After volleying with Nadal in the San Vicente Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park Feb. 9, Ginobili travels for a road game April 5 at Oaklawn Park to race against a deep, talented cast in a $61,000 first-level allowance optional claiming race.
Monthly Archives: April 2020
Beauty Generation, Waikuku Duel Again in Hong Kong
The generational battle between two-time Hong Kong Horse of the Year Beauty Generation and younger rival Waikuku renews April 5 at Sha Tin Racecourse in one of two group 2 events with top-level quality.
Hagyard Seeks Sanctions Related to Class Action Suit
The Lexington veterinary hospital is seeking attorneys’ fees and additional sanctions for the attorneys behind a dismissed class action suit it claims was filed to damage its professional reputation.
Tattersalls Craven and Ascot Breeze Up Sale Rescheduled
The amalgamated Tattersalls Craven and Ascot Breeze Up Sale has been postponed until May 27, following uncertainty surrounding the resumption of racing due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.
First Premio Favored in Gulfstream Turf Allowance
Team Valor International’s First Premio makes his season debut in the featured 10th race at Gulfstream Park on April 4, a $48,000 allowance optional claimer, after finishing his 2019 campaign with a near-miss against grade 1 company.
Singapore to unify gambling oversight under single agency
Singapore’s gambling operators will soon all come under a single regulatory umbrella to help the city-state keep on top of emerging gambling trends.
On Friday, Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced that it would establish a new Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) by 2021, with an eye to “consolidate and optimize gambling regulatory resources within a single agency.”
The GRA will unify oversight currently handled by a variety of agencies, including the Casino Regulatory Authority, the MHA’s Gambling Regulatory Unit, the Singapore Totalizator Board and others. The GRA will work with local responsible gambling organizations while the Singapore Police Force will continue to rap the knuckles of illegal gambling operators.
The MHA also plans to review and amend the city-state’s gambling legislation to ensure the GRA has the ability to “effectively address evolving gambling products and business models.” Penalties for gambling infractions will also be reviewed “to ensure consistency across remote and terrestrial gambling.”
Brendan Bussmann
Partner and Director of Government Affairs, Global Market Advisors
The post Brendan Bussmann appeared first on GGB Magazine.
Gargan Eyes Oaklawn Stakes Races for Tax, Ice Princess
Graded stakes winner Tax breezed a half-mile in :49 2/5 April 3 at Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida, his second consecutive bullet breeze, in preparation for the $600,000 Oaklawn Handicap (G2), a 1 1/8-mile race May 2 at Oaklawn Park.
Answer In, Finnick the Fierce Battle at Oaklawn
A full field of 12 3-year-olds, including a couple with existing qualifying Derby points, Answer In and Finnick the Fierce, are part of a $61,000 first-level allowance race April 4 at Oaklawn Park, where racing continues without spectators.
Latvia’s gov’t rejects calls to lift COVID-19 online gambling ban
Latvia’s government has rejected calls to lift its ban on online gambling activity during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite there being no obvious health benefit to the prohibition.
On Friday, Lativa’s Saeima (parliament) voted down a proposal to exempt locally licensed online gambling operators from the temporary ban on gambling activity imposed last month to minimize further spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.
The unexpected inclusion of online gambling caused the Lotteries and Gambling Supervisory Inspection of Latvia (IAUI) to request clarification from the government on its interpretation of the emergency legislation.
This cause was taken up by Latvia’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry as well as Saeima’s budget and finance committee, both of which noted that banning online gambling (a) flies in the face of the other nation’s methods of combatting COVID-19 spread, and (b) would only steer local gamblers to internationally licensed online competitors.
Spinaway Winner Perfect Alibi Breezes Toward Return
Tracy Farmer’s grade 1 winner Perfect Alibi, trained by Mark Casse, breezed a half-mile in 49.50 on April 3 on the Belmont Park training track as she gears up for her first start at 3.
German online gambling licensing in disarray after court challenge
Germany’s sports betting licensing plans are once again in disarray following a legal challenge by an Austrian bookmaker.
On Wednesday, the Administrative Court of Darmstadt upheld a complaint filed by Austrian sports betting operator Vierklee that the wagering license procurement process overseen by the German state of Hesse wasn’t sufficiently transparent.
The attorney representing the Tirol-based Vierklee in this matter told German media outlet Bild that his client and other gaming companies “were not informed about the actual start of the concession procedure in July 2019.” As a result, the court ordered an immediate suspension of the licensing process until all interested applicants can compete on the same footing.
The German Sports Betting Association (DSWV) couldn’t hide its irritation at Vierklee’s last minute protest, with DSWV president Mathias Dahms calling the ruling “a big blow to our members” – a group that doesn’t include Vierklee – around 30 of which have duly submitted their new betting license applications.
Officials Still Mulling New Date for Preakness
The second jewel of the Triple Crown was originally slated for May 16 but will be delayed like many other major sporting events with the global COVID-19 pandemic sweeping the globe.
Two Japanese Derby Winners Face Off in Osaka Hai
Stablemates and Japanese Derby (G1) winners Wagnerian and Makahiki are set to face off April 5 in the Osaka Hai (G1) at Hanshin Racecourse.
Beauty Generation, Waikiku Duel Again in Hong Kong
The generational battle between two-time Hong Kong Horse of the Year Beauty Generation (NZ) and younger rival Waikuku (IRE) renews April 5 at Sha Tin Racecourse in one of two group 2 events with top-level quality.
Arlington Postpones Upcoming Meet Due to COVID-19
Arlington International Racecourse, which had been scheduled to open May 1, tweeted April 3 that the “health crisis posed by the Coronavirus pandemic and the specific impact the virus has had on Illinois, we have postponed racing.”
Declining lottery sales prompt more Powerball jackpot changes
The Powerball Product Group today announced its decision to further modify the rules for determining each successive Powerball jackpot roll, and set a firm implementation date rather than waiting for the next jackpot winner.Powerball, Financials, Jackpots, Multi-State Game, Medical
COVID-19 Outbreak Halts Strong Wagering Start to 2020
The most surprising number in the Thoroughbred Economic Indicators released April 3 by Equibase is that pari-mutuel handle is down only 1% for the first quarter of 2020.
Swiss Skydiver's Success Boosts Thoroughbred Newcomers
Expo Gold, the dam of grade 2 winner Swiss Skydiver, was the second horse bought by Thoroughbred industry newcomer Var Reeve and his partners.
Two UK online gambling licenses suspended for GAMSTOP fail
Two UK online gambling operators have had their licenses suspended for failing to fully integrate the GAMSTOP self-exclusion service into their websites.
On Friday, the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) announced the immediate suspension of the licenses held by daily fantasy sports operator Sportito and Dynamic (which trades under the Prophet secondary sports betting brand). Both operators were found to be violating the UKGC’s January order that all online operators integrate GAMSTOP into their offering by March 31.
The UKGC added that Sportito’s license suspension had already been lifted after the operator complied with the integration order. However, the UKGC has commenced reviews of both companies’ suitability to carry on as a UK-approved online operator and Sportito’s belated GAMSTOP integration won’t halt that review.
UKGC CEO Neil McArthur said the regulator was compelled to act “because the operators had not complied by the deadline, which placed vulnerable consumers at risk.” McArthur added that UKGC licensees should recognize that the UKGC stands “ready and willing to use our powers to protect consumers.”