An innovative partnership between sales companies and a new racecourse venue form part of an outside-the-box solution to the breeze-up calendar being thrown into disarray by the coronavirus pandemic announced April 18.
Monthly Archives: April 2020
Classic Shake-Up Part of Plan for Resumption of Racing
The One Thousand Guineas (G1) and Two Thousand Guineas (G1) could be run in early June, and the Epsom Derby (G1) and Epsom Oaks (G1) in early July in a “best-case scenario” put forward by the British Horseracing Authority.
Tentative Meet Opening of June 8 for Presque Isle Downs
Tentative plans call for Presque Isle Downs to open its backstretch May 15 with a meet-opening target date of June 8, according to a statement released on Twitter from Todd Mostoller, executive director of the Pennsylvania HBPA.
Horse to be Named in Dedication of Health Care Workers
Prominent racehorse owner Kulbir Sohi has been inspired by the dedication of National Health Service workers during the coronavirus outbreak and has secured the name Enaitchess for a horse in the future.
National HBPA Releases COVID-19 Safety Guidelines
The National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association has assembled a list of best practices for tracks to follow in order to safely conduct spectatorless racing during the COVID-19 crisis.
Man in the Can, Sekani Win Arkansas-Bred Stakes
Two stakes for Arkansas-bred 3-year-olds buoyed the April 17 racecard at Oaklawn, the $106,000 Rainbow Miss Stakes for fillies won by Sekani and the $100,000 Rainbow Stakes won later in the day by Man in the Can.
Finalists for the 2020 AHP Equine Media Awards Released
Of the 111 participants who entered their best material published in 2019, 70 moved forward to placing in the top five in one or more of the 56 classes in the 2020 AHP Equine Media Awards.
HRRN Plans 'Fantasy Derby' Broadcast May 2
With the 2020 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) moved to the first Saturday in September, HRRN announced April 16 that it would produce a special broadcast showcasing 20 of the greatest Kentucky Derby winners in a Fantasy Derby.
Arindel Sweeps Gulfstream's Two Juvenile Races
The Ocala breed-to-race farm of Arindel swept Gulfstream’s two juvenile races this week when Quinoa Tifah captured the first 2-year-old race for fillies, followed by a victory from Gatsby in an open race April 17.
Virtual Presentation Planned for Sovereign Awards
As a result of the ongoing concerns about COVID-19 and following the Province of Ontario’s State of Emergency regulations, the winners of 45th Annual Sovereign Awards will be announced through a virtual presentation no later than May 31.
Hardship Package Announced for British Racing Industry
British Horseracing Authority chief executive Nick Rust said the package would provide much needed short-term assistance for those hardest hit by plummeting incomes due to the suspension of racing.
China’s new anti-online gambling effort not the same old, same old
China’s anti-online gambling efforts are turning their focus to cross-border money movement as ‘underground banking’ comes to play a larger role in funding international online gambling activity.
On Thursday, Wang Xiaohong, deputy minister of China’s Ministry of Public Security, hosted a video conference with officials who head up Public Security Departments in some of China’s largest provinces. The purpose of the meeting was to ensure everyone understood the Ministry’s recent anti-online gambling effort was no passing fancy.
Last week, the Ministry issued a Notice on Strictly Combating Cross-Border Gambling and Telecommunications Network Fraud During the New Crown Pneumonia Epidemic. Its contents were largely a rehash of a similar notice issued in March but Thursday’s quick follow-up suggests the Ministry wants to ensure no officials treat this effort as the same old, same old.
Thursday’s meeting saw Wang (pictured) emphasize the need for officials to “fight hard and strike hard” and implement a “full-chain crackdown as soon as possible.” Wang urged all parties to “severely crack down on ‘underground banks’ involved in gambling and fund payment channels, provide cross-border gambling network services and technology promotion.”
Sands suspends dividend, Adelson vows his catchphrase will return
Casino titan Sheldon Adelson is being robbed of his signature catchphrase thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Friday, Las Vegas Sands issued a statement outlining its strategic priorities during the coronavirus pandemic, the impact of which chairman/CEO Adelson called “unprecedented, and I have never seen anything like it in my over seventy years in business.”
In keeping with Sands’ recent decision to continue paying its furloughed staff in Las Vegas, Adelson said the company’s “greatest priority during this difficult time remains our deep commitment to supporting our team members and assisting each of our local communities of Macao, Singapore and Las Vegas.”
Sands shut its Vegas casinos in mid-March, while on April 7 its Marina Bay Sands resort in Singapore was ordered to close for a month. Sands China’s Macau casinos have reopened since their 15-day shutdown in February, but Macau’s market remains a shadow of its former self.
Maine lottery sales drop during coronavirus pandemic
Fewer people are going outside because of the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, which is impacting the number of lottery tickets people are buying.Financials, Maine, Sales, Medical
Coronavirus impacting North Carolina lottery sales
The North Carolina Education Lottery has increased sales — which climbed to $2.6 billion in 2018, according to the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries — every year since it was established in 2005. Then COVID-19 hit.Financials, North Carolina, Sales, Medical
Stronach Seeks Reopening of Santa Anita in Op-Ed
In an op-ed that appeared in the Pasadena Star-News, Belinda Stronach, chairman and president of The Stronach Group, which operates Santa Anita and Golden Gate in California, called for a resumption of racing at Santa Anita without spectators.
Lone Star Park Postpones Stakes, Hopes to Reopen in May
Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas, informed horsemen April 16 in a letter distributed on social media by the Texas Thoroughbred Association that “we still hope to be able to open the stable area and race meet sometime in May.”
Flutter Ent to pay furloughed staff out of its own pocket … for now
UK-listed gambling giant Flutter Entertainment says it will continue to pay its furloughed staff through the COVID-19 pandemic “for as long as possible” using its own resources rather than rely on government bailouts.
In a Q1 trading update issued Friday, Flutter said revenue over the first three months of 2020 was up 16% year-on-year to £547m, with sports betting up 13% to £407m and gaming up one-quarter to £140m.
The figures are obviously far less flattering in the period following the suspension of UK and Irish racing, which pushed revenue down 32%. However, the fact that racing continues in Australia and the US has helped to offset a 46% decline in sports revenue following the pandemic-related suspension of live sports events.
The Paddy Power Betfair (PPB) Online segment remains the top breadwinner, with Q1 revenue rising 9% to £247m, as gaming’s 17% rise to £88m aided sports’ more modest 6% rise to £159m.
Serengeti Empress Faces Salty Field in Apple Blossom
In a world in which normalcy seems like a utopian term, plans have pretty much fallen into place for Serengeti Empress.
Continued U.S. Racing Helps TVG, Flutter Entertainment
Flutter Entertainment reports a 32% decline in revenue since racing shutdowns in England and Ireland because of the COVID-19, but the owner of TVG said some continued racing in the United States and Australia helped reduce first quarter losses.