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.
The Claiming Crown has dropped its trainer nomination program and has altered the lineup for the eight-race series to be held Dec. 6 at Gulfstream Park.
Gulfstream Park announced a record $11.25 million stakes program for its 2014-2015 Championship Meet, highlighted by the 64th running of the $1 million Florida Derby (gr. I) March 28.
Gulfstream Park announced July 17 that it will increase purses an average of 10% starting with its July 24 condition book, and also offer a $250 starter incentive to help horsemen offset the cost of workers' compensation.
Gulfstream Park held its first apprentice riding education program meeting the morning of July 13, designed to give young riders an opportunity to learn from experienced guest speakers from many parts of the racing world.
Hialeah Park owner John Brunetti remains determined to bring Thoroughbreds back to his famous racetrack in Hialeah, Fla., and is hoping to stage a comeback with his one-time nemesis Gulfstream Park.
A new era of South Florida Thoroughbred racing begins July 4 with Gulfstream Park and its parent The Stronach Group in control and feeling a new sense of independence.
The donation came from Gulfstream Park's Thoroughbred Aftercare Program, which has raised more than $250,000 during the last two years.
One lucky 20-cent Rainbow 6 bettor in Palm Beach really hit the jackpot at Gulfstream Park May 25, cashing for a record $6,678,939.12.
South Florida horsemen and racetracks have a deal that will stop a second year of head-to-head racing between Gulfstream Park and Calder Casino & Race Course.
If there is no single winning ticket on the Rainbow 6 at Gulfstream Park May 24 or May 25, the track expects the total pool of the 20-cent jackpot wager to set a North American Pick 6 pool record Monday, May 26.
Gulfstream Park has announced there will be a mandatory payout of the Rainbow 6 on Memorial Day jackpot bet May 26. The track believes the pool could reach $10 million to $20 million.
Gulfstream Park asked Florida horsemen April 28 to review a plan for Gulfstream to lease the racing operations of Calder and end the head-to-head weekend racing at the Miami area tracks.
Even though it faced new weekend competition from nearby Calder Casino & Race Course, Gulfstream Park came close to its record for average daily all-sources handle during its 2013-14 winter meet that ended April 6.
Gulfstream Park set an all-time Florida Derby day handle record March 29 when $26.8 million was wagered on the live program highlighted by the 63rd edition of the grade I event sponsored by Besilu Stables.
Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino will serve as host for the next two Eclipse Awards ceremonies in January 2015 and 2016 under an agreement with the National Thoroughbred Racing Association announced March 26.
Riding in only his second race, apprentice jockey Michael Ritvo notched his first victory by guiding Little Daniella to a front-running tally in the second race at Gulfstream Park March 23, a $25,000 maiden claiming event.
