwell Travers (gr. I) Aug. 29 at Saratoga Race Course.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Reynolds Bell Jr. was re-elected chairman of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, while Terry Finley joins the board of trustees to serve a three-year term.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Twelve more races qualified under the purse incentive program created to increase field size during week two of the 2009 Saratoga Race Course meet, according to The New York Racing Association. Purse increases from incentives during the meet's second week totaled $74,750, a 16.5% advance over the original purse values.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Boosted by the Sheikh Mohammed stimulus package, the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select yearling sale got off to a sizzling start Aug. 10 in New York at a time when the struggling economy is causing prices to fall at other Thoroughbred auctions. The gross revenue for the 76 horses that sold was $25,470,000, which was a whopping 40.3% increase from the opening session a year ago. The average price grew 10.7% to $335,132, and the median price increased 6.4% to $250,000.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Bill Johnson, a lifelong racetracker and longtime employee of the New York Racing Association, died Aug. 7 of pancreatitis.
Monday, August 10, 2009
