Close

Category: Racing

Churchill Backstretch to Open May 11, Fair Grounds Horses Will Be First In

louisianathoroughbred

By T. D. Thornton

Churchill Downs has been cleared by Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear to open its backstretch area May 11 so long as the track adheres to enhanced pandemic precautions approved by the state.

Beshear announced the clearance Wednesday at his daily COVID-19 video press conference as part of a phased-in reopening for various state industries. Churchill followed up about an hour later with a press release that included specifics pertinent to horsemen.

Neither Beshear nor the track pinpointed an exact date for the return of live racing. But the Churchill release stated “it will be staged at a minimum of four days per week,” Thursday through Sunday.

The following is a listing of racetracks and when horses based there may return to the Churchill Downs stable areas between the hours of 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.:

  • Fair Grounds (May 11-13)
  • Gulfstream Park, Tampa Bay Downs, and horses based at Florida training centers (May 14-16)
  • Oaklawn Park (May 17-19)
  • All other locales (May 20 onward)

 

Read TDN Article

Lone Star Stable Area Will Open May 4; New Protocols To Be Announced

louisianathoroughbred

On April 28, the Lone Star Park Racing Department sent out the following notice regarding the reopening of the stable area:

Dear Horsemen,

We are happy to let you know that Lone Star Park will be able to start accepting horses into our stable area on Monday, May 4 beginning at 6:00 am.

During this initial stage of opening up we will only accept horses between 6:00 am and 6:00 pm so please plan accordingly.

Masks or face coverings will be required for all people in the common areas of the stable area, basically this means any area outside of your dorm room. So please be prepared to have masks or face coverings to use. Also all people in the stable area must follow social distancing guidelines at all times. And please note that the stable area is limited to essential personnel only. There are no guests allowed.

The racing office will reopen on Friday, May 1. But note that the racing office will operate under strict social distancing guidelines. Meaning the door will remain locked and business will be conducted only over the phone. Foal papers and any other documents can be dropped off using the mail slot which is to the right of our lobby entrance door.

The stall man will start on Monday and we ask that you respect social distancing guidelines when dealing with him. His office will be open but we ask that you do not enter the office but instead interact with him from the doorway.

There will be many other new procedures, restrictions and announcements to come over the coming days.

Please visit the horsemen’s information section of our web site (lonestarpark.com) for further information and please let us know if you have any questions. Our email address is racing@lonestarpark.com. Our phone numbers are (972) 237-1130 or (888) 4RACING. Thanks for racing with us.

COX ENJOYS BANNER FAIR GROUNDS MEET

louisianathoroughbred
Season cut short six racing days due to COVID-19 pandemic
 

New Orleans (March 23, 2020) – Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots returned to the traditional Thanksgiving Day opening for the start of the 148th racing season, but the meet concluded six racing days prior to the scheduled March 29 closing date due to a “stay-home” order issued by New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, following public health concerns in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some eight days earlier on Friday, March 13, Fair Grounds was ordered to conduct live racing with no patrons, only essential employees, licensed horsemen (including owners) and credentialed media were allowed on track.

On what would be the final racing day of the meet, in front of an empty grandstand with only essential employees and horsemen with a horse in the race allowed to be present, Clint Gasaway, Lance Gasaway, Madaket Stables, and Wonder Stables’ Wells Bayou captured the 107th running of the Twin Spires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) in front-running style, earning 100 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, which a week earlier was pushed back to Saturday, September 5. Extended to the 1 3/16ths-mile distance for the first time, the Louisiana Derby drew a full an overflow field, and 14 horses started.

Trainer Brad Cox won the final three stakes, and four races in total, on the Louisiana Derby Day card, taking the Mervin Muniz Memorial Classic (G2) with Gaining Ground Racing’s Factor This and the Twinspires.com Fair Grounds Oaks with Juddmonte Farms’ homebred Bonny South (G2) prior to her Derby win with Wells Bayou.

Earlier in the meet, Cox won the first division of the Risen Star (G2) presented by Lamarque Ford-Linclon with Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, and Doheny Racing’s Mr. Monomoy, a half brother to 2018 champion 3-year-old filly Monomoy Girl.

The Risen Star, which was extended to 1 1/8-miles for the first time, drew 23 entrants and thus was split into two divisions. The original $400,000 purse and Kentucky Derby qualifying points (50-20-10-5) remained the same for both divisions.

Cox, who led all trainers with 12 stakes wins at the meet, took home his third consecutive trainer’s title winning with 40 of his 147 starters. Locally-based Ron Faucheaux, who won his 500th career race during the meet, finished second with 34 wins. Tom Amoss (29), Steve Asmussen (26) and Bret Calhoun (22) rounded out the top five.

James Graham (63 wins) held off Mitchell Murrill (60) and Colby Hernandez (60) to take down his second Fair Grounds’ jockey title, with the first coming during the 2014-15 meet.

Florent Geroux, who finished fourth in the standings with 56 wins, led all jockeys in purses earned with $2,939,706 and stakes victories with ten. Shaun Bridgmohan was second with nine stakes scores.

Brian Hernandez, Jr., who completed the top five in the standing with 45 wins, scored career victory 2,000 on December 19, when guiding the Jimmy Baker-trained Afleet Roger to the winner’s circle.

In what was a tight owner’s race, Winalot Racing, LLC edged Maggie Moss 13-12, with Godolphin, LLC (11), Earl J. Hernandez, Keith J. Hernandez and John Duvielh (11) and Calumet Farm (10).

Prior to her disappointing fourth place finish as the 1-5 favorite in the Fair Grounds Oaks, Winchell Thoroughbreds and Thomas Reiman, William Dickson, and Debbie Easter’s Finite won both the Silverbulletday and the Rachel Alexandra (G2) presented by Fasig-Tipton. Her victory in the Silverbulletday represented the 1,000th career stakes win for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, who joined D. Wayne Lukas and Todd Pletcher as the only trainers to achieve this feat.

Fourteen horses won three races at the meet. In addition to Finite, Factor This (both graded), Bobby’s Wicked One, Play On, Hieronymus, and Louisiana-bred Net a Bear, Vacherie Girl, Ninety One Assault and each won two stakes.

Allied Racing Stable’s By My Standards returned to the scene of his 2019 Louisiana Derby win to take the New Orleans Classic (G2) for trainer Bret Calhoun and jockey Gabriel Saez.

Prior to finishing fifth in the Louisiana Derby and second in the first division of the Risen Star, John Oxley’s Enforceable won the Lecomte (G3). The race was extended from 1 mile and 70 yards to 1 1/16-miles.

For the 2019-20 racing season, Fair Grounds eliminated handicap conditions for stakes races. These races are now weighted under allowance conditions.

ROOM TO FINISH INSTALLED AS SLIGHT FAVORITE IN RED CAMELIA STAKES

louisianathoroughbred

5-year-old mare is in form, looking for her first stakes win

 

New Orleans (March 11, 2020) – West Point Thoroughbreds, Forge Ahead Stables LLC, and Jerry Caroom’sRoom to Finish is a five-time winner, but on Saturday at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, she’ll aim for her first career stakes triumph as Mike Diliberto’s 7-2 morning line favorite in the $60,000 Red Camelia Stakes. Restricted to older Louisiana-bred fillies & mares, the Red Camelia is scheduled to be run over about one mile of turf. It is carded as race seven of ten with a scheduled post time of 3:24 p.m. CDT.

 

An impressive first-level allowance winner in late November, Room to Finish followed up with a game second in the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Ladies Turf on December 15. Following a head-scratching fifth place finish in a second-level, open company allowance on the Fair Grounds’ turf on January 25, Room to Finish bounced back with a decisive victory last out, closing from just off the pace to win a conditioned state-bred allowance against many of same turf foes she will meet again on Saturday. 

 

“She’s a really honest mare,” trainer Wayne Catalano said. “She’s been in form lately and we’re really happy with how she’s doing.”

 

“She doesn’t want to be too close to the pace,” Catalano continued. “She just wants to be left alone and make her own run when she feels like it. She sometimes will get herself closer to the pace but that’s all on her own, she doesn’t like to be asked to do that early on. She didn’t run too well in that race two back where she finished fifth. She was kind of forced to be up there with the first flight and she didn’t like that. She doesn’t like to be rushed. There is some speed in the race (on Saturday) but we’re just going to let her put herself wherever she wants to be and hope she shows that closing kick.”

 

Colby Hernandez, who currently sits second in the Fair Grounds jockey standings, will be back aboard on Saturday, as the pair break from post nine.

 

Maximo Lamarche and Federico Deltoro’s Net A Bear will look to score her third career stakes victory in the Red Camelia. Following a win in the Elge Rasberry Stakes at Louisiana Downs in early September, the 4-year-old daughter of Awesome Bet put in a solid third place finish in an allowance race at Delta Downs in October. She then shipped to Fair Grounds to score a 12-1 upset in the Louisiana Champions Day Ladies Turf, 1 1/4th lengths ahead of Room to Finish. Since then, Net A Bear has put in both a third and fourth place finish respectively in her last two starts.

 

Net A Bear will break from the rail with jockey Tim Thornton aboard, and is listed as the 5-1 second choice on the morning line.

 

Completing the field for the Red Camelia Stakes (with post, jockey/trainer and morning line odds) are: Mariah’s Galaxy (post two, K. Smith/Arceneaux at 8-1), Tenpins Tempo (post three, Broussard/L. Thomas at 12-1), Eskenformore (post four, Graham/Hodges at 6-1), Marywood (post five, G. Saez/L. Thomas at 20-1), Mi Copa Rebosa (post six, Albarado/ Gelner at 20-1), Tap Dance Star (post 7, Murrill/Modica at 12-1), Hyper Piper (post eight, B.J Hernandez, Jr./David, Jr. at 8-1), Thegrayspider (post ten, Taylor/Shamsie at 20-1), Is Too (post 11, Mena/Johnston at 6-1), and Bermuda Star (post 12, Beschizza/Camejo at 6-1).

OAKLAWN ANNOUNCES FIRST PURSE INCREASE OF THE MEET

louisianathoroughbred

Keeping with the trend that has become the norm over the last 14 years, Oaklawn’s purses are on the rise again.

Beginning with Saturday’s race card, Oaklawn will increase purses for all overnight races by as much as $4,000.

“This is only possible because of the tremendous support we continue to receive from our horsemen and fans,” Oaklawn President Louis Cella said. “We promised a New Level of Racing at the beginning of the season and we are delivering. Our field sizes (9.5 avg.) are among the highest in nation, we have horsemen participating from both coasts as well as the Midwest, and the fans are responding. We could not be more excited about the rest of the season.”

First level allowance races will be worth at least $90,000, after receiving a $4,000 increase, and maiden special weight races will be boosted to $87,000, with a $2,000 increase. Purses for all claiming races with a claiming price of $20,000 or more will also receive a $2,000 bump, and all other overnight purses are increasing by $1,000 per race.

“Everything is coming together nicely,” Oaklawn General Manager Wayne Smith said. “We have completed the expansion of our casino, and construction is moving right along on the hotel and event center. This is an exciting time for Oaklawn and we are very happy to share our good fortune with the horsemen. It’s awesome to be offering the richest winter racing in North America with allowance races starting over $90,000.”

The purse increase was welcome news to the horsemen.

“I think it’s great,” said trainer Mike Puhich, who is among several new trainers wintering at Oaklawn this year. “Most tracks are kind of hoarding the money, and these guys are throwing it back to the horsemen, which is always good. You love to see that.”

Added trainer Brad Cox, perennially among Oaklawn’s leading trainers. “We’re supporting the program already, but it’s great. These are the best purses in the country. It’s rewarding to show up and have a barn here. It makes it worth your while. It’s great for wintertime racing.”

“I try to run more horses where the money’s at,” owner Mike Waters said. “Every time Oaklawn announces a purse increase, the California and the East Coast guys all take notice. It’s a nice place to run for these purses, that’s for sure.”

Keeneland and Churchill Downs Reinforce Commitment to Safety with Racing and Training Reforms

louisianathoroughbred

Darren Rogers, Churchill Downs Communications

Keeneland and Churchill Downs today jointly announced major changes in racing and training policies to strengthen safety protocols at both race tracks. Reforms include mandatory veterinary inspections prior to workouts and race entry and enhanced reporting and transparency requirements for trainers and attending veterinarians with regard to the fitness of horses to work and race.

These reforms also apply to horses stabled at Keeneland’s The Thoroughbred Center in Lexington and the Churchill Downs Training Center in Louisville.

In a significant step to promote integrity in racing, Keeneland and Churchill Downs will ban the race-day use of Lasix in all 2-year-old races under the International Medication Protocol authority granted in 810 KAR 8:050 of the Kentucky Administrative Regulations beginning with Keeneland’s 2020 Spring Meet and following at Churchill Downs Racetrack’s 2020 Spring Meet. Kentucky’s Thoroughbred race tracks supported sweeping medication reforms, including the Lasix ban, adopted by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) in late 2019.

Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason and Churchill Downs Racetrack President Kevin Flanery said in a joint statement: “These meaningful reforms further advance our commitment to create the safest possible environment for racing and training. Race tracks, horsemen and the veterinary community share a responsibility for the welfare of our human and equine athletes and to promote the sport for generations of fans to come.”

Changes will become effective with the opening of the stable areas at Keeneland and Churchill Downs. Trainers and attending veterinarians must agree to the following conditions in order to participate in the racing programs at either track:

A trainer is not permitted to enter a horse in any race unless the horse has been found fit to race by the attending veterinarian during the three days immediately prior to entry, and

A trainer is not permitted to work a horse unless the horse has been found fit to work by the attending veterinarian during the five days immediately before the work.

Trainers and attending veterinarians are obligated to inform the equine medical director at the appropriate race track and the KHRC of any changes in a horse’s fitness after an examination has been conducted.

Additionally, all horses at Keeneland and Churchill Downs will be subject to veterinary inspections by the tracks’ respective equine medical directors and to veterinary monitoring.

Lone Star Overnight Purses Increase for Upcoming Meet

louisianathoroughbred

Track officials announced a nearly 43% increase for the Thoroughbred meet.

 

Lone Star Park officials on Feb. 5 announced an increase of nearly 43% to overnight purses for the upcoming Thoroughbred racing season. Overnight race purses this year average $200,000 a day—the richest in a decade—compared to $140,000 in 2019.

“This boost in overnight purses has energized Lone Star Park in a way that we haven’t experienced in a lot of years,” director of racing Bart Lang said. “This is a very exciting time for the Grand Prairie, Texas, racetrack.”

The increase is possible because of funds collected and distributed to the track by the passage of House Bill 2463 last year. The new law, which went into effect Sept. 1, enhances purses at the state’s racetracks.

Read BloodHorse Article

DELTA DOWNS SET FOR AN EXCITING RENEWAL OF LOUISIANA PREMIER NIGHT ON SATURDAY

louisianathoroughbred

 

–  $150,000 CHAMPIONSHIP HIGHLIGHTS LUCRATIVE CARD FOR LOUISIANA-BREDS 

VINTON, LA. – Delta Downs is gearing up for another rich race program on Saturday as the track hosts the 17th edition of Louisiana Premier Night. The 11-race program will feature 10 stakes races for Louisiana-bred horses worth nearly $1 million in total purse money. First post time is at 5:10 pm CST.

The featured race of the night will be the $150,000 Louisiana Premier Night Championship for older horses competing at 1-1/16 miles, which will be the ninth race on the program. This year’s Championship attracted a field of eight, which includes last year’s Louisiana Premier Night Prince winner Shang, from the barn of Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmuseen. The top earner in the field is Underpressure, who has banked $603,382 for owner Mallory Greiner and trainer Chris Richard during his 34-race career.

Fans will be in for a treat when the Louisiana Premier Night Matron rolls around in the 10th race on the card. Brittlyn Stable, Inc.’s Minit to Stardom, who won the grade II Honorable Miss at Saratoga last summer and finished second in the grade II Gallant Bloom at Belmont Park, will attempt to capture the race after finishing as a runner-up in last year’s edition to Ours to Run. A win by the Jose Camejo trainee would put her over the $500,000 mark in career earnings.

In addition to the local horsemen taking part in Louisiana Premier Night there are also some nationally prominent trainers who will saddle horses on the program. They include Hall of Famer Steve Amussen, as well as W. Bret Calhoun, Tom Amoss and others.

Delta Downs will offer a $50,000 guaranteed all stakes Pick 4 wager on the Louisiana Premier Night program. The special Pick 4 will take place on race 6 – 9, which includes the evening’s richest race, the $150,000 Louisiana Premier Night Championship serving as the anchor leg.

Fans can also take part in a special free handicapping contest on Louisiana Premier Night which will offer a first-place prize of $700 and total cash prizes of $1,800 paid down to the top five finishers. The contest is free to enter but participants must be 21 years of age and a B Connected or Prime Rewards member to play. The contest will take place in the OTB on races 4 through 9 and the deadline to enter is post time for the fourth race. All winners must be present to claim their prize.

Listed below are all 10 Louisiana Premier Night stakes races for 2020 in program order.

 

Race #             Purse              Stakes Race                                        Distance                      Age

1                      $60,000           LAPN Ladies Starter                           1 mile                          4yo & up FM

2                      $50,000           LAPN Bon Temps Starter                   5 furlongs                    4yo & up FM

3                      $100,000         LAPN Prince                                       1 mile                          3yo

4                      $50,000           LAPN Ragin Cajun Starter                 5 furlongs                    4yo & up

5                      $125,000         LAPN Distaff                                      1 mile                          4yo & up FM

6                      $60,000           LAPN Gentlemen Starter                    1-1/16 miles                4yo & up

7                      $100,000         LAPN Starlet                                       1 mile                          3yo fillies

8                      $100,000         LAPN Sprint                                       5 furlongs                    4yo & up

9                      $150,000         LAPN Championship                          1-1/16 miles                4yo & up

10                    $100,000         LAPN Matron                                     5 furlongs                    4yo & up FM

 

The Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association will be awarding two $1,000 college scholarships via a drawing that will take place on Louisiana Premier Night. Entries for the drawing will be taken between 4 –5:10 pm in the promenade area. Winners will be announced after the fifth race. To qualify for the drawing, entrants must be enrolled, and in good standing, in a Louisiana school. The winners of the scholarships will be announced during the program.

For more information about Louisiana Premier Night and the remainder of Delta Downs’ current season, which runs through February 29, visit the track’s website at www.deltadownsracing.com. Fans can also follow the track on Facebook and Twitter.

 

Delta Downs Racetrack Casino and Hotel, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE:BYD), features exciting casino action, live horse racing and fun dining experiences. Delta Downs is located in Vinton, Louisiana, on Delta Downs Drive. From Lake Charles, take Exit 7 and from Texas, take Exit 4.

EVANGELINE DOWNS THOROUGHBRED SEASON STARTS ON APRIL 8

louisianathoroughbred

STALL APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2020 MEET ARE DUE ON FEBRUARY 18

 

OPELOUSAS, LA – Evangeline Downs will kick off the 2020 Thoroughbred season on Wednesday, April 8 and continue through Saturday, August 29. There will be 84 days of live racing run on a Wednesday through Saturday weekly schedule during the season. Post time for live racing will be 5:50 pm Central Time.

All horsemen interested in submitting a stall application to Evangeline Downs must do so by Tuesday, February 18. To obtain a stall application, horsemen can visit the website www.evdracing.com and click on the “Horsemen’s Info” tab at the top of the homepage. To contact Evangeline Downs directly, horsemen can call the racing office at 337-594-3000.

The 2020 Stakes Schedule features 20 stakes races with total purses of $1,340,000. It will begin with the $50,000 Acadiana for fillies and mares 4-year-olds and up going 6-1/2 furlongs on Friday, April 17 and the $50,000 Lafayette for 4-year-olds and up, also at 6-1/2 furlongs, on Saturday, April 18.

Louisiana Legends Night will take place on Saturday, May 30. There will be eight stakes races, all restricted to Lousiana-breds, run on that program with purses totaling $550,000. The $100,000 Evangeline Mile is set for Saturday, June 27. The Mile is the richest race on the stakes schedule and is for 3-year-olds and up on the main track. The $50,000 Spotted Horse, which is for fillies and mare 3-year-olds and up at 7-1/2 furlongs on the turf, will also be a part of the program on Evangeline Mile night.

The full 2020 Stakes Schedule is still pending official approval from the Louisiana Racing Commission.

 

For more information on racing at Evangeline Downs, visit the track’s website at www.evdracing.com. Evangeline Downs’ Twitter handle is @EVDRacing and the racetrack is also accessible on Facebook at www.facebook.com/EvangelineDownsRacing.

 

 

About Evangeline Downs

Evangeline Downs Racetrack Casino & Hotel is owned by Boyd Gaming Corporation, a leading diversified owner and operator of 29 gaming entertainment properties located in Nevada, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio and Pennsylvania.  Boyd Gaming press releases are available at www.prnewswire.com.  Additional news and information can be found at www.boydgaming.com, or www.evangelinedowns.com.

RELENTLESS DANCER SPECTACULAR IN THE $100,000 LOUISIANA LEGACY AT DELTA DOWNS

louisianathoroughbred

MICHAEL MAKER TRAINEE RETURNS TO HOME STATE FOR FIRST STAKES WIN 

Louisiana Legacy

 

Louisiana Legacy Stakes
Delta Downs, 10-19-19, 7 furlongs
2-Year-Olds, $100,000

RELENTLESS DANCER
Midshipman-Passion For Words
Breeder: Paul Pruett
Owner: Paradise Farms Corp., Terry Raymond, Jana Wagner and Jeff Gardella
Trainer: Michael J. Maker
Jockey: Colby J. Hernandez

2nd
X Clown
Jimmy Creed-Evening Muse
Breeder: Michael & Cynthia villar
Owner: Set-Hut LLC
Trainer: Jerry Delhomme
Jockey: T. Woodley

3rd
Richard Ronald
Misremembered–Reigning Cats
Breeder: Gary Scherer, Al & Bill Ulwelling
Owner: Gary M Scherer & Robert Bernacki
Trainer: Gary M. Scherer
Jockey: G. Melancon

 

VINTON, LA. – Delta Downs closed out its second week of live racing on Saturday and the fans who showed up were treated to a dazzling performance by Relentless Dancer in the featured $100,000 Louisiana Legacy Stakes for 2-year-old Louisiana-breds.

After breaking his maiden by nearly 10 lengths at Churchill Downs on September 27, trainer Michael Maker supplemented Relentless Dancer to the Legacy for owners Paradise Farms Corporation, Terry Raymond, Jana Wagner and Jeff Gardella. The decision turned out to be a good one as Relentless Dancer used a stalking trip under jockey Colby Hernandez before opening up in the homestretch to win by 10-1/2 lengths over X Clown, who rallied for second. Richard Ronald rounded out the trifecta by finished third, another 1 1/4-lengths behind the runner up.

Relentless Dancer covered seven furlongs in the Legacy in a time of 1:27.04 seconds while running on a fast track.

The win by Relentless Dancer was his first in stakes company and his second from three overall starts. He earned $60,000 for the effort and now has a career bankroll of $104,857.

Bred in Louisiana by Paul Pruett, Relentless Dancer is a dark by or brown colt by Midshipman, out of the Unbridled’s Song mare Passion for Words. He was purchased for $85,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sale in April of 2019.

Sent to the gate at odds of 4-5, Relentless Dancer paid $3.60 to win, $3 to place and $2.60 to show. X Clown returned $4.40 to place and $3.40 to show. Richard Ronald was worth $3.60 to show.

 

For more information about racing at Delta Downs visit the track’s website at www.deltadownsracing.com. Fans can also get information about through Facebook by visiting the page ‘Delta Downs Racing’. The track’s Twitter handle is @deltaracing.

Delta Downs Racetrack Casino and Hotel, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE:BYD), features exciting casino action, live horse racing and fun dining experiences. Delta Downs is located in Vinton, Louisiana, on Delta Downs Drive. From Lake Charles, take Exit 7 and from Texas, take Exit 4.

Back to top