NEWS AND NOTES FOR JUNE 13, 2014
LANE’S END STALLION SCHOLARSHIP STAKES ON TAP FOR SATURDAY
As the featured race on Saturday, the $50,000 Lane’s End Stallion Scholarship Stakes for Accredited Texas-bred fillies and mares going 1 mile on the turf has drawn a competitive field of eleven, including early 9/5 favorite, multiple stakes-winning Smiles Golden Song. The 5-year-old My Golden Song filly running for owner/breeder Sylvia Baird is seeking to increase her career stats of 23-8-3-3 with $193,469 in earnings.
She faces tough competition from 5/2 multiple stakes-places Molly’s Honour, a 4-year-old by Etesaal, bred by Bradford Thoroughbred Farm who runs for Joey Keith Davis. Molly’s Honour has a career record of 15-4-5-2 with earnings of $120,728.
Listed at 5/1, Lasting Bubbles, the 2013 Texas Champion Older Filly/Mare, will be seeking to add to her long list of accomplishments for owner/breeder Judy Peek. Trained by Kevin Peek, the multiple stakes-winner is coming off a strong win in the Wayne Hanks Memorial Stakes on April 12th.
Margarita on Rocks, Triplemental, Savannah’s Keeper, Mescaleress, Shezararebird, Expect Royalty, Thegirlinthatsong, and Sassy N Special round out the field.
The trophy for this race will be presented by Texas Thoroughbred Educational Fund (TTEF) scholarship recipients who are in attendance at the TTA Annual Awards Dinner.
The TTEF helps place young Texans on the road to success by providing grants and awards to benefit Texas Thoroughbred Association members and their children to further their educational opportunities.
TEXAS RACING COMMISSION NEWS
On June 10, the Texas Racing Commission considered draft rules for the implementation of pari-mutuel wagering on historical races at licensed Texas racetracks. Those rules will now be published in the Texas Register for a period of 30 days for the purpose of receiving public comment.
It is noteworthy that every horse organization involved in Texas racing, every licensed racetrack in Texas, as well as the Greyhound breeding industry support the proposed rules.
How is historical racing presented for wagering?
Wagers are made on a modified pari-mutuel terminal – not a “slot machine”. Unlike a slot machine, the historical racing terminal does not pick the winner, and one does not “bet against the house”. Races displayed on the terminal are actual horse races previously run at licensed pari-mutuel racetracks, with official handicapping information and results. All identifying information on the track, horses, trainers, jockeys, etc. have been removed. They are not computerized images of imaginary races or of horses in which a machine selects the winner and determines the outcome.
As in live horse racing, a significant degree of skill or judgment is involved in picking the winning horses, and the outcome of a historical horse race depends on the skill and experience of the trainers, jockeys, and horses involved in that race.
A growing number of states, notably Kentucky and neighboring Arkansas, currently offer pari-mutuel wagering on historical races, where it has increased the fan base for live races, the size of purses, and revenues for the states and their racetracks.
Since Kentucky first allowed it in 2011, historical horse racing has seen about $636 million in wagers, with $5.7 million generated for purses.
Based on what has happened in other states, we anticipate an increase of 30 – 40% in purse levels at Texas tracks if implemented here.
It is extremely important that Commissioners hear from as many horsemen as soon as possible in support of this opportunity.
Please send a letter to the Commissioners in care of TRC Executive Director Chuck Trout via email to chuck.trout@txrc.texas.gov, fax to 512.833.6907, or mail to Texas Racing Commission, PO Box 12080, Austin, TX 78711.
NOTES: The TTA Board of Directors will meet at 10am on Saturday, June 14 at Lone Star Park…The TTA Annual Membership Meeting will take place in Lone Star Park’s Paddock Lounge at 3pm on Saturday…The TTA Annual Awards Dinner will be at 7pm Saturday in the Alysheba Room at Lone Star Park, preceded by a cocktail hour at 6pm…Hope to see you there!