The Stronach Group Considers New England Venture
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.
Tim Ritvo
News, Articles, Videos and other content about Tim Ritvo
A Father's Day Birth Led to an Epic BC Classic
- By Steve Haskin
The fairy tale journey of Mucho Macho Man and trainer Kathy Ritvo that began on Father's Day 2008.
Santa Anita Cancels Second Thursday Card of Season
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.
Pegasus Breathes Life Into Older Horse Division
There's nothing like a $12 million race to spur some careful thought from owners and trainers about their horses' racing careers.
Pegasus Features Several Unique Conditions
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.
Record Stakes Purses Scheduled for Gulfstream
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.
Top Caribbean Race to Be Held at Gulfstream
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.
Preakness at Pimlico Gets Bit of a Push
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.
Twelve Already Committed to Pegasus World Cup
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.
Vitali Seeks to Get Florida License Restored
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.
Ritvo Talks Racing Industry With Students
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's Growth Potential Focus of Meeting
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.
MJC Schedules Town Hall Meeting at Laurel
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.
Maryland Regrowing Its OTB Network
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.
Stronach Group Still Interested in Suffolk
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.
Suffolk: Stronach Group Not in the Running
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.
Pimlico Meet Registers Strong Handle Numbers
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.
Racing Companies Weigh In on Uniformity Push
- By Tom LaMarra
- Northeast Region, Midwest Region, Southeast Region, Southwest Region, West Region, Kentucky, Mid-Atlantic Region
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.
Preakness Could Move to Sundays in Future
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.
Xpressbet to Sponsor 2015 Preakness Stakes
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, F-T Bonus Tied to Sale, FL Derby
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 to Improve Access for Disabled
Gulfstream Park president Tim Ritvo announced Feb. 16 the Hallandale Beach, Fla., track is taking steps to improve physical access for patrons with disabilities.
MJC Begins Work on New Stalls at Laurel Park
The Maryland Jockey Club Jan. 6 said it expects to have 150 new stalls ready for occupation at Laurel Park by April.
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.
Gulfstream Builds Stalls for Displaced Horses
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 Moving to Adena Springs South
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.
Campo Named General Manager of Gulfstream
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.
Zayas, Sano Take Gulfstream Park West Titles
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.
Maryland Jockey Club Focus on Daily Product
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.
Tom Chuckas to Resign as President of MJC
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 to Require Third-Party Lasix Shots
Gulfstream Park will begin third-party administration of race-day furosemide beginning Wednesday, Nov. 19.
Gulfstream to Host F-T Select 2-Year-Old Sale
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 Ritvo Moves Tack to Mid-Atlantic
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.
Changes Announced for Dec. 6 Claiming Crown
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.
Record Stakes Purses for Gulfstream Meet
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 to Hike Purses 10%, Add Incentives
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 Begins Apprentice Education Class
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 Sees New Thoroughbred Opportunity
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.
Ritvo Details Gulfstream Plans
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.
TAA Gets $100,000 Gift From Gulfstream Park
The donation came from Gulfstream Park's Thoroughbred Aftercare Program, which has raised more than $250,000 during the last two years.
Single Ticket Takes Down $6.6M Rainbow 6 Pot
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.
Gulfstream and Calder to End Dates War
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.
Gulfstream Projects Record Rainbow 6 Pool
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 Sets Rainbow 6 Mandatory Payout
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.
FHBPA Asked to Review Gulfstream-Calder Plan
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.
Gulfstream Meet Handle Averages $8.3 Million
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 Sets Florida Derby Day Handle Mark
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 to Continue Hosting Eclipse Awards
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.
Michael Ritvo Notches First Win at Gulfstream
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.
Gulfstream Race is 'No Contest' After Spill
A spill in the early stages of race 10 at Gulfstream Park March 16 prompted stewards to declare the race a 'no contest' to protect the safety of jockeys and horses.
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