Northlands Park has cut seven days from its current meet, with officials citing a lack of available purse money. The meet, originally scheduled to run through Oct. 25, will now end Oct. 12, for a total of 89 days rather than the planned 96.
Shirley McClellan, chair of Horse Racing Alberta, the province's governing body of the sport, said the "the decision is about fiscal responsibility in our industry."
Jockey Kyle Kaenel sustained a broken collarbone in a two-horse spill Sunday at Fairplex Park. The other rider involved, Alonso Quinonez, was not seriously hurt and returned to win the next race.
Kaenel was riding Sheval Dom Sallay in race 8 when the 2-year-old maiden clipped heels and unseated Kaenel. Quinonez's mount Mikeswayorthehiway, who was trailing the incident, was unable to avoid the fallen horse and unseated Quinonez.
FLORENCE, Ky. - They are equal-opportunity dominators, this formidable team at Turfway Park. Trainer Mike Maker and his main clients, Ken and Sarah Ramsey, have run roughshod over the competition since Turfway began its fall meet Sept. 9, and their display of power hit its peak Saturday when they won the Grade 2, $195,000 Kentucky Cup Classic with Furthest Land, a horse Ken Ramsey claimed for $35,000 nearly a year ago.
"We're kind of riding high, wide, and handsome right now," Ken Ramsey said Monday.
Wagering, attendance, and purses declined at Emerald Downs in 2009, track president Ron Crockett said after putting the 91-day meeting to bed Sunday, but there was a sliver of positive news: All-source wagering on Emerald races increased 1.8 percent to an average of $884,628 per day, due largely to increased interest from out-of-state bettors.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Last weekend's stakes for 3-year-olds both figured to play a major role in the Sovereign Award picture.
The field of eight colts and geldings for Sunday's $151,200 Ontario Derby included Eye of the Leopard, winner of the Queen's Plate and Plate Trial, and Awesome Rhythm, who had been successful in three open stakes at this meeting.
Six Northern California trainers will participate in Saturday's California Cup at Santa Anita's Oak Tree meeting.
The Bill Morey-trained Bold Chieftain will be trying to become a millionaire and win the $200,000 Cal Cup Classic for the second time. The 6-year-old has earned $963,411 with 12 wins from 30 starts, including the 2007 Classic. Last year he ran second in the Cal Cup Mile.
"All systems are go," said Morey after Bold Chieftain's 59-second-flat five-furlong work Sunday morning at Golden Gate Fields. "Russell Baze was on him, and he worked really well."
ARCADIA, Calif. - Jockey Calvin Borel has been confirmed as Mine That Bird's rider for the $300,000 Goodwood Stakes at Santa Anita on Oct. 10, trainer Chip Woolley said over the weekend.
The Grade 1 Goodwood, a major prep for the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 7, will be the third time that Borel has ridden Mine That Bird this year. Borel was aboard Mine That Bird for a 50-1 upset in the Kentucky Derby on May 2 and a third-place finish in the Belmont Stakes on June 6.
Average all-sources betting on races at the recently concluded meet at Monmouth Park in New Jersey was down 5 percent compared to all-sources average betting last year, according to figures released by the track.
The average fell from $3.31 million during last year's 100-day meet to $3.15 million during this year's 93-day meet, which ended on Sunday. Total wagering during the meet was $293.0 million, compared to $330.1 million last year.
FLORENCE, Ky. - Seeking opportunities between the bigger meets in Southern California, Garrett Gomez ventured to Turfway Park for the 16th annual Kentucky Cup. All he did was sweep the three-race series, capping the afternoon with a hard-earned victory aboard Furthest Land in the anchor race, the .
