Wandering Eyes

Public comment is now being accepted for two proposed industrial solar projects in Lexington-Fayette County, according to the Fayette Alliance. An information session is scheduled on July 8 from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Macdeonia Christian Church at 4551 Winchester Road for people looking to better understand the two proposals. Eatern Kentucky Power Cooperative has submitted a proposal for a 400-acres industrial solar development on Winchester Road. That proposal is currently moving through the Kentucky Public Service Commission, which regulates utilities in Kentucky, according to the Alliance. EKPC is a not-for-profit generation and transmission electric utility with headquarters in Winchester, Ky. Silicon Ranch, a solar power company based in Nashville, has proposed a Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment to permit industrial-scale solar facilities in the agricultural zones of the county. That proposal is currently moving through the planning commission. Approval would allow industrial solar farms in any agricultural zone with a conditional use permit, to be evaluated by the Board of Adjustment under limited conditions, according to the Fayette Alliance. “We think industrial solar generation facilities are not appropriate in the Rural Service Area or any of our agricultural zones, as the primary intent of these zones is to support agricultural production,” the Alliance said in the email. “Large-scale power generation facilities are both industrial and commercial uses, and pose complex unintended consequences to our productive soils as well as set dangerous precedent for how we regulate uses in our agricultural zones moving forward.” The public may submit comments via this link on the Public Service Commission's website. The Fayette Alliance is a non-profit committed to achieving sustainable growth in the city of Lexington while advocating for the protection of farmland. The post Public Comment Sought on Two Large-Scale Solar Project Proposals in Lexington appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Donnacha O'Brien trainee and G1 1000 Guineas second Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio–Too Precious {Ire}, by Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), who won the G3 Albany Stakes on this day last year, doubled her elite-level tally when emerging best in a stellar renewal of Friday's G1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. Last term's G1 Cheveley Park Stakes heroine raced in a handy third after an alert getaway and slipstreamed Opera Singer (Justify) from halfway as Juddmonte's Skellet (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) set the tone up front. Shaken up when angled to the outer for her bid approaching the final furlong, she engaged Opera Singer soon after and, inching ahead with 100 yards remaining, was driven out to deny that rival by a length. 1000 Guineas third and 15-8 favourite Ramatuelle (Justify) threatened inside the final quarter-mile and ran on to finish 1 1/2 lengths adrift in third, reversing form with Guineas heroine Elmalka (GB) (Kingman {GB}), who was 1 1/4 lengths away in fourth. Porta Fortuna does it again at Royal @Ascot and lands the Coronation Stakes! pic.twitter.com/wcCnITvFMY — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 21, 2024 The post Donnacha O’Brien On The Board With Porta Fortuna in the Coronation appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Signaling the beginning of the 2024 Thoroughbred season, Colonial Downs's barn area will open on Monday, June 24 with training scheduled to begin on Thursday, June 27, the track said in a press release on Friday. Multiple leading trainer Mike Stidham and Hall of Fame conditioner Mark Casse are among the trainers preparing to return to the Tidewater track. The latter put in a successful debut meet where he won 10 races, which included Fev Rover (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}). The Canadian Horse of the Year took home the GI Beverly D. Stakes, a Breeders' Cup Challenge 'Win and You're In' race. “It was our first meet and we loved it,” Casse said. “[Colonial Downs] has got one of the nicest turf courses in North America. When I came in for the Beverly D, I flew in with Tyler Gaffalione, Kendrick Carmouche, and Javier [Castellano], and they all commented that this is one of the nicest turf courses they have ridden.” A mainstay of the summer season, Karen Dennehy Godsey plans to return to Colonial Downs, coming off the most successful meet in terms of earnings of the trainer's 11-year career. “Colonial offers races that no other track has, especially given the Virginia-bred and Virginia-certified program,” Godsey said. “It's quality racing. The money is good, the racing is good, and the track is gorgeous. There is no other turf course like it. Most every horse in my barn is Virginia-bred or Virginia-certified, so those races they offer level the playing field.” Newcomers expected to stable at Colonial in 2024 include Christophe Clement, Cherie DeVaux, Jordan Blair and Keith Desormeaux. “After looking at the condition book, I saw they have a lot of 2-year-old races, they have a lot of 2-year-old route races, and they have plenty of turf racing,” Desormeaux said. “The surface is second to none–turf and dirt. The facility is very nice, the purses are substantial –there were many features that attracted me. Our goal does not change–we're developing horses to run at the highest level. It's going to be a great place to develop these young horses.” Exiting the most successful season in the history of the racetrack, in terms of record number of races, race days, visitors, horses in competition, live bets and off-track bets, Colonial Downs' 2024 stakes program consists of 27 races worth $5.7 million. The season will feature daily average purses of nearly $700,000. The 27-day meet runs from Thursday, July 11 through Saturday, September 7. The post Colonial Downs Barn Area Prepped For 2024 Season appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Emerging from the 2,000 Guineas to take the crown as Sprint King, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's homebred Inisherin (GB) (Shamardal–Ajman Princess {Ire}, by Teofilo {Ire}) put genuine star quality into the division when dominating Friday's G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. Always travelling comfortably near the front under Tom Eaves, the Kevin Ryan-trained 9-4 favourite was allowed to coast to the lead two out and draw clear for a comfortable 2 1/4-length defeat of Lake Forest (No Nay Never), who denied Jasour (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) the silver medal by a head. There was another 1 1/2 lengths back to TDN Rising Star Kind Of Blue (GB) (Blue Point {Ire}) in fourth on his black-type debut. “He's a machine,” Eaves said of the winner, one of the last of the Shamardals who had served notice of his prowess in the G2 Sandy Lane Stakes following his sixth in the Guineas. “You saw how long it took to pull him up–he's a unit.” Ryan added, “It was a joy to watch and Tom said they couldn't take him far enough. He's very good and he has such a great temperament. Most of these good horses have an edge to them, but he never gives me a moment's worry. We'll go to the July Cup now and he's in the Maurice de Gheest and there's the Champions Sprint here as well later in the year.” Inisherin is the real deal and lands the Commonwealth Cup at Royal @Ascot! pic.twitter.com/K685XUvt4f — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 21, 2024 The post ‘He’s a machine’: Shamardal’s Inisherin Dominates the Commonwealth Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Iowa Lieutenant Governor Adam Gregg will deliver the keynote address at the 2024 National HBPA Conference set for July 23-26 at Iowa's Prairie Meadows Casino, Racetrack and Hotel, the association said in a release early Friday morning. Lt. Gov. Gregg will make his remarks on Wednesday, July 24, the conference's first of three days of panel discussions and presentations. Coinciding with the conference will be a starter-allowance race carrying a $50,000 purse. The top three finishers receive automatic entry into the 1 1/16-mile Kent Stirling Memorial Iron Horse, part of the eight-race Claiming Crown series that will be held Nov. 16 at Churchill Downs. “This is terrific having a Claiming Crown prep race with a big purse on the evening our conference participants will be enjoying a day at the races at Prairie Meadows,” said Eric Hamelback, CEO of the National HBPA. “We appreciate the enthusiasm the Iowa HBPA and Prairie Meadows have shown for hosting our conference and putting on a Claiming Crown prep. Click here for conference information. The post Iowa Lt. Gov. Gregg To Deliver Keynote At National HBPA Conference July 24 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Coolmore's G3 Naas Fillies Sprint victrix Fairy Godmother (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}–Scintilating {GB}, by Siyouni {Fr}) looked booked for the also-ran slots in Friday's G3 Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot, but unleashed a spectacular burst inside the final furlong to double her pattern-race tally in impressive fashion. The 425,000gns October Book 1 yearling and well-backed 15-8 favourite raced off the pace, nestled in the pack, through halfway in this straight six-furlong dash. Bustled along passing the quarter-mile marker, she made an exaggerated manoeuvre to the stands' side approaching the final furlong and went through an array of gears–with Simmering (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) in tow–to overhaul pacesetting stablemate Heavens Gate (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) in the dying embers. Arguably the juvenile performance of the meeting, Fairy Godmother's win was a fifth of the week for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore. That is MAGIC from Ryan Moore to get Fairy Godmother to win the Albany Stakes at Royal @Ascot! pic.twitter.com/yFSRxGa8kH — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 21, 2024 Friday, Ascot, Britain ALBANY S.-G3, £125,000, Ascot, 6-21, 2yo, f, 6fT, 1:13.48, g/f. 1–FAIRY GODMOTHER (IRE), 128, f, 2, by Night Of Thunder (Ire) 1st Dam: Scintilating (GB), by Siyouni (Fr) 2nd Dam: Photo Flash (Ire), by Bahamian Bounty (GB) 3rd Dam: Zoom Lens (Ire), by Caerleon (425,000gns Ylg '23 TATOCT). O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier; B-Ballyphilip Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £70,888. Lifetime Record: GSW-Ire, 3-2-1-0, $138,310. *1/2 to Sketch (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}), SP-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. 2–Simmering (GB), 128, f, 2, Too Darn Hot (GB)–Cashla Bay (GB), by Fastnet Rock (Aus). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (70,000gns Ylg '23 TATOCT). O-Mrs B V Sangster, Justin Casse & Dr J Berk; B-Lofts Hall Stud (GB); T-Ollie Sangster. £26,875. 3–Heavens Gate (Ire), 128, f, 2, Churchill (Ire)–Itqaan, by Danzig. 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier; B-Whisperview Trading Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £13,450. Margins: 3/4, NK, 2 3/4. Odds: 1.88, 9.00, 8.00. Also Ran: Mountain Breeze (Ire), California Dreamer (GB), Royalty Bay (Ire), Twafeeg (Ire), Cradle Of Love (Ire), Jayvee (Ire), Substitute (Ire), Hot Darling (Ire), Convo (Ire), Nad Alshiba Snow (Ire), Kylie Of Lochalsh (Ire), Peregrine Falcon (Ire), Burning Pine. Scratched: Liberalised (GB). The post Night Of Thunder’s Fairy Godmother Powers to Albany Triumph appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Race 2 ENTAIN/NZB INSURANCE PEARL SERIES 1550m HANALEI (M McNab) – Trainer Mr. P Richards reported to Stewards HANALEI underwent a veterinary examination on Wednesday 12 June which revealed a rupture to the left foreleg tendon. Mr. Richards further advised the mare is undergoing a recovery plan through veterinarians’ advice and it is his intentions to retire HANALEI from racing and the mare will be sent to stud. The post Waikato Thoroughbred Racing @ Cambridge Synthetic, Wednesday 12 June 2024 appeared first on RIB. View the full article

A spectacular lead-up performance at Ruakaka has given Shaun and Emma Clotworthy confidence that their stable star Malt Time is primed for a bold showing in Saturday’s Listed Team Wealleans Tauranga Classic (1400m). The daughter of Adelaide went into this month’s Bream Bay Sprint (1400m) on a winless streak that dated back to the Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m) at Te Rapa in November of 2022. But she had proven herself against the very best during that time, placing in this season’s Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) and Gr.1 TAB Classic (1600m) along with the last two editions of the Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m). Those credentials made Malt Time a clear standout on paper at Ruakaka on June 8, and she powered home from last to score a commanding victory by five and three-quarter lengths. “That was a pretty pleasing performance,” Shaun Clotworthy said. “She’d had only one other start there and won that too, so she obviously quite likes that surface at Ruakaka. “We haven’t had any issues with her since then and we haven’t had to do a lot with her. She had a gallop on Tuesday morning and went really, really well. Ace Lawson-Carroll, who will ride her again on Saturday, was thrilled with how she felt. So I think she’s heading into Saturday in good shape. It looks like a suitable race for her.” The Tauranga track was rated a Heavy9 on Friday, which is in stark contrast to the Soft5 footing of Malt Time’s last-start Ruakaka romp. But her five starts on heavy tracks have produced a second to Mustang Valley in the Arrowfield Stud Plate, a third behind Darci La Bella and Express Princess in the Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes, and a fourth and a fifth in open sprints at Te Rapa. “We’re hoping she’ll get through the ground okay this weekend,” Clotworthy said. “We don’t really know how she’d go on a Heavy10, but she’s run some good races on tracks that are on that slightly better side of heavy and it’s good that the Tauranga track has come a bit through the week.” The Clotworthys will consider another Ruakaka assignment for Malt Time after Saturday’s fillies and mares’ feature. “We won’t do a whole lot more with her in this preparation, but she might head back to Ruakaka for the Winter Championship Finals (on July 13),” Clotworthy said. Malt Time headlines a five-strong team at Tauranga for the Clotworthys, who will also saddle first-starters St Vincent and Kerryanna along with Overstate and Mitonic. View the full article

Cornelia made a bright start to her career with a pair of impressive performances during the summer, and the talented filly will add interest to the early part of Saturday’s Tauranga meeting when she resumes in the Gartshore Construction 3YO (1300m). Trained by Simon and Katrina Alexander at Te Awamutu, Cornelia scored a three-length trial win on her home track before heading to Taupo for her raceday debut on December 30. She produced more of the same over 1100m that day, kicking clear for a commanding victory by two and a quarter lengths. Cornelia’s only other start came at Pukekohe on January 21, where she covered plenty of ground from her outside gate but fought hard down the straight for a gallant third. The Alexanders took Cornelia back to the trials at Waipa on May 30, where she finished second in an open 850m heat. Katrina Alexander has been pleased with the Swiss Ace filly’s progress and expects her to cope with Saturday’s heavy track conditions. However, the three-week gap between her trial and her raceday return could leave her vulnerable. “She’s certainly better than average and ran a couple of very nice races in that first preparation,” Alexander said. “She showed some real grit in those performances as well. “The long gap between her trial and this race is a bit of a worry for me, and particularly going into a 1300m race first-up. It may not sound like a big difference, but I’d be more comfortable if it was 1200m. “She’s going to take natural improvement from this run, but we’ve got to get her up and going. She’s just had a few little niggles that we’ve had to get on top of, but I think we’ve got those sorted now and she’s on the right track. “This is a good chance to run her in three-year-old company, rather than having to go up against older horses. “She’s shown us in her work at home that she can handle wet ground. I think the soft range is probably where she’s most comfortable, perhaps out to about a Heavy8, so I’m pleased that it’s improved slightly after being a 10 earlier in the week.” Saturday’s Flying Mullet Sports Bar (1200m) marks the return of Musigny Lass to the Alexander stable. The three-race winner is making her first start since September of 2022. “We had her when she kicked off her career as a two-year-old, and then she went over to Ben Foote, and now she’s back with us,” Alexander said. “She’s a real wet-tracker and has good ability. “She’s been off the scene for a long time. She had quite a severe paddock injury, which has taken a while to heal. “The owners want to give her one more go. I’ve been pleased with her progress so far, but like Cornelia, she’s probably going to take some benefit from a solid conditioning run.” The Alexanders’ other runner at Tauranga on Saturday is last-start second placegetter Midnight Scandal in the Super Liquor Greerton (1400m). “She’s probably a better racehorse than her form line might suggest,” Alexander said. “Her maiden win over this course and distance earlier in the season was very good. “Her front-running style can make her a bit of a sitting duck on occasions. She’s also had to race on a few firm tracks, which aren’t really her go. She’ll have more suitable conditions this week, and with the way the Belardos are going at the moment, I’m confident she’ll run well.” Alexander reported that stable star La Crique has recently begun a month-long spell in Queensland. The high-class daughter of Vadamos was a last-start winner of the A$500,000 Magic Millions National Classic (1600m) at Eagle Farm. “She had a few days in the paddock after that race, and then we put her back in the stable for three or four days, as much for the mental exercise as anything else,” Alexander said. “Then she left the stable on Tuesday to go to the spelling paddock, and she’ll be there for a month. We’ll probably go over in a couple of weeks to see how she’s doing, and then we can make a plan for her next preparation.” View the full article

The 2023-24 season has produced a long line of placings for Waipukurau owner-trainer Lucy de Lautour, who is set to make her presence felt again with two well-credentialled runners at Te Aroha on Sunday. From 14 starters this season, de Lautour has collected four second placings and a third. That sequence began in the late winter and early spring when Donardo was runner-up behind The Cossack in the Pakuranga Hunt Cup (4800m) at Te Rapa and Ian’s Legacy placed in a maiden steeplechase at Rotorua. Metallo has recently picked up where those two left off, finishing second in both of his first two appearances over hurdles this winter. He was beaten by a neck by Lochwinnoch in a 3000m open hurdle at Wanganui on May 9, then headed to Te Aroha on June 3 and chased home Invisible Spirit. Metallo is set to headline de Lautour’s team at Te Aroha this Sunday, where he will line up in the $30,000 The Bottle-O Te Aroha Hurdles (3100m). The seven-year-old gelding will be ridden by this season’s jumps premiership leader Portia Matthews, whose seven previous rides on de Lautour’s horses have produced a win and four placings. She has been in the saddle for both of Metallo’s recent runner-up finishes. “I’ve been really happy with both of his performances over hurdles in those last few weeks, he’s come back well,” de Lautour said. “He’s continued to go the right way since his last-start run at Te Aroha and I’m hoping he’ll run well again when he heads back there this weekend.” Donardo will contest the Piako Rural Services Steeplechase (3500m). The 11-year-old son of Don Eduardo ran a big race in his first steeplechase start of the winter, finishing second and a head behind Izymydaad at Wanganui on May 9. He then lined up in the Manawatu Steeplechase (4000m), where he finished seventh and showed signs of soreness when he pulled up. “He was just a little bit sore, it wasn’t anything major and he came right pretty quickly afterwards,” de Lautour said. “He’s going into this race on Sunday in pretty good order. Hopefully he’ll run a good race and then we can make a plan around what we do with him from there.” Venturing north and performing boldly is nothing new for Donardo. Prior to his Pakuranga Hunt Cup placing last August, he also finished second behind Kiddo in the 2022 Great Northern Steeplechase (6500m) and ran fourth in that year’s Pakuranga Hunt Cup. View the full article

Southland trainer Robert Dennis is making the long trek north to Riccarton with two contenders for their Saturday meeting, including Lofty’s Gift who is shooting for her fifth straight win in the Taggart Earthmoving Rating 75 (2000m). Lofty’s Gift transferred to Dennis’ Ascot Park barn earlier this year from Cambridge trainers Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray, running fourth in her Southland debut before putting together a picket fence form line. “It is pretty exciting to have a horse going for five wins in a row,” Dennis said. “In a way she drops back in grade but it is probably a more competitive field than what she has been beating. “She has come through her racing really well, I think she is going as good as ever, she can get through those (Heavy 10) track conditions, so I think she has got to be a good chance.” The daughter of Ghibellines has been lumbered with top weight of 60kg but will get the benefit of apprentice jockey Donovan Cooper’s claim from barrier four. “Donovan’s claim gets her down to 57 kilos,” Dennis said. “There is not a big spread in the weights with the minimum being 55kg and the max is 58.5kg. She is about smack bang in the middle, and I am happy enough with her weight for her rating.” Saturday will be her furthest trip away from home since being based in the south, but that poses no concern for Dennis. “She obviously travelled down from the North Island when she came to us. We are on the way up (to Christchurch now) so we will see how she gets on overnight, but with her attitude and nature I don’t think it will be a worry,” he said. Dennis is excited about the future with the mare and is eyeing some big spring targets with her if she continues on her upward trajectory. “We will just see how we go on Saturday. Talking with the owners, maybe we target a New Zealand Cup (Gr.3, 3200m) in spring,” he said. “It is exciting to be gunning for five wins in a row, so we will concentrate on tomorrow first and work things out from there.” Lofty’s Gift is being joined on the float trip north by stablemate On Song, who is looking to recapture form in the Optimise Fertilisers & Equi-lise Rating 75 (1400m). The four-year-old mare won two consecutive races before finishing seventh and ninth in her last two outings, with Dennis believing the Heavy track conditions will be ideal for her this weekend. “She wasn’t bad last time, she wasn’t too far away, she was stuck out wide, and she missed the kick,” he said. “She is certainly looking for the 1400m. The track at Wingatui played a lot better than the Heavy 8. The wetter track at Riccarton will bring her right into play.” Meanwhile, on Thursday Dennis was happy enough with Magic Ace’s placing in the Harold Pateman 65 (1600m) at Oamaru. “A bad draw (10) was his undoing,” Dennis said. “He jumped out really well and found himself four-wide on the speed the whole way. It was a hard run, but he stuck to his task well and it looks like he will get over a bit of ground and shouldn’t be far off from winning a race.” Further north at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale at Karaka, Dennis was on the buyers sheet following lot 47 going through the ring. “I bought a lovely Noverre filly out of a Pins mare for $30,000,” he said. “I am really happy with her, she is a lovely moving filly who is going to come down to Woodlands and grow out down here and hopefully she has got a little bit of class about her. There is a bit of hype around Noverre so I am very happy to have one from the first crop by him. “She will be syndicated in time. We are up around the 300 owners with our horses now and we always get a good mix of new and existing owners come into any new horse we get. “The stable is growing, we are taking on another staff member next week and getting a few more boxes and paddocks at Ascot Park racecourse.” Dennis has had plenty of success buying younger stock over the last few years, and he is hoping his strike rate can continue with his recent purchase. “I picked two (weanlings) out before, one was Make Believe who won five, and I paid $7,000 for her. The other was Goldies Chance who I picked out for one of the owners for $21,000 and she is a Listed winner and is still racing,” he said. “Four of the last fillies I have picked out at the yearling sales are stakes performers, they have all won, and all been good value around that $20-25,000 mark. Hopefully we can keep it up.” View the full article

Lofty’s Gift (outside) will be vying for her fifth straight win at Riccarton on Saturday. Photo: Monica Toretto Southland trainer Robert Dennis is making the long trek north to Riccarton with two contenders for their Saturday meeting, including Lofty’s Gift who is shooting for her fifth straight win. Lofty’s Gift transferred to Dennis’ Ascot Park barn earlier this year from Cambridge trainers Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray, running fourth in her Southland debut before putting together a picket fence form line. “It is pretty exciting to have a horse going for five wins in a row,” Dennis said. “In a way she drops back in grade but it is probably a more competitive field than what she has been beating. “She has come through her racing really well, I think she is going as good as ever, she can get through those (Heavy 10) track conditions, so I think she has got to be a good chance.” The daughter of Ghibellines has been lumbered with top weight of 60kg but will get the benefit of apprentice jockey Donovan Cooper’s claim from barrier four. “Donovan’s claim gets her down to 57 kilos,” Dennis said. “There is not a big spread in the weights with the minimum being 55kg and the max is 58.5kg. She is about smack bang in the middle, and I am happy enough with her weight for her rating.” Saturday will be her furthest trip away from home since being based in the south, but that poses no concern for Dennis. “She obviously travelled down from the North Island when she came to us. We are on the way up (to Christchurch now) so we will see how she gets on overnight, but with her attitude and nature I don’t think it will be a worry,” he said. Dennis is excited about the future with the mare and is eyeing some big spring targets with her if she continues on her upward trajectory. “We will just see how we go on Saturday. Talking with the owners, maybe we target a New Zealand Cup (Group 3, 3200m) in spring,” he said. “It is exciting to be gunning for five wins in a row, so we will concentrate on tomorrow first and work things out from there.” Lofty’s Gift is being joined on the float trip north by stablemate On Song, who is looking to recapture form. The four-year-old mare won two consecutive races before finishing seventh and ninth in her last two outings, with Dennis believing the Heavy track conditions will be ideal for her this weekend. “She wasn’t bad last time, she wasn’t too far away, she was stuck out wide, and she missed the kick,” he said. “She is certainly looking for the 1400m. The track at Wingatui played a lot better than the Heavy 8. The wetter track at Riccarton will bring her right into play.” Meanwhile, on Thursday Dennis was happy enough with Magic Ace’s placing in the Harold Pateman 65 (1600m) at Oamaru. “A bad draw (10) was his undoing,” Dennis said. “He jumped out really well and found himself four-wide on the speed the whole way. It was a hard run, but he stuck to his task well and it looks like he will get over a bit of ground and shouldn’t be far off from winning a race.” Horse racing news View the full article

Waipukurau trainer Lucy de Lautour. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) The 2023-24 season has produced a long line of placings for Waipukurau owner-trainer Lucy de Lautour, who is set to make her presence felt again with two well-credentialed runners at Te Aroha on Sunday. From 14 starters this season, de Lautour has collected four second placings and a third. That sequence began in the late winter and early spring when Donardo was runner-up behind The Cossack in the Pakuranga Hunt Cup (4800m) at Te Rapa and Ian’s Legacy placed in a maiden steeplechase at Rotorua. Metallo has recently picked up where those two left off, finishing second in both of his first two appearances over hurdles this winter. He was beaten by a neck by Lochwinnoch in a 3000m open hurdle at Wanganui on May 9, then headed to Te Aroha on June 3 and chased home Invisible Spirit. Metallo is set to headline de Lautour’s team at Te Aroha this Sunday. The seven-year-old gelding will be ridden by this season’s jumps premiership leader Portia Matthews, whose seven previous rides on de Lautour’s horses have produced a win and four placings. She has been in the saddle for both of Metallo’s recent runner-up finishes. “I’ve been really happy with both of his performances over hurdles in those last few weeks, he’s come back well,” de Lautour said. “He’s continued to go the right way since his last-start run at Te Aroha and I’m hoping he’ll run well again when he heads back there this weekend.” The 11-year-old son of Don Eduardo, Donardo, ran a big race in his first steeplechase start of the winter, finishing second and a head behind Izymydaad at Wanganui on May 9. He then lined up in the Manawatu Steeplechase (4000m), where he finished seventh and showed signs of soreness when he pulled up. “He was just a little bit sore, it wasn’t anything major and he came right pretty quickly afterwards,” de Lautour said. “He’s going into this race on Sunday in pretty good order. Hopefully he’ll run a good race and then we can make a plan around what we do with him from there.” Venturing north and performing boldly is nothing new for Donardo. Prior to his Pakuranga Hunt Cup placing last August, he also finished second behind Kiddo in the 2022 Great Northern Steeplechase (6500m) and ran fourth in that year’s Pakuranga Hunt Cup. Horse racing news View the full article

Smart three-year-old does battle with Elmalka and Rouhiya, among others, in Friday’s Group One Coronation Stakes at Royal AscotView the full article

Cornelia will contest the Gartshore Construction 3YO (1300m) at Tauranga on Saturday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Cornelia made a bright start to her career with a pair of impressive performances during the summer, and the talented filly will add interest to the early part of Saturday’s Tauranga meeting. Trained by Simon and Katrina Alexander at Te Awamutu, Cornelia scored a three-length trial win on her home track before heading to Taupo for her raceday debut on December 30. She produced more of the same over 1100m that day, kicking clear for a commanding victory by two and a quarter lengths. Cornelia’s only other start came at Pukekohe on January 21, where she covered plenty of ground from her outside gate but fought hard down the straight for a gallant third. The Alexanders took Cornelia back to the trials at Waipa on May 30, where she finished second in an open 850m heat. Katrina Alexander has been pleased with the Swiss Ace filly’s progress and expects her to cope with Saturday’s heavy track conditions. However, the three-week gap between her trial and her raceday return could leave her vulnerable. “She’s certainly better than average and ran a couple of very nice races in that first preparation,” Alexander said. “She showed some real grit in those performances as well. “The long gap between her trial and this race is a bit of a worry for me, and particularly going into a 1300m race first-up. It may not sound like a big difference, but I’d be more comfortable if it was 1200m. “She’s going to take natural improvement from this run, but we’ve got to get her up and going. She’s just had a few little niggles that we’ve had to get on top of, but I think we’ve got those sorted now and she’s on the right track. “This is a good chance to run her in three-year-old company, rather than having to go up against older horses. “She’s shown us in her work at home that she can handle wet ground. I think the soft range is probably where she’s most comfortable, perhaps out to about a Heavy8, so I’m pleased that it’s improved slightly after being a 10 earlier in the week.” Saturday marks the return of Musigny Lass to the Alexander stable. The three-race winner is making her first start since September of 2022. “We had her when she kicked off her career as a two-year-old, and then she went over to Ben Foote, and now she’s back with us,” Alexander said. “She’s a real wet-tracker and has good ability. “She’s been off the scene for a long time. She had quite a severe paddock injury, which has taken a while to heal. “The owners want to give her one more go. I’ve been pleased with her progress so far, but like Cornelia, she’s probably going to take some benefit from a solid conditioning run.” The Alexanders’ other runner at Tauranga on Saturday is last-start second placegetter Midnight Scandal. “She’s probably a better racehorse than her form line might suggest,” Alexander said. “Her maiden win over this course and distance earlier in the season was very good. “Her front-running style can make her a bit of a sitting duck on occasions. She’s also had to race on a few firm tracks, which aren’t really her go. She’ll have more suitable conditions this week, and with the way the Belardos are going at the moment, I’m confident she’ll run well.” Alexander reported that stable star La Crique has recently begun a month-long spell in Queensland. The high-class daughter of Vadamos was a last-start winner of the $500,000 Magic Millions National Classic (1600m) at Eagle Farm. “She had a few days in the paddock after that race, and then we put her back in the stable for three or four days, as much for the mental exercise as anything else,” Alexander said. “Then she left the stable on Tuesday to go to the spelling paddock, and she’ll be there for a month. We’ll probably go over in a couple of weeks to see how she’s doing, and then we can make a plan for her next preparation.” Horse racing news View the full article

Darwin trainer Tayarn Halter (left), who has two runners in the feature race for the sprinters at Fannie Bay on Saturday, with Top End jockey Paul Shiers and trainer Chloe Baxter. Picture: Caroline Camilleri (FotoFinish Racepix) There’s five starters in the feature sprint event at Darwin on Saturday, with three making their first Fannie Bay appearance. Tayarn Halter’s Schiller Bay raced in NSW and Queensland, Paul Gardner’s Red Wraith is up from Alice Springs, and Gary Clarke’s Flying Annie arrived via NSW, Victoria, Queensland and Alice Springs. Clarke’s Doc O’Connor (Jarrod Todd), who boasts five wins from eight Darwin starts, and Halter’s City Regal (Jade Hampson), with one win and four minor placings from six Darwin starts, complete the open 1000m handicap field. With the Darwin Cup Carnival imminent, the speedsters are fine-tuning their engines as they eye the $135,000 Palmerston Sprint (1200m) on August 3. Schiller Bay, Artie Schiller’s six-year-old gelding, Red Wraith, Charm Spirit’s four-year-old gelding, and Flying Annie, Flying Artie’s five-year-old mare, fall into that category. After five wins from 19 starts for Port Macquarie trainer Jenny Graham, Schiller Bay had one start for Brisbane trainer Barry Lockwood when seventh over 1200m (BM78) at Doomben last July. “He was bought by Greg Stewart and trainer Garry Lefoe – he was in work and injured his hoof in a trial, that’s why he has been off the scene for a while,” Halter said. “He’s versatile, can sit just behind the speed or he can get back and close. “Those sired by American stallion Artie Schiller can handle the dirt. “Doc O’Connor and Red Wraith, they’ll go very fast, so whatever Schiller Bay does he will only improve. “He’s a very nice horse, trialled impressively leading into this, so you can’t rule him out.” With Lefoe serving a suspension, Halter has cared for the horse and Emma Lines’ 1.5kg claim certainly helps. Gardner, who secured Red Wraith from Murray Bridge trainer Matthew Sayers a year ago, just hopes his horse handles the track. “If he puts his best foot forward, then I think he’s a very good chance,” Gardner said. “It’s a good race for him to start off with, but if he doesn’t match the better ones going forward there’s always races back in his grade. “He hasn’t raced since winning over 1000m on June 1 – I’ve just been poking along with him and spaced out his runs to keep him on the fresh side. “Hopefully, it pays dividends, but there are some nice horses in Saturday’s race – they’ve got form in Darwin.” Gardner, a narrow leader in the Alice Springs and Provincial trainers’ premiership, has celebrated six wins from 14 starts with Red Wraith, who was sixth in Alice Springs’ Pioneer Sprint (1200m) in April. Better Not Fuss, this year’s NT Guineas (1600m) winner in the Red Centre, and Hey Bull accompanied Red Wraith to Darwin, while Gardner hopes to start Lamoree, Befana, Tajaldin and new purchase Zesty Spice during Cup Carnival. Flying Annie, once trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace before winding up with Brisbane trainer Jack Bruce, has had four wins and 10 minor placings from 18 starts. In her one and only NT start, the mare won the Queen Of The Desert (1200m) at 0-76 level during the Alice Springs Cup Carnival. Sonja Logan is booked to ride Red Wraith, while Aaron Sweeney will partner Flying Annie. Horse racing news View the full article

Interpretation ridden by Teo Nugent on the way to the barriers prior to the running of the 2023 Melbourne Cup. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) Interpretation will begin his preparation for a third Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) start with a fresh run in a 1620-metre event at Flemington on Saturday. Unlike his 2022 Melbourne Cup effort where he failed to finish, Interpretation delivered an impressive sixth-place finish in last year’s Melbourne Cup, making a strong move from near last on the home turn. Hopes are high that he can surpass that performance this November. “He ran enormous in the Cup last year,” Ciaron Maher’s assistant trainer Jack Turnbull told Racing.com. “We gelded him last prep and he’s much more honest. “We’ve taken our time with him and let him get over it. “He’s had a long, slow build-up and it’s always been our plan to do this. “The Melbourne Cup is not easy to run in and to get to, so he’s had plenty of time to prep up for the spring. “He’s had three jump-outs and he’s been primarily placed at Ballarat, but he looks fantastic and is ready to kick-off.” Horse racing news View the full article

Lance Robinson has a feature close to home in mind for Burnvue and Archerfield, and both horses will make their first bid towards a Gr.3 Winter Cup (1600m) on Saturday at Riccarton Park. A rising nine-year-old, Burnvue has been a consistent campaigner for the stable with five wins to his credit, each coming on the rain-affected footing that he faces in the Greenwood Amberley Cup (1600m) this weekend. “We’re expecting him to run really well, he gets his heavy track on Saturday which he’ll really appreciate,” Robinson said. “He’s a year older, and he’s just taken a run or two to get back to his best. We feel that he’s well, and pretty right for this race if everything plays its part. “He’d have to win on Saturday to go ahead to the Winter Cup, but we’ve put him in just to see how his form is between now and then. “I’m fairly confident he’s come back good this time in and he’ll tell us, but if his form warrants it, we’ll be pushing on and that’s the path we’re leading too.” Ashvin Goindasamy will partner the son of Redwood, while visiting hoop Kelly Myers has been booked aboard an in-form Archerfield in the Target Earthmoving Rating 75 (2000m). The Ghibellines five-year-old recorded his fourth career success this preparation on a Soft 5, and the looming heavy surface poses little concern for Robinson. “I’m very happy with the way he’s come up this year, he holds a Winter Cup nomination too,” he said. “He doesn’t mind a bit of wet ground, and I think the 2000m will really suit him so he should run really well.” Robinson will be strongly represented the Bain McCall Memorial Two-Year-Old (1000m) with first-starters Zoo Bear and Alleato joined by Ali Nell, who was a promising second behind Quintefeuille on debut in February. “We’re really happy with her, she’s had a nice prep into this and has more experience than most of the others,” Robinson said. “She hasn’t trialled this time in, but she’s done a lovely piece of work and will be running home really well.” A son of Preferment out of stakes-performing mare Rikki Tikki Tavi, Zoo Bear was a comfortable trial winner at Ashburton in May in the hands of Robinson’s apprentice Kendra Bakker, who takes the ride on Saturday. “I was very happy with his trial run, and I feel that he’s gone ahead since then too,” Robinson said. “We just don’t know how all three will cope with the heavy track, but it’s a good chance to give them a 1000m two-year-old race on the grass before the spring. “We’ll be able to get a good line on them after Saturday on how they are going, but I’ve got a lot of time for all three of them and they are going to make lovely three-year-olds.” Vadamos mare Anneliese has been in consistent form on the polytrack at Riccarton of late, and a switch back to heavy conditions on turf is a positive ahead of the Sam Keenan – Tennis Coach Rating 65 (2000m). “She loves a heavy track, her first attempt at 2000m but I think she’s been looking for that,” Robinson said. “Her form has been excellent, and I think she’ll be very competitive on Saturday.” Of Robinson’s remaining contenders, a formerly Danica Guy-trained runner in Suzuka will make his debut for the stable in the Cup Week Hospitality On Sale 26 June Rating 65 (1000m). Robinson purchased the Satono Aladdin four-year-old on gavelhouse.com, who has placed in his sole attempt on a heavy surface. “We’ve been really happy with him, he’s made lovely progress since being down with us and we’re still learning a bit about him,” he said. “We’ll just run him on Saturday and see how he goes, but his work has been good since he’s arrived and he’s doing well. “He’s a go-forward sort of horse that normally runs on speed, so with the three-kilo claim (Bakker), I expect him to be running on pace and see how that pans out.” View the full article

Craig (outside) narrowly denied by Rise At Dawn at Flemington on June 6. (Photo by Reg Ryan/Racing Photos) Jockey Luke Currie believes he’s rarely ridden a horse to a better second-place finish than Craig in his recent effort at Flemington. Currie and Craig will have the opportunity to avenge that narrow defeat when they compete at Flemington on Saturday. Trained by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, Craig was just edged out by Rise At Dawn, a rival again this Saturday, in a 1600-metre race on June 8. “He just needs a bit of room this time, it’s the same sort of race,” Currie said. “Hopefully he can jump away a little bit better. “I thought if he could’ve jumped away last time he might have held a prominent spot and he would have won, I think, by panels. “I don’t reckon I’ve ridden many (better seconds) and I actually thought he won on the day, so it was a bit disappointing when we came back to scale, but it was a huge run.” Horse racing news View the full article

Ipswich Cup contender Zoumon. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Racing Photos) Tulloch Lodge trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott are counting on their multiple stakes winner, Zoumon, to follow a familiar pattern as he takes on the Listed Ipswich Cup (2150m). The five-year-old boasts an impressive second-up record, with three wins out of five starts and never finishing outside the top four. After an even performance behind Just Folk in the Group 3 Lord Mayor’s Cup (1800m) at Eagle Farm on June 1, Bott is optimistic about Zoumon’s chances of improving significantly, as he has in past campaigns. “He was in need of that run first-up, as he traditionally is,” Bott said. “Second-up, he shows good improvement, and he looks in good shape. “He had a nice tick-over trial in between runs up there and it looks a nice, progressive race for him.” Last winter, Zoumon hit a purple patch of form, achieving a hat-trick of wins in the Listed McKell Cup (2000m), Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m), and Listed Grafton Cup (2350m). View the full article

Jigsaw ridden by Daniel Moor wins the 2023 Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley. (Photo by Pat Scala/Racing Photos) Victorian trainer Cindy Alderson and jockey Vlad Duric are set to rekindle their successful partnership as they team up with Jigsaw in one of the feature races at Ipswich. Duric and Jigsaw face a challenging task, starting from the widest gate in the Listed Eye Liner Stakes (1350m) on Saturday. A win would mark Alderson’s first victory in Queensland. Alderson’s history with Duric stretches back to her time training with her father, Colin Alderson. “Vlad rode for us a lot in the old days,” Alderson said. “He won a Hong Kong Jockey Club Plate on a horse called Flash Trick after he had got beaten in the (2007) Melbourne Cup when he was on the favourite Master O’Reilly.” Now, Duric is in top form and seems to be enjoying his time in Queensland and Alderson is optimistic about their chances. “He’s riding in great form and seems really motivated and enjoying his life up there and I’m sure he’ll give Jigsaw a good ride.” Horse racing news View the full article

There are four horse racing meetings set for Australia on Friday, June 21. Our racing analysts here at horsebetting.com.au have found you the best bets and the quaddie numbers for Geelong and Royal Ascot (UK). Friday’s Free Horse Racing Tips – June 21, 2024 Geelong Racing Tips Royal Ascot (UK) Racing Tips As always, there are plenty of promotions available for Australian racing fans. Check out all the top online bookmakers to see what daily promotions they have. If you are looking for a new bookmaker for the horse racing taking place on June 21, 2024 check out our guide to the best online racing betting sites. Neds Code GETON 1 Take It To The Neds Level Neds Only orange bookie! Check Out Neds Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. What are you prepared to lose today? Full terms. 2 It Pays To Play PlayUp Aussie-owned horse racing specialists! Check Out PlayUp Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Full terms. Dabble Signup Code AUSRACING 3 Say Hey to the social bet! Dabble Have a Dabble with friends! Join Dabble Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE? Full terms. Recommended! Bet365 Signup Code GETON 4 Never Ordinary Bet365 World Favourite! Visit Bet365 Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. GETON is not a bonus code. bet365 does not offer bonus codes in Australia and this referral code does not grant access to offers. What’s gambling really costing you? Full terms. 5 Next Gen Racing Betting PickleBet Top 4 Betting. Extra Place. Every Race. Join Picklebet Review 18+ Gamble Responsibly. What are you really gambling with? Full terms. 6 Bet With A Boom BoomBet Daily Racing Promotions – Login to view! Join Boombet Review 18+ Gamble responsibly. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place. Full terms. Horse racing tips View the full article

What Royal Ascot 2024 – Day 3 Where Ascot Racecourse – High St, Ascot SL5 7JX, United Kingdom When Friday, June 21, 2024 First Race 2:30pm BST (11:30pm AEST) Visit Dabble The Group 1 Coronation Stakes (1600m) and Group 1 Commonwealth Cup (1200m) share top billing for Day 4 of the Royal Ascot carnival, with a competitive seven-race program set for decision. The track continues to maintain its Good 4 rating from the start of the week, with the course playing slightly in favour of on-speed runners on the turning circuit. The opening event is scheduled to get underway at 2:30pm local time. Coronation Stakes Tip: Opera Singer Opera Singer will look to bounce back after a moderate performance first-up in the Group 1 Irish 1,000 Guineas (1600m) at Curragh on May 26. The daughter of Justify was unable to dictate terms like she had previously in her Group 1 success in France at the end of last year, taking a sit back in third in a slowly run affair. She’s drawn awkwardly out in barrier nine, but with Ryan Moore likely to storm across and take up the running, it shouldn’t be an issue as Opera Singer attempts to add the Group 1 Coronation Stakes to the resume. Coronation Stakes Race 3 – #5 Opera Singer (9) 3yo Filly | T: Aiden O’Brien | J: Ryan Moore (58kg) +170 with Picklebet Commonwealth Cup: Jasour Jasour made a mess of his rivals in the Group 3 Commonwealth Cup Trial Stakes (1200m) at this course and distance on May 1, going on to score an eye-catching two-length victory. The three-year-old had to do it the hard way after missing the kick to sit last throughout the journey, slowly building through his gears under Jim Crowley before exploding in the final 400m. He draws to get a lovely suck run behind the leading pair from barrier five, and if he can show a similar turn-of-foot, the $6.00 on offer with online bookmakers will look a big price. Commonwealth Cup Race 2 – #5 Jasour (5) 3yo Colt | T: Clive Cox | J: Jim Crowley (58kg) +500 with Playup Best Bet at Royal Ascot: Mountain Breeze The Charlie Appleby-trained Mountain Breeze attempts to remain undefeated heading into the Group 3 Albany Stakes (1200m) after two impressive victories. The daughter of Lope De Vega faces her toughest challenge to date, however, after doing it with relative ease in Class 2 company, going on to score by a combined five lengths across both performances. William Buck will look to take charge from barrier 12, and provided Mountain Breeze is up to this level, a third-straight win looks within her grasp. Best Bet Race 1 – #11 Mountain Breeze (12) 2yo Filly | T: Charlie Appleby | J: William Buick (58kg) +270 with Neds Next Best at Royal Ascot: Diego Valazquez The Group 3 Hampton Court Stakes (2000m) is for the three-year-olds, where the Harry & Roger Charlton-trained King’s Gambit should prove highly competitive. He smashed his rivals in his latest effort at Newbury on May 18, holding a prominent position throughout before exploding clear in the concluding stages. Many of his key rivals are yet to achieve the same kind of success, and provided William Buick can slot into a forward position from gate seven, King’s Gambit should justify favouritism with top horse racing bookmakers. Next Best Race 6 – #5 Diego Valazquez (5) 3yo Colt | T: Aiden O’Brien | J: Ryan Moore (58kg) +400 with Bet365 Horse racing tips View the full article

It was déjà vu all over again at June's California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) meeting. Three months after a contentious meeting that saw board members vote unanimously to give race dates to Pleasanton Racetrack for a Thoroughbred meet this fall (in opposition to the wishes of Southern California track operators), the CHRB wrestled with another weighty conundrum: How to fund horse racing in California for the next fiscal year. Ultimately, the board approved what was termed a “compromise” funding model that will see each racing association cover the “direct costs” of drug testing, and the salaries of stewards and regulatory veterinarians, along with the everyday “indirect” expenses of running a government agency. The new funding system is a blended model based on a percentage (60%) of licensing fees in place prior to 2009, and a percentage (40%) of ADW wagering. CHRB vice chairman Oscar Gonzalez was the only board member to vote “no” on the new funding model, having previously shown support for a more gradual phased approach. For the next fiscal year, Santa Anita is expected to pay some $7.9 million, a decrease from $8.9 million, while Del Mar is expected to pay just under $5 million, a slight increase for the track. Golden State Racing, the Northern California entity replacing Golden Gate Fields, will pay roughly $1.6 million. Dr. Greg Ferraro | courtesy of the CHRB There appeared to be a difference in perspective within the board as to the likely fiscal impacts from the funding switch. CHRB chairman Greg Ferraro indicated that the new funding model would be a “small change” from the status quo. CHRB executive director, Scott Chaney, pushed back on that assessment, saying that the new model will “not be a small change” for Californian tracks that card Harness and Quarter Horse racing. “It's still a major change-just paying your direct costs is a major imposition. Though not so much for the Thoroughbred [tracks],” said Chaney. Reached after the meeting, attorney Drew Couto, who represents Los Alamitos, said that the agreed upon model will see the track pay “more than double” what it currently pays annually based on current projections. “Nobody else works on a fiscal year, only the board,” said Couto. “Los Alamitos is in the middle of a one-year meet and they're told a significant cost to them just doubled.” Larry Swartzlander, California Association of Racing Fairs (CARF) executive director, told the TDN that the extra costs to the organization's tracks will be a “major additional expense,” but it won't affect day-to-day operations. “Business as usual,” he said. Traditionally, Southern California tracks have shouldered most of the financial costs associated with key parts of the sport's infrastructure, including agency staff, steward and regulatory veterinarian salaries, as well as drug testing operations at the Maddy Lab at UC Davis. These costs total just over $18 million, with about $8 million in so called “direct” cost earmarks for stewards, veterinarians and drug testing costs, and about $10 million funneled towards the everyday “indirect” expenses of running a government agency. Scott Chaney | CHRB For years, this funding schedule has been prefaced upon handle generated at each track. According to a CHRB analysis, Santa Anita and Del Mar covered about 75% of these costs, at 49.2% and 25.8% respectively. Golden Gate Fields covered nearly 12% of the costs. In the tectonic landscape left in the wake of The Stronach Group's abruptly announced closure of Golden Gate Fields, Southern California interests have pushed for a revision to that funding model, requiring smaller tracks to increase their overall share of the financial costs-a scenario that smaller cash-strapped venues argue could put them out of business. Indeed, prior to the meeting, David Neumeister, president of the California Harness Horsemen's Association, wrote a letter to the board stating that there was “no way” the harness industry “could survive” under some of the proposed models. A key legal conundrum for the board to wrestle with was whether tracks are mandated to pay for laboratory testing as a part of their “direct cost” obligations. Los Alamitos and CARF among others argued that provisions in state statute preclude that requirement. The CHRB, as well as the state's larger track operators, disagreed. “When looking at the canons of statutory construction, one of the things that courts have said repeatedly is, 'we look to the plain language of the statute,'” said Robert Browning, a state attorney representing the CHRB, at Thursday's meeting. “Well, the plain langue of the statutes includes laboratory testing, stewards and vets, and indicates that it's an obligation of the racing associations.” California law provides no hard guidance as to a funding formula. The CHRB largely left it to industry stakeholders to thrash it out. Several meetings over the past few weeks proved fruitless, however. Kenneth L. Maddy Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory | ARCI In another letter submitted to the board prior to the meeting, Los Alamitos owner Ed Allred, writing on behalf of the Los Alamitos Quarter Horse Racing Association (LAQHRA), pushed for a phased in approach “so that we may collectively solve the funding problem without a figurative piano hanging over our heads.” Representatives from Santa Anita and Del Mar objected to the phased approach presented by Los Alamitos, arguing that the two tracks would end up shouldering 94% of the indirect costs the next fiscal year. Santa Anita and Del Mar's joint proposal would have seen all tracks pay their proportionate share of the “direct” costs, and the two facilities combined pay around 66% of all indirect costs. In discussion prior to the vote, commission members stressed how the funding model will likely prove a temporary measure amid the moving furniture of California racing. Chaney also addressed the need to trim expenses within the CHRB, especially with a state budget deficit looming large. “I think going down is going to be possible in the future-I think there's going to be some contraction with employees, simply because HISA repeats (roles),” said Chaney. “And to be fair, with contraction of race days we just need less personnel.” Computer Assisted Wagering The prior agenda item was a discussion on computer assisted wagering (CAW), a thorny topic due to the major edge that a small number of deep-pocketed punters wield over regular gamblers thanks to their use of sophisticated wagering technologies and the attractive rates and rebates offered to them-inducements not available to the average punter. There have always been gamblers more skilled than others, said Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC) president, Bill Nader. “This is taking it to another level,” he added. “The market share of CAW, let's say it's more like 25% in California, and they're winning at a rate of 90-92%, it is going to impact the other segments. There's no doubt about that,” said Nader. “What we're trying to do is make sure the core customers and the retail market is not feeling too much of a pinch. Because if they are, and their money dries up too quickly, or their experience is not up to their expectations, then we do run the risk they will go away,” he added. Scott Daruty, president of both The Stronach Group's Monarch Content Management and of the Elite Turf Club (majority owned by TSG), spoke first, mainly giving a broad overview of the issue. For a summary on the basic mechanics of the subject, read this TDN piece breaking the topic down into its essential parts. A TDN investigation from earlier in the year provided a rare glimpse into the tremendous sway these individual players can wield over track and racing officials, the potentially lopsided economic ramifications of such deals, and the tremendous pressures that California executives are under with competing jurisdictions that enjoy purse subsidies not available in the Golden State. The TDN found that last year, Del Mar continued a deal with a player identified as Elite 17 that saw them enjoy a significantly more favorable rate of play than other high-volume players that wager through the CAW platform, Elite Turf Club. At the enormous volumes CAW gamblers play, such deals can give individual players a significant financial edge. Bill Nader | Horsephotos The result was that this one player constituted nearly 47% of Elite Turf Club's total handle on Del Mar last year. Two years prior, Elite 17's play had constituted just over 36% of Elite Turf Club's total handle on Del Mar. At the same time, the amount of money another major Elite Turf Club player (Elite 2) wagered on the track dropped off by over $32 million between 2021 and 2023-from around $45 million in 2021 to around $13 million last year. In 2021, Elite 2's play came to just over 27% of Elite Turf Club's total handle on Del Mar. Last year, that number had dropped to around 12%. Nader indicated that the TOC has made progress in correcting the imbalance of CAW play in California. “Over the past year, I'd say the TOC has taken a real hard look at CAW, and we've had long discussions with the track partners, and we've agreed to make pricing adjustments… that will be implemented at the start of the summer meet at Del Mar,” said Nader. “I think we've got a good outcome here, for the start of the Del Mar summer meet.” In raising the issue of CAW play potentially having a negative impact on the state's dwindling purse accounts, Gonzalez brought up an offer by 1/ST Racing CEO Craig Fravel at prior meetings, that the company would open its books up to the regulators. “Mr. Fravel sat here a couple meetings ago and really just said we could look at the books,” said Gonzalez. “Does that offer hold true to your operation, if we really wanted to take a look at what you guys are pulling in profit wise, certain negations, the impacts on purse accounts etcetera?” “Are we willing to open our books for the CHRB? There's a caveat here, which is, our players are private individuals and their wagers are their own private information. So, we wouldn't be comfortable sharing individual player data,” said Daruty. “What is Elite [Turf Club]. Elite is no different than TVG or TwinSpires or Xpressbet. So, again under the regulatory authority of this agency, would we be open with you on that? Yes, we would be. But would I then wonder whether the same diligence would take place on TVG or TwinSpires or Xpressbet? I guess it would be affair question to ask, if you're going to look at them,” said Daruty. “But then, let me preface that by saying yes, we will cooperate in any way you want. There are no secrets here,” he added. “We're not hiding anything.” The post CHRB June Meeting: Funding Fight Resolved, CAW Discussed, Elite Turf Club To Open Fiscal Books For Scrutiny appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. 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Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Friday's Observations features the return of Rhetorical (Ire). 19.45 Newmarket, Nov, £10,000, 3yo, 10fT Highclere Thoroughbred Racing's Tattersalls October Book 1 purchase RHETORICAL (IRE) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), a William Haggas trainee who shed maiden status over this trip at Newbury last month, is a half-brother to GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic victor Rockemperor (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}). His half-dozen rivals include George Strawbridge's Burrito (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), who is a homebred half-brother to two Group 3 winners out of G1 Pretty Polly Stakes heroine Thistle Bird (GB) (Selkirk), from the John and Thady Gosden stable. 17.05 Ascot, Hcp, £110,000, 3yo, f, 8fT Tim Porter's KITTY ROSE (GB) (Invincible Army {Ire}) encounters 29 opponents in this Sandringham Handicap coming back off a head second to subsequent G1 Irish 1000 Guineas runner-up A Lilac Rolla (Ire) (Harry Angel {Ire}) in April's G3 Priory Belle Stakes at Leopardstown. Rivals include Juddmonte's recent Doncaster winner Indelible (Ire) (Shamardal), who is a homebred half-sister to three black-type performers out of six-time elite-level winner Midday (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), representing Ralph Beckett. The post Half-Brother To Rockemperor Returns At HQ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article