The West Virginia Racing Commission has approved 23 stakes at Charles Town for 2016, topped by its signature race, the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic, which has had its purse trimmed from $1.5 million to $1.25 million.
Besides the Charles Town Classic purse reduction, the schedule mirrors that of this year. The total value of the schedule is $2.9 million, down from $3.15 million in 2015.
Scott Sowle, a former Michigan-based trainer, jockey, and jockey agent, died Sunday at age 50.
Sowle was the agent for several prominent riders in the Midwest, including Scott Speith, T.D. Houghton, Brian Peck, Ronnie Allen Jr., and Mary Doser. He was married to Doser for several years.
A native of Bronson, Mich., Sowle most recently was living in Florida, working for Brook Ledge Horse Transportation as a booking agent at Palm Meadows training center and Belmont Park.
The daily average handle on the live racing at Golden Gate Fields and from all-sources showed increases during the 32-day 2015 fall meeting at the Albany, Calif, track.
Total handle figures were down because the 2014 meet ran for two more days. The 2015 meet started a week later than the 2014 meet, running from Oct. 22-Dec. 13.
Thanks to a 28.4 percent increase in out-of-state advance deposit wagering, total handle on Golden Gate's live racing was up 4.4 percent to $1,464,335 from $1,402,704 last year. Daily handle from all-sources was up 0.54 percent to $2,904,139.
Tampa Bay Downs has signed on to provide a per-start matching donation to the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance beginning with its current 2015-16 race meet. Horse owners will have the opportunity to contribute $5 per start to the TAA for each horse who starts in a race at Tampa Bay Downs. The track will match all contributions made by owners.
Longtime Pennsylvania horsemen Keith LeBarron died Monday at age 62 following a brief illness.
LeBarron, a resident of Bensalem, Pa., was represented by three runners at Parx Racing on the day of his death and won his final race on Saturday at Parx.
LeBarron and his wife, Susan, operated a medium-sized stable and owned a number of the runners they trained. LeBarron began his training career in 1976. He was based at Penn National from 1981 to 1991 and has had a stable at Parx ever since. He won 1,196 races and had purse earnings of $16.5 million.
Workers' compensation insurance rates to cover jockeys and exercise riders could increase dramatically at New York Thoroughbred tracks in 2016 unless the New York Gaming Commission approves a plan submitted Monday - more than a month after it was due - that could keep levels at 2015 rates.
Workers' compensation for jockeys and exercise riders is paid for by owners and trainers through the Jockey Injury Compensation Fund. The insurance is purchased through the New York State Insurance Fund.
CYPRESS, Calif. – Los Alamitos finished its 12-day winter Thoroughbred meeting on Sunday with an increase in all-sources handle but a decline in ontrack business from last year’s winter meet, according to general manager Brad McKinzie.
Jockey G.R. Carter Jr., the all-time leading Quarter Horse rider in wins and earnings, retired Saturday night at Evangeline Downs in Opelousas, La. His final mount was a fifth-place finish aboard The Valiant Man in the $257,650 EVD Futurity. The race came on the final card of the meet at Evangeline.
The U.S. Senate on Friday passed a tax bill containing a provision allowing horse owners to use a three-year depreciation schedule for racehorses as part of a comprehensive tax bill that is now being sent to President Barack Obama for his signature.
The Senate voted 65-33 to pass the comprehensive tax bill, which passed the House on Thursday by a lopsided vote. Obama is expected to sign the bill.
