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Almost five months after the expiration of a law allowing Illinoisans to bet on horses online, lawmakers have moved to try to legalize the practice again.
An Illinois House committee approved legislation Thursday, sending it to the full House. Local enthusiasts haven't been able to legally play the ponies online since Jan. 1, when the state's law allowing it expired.
Online betting is a big moneymaker for tracks like Arlington International Racecourse. And Arlington owner Churchill Downs also owned one of the companies, TwinSpires, that previously was taking online bets in Illinois.
TwinSpires and another company, Xpressbet, were taking wagers even after Jan. 1 until state officials insisted they stop. The legislation would allow those companies to keep their licenses if they pay taxes on the money they made after the law expired.
Anita Bedell, director of Illinois Church Action on Alcohol and Addiction Problems, said she thinks that's wrong.
"Gambling companies should follow the law and not flout the law," Bedell said.
Lawmakers move to allow betting on horses online - DailyHerald-com
An Illinois House committee approved legislation Thursday, sending it to the full House. Local enthusiasts haven't been able to legally play the ponies online since Jan. 1, when the state's law allowing it expired.
Online betting is a big moneymaker for tracks like Arlington International Racecourse. And Arlington owner Churchill Downs also owned one of the companies, TwinSpires, that previously was taking online bets in Illinois.
TwinSpires and another company, Xpressbet, were taking wagers even after Jan. 1 until state officials insisted they stop. The legislation would allow those companies to keep their licenses if they pay taxes on the money they made after the law expired.
Anita Bedell, director of Illinois Church Action on Alcohol and Addiction Problems, said she thinks that's wrong.
"Gambling companies should follow the law and not flout the law," Bedell said.
Lawmakers move to allow betting on horses online - DailyHerald-com
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JOSEPH O’Brien feels Magician heads into today’s Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh as a relatively unexposed horse – despite him lining up for what will be his sixth race in the Classic.
Having only won one of his four starts at two, Magician turned up at Chester for the Dee Stakes rather unheralded compared with many of his contemporaries at Ballydoyle but he bolted up, prompting Derby quotes in the process. Rather than stepping up to a mile-and-a-half, however, he comes back to a mile but his young jockey, who is bidding for a hat-trick in the race after wins on Roderic O’Connor and Power, does not envisage that being a problem.
“He was impressive and showed plenty of pace at Chester,” said O’Brien. “Obviously the step back to a mile is an unknown but we’re hoping he’ll like the quicker ground and I think he’s certainly unexposed under these conditions. We always thought he was a real nice horse and he ran nicely first time out but he was very green, greener than we anticipated.
“Then he was unlucky not to win in Dundalk when again he was green and in another couple of strides I’d have won. He won real well at the Curragh but then he went to Leopardstown on bottomless ground when we really fancied him and he was running really well when he nearly got brought down, he was lucky to stand up. So it was a combination of things, with him improving over the winter and not having it go his way last season, that might have caught a few by surprise.”
Joseph’s trainer father, Aiden O’Brien, who has won the race eight times, also runs Flying The Flag, who will be ridden by Colm O’Donoghue, Seamie Heffernan’s mount Gale Force Ten and George Vancouver who will be partnered by Pat Smullen.
Richard Hannon ruled Olympic Glory out of the race earlier in the week but still holds a strong hand with Havana Gold, a close-up fifth in the French Guineas, and Van Der Neer, third to Dawn Approach at Newmarket. Van Der Neer is owned by Saeed Manana and his racing manager, Bruce Raymond, said: “Immediately after the Guineas, there was a temptation to step him up to ten furlongs as he finished very strongly.
“We were thinking Dante originally, but if you win a Dante you would feel obliged to run in the Derby and being by Dutch Art, a mile-and-a-half would maybe be too far for him at this stage.
“We’ve always thought a lot of him and William Buick loved the horse at Newmarket. He’s going there as second-favourite and he’s got a very good winning chance.”
Hannon’s son and assistant, Richard jnr, also feels Van Der Neer will run a big race while not discounting Havana Gold.
“Van Der Neer’s third in the Guineas was an extremely good run. We’ll ride him a little bit handier than at Newmarket. He needs at least a mile, if not ten furlongs, and he’ll run very well,” he told At The Races.
Johnny Murtagh sorted his trainers’ licence just in time for this weekend and hopes for a dream start with Fort Knox, bought by Sheikh Mohammed after winning a trial for this race. Murtagh also runs the Andrew Tinkler-owned Ask Dad, who was supplemented.
O
Having only won one of his four starts at two, Magician turned up at Chester for the Dee Stakes rather unheralded compared with many of his contemporaries at Ballydoyle but he bolted up, prompting Derby quotes in the process. Rather than stepping up to a mile-and-a-half, however, he comes back to a mile but his young jockey, who is bidding for a hat-trick in the race after wins on Roderic O’Connor and Power, does not envisage that being a problem.
“He was impressive and showed plenty of pace at Chester,” said O’Brien. “Obviously the step back to a mile is an unknown but we’re hoping he’ll like the quicker ground and I think he’s certainly unexposed under these conditions. We always thought he was a real nice horse and he ran nicely first time out but he was very green, greener than we anticipated.
“Then he was unlucky not to win in Dundalk when again he was green and in another couple of strides I’d have won. He won real well at the Curragh but then he went to Leopardstown on bottomless ground when we really fancied him and he was running really well when he nearly got brought down, he was lucky to stand up. So it was a combination of things, with him improving over the winter and not having it go his way last season, that might have caught a few by surprise.”
Joseph’s trainer father, Aiden O’Brien, who has won the race eight times, also runs Flying The Flag, who will be ridden by Colm O’Donoghue, Seamie Heffernan’s mount Gale Force Ten and George Vancouver who will be partnered by Pat Smullen.
Richard Hannon ruled Olympic Glory out of the race earlier in the week but still holds a strong hand with Havana Gold, a close-up fifth in the French Guineas, and Van Der Neer, third to Dawn Approach at Newmarket. Van Der Neer is owned by Saeed Manana and his racing manager, Bruce Raymond, said: “Immediately after the Guineas, there was a temptation to step him up to ten furlongs as he finished very strongly.
“We were thinking Dante originally, but if you win a Dante you would feel obliged to run in the Derby and being by Dutch Art, a mile-and-a-half would maybe be too far for him at this stage.
“We’ve always thought a lot of him and William Buick loved the horse at Newmarket. He’s going there as second-favourite and he’s got a very good winning chance.”
Hannon’s son and assistant, Richard jnr, also feels Van Der Neer will run a big race while not discounting Havana Gold.
“Van Der Neer’s third in the Guineas was an extremely good run. We’ll ride him a little bit handier than at Newmarket. He needs at least a mile, if not ten furlongs, and he’ll run very well,” he told At The Races.
Johnny Murtagh sorted his trainers’ licence just in time for this weekend and hopes for a dream start with Fort Knox, bought by Sheikh Mohammed after winning a trial for this race. Murtagh also runs the Andrew Tinkler-owned Ask Dad, who was supplemented.
O
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Illinois lawmakers took steps Sunday to restore a law that would allow Illinoisans to bet on horse races via the Internet.
Almost six months after a law legalizing online gambling on racing expired, the House voted 90-18 to renew electronic wagering through the end of this year.
The measure, which now heads to the Senate for further consideration, comes after Illinois has lost potential revenue from online betting of the first two legs of the Triple Crown. In 2012, online gambling taxes generated $1.8 million for the state.
Opponents decried the measure because it contains a provision that breaks an earlier agreement with the horse racing industry and Chicago State University. The two entities previously were supposed to receive a cut of taxes from casino gambling.
A recent audit shows that the tracks never received any of the more than $115 million that was supposed to offset a loss in revenue when the casinos opened.
Under the legislation, the horse tracks will see only $23 million of that money. The university will get $1.4 million instead of an estimated $14 million.
State Rep. David Harris, R-Arlington Heights, said the state was being a "bad partner."
"The state made a deal with the horse racing industry and Chicago State," Harris said.
The legislation is Senate Bill 1884.
Illinois House OKs internet horse betting
Almost six months after a law legalizing online gambling on racing expired, the House voted 90-18 to renew electronic wagering through the end of this year.
The measure, which now heads to the Senate for further consideration, comes after Illinois has lost potential revenue from online betting of the first two legs of the Triple Crown. In 2012, online gambling taxes generated $1.8 million for the state.
Opponents decried the measure because it contains a provision that breaks an earlier agreement with the horse racing industry and Chicago State University. The two entities previously were supposed to receive a cut of taxes from casino gambling.
A recent audit shows that the tracks never received any of the more than $115 million that was supposed to offset a loss in revenue when the casinos opened.
Under the legislation, the horse tracks will see only $23 million of that money. The university will get $1.4 million instead of an estimated $14 million.
State Rep. David Harris, R-Arlington Heights, said the state was being a "bad partner."
"The state made a deal with the horse racing industry and Chicago State," Harris said.
The legislation is Senate Bill 1884.
Illinois House OKs internet horse betting
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The debate over legalising sports betting in India is back in the light of the spot fixing allegations that has hit the just concluded sixth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). However, those who are closely associated with horseracing, the only sports where legalised betting is allowed, also reveal the darker side of betting in the turf clubs.
They speak not only of betting outside the legalised network but also of fixing jockeys and attempts to evade tax in turf clubs across the country.
Tax, commission
While bets can be placed with licensed bookmakers, turf clubs also offer totaliser (tote) betting to those interested. The odds of these two differ and in legal betting one has to pay 20 per cent betting tax and a 5 per cent club commission on the amount placed as bets, sources said.
“However, illegal betting outside takes place with the unlicensed bookies taking bets for a commission of up to 10 per cent. There is no tax or club commission here,” the sources said.
In some cases, even licensed bookies underreport the betting amount to the club, thereby evading tax.
“In such cases, the proximity of bookies and customers matter and the betting amount arrived at (verbally) between them will be higher than what would be entered in the register to show the club,” according to the sources.
Ways of fixing
‘Hooking the horse’ to intentionally reduce its speed or interfering with the run of the favourite horse are also not new to horseracing.
“Jockey booking has been there in racing. On many occasions, such instances have been found out by the club stewards and by the watchful eye of the stipendiary steward, who is an expert,” the sources said.
Many guilty jockeys have been suspended on this count, the sources said.
Not everything is legal in horseracing either | The Hindu
They speak not only of betting outside the legalised network but also of fixing jockeys and attempts to evade tax in turf clubs across the country.
Tax, commission
While bets can be placed with licensed bookmakers, turf clubs also offer totaliser (tote) betting to those interested. The odds of these two differ and in legal betting one has to pay 20 per cent betting tax and a 5 per cent club commission on the amount placed as bets, sources said.
“However, illegal betting outside takes place with the unlicensed bookies taking bets for a commission of up to 10 per cent. There is no tax or club commission here,” the sources said.
In some cases, even licensed bookies underreport the betting amount to the club, thereby evading tax.
“In such cases, the proximity of bookies and customers matter and the betting amount arrived at (verbally) between them will be higher than what would be entered in the register to show the club,” according to the sources.
Ways of fixing
‘Hooking the horse’ to intentionally reduce its speed or interfering with the run of the favourite horse are also not new to horseracing.
“Jockey booking has been there in racing. On many occasions, such instances have been found out by the club stewards and by the watchful eye of the stipendiary steward, who is an expert,” the sources said.
Many guilty jockeys have been suspended on this count, the sources said.
Not everything is legal in horseracing either | The Hindu
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FRANKIE DETTORI'S drawn-out saga to return to the saddle could finally reach a conclusion by Friday evening, with the jockey's French agent Herve Naggar expecting France Galop to give him clearance to resume race-riding less than 24 hours before the Investec Derby.
Dettori was due to return last week having served a six-month ban for a positive test for cocaine at Longchamp last September. However, with irregularities having surrounded a recent drugs test, France Galop have yet to relicense the former Godolphin stable jockey, with the BHA reciprocating the French racing authority's decision.
But the end may now be in sight once the results of the rest of a batch of tests return this week.
Naggar said on Tuesday evening: "Christopher Stewart-Moore, Frankie and I met with the medical commission at France Galop today.
"Frankie undertook five tests last week. The first two came back negative and France Galop have accepted Frankie's explanation for the previous discrepancy.
"They have said they expect to be able to clear him to ride in France by Friday evening, but there is a chance the results will all be back on Thursday.
"Whether it is Thursday or Friday, this is really positive news for Frankie."
Whether this will derail Dettori's hopes of riding at Epsom on Saturday remains to be seen.
Declarations for the Investec-backed Classic, in which Dettori is understood to be in line to ride one of Aidan O'Brien's runners, are made at 10am on Thursday. The BHA would need to give special clearance for any Derby riding arrangement to be made after the Thursday deadline.
Earlier on Tuesday, the BHA press office tweeted: "BHA has contacted France Galop today. We have been informed that they are not in a position to provide any further information at present.
"France Galop have stressed that they will make a communication regarding Frankie Dettori as soon as they are in a position to do so."
Dettori could be cleared to ride by Friday evening | Horse Racing News | Racing Post
Dettori was due to return last week having served a six-month ban for a positive test for cocaine at Longchamp last September. However, with irregularities having surrounded a recent drugs test, France Galop have yet to relicense the former Godolphin stable jockey, with the BHA reciprocating the French racing authority's decision.
But the end may now be in sight once the results of the rest of a batch of tests return this week.
Naggar said on Tuesday evening: "Christopher Stewart-Moore, Frankie and I met with the medical commission at France Galop today.
"Frankie undertook five tests last week. The first two came back negative and France Galop have accepted Frankie's explanation for the previous discrepancy.
"They have said they expect to be able to clear him to ride in France by Friday evening, but there is a chance the results will all be back on Thursday.
"Whether it is Thursday or Friday, this is really positive news for Frankie."
Whether this will derail Dettori's hopes of riding at Epsom on Saturday remains to be seen.
Declarations for the Investec-backed Classic, in which Dettori is understood to be in line to ride one of Aidan O'Brien's runners, are made at 10am on Thursday. The BHA would need to give special clearance for any Derby riding arrangement to be made after the Thursday deadline.
Earlier on Tuesday, the BHA press office tweeted: "BHA has contacted France Galop today. We have been informed that they are not in a position to provide any further information at present.
"France Galop have stressed that they will make a communication regarding Frankie Dettori as soon as they are in a position to do so."
Dettori could be cleared to ride by Friday evening | Horse Racing News | Racing Post
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ROYAL ASCOT contender Animal Kingdom pleased connections on Wednesday morning when big-race partner John Velazquez flew into Britain to partner the Queen Anne Stakes favourite in a racecourse gallop.
Trainer Graham Motion gave the five-year-old a dress rehearsal for his royal-meeting assignment with a couple of laps of the pre-parade ring and the paddock before a workout over about four furlongs of the straight mile.
"He went great," said Velazquez, who partnered Animal Kingdom to his Kentucky Derby victory in May 2011.
"He worked really, really well; went very, very good," added the rider, who jets back to New York on Wednesday afternoon ready to ride at Belmont Park on Thursday.
With owners Barry Irwin of Team Valor and John Messara of Arrowfield Stud in attendance, Animal Kingdom cantered down to beyond the five-furlong marker before an easy gallop back for a furlong or so, at which point he moved into his serious work with his lead horse, an unnamed horse from David Lanigan's yard, where he has been housed since winning the Dubai World Cup.
Animal Kingdom stretched out in the last couple of furlongs before giving his connections an anxious moment when he fly-jumped just after the post.
"It was an awkward moment but thankfully nothing happened," said Velazquez. "He just saw the line across the wire and tried to jump it.
"You've got to expect something as it's a new track, a new thing and he's seeing something that's not supposed to be there. But he was going fairly fast to do that and I was lucky to stay on. He jumped right on top of it. He usually wears blinkers so hopefully he won't see it on the day and we might try a shadowroll (noseband)."
The Puerto Rican, who rode two winners for US trainer Wesley Ward at Royal Ascot in 2009, was otherwise overjoyed with Animal Kingdom's effort.
"It was nice to have a work on the track and see where he's gonna run. I think he did it very good today.
"Today with all the rain we've had over last couple of days it was very soft and I was a little concerned as I don't think he's been on ground the way it was. But he seemed to handle it very well, it didn't bother him very much.
"He's just so versatile. He's one of the most special horses I've ever ridden, definitely a special horse." Trainer Graham Motion rode a hack down to the start of the gallop before following Animal Kingdom back in front of the empty stands.
"I'm satisfied with how it went," said the Maryland-based Englishman. "Johnny seems really pleased with him.
"For us it was very soft out there and Johnny felt he handled it great, though I didn't think it would be a problem because this horse handles everything that;s thrown at him and he's bred to handle soft grass. Normally at home we'd work five furlongs but with the soft ground I didn't want to step it up until four furlongs.
"We got everything covered in one swoop today," added Motion. "This isn't something I normally would have done but fact they were gonna let us do it, I thought it might be important.
"We're doing so foreign to anything he's done before that we'll turn every stone we can turn so hopefully it really helped."
Motion, who goes back to the States on Wednesday night, will return on Saturday week to oversee Animal Kingdom's final Ascot preparations.
"I almost hate to say it because we've still got a few weeks to go but it has gone really well so far," he added. "This was an important workout - he'll probably have two more works now, an easier work next week and another one the week after that."
Animal magic in Ascot workout for Velazquez | Horse Racing News | Racing Post
Trainer Graham Motion gave the five-year-old a dress rehearsal for his royal-meeting assignment with a couple of laps of the pre-parade ring and the paddock before a workout over about four furlongs of the straight mile.
"He went great," said Velazquez, who partnered Animal Kingdom to his Kentucky Derby victory in May 2011.
"He worked really, really well; went very, very good," added the rider, who jets back to New York on Wednesday afternoon ready to ride at Belmont Park on Thursday.
With owners Barry Irwin of Team Valor and John Messara of Arrowfield Stud in attendance, Animal Kingdom cantered down to beyond the five-furlong marker before an easy gallop back for a furlong or so, at which point he moved into his serious work with his lead horse, an unnamed horse from David Lanigan's yard, where he has been housed since winning the Dubai World Cup.
Animal Kingdom stretched out in the last couple of furlongs before giving his connections an anxious moment when he fly-jumped just after the post.
"It was an awkward moment but thankfully nothing happened," said Velazquez. "He just saw the line across the wire and tried to jump it.
"You've got to expect something as it's a new track, a new thing and he's seeing something that's not supposed to be there. But he was going fairly fast to do that and I was lucky to stay on. He jumped right on top of it. He usually wears blinkers so hopefully he won't see it on the day and we might try a shadowroll (noseband)."
The Puerto Rican, who rode two winners for US trainer Wesley Ward at Royal Ascot in 2009, was otherwise overjoyed with Animal Kingdom's effort.
"It was nice to have a work on the track and see where he's gonna run. I think he did it very good today.
"Today with all the rain we've had over last couple of days it was very soft and I was a little concerned as I don't think he's been on ground the way it was. But he seemed to handle it very well, it didn't bother him very much.
"He's just so versatile. He's one of the most special horses I've ever ridden, definitely a special horse." Trainer Graham Motion rode a hack down to the start of the gallop before following Animal Kingdom back in front of the empty stands.
"I'm satisfied with how it went," said the Maryland-based Englishman. "Johnny seems really pleased with him.
"For us it was very soft out there and Johnny felt he handled it great, though I didn't think it would be a problem because this horse handles everything that;s thrown at him and he's bred to handle soft grass. Normally at home we'd work five furlongs but with the soft ground I didn't want to step it up until four furlongs.
"We got everything covered in one swoop today," added Motion. "This isn't something I normally would have done but fact they were gonna let us do it, I thought it might be important.
"We're doing so foreign to anything he's done before that we'll turn every stone we can turn so hopefully it really helped."
Motion, who goes back to the States on Wednesday night, will return on Saturday week to oversee Animal Kingdom's final Ascot preparations.
"I almost hate to say it because we've still got a few weeks to go but it has gone really well so far," he added. "This was an important workout - he'll probably have two more works now, an easier work next week and another one the week after that."
Animal magic in Ascot workout for Velazquez | Horse Racing News | Racing Post
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FRANKIE DETTORI has been re-issued with a licence to ride in Britain after the BHA received confirmation from France Galop that he had successfully met the French governing body's criteria for a return to the saddle.
The world's most famous jockey will partner the Ed Dunlop-trained Beatrice Aurora on his first ride back, in the Group 3 Investec-sponsored Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Epsom, followed 35 minutes later by the mount on Marco Botti-trained Fattsota in a 1m2f handicap.
Kieren Fallon and Adam Kirby are the jockeys to make way for Dettori's return to the saddle, while he will also have a quick shot at Derby glory - though not at Epsom.
Dettori has no plans to ride on Saturday but has been booked for Irish 2,000 Guineas fifth First Cornerstone in the Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly on Sunday, a race he won in 1992, 2005 and 2007.
The colt's trainer Andrew Oliver said: "The French Derby can turn into a rough and tumble contest with plenty of hard luck stories so when we started thinking about it we also started thinking that we needed a jockey who had had the experience of being there. We felt it would be best for the horse.
"Chris is my number one stable jockey and if we had been going to Epsom with First Cornerstone he would be riding him. He has been part of all the discussions and if it hadn't worked out and we hadn't been able to find a jockey with experience, then I'd have been happy to take him to France too. We ha ve managed to book Frankie Dettori and Chris is fine with that."
Owner Team Valor's CEO Barry Irwin added: "We are very pleased to have Frankie ride First Cornerstone. "He's a world-class rider and he knows how to win this race."
Dettori's rides on Friday come after the completion of a six-month ban for a drug offence, for which he tested positive at Longchamp last autumn. He had been due to make his return at Leicester on May 20, but that was delayed by red tape.
His frustration finally ended on Thursday, with France Galop releasing a statement which read: "On May 28, 2013 Mr Lanfranco Dettori was seen by the Medical Committee at the France Galop premises. Today, the Medical Committee received the information it required.
"In the light of this latest evidence, it decided to lift the medical contraindication on him race riding in France. The jockey has been informed of this decision."
So too were the BHA, who immediately re-issued him with a licence to ride in Britain, Dettori having already been cleared by their chief medical advisor Dr Michael Turner.
The BHA's statement read: "The British Horseracing Authority has today re-issued Frankie Dettori with a full professional British jockey’s licence.
"This follows confirmation from France Galop that he has succesfully fulfilled all of their criteria to be fit to ride. Dettori is now clear to return to race-riding following the suspension imposed on him by France Galop at a hearing on December 5, 2012 into a failed test for a prohibited substance.
"Dettori met with the BHA Licensing Committee on May 14, who on this date stated their satisfaction that he was fit to return to race-riding in Britain pending confirmation that he had fulfilled the criteria of France Galop.
"It is one of the criteria of his being granted a licence that Dettori may be subject to enhanced testing controls for a period of up to 60 months."
Frankie Dettori cleared for return to race riding | Horse Racing News | Racing Post
The world's most famous jockey will partner the Ed Dunlop-trained Beatrice Aurora on his first ride back, in the Group 3 Investec-sponsored Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Epsom, followed 35 minutes later by the mount on Marco Botti-trained Fattsota in a 1m2f handicap.
Kieren Fallon and Adam Kirby are the jockeys to make way for Dettori's return to the saddle, while he will also have a quick shot at Derby glory - though not at Epsom.
Dettori has no plans to ride on Saturday but has been booked for Irish 2,000 Guineas fifth First Cornerstone in the Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly on Sunday, a race he won in 1992, 2005 and 2007.
The colt's trainer Andrew Oliver said: "The French Derby can turn into a rough and tumble contest with plenty of hard luck stories so when we started thinking about it we also started thinking that we needed a jockey who had had the experience of being there. We felt it would be best for the horse.
"Chris is my number one stable jockey and if we had been going to Epsom with First Cornerstone he would be riding him. He has been part of all the discussions and if it hadn't worked out and we hadn't been able to find a jockey with experience, then I'd have been happy to take him to France too. We ha ve managed to book Frankie Dettori and Chris is fine with that."
Owner Team Valor's CEO Barry Irwin added: "We are very pleased to have Frankie ride First Cornerstone. "He's a world-class rider and he knows how to win this race."
Dettori's rides on Friday come after the completion of a six-month ban for a drug offence, for which he tested positive at Longchamp last autumn. He had been due to make his return at Leicester on May 20, but that was delayed by red tape.
His frustration finally ended on Thursday, with France Galop releasing a statement which read: "On May 28, 2013 Mr Lanfranco Dettori was seen by the Medical Committee at the France Galop premises. Today, the Medical Committee received the information it required.
"In the light of this latest evidence, it decided to lift the medical contraindication on him race riding in France. The jockey has been informed of this decision."
So too were the BHA, who immediately re-issued him with a licence to ride in Britain, Dettori having already been cleared by their chief medical advisor Dr Michael Turner.
The BHA's statement read: "The British Horseracing Authority has today re-issued Frankie Dettori with a full professional British jockey’s licence.
"This follows confirmation from France Galop that he has succesfully fulfilled all of their criteria to be fit to ride. Dettori is now clear to return to race-riding following the suspension imposed on him by France Galop at a hearing on December 5, 2012 into a failed test for a prohibited substance.
"Dettori met with the BHA Licensing Committee on May 14, who on this date stated their satisfaction that he was fit to return to race-riding in Britain pending confirmation that he had fulfilled the criteria of France Galop.
"It is one of the criteria of his being granted a licence that Dettori may be subject to enhanced testing controls for a period of up to 60 months."
Frankie Dettori cleared for return to race riding | Horse Racing News | Racing Post
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He’s been working with some of the most beautiful “athletes’’ in the world for decades. But 48-year-old John LeBlanc Jr. — son of a champion jockey, horse breeder and trainer — says he can only hope that the worst of the turmoil facing the horseracing industry is over. And that Woodbine Racetrack, host of Canada’s oldest and most prestigious horse race event, the Queen’s Plate, will survive.
“Am I still worried? Yes. But I am hoping the worst of the turmoil is over,’’ says LeBlanc Jr.
He’s not alone. Tens of thousands of horse industry workers, breeders and racetrack owners have been on tenterhooks ever since the Dalton McGuinty government announced in March 2012 that it was ending the revenue-sharing and sport-supporting Slots at Racetracks Program — part of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation’s plan to modernize the gambling industry in Ontario and increase revenue for the province.
As part of that modernization plan, the OLG has invited municipalities in specified zones to host casino resorts. Vaughan — north of Toronto and a short drive from Woodbine Racetrack on Rexdale Blvd. — just voted to ask OLG to consider it for a casino-resort.
The problem? Cannibalization. Two regions going after the same gambling dollars.
Woodbine Racetrack has 3,000 slot machines, which already happen to be “the most profitable gaming operation for the province,’’ says Nick Eaves, president and CEO of Woodbine Entertainment Centre, a not-for-profit corporation that runs the racetrack and slots. The Woodbine slots already generate over $600 million a year in gross gaming revenue, he says.
But a casino in Vaughan would trigger a battle to draw in the same gamblers, says Eaves. That would threaten Woodbine’s existence because its slots couldn’t compete with a full-fledged casino resort.
His fears are echoed by Sue Leslie, president of the Ontario Horse Racing Industry Association. “There’s no question putting a casino in Vaughan probably puts the nail in the coffin at Woodbine. There’s just not enough gaming dollars out there to sustain both.’’
The racing association supports OLG’s bid to modernize, she says. “We’re just saying, pause it. We need to figure out the horseracing first or there’s not going to be an industry left to save.’’
A report by Vaughan city staff suggests that a casino operator would need to invest about $1.5 billion in the facility.
“Someone is going to be looking to make a return on that $1.5 billion,’’ says Eaves. “It doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense to us that you would literally site, around the corner from your most profitable gaming operation, a new $1.5 billion report casino operation.”
What makes more sense, he says, is to turn Woodbine into become a full-fledged casino with a hotel and concert venue and mixed retail, all of which would complement the existing horseracing.
The “starting point is a 688-acre parcel of land’’ that already includes a large structure with 3,000 very profitable slot machines. The infrastructure is there, the parking, the staff, the expertise.
“Woodbine has been a safe, secure, successful gaming operation since 1956 — machines have been here since 2,000. It’s an existing operation and Woodbine Entertainment Group has a proven track record. We’ve partnered with the community, we’ve delivered significant economic impacts back to the community. We’ve been a spectacular partner for the province,’’ he says.
But expanding Woodbine into a full-fledged casino was an option Toronto council rejected recently at the same time as it voted against a downtown casino.
Last year, following the dissolution of the slots program, Eaves speculated that the 2012 Queen’s Plate might be the last. The program had provided 10 per cent of net proceeds for race purses, about 5 per cent to host municipalities, 10 per cent to racetrack operators.
Eaves was wrong. The 154th running of the Queen’s Plate — a race older than Canada itself — is set for July 7 at Woodbine Racetrack. But the future of horseracing overall in the province is still in doubt.
Two racetracks (Windsor and Woodstock) have closed over the past year, more are feeling the pinch and are offering fewer live race days, and horse breeders remain edgy.
Woodbine Entertainment Group, which employs about 7,500 people, had to cut more than 100 salaried jobs at the Woodbine and Mohawk racetracks earlier this year because the transitional agreements with the province and OLG didn’t make up for the loss of slot machine revenue it was receiving.
This year, Woodbine racetrack has 113 live thoroughbred races, compared with 165 in 2010.
And of course, there’s the very emotional issue of what will happen to the horses if the industry falls apart.
In the past year, some throroughbreds have already ended up in slaughterhouses or been euthanized, while other horses have starved in fields and been apprehended by the OSPCA.
Not all retired thoroughbreds are as lucky as those at the Alliston farm run by LeBlanc Jr. and his wife, Maggie. They currently care for 15 retired racehorses who are living out their lives, including one of Secretariat’s last surviving sons — 24-year-old Time Alert. It’s on the latter’s still-healthy, mellow back that LeBlanc Jr.’s almost-13-year-old son is learning to ride.
“I get to work with these athletes every day,’’ LeBlanc Jr. says, referring to the thoroughbreds he trains and also owns. “To raise them and prepare these athletes ... and to watch them race, is extremely rewarding. But the turmoil right now is so hard ... 50 per cent of the breeding is down.’’
Breeding is critical to the future of horseracing in the province and the industry’s survival. And there’s really nothing like watching a horserace live, he says.
“You get goosebumps,’’ says LeBlanc Jr. “I still do.’’
LeBlanc has been riding thoroughbreds since he was 15, one of the benefits of being the son of jockey John LeBlanc Sr. His dad, who’s 5-foot-1½-inches, l
“Am I still worried? Yes. But I am hoping the worst of the turmoil is over,’’ says LeBlanc Jr.
He’s not alone. Tens of thousands of horse industry workers, breeders and racetrack owners have been on tenterhooks ever since the Dalton McGuinty government announced in March 2012 that it was ending the revenue-sharing and sport-supporting Slots at Racetracks Program — part of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation’s plan to modernize the gambling industry in Ontario and increase revenue for the province.
As part of that modernization plan, the OLG has invited municipalities in specified zones to host casino resorts. Vaughan — north of Toronto and a short drive from Woodbine Racetrack on Rexdale Blvd. — just voted to ask OLG to consider it for a casino-resort.
The problem? Cannibalization. Two regions going after the same gambling dollars.
Woodbine Racetrack has 3,000 slot machines, which already happen to be “the most profitable gaming operation for the province,’’ says Nick Eaves, president and CEO of Woodbine Entertainment Centre, a not-for-profit corporation that runs the racetrack and slots. The Woodbine slots already generate over $600 million a year in gross gaming revenue, he says.
But a casino in Vaughan would trigger a battle to draw in the same gamblers, says Eaves. That would threaten Woodbine’s existence because its slots couldn’t compete with a full-fledged casino resort.
His fears are echoed by Sue Leslie, president of the Ontario Horse Racing Industry Association. “There’s no question putting a casino in Vaughan probably puts the nail in the coffin at Woodbine. There’s just not enough gaming dollars out there to sustain both.’’
The racing association supports OLG’s bid to modernize, she says. “We’re just saying, pause it. We need to figure out the horseracing first or there’s not going to be an industry left to save.’’
A report by Vaughan city staff suggests that a casino operator would need to invest about $1.5 billion in the facility.
“Someone is going to be looking to make a return on that $1.5 billion,’’ says Eaves. “It doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense to us that you would literally site, around the corner from your most profitable gaming operation, a new $1.5 billion report casino operation.”
What makes more sense, he says, is to turn Woodbine into become a full-fledged casino with a hotel and concert venue and mixed retail, all of which would complement the existing horseracing.
The “starting point is a 688-acre parcel of land’’ that already includes a large structure with 3,000 very profitable slot machines. The infrastructure is there, the parking, the staff, the expertise.
“Woodbine has been a safe, secure, successful gaming operation since 1956 — machines have been here since 2,000. It’s an existing operation and Woodbine Entertainment Group has a proven track record. We’ve partnered with the community, we’ve delivered significant economic impacts back to the community. We’ve been a spectacular partner for the province,’’ he says.
But expanding Woodbine into a full-fledged casino was an option Toronto council rejected recently at the same time as it voted against a downtown casino.
Last year, following the dissolution of the slots program, Eaves speculated that the 2012 Queen’s Plate might be the last. The program had provided 10 per cent of net proceeds for race purses, about 5 per cent to host municipalities, 10 per cent to racetrack operators.
Eaves was wrong. The 154th running of the Queen’s Plate — a race older than Canada itself — is set for July 7 at Woodbine Racetrack. But the future of horseracing overall in the province is still in doubt.
Two racetracks (Windsor and Woodstock) have closed over the past year, more are feeling the pinch and are offering fewer live race days, and horse breeders remain edgy.
Woodbine Entertainment Group, which employs about 7,500 people, had to cut more than 100 salaried jobs at the Woodbine and Mohawk racetracks earlier this year because the transitional agreements with the province and OLG didn’t make up for the loss of slot machine revenue it was receiving.
This year, Woodbine racetrack has 113 live thoroughbred races, compared with 165 in 2010.
And of course, there’s the very emotional issue of what will happen to the horses if the industry falls apart.
In the past year, some throroughbreds have already ended up in slaughterhouses or been euthanized, while other horses have starved in fields and been apprehended by the OSPCA.
Not all retired thoroughbreds are as lucky as those at the Alliston farm run by LeBlanc Jr. and his wife, Maggie. They currently care for 15 retired racehorses who are living out their lives, including one of Secretariat’s last surviving sons — 24-year-old Time Alert. It’s on the latter’s still-healthy, mellow back that LeBlanc Jr.’s almost-13-year-old son is learning to ride.
“I get to work with these athletes every day,’’ LeBlanc Jr. says, referring to the thoroughbreds he trains and also owns. “To raise them and prepare these athletes ... and to watch them race, is extremely rewarding. But the turmoil right now is so hard ... 50 per cent of the breeding is down.’’
Breeding is critical to the future of horseracing in the province and the industry’s survival. And there’s really nothing like watching a horserace live, he says.
“You get goosebumps,’’ says LeBlanc Jr. “I still do.’’
LeBlanc has been riding thoroughbreds since he was 15, one of the benefits of being the son of jockey John LeBlanc Sr. His dad, who’s 5-foot-1½-inches, l
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2006/12/07
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The Italian jockey is hoping to pick up rides on the Oaks card at Epsom this afternoon, having been cleared to ride by the French Jockey Club, who dealt him a six-month worldwide ban for testing positive for cocaine last September.
In the interim Dettori, 42, has appeared on Celebrity Big Brother and conducted a number of repentant TV interviews .
But he has been riding out for several trainers over a number of weeks and is expected to be fully fit for his return. Although the jockeys have already been declared for today’s Oaks and tomorrow’s Derby, the British Horseracing Authority can give trainers dispensation to use Dettori given that he was not available at declaration time.
Dettori’s British agent Ray Cochrane said: “The plan is for him to ride Ed Dunlop’s horse [Beatrice Aurore] in the first race at Epsom . I’m waiting to hear back from Marco Botti, who has said Frankie could ride his horse at 2.10.”
Cochrane said he does not expect Dettori to pick up a ride in the Derby.
Frankie Dettori is back after drugs ban | Horse Racing | Sport | Daily Express
In the interim Dettori, 42, has appeared on Celebrity Big Brother and conducted a number of repentant TV interviews .
But he has been riding out for several trainers over a number of weeks and is expected to be fully fit for his return. Although the jockeys have already been declared for today’s Oaks and tomorrow’s Derby, the British Horseracing Authority can give trainers dispensation to use Dettori given that he was not available at declaration time.
Dettori’s British agent Ray Cochrane said: “The plan is for him to ride Ed Dunlop’s horse [Beatrice Aurore] in the first race at Epsom . I’m waiting to hear back from Marco Botti, who has said Frankie could ride his horse at 2.10.”
Cochrane said he does not expect Dettori to pick up a ride in the Derby.
Frankie Dettori is back after drugs ban | Horse Racing | Sport | Daily Express
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2006/12/07
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Riding great Frankie Dettori told the BBC after returning from his six-month ban for taking cocaine that he hopes to carry on riding till he's 50.
The exuberant 42-year-old Italian - who once famously went through the card at Ascot with all seven winners at combined odds of 25,000/1 - added he hoped to break the century winners mark for this season even though he had already missed the first three months because of the ban imposed by French racing authorities last December.
"It's quite scary going into the unknown. I'm starting from scratch again but think I can ride until I'm 50. Look at Gary Stevens," he said referring to the American legend who came out of retirement this season aged 50 and has won several top races.
"I'm still in my prime and will carry on as long as I can, with all the major races as my target."
forum-ixgames-com/newthread-php?do=newthread&f=44
The exuberant 42-year-old Italian - who once famously went through the card at Ascot with all seven winners at combined odds of 25,000/1 - added he hoped to break the century winners mark for this season even though he had already missed the first three months because of the ban imposed by French racing authorities last December.
"It's quite scary going into the unknown. I'm starting from scratch again but think I can ride until I'm 50. Look at Gary Stevens," he said referring to the American legend who came out of retirement this season aged 50 and has won several top races.
"I'm still in my prime and will carry on as long as I can, with all the major races as my target."
forum-ixgames-com/newthread-php?do=newthread&f=44
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The moment 7-year-old Patrick Cummings stumbled on a horse racing show from Philadelphia Park in 1988, his life changed forever. It was the first day that his parents had cable.
“I was a kid who went from 7 channels to 60 channels with a remote control,” said Cummings, who is now 32. “This was amazing and literally the first day I was hooked and found horses going around with numbers on the screen. I was probably enhancing my math skills by figuring out why the odds of 9-2 paid $11. I would come home from school and before I went out to play, before I did homework, I would watch the last couple of races from Philadelphia Park.”
Of course this led to disagreements with his younger brother over the remote control but they laugh about it now.
In many ways, Cummings’s destiny was determined at a young age. “I was infatuated with racing as a child, and I couldn’t explain why,” he said.
One aspect of racing that caught his attention was racecalling. He would grab the newspaper and try to call the races. It was his dream to call a race. He went to Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pa., and in 1999, his uncle helped him get an internship as a production assistant at Philadelphia Park. He befriended the track announcer Keith Jones, and on Oct. 17, 1999, Cummings called his first race. He remembers every detail as if the race was still happening. After two summers at what he calls Philly Park, he became the backup track announcer where he worked for 10 years until he was 29. He then went to business school. Another internship at the Racing Hall of Fame in Saratoga, N.Y., inspired him to try to find employment in horse racing.
He graduated in 2002 and went to work in the financial services sector but kept calling races in Philadelphia. He said he was thrilled to be calling on the days that Smarty Jones worked out at Philadelphia Park after the Derby and before the Belmont. He received a last-minute phone call requesting that the gathered crowd remain quiet during one of the workouts. He urged the crowd to exhibit their joy and happiness of their Philly champion with restraint. And they did, with what Cummings called “golf clapping,” the thousands of fans remained respectful.
He got involved in blogging and was part of an aggregator Web site through which he followed races from Dubai. It fascinated him, he said. “There were horses going there from all over the world, jockeys coming there from all over the world and outside of the entries, I can’t find anybody on the internet who is handicapping these races, analyzing the races so it was a combination of general interest and a market opportunity to say, You know what? I am going to start doing this.”
Cummings founded the Web site Dubairacenight.com, which provides handicapping analysis for all the race days in the United Arab Emirates, including Meydan and Abu Dhabi. Cummings keeps track of all the horses that have raced in the U.A.E., and when they perform elsewhere in the world, he provides an update. In 2007, he went to his first Dubai World Cup. He knew no one. His hosts provided him with his first media accreditation. Today Cummings is often referred to as one of the most authoritative figures on Dubai racing and has more than 3,000 followers on his Dubairacenight Twitter account.
In 2009, Cummings left the financial sector in pursuit of his M.B.A. at Baylor. His goal was to find a career that combined business and horse racing. He kept up the Dubai site, called a season of races at Manor Downs in Austin, Tex., and still managed to travel each year to the Dubai World Cup. In his final semester, he had the choice of taking another course or doing an independent study on technology innovation in horse racing. He reached out to Trakus in Wakefield, Mass., for an interview. “Trakus was like the mother lode of being ahead so I reached out to them,” he said. “The study became a focus about their strategic advantage within the racing industry and how powerful data can be from races.”
Trakus, founded in 2006, provides positional data for horse racing through a small wireless device located inside in each saddlecloth. Trakus is currently at 12 tracks in North America (including Churchill Downs, Keeneland, Gulfstream Park, Tampa Bay Downs and Del Mar), Turkey, Asia and the Middle East. Racing fans recognize it for the portrayal of colored tile figures displayed underneath the race feed that give real time position information. After the race, data can be acquired regarding the precise distance traveled by each horse, a jockey’s efficiency and the timing of each furlong.
When Cummings graduated in 2011, he was hired as the Trakus business manager and director of racing information. He works on business development, data collection, reporting, analysis and more. But Cummings thrives on data. He has developed the Trakus Twitter account (more than 2,800 followers) and has a blog on America’s Best Racing Web site.
“We tweet data that happens to be interesting,” he said. “The thing is every race has data, but not every race is interesting. You never know when you are going to have interesting data. Different people find different data interesting.” For example, when Fort Larned lost his jockey and completed the Gulfstream Handicap, Trakus was able to provide data on Fort Larned’s speed and distance traveled.
Jockey efficiency studies provide data on which jockey actually rides a ground-saving trip and how often they achieve that during a meet. “Anecdote is rife at the track, and it’s often never backed up by fact,” Cummings said. “But in this 21st century of data, people, especially young people are going to want big data. It is easier to bet and gamble on horse racing than anything else in the United States; at home, on a mobile device, anywhere you want to. Horse racing needs as much technology as it can get.”
Asked about his personal goals, he said: “I love racing. I have immersed myself as much as humanly possible i
“I was a kid who went from 7 channels to 60 channels with a remote control,” said Cummings, who is now 32. “This was amazing and literally the first day I was hooked and found horses going around with numbers on the screen. I was probably enhancing my math skills by figuring out why the odds of 9-2 paid $11. I would come home from school and before I went out to play, before I did homework, I would watch the last couple of races from Philadelphia Park.”
Of course this led to disagreements with his younger brother over the remote control but they laugh about it now.
In many ways, Cummings’s destiny was determined at a young age. “I was infatuated with racing as a child, and I couldn’t explain why,” he said.
One aspect of racing that caught his attention was racecalling. He would grab the newspaper and try to call the races. It was his dream to call a race. He went to Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pa., and in 1999, his uncle helped him get an internship as a production assistant at Philadelphia Park. He befriended the track announcer Keith Jones, and on Oct. 17, 1999, Cummings called his first race. He remembers every detail as if the race was still happening. After two summers at what he calls Philly Park, he became the backup track announcer where he worked for 10 years until he was 29. He then went to business school. Another internship at the Racing Hall of Fame in Saratoga, N.Y., inspired him to try to find employment in horse racing.
He graduated in 2002 and went to work in the financial services sector but kept calling races in Philadelphia. He said he was thrilled to be calling on the days that Smarty Jones worked out at Philadelphia Park after the Derby and before the Belmont. He received a last-minute phone call requesting that the gathered crowd remain quiet during one of the workouts. He urged the crowd to exhibit their joy and happiness of their Philly champion with restraint. And they did, with what Cummings called “golf clapping,” the thousands of fans remained respectful.
He got involved in blogging and was part of an aggregator Web site through which he followed races from Dubai. It fascinated him, he said. “There were horses going there from all over the world, jockeys coming there from all over the world and outside of the entries, I can’t find anybody on the internet who is handicapping these races, analyzing the races so it was a combination of general interest and a market opportunity to say, You know what? I am going to start doing this.”
Cummings founded the Web site Dubairacenight.com, which provides handicapping analysis for all the race days in the United Arab Emirates, including Meydan and Abu Dhabi. Cummings keeps track of all the horses that have raced in the U.A.E., and when they perform elsewhere in the world, he provides an update. In 2007, he went to his first Dubai World Cup. He knew no one. His hosts provided him with his first media accreditation. Today Cummings is often referred to as one of the most authoritative figures on Dubai racing and has more than 3,000 followers on his Dubairacenight Twitter account.
In 2009, Cummings left the financial sector in pursuit of his M.B.A. at Baylor. His goal was to find a career that combined business and horse racing. He kept up the Dubai site, called a season of races at Manor Downs in Austin, Tex., and still managed to travel each year to the Dubai World Cup. In his final semester, he had the choice of taking another course or doing an independent study on technology innovation in horse racing. He reached out to Trakus in Wakefield, Mass., for an interview. “Trakus was like the mother lode of being ahead so I reached out to them,” he said. “The study became a focus about their strategic advantage within the racing industry and how powerful data can be from races.”
Trakus, founded in 2006, provides positional data for horse racing through a small wireless device located inside in each saddlecloth. Trakus is currently at 12 tracks in North America (including Churchill Downs, Keeneland, Gulfstream Park, Tampa Bay Downs and Del Mar), Turkey, Asia and the Middle East. Racing fans recognize it for the portrayal of colored tile figures displayed underneath the race feed that give real time position information. After the race, data can be acquired regarding the precise distance traveled by each horse, a jockey’s efficiency and the timing of each furlong.
When Cummings graduated in 2011, he was hired as the Trakus business manager and director of racing information. He works on business development, data collection, reporting, analysis and more. But Cummings thrives on data. He has developed the Trakus Twitter account (more than 2,800 followers) and has a blog on America’s Best Racing Web site.
“We tweet data that happens to be interesting,” he said. “The thing is every race has data, but not every race is interesting. You never know when you are going to have interesting data. Different people find different data interesting.” For example, when Fort Larned lost his jockey and completed the Gulfstream Handicap, Trakus was able to provide data on Fort Larned’s speed and distance traveled.
Jockey efficiency studies provide data on which jockey actually rides a ground-saving trip and how often they achieve that during a meet. “Anecdote is rife at the track, and it’s often never backed up by fact,” Cummings said. “But in this 21st century of data, people, especially young people are going to want big data. It is easier to bet and gamble on horse racing than anything else in the United States; at home, on a mobile device, anywhere you want to. Horse racing needs as much technology as it can get.”
Asked about his personal goals, he said: “I love racing. I have immersed myself as much as humanly possible i
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The Philippine Racing Commission yesterday warned the horseowners group on the repercussions of its call for a "racing holiday" even as it dismissed the group's claims blaming the decline in sales to the new Philracom leadership.
"They are barking at the wrong tree here. Take note that whole board took its oath of office only in Aug. 2011, yet they are attributing to us losses that were registered in 2010," said Philracom chairman Angel Castano Jr. in clearing up the issues raised by the Marho, Philtobo and Klub Don Juan de Manila groups the other night.
On the contrary, Castano said they were able to check the decline when they took over. In fact, sales have already picked up in the first five months of the current year.
"The trend in the sales was really going down when we took over the Philracom. But we were able to mitigate the downtrend at the end of that year. In 2012, it was the horseowners themselves who requested, and we granted it, to trim the racing days from six to five days. It proved disastrous after two months, so we have to stop it in order to cut the losses," he said.
On their boycott move, the Philracom chair asked the groups to spare the racing industry from such drastic actions since several sectors, which are largely dependent on the industry, will be severely affected by their move.
"There are so many major players (jockeys, grooms, OTB stations, racing clubs and their employees, and also their respective families) in the industry who are dependent on horseracing. Their (horseowners) 'racing holiday', which is tantamount to a strike, will surely cut their means of livelihood. Hindi maganda yan, ang industriya ang pinarurusahan nila. Why are they trying to hostage the industry and even mislead the President here?" he said.
Still, the Manila Jockey Club came out with a racing program yesterday although the horseowners group had said they would scratch out all their entries from the program.
Castano disclosed that the group's complaint stemmed from the Philracom board’s decision to turn down their request to stop the deduction of the 3 percent trainers' fund from the horse prizes of the owners.
"That fund is mandated by law way back in 1948 and we can’t abolish it just like that. Under the law, we are mandated to have that fund exist for the health, injury and retirement benefits of the horsetrainers," said Castano.
"Since we know that the horseowners also have to deal with the high cost of maintaining horses, we offered them several options by which they can still contribute to the Trainers' Fund. But they (horseowners) strongly opposed them and even gave us an ultimatum instead last May 31 for us to stop the said deduction or else they will be constrained to take drastic action," said Castano.
He also wondered why the group didn't question the deduction of 2-1/2 percent for the jockeys' fund from the said horses' prize, which has the same purpose like that of the trainers.
Horseracing hurt by racing holiday, rues Philracom | ABS-CBN News
"They are barking at the wrong tree here. Take note that whole board took its oath of office only in Aug. 2011, yet they are attributing to us losses that were registered in 2010," said Philracom chairman Angel Castano Jr. in clearing up the issues raised by the Marho, Philtobo and Klub Don Juan de Manila groups the other night.
On the contrary, Castano said they were able to check the decline when they took over. In fact, sales have already picked up in the first five months of the current year.
"The trend in the sales was really going down when we took over the Philracom. But we were able to mitigate the downtrend at the end of that year. In 2012, it was the horseowners themselves who requested, and we granted it, to trim the racing days from six to five days. It proved disastrous after two months, so we have to stop it in order to cut the losses," he said.
On their boycott move, the Philracom chair asked the groups to spare the racing industry from such drastic actions since several sectors, which are largely dependent on the industry, will be severely affected by their move.
"There are so many major players (jockeys, grooms, OTB stations, racing clubs and their employees, and also their respective families) in the industry who are dependent on horseracing. Their (horseowners) 'racing holiday', which is tantamount to a strike, will surely cut their means of livelihood. Hindi maganda yan, ang industriya ang pinarurusahan nila. Why are they trying to hostage the industry and even mislead the President here?" he said.
Still, the Manila Jockey Club came out with a racing program yesterday although the horseowners group had said they would scratch out all their entries from the program.
Castano disclosed that the group's complaint stemmed from the Philracom board’s decision to turn down their request to stop the deduction of the 3 percent trainers' fund from the horse prizes of the owners.
"That fund is mandated by law way back in 1948 and we can’t abolish it just like that. Under the law, we are mandated to have that fund exist for the health, injury and retirement benefits of the horsetrainers," said Castano.
"Since we know that the horseowners also have to deal with the high cost of maintaining horses, we offered them several options by which they can still contribute to the Trainers' Fund. But they (horseowners) strongly opposed them and even gave us an ultimatum instead last May 31 for us to stop the said deduction or else they will be constrained to take drastic action," said Castano.
He also wondered why the group didn't question the deduction of 2-1/2 percent for the jockeys' fund from the said horses' prize, which has the same purpose like that of the trainers.
Horseracing hurt by racing holiday, rues Philracom | ABS-CBN News
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The Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival’s Fourth World Arabian Horse Racing Conference opens in Toulouse, France on Thursday.
Some of the Purebred Arabian Racing world’s top officials, experts, veterinarians, trainers and jockeys will be participating in the Festival’s Fourth World Arabian Horse Racing Conference which begins at Centre de Congres Pierre Baudis in Toulouse, France on Thursday.
“The inaugural event was held in Abu Dhabi in 2010, the next in The Hague in The Netherlands in 2011 and last year we staged it in Berlin,” said Lara Sawaya, director of Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival and head of International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR) Ladies Racing. “We thank Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, and Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairperson of the General Women’s Union, Supreme Chairperson of the Family Development Foundation (FDF) and President of the Council for Motherhood and Childhood, who have consistently followed and supported the activities of the Festival including this important conference. Mohammed Meer El Raessi, the UAE Ambassador to France, will inaugurate the event on Thursday morning after which the three-day event will get started with morning session on breeding,” she said.
Dereck Thomas, one of UK’s top racing commentators, will moderate the opening session with Marie Ange Bourdette (France), Khalid Al Naboodah (UAE), Ali Al Haddad (Iraq), Kathy Smoke and Sam Vasquez (US), Catarina Genberg (Sweden), Gulnar Gullerce (Turkey) and Martial Boisseuil (France) being the speakers.
The afternoon session on the opening day will focus on vetting and nutrition and the UK’s Liz Priz will moderate this session which has attracted speakers in the form of Dr Gonzalo Aebornoz (Argentine), Dr Sefian Alami (Morocco), Dr Robert La Caze and Dr Frank Penide (France), Mariam Al Shenazi (UAE), Dr Gulsah Kaya Kanasi (Turkey), Dr Andrew Dalgleish (Scotland) and Dr Mohammed Al Machmoum (Morocco).
Patrick Buckley will moderate the ‘Racing and Training’ session to complete the opening day. The speakers at this session are Georgina Ward (UK/ Oman), Jean Francois Bernard and Jerome Rambaud (France), Stephen Higgins (UK), Ernest Oertel (South Africa), Karen Van Den Bos ( Holland), Sultan Khalifa (UAE), Gillian Duffield (UK) and Faysal Al Rahmani (UAE).
UAE officials hail conference
The fourth edition of the World Arabian Racing Conference which begins on Thursday at the Centre de Congrès Pierre Baudis in Toulouse has been welcomed by officials who. have highlighted the need for such an annual event.
“The World Arabian Racing Conference, an annual event of the Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival which is organised by the Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), has been one of our most successful endeavours in cementing the place of Purebred Arabian racing at all levels,” said Shaikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, chairman of Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority.
“Conceived by Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, this event has grown in stature ever since Abu Dhabi staged the inaugural edition in 2010 and the success story continued in The Hague in 2011 and in Berlin in 2012,” he remarked in his message to the three-day conference. “We thank Shaikh Mansour and Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairperson of the General Women’s Union, Supreme Chairperson of the Family Development Foundation (FDF) and President of the Council for Motherhood and Childhood, for their support and direction and wish the conference and all the participants the very best,” Shaikh Sultan said.
Mubarak Al Muhairi, Director General, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority said, “The Conference in Toulouse, France starting on June 6, followed by the Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup and the Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship (IFAHR) races on June 9, are events that excite all those concerned with the welfare and progress of the Purebred Arabian race horse. The success of the last three meetings and the huge response that followed augurs well for the sport of Arabian Horse Flat Racing,” he added.
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Some of the Purebred Arabian Racing world’s top officials, experts, veterinarians, trainers and jockeys will be participating in the Festival’s Fourth World Arabian Horse Racing Conference which begins at Centre de Congres Pierre Baudis in Toulouse, France on Thursday.
“The inaugural event was held in Abu Dhabi in 2010, the next in The Hague in The Netherlands in 2011 and last year we staged it in Berlin,” said Lara Sawaya, director of Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival and head of International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR) Ladies Racing. “We thank Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, and Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairperson of the General Women’s Union, Supreme Chairperson of the Family Development Foundation (FDF) and President of the Council for Motherhood and Childhood, who have consistently followed and supported the activities of the Festival including this important conference. Mohammed Meer El Raessi, the UAE Ambassador to France, will inaugurate the event on Thursday morning after which the three-day event will get started with morning session on breeding,” she said.
Dereck Thomas, one of UK’s top racing commentators, will moderate the opening session with Marie Ange Bourdette (France), Khalid Al Naboodah (UAE), Ali Al Haddad (Iraq), Kathy Smoke and Sam Vasquez (US), Catarina Genberg (Sweden), Gulnar Gullerce (Turkey) and Martial Boisseuil (France) being the speakers.
The afternoon session on the opening day will focus on vetting and nutrition and the UK’s Liz Priz will moderate this session which has attracted speakers in the form of Dr Gonzalo Aebornoz (Argentine), Dr Sefian Alami (Morocco), Dr Robert La Caze and Dr Frank Penide (France), Mariam Al Shenazi (UAE), Dr Gulsah Kaya Kanasi (Turkey), Dr Andrew Dalgleish (Scotland) and Dr Mohammed Al Machmoum (Morocco).
Patrick Buckley will moderate the ‘Racing and Training’ session to complete the opening day. The speakers at this session are Georgina Ward (UK/ Oman), Jean Francois Bernard and Jerome Rambaud (France), Stephen Higgins (UK), Ernest Oertel (South Africa), Karen Van Den Bos ( Holland), Sultan Khalifa (UAE), Gillian Duffield (UK) and Faysal Al Rahmani (UAE).
UAE officials hail conference
The fourth edition of the World Arabian Racing Conference which begins on Thursday at the Centre de Congrès Pierre Baudis in Toulouse has been welcomed by officials who. have highlighted the need for such an annual event.
“The World Arabian Racing Conference, an annual event of the Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival which is organised by the Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), has been one of our most successful endeavours in cementing the place of Purebred Arabian racing at all levels,” said Shaikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, chairman of Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority.
“Conceived by Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, this event has grown in stature ever since Abu Dhabi staged the inaugural edition in 2010 and the success story continued in The Hague in 2011 and in Berlin in 2012,” he remarked in his message to the three-day conference. “We thank Shaikh Mansour and Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairperson of the General Women’s Union, Supreme Chairperson of the Family Development Foundation (FDF) and President of the Council for Motherhood and Childhood, for their support and direction and wish the conference and all the participants the very best,” Shaikh Sultan said.
Mubarak Al Muhairi, Director General, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority said, “The Conference in Toulouse, France starting on June 6, followed by the Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup and the Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship (IFAHR) races on June 9, are events that excite all those concerned with the welfare and progress of the Purebred Arabian race horse. The success of the last three meetings and the huge response that followed augurs well for the sport of Arabian Horse Flat Racing,” he added.
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DEACON BLUES, who has not run for nearly 18 months because of a tendon injury, has two more bits of work to complete before trainer James Fanshawe decides whether he is ready to return to action in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes.
When last in action the six-year-old ran up a sequence of five wins that included the 2011 Wokingham Stakes and ended with the Group 2 Qipco British Champion Sprint Stakes. Even though he was sidelined for the whole of last year he is 8-1 for the 6f Group 1 contest on June 22.
Fanshawe said: "Deacon Blues has been trained as if he is going to Royal Ascot but whether we get there or not I'm not sure. It will be a decision that will be taken closer to the race.
"The two imponderables are whether is he going to be ready for a race of that calibre and that we already know he has to have a bit of juice in the ground. Having had the problem he's had he wouldn't want to be going on very firm ground.
Society Rock, winner of Royal Ascot's showpiece sprint in 2011, is on target. "Society Rock goes on any ground," Fanshawe added. "It was rock hard when he won the Betfred Sprint and on the slow side when he won the Golden Jubilee the year before. The main thing is keeping him in one piece, but he is in good shape."
S now Fairy moved another step closer to a possible return in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot after working at Sandown on Thursday.
The six-time Group 1 winner has been off the track since winning the Red Mills Irish Champion Stakes last September and has been building up for her comeback with a routine which has included regular swimming at Clive Brittain's yard in Newmarket.
Trainer Ed Dunlop said on Thursday evening that he had been pleased with how Snow Fairy had performed on her away day at Sandown but added that an appearance at the royal meeting was far from certain for Cristina Patino's six-year-old.
"Snow Fairy worked over a mile with her normal lead horse [Swift Gift] and I was very happy with how she went," Dunlop said. "We'll have to wait and see what we do next. She's home now and we'll be taking it on a daily basis with her. At the moment Ascot is more likely than less likely."
Should Snow Fairy get the nod for Royal Ascot, she could line up against Camelot, Farhh and Al Kazeem in the Prince of Wales's Stakes a week on Wednesday.
Deacon decision due after final two gallops | Horse Racing News | Racing Post
When last in action the six-year-old ran up a sequence of five wins that included the 2011 Wokingham Stakes and ended with the Group 2 Qipco British Champion Sprint Stakes. Even though he was sidelined for the whole of last year he is 8-1 for the 6f Group 1 contest on June 22.
Fanshawe said: "Deacon Blues has been trained as if he is going to Royal Ascot but whether we get there or not I'm not sure. It will be a decision that will be taken closer to the race.
"The two imponderables are whether is he going to be ready for a race of that calibre and that we already know he has to have a bit of juice in the ground. Having had the problem he's had he wouldn't want to be going on very firm ground.
Society Rock, winner of Royal Ascot's showpiece sprint in 2011, is on target. "Society Rock goes on any ground," Fanshawe added. "It was rock hard when he won the Betfred Sprint and on the slow side when he won the Golden Jubilee the year before. The main thing is keeping him in one piece, but he is in good shape."
S now Fairy moved another step closer to a possible return in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot after working at Sandown on Thursday.
The six-time Group 1 winner has been off the track since winning the Red Mills Irish Champion Stakes last September and has been building up for her comeback with a routine which has included regular swimming at Clive Brittain's yard in Newmarket.
Trainer Ed Dunlop said on Thursday evening that he had been pleased with how Snow Fairy had performed on her away day at Sandown but added that an appearance at the royal meeting was far from certain for Cristina Patino's six-year-old.
"Snow Fairy worked over a mile with her normal lead horse [Swift Gift] and I was very happy with how she went," Dunlop said. "We'll have to wait and see what we do next. She's home now and we'll be taking it on a daily basis with her. At the moment Ascot is more likely than less likely."
Should Snow Fairy get the nod for Royal Ascot, she could line up against Camelot, Farhh and Al Kazeem in the Prince of Wales's Stakes a week on Wednesday.
Deacon decision due after final two gallops | Horse Racing News | Racing Post
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Most everyone has heard of "Arabian Stallions," a breed of horse that originated on the Arabian Peninsula. Currently, they are one of the top ten most popular horse breeds in the world and today, Arabian bloodlines are found in almost every modern breed of riding horse.
And this is a part of the world that has a true historic love of horses dating back thousands of years. There are claims that horses originated in the Fertile Crescent, that area of moist and fertile land that sweeps westward from Iraq all the way to the Nile Valley.
To Bet Or Not To Bet
Combine this affection for these beautiful creatures with a culture that frowns heavily on gambling, and you can imagine the quagmire that the world's largest horse racing prize, the 2013 Dubai World Cup with an estimated $10 million dollar purse, could produce. So, it is a little difficult to explain that attendants at this race were not betting at the Meydan Racecourse.
According to some, Islam is a place where "real horse racing can exist without the smut." In other words, while extravagant living (read "gambling, etc.) go hand in hand elsewhere, Dubai in particular wants to prove that premiere horse racing does not need gambling.
How To Define Gambling
Online betting has a presence around the world, like at William Hill and bet365 sports, two of the most respected online gaming casinos around and where horsebetting is open, legal, and welcome. But there are multiple references that say the U.A.E. blocks websites including online gambling websites and any offshore cruise ships that anchor on U.A.E. shores.
Despite this, there are recent examples discussing U.A.E. betting such as the Dubai Duty Free Lotteries. Interestingly, Dubai Duty Free has been one of the sponsors of the Dubai World Cup. This raises an eyebrow to the definition of gambling because lotteries are technically gambling.
The laws in the U.A.E. may be fierce, but evidently raffles are okay. Where there is a will, it seems there is always a way.
Horse Racing In The Arab World - Special Reports - Onlinecasinoreports-com
And this is a part of the world that has a true historic love of horses dating back thousands of years. There are claims that horses originated in the Fertile Crescent, that area of moist and fertile land that sweeps westward from Iraq all the way to the Nile Valley.
To Bet Or Not To Bet
Combine this affection for these beautiful creatures with a culture that frowns heavily on gambling, and you can imagine the quagmire that the world's largest horse racing prize, the 2013 Dubai World Cup with an estimated $10 million dollar purse, could produce. So, it is a little difficult to explain that attendants at this race were not betting at the Meydan Racecourse.
According to some, Islam is a place where "real horse racing can exist without the smut." In other words, while extravagant living (read "gambling, etc.) go hand in hand elsewhere, Dubai in particular wants to prove that premiere horse racing does not need gambling.
How To Define Gambling
Online betting has a presence around the world, like at William Hill and bet365 sports, two of the most respected online gaming casinos around and where horsebetting is open, legal, and welcome. But there are multiple references that say the U.A.E. blocks websites including online gambling websites and any offshore cruise ships that anchor on U.A.E. shores.
Despite this, there are recent examples discussing U.A.E. betting such as the Dubai Duty Free Lotteries. Interestingly, Dubai Duty Free has been one of the sponsors of the Dubai World Cup. This raises an eyebrow to the definition of gambling because lotteries are technically gambling.
The laws in the U.A.E. may be fierce, but evidently raffles are okay. Where there is a will, it seems there is always a way.
Horse Racing In The Arab World - Special Reports - Onlinecasinoreports-com
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Iconic horse stud Eliza Park has been placed into the hands of receivers after owners the Fleming family were unable to secure a buyer for the property.
A representative from the Sydney office of insolvency firm PPB Advisory confirmed to BRW this morning that PPB partners Christopher Hill and Stephen Longley are handling the receivership.
“PPB Advisory is now undertaking a review of the business’s operations and will operate on a business as usual basis during this time,” the firm said in a statement.
The business had been put on sale in March, with price expectations as high as $20 million. It owns breeding, agistment, racing and sales services from freehold and leasehold properties in Victoria and Queensland.
Proprietor Lee Fleming told BRW at the time that he was seeking to sell the business to help his 24-year-old son Reis to get a start in the industry.
“For him to stay in the business I don’t want him [Reis] to be handed a behemoth or big place like I’ve built this into,” Fleming told BRW in March.
“He needs to start off in something smaller and with people around him that are experienced, and learn his way through the management and owning a business. You can only do that with something small to begin with. I’d like to help him through that. That’s been one of my driving forces in this decision.”
However, it appears attempts to sell the business have failed and Eliza Park’s creditors have been forced to act.
The Fleming family is well-known in Australian racing circles. They last featured in BRW’s list of rich families in 2010 with a combined wealth of $330 million.
Lee’s father Jim Fleming made his fortune founding Fleming’s Food Stores grocery chain, which he sold to Woolworths in 1960. He replicated his business model, founding Jewel supermarkets in 1971, which he sold 24 years later to Davids Holdings.
Stepdaughter Angela Young founded fast food chain Mad Mex – a BRW Fast Starters company – with her husband, Clovis Young.
The failure to sell Eliza Park may not bode well for former billionaire Nathan Tinkler, who is currently trying to sell his Patinack Farm racing and breeding business.
Comment is being sought from the Fleming Group, which owns Eliza Park.
Fleming family’s horse stud Eliza Park in receivership
A representative from the Sydney office of insolvency firm PPB Advisory confirmed to BRW this morning that PPB partners Christopher Hill and Stephen Longley are handling the receivership.
“PPB Advisory is now undertaking a review of the business’s operations and will operate on a business as usual basis during this time,” the firm said in a statement.
The business had been put on sale in March, with price expectations as high as $20 million. It owns breeding, agistment, racing and sales services from freehold and leasehold properties in Victoria and Queensland.
Proprietor Lee Fleming told BRW at the time that he was seeking to sell the business to help his 24-year-old son Reis to get a start in the industry.
“For him to stay in the business I don’t want him [Reis] to be handed a behemoth or big place like I’ve built this into,” Fleming told BRW in March.
“He needs to start off in something smaller and with people around him that are experienced, and learn his way through the management and owning a business. You can only do that with something small to begin with. I’d like to help him through that. That’s been one of my driving forces in this decision.”
However, it appears attempts to sell the business have failed and Eliza Park’s creditors have been forced to act.
The Fleming family is well-known in Australian racing circles. They last featured in BRW’s list of rich families in 2010 with a combined wealth of $330 million.
Lee’s father Jim Fleming made his fortune founding Fleming’s Food Stores grocery chain, which he sold to Woolworths in 1960. He replicated his business model, founding Jewel supermarkets in 1971, which he sold 24 years later to Davids Holdings.
Stepdaughter Angela Young founded fast food chain Mad Mex – a BRW Fast Starters company – with her husband, Clovis Young.
The failure to sell Eliza Park may not bode well for former billionaire Nathan Tinkler, who is currently trying to sell his Patinack Farm racing and breeding business.
Comment is being sought from the Fleming Group, which owns Eliza Park.
Fleming family’s horse stud Eliza Park in receivership
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Hong Kong has been engulfed in a doping scandal of its own after 15 horses tested positive for a prohibited substance resulting in mass scratchings from Sha Tin's holiday meeting on Wednesday.
Twelve horses from Ricky Yiu's stable were found to have had traces of zilpaterol in their urine, while three from Paul O'Sullivan's barn also tested positive for the same substance.
Three horses trained by Me Tsui were also thought to have had traces of the substance but could not be tested comprehensively before racing.
Four of Yiu's horses tested positive having run at Sha Tin and Happy Valley on June 2 and June 5, respectively, but his other eight horses were late withdrawals yesterday.
Yiu was interviewed by the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) stewards Wednesday pending further inquiry. The substance is thought to have come from feed that both Yiu and O'Sullivan use, but that Tsui does not use.
The registered feed product was first imported by the HKJC in 2009 and has been used without incident until now.
Numerous other trainers in the special administrative region have used the feed and the HKJC are conducting testing of horses in specific barns.
"The Club will work diligently to limit the extent of the current problem and explore all avenues to enhance quality control measures," the HKJC said in a statement Wednesday.
"A meeting will be scheduled with trainers tomorrow to communicate immediate measures to best contain and minimise the problem from reoccurring in the future."
England is currently engulfed in a doping scandal involving Sungate, a veterinary product prescribed by a Newmarket veterinarian that contains stanozolol, the anabolic steroid used by disgraced former Godolphin trainer Mahmoud Al Zarooni.
Clive Brittain and Gerard Butler, both based in Newmarket, have admitted to using the substance.
Read more: Horse racing: More than a dozen horses involved in Hong Kong doping scandal - The National
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Twelve horses from Ricky Yiu's stable were found to have had traces of zilpaterol in their urine, while three from Paul O'Sullivan's barn also tested positive for the same substance.
Three horses trained by Me Tsui were also thought to have had traces of the substance but could not be tested comprehensively before racing.
Four of Yiu's horses tested positive having run at Sha Tin and Happy Valley on June 2 and June 5, respectively, but his other eight horses were late withdrawals yesterday.
Yiu was interviewed by the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) stewards Wednesday pending further inquiry. The substance is thought to have come from feed that both Yiu and O'Sullivan use, but that Tsui does not use.
The registered feed product was first imported by the HKJC in 2009 and has been used without incident until now.
Numerous other trainers in the special administrative region have used the feed and the HKJC are conducting testing of horses in specific barns.
"The Club will work diligently to limit the extent of the current problem and explore all avenues to enhance quality control measures," the HKJC said in a statement Wednesday.
"A meeting will be scheduled with trainers tomorrow to communicate immediate measures to best contain and minimise the problem from reoccurring in the future."
England is currently engulfed in a doping scandal involving Sungate, a veterinary product prescribed by a Newmarket veterinarian that contains stanozolol, the anabolic steroid used by disgraced former Godolphin trainer Mahmoud Al Zarooni.
Clive Brittain and Gerard Butler, both based in Newmarket, have admitted to using the substance.
Read more: Horse racing: More than a dozen horses involved in Hong Kong doping scandal - The National
Follow us: @TheNationalUAE on Twitter | thenational.ae on Facebook
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2006/12/07
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THERE was a feeling of divine intervention on Thursday as the first day Lady Cecil had runners in her own name she saddled two winners, Morpheus at Nottingham and Songbird at Yarmouth.
And there are few horses stabled at Warren Place that would have made a more fitting first winner for the yard in the post-Sir Henry Cecil era than Frankel's half-brother Morpheus.
As he powered clear to land the 1m½f ABG Law Classic Maiden Stakes at Nottingham under James Doyle, Morpheus became Lady Cecil's first winner since being granted a temporary licence following the death of her husband, and Britain's best-loved trainer, on Tuesday.
"The win was for Henry and also all the staff, who have been so supportive," said Lady Cecil.
Ten minutes later the Ian Mongan-ridden Songbird landed the three-runner Royal Ascot Money Back At BetVictor-com Fillies' Handicap at Yarmouth to complete an across-the-card double for the grieving yard although Tickled Pink, the 6-4 favourite for a Group 3 at Leopardstown, finished unplaced.
James Doyle, who was riding his third winner of the afternoon, said: "It is nice to be part of something special. Sir Henry was a trainer I'd always admired and I was hoping one day I'd get a ride for the stable."
Doyle may never have ridden for Warren Place while Sir Henry was at the helm, but his success on Morpheus sees him become part of the history of the yard and the legendary trainer's widow was grateful of Doyle's efforts.
Lady Cecil said: "He did it so well. He's taken time to get his act together but that was very pleasing and James gave him a great ride."
Within minutes of Lady Cecil's second winner crossing the line, Ascot announced that the Queen's Vase, run on the Friday of the royal meeting, would be run as 'The Queen's Vase In Memory of Sir Henry Cecil'.
Cecil, with 75 Royal Ascot winners to his name, has won the Queen's Vase more than any other trainer. It is also the race, along with the King Edward VII Stakes, in which he enjoyed the most success with eight victories.
Jockeys riding in the Queen's Vase will wear black armbands, while there will also be a minute's silence on the Tuesday, the opening day of the meeting, after the arrival of the royal procession.
"Sir Henry was an intrinsic part of Royal Ascot with 75 winners over more than four decades," said Johnny Weatherby, Her Majesty's representative at Ascot.
"It is no secret that Royal Ascot was his favourite meeting of the year and we felt it was fitting to honour his achievements here next week, and remember the passing of one the greatest figures that the world of sport has ever seen.
"Our thoughts are with Sir Henry's family and I am delighted that Lady Jane will be accompanying the Countess of Wessex for the trophy presentation following the Queen's Vase."
Lady Cecil sends out two winners on first day | Horse Racing News | Racing Post
And there are few horses stabled at Warren Place that would have made a more fitting first winner for the yard in the post-Sir Henry Cecil era than Frankel's half-brother Morpheus.
As he powered clear to land the 1m½f ABG Law Classic Maiden Stakes at Nottingham under James Doyle, Morpheus became Lady Cecil's first winner since being granted a temporary licence following the death of her husband, and Britain's best-loved trainer, on Tuesday.
"The win was for Henry and also all the staff, who have been so supportive," said Lady Cecil.
Ten minutes later the Ian Mongan-ridden Songbird landed the three-runner Royal Ascot Money Back At BetVictor-com Fillies' Handicap at Yarmouth to complete an across-the-card double for the grieving yard although Tickled Pink, the 6-4 favourite for a Group 3 at Leopardstown, finished unplaced.
James Doyle, who was riding his third winner of the afternoon, said: "It is nice to be part of something special. Sir Henry was a trainer I'd always admired and I was hoping one day I'd get a ride for the stable."
Doyle may never have ridden for Warren Place while Sir Henry was at the helm, but his success on Morpheus sees him become part of the history of the yard and the legendary trainer's widow was grateful of Doyle's efforts.
Lady Cecil said: "He did it so well. He's taken time to get his act together but that was very pleasing and James gave him a great ride."
Within minutes of Lady Cecil's second winner crossing the line, Ascot announced that the Queen's Vase, run on the Friday of the royal meeting, would be run as 'The Queen's Vase In Memory of Sir Henry Cecil'.
Cecil, with 75 Royal Ascot winners to his name, has won the Queen's Vase more than any other trainer. It is also the race, along with the King Edward VII Stakes, in which he enjoyed the most success with eight victories.
Jockeys riding in the Queen's Vase will wear black armbands, while there will also be a minute's silence on the Tuesday, the opening day of the meeting, after the arrival of the royal procession.
"Sir Henry was an intrinsic part of Royal Ascot with 75 winners over more than four decades," said Johnny Weatherby, Her Majesty's representative at Ascot.
"It is no secret that Royal Ascot was his favourite meeting of the year and we felt it was fitting to honour his achievements here next week, and remember the passing of one the greatest figures that the world of sport has ever seen.
"Our thoughts are with Sir Henry's family and I am delighted that Lady Jane will be accompanying the Countess of Wessex for the trophy presentation following the Queen's Vase."
Lady Cecil sends out two winners on first day | Horse Racing News | Racing Post
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Say what you will about the wisdom, or the inadvisability, of government’s direct involvement in horse racing in New York, there are certain programmatic areas in which a close collaboration with the state can have a powerful and positive impact.
To that end, and for the first time in the 36-year history of New York State’s iconic “I Love NY” tourism campaign, a thrilling action image of horse racing is featured on the cover of the state’s annual summer travel guide – its signature promotional publication.
The splashy color photo features horses captured in midair as they land over a steeplechase obstacle on the turf homestretch at Saratoga Race Course. The Eclipse Award-winning photographer Skip Dickstein shot the photo for The Albany Times Union, which allowed the state to use it for this year’s guide.
Published in both print and online editions, the travel guide is produced by the New York State Department of Economic Development’s Division of Tourism and has long been one of the essential tools used to promote New York as a destination to consumers.
An attractive, glossy magazine loaded with colorful images and detailed information on destinations and attractions across the state, the 132-page guide also provides information on autumn and winter activities, as well. And it’s a bargain, too – it’s free.
Hard copies of the print edition can be found at selected welcome centers across the state. It also can be requested for delivery by mail via the state’s tourism Web site or via phone.
Conveying the action, drama and excitement embodied in racing, the photo’s placement on the state travel guide’s cover is the result of a concerted effort by local tourism and business interests in Saratoga County to attract the state’s participation in the promotion of a five-month celebration of the 150th anniversary of horse racing in Saratoga this summer that began May 1 in the picturesque upstate Victorian city.
Marylou Whitney, the beloved doyenne of horse racing in Saratoga, is an honorary chairperson of the Saratoga 150 celebration along with her husband John Hendrickson, and serves as its local celebrity spokesperson.
The travel guide cover gives a strong boost to Saratoga Springs and the Saratoga 150 celebration, the historic race course and annual race meeting (which runs from July 19 through Labor Day this summer), and the surrounding region. More broadly, it boldly recognizes horse racing in New York, reinforcing the sport’s image as fast-moving and thrilling to watch — with beautiful animals as its centerpiece — that visitors should not miss when visiting New York State.
Having spent the better part of 25 years involved in tourism promotion in New York State – half of those years in state government service overseeing the tourism services and welcome centers along the New York Thruway and promoting the state’s 524-mile canal system, including the legendary Erie Canal, as a world-class tourism and recreational resource — I know how highly popular this publication is with both residents and visitors as an essential reference for planning vacations. As a tourism marketer, I also know that landing the annual state travel guide cover is a prime placement — a coveted bonus that automatically enhances any destination promotion effort.
At a time when horse racing can use all the friends it can get as marketing partners to help promote the sport and strengthen its recently beleaguered public image, highly influential ones like the state’s I Love NY campaign — widely acknowledged as one of the most recognizable brands in the world — are some of the best kind to have.
The timing of this featured exposure for racing is auspicious, too. In the closing minutes of an all-day tourism industry summit meeting convened in Albany on May 8, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the allocation of $60 million in new funding for the state’s tourism promotion efforts, which represents the highest funding level in the history of the I Love NY campaign. It’s a substantial boost for an industry that attracts to New York more than 200 million visitors annually, generates $57 billion in direct spending and is responsible for 714,000 jobs, according to the governor’s office.
In its own right, the horse industry in New York — including racing, other horse sports and related equestrian activities, breeding, and ancillary businesses — has a $4.2 billion impact on the state’s economy and generates the equivalent of about 33,000 full-time jobs, according to a study released in October by the New York State Horse Racing and Agriculture Industry Alliance.
In December, the New York State Racing Fan Advisory Council released its first report and recommendations to the state’s Racing and Wagering Board (now Gaming Commission). Included among the Council’s recommendations was the development of an “I Love NY Horse Racing” promotion. Certainly, such an initiative would be consistent with the desire the governor expressed at the recent tourism summit to tap new avenues for tourism product development, particularly those within the sporting events sector. Given the world-class horse racing and other well-established horse-related events and facilities that already exist in New York, it would seem to be a no-brainer to cleverly package and promote those resources collectively in collaboration with the I Love NY program to broaden their appeal and extend further their economic impact as tourism attractions.
“Tourism is marketing,” the governor said during the industry summit. “Ultimately, it all comes down to the product we’re marketing, and we have the best product imaginable.”
Perhaps it was Whitney who best described the obvious link between tourism and horse racing when she accepted a special Eclipse Award of Merit in Florida in 2011.
“We should also remember that racing is not just about the betting,” she said. “The beauty, pageantry, and flair is what separates our sport from any
To that end, and for the first time in the 36-year history of New York State’s iconic “I Love NY” tourism campaign, a thrilling action image of horse racing is featured on the cover of the state’s annual summer travel guide – its signature promotional publication.
The splashy color photo features horses captured in midair as they land over a steeplechase obstacle on the turf homestretch at Saratoga Race Course. The Eclipse Award-winning photographer Skip Dickstein shot the photo for The Albany Times Union, which allowed the state to use it for this year’s guide.
Published in both print and online editions, the travel guide is produced by the New York State Department of Economic Development’s Division of Tourism and has long been one of the essential tools used to promote New York as a destination to consumers.
An attractive, glossy magazine loaded with colorful images and detailed information on destinations and attractions across the state, the 132-page guide also provides information on autumn and winter activities, as well. And it’s a bargain, too – it’s free.
Hard copies of the print edition can be found at selected welcome centers across the state. It also can be requested for delivery by mail via the state’s tourism Web site or via phone.
Conveying the action, drama and excitement embodied in racing, the photo’s placement on the state travel guide’s cover is the result of a concerted effort by local tourism and business interests in Saratoga County to attract the state’s participation in the promotion of a five-month celebration of the 150th anniversary of horse racing in Saratoga this summer that began May 1 in the picturesque upstate Victorian city.
Marylou Whitney, the beloved doyenne of horse racing in Saratoga, is an honorary chairperson of the Saratoga 150 celebration along with her husband John Hendrickson, and serves as its local celebrity spokesperson.
The travel guide cover gives a strong boost to Saratoga Springs and the Saratoga 150 celebration, the historic race course and annual race meeting (which runs from July 19 through Labor Day this summer), and the surrounding region. More broadly, it boldly recognizes horse racing in New York, reinforcing the sport’s image as fast-moving and thrilling to watch — with beautiful animals as its centerpiece — that visitors should not miss when visiting New York State.
Having spent the better part of 25 years involved in tourism promotion in New York State – half of those years in state government service overseeing the tourism services and welcome centers along the New York Thruway and promoting the state’s 524-mile canal system, including the legendary Erie Canal, as a world-class tourism and recreational resource — I know how highly popular this publication is with both residents and visitors as an essential reference for planning vacations. As a tourism marketer, I also know that landing the annual state travel guide cover is a prime placement — a coveted bonus that automatically enhances any destination promotion effort.
At a time when horse racing can use all the friends it can get as marketing partners to help promote the sport and strengthen its recently beleaguered public image, highly influential ones like the state’s I Love NY campaign — widely acknowledged as one of the most recognizable brands in the world — are some of the best kind to have.
The timing of this featured exposure for racing is auspicious, too. In the closing minutes of an all-day tourism industry summit meeting convened in Albany on May 8, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the allocation of $60 million in new funding for the state’s tourism promotion efforts, which represents the highest funding level in the history of the I Love NY campaign. It’s a substantial boost for an industry that attracts to New York more than 200 million visitors annually, generates $57 billion in direct spending and is responsible for 714,000 jobs, according to the governor’s office.
In its own right, the horse industry in New York — including racing, other horse sports and related equestrian activities, breeding, and ancillary businesses — has a $4.2 billion impact on the state’s economy and generates the equivalent of about 33,000 full-time jobs, according to a study released in October by the New York State Horse Racing and Agriculture Industry Alliance.
In December, the New York State Racing Fan Advisory Council released its first report and recommendations to the state’s Racing and Wagering Board (now Gaming Commission). Included among the Council’s recommendations was the development of an “I Love NY Horse Racing” promotion. Certainly, such an initiative would be consistent with the desire the governor expressed at the recent tourism summit to tap new avenues for tourism product development, particularly those within the sporting events sector. Given the world-class horse racing and other well-established horse-related events and facilities that already exist in New York, it would seem to be a no-brainer to cleverly package and promote those resources collectively in collaboration with the I Love NY program to broaden their appeal and extend further their economic impact as tourism attractions.
“Tourism is marketing,” the governor said during the industry summit. “Ultimately, it all comes down to the product we’re marketing, and we have the best product imaginable.”
Perhaps it was Whitney who best described the obvious link between tourism and horse racing when she accepted a special Eclipse Award of Merit in Florida in 2011.
“We should also remember that racing is not just about the betting,” she said. “The beauty, pageantry, and flair is what separates our sport from any
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The centre, home to both thoroughbred and quarter horse operations, was in the direct path of the storm, bordering the southern part of Oklahoma City, which killed a number of horses.
"This thing was a little over a mile wide and traveled on the ground 11 miles," said Betty Raper, who with her husband, Dee, operate Belle Mere Farm in nearby Norman, about three miles south of Moore. "It just gives you the chills," she told Daily Racing Form.
Trainer Mark Lee had a small thoroughbred operation at Celestial Acres at the time the storm hit Monday afternoon.
"I had 12 head, and they're all gone," Lee said Tuesday. Lee lives about six miles from Celestial Acres.
"I showed up a few minutes after it happened," he said. "There were mangled horses everywhere. I had one guy in the barn trying to let horses go when it hit. He survived. He dug himself out of the rubble. I have no idea how."
Lee said that 20 to 25 horses in a barn on the north side of the training centre survived. He said that the structure simply had its roof torn off and that the animals were okay.
Celestial Acres Training Center is one of two businesses on a 160-acre tract of land owned by Glenn Orr and his son Tom, according to Tony Vann, a spokesman for the family. The training centre rents out stalls. Tom Orr races horses and has some runners based at Lone Star Park near Dallas.
Vann said there was no loss of human life on the Orr properties. The number of horses stabled at the facility and their status could not be confirmed, he said late Monday, but some trainers speculated there were at least 80 thoroughbreds or quarter horses there. Raper said she heard that as many as 75 horses in the Moore area may have died.
USA Oklahoma tornado rips through training centre | Horse Racing News | Racing Post