Complimentary Pace Report for Opening Day at Kentucky Downs

September 4, 2021 by Leave a Comment

Predicting the pace of the race is a critical aspect of successful handicapping.  Today, I present a pace chart which breaks down where each runner is expected to be during the running of the race – on opening day at Kentucky Downs.

Obviously, starting breaks and jockey tendencies/decisions play a major role in how the race plays out.  But put the percentages in your favor BEFORE the race by anticipating how the race will be run.  From there, you can decide which runners may benefit and which may be compromised.  It can often be the deciding factor between choosing your preferred horse in the race.

 

Sunday, 9/5/2021
Kentucky Downs
Race 1 Expected Pace Leaders Stalkers Mid-Pack Closers Unknown/FTS
12.0 Furlongs / Turf Slow 7 3-5-9 2-8-6-4 10-1
Race 2
6.50 Furlongs / Turf Unknown 2 12-14-16 11-4-13-8 1-3-5-6-7-9-10-15
Race 3
8 Furlongs / Turf Very Fast 3-6-5 8-14-7 12-1-2-10 4-11-9-15-16-13
Race 4
8 Furlongs / Turf Modest 6-7 4-9 5-1-10-8 3 2-1A
Race 5
6.50 Furlongs / Turf Honest 3 9-4-11 13-14-1-10 8-7-6-2-12-5
Race 6
8 Furlongs / Turf Slow 4 6-10-2 7-3-9-8 1-5
Race 7
6.50 Furlongs / Turf Honest *14 5-12-13 7-11-15-10 8-2-3-9-16-1-6 4
Race 8
6.50 Furlongs / Turf Unknown 6 13-3-7 14-12-8-1 2-4-5-9-10-11-15
Race 9
10.50 Furlongs / Turf Slow 6-7-5 1-4 8-3-2 9
Race 10
10.50 Furlongs / Turf Honest/Fast 8 4-1-9 12-7-11-3 6-2-5-10
Race 11
6.50 Furlongs / Turf Honest/Fast 10 14-15-13 3-11-5-9 12-1-2-6-8-16-4 7
Filed Under: Handicapping 101, Horse Racing Education Tagged With: , , ,

Is Horse Racing Dead? Not at Little ‘Ole Kentucky Downs

September 22, 2020 by Leave a Comment

Kentucky Downs enjoys another record-breaking meet with total betting at over $59M on 62 races

By Jennie Rees and Dick Downey
Kentucky Downs 2020 Recap

Even before Saffie Joseph won Wednesday’s eighth race with Sugar Fix on closing day of the RUNHAPPY Meet at Kentucky Downs, the trainer’s thoughts had turned to next year.

“First meet here. I love it,” said Joseph, one of America’s fast-rising trainers who this summer expanded his East Coast base to include Kentucky. “It’s a cool setting, different from what you’re used to seeing in America. It’s kind of like a European track. I’m coming back every year. As long as we have the owners providing the horses, we hope to make this an important part of our year.”

Fergus Galvin, a representative for Qatar Racing’s Sheikh Fahad al Thani, said that Guildsman’s victory in the Grade 3 Franklin-Simpson Stakes on the closing card “certainly made Sheikh Fahad a big fan of Kentucky Downs. He’s already wanting to stock up the stable to point to the meeting next year.”

Kentucky Downs smashed its betting records at the six-date meet with total wagering of $59,828,444 on 62 races, including $9,487,705 on Wednesday’s 10-race finale. The previous record was last year’s $41,239,699 for 50 races over five days….

Kentucky Downs purses since 2011
Year (dates) purses
2020 (6) $12,337,000
2019 (5) $11,520,380
2018 (5) $10,273,630
2017 (5) $8,625,396
2016 (5) $7,923,476
2015 (5) $6,609,355
2014 (5) $4,875,722
2013 (5) $4,150,687
2012 (5) $2,086,650
2011 (4) $796,810

Filed Under: Horse Racing News, Horse Racing Survival, Is Horse Racing Dead Tagged With: ,

Kentucky Downs Purchased by Kentucky Racing Acquisition, LLC

November 16, 2018 by Leave a Comment

Kentucky Downs 2015FRANKLIN, Ky. – Kentucky Racing Acquisition, LLC (“KRA”), a new company co-founded by Ron Winchell and Marc Falcone, announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to purchase all the assets of Kentucky Downs from parent company Kentucky Downs Partners, LLC, the investment group that has owned the race track since 2007.

Located near the Kentucky and Tennessee border, just off Interstate 65 and approximately 45 miles from Nashville, Tenn., Kentucky Downs features more than 750 Historical Horse Racing (“HHR”) machines and conducts live turf racing each September, including the annual running of the Grade III Kentucky Turf Cup race, on North America’s only “European-style” race course. Kentucky Downs is a pioneer in modern Historic Horse Racing, the electronic form of pari-mutuel betting on horses gaining nationwide recognition as one of the great financial success stories in the sport’s history. Since the introduction of the HHR machines, betting on racing at the southern Kentucky facility has increased from $20 million in 2010 to nearly $800 million to date in 2018.

The co-founders of KRA are well-known within the horse racing and casino gaming industries. Ron Winchell oversees his family’s Winchell Thoroughbreds, a prominent racing and breeding operation located in Lexington, KY that currently owns more than 120 horses including racing and breeding stock. Marc Falcone brings significant financial and gaming experience to Kentucky Downs, having previously served as Executive Vice President VP, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Red Rock Resorts, Inc and Station Casinos from 2011 to 2017. His previous investment business background includes Goldman Sachs & Co., where he focused on restructuring transactions in the hospitality and gaming sectors; Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., where as managing director he was recognized as one of the gaming, lodging and leisure industry’s top analysts; and Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.

The Winchell name is immediately recognizable in racing circles from its nationwide success and association with two extraordinary horses – recent Horse of the Year Gun Runner and three-time leading sire Tapit. Winchell also operates more than 20 gaming locations across Nevada. His passion for racing is a tribute to his late father Verne’s commitment to and history in Kentucky horse racing and breeding.

“Some of my fondest early memories are of visiting race tracks with my father and thoroughbred racing has been a passion of mine ever since. As such, I am personally thrilled to be carrying our family name into this exciting opportunity to take the reins of Kentucky Downs, one of American racing’s great success stories of the past decade,” Winchell said. “This represents the first step in KRA’s plan to further advance racing and HHR in the Commonwealth.”

Ray Reid, President of Kentucky Downs Management, Inc. and Kentucky Downs Partners, LLC, said he sees KRA, Winchell and Falcone as a “perfect fit” for the next chapter in the track’s history. “We purchased Kentucky Downs in 2007 with the goal of reversing the business fortunes of Kentucky racing, and I believe we have done that. Kentucky Downs Partners is confident that Ron and Marc are the right people to continue to expand on this momentum, so much so that many of our current owners intend to be part of and support the new investment group moving forward.”

Marc Falcone commented, “Our agreement to acquire Kentucky Downs represents a terrific opportunity that is consistent with our business plan to grow through strategic investments in racing facilities and apply our operational and management expertise to support future growth. Our commitment to horse racing extends beyond this announced plan to acquire Kentucky Downs as Ron and I believe there are other opportunities where our combined expertise and experience can help foster consistent growth for the sport.”

“KRA is committed to continually improve and enhance the business at Kentucky Downs by investing new capital in additional food, beverage and hospitality offerings as well as in technology and property infrastructure to grow the customer’s entertainment experience. KRA also is focused on the potential opportunity to develop a new facility in Oak Grove, KY if awarded that license by KHRC. An Oak Grove property under the umbrella of the new Kentucky Downs ownership would enable constructive marketing and operational synergies, optimizing market development and economic return to the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the many stakeholders in Kentucky racing, including owners, trainers, breeders and other professionals. With Kentucky Downs’ familiarity and understanding of the Nashville market, KRA would be strategically positioned to maximize that market for Kentucky,” Falcone added.

“Kentucky Downs is a great facility with a hard-working team of more than 200 employees and a bright future,” Winchell said. “The total commitment of Kentucky Downs to the horse racing industry, the Commonwealth and its guests and employees has been conclusively demonstrated by continuous reinvestment in the facility and the development of the blueprint for HHR elsewhere in the state. Marc and I are committed to leveraging our passion and love for this great sport and our knowledge of gaming operations to help Kentucky Downs and Kentucky racing to continue to thrive.”

The KRA transaction is expected to close early in Q1 2019, subject to regulatory approvals from Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) and other customary closing conditions. Financial terms were not disclosed.

(Photos: Ron Winchell, courtesy Winchell Thoroughbreds, Anne Eberhardt Keogh photo. Ron Winchell talked with NBC’s Laffit Pincay III after Gun Runner won the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar. Credit: Breeders’ Cup)

Source: Kentucky Downs

Filed Under: Horse Racing News Tagged With: , , ,

Kentucky Downs Opens September 1. Record Purses on Tap

August 28, 2018 by Leave a Comment

Kentucky Racetrack to Offer Record Purses

Kentucky Downs will offer a record $10 million in purses and Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund supplements at its five-date meet Sept. 1-13, with all 13 existing stakes getting increases and the creation of the $500,000 Kentucky Downs Juvenile Turf Sprint.

The Juvenile Turf Sprint, to be held Sept. 8, is designed as a steppingstone to the new $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint to be held Nov. 2 at Churchill Downs. The Kentucky Downs Juvenile Turf Sprint, with $250,000 of its $500,000 purse available to Kentucky-bred and -sired horses through the KTDF, will be run at 6 1/2 furlongs.

The Kentucky Downs Juvenile and the Exacta Systems Juvenile Fillies were stretched in distance from seven furlongs to a mile. Those races are Sept. 1 and go from $350,000 to $400,000, including KTDF money.

“We have witnessed the rise in the importance of turf racing in America, as evidenced by the Breeders’ Cup adding the Juvenile Turf Sprint, so we want to mirror that trend,” said Ted Nicholson, Kentucky Downs’ senior vice president and general manager. “We believe the Juvenile Turf Sprint will be a home run for the Breeders’ Cup in its first year, and it made sense for us to provide a logical pathway to that race.

“One of our goals is to be complementary to the great turf stakes at Keeneland and the Breeders’ Cup races at Churchill Downs. We see it as a terrific opportunity for horses to run at Kentucky Downs, Keeneland and Churchill Downs, never having to leave the Commonwealth as the international spotlight shines on our racetracks.”

The all-turf course on the Tennessee line will stage two stakes worth $750,000, with its Grade 3 Calumet Farm Kentucky Turf Cup on Sept. 8 bumped from $600,000 and the Sept. 1Tourist Mile jumping from $400,000. Both races offer $400,000 in base purses plus an additional $350,000 in KTDF money.

The Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint and Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf, both Grade 3 races, were raised to $500,000, from $400,000 and $350,000 respectively. The Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint, which earned Grade 3 status for 2018, now is $450,000, up $100,000.

Maiden ($130,000 for Kentucky-bred horses) and allowance races ($140,000-$145,000 for Kentucky-breds) remain the highest in North America.

The track also is offering four $100,000 races held under starter-allowance conditions on Sept. 9 to serve as preps for the Claiming Crown late in the year at Gulfstream Park. The races (two apiece for males and for fillies and mares at 6 1/2 furlongs and a mile and 70 yards) are for horses who have started for a claiming price of $25,000 or less since Jan. 1, 2017. The winners receive an automatic spot in the associated Claiming Crown event and up to $1,000 for shipping to Florida.

The enhancements are made possible by the success of Kentucky Downs’ historical horse-racing operation. In addition, Kentucky Downs is transferring $2.4 million in purses and KTDF money to Ellis Park in an arrangement approved by the Kentucky Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association, which represents owners and trainers at the state’s five thoroughbred tracks. The deal includes creating four $100,000 turf stakes Aug. 5 for a Kentucky Downs Preview Day positioned as launching pads to their corresponding Kentucky Downs race.

Kentucky Downs 2018 turf stakes*

Saturday, Sept. 1 — $750,000 Tourist Mile, 3yo & up, mile; $400,000 Exacta Systems Juvenile, 2yo fillies, mile; $400,000 Kentucky Downs Juvenile, 2yo, mile; $250,000 One Dreamer (non-winners of a stakes in 2018), fillies & mares 3yo & up, mile and 70 yards.
Thursday, Sept. 6 — $250,000 Old Friends (non-winners of a stakes in 2018), 3yo & up, mile and 70 yards.
Saturday, Sept. 8 — $750,000 Calumet Farm Kentucky Turf Cup (G3), 3yo & up, 1 1/2 miles; $500,000 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf (G3), 3yo & up, 6 1/2 furlongs; $500,000 Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint (G3), 3yo &up, 6 1/2 furlongs; $500,000 Kentucky Downs Juvenile Turf Sprint; $450,000 Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint (G3), fillies and mares 3yo & up, 6 1/2 furlongs.
Sunday, Sept. 9 — $400,000 Exacta Systems Dueling Grounds Derby, 3yos, 1 5/16 miles; $300,000 Dueling Grounds Oaks, 3yo fillies, 1 5/16 miles.
Thursday, Sept. 13 — $400,000 Ramsey Farm, fillies and mares 3yo &up, 1 5/16 miles; $300,000 Franklin-Simpson, 3yo, 6 1/2 furlongs.

Source: Press Release

*includes Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund money

Filed Under: Horse Racing News, Is Horse Racing Dead Tagged With: , , ,

#LiveAtKyDowns Post Time Contest to Award Race Meet Packages

July 9, 2018 by Leave a Comment

Kentucky Downs 2015Two grand-prize packages to 2018 race meet up for grabs

While the 2018 live meet isn’t until September, America’s most unique racecourse has launched a social-media contest where fans can earn a trip to Kentucky Downs by posting on Facebook and/or Twitter about the track.

The #LiveAtKyDowns Post Time Contest is free. Simply post on Facebook, Twitter or both why you want to attend Kentucky Downs’ live race meet for the first time or why you want to go back. To be eligible for the grand prize, posts must include the hashtag #LiveAtKyDowns and an entry blank must be filled out and returned for every submission, with the forms available on kentuckydowns.com, facebook.com/KyDownsGaming and twitter.com/KyDownsRacing. Direct link to form:

The #LiveAtKyDowns Post Time Contest will award two grand prizes: one for an entrant residing within 200 miles of the track on the Tennessee border and one going to an entrant residing more than 200 miles away. The contest begins immediately and ends July 31, with the winners to be announced Sunday, Aug. 5 at Ellis Park’s Kentucky Downs Preview Day, which features four $100,000 turf stakes funded by money transferred from Kentucky Downs’ purse account.

Kentucky Downs staff will select the two grand prize recipients on a purely subjective basis, including originality and passion exhibited in the winning posts. Judges may consider a series of posts collectively in determining a winner. The #LiveAtKyDowns Post Time Contest is not a sweepstakes and is not determined by random drawing.

The two grand prize winners will be Kentucky Downs’ guests for live racing Sept. 6, 8 and 9, including hotel accommodations for up to five nights. The regional winner will receive a betting voucher for $1,000 and up to four tickets in either the Turf Club Tent or Finish Line Pavilion for any or all of the three race days they are able to attend. The national winner will be reimbursed for airfare up to $600 for one person or up to $1,000 for two, a $500 betting voucher and two tickets in the Turf Club Tent or Finish Line Pavilion for any or all of the three race days they are able to attend.

Winners will have a race named after them and present a trophy to the winning connections.

Got Rebates?  Get instant cash rewards through this wagering website.

“We receive so many endearing comments from people around the country saying why they love visiting Kentucky Downs or why it’s on their bucket list that we decided to give our fans a chance to win a trip here,” said Ted Nicholson, Kentucky Downs senior vice president and general manager. “We wanted to have two grand prize winners because Kentucky Downs has so many loyal guests in the region, but we also want to recognize the people betting on our horse races from across the nation who have led to our record-setting meets. We think we can have a lot of fun with our #LiveAtKyDowns Post Time Contest and encourage people to enter early and often.”

There is no limit to the number of entries a person can make, though the social-media posts must be different in at least one aspect, such as phrasing, photo or video. The same post can be used on both Facebook and Twitter.

All posts must be visible to the general public and have the ability to be “retweeted” or “shared.” By entering the contest, participants agree to let Kentucky Downs use all or parts of any posts, including photos, videos and memes, for publicity or news purposes.

Kentucky Downs reserves the right to tailor the trip to accommodate winner’s travel schedules. Contest participants must be at least 18 years old. Complete rules available below and at KentuckyDowns.com.

#LiveAtKyDowns Post Time Contest

Two grand prizes:

National (outside 200 miles):
Airfare for one up to $600; airfare for two up to $1,000 to attend Kentucky Downs’ live race meet Sept. 6-9, 2018 (live racing that Thursday, Saturday and Sunday). Winner will be reimbursed upon arrival at Kentucky Downs.
Hotel room for up to five nights, Sept. 5-9, 2018, at Hampton Inn-Franklin KY or Comfort Suites, Portland TN. Value $500.
$500 betting voucher
Two tickets each race day in either the Turf Club Tent or Finish Line Pavilion
Race named after the winner

Regional (within 200 miles):
Hotel room for up to five nights, Sept. 5-9, 2018, at Hampton Inn-Franklin KY or Comfort Suites, Portland TN. Value $500.
$1,000 betting voucher
Four tickets each race day in either the Turf Club Tent or Finish Line Pavilion
Race named after the winner

Rules:

Must be 18 years old to enter.  Free to enter.

Contest starts immediately and runs through July 31, with winners to be announced Aug. 5 during Kentucky Downs Preview Day at Ellis Park.

Contest participants post on Twitter and/or Facebook about why you want to go to Kentucky Downs for the first time or why (if you’ve been) you want to go back.

Must use hashtag #LiveAtKyDowns on either Twitter or Facebook.

All Twitter and Facebook posts must be able to be shared publicly, with Kentucky Downs having the ability to retweet or share, in order to count as an entry.

Participants must fill out an official entry form on facebook.com/KYDownsGaming/, twitter.com/KyDownsRacing or kentuckydowns.com, specifying whether post appears on Twitter or Facebook or both, date of posting, your name, address, phone number, email and birthdate, along with direct link to the post and the text of the post. Entrants have the option of including professional or personal information (such as how long you’ve been a racing fan, or how you became a fan).

Entrants must be able to establish proprietary right to photos and/or video. By submitting an entry, the entrant gives Kentucky Downs the right to use all or parts of the social-media posts, including any photos or video, for news and promotional use both in 2018 and beyond.

No limit on number of entries by a single participant.

The same post can be on Twitter and Facebook.

Kentucky Downs reserves the right to add sponsors to the contest or clarification of the rules at any time.

This is not a sweepstakes or drawing. Grand prize winners will be selected by a panel of Kentucky Downs employees, with judging completely subjective. Factors can include — but are not limited to — originality, passion, visual appeal and information about the entrant. Kentucky Downs’ decision on the winners is final.

Entries using profane or distasteful language or characterization will not be considered.

Kentucky Downs reserves the right to tailor the package to an individual winner.

If winner cannot attend during the 2018 live meet, efforts will be made to offer prize package to another participant.

Entry form to go with each post

The $750,000 Calumet Farm Kentucky Turf Cup, won last year by Oscar Nominated, is one of the many stakes #LiveAtKyDowns Post Time Contest winners will see. Grace Clark/Reed Palmer Photography

About Kentucky Downs
Located near the Kentucky-Tennessee border off Interstate 65, the year-round entertainment center offers live racing on its unique 1 5/16-mile European-style turf course in September. Simulcasting is available seven days a week, as well as pari-mutuel wagering on Historical Horse Racing, charitable gaming, dining and other events. Racing has been conducted at the facility since 1990, when it was called Dueling Grounds.
2018 live race meet: Sept. 1, 6, 8, 9, 13

Filed Under: Horse Racing contests & tournaments, Horse Racing Promotion | Marketing Tagged With: , ,

AGOS Horses to Watch – October 5, 2017

October 5, 2017 by Leave a Comment

Horses to Watch

Kentucky Downs

9/9/17

Race #2 – Mdn Sp Wt – 6 1/2f  turf – #4 – Shirl’s Ready

Shirl’s Ready = This son of More Than Ready was off four months coming in from CD. Ricardo Santana aboard and he looked to be heading for a big effort. – He sported a nice work at Ellis Park and shifted out and dug in gamely showing a very solid turn of late kick. He will most probably be heading back to CD and we’ll be looking there and possibly Keeneland for a trip over the greensward.

Race #4 – Mdn Sp Wt -6 1/2f turf – #7 – Jolly Good

Jolly Good = Daughter of Paddy O’ Prado making her first start in just a shade over 4 months coming in from Keeneland. She is bred to relish the turf and was coming off a 6 1/2f effort on the dirt and getting her day on the undulating turf. – She was slow to begin and forced to steady. Her late kick was evident and she can easily stretch out in distance. Keep your eyes peeled for this gal.

Race #8 – KyD Ladies Sprint – 6 1/2f turf – #2 – Fair Point

Fair Point = 3rd start off the layoff for the daughter of Smart Strike. She was exiting some nice stake races in New York and getting added distance. Her efforts put her in the mix looking for a hole and was forced to steady at the 1/4 pole and some back later down the lane settling for 4th with plenty left.

Del Mar

9/3/17

Race #8 – G2 Del Mar Derby – 1 1/8 on the turf – #3 – Bowies Hero

Bowies Hero = A son of Artie Schiller who was 2/2 at Del Mar. He comes from the high percentage Phil D’ Amato barn and came in off a win in the $100,000 Oceanside. He did a perfect job stalking and tipped off the rail going wide and lost his whip in the final 1/8th of the race. All in all, he still managed a very good third place effort.

 

Belmont Park

9/16/17

Race #2 – Mdn Claiming – 1 1/16 turf – #10 – Culture Carrier

Culture Carrier = Son of Kitten’s Joy for the Chad Brown barn. He is bred to relish the turf and had the services of Javier Castellano in the saddle. He tracked at the back of the pack and tipped off going two wide making a very strong bid. He finished 4th this day and his 2nd effort out should show a much-improved runner ready to seal the deal.

Race #5 – Mdn Sp Wt – 1 mile on the turf – #9 – City Day

City Day = Daughter of City Zip for Christophe Clement. She was getting first time Lasix (24%) and making her second start moving from the dirt to the turf. Her dam has 6 winners from 9 starters on the weeds and she had a couple works on the deep Oklahoma training track at Saratoga. – She tracked near the back and swung out 4 wide making a solid bid to be 3rd. This is a great building block race for efforts to come.

Race #7 – A.O.C – 1 mile on the turf – #10 – Black Tide

Black Tide = He is a blistering speed type under the handling of Jose Lezcano. He is 6/9 ITM over the Belmont turf and exits the $150k West Point stakes. Trainer David Cannizzo has him cranked up and he shows his early foot every time. He led all the way and floated out 7 wide in the turn and when Lezcano got him back on task he did some bumping down the lane. He got the show-dough this effort and can wire them easily. Just keep your eyes peeled for race lacking a torrid pace.

Race #9 – The G2 Sands Point – 1 1/8 on the turf – #10 – Inflexibility

Inflexibility = Daughter of Scat Daddy shipping in from Woodbine. She broke her maiden on the Belmont turf and is 3/3 ITM on the sod. She has a good late kick and was making a step up the class ladder against this field. Chad Brown trainee with Javier Castellano in the irons. – She was wide early on and was forced to steady off of heels early and gave her best effort to be 4th. I think she is sitting on a big effort but you just can’t strut your stuff against better when you have any kind of traffic problems.

Race #10 – Claiming – 1 mile on the turf – #12 – Performance Bonus

Performance Bonus = Chad Brown runner breaking from the far post this day. He is a solid 3/3 ITM over the Belmont green and was dropping down in condition claiming levels. He was a beaten chalk the last race and Brown comes back to win (30%) on this move. He was hung even wider after the break and saw about an 1/8th of a mile if not further than the rest. Javier Castellano managed to rally for 3rd and this was a respectable effort all things considered.

Belmont Park

9/9/17

Race #2 – Mdn Sp Wt – 6f on the turf – #5 – Solid

Solid = Manny Franco in the irons for the Kiaran McLaughlin barn. He is a son of Smart Strike and has the breeding to suggest he will relish the turf. – He was off slow from the start spotting the field extra ground. He made an excellent drive to get back in the game and made striking move splitting runners down the lane to be 3rd this day.

Race #4 – Mdn Sp Wt – 1 mile – #5 – Coal Truth

Coal Truth = A son of Mineshaft was making his 2nd career start for the Chad Brown barn (27%). He was a beaten favorite his first time out and going from a sprint to a route where Brown scores at a (32%) clip. – He made contact with some runners this day and the two-yr-old was squeezed back at multiple times. He ran third but was put up to 2nd as the result of a DQ. – Keep this race on your “key races” to watch runners who exit.

Race #9 – AOC – 1 1/16 on the turf – #2 – Vision Colors

Vision Colors = Speedster shipping back from Parx. This son of Pollard’s Vision loves Belmont going 10/11 ITM at “Big Sandy.” – Manny Franco in the irons and stumbled at the start and still managed to get to the lead and show the way. He led all the way and called it a day at the top of the lane. Maybe the distance was too much or it was the compromised beginning that caused him to use up his early speed.

Filed Under: Off The Charts Trip Notes Tagged With: , , ,

This Track Will Offer Monster-sized Purses

April 21, 2017 by Leave a Comment

Press Release

Highlighted by two new graded-stakes events and a record $8.4 million in purses and supplemental Kentucky-bred monies, Kentucky Downs will offer one of the world’s most lucrative racing programs during its five-day, all-turf season Sept. 2 – 14.|

With the $400,000 Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint and $350,000 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf enjoying Grade 3 status for the first time, three of the track’s 13

stakes are now graded. The stakes duo joins the Grade 3, $600,000 Calumet Farm Kentucky Turf Cup at Kentucky Downs, which along with New York’s Belmont Park were the only tracks to gain more than one newly-graded stakes.

Graded stakes are those judged the best in America by the Thoroughbred Owners & Breeders Association’s American Graded Stakes Committee. The Turf Sprint and Ladies Turf are among only eight in the United States and Canada that received new Grade 3 rankings for 2017.

A record $8,404,000 will be offered in purses and Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund supplements at the meet, for an average exceeding $1.68 million a day — tops in the country. Even horses that aren’t registered Kentucky-breds will compete for some of the biggest pots in the country.

The mushrooming of purses is fueled by what horsemen earn through historical horse racing, an innovative pari-mutuel technology that allows patrons to bet on previously-run races for a different type of wagering experience.

“By working with our horsemen and embracing historical horse racing, Kentucky Downs is able to offer unprecedented purses. The owners and trainers have responded and now we’re getting over the hump to attract graded status for our stakes,” said Ted Nicholson, Kentucky Downs’ senior vice president and general manager. “Success will breed success, we believe exponentially. Additional graded stakes are so important, because that provides trainers from across the country more reasons to come for a short meet. And as they make plans for their Kentucky Downs’ contingent, we encourage them to put additional horses on the flight or van to go after our $130,000 maiden races, with allowance races $140,000 and $145,000 offered for Kentucky-breds, which comprise the vast majority of our horses.

“We want to be the prototype, to demonstrate how historical horse racing can be a game-changer for the good as an alternative gambling opportunity based on horse racing and which intrinsically is our product.”

The 1 1/2-mile Calumet Farm Kentucky Turf Cup, for which Skychai Racing’s Da Big Hoss is the two-time defending champion, will be conducted on the same blockbuster card Saturday, Sept. 9, as the 6 1/2-furlong Turf Sprint, mile Ladies Turf and $350,000 Ladies Sprint at 6 1/2 furlongs. The Turf Sprint received a $50,000 purse hike over 2016.

Kentucky Downs added a 3-year-old stakes: the $250,000 Franklin-Simpson to be held at seven-eighths of a mile on Thursday, Sept. 14, which is closing day.

Two stakes have new names paying tribute to past winners. The $400,000 Tourist Mile, formerly the More Than Ready Mile, honors WinStar Farm’s winner of the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Mile, Eclipse Award finalist and current WinStar stallion. Tourist won the stakes now bearing his name in 2015 off a 10-month layoff.

The 1 5/16-mile stakes for fillies and mares formerly known as the Kentucky Downs Ladies Marathon now is the $350,000 Ramsey Farm Stakes, recognizing the track and Kentucky’s all-time winningest owner in Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Nicholasville farm. The Ramseys won the stakes last year with Al’s Gal, who in her next start captured Woodbine’s Grade 1 E.P. Taylor. The Ramsey Farm also is on the closing card.

The Tourist Mile has been moved to Saturday, Sept. 2, which features a stakes quartet on the opening card. Also that day: The $350,000 Kentucky Downs Juvenile, $350,000 Exacta Systems Juvenile Fillies and $150,000 One Dreamer for fillies and mares.

Kentucky Downs is staging two additional $75,000 starter-allowance races for a total of four on Sunday, Sept. 10 that will serve as automatic qualifying races for the Claiming Crown in December at Gulfstream.

The Claiming Crown, which totaled $1.1 million in purses last year, serves as a Breeders’ Cup-style championship for claiming horses — the work horses of American racing.

The new Claiming Crown Canterbury Stakes Prep at Kentucky Downs, at 6 1/2 furlongs, will be for 3-year-olds and older horses that have raced for a claiming price of $25,000 or less since Jan. 1, 2016. The Claiming Crown Distaff Dash Stakes Prep at Kentucky Downs is the filly and mare counterpart. Also back for the second year are the Claiming Crown Emerald Stakes Prep at Kentucky Downs and Claiming Crown Tiara Prep at Kentucky Downs, both a mile and 70 yards.

Winners of the qualifying races are guaranteed a spot in the corresponding Claiming Crown race, with Kentucky Downs providing a shipping stipend of up to $1,000 and the $100 nomination fee.

“We are putting out our stakes schedule and condition book 4 1/2 months in advance to give horsemen plenty of time to chart out their summer and fall schedule,” said racing secretary Tyler Picklesimer. “We constantly work to improve our entire racing program in order to attract horses and horsemen from across the country and even overseas. We also appreciate that our bread and butter is the Kentucky horsemen, who have consistently proven that their horses hold their own no matter who shows up.

“Our Claiming Crown qualifiers provide big-money steppingstones to the championship for our blue-collar horses, allowing those owners and trainers their own day in the spotlight.”

Kentucky Downs’ 2017 stakes

Including KTDF supplements for Kentucky-breds

Saturday, Sept. 2 — $350,000 Exacta Systems Juvenile Fillies, 2yo fillies, 7 furlongs; $350,000 Kentucky Downs Juvenile, 2yos, 7 furlongs; $400,000 Tourist Mile, 3-year-olds & up, mile; $150,000 One Dreamer, fillies & mares 3 years old & up, mile and 70 yards. Thursday, Sept. 7 — $150,000 The Old Friends Stakes, 3-year-olds & up, mile and 70 yards. Saturday, Sept. 9 — $350,000 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf (G3), fillies & mares 3 years old & up, mile; $400,000 Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint (G3), 3-year-olds & up, 6 1/2 furlongs; $600,000 Calumet Farm Kentucky Turf Cup (G3), 3-year-olds & up, 1 1/2 miles; $350,000 Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint, fillies & mares 3 years old & up, 6 1/2 furlongs. Sunday, Sept. 10 — $350,000 Exacta Systems Dueling Grounds Derby, 3-year-olds, 1 5/16 miles; $200,000 Dueling Grounds Oaks, 3-year-old fillies, 1 5/16 miles. Sept. 14 — $350,000 Ramsey Farm, fillies & mares 3 years old & up, 1 5/16 miles; $250,000 Franklin-Simpson, 3-year-olds, 7 furlongs.

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Historic Horse Racing Continues to Crush It

March 5, 2017 by Leave a Comment

historic horse racing machineBOYNTON BEACH, Fla., March, 2017 /PRNewswire/ — Exacta Systems and Kentucky Downs once again shattered the single month historic horse racing handle record in February, with wagering in the 28-day month totaling $51.8 million. The previous record of $47.2 million was only one month old, having been set in January. This marks the third straight month that a new HHR (Historic Horse Racing) wagering record has been set at Kentucky Downs.

In addition to the record set at Kentucky Downs, Exacta set a one-month record by handling over $75 million in HHR wagers at its installations in Kentucky and Wyoming, up from its previous record of $68.6 million set last month.

“Despite the short month, Exacta and Kentucky Downs added over $4.5 million in pari-mutuel wagering handle when compared to January’s record numbers,” commented Exacta Systems President Jeremy Stein. “I am confident that with the introduction of Exacta Premium Game Titles with minimum jackpots of $100,000 at Kentucky Downs next month, the explosive growth of historic horse racing will continue. In January, Exacta went over $1 billion in total wagers handled since we first went live in 2015. We are on pace to do $1 billion in total wagers at our combined installations this year alone, which will continue generating millions in new revenue for purses, breeders incentive funds, racetrack operators and state general funds.”

For more information about the company and the Exacta historic horse racing system, visit www.exactasystems.com or the Exacta Systems Facebook page.

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AGOS Horses to Watch – Sept. 12, 2016

September 12, 2016 by Leave a Comment
track announcer with binoculars

Ed Meyer is the track announcer at Belterra

“Off the Charts” Trip Notes and Horses to Watch

Belmont Park

9/10/16

Race #5 – #6 – Afleet Martini – 6 1/2 f dirt

Stumbled badly at the start and Manny Franco recovered nicely and was roused to make a solid bid for 2nd money.

Race #9 – #2 – Data Driven – 7f turf

Joel Rosario saved ground for most of the race and tipped off the rail at the top of the lane. Six wide into the lane producing a late lick down the lane  for the Chad Brown barn.

9/11/16

Race #2 – #6 – Adulation – 1 mile dirt

Tracked under the guidance of Manny Franco and loomed boldly around the far turn. He turned in a top effort for the Ian Wilkes barn his rally was enough to show promise for his next outing.

Race #4 – #2 – Jamyson N Ginger – 6f dirt

Stumbled badly at the start, and recovered to uncork a rally showing promise for the next effort.

Kentucky Downs

9/10/16

Race #3 – #6 – Dahlia’s Foxy Lady – 1 mile turf

Florent Geroux’s mount was a first time starter who was off slowly and put in a bid to come up short down the lane. She’ll only get better off of this race and good things are just around the corner.

Race #6 – #2 – High Noon Rider – 1 mile turf

Joe Rocco’s mount came away from the gate in an awkward fashion and made a striking move at the 5/16th’s pole to finish a solid 4th place effort.

Race #8 – #1 – Fleet Bernie – 1 mile and 70 yards  turf

Brian Hernandez in the irons and he settled his mount to track nicely. Upon giving his cue for more run he was blocked badly and had to settle for 3rd money.

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$34.8M Sets New Single Month Historic Horse Racing Handle Record

January 5, 2016 by Leave a Comment

Historic Racing game slot machines Kentucky Downs Breaks Record with Historic Racing Game

FRANKLIN, Ky., Jan. 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — For the second time in six months, Kentucky Downs, utilizing the Encore Racing Based Games (RBG) Historic Horse Racing system and games, broke their single month handle record. The $34,873,506 wagered in December set a new one-month HHR handle record, besting the record set in July by almost $500,000.… [Read more…]

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