MIAMI - The quarantine that was imposed on one barn at Calder earlier this week was lifted Saturday after test results on an unidentified horse who died here Monday came back negative for any contagious diseases from the state lab in Tallahassee.
The quarantined barn housed horses trained by Stanley Ersoff, Steve Budhoo, and Jim Hatchett. All horses in that barn had been restricted from training with the general population as well as from racing since the quarantine began on Monday.
Louisiana Downs and its horsemen have reached an agreement on a longstanding purse overpayment issue that has led to an 8 percent increase in overnight purses at the track. The across-the-board boost was to go into effect with the program of Sunday, Aug. 23.
The increase puts overnight purses at $150,000 a day, said Trent McIntosh, director of racing and racing secretary for Louisiana Downs.
"We reached an agreement with the horsemen concerning an overpayment from previous years, and were able to release some funds for this meet," said McIntosh.
Whistle Pig continued his dominance at Presque Isle Downs when defeating five other Pennsylvania-breds in the $75,000 Leemat on Friday evening.
Trained by Andrew Carter, Whistle Pig has now won six of his eight starts at Presque Isle Downs. Ten horses were scheduled to go to the post in the Leeward, but four horses were scratched late.
"I was worried when those four scratched out, they were mostly speed horses and I was worried he wouldn't have enough to speed to run at," Carter said after the race.
COLUMBUS, Neb. - Senorita Conchita grabbed her second stakes win of the year and posted her first win over the Columbus oval as she drew off to score by 4 1/2 lengths in the $15,550 Maturity/Matron Stakes on Friday night.
Senorita Conchita, ridden by Luis Ranilla, shadowed the pace set by Real Battleaxe through the opening half-mile of the 6 1/2-furlong test, challenged in upper stretch, and drew off for the win in 1:21 over a fast track. Sent off as the 4-5 favorite in a field five, Senorita Conchita captured her fourth win of the year.
MIAMI - Track management has banned trainer Kirk Ziadie, jockey agent Richard Ciardullo, and veterinarian Dr. Raul Jimenez from being on the grounds or from racing at Calder, effective immediately.
"We are exercising our management rights and making a reasonable business decision to exclude Kirk Ziadie, Richard Ciardullo, and Dr. Raul Jimenez's participation at Calder," said John Marshall, the track's vice president and general manager of racing.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Moments after Shared Account persevered over Saratoga's soft outer turf course to a one-length victory in Friday's trainer Graham Motion wondered if she might actually prefer firm ground.
"Maybe she doesn't really care for soft turf," Motion said "She obviously gets over it okay. It'll be interesting to see how she handles a firm turf course or even the Polytrack."
Saratoga Race Course, now in the middle of the most high-profile Thoroughbred race meet on the East Coast, has been fully accredited by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association s Safety and Integrity Alliance, the association announced Friday.
Saratoga, operated by the New York Racing Association, is the eighth facility to receive full accreditation from the alliance, which was formed last year to evaluate racetracks based on a track s compliance with a set of safety standards and procedures. Earlier this year, NYRA s Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., was also fully accredited.
The Ohio Racing Commission on Thursday directed Thistledown to reinstate the Grade 2 Ohio Derby and to run the race on Oct. 3. According to the track's general manager, Brent Reitz, Thistledown intends to do so.
Thistledown and the Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association agreed in March to cancel the $300,000 stakes to conserve purse money for overnight races. Although the track and horsemen had discussed ways to reinstate the race with a lesser purse, the two sides had been unable to reach an agreement.
