New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo intends to extend the state’s control over the New York Racing Association for another year, according to a briefing book released Wednesday that lists the governor’s priorities for the state’s budget.
The budget briefing book contains one sentence in regard to the plan: “The Executive Budget extends the maximum term of the NYRA Reorganization Board of Directors from three years to four years.”
Bryan Pettigrew, the head of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association’s group-purchasing program for the past three years, has been hired as the senior vice president for marketing and sponsorship at the Breeders’ Cup, the companies said Tuesday.
Pettigrew, who will start at the Breeders’ Cup on Feb. 2, will fill a position vacated by Drew Sheinman, who resigned Jan. 9 as the Breeders’ Cup’s senior vice president and chief marketing and revenue officer.
“The responsibilities of the position are the same,” said Jim Gluckson, a spokesman for the Breeders’ Cup.
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – The progress made in the five years since the founding of the Safety and Integrity Alliance of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association was spotlighted Tuesday morning during the second day of meetings at the Jockeys’ Guild annual members’ assembly at the Diplomat Resort here.
Mike Ziegler, executive director for the alliance, presented the assembly with detailed information on how the NTRA has fostered a new culture among 23 accredited racetracks that has improved the safety and well-being of jockeys, among other industry improvements.
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – The importance of evaluating and managing jockeys’ head injuries and concussions was among the major topics addressed Monday morning during the opening session of the Jockeys’ Guild annual members’ assembly at the Diplomat Resort here.
Dr. Mark Lovell, an internationally recognized concussion expert, addressed the group at length with the goals of “imparting an understanding of what a concussion is,” while broadening awareness among jockeys about what precautions must be taken.
Aqueduct racetrack will not take entries for horses that have raced in the previous 14 days and reduce its weekday race cards to eight races per day effective Jan. 22, the association announced on Friday as part of a new round of steps seeking to address a stubborn spate of fatal breakdowns at the track.
The Los Alamitos evening meeting for Quarter Horses and lower-level Thoroughbreds will take a one-week break in early February to allow for maintenance on the track’s lighting system, officials announced on Friday.
There will be no nighttime racing on the weekend of Feb. 6-8. Racing will resume on Friday, Feb. 13. There are no stakes or time trials for major Quarter Horse stakes scheduled during Feb. 6-8.
Mike Ziegler, who has been the head of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association’s Safety and Integrity Alliance since its formation in 2009, has been hired for the newly created position of executive director of racing at Churchill Downs Inc., the company announced on Friday.
Ziegler has spent the past five years running a program that develops accreditation standards for racetracks and supervising onsite inspections for the program. In his new position, Ziegler will serve as a liaison between Churchill and the racing and breeding industries, Churchill said.
ARCADIA, Calif. - An incentive program designed to entice owners to acquire horses from other states or countries and race in Southern California is being expanded from two race meetings at Del Mar to the entire circuit in April, the California Horse Racing Board was told on Thursday.
Delaware Park will race 81 days as part of a 2015 schedule approved Wednesday by the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission. The track will open its 78th season May 16 and race through Oct. 17.
Live racing is scheduled for Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays in May. From June 1 through Sept. 1, live racing also will be conducted on Tuesdays. The schedule reverts to Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays from Sept. 1 through closing day.
The track’s stakes schedule is topped by the Grade 1 Delaware Handicap on July 18 and the Grade 3 Delaware Oaks on July 11.
