The only thing that will keep Pimlico Race Course in business as a racetrack is if the Preakness Stakes (G1) stays. But the only thing that will keep the Preakness at Pimlico is if the racetrack gets revamped by the Maryland Stadium Authority.
Keith Brackpool, a former executive with The Stronach Group, is suing the organization for $40 million plus damages according to court documents filed in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles April 11.
After the Dec. 7 fire that decimated San Luis Rey Training Center, the facility in Bonsall, Calif., is scheduled to reopen in early April, according to racing executives in Southern California.
Fox Sports 2 has plans for six Saturday broadcasts this winter and spring that will features top stakes races from Aqueduct Racetrack, Gulfstream Park, and Santa Anita Park.
Three Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) horses expected to start in slots purchased by The Stronach Group for the Jan. 27 race would see their earnings shared with other stakeholders should any register a top-three placing.
Tim Ritvo stressed that drastic changes—ideas to expand the barn area, build a second turf course, expand the main track, and build a brand-new training facility in nearby West Covina, Calif.—are not only desired, but essential for Santa Anita.
In an effort to relieve some of the frustration regarding horse ownership, Santa Anita Park has instituted conditions at the maiden special weight level based on auction price and at the claiming level based on barn size, in limited races.
Santa Anita Park will work toward resolving an issue regarding inaccurate multi-race "will-pays" that came up before the last race of its opening-day card Dec. 26, according to Tim Ritvo, The Stronach Group's chief operating officer.
The Stronach Group's chief operating officer, Tim Ritvo, said Dec. 26 that the track owner will look into what appear to be irregular "will-pays" from the last race on Santa Anita Park's opening-day card.
Executives from The Stronach Group said Dec. 14 that stakes purses will decrease $600,000 for the meeting that runs through early July.
The CHRB conditionally approved racing meet applications for both Santa Anita Park and Golden Gate Fields during its monthly meeting Nov. 16 at Del Mar, but the conditions are far from settled with opening day for both meets just around the corner.
Tim Ritvo says, even though it may result in a significant loss to Northern California's horse population, the current plan for the 2018 season is to shut down Golden Gate Fields as an auxiliary stable for about two months of fair racing.
Although radical changes were suggested for Northern California's 2018 racing schedule, the California Horse Racing Board's Race Dates Committee members only suggested minor modifications to the schedule for the full board to consider Oct. 26.
The Stronach Group is maintaining an interest in expanding into the Boston market, but only if statutory and regulatory changes favorable to the company are implemented.
Joe Morris, who was hired by The Stronach Group as the senior vice president of West Coast operations in 2015, resigned Oct. 12 according to an announcement from the company.
Due to his growing responsibilities as vice president of racing for The Stronach Group, P.J. Campo has relinquished his role as general manager of Gulfstream Park.
Tim Ritvo, The Stronach Group's chief operating officer, met with racetrack owners, state legislators, and Massachusetts gaming commissioners July 24 to discuss the possibility of converting a former greyhound track into a Thoroughbred venue.
As New England Thoroughbred horsemen and stakeholders continue to stare at a precarious fate in the industry, The Stronach Group is looking at possible expansion into the region.
The fairy tale journey of Mucho Macho Man and trainer Kathy Ritvo that began on Father's Day 2008.
Santa Anita Park cancelled its second Thursday card of the season because of a lack of entries for the June 8 slate, and track executives put most of the onus on the local horsemen June 4 to run more horses and fill cards.
There's nothing like a $12 million race to spur some careful thought from owners and trainers about their horses' racing careers.
From its use of stakeholders to boost the purse and help recruit horses, alternate entries, and weight allowance for horses racing without race-day furosemide, the Pegasus World Cup will offer innovative ideas on several race condition fronts.
The $1 million Florida Derby (gr. I) will be celebrated April 1 at Gulfstream Park, highlighting a record stakes schedule announced Thursday for the 2016-2017 Championship Meet.
Gulfstream Park will host the 2017 Clasico Internacional del Caribe, the Caribbean's premier Thoroughbred race, the Confederation of Caribbean Racetracks announced July 1 at its mid-year meeting at the South Florida track.
A Maryland Jockey Club official May 21 said the company would prefer to keep the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) at Pimlico Race Course, and much could depend upon a study that will be conducted on behalf of the Maryland Stadium Authority.
Organizers of the $12 million Pegasus World Cup planned for January 2017 said they already have 12 ownership groups on board at $1 million each.
Trainer Marcus Vitali moved his stable from Gulfstream to Laurel, but he must deal with positive tests for Class 4 and Class 5 medications in Florida before the Maryland Jockey Club will allow him to continue racing horses.
Tim Ritvo, chief operating officer of The Stronach Group, spent part of day April 20 at the University of Maryland as guest lecturer for a class on "Gambling in the New Millennium."
Maryland racing stakeholders the evening of Nov. 20 received a status report on the state of the industry, and they were told there is great potential for growth in the state.
The Maryland Jockey Club will host a town hall meeting with industry leaders Nov. 20 to share and discuss its vision for the future of the Maryland Thoroughbred industry.
From 2011 through 2013, Maryland lost three of its four OTBs. Now the Maryland Jockey Club hopes to have five to six OTBs running by 2017.
Suffolk Downs management and the New England Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association are keeping the lamp lit for the Massachusetts Thoroughbred racing and breeding industry.
On the eve of a hearing to approve or deny the application of Suffolk Downs to hold three days of live racing this fall, track management shot down the persistent rumor that The Stronach Group plans to lease the track.
The Maryland Jockey Club announced June 8 that Pimlico Race Course's 37-day spring meet ended June 6 with sharp increases over last year in total and average pari-mutuel handle.
Two major United States racing companies have restated their support for uniform equine medication and drug testing but have stopped short of endorsing an effort to pass federal legislation that would give USADA oversight.
The operator of Pimlico Race Course is considering moving the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) to Sunday from its traditional Saturday spot in the future as a way to attract more fans for the annual two-day affair.
The Maryland Jockey Club's Pimlico Race Course and online wagering provider Xpressbet have announced that Xpressbet will serve as the title sponsor of the Preakness Stakes (gr. I).
Gulfstream Park and Fasig-Tipton have announced a $1 million bonus to the owner of the 2016 Florida Derby (gr. I) winner if that horse is a graduate of this year's 2015 Fasig-Tipton Florida 2-year-olds in training sale.
Gulfstream Park president Tim Ritvo announced Feb. 16 the Hallandale Beach, Fla., track is taking steps to improve physical access for patrons with disabilities.
The Maryland Jockey Club Jan. 6 said it expects to have 150 new stalls ready for occupation at Laurel Park by April.
Gulfstream Park said Jan. 1 its total pari-mutuel handle on live racing in 2014 was a record $1.2 billion for one year.
Gulfstream Park is beginning a large and quick project to build stalls with the goal of resolving a potential "homeless horses" crisis in South Florida.
Fort Larned, winner of the 2012 Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I), will shift from Central Kentucky to stand in 2015 at Frank Stronach's newly reopened Adena Springs South near Williston, Fla.
P.J. Campo, vice president of racing for The Stronach Group and Gulfstream Park, will assume the duties of general manager at the Hallandale Beach, Fla. track, effective immediately.
The inaugural Gulfstream Park West meet closed Nov. 30, with Edgard Zayas and Antonio Sano taking the respective jockey and trainer titles, and Frank Calabrese and White Wabbit Wacing tying atop the owner standings.
As the Maryland Jockey Club moves forward under new leadership, it will place an emphasis on improving the day-to-day racing product by lowering takeout to attract new bettors and improving regional cooperation.
The Stronach Group announced that Tom Chuckas, president and chief operating officer of the Maryland Jockey Club, has resigned his position with the company, effective Nov. 30.
Gulfstream Park will begin third-party administration of race-day furosemide beginning Wednesday, Nov. 19.
Gulfstream Park will host the 2015 Fasig-Tipton Florida selected 2-year-olds in training sale in the track's walking ring, it was announced Sept. 12.
Apprentice jockey Michael Ritvo, the leading bug rider at Gulfstream Park, plans to ride at Laurel Park, Delaware Park, Parx Racing, and Penn National during the fall and winter months.
