The board that oversees horse racing in New York approved a $19 million bailout of state money for the New York Racing Association, NYRA officials said Monday. NYRA has long warned that if the association is forced to file for bankruptcy protection, the court action could cost New York ownership of Aqueduct, Belmont and Saratoga race tracks.
All Horse Racing, a privately held international gaming company, today announced the Annual Breeders’ Cup Special. The Breeders’ Cup Championships is an annual series of horse races sponsored by the National Thoroughbred Association. The one-day event takes place at different locations each year with the 2006 series being held at Churchill Downs.
Bernardini and Lava Man gain top odds to win $5 million Breeders??? Cup Classic race, which will run on Nov. 4 at Churchill Downs. Bernardini comes with a gleaming record of six straight wins– including the Preakness Stakes, Travers Stakes and Jockey Club Gold Cup. He was made the early 8-5 favorite for the BC Classic.
The 60-day Tropical at Calder Meet began on Monday, Oct. 16, and runs through Jan. 2, 2007. Key dates include the simulcast of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships from Churchill Downs on Nov. 4; the Florida Million on Nov. 11; Extreme Day (redux) on Nov. 25; Grand Slam I on Dec. 2; Grand Slam II on Dec. 16; Grand Slam III on Dec. 30; and the Tropical Park Derby (GIII) on New Year’s Day. The first "derby" of the year in the country, the Tropical Park Derby was last won by Barbaro on Jan. 1, 2006, who went on to claim the roses in the 132nd Kentucky Derby on May 6.
Scat Daddy, edged past favored Nobiz Like Showbiz for a three-quarter-length victory in Saturday’s 135th running of the $400,000 Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park. With the win, Scat Daddy earned a spot in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, which will take place at Churchill Downs on November 4.
Due moved to front on the far turn and pulled away to win the $250,000 Maryland Million Classic at Laurel Park on Saturday. Due, a 5-year-old gelding bred by King Leatherbury and trained by Dale Capuano, covered 1 3/16 miles in 1:58.38 and paid $21.80 to win.
NEW YORK (AP) — Todd Pletcher is having a year to remember, and there are still three months to go.The trainer smashed the season earnings record he set a year ago with a super Saturday that included victories in three Grade 1 stakes at Belmont Park and a Grade 2 win at Philadelphia Park. When Fleet Indian won the Beldame Stakes at Belmont, the winner’s share of $360,000 pushed Pletcher past his previous record of $20,867,842.