The National Thoroughbred Racing Association will take a leadership role in the refinement of wagering security and infrastructure, its board of directors decided at a third-quarter meeting Sept. 24 in Dallas.
Friday, September 24, 2004A look back at the greatest moments in Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships history and a simulated race involving the 19 previous winners of the Breeders' Cup Classic – Powered by Dodge (gr. I) will be featured in "20 to 1: The Breeders' Cup Legacy" to air Sunday on NBC from 4:30-6:00 p.m. (ET).
Friday, September 24, 2004Keeneland will request approval from the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority Sept. 27 to offer a new wager whereby patrons can invest money in a group of predetermined selections during each racing program at the meet that begins Oct. 8.
Wednesday, September 22, 2004A mixed reaction greeted the first public presentation of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Wagering System Task Force report Sept. 20, first day of the International Simulcast Conference in Miami Beach, Fla.
Tuesday, September 21, 2004The task force formed to look at why handle is up but purses are down ended up producing a report that tackles other issues such as disclosure of information from wagering outlets, technological limitations in tote systems, and the need for a secure database of wagering information.
Friday, September 17, 2004The Breeders' Cup board of directors has approved president D.G. Van Clief Jr. as acting commissioner and chief executive officer of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association.
Monday, September 13, 2004Laura Ries, president of Ries & Ries, an Atlanta-based marketing strategy firm, will be the keynote speaker at the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Annual Meeting and Marketing Summit Sept. 26-28 at The Mirage casino in Las Vegas.
Thursday, September 09, 2004Tim Smith, former National Thoroughbred Racing Association commissioner, announced Sept. 4 that he will not become president and chief executive officer of the troubled New York Racing Association.
Saturday, September 04, 2004The 2005 Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship will return to Bally's Las Vegas with more prize money and a follow-up television special on ESPN.
Thursday, August 19, 2004As the National Thoroughbred Racing Association embarks on its search for a replacement for outgoing commissioner Tim Smith, the intentions of a few top-level NTRA officials have become clearer.
Wednesday, August 18, 2004The National Thoroughbred Racing Association said Aug. 15 Lexmark International has reached an agreement to become an official partner of the NTRA and an official partner of the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships. The deal begins immediately and runs through July 31, 2007.
Monday, August 16, 2004Thoroughbred racing continues to take steps on its way to becoming a true league sport, but officials at the Aug. 15 Jockey Club Round Table again beat the drum for cooperation and aggregation in what some still believe is a largely fragmented industry.
Sunday, August 15, 2004The National Thoroughbred Racing Association announced Thursday that it will offer another "National Pick 4" wager this Saturday, Aug. 14, as part of its "NTRA Super Saturday" series that will be featured on the ABC and ESPN networks.
Thursday, August 12, 2004The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) announced Wednesday that vouchers worth $2.69 million--including a $1-million grand prize--have been mailed to more than 540,000 racing fans as part of this week's NTRA Mystery Mutuel Voucher promotion.
Wednesday, August 11, 2004Pleasantly Perfect, winner of the Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) and second in his comeback effort, the San Diego Handicap (gr. II) on Aug. 1, remains atop the National Thoroughbred Racing Association's Top 10 poll released on Tuesday.
Tuesday, August 10, 2004A recently released report on wagering trends concludes the "handle up, purses down" situation isn't new, and that "incentive wagering service providers"--rebate operations--improve the competitiveness of the pari-mutuel industry.
Wednesday, August 04, 2004The court-appointed monitor overseeing the New York Racing Association said his job is to bring "structural reforms" to NYRA, not tear it down with "scandal of the week" announcements.
Tuesday, August 03, 2004National Thoroughbred Racing Association commissioner Tim Smith tendered his resignation as expected July 27, but there was no announcement that Smith had taken a job as president and chief executive officer of the New York Racing Association.
Wednesday, July 28, 2004The board of directors of the Thoroughbred Championship Tour, a proposed owner-driven series of races tied to big-event days, said July 24 it has hired Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association president Dan Metzger to serve as president and chief executive officer.
Monday, July 26, 2004Kentucky Sen. Damon Thayer, vice president of event marketing for the National Thoroughbred Racing Association and Breeders' Cup, was among the representatives of professional and college sports July 23 at a seminar hosted by the United States Department of Homeland Security.
Friday, July 23, 2004The New York Racing Association's chief executive officer isn't willing to definitively say National Thoroughbred Racing Association commissioner Tim Smith will take over as president, but Barry Schwartz believes the time has come for him to step aside from his full-time NYRA post.
Thursday, July 22, 2004By Ray Paulick -- This is supposed to be the time of year when the racing world starts talking Saratoga and Del Mar, and the search begins for the hot 2-year-olds who look like they could be Triple Crown prospects 10 months from now.
Tuesday, July 20, 2004Tim Smith, the first and only full-time commissioner of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, may resign effective Sept. 1 and could be headed to the New York Racing Association to serve as president and chief executive officer.
Monday, July 19, 2004Though pari-mutuel handle on Thoroughbred racing in the United States and Canada dropped slightly in the second quarter of 2004, purses increased 2.86%, according to the National Thoroughbred Racing Association and Equibase.
Monday, July 19, 2004The United States Senate on July 15 agreed by voice vote to send the foreign sales corporation bill, which includes provisions to eliminate the 30% withholding tax on winnings by foreign bettors and reduce the capital gains holding period for horses from two years to one, to conference.
Friday, July 16, 2004The Breeders' Cup Future Bet won't be offered this year, but an official said he hopes it eventually returns under a format whereby wagering would be offered on more than 24 interests. Meanwhile, talks are under way about a new wager tied to jockey performance in the eight-race series.
Friday, July 16, 2004PGA TOUR commissioner Tim Finchem will discuss the significance of centralized structure in professional sports and the steps that golfers took to develop successful television programming, corporate sponsorships, and marketing programs when he delivers the keynote address at The Jockey Club Round Table Aug. 15 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
Thursday, July 15, 2004Fans may now register for the 2004 Claiming Crown Handicapping Contest at www.ntra.com
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association Wagering Systems Task Force, formed to study why handle is up but purses are down, plans to release its report in August, officials said.
Wednesday, June 30, 2004Harrah's Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, La., has rejoined the National Thoroughbred Racing Association.
Tuesday, June 29, 2004Youbet.com has joined the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) as a special member, the NTRA announced Friday.
Friday, June 25, 2004Officials of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association announced Friday that America's Day at the Races will not be held this year, but will return in 2005.
Friday, June 25, 2004The United States House of Representatives June 17 passed the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, another step toward possible repeal of the 30% withholding tax on pari-mutuel winnings by foreign bettors on U.S. races.
Thursday, June 17, 2004The Breeders' Cup board of directors June 11 approved agreement in principal with the Thoroughbred Championship Tour based upon the joint proposals of Breeders' Cup and TCT subcommittees, which met in New York the week of May 31.
Friday, June 11, 2004The National Thoroughbred Racing Association and Breeders' Cup Ltd. Saturday made a contribution of $250,000 to America's Camp through the NTRA Charities - New York Heroes Fund. The disbursement brings total Heroes Fund contributions to Sept. 11-related charitable programs to $4.45 million and total contributions to America's Camp to $350,000.
Sunday, June 06, 2004Smarty Jones and just about anyone or anything connected to him have proven hot commodities in anticipation of a Visa Triple Crown Challenge bid June 5 at Belmont Park.
Friday, May 28, 2004As the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Wagering Systems Task Force prepares to hear recommendations on ways to address the "handle up, purses down" situation, operators of high-volume betting shops believe they might be a target and suggest that, as generators of up to 15% of annual handle in North America, they should be directly involved in the process.
Thursday, May 27, 2004Breeders' Cup officials said it's far too early to discuss the probability of the World Thoroughbred Championships having to move from Lone Star Park this year because of an outbreak of vesicular stomatitis in western Texas.
Tuesday, May 25, 2004Prompted by Smarty Jones' immensely popular run at the Visa Triple Crown, the NTRA, NYRA, and ESPN have put together an extensive block of Belmont week programming.
Monday, May 24, 2004Merchandise featuring the image of dual classic winner Smarty Jones, including t-shirts and caps, will be available at racetracks across the country on Belmont Stakes (gr. I) day under a deal reached between the National Thoroughbred Racing Association and the undefeated colt's owners, Roy and Patricia Chapman.
Friday, May 21, 2004Turfway Park president Bob Elliston has been elected to represent the independent Midwestern racetracks on the National Thoroughbred Racing Association board of directors.
Tuesday, May 18, 2004By Ray Paulick -- Checking media coverage of the extended Jones family, Smarty's a clear winner.
Tuesday, May 18, 2004The National Thoroughbred Racing Association anticipates bottom-line revenue for 2004 will come in at $400,000, up from $307,895 in 2003. Total operating revenues are expected to increase by more than $6 million this year.
Tuesday, May 18, 2004The Imus Ranch, a retreat for children fighting cancer, is $123,000 richer thanks to a National Thoroughbred Racing Association promotion in which Don Imus, the popular host of WFAN's nationally syndicated "Imus in the Morning" program, wagers $10,000 on each race in the VISA Triple Crown.
Sunday, May 16, 2004NTRA Purchasing officially opened its new office in Lexington May 11, a move officials said is a sign of growth for not only the National Thoroughbred Racing Association but the racing and breeding industry at large.
Tuesday, May 11, 2004A major corporate tax bill under consideration in the United States Senate includes a few provisions for the pari-mutuel industry, including elimination of the 30% withholding tax on bets made by foreigners.
Tuesday, May 11, 2004John Servis, trainer of Kentucky Derby (gr. I) victor Smarty Jones, said Thursday that "All systems are go right now" for a start in the Preakness May 15.
Thursday, May 06, 2004Don Imus, host of the nationally syndicated "Imus in the Morning" radio program, will again join forces with the National Thoroughbred Racing Association as a partner in an ongoing Visa Triple Crown promotion.
Wednesday, April 28, 2004Isidore Sobkowski, previously chief technology officer at Self Service Technologies in Stamford, Conn., has been special consultant on technology and interim director of the National Office of Wagering Security.
Friday, April 23, 2004The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), Breeders' Cup Limited and NTRA Purchasing has announced a program linking horsemens support for the sponsorship of Dodge with increased purse money. The program, entitled Dodge Drive to the Finish Line, is intended to provide incentive to NTRA member horsemens' associations to promote and sell Dodge vehicles in return for a reimbursement in the form of increased prize money.
Wednesday, April 21, 2004