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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2019
by: Valerie Mellema
Here's what's happening this week in horse racing!
Arlington International Gets Race Dates Despite Ultimatum
Some say the racing board caved, but despite their ultimatum to Churchill Downs Inc., the Illinois Racing Board voted to grant Arlington International Racecourse its normal summertime dates despite the decision that CDI will not pursue a casino license. Citing that they are "still trying to figure this out," Arlington was granted their dates as there was also a prior agreement made between Arlington and Hawthorne Racecourse on 2020 dates that would have been disrupted if Arlington's dates were denied. Regardless, Illinois horsemen are concerned about purses at Arlington and where the money is going to come from.
Santa Anita Autumn Meet Begins
Santa Anita will be under tough scrutiny as the Autumn meet starts tomorrow, September 27th and through the Breeders' Cup November 1-2nd. The last meet was tainted with 30 equine fatalities. New safety reforms include a 48-hour racing and workout evaluation by a seven-person veterinarian team. The panel will monitor past performances, workout patterns, vet records and observe daily workouts. The meet will start with the $300,000 American Pharoah Stakes (G1), a 1 1/16 mile dirt race for 2-year-olds.
Elate Moves into BC Classic Top 10 Rankings
In the latest poll of the Breeders' Cup Classic rankings and with 90 votes, ELATE, winner of the Fleur de Lis (G2) and Delaware Handicap (G2) has jumped into the top 10. MCKINZIE remains in first place with 260 votes. The five-year-old mare earned an automatic berth to the BC Distaff June 15th after winning the Fleur de Lis.
Two Top Stallions from Spendthrift Move to Regional Markets
It was announced earlier this week that FLAT OUT, a leading third crop sire of 2019, will be relocating to Pryor, Oklahoma to stand at Mighty Acres in a deal brokered by Chad Schumer of Schumer Bloodstock. The stallion has sired six stakes winners and has 18 black-type offspring.
Spendthrift has also sold ITSMYLUCKYDAY to Gigi Chiandussi, located in Ohio. This is the first stallion Chiandussi will stand as she only started her Thoroughbred breeding venture in the past six years. She is excited to be standing the Classic-placed Grade 1 winner at her Ohio farm and hopes to bolster the state-bred program there. Chiandussi's previous equestrian experience has been in international dressage competition on Geerman Warmbloods, but got hooked on Thoroughbreds and racing after attending her first OBS sale in January 2013 where she purchased three broodmares, a daughter of MALIBU MOON, a stakes winner by SUAVE PROSPECT and a SIR LEON mare. She now has 26 broodmares and purchased ITSMYLUCKYDAY after visiting Spendthrift Farm and learning that the stallion was for sale. The son of LAWYER RON earned more than $1.7 million, won the 2013 Holy Bull Stakes, finished second in the Florida Derby and was runner up in the Preakness.
Have a great week!
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