Turfway Race to Spotlight NARA Grads

Graduates from the North American Racing Academy will compete in the first Catch a Riding Star challenge race at Turfway Park on Spiral Stakes (gr. III) day March 23.

Remi Bellocq, executive director of the North American Racing Academy based at Bluegrass Community and Technical College in Lexington, outlined the event at a regular meeting of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission Feb. 13.

The race will feature recent graduates of the school and Bellocq said young riders also are expected to compete from Europe, India, and South America. Mounts will be determined by random draw.

Revenue generated from pari-mutuel wagering on the race will be donated to the care of the 23 Thoroughbreds used at the riding school for training. Bellocq credited commission staff in working with him to properly set up that arrangement.

Turfway Park general manager Chip Bach said the event should be fun for fans and help introduce some up-and-coming riders in the sport. Bellocq said the riders plan a question-and-answer event that will help expose young people to racing.

Also at the meeting, Turfway's plan to add four provisional dates to its February racing schedule (Feb. 15-16, Feb. 22-23) was approved. The track also was approved to add races to its February 8-9 cards to make up for cancellation days.