Golf

If people or organisation's live beyond their means, you see the result, but in many ways the ATC have been unfortunate the way things have turned out, but it happens many times, I guess if the ATC had everything go right they would have been seen as a bunch of geniuses, the irony of all this is they took a punt which is what drives the whole industry, unfortunatly the punt was a loser in the end...........reality today is they can't carry on forever as it is, but the issues are for them, that's the ATC to sort, if it falls over then sobeit happens to sports clubs too, if you can no longer trade you cease trading. Makes no difference how many great horses or trainers drivers have graced the place, if it closes it closes, plenty of critics of Forbury Park and the eventual closing but Forbury were never the mess Auckland is, Forbury in many ways we're pure victim of decisions from HRNZ over a long time when some of their race meetings went from major events to non events, and the slow death process began.

by Dan Ross and T.D. Thornton The Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) Authority on Wednesday summoned Churchill Downs Racetrack and its corporate parent, CDI, to a hearing before a panel of HISA board members in an attempt to secure payment of 2025 assessment fees that CDI has allegedly failed to submit on behalf of four racetracks the gaming corporation owns in Kentucky and Pennsylvania, including its flagship track in Louisville. HISA wants Churchill to pay $2,408,501 in allegedly overdue 2025 fees (plus $93,998 in interest) to the Authority within 10 days of any order by the HISA board that results from the just-scheduled Mar. 11 hearing. If not, according the Feb. 18 notice of hearing, “for each day the payment is late, Churchill [will] be prohibited from conducting any Covered Horserace, to be applied immediately on the next scheduled race day(s) at Churchill.” Joe Drape of the New York Times first reported on Wednesday's new escalation of an ongoing dispute. “CDI has not fulfilled Churchill's obligation to remit Churchill's and the horsemen's group share of allocated and assessed fees for calendar year 2025 in violation of HISA Rule 8100(i), HISA Rule 8520(e), and 15 U.S.C. § 3052(f)(3),” the hearing notice stated. “In fact, CDI has refused to pay one cent of the 2025 HISA assessments allocated to Churchill, Turfway Park, Ellis Park, and Presque Isle Downs,” the notice continued. “CDI even refuses to pay what it believes it owes for the CDI Racetracks under its own [assessment formula] that is based solely on racing starts. The CDI Racetracks stand alone among Covered Racetracks in refusing to make any HISA assessment payments whatsoever for 2025,” the hearing notice stated. The notice was served Wednesday via email and certified mail to Gary Palmisano, Jr., CDI's executive director of racing. TDN asked Palmisano via email if he'd like to comment or explain CDI's side of the story, but did not receive any reply prior to deadline for this article. In addition to the alleged non-payment of 2025 fees, the notice of hearing details allegations that because of the above-referenced disagreement over assessment methodologies, CDI has also not paid all of the fees that HISA claims the corporation owes for 2023 and 2024, either. “In 2023 and 2024, CDI calculated and paid full year assessments using its own assessment formula, based solely on the number of racing starts, in an amount less than would be due under the Original Methodology Rule,” the notice of hearing stated. “The total difference that remains currently due and owing from racetracks operated by CDI for the 2023 and 2024 Assessments is $1,708,475.” But because that dispute over 2023 and 2024 assessments is still being litigated in federal court, “issuance of the Board panel's decision in the 2023/2024 Enforcement Action is currently stayed per the agreement of the parties,” the Authority's hearing notice explained. In CDI's original complaint in that lawsuit, filed Dec. 4. 2024, CDI argued that the HISA Authority couldn't threaten “to prohibit them from conducting any horseraces until the fees due under the Authority's illegal assessment methodology are paid in full” because the HISA Act “does not empower the private Authority to adjudicate fee-collection disputes in-house.” Rather, the lawsuit explained, the HISA Act “envisions that the Authority would exercise its statutory power to bring a civil action in federal court to compel payment of any legitimate fee assessments.” The CDI complaint (initially joined by co-plaintiff the New York Racing Association, which settled with HISA a month after the litigation was filed), stated that HISA demanding fee payments and threatening penalization based on its own findings “would violate the Act and Article III of the Constitution, which require that such disputes between private entities be adjudicated in federal courts–not within administrative agencies and certainly not within private, unaccountable corporations. “And it would also violate the fundamental due-process principle that no person may serve as a judge in his own case,” the CDI suit alleged. Wednesday's hearing notice stated that, “In this enforcement action, the Authority is seeking payment only based on the CDI Formula endorsed by CDI in the CDI Lawsuit. “If the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky concludes in the CDI Lawsuit that the Original Methodology Rule is valid, the Authority will initiate a separate enforcement action or civil action–if necessary–to collect the difference between the amount owed by CDI under the CDI Formula and the Original Methodology Rule for 2025. “If the District Court adopts the legal arguments made by CDI and concludes that the Original Methodology Rule is invalid, then CDI would still owe the exact amount sought in this proceeding, i.e., the racing-starts only amount due under the 'Alternative Calculation' that CDI endorses and advocates,” the hearing notice stated. “In other words, CDI owes at least the amount sought here regardless of the outcome of the pending litigation,” the hearing notice stated. The hearing notice described CDI as allegedly “freeloading” by availing itself of HISA's services related to drug testing, results management from intra-articular injection violations, track surface inspections from the Racing Surfaces Testing Laboratory, and technology platforms that promote the safety of horses and jockeys. Despite CDI allegedly not paying into the regulatory system, “the CDI Racetracks continue to receive millions of dollars in services from the Authority,” the hearing notice stated. “CDI promotes the benefits of HISA with its investors while at the same time failing to pay its fair share–or any share at all,” the notice of hearing stated. The Mar. 11 board hearing will be chaired by Joe De Francis. Bill Thomason and Terri Mazur will also adjudicate on that panel. CDI may file a pre-hearing brief setting forth any objections to the enforcement action by Feb. 27, and HISA's enforcement counsel may file a response by Mar. 6. The post HISA Threatens ‘Freeloading’ CDI with Cutting Off Ability to Race over Alleged Non-Payment of Assessment Fees appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

It never ceases to amaze me how some industry participants have no idea what the costs of racing a horse are.  Nor the fact that they will pick their most expensive bill for the year and promote it as the average cost. I've seen a number of syndication contracts from a number of syndicators and the majority of them make it quite clear what the expected cost will be.  No surprises.  Some even make it clear that the odds are heavily in favour of your investment being a loss making one.  Particullarly if you buy into a stallion making syndicate where the odds are that your investment is going to lose its prime money making parts.  Fillies are a little different because they will have some residual value if well bred and they perform even moderately on the track. So if you buy into a syndicate you know what you are buying into.  Especially those that buy again!  Essentially you are rolling the dice that you are going to get a good horse and when you do get lucky for a time you have a fantastic experience albeit with often extreme highs and sometimes lows.  Horses are like that.  The point is it is all transparent and you bought into it.  Why complain afterwards? I've had a number of people ask me about buying a share in a horse.  My advice has been don't spend your life savings and kiss the money goodbye from the get go.  Don't get envious of successful owners or Syndicators, Trainers and Jockeys who are making money.  The latter it is their livelihood.  BUT if you are lucky to get a good one enjoy every aspect of the ride because the odds of getting another as good are very very small.  Which brings me back to that most expensive bill of the year.  It could include a vet bill - horses are live animals and sometimes they do stupid things or they have issues that require attention.  It could include an insurance bill or a large nomination fee for a big race.  If the bill includes these last two costs then you are in an elite group.  One your horse is worth insuring and two you are good enough to be in a Black Type race.  So for example if your horse is in full training and in the top drawer of horses then in that month you have $6k in training and other costs, a $1,500 big race nomination fee and an insurance cost.  The latter will be the biggest expense as the insurance fee is worked out at 3.5% of the horses valuation.  So lets say the filly was valued at $400k then your total bill will be $22k for the month ($14,500 for insurance).  But the smart owner has spread their risk and bought into a number of horses at 2.5%. So for this filly they are paying $550 for the month.  The odds are that in this scenario you are in credit anyway given the big race nomination and the insurance valuation. . @nomates @Joe Bloggs @Comic Dog .

The Maryland Thoroughbred Industry Renaissance Awards will be presented during a March 22 luncheon at Laurel Park.View the full article

There was only one graded stakes race on the road to the GI Kentucky Oaks this weekend, but it was a big one. The GII Fasig-Tipton Rachel Alexandra Stakes has produced 12 winners of the Oaks. The list includes last year's Oaks champion Good Cheer (Medaglia d'Oro) and 2023 winner Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief). So, it meant something when Bella Ballerina (Street Sense) scored a game victory to win the race by a half-length, especially when you consider that she is a half-sister to Pretty Mischievous. So, here goes, your latest Top 10: 1) ZANY (American Pharoah–Mo' Green, by Uncle Mo) O-Repole Stable; B-D.J. Stable (KY); T-Todd Pletcher. Sales history: $350,000 yrl '24 FTSAUG. Lifetime Record:GSW, 3-3-0-0, $221,500. Last Start: Won Feb. 7 Suncoast Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 30. As good a race as Bella Ballerina ran in the Rachel Alexandra, Zany remains in the top spot and may stay there until she has her next start, which is scheduled for the Apr. 3 GI Central Bank Ashland Stakes at Keeneland. She was not ultra-impressive when winning the Suncoast Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, but you can count on her being an improved horse in the Ashland. It was notable in the Suncoast that she lugged in. Here's what Todd Pletcher had to say about her failure to keep a straight course: “We will not try to overthink it since she's three-for-three. But we will continue to focus on keeping her straight when she changes leads.” She showed tremendous talent when romping in last year's GII Demoiselle Stakes. If that horse shows up on Kentucky Oaks Day, all the rest may be running for second money. 2) BELLA BALLERINA (Street Sense–Pretty City Dancer, by Tapit) O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Brendan P Walsh. Lifetime Record: MGSW, 3-3-0-0, $301,525. 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard.' Last Start: Won Feb. 14 GII Rachel Alexandra Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 60. As well-bred as they come and from the powerful Godolphin team, Bella Ballerina still had something to prove in the Rachel Alexandra. In her only other stakes appearance, last year's GII Golden Rod Stakes at Churchill Downs, she did win, but nearly squandered a 3 1/2-length lead in the stretch. The final margin of victory was a half-length. She didn't blow them away this time, either. In fact, she lost the lead in mid-stretch, but battled back to win in a professional effort. “I thought it was a very game performance,” trainer Brendan Walsh said. “When she was coming down the stretch, it looked like she was beaten. I thought to myself, 'You know, she's run well. We've got what we needed to get out of it. She'll improve a ton the next time she starts back up again.' I thought, 'Well, OK, we'll take that.' But yes, it was just a game performance on her part. It's the first time she's ever been headed.” Her winning Beyer number Saturday was an 84. The March 21 GII Fasig-Tipton Fair Grounds Oaks will likely be next for her. Bella Ballerina | Hodges Photography 3) MEANING (Gun Runner–Figure of Speech, by Into Mischief) O-Bridlewood Farm & Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners; B-Stonehaven Steadings (KY); T-Michael McCarthy. Sales history: $440,000 yrl '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: SW, 3-2-0-0, $187,000. Last Start: Won Feb. 8 Las Virgenes Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 26. The good news:  she beat two pretty tough customers in Explora (Blame) and Super Corredora (Gun Runner) in the Las Virgenes Stakes. The bad news: she had a perfect trip behind battling leaders. It was her first start since she was a non-threatening fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, but there's no reason why she couldn't have improved over the winter. As of now, the California-based fillies don't look like a strong group. Meaning may be the best of that bunch. Trainer Michael McCarthy has said that the April 4 GII Santa Anita Oaks Presented by Surfside will be next for his filly. 4) LUV YOUR NEIGHBOR (Constitution–Disobedient, by Into Mischief) O-Lael Stables; B-Anderson Farms Ont Inc & 552727 Ontario Ltd (ON); T-Michael Stidham. Sales history: $350,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 6-1-4-0, $164,071. Last Start: 2nd Feb. 14 GII Fasig-Tipton Rachel Alexandra Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 40. If you liked Bella Ballerina's race in the Rachel Alexandra, you probably had to like the effort turned in by Luv Your Neighbor. She gave the 4-5 favorite fits the entire length of the stretch and looked like she had the race won. Was Bella Ballerina that game or did Luv Your Neighbor lack fight when it counted? It's an important question, as she has now run second in four straight starts, losing each time by less than a length. In her lone victory, she won by just a nose. Trainer Michael Stidham needs to figure out how to get a little something extra out of her, but, if he does, she might just prove to be among the upper echelon of this division. 5) TAKEN BY THE WIND (Rock Your World–Up for Grabs, by First Samurai) O-Magdalena Racing, Terry Bradshaw, Graham Leveston, Raasi Stable; B-Courtney L. Meagher (FL); T-Kenneth G McPeek. Sales History: $70,000 yrl '24 FTKJUL; $20,000 yrl '24 FTKOCT. Lifetime Record: GSW, 3-3-0-0, $270,710. Last Start: Won Jan. 17 Silverbulletday Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 30. If not for the Kenny McPeek factor, this horse would be rated lower. Yes, she won the Silverbulletday Stakes by only a neck in her 3-year-old debut. But McPeek, who has had so much success with fillies of late, sees something in her. “You watch,” he said. “She'll win the next one, and I think she has a very good chance of winning the Oaks. This is a very good filly. She does everything right.” McPeek reports that Taken by the Wind will have her next start in the March 1 GIII Honeybee Stakes at Oaklawn. It would be “good for the game” to see her prosper as NFL Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw is a part owner and would no doubt be an entertaining part of an entourage come Oaks Day. Taken By the Wind | Sarah Andrew 6) LIFE OF JOY (Gun Runner–Jordayn's Leo, by Malibu Moon) O-Will Stroud, Andrew Farm, Mountmellick Farm & For the People Racing Stable LLC; B-Springhouse Farm (KY); T-Brad H Cox. Sales history: $375,000 yrl '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: SW, 4-2-1-0, $180,260. Last Start: Second in Feb. 7 Suncoast Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 22. The Brad Cox-trained filly turned in a strong effort behind Zany in the Suncoast, finishing second. She also held her own against Bella Ballerina when fourth in the Golden Rod. Before that, she was a 2 1/4-length winner of the Rags to Riches Stakes. Like McPeek, Cox has done some of his best work with fillies. It's not a coincidence that he has won the Oaks three times in a short stretch of just seven years. The Fair Grounds Oaks will be next for her. 7) EXPLORA (Blame–Collections Choice, by Bernardini) O-Michael Pegram, Karl Watson & Paul Weitman; B-Mesingw Farm (KY); T-Bob Baffert. Sales History: $22,000 yrl '24 KEESEP; $350,000 2yo '25 FTMMAY. 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard.' Lifetime Record: GSW & MGISP, 5-3-2-0, $628,000. Last Start: Second Feb. 8 Las Virgenes Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 45. Don't ever give up on Bob Baffert. He has won the Oaks three times, and no one in the history of the sport is better at having horses peak for the biggest races. Her 3-year-old debut in the Las Virgenes didn't go as planned. She got caught up in a speed duel with rival Super Corredora and didn't have enough left in the tank to hold off Meaning. The positive is that she held in there a lot better than Super Corredora, who finished last. She far from embarrassed herself and could easily rebound next out with a better trip. 8) SEARCH PARTY (Gun Runner–Devious Charm, by Into Mischief) O/B-Tracy Farmer (KY); T-Mark Casse. Lifetime Record: 6-2-1-2, $276,211. Last Start: Won Feb. 6 Martha Washington Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 20. It took this Mark Casse-trained filly four starts to break her maiden, but since the light bulb went off, she's been good. She won an Oaklawn maiden by six lengths and came right back to win the Martha Washington Stakes by a neck. By Gun Runner out of an Into Mischief mare, she certainly has the pedigree. “Irad (Ortiz, Jr.) rode her in two of the races she lost and he came back both times and apologized,” Casse said. “He said, 'I was the best.' She was breaking just a little slow and then got herself in some trouble. When she broke her maiden at Oaklawn, I thought she was very impressive. In the Martha Washington, she got in a little trouble again, but I thought it was a good performance. I'm not sure it was a great performance, but it was a good performance. If she's going to be an Oaks filly down the road, she's going to have to improve. Her pedigree and her physique say she should get better.” Search Party | Coady Media 9) DAZZLING DAME (Girvin–Awesome Dama, by Corinthian) O-Respect the Valleys LLC; B-Maria M Haire (MD); T-Brittany T Russell. Sales History: $50,000 RNA wlg '23 KEENOV: $65,000 yrl '24 OBSJAN; $45,000 2yo '25 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: MSW, 5-4-0-0, $240,525. Last Start: Won Jan. 3 Busanda Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 22. Her 91 Beyer she earned when winning the Busanda Stakes at Aqueduct remains the fastest number turned in so far this year by any 3-year-old filly. She didn't have a published workout from Jan. 23 to Feb. 12, but trainer Brittany Russell reports that the filly is still on track for the Mar. 14 Virginia Oaks at Colonial Downs. Russell has won only six graded stakes in her career, but she's a force in Maryland and is not to be underestimated. 10) SUPER CORREDORA (Gun Runner–Super Simple, by Super Saver) O-Spartan Equine Racing LLC, West Point Thoroughbreds, Robert Gardiner & Michael Olszewki; B-Woodford Thoroughbreds (KY); T-John Sadler. Sales History: $400,000 yrl '24 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: Ch. 2yo Filly, GISW, 5-2-1-0, $1,099,600. Last Start: Fourth Feb. 8 Las Virgenes Stakes. Kentucky Oaks Points: 34. Probably too early to give up on a filly that was a GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner and an Eclipse Award winner, but her return effort in the Las Virgenes was just not good. She'll get her chance to show that that race was a fluke in her next start, which will likely be in the Mar. 1 GIII Santa Ysabel Stakes. If she doesn't fare well there, it might be time to consider a sprinting career for her. The post The TDN Kentucky Oaks Top 10 For Feb. 19: Bella Ballerina Makes A Big Move appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article