The New York State Gaming Commission and the New York Racing Association on Friday announced enhanced security measures for next Saturday’s $1 million Jockey Club Gold, protocols similar to what were put in place earlier this year for the Belmont Stakes and Travers Stakes.
Allen Milligan, the 47-year-old trainer who won the recent title at Lone Star Park, had heart bypass surgery Monday and is doing well, according to his wife, Jeanette Hughes-Milligan.
Hughes-Milligan said her husband was found to have blockages in some of his arteries after going in for a routine doctor’s appointment. He had a double bypass procedure and was expected to be released from Baylor Medical Center in Irving, Texas, as early as Sunday.
“He came through it well,” Hughes-Milligan said. “He’s doing good. He’s watching races, watching the horses run.”
AUBURN, Wash. – With the 75-day meeting winding down to its final few days, some horses have already been shipped out for winter campaigns in Oregon, California, or Arizona. Others, such as recent stakes winner Madame Pele, are still stabled at Emerald Downs but have simply run out of races.
ARCADIA, Calif. – A foot injury that has kept Caracortado from racing for nearly 20 months appears to be in the past.
Next Friday at Santa Anita, trainer Mike Machowsky will learn whether the 6-year-old gelding can regain the form that led to five stakes wins. Caracortado will be entered in Friday’s Grade 3 Eddie D Stakes over about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course on the opening day of the track’s autumn meeting. A win could lead to a start in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint here Nov. 2.
ELMONT, N.Y. – Discreet Force got the better of Make the Moment after a spirited stretch battle in a first-level allowance race for New York-breds at Belmont Park on June 23.
Sunday, the two 3-year-old fillies will hook up again in the day’s featured race, a $77,000 second-level allowance for New York-bred fillies and mares, 3 years old and up, going six furlongs at Belmont.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – The 2013 Hastings meet is coming to a close in just over three weeks and the closing-day card on Canadian Thanksgiving, Oct. 14, should be a good one with four stakes races on the menu. The main course will be the Grade 3, $100,000 Premiers for 3-year-olds and up going 1 3/8 miles, and Title Contender is expected to take on a strong field of older horses. Title Contender won the Grade 3 Ohio Derby and is coming off a convincing win in the Grade 3 British Columbia Derby. Complementing the Premiers is the Grade 3 Ballerina for fillies and mares.
Departing is scheduled to work Sunday at Louisiana Downs in what will be his final prep for the Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby, trainer Al Stall Jr., said Friday. The 1 1/8-mile race at Remington Park is to be run next Sunday, Sept. 29.
Departing has remained at Louisiana Downs, where Stall has a division, since his win in the track’s Grade 2, $500,000 Super Derby on Sept. 7. The meet closes Sunday. Stall said Departing would have a “very easy half-mile” breeze, then ship to Oklahoma City later Saturday, Sept. 28.
Harry F. Thompson Jr., a trainer who won 2,671 races and took the Penn National trainer’s title seven times in a nine-year period, died on Tuesday in a Hershey, Penn., hospital, according to Penn National. Thompson Jr. was 75, the track said.
About 80 percent of Thompson’s career wins came at Penn National, the track said. A Virginia native, Thompson moved his stable to Penn National in 1989, and he took the trainer’s title at the year-round track from 1995-97, from 1999-2000, and from 2002-03, according to the track.
Jockey C.J. McMahon has been suspended until at least next week by the Indiana Downs stewards.
McMahon had a confrontation with the Indiana Downs starter Johnnie Jamison and an assistant starter Tuesday before the first race. McMahon made threatening remarks to both individuals while his mount, Dr.Kimble, was loading.
Security was called and McMahon was taken off his remaining mounts Tuesday and asked to leave the grounds.
