No decision has been made on Saturday’s races.
Monthly Archives: July 2019
CA Owners Pursuing Clearer Agreement on Exclusions
The Thoroughbred Owners of California is pursuing clearer agreements on when and how racing associations can exclude horse owners.
Barn Area at Colonial Downs Set to Open July 25
With the barn area opening July 25, just one week from now, anticipation is running high for 2019 Colonial Downs race meeting after a six-year hiatus of flat racing in Virginia.
Catalina Cruiser Back for San Diego Defense
One year after the San Diego Handicap (G2) served as his coming out party, Catalina Cruiser returns to the 1 1/16-mile test at Del Mar as one of the stars of the handicap division.
Rick Hammerle Joins Oaklawn as Racing Coordinator
Hammerle was most recently vice president of racing at Santa Anita Park.
Sea of Class Making Steady Progress From Colic Surgery
Top-class filly Sea of Class is reported to be making progress July 18 in the fight for her life.
Mucho Gusto Another Sale Find for Owner Petersen
Michael Lund Petersen is game when it comes to buying horses at public auction, with TVG.com Haskell Invitational Stakes (G1) contender Mucho Gusto among his 2018 purchases when bought for $625,000.
NYRA Cancels Saratoga Saturday Card Due to Heat
On July 18, the New York Racing Association announced the cancellation of Saturday’s card of racing at Saratoga Race Course due to excessive heat forecast for the Saratoga and greater Capital Region.
Competitive Edge Fillies Run 1-2 in Stillwater Stakes
My Italian Rabbi becomes the first black-type winner for both her sire and dam.
Report: Online Sports Betting Helps Propel Pennsylvania Sportsbooks in June
Pennsylvania’s sports betting industry got an expected boost in June from the first full month of online wagering, helping online and retail sportsbooks generate a record $46.3 million in bets during what is historically a slow month for sports betting. But with just one online sportsbook live all month and two more launching June 27, online casino games launching this week, and significant obstacles yet to be ironed out for all of Pennsylvania’s online products, June offered just a window into what is possible, according to PlayPennsylvania.com analysts.
“The summer months are historically the slowest on the sports betting calendar, so a relatively strong showing is significant,” said Jessica Welman, sports betting analyst for PlayPennsylvania.com. “The rollout has been slow and with considerable hurdles, most notably the exclusion of online sportsbooks from iOS. Still, there is no question that the launch of online sports betting is a shot of momentum for the industry.”
In all, Pennsylvania’s retail and online sportsbooks were up from $35.9 million in May, according to official data released on Thursday. $19.3 million of those bets, about 42%, were made online.
SugarHouse Casino’s online product generated $18.2 million in bets in its first full month, and the online launch of Rivers Casino ($848,520) and Parx Casino ($307,011) on June 27 combined to bring in $288,883 per day.
Online bets represented 83% of New Jersey’s $273.2 million June handle, showing that much ground can still be made. FanDuel at Valley Forge Casino, Harrah’s Philadelphia, Hollywood Casino at Penn National, and Presque Isle Downs are working to launch online sportsbooks this summer. And developers are working to comply with Apple’s policy that requires the apps to be written in code native to the iOS system.
“Hopefully by the beginning of football season, online sportsbooks will be a bit closer to maturity,” Welman said. “Summer months being typically slow, it is a good time for the industry to work out the kinks and SugarHouse just launched an iOS workaround. But sports betting revenue will be artificially depressed if the obstacles we’ve seen so far aren’t smoothed out by the end of summer.”
Online and retail bets yielded $3.1 million in revenue in June, up from $2.8 million in revenue in May, resulting in $740,455 in tax revenue.
In June, SugarHouse Casino’s online launch helped propel it past Rivers Casino as the market leader. SugarHouse Casino took in $23.3 million in retail and online bets, up from $7.9 million in May, yielding $1.8 million in revenue, up from $711,845. Rivers, which still lead the retail market with $6.2 million in bets, accepted $7.1 million in online and retail wagers, down from $7.9 million in May.
Sportsbooks may also get a boost from the launch of online casino games, which began this week with Parx Casino.
“Online casino games will be crucial for the health of Pennsylvania gaming industry,” Dustin Gouker, lead analyst for PlayPennsylvania.com. “We’ve seen in New Jersey that online casinos benefit not only online sports betting, but also brick-and-mortar casinos. Ultimately, online casinos should generate millions in tax revenue for Pennsylvania.”
For more information on the revenue generated by Pennsylvania sports betting, visit www.playpennsylvania.com/sports-betting/revenue.
Benson Helps Implement Santa Antia's New Protocols
Chief veterinary officer for The Stronach Group discusses regulation
Divisidero Brings Back Class into Oceanport
Gunpowder Farms and Brereton Jones’ Divisidero will look for his first since more than a year ago from the rail in the $150,000 Oceanport Stakes (G3T) at Monmouth Park on the Haskell Invitational undercard July 20.
Coal Front Returns to Two Turns in Monmouth Cup
No disrespect to anyone else in the Monmouth Cup (G3), but Coal Front will be getting some class relief in the $200,000 stakes July 20 at Monmouth Park.
BackTrack: Forty Niner Prevails in 1988 Haskell
This week is a recap of the 1988 Haskell Invitational Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park won by Forty Niner. The story, which carried the headline “Sons Shine on a Hot Day,” was written by Don Zamarelli. It ran in the Aug. 6, 1988 edition of BloodHorse.
Jasikan Surges to Oceanside Score
Hronis Racing’s Jasikan put his well-known connections in the spotlight July 17 on opening day at Del Mar, when he closed with a flourish to win the $100,000 Runhappy Oceanside Stakes.
Midnight Bisou Seeks Fifth Straight Win
For the fans who turn out at Monmouth Park July 20 during what’s taking shape as a blistering hot Haskell Day card, getting a chance to see Midnight Bisou in action promises to be a cool treat.
Guarana the One to Beat in CCA Oaks
Three Chimneys Farm’s homebred Guarana has a short record of only two starts going into the $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) July 20 at Saratoga Race Course, but the Ghostzapper filly will be the one to beat.
Valedictorian to Aim for More Monmouth Success
Seeing no reason to mess with a successful formula, trainer Kelly Breen has entered Valedictorian in the $150,000 WinStar Matchmaker Stakes (G3T) July 20 on the Monmouth Park turf.
Maximum Security Heads Field of Seven in Haskell
The first of three grade 1 stakes for sophomore runners that will most likely determine the group’s year-end champion takes place July 20 with a showdown in the $1 million TVG.com Haskell Invitational Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park.
Sky of Hook is Tapiture's First Black-Type Winner
Colt won the inaugural Rick Violette Stakes in a downpour July 17 at Saratoga Race Course.