A Twirling Candy colt was purchased by Sheikh Rashid Humaid Al Noaimi for $500,000, becoming the first to that level during the April 25 penultimate session of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training.
Monthly Archives: April 2019
Phoenix Swoops In for $750,000 Into Mischief Filly
De Meric Sales continues to send pricey juveniles through the ring at Ocala Breeders’ Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, with the latest an Into Mischief filly bringing a final bid of $750,000 from Phoenix Thoroughbreds.
Son of Ghostzapper Fulfills Hopes for Davies
A Ghostzapper colt was sold to Stetson Racing for $600,000, continuing the brisk buying pace during the penultimate session of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training.
Ocala Stud's "Favorite" Street Boss Colt Worth $535,000
A precocious-looking son of Street Boss was purchased by Stonestreet Stables for $535,000 from breeder and consignor Ocala Stud during the March 25 penultimate session of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales’ Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training.
Letsstaypositive First Winner for Palace Malice
Freshman sire Palace Malice was represented by his first winner from his first runner, as Jeff Morris and Constance Wickes’ Letsstaypositive defeated a field of six other 2-year-olds April 25 at Keeneland.
Maryland Jockey Club to Honor Ehalt, Heuertz
Bob Ehalt will receive the David F. Woods Award for excellence in journalism and Steve Heuertz the Jerry Frutkoff Preakness Photography Award, sponsored by Nikon, Thursday, May 16 at the Alibi Breakfast at Pimlico Race Course.
Evolution Gaming passes ‘go’, collects 73% more profits
Live dealer casino specialists Evolution Gaming are the gift that keeps on giving, at least, in terms of its shareholders.
On Thursday, the Stockholm-listed Evolution turned in its Q1 financial report card, which showed revenue rising 54% year-on-year to €79.3m. Earnings were up 64% to €35.9m as margins improved by nearly three points to an obscene 45.3% while profit spiked 73% to nearly €28.6m.
Evolution explained its boffo performance by saying it was the result of “good leverage from investments made in 2018,” as well as the rollout of new games and the launch of live casino operations for a number of new customers, including DraftKings, Loto-Quebec and Sweden’s state-owned Svenska Spel and ATG.
Evolution’s expanding operations in North America – with studios in New Jersey and British Columbia – caused a shift in the company’s geographic revenue split. The ‘Rest of World’s share over the overall revenue pie was up seven points from Q1 2018 to 29%, while the UK’s share dipped four points to 13%, the Rest of Europe slipped three points to 49% and the Nordics held firm at 9%.
Churchill Downs revenue soars despite California’s dead horses
Casino, betting and online gambling operator Churchill Downs Inc. (CDI) reported soaring revenue in the first quarter of 2019 following its year of brick-and-mortar acquisitions and the launch of a pseudo-slots business.
Figures released Wednesday show CDI generated revenue of $265.4m in the three months ending March 31, a 40% improvement over the same period last year. Earnings were up 52% to $74.6m but net income fell to $11.6m from $182m in Q1 2018.
Lest anyone panic, it bears mentioning that Q1 2018’s profits were artificially boosted by $168.3m via the sale of CDI’s social gaming unit Big Fish Games to Australia’s Aristocrat Leisure Ltd.
CDI has traveled a long way since its days as a pure racing operator, so the company has restructured its financial reporting into three new segments: Churchill Downs (pari-mutuel wagering at Churchill Downs Racetrack and historical racing at Derby City Gaming), Online Wagering (the TwinSpires advance deposit wagering site plus online sports betting and iGaming), and Gaming (land-based casino and jai-alai operations). Past results have been recalculated to reflect this realignment.
Liam's Map Colt Brings $1.2M from Robert and Lawana Low
Bloodstock agent Jacob West went to $1.2 million on behalf of Robert and Lawana Low to secure a Liam’s Map colt late in the day April 25 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training.
Roden Scoops Up Medaglia d'Oro Colt for $480,000
When bloodstock agent Alistair Roden shopped the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, he found a lot to like in a Medaglia d’Oro colt purchased for $480,000 of during the April 25 session.
Churchill Anticipates Another Strong Derby Performance
In looking at some of the already available numbers for this year’s Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), Churchill Downs officials are confident the event will deliver another strong year in terms of financials.
NetEnt struggling to adjust to Sweden’s regulated market
Online gambling technology providers NetEnt are the latest to report declines in revenue and profit due to challenges in adjusting to Sweden’s new regulated market.
On Thursday, the Stockholm-based NetEnt reported revenue of SEK418m (US$43.8m) in the three months ending March 31, a modest 2.8% decline from the same period last year. Earnings improved 7.7% to SEK196m as margins gained nearly five points to 47%, but operating profit dipped 6% to SEK126m and net profit was down 10.5% to SEK120m.
In mid-February, NetEnt reported that its game win was off 5% since the January 1 launch of Sweden’s new regulated online gambling market, and the company said Thursday that its Nordic markets “accounted for almost the entire slowdown [in Q1], mainly due to lower volumes in Sweden.”
NetEnt said the gambling taxes paid under Sweden’s new regulatory scheme lowered its overall revenue by 2% in Q1, but the changes also “impacted our customers and players to an extent that we had not foreseen.” (NetEnt isn’t alone in having difficulties adjusting to the new Swedish reality.)
The Factor Colt Profitable for Off the Hook
A colt by The Factor sold for $300,000 during the April 25 session of Ocala Breeders’ Sales’ Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training produced a healthy profit for Aldeberto Lozano, farm manager for consignor Off the Hook.
Track Maintenance a Successful Science at Belmont Park
When historic, 114-year-old Belmont Park opens April 26, the fruits of the labor put in by Glen Kozak and a crew of about 100 workers to prepare the sandy main track and two turf courses for another year of racing will be on full display.
Derby/Oaks Notes: Win Win Win Arrives at Churchill
Win Win Win arrived at Churchill Downs at 5:15 Thursday morning following an overnight van ride from the Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland for the 145th running of the $3 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1).
De Meric Scores With $750,000 Into Mischief Filly
De Meric Sales continues to send pricey juveniles through the ring at Ocala Breeders’ Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, with the latest an Into Mischief filly bringing a final bid of $750,000 from Phoenix Thoroughbreds.
Derby Contenders Haikal, Tax Breeze at Belmont Park
A pair of New York-based Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) contenders breezed April 25 at Belmont Park, where Haikal completed five furlongs in 1:01.21 and Tax worked a half-mile on the training track in :47 4/5.
Siyouni Filly Breaks Goffs UK Breeze-Up Sale Record
Trade exhibited some notable peaks and troughs throughout the April 25 session, but by the time the final lot had exited the ring, the Goffs UK Breeze-Up Sale could boast a record average.
Stetson Racing Spends Big for Ghostzapper Colt at OBS
A Ghostzapper colt was sold to Stetson Racing for $600,000, continuing the brisk buying pace during the penultimate session of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales’ Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training.
La Force Starts 2019 Campaign in Santa Margarita
When La Force returns for her 5-year-old debut April 27 in the $200,000 Santa Margarita Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park, the older and hopefully more resolute German-bred mare will try to break free from the runner-up blues that have shadowed her.