Attendance Still Up, Handle Off Slightly  At Six-Week Mark

DEL MAR, Calif. – Figures at the six-week point of the Del Mar race meeting continued to follow the same pattern they have all meet long with attendance up over 2009’s numbers, while overall handle is down slightly from last summer’s bet amounts.

Through Sunday’s (8/29/10) 30th day of the track’s 37-day session, the daily average on-track crowd count was up 2.3 percent from 18,179 per afternoon in 2009 to 18,605…

(Edited Saratoga Race Course report)

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) will offer three lucky fans the chance to place a $1,000 win wager on the horse of their choice in one of three races run on the afternoon of Wednesday, Sept. 1. 

Entry forms for the promotion will be issued to the first 10,000 patrons admitted to the racetrack on Wednesday and must be completed and deposited by 2 p.m. at the Information Booth…

MI Developments release

AURORA, Ont. – MI Developments Inc., in conjunction with MID’s premier racing properties, Gulfstream Park, Santa Anita Park, Golden Gate Fields, Pimlico Race Course and XpressBet Inc. expanded the lucrative PREAKNESS 5.5 bonus program which could award an additional $5.5 million in bonuses to the winner of the 2011 Preakness Stakes, to also include the AmTote Jockey Bonus worth $100,000 to the winning rider of the Preakness Stakes who also rode the winner of one of the…

(Edited NYRA/Saratoga Race Course report)

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – First Dude, who has finished top three in four straight Grade 1 races, arrived Tuesday at Saratoga Race Course in advance of his run in the Grade 1, $1 million Travers Stakes on Saturday, Aug. 28.

“He handled the plane ride very well and arrived in good condition at Saratoga,” said Tammy Fox, exercise rider for the imposing 3-year-old son of Stephen Got Even.

First Dude, owned by Donald R Dizney…

(Edited NYRA/Saratoga Race Course report)

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – On Saturday, August 28, The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) will offer a special Double linking the Travers to the following day’s Personal Ensign, in addition to a $1 Million All-Graded Stakes Late Pick 4 on Travers Day.

The 141st running of the Grade 1 Travers, scheduled as the 12th of 13th races on Saturday, Aug. 28 with a 5:46 p.m. EDT post time, is expected to draw Kentucky Derby…

Paul Rich
Maryland Jockey Club

TIMONIUM, Md. – The Maryland State Fair, the only remaining state fair east of the Mississippi to continue to present Thoroughbred horse racing, kicks off it’s seven day meeting on Friday. Nine races are on the program.

Racing will be conducted over the next two weekends – Friday August 27 through Sunday Aug. 29 and Friday Sept. 3 through Monday Sept. 6. Post time on all racing days is 1 p.m. except Sunday Sept.…

(Edited NYRA/Saratoga Race Course report)

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Betfair TVG will make $30,000 worth of donations to three charities selected by the owner of Devil May Care, who came out on top in the Betfair TVG Triple Tiara series.

Owned by John Greathouse of Glencrest Farm, Devil May Care completed the series with 12 points, earning 10 points for her victory in the Grade 1 Betfair TVG Coaching Club American Oaks and two points for starting in that race…

Jennifer Hoyt
Oaklawn Park

HOT SPRINGS, ARK. – Oaklawn, with a 3-year-old stakes program that has included the winner of four of the past six Triple Crown races, two recent Horse of the Year Award winners and back-to-back Kentucky Oaks winners, announces a 32-stakes program for the 2011 Season featuring purses of $4.6 million.

Mike Gathagan
Vice President-Communications
Maryland Jockey Club

LAUREL, Md. – The Maryland Jockey Club and Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (MTHA) have agreed to the live racing dates and stakes schedule at Laurel Park for the balance of the calendar year. Since there is not a Maryland Racing Commission meeting this month executive director Mike Hopkins received approval via phone poll.

Jenny Kellner
NYRA/Saratoga Race Course

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – With Barbara Banke, wife of co-owner Jess Jackson, looking on from Saratoga Race Course’s historic grandstand, reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra turned in a strong six-furlong move over the main track this morning in preparation for the Grade 1, $300,000 Personal Ensign on Aug. 29.