Greyhound 'Cessation' Bill Sends a Warning
- By Tom LaMarra
Is West Virginia legislation an indication of what's to come? read blog
Tom LaMarra
NYRA to End Rule on Time Between Races
Effective with the entries for March 5, the New York Racing Association said Feb. 24 it will end a controversial rule that mandated 15 days between starts for horses at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Oaklawn, Turfway Increase Overnight Purses
Aided by cancellations and healthy purse accounts, Oaklawn Park in Arkansas and Turfway Park in Kentucky have increased overnight purses.
The Great War Back for More in Battaglia
The Great War, a blowout winner of the 96ROCK Stakes in his 2015 debut, will take the next step at Turfway Park when he faces 10 other 3-year-olds in the $125,000 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes Feb. 28 at the Kentucky track.
Is Growing This Business Really a Priority?
- By Tom LaMarra
Generating more revenue for live racing is good, but what's the end game? read blog
Risen Star Attracts Top Three From Lecomte
The top three finishers in the Jan. 17 Lecomte Stakes (gr. III) will face several new shooters in the $400,000 Risen Star Stakes (gr. II) Feb. 21 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
Live Chat - Friday, February 20 at NOON EST
The transcript for the chat is now available.
That Handicapping Show: The Fountain of Youth
Tom LaMarra and Frank Angst preview the Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II) at Gulfstream Park. Watch Video
FL Senate Committee Passes Medication Bill
Legislation governing racehorse medication policy unanimously passed the Florida Senate Regulated Industries Committee Feb. 18 and was reported favorably to the full Senate.
Midwest Regional: Sitting on Go in Ohio
For the Ohio Horse Racing Industry, Nov. 24, 2014 marked both an end and a beginning. Download Now
CT Collision Brings Safety Recommendations
Recommendations for new protocols for stewards, outriders, and racetracks have been adopted by the West Virginia Racing Commission as a result of a two-horse collision during a race at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races.
Charles Town Request to Shave Dates Tabled
The West Virginia Racing Commission Feb. 17 tabled a request by Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races to reduce the number of live racing dates it was awarded for 2015.
FL Senate to Discuss Uniform Medication Bill
Legislation governing equine medication policy is scheduled to be heard Feb. 18 by the Florida Senate Regulated Industries Committee.
Mountaineer Cuts Purses in Wake of Reductions
A state-approved 10% reduction in video lottery terminal revenue and continued softness in the regional gambling market have led officials and horsemen at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort to reduce purses.
EquiLottery Bill Clears KY Senate Committee
Legislation that would permit the Kentucky General Assembly to approve a new game linking Thoroughbred racing and the state lottery unanimously cleared a Senate committee Feb. 10.
National HBPA Wants to Clarify Its Mission
The National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association ended its winter convention Feb. 8 with a new affiliate and a call for the organization to take more of a leadership role in the industry.
Same Mission, New Approach on Medication
Though the Association of Racing Commissioners International remains a member of the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium, it intends to take the lead role in gathering the information needed to set medication policies.
RCI Has New Take on Out-of-Competition Tests
The umbrella group for regulators in North America is examining a new approach to out-of-competition testing that would not only target blood doping and gene doping, but also identify horses at risk of catastrophic injury.
Stronach Group Addresses Fundamental Issues
The Stronach Group remains optimistic about the future of the horse racing industry in North America and will continue to push for what it believes are fundamental structural changes needed to move the business forward.
BHA Steroid Policy Has U.S. Ramifications
The racing and breeding industry in North America is devising a plan of action to accommodate the British Horseracing Authority's zero-tolerance policy for the presence of anabolic steroids in Thoroughbreds.
Phone Wagering Commences in Arizona
Advance deposit wagering via phone began Jan. 31 in Arizona, according to the Arizona Department of Racing. However, for the time being, residents of Pima County won't be permitted to wager on Thoroughbred races.
Officials: KY Thoroughbred Industry Resilient
The Kentucky Thoroughbred industry is more than holding its own despite national declines and the absence of alternative revenue sources available in other states, officials said Feb. 3 at the CBA symposium.
Maryland Trainers Cited for Compounded Drug
Three trainers have received suspensions and fines in Maryland in conjunction with positive tests for stanozolol, a synthetic steroid formerly known as Winstrol that is now available only through drug compounders.
Turfway Increases Purses, Adds Race Per Week
Turfway Park will increase purses effective Jan. 30 with a slight across-the-board bump and an extra race per week, officials said.
Ohio Begins Examination of Medication Rules
As part of an examination of its equine medication rules, the Ohio State Racing Commission in February will begin hearing from various industry organizations involved in an effort to adopt uniform policies for all states.
NTRA Meets With Treasury on Withholding Taxes
National Thoroughbred Racing Association officials met with a representative of the United States Department of Treasury Jan. 28 to discuss the racing industry's efforts to alter the pari-mutuel withholding tax structure.
The Great War to Return in 96ROCK Stakes
The Great War, a promising colt who finished fourth in last year's Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) is set to make his 2015 debut in the $75,000 96ROCK Stakes for 3-year-olds Jan. 31 at Turfway Park.
Live Chat - Friday, January 23 at NOON EST
The transcript for the Live Chat is now available. Read Transcript
New York THA Releases Election Submissions
The New York THA has released documents in conjunction with a review of the challenge of its 2014 election by Terry Finley, who lost the race for president to Rick Violette Jr. by a slim margin
Juddmonte's Close Hatches is Top Older Female
Though her 2014 campaign didn't end the way her connections had hoped, Close Hatches put together a strong enough resume to capture the Eclipse Award as champion older female.
Castellano Rides His Way to Eclipse Award
- By Tom LaMarra
Javier Castellano not only accumulated the most purse earnings by a jockey in 2014 with $25,056,464, he won the most races -- 315 -- of any rider in North America.
Horse of the Year: One Winner, No Losers?
Sometimes it's easy. Sometimes it's not. The voting for 2014 Horse of the Year fell into the latter category, and the outcome surely will be debated for quite some time.
Elliott New Director of Racing at Parx
Sam Elliott, most recently vice president of racing at Suffolk Downs in Massachusetts, is the new director of racing at Parx Racing in Pennsylvania.
Monmouth Group Interested in Atlantic City
The group that operates Monmouth Park has reached out to the owner of Atlantic City Race Course to discuss leasing or purchasing the facility in southern New Jersey.
Indiana Report Says Cobalt Levels Way Down
The Indiana Horse Racing Commission Jan. 12 said regulation of cobalt, a naturally occurring substance in racehorses that can have performance-enhancing qualities when supplemented, indicates decreases in abuse.
Centaur to Shutter Indiana OTB Facility
Centaur Gaming Jan. 12 said it is closing its off-track betting parlor in Merrillville, Ind., not far from the Illinois and Michgan borders, because of declines in business.
NY Officials Call for More Safety Vigilance
The New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, which met Jan. 10 in the wake of a spate of catastrophic breakdowns at Aqueduct Racetrack, said racing participants will be asked to be more vigilant.
TVG to Show Charles Town Signal in HD
Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races has partnered with TVG to become the first full-time Thoroughbred track in the evening simulcast market to broadcast its races in high definition on the network.
WV County Wants Horse Racing Funds Protected
The governing body of Jefferson County, W.Va., where Charles Town Races is located, plans to send a message to state legislators that further reductions in the share of gaming revenue that supports racing are unacceptable.
Greenwood to Close Atlantic City Race Course
Atlantic City Race Course, which was coming off one of its better meets last year and was awarded 2015 dates, will shut down Jan. 16, owner Greenwood ACRA said Jan. 9.
Breeders' Cup Tax-Break Bill Filed in KY
Legislation to authorize a pari-mutuel tax break for Keeneland, which will host this year's Breeders' Cup World Championships, has been filed in the Kentucky General Assembly.
Wagering on U.S. Harness Races Down 6.6%
- By Tom LaMarra
Total pari-mutuel handle on United States harness racing in 2014 was $1.49 billion, down about 6.6% from $1.60 billion in 2013, according to the United States Trotting Association.
Handle Down, Purses Up at Laurel, Pimlico
The Maryland Jockey Club reported a decrease in pari-mutuel handle on live racing at Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course in 2014, but total and average purses were up from 2013.
Total Handle Up 21.4% at Turfway Holiday Meet
Despite racing two fewer programs during its 2014 holiday meet, Turfway Park registered a 21.45% increase in total pari-mutuel handle compared with the comparable meet in 2013.
Gulfstream: Record $1.2B in Wagering in 2014
Gulfstream Park said Jan. 1 its total pari-mutuel handle on live racing in 2014 was a record $1.2 billion for one year.
America Last to First in Affectionately
Bobby Flay's America went from last to first in a field of eight to win the $100,000 Affectionately Stakes Jan. 1 at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Simulcast Fee Dispute Enters Second Month
Twenty-three racetracks and their affiliated wagering outlets began 2015 without the signals from Gulfstream Park, Santa Anita Park, and Laurel Park as a simulcast-fee dispute entered its second month.
Cerro Lands Rail for Laurel's Native Dancer
PTK's Cerro will look to keep his perfect record at Laurel Park intact in the $100,000 Native Dancer Stakes, one of four stakes on the Jan. 3 program at the Maryland racetrack.
Mahoning Valley Ends Meet With Record Handle
Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course ended its inaugural meet Dec. 30 with record total pari-mutuel handle of $1,102,566.
Field Size: Two Dozen Tracks Top 8 Per Race
As 2014 came to a close, fewer than 25 racetracks were able to field more than eight horses per races, according to a review of statistics. And the top two tracks on the list each raced only five programs.
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