“Miami auction points to comeback in horse racing industry (The Palm Beach Post)” plus 3 more

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• Miami auction points to comeback in horse racing industry (The Palm Beach Post)
• Auction points to comeback in horse racing industry (Miami Herald)
• Alameda County Fair announces dates, includes 15 days of horse racing (Berkeley Voice - Albany Journal)
• Horse racing: Rachel runs again, stays the course (The Saratogian)

Miami auction points to comeback in horse racing industry (The Palm Beach Post) Posted: 03 Mar 2010 04:13 PM PST By Toluse Olorunnipa The Miami Herald An unnamed chestnut colored colt sold for $2.3 million in Miami Gardens Tuesday, the highest price paid for a thoroughbred at the annual auction since the recession buckled the horse-racing industry. Those attending the Fasig-Tipton Two-Year-Olds in Training auction at the Calder Race Course & Casino welcomed the bid as a sign that wealthy gamblers have begun to reopen their purses after two years of declining sales. Still, fewer horses were sold this year than in 2009, and overall sales revenue was down 10 percent, a sign that the horse racing industry is still struggling to recover from a drop in luxury and entertainment spending. But compared to steep back-to-back declines of more than 25 percent in 2008 and 2009, this year's more modest drop in sales, coupled with the top bid, might signal a turnaround for the industry, which is worth more than $3 billion in Florida. Organizers also pointed to the median price as a bit of good news -- that indicator was up $50,000 to $200,000 after slipping two years in a row. ``It's been about as expected,' said Boyd Browning, president of Fasig-Tipton, the company that hosts the event. ``The nice horses have sold well. It's not spectacular compared to some of the previous years, but it's what we expected.' The horse racing industry has suffered nationwide during the economic downturn, with overall gross purses, or prize money, from races down 5.7 percent last year, according to Equibase. At last year's Calder auction, total sales dropped 25.4 percent to $26.1 million, down significantly from 2006, when a record-breaking auction boosted sales to $62.1 million. But buyers have begun to warm up to the idea of shelling out hundreds of thousands -- and sometimes millions -- of dollars on a carefully bred racehorses that could yield back multiple times over on the racetrack and in the breeding shed. Tuesday's top-selling horse was a half-brother to Funny Cide, who nearly won racing's Triple Crown in 2003, and could earn millions as a sire. The horse was purchased by Colorado-based horse training company Stonestreet Stables. Tim Ice, trainer of last year's top 3-year-old, Summer Bird, had his eye on Horse #210 at Tuesday's auction. Ice said he wasn't expecting any huge bargains, despite the down economy. He planned on shelling out between $150,000 and $200,000 for the horse during the auction, which brought together investors, trainers and sellers. The horse he was looking at, a half-brother to 2005's top 3-year-old, Afleet Alex, sold to another buyer for $300,000. Nick de Meric, who owns a horse brokerage in Ocala, sold two horses at competitive prices, but left with two unsold colts. He said that shows things are getting better but the industry is far from out of the woods. Richard Hancock, executive vice president of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association, said he would be monitoring the outcome of Tuesday's auction, which he called a ``barometer' of the industry. ``The Florida industry I think is poised to have a pretty good recovery and come back,' he said. Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Auction points to comeback in horse racing industry (Miami Herald) Posted: 03 Mar 2010 04:10 AM PST An unnamed chestnut colored colt sold for $2.3 million in Miami Gardens Tuesday, the highest price paid for a thoroughbred at the annual auction since the recession buckled the horse-racing industry. Those attending the Fasig-Tipton Two-Year-Olds in Training auction at the Calder Race Course & Casino welcomed the bid as a sign that wealthy gamblers have begun to reopen their purses after two years of declining sales. Still, fewer horses were sold this year than in 2009, and overall sales revenue was down 10 percent, a sign that the horse racing industry is still struggling to recover from a drop in luxury and entertainment spending. But compared to steep back-to-back declines of more than 25 percent in 2008 and 2009, this year's more modest drop in sales, coupled with the top bid, might signal a turnaround for the industry, which is worth more than $3 billion in Florida. Organizers also pointed to the median price as a bit of good news -- that indicator was up $50,000 to $200,000 after slipping two years in a row. ``It's been about as expected,'' said Boyd Browning, president of Fasig-Tipton, the company that hosts the event. ``The nice horses have sold well. It's not spectacular compared to some of the previous years, but it's what we expected.'' The horse racing industry has suffered nationwide during the economic downturn, with overall gross purses, or prize money, from races down 5.7 percent last year, according to Equibase. At last year's Calder auction, total sales dropped 25.4 percent to $26.1 million, down significantly from 2006, when a record-breaking auction boosted sales to $62.1 million. But buyers have begun to warm up to the idea of shelling out hundreds of thousands -- and sometimes millions -- of dollars on a carefully bred racehorses that could yield back multiple times over on the racetrack and in the breeding shed. Tuesday's top-selling horse was a half-brother to Funny Cide, who nearly won racing's Triple Crown in 2003, and could earn millions as a sire. The horse was purchased by Colorado-based horse training company Stonestreet Stables. Tim Ice, trainer of last year's top 3-year-old, Summer Bird, had his eye on Horse #210 at Tuesday's auction. Ice said he wasn't expecting any huge bargains, despite the down economy. He planned on shelling out between $150,000 and $200,000 for the horse during the auction, which brought together investors, trainers and sellers. The horse he was looking at, a half-brother to 2005's top 3-year-old, Afleet Alex, sold to another buyer for $300,000. Nick de Meric, who owns a horse brokerage in Ocala, sold two horses at competitive prices, but left with two unsold colts. He said that shows things are getting better but the industry is far from out of the woods. Richard Hancock, executive vice president of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association, said he would be monitoring the outcome of Tuesday's auction, which he called a ``barometer'' of the industry. ``The Florida industry I think is poised to have a pretty good recovery and come back,'' he said. Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Alameda County Fair announces dates, includes 15 days of horse racing (Berkeley Voice - Albany Journal) Posted: 02 Mar 2010 11:18 PM PST PLEASANTON — A combination of more horse racing and the return of fireworks plus a break on the weather helped the Alameda County Fair set record attendance last year, and the formula worked so well that fair officials won't tweak much to this year's edition. The Alameda County Fair will run from June 23 through July 11. The dates, which were announced Monday, include 15 days of horse racing with the possibility of an additional day. The fair will run Wednesday through Monday for the near three-week duration and be closed June 29 and July 6. Horse racing will not occur June 28-29 and July 6. The fair is still awaiting approval from the California Horse Racing Board to add horse racing July 7, said April Mitchell, Alameda County Fairgrounds' event sales and marketing manager. To accommodate the July 4 weekend, the fair will run on Mondays this year and will have its $2 Tuesdays converted into $3 Wednesdays. The fair is also shifting its free days for seniors from Wednesdays to Thursdays. Kids days will continue on Fridays, also with free admission. Independence Day fireworks are scheduled for July 2. The Alameda County Community Food Bank and the fair are also teaming up June 28 for a food drive day, providing free admission to those who bring four nonperishable items with them to the fair. The nonperishable items will be donated to the food bank. Last year, the fair attracted 434,919 visitors, who enjoyed everything from food to horse racing to roller derby. Attendance was up by almost 87,000 visitors from 2008, and it broke the 1997 record of 431,000. The numbers include a single-day attendance of more than 50,000 people — the most in a single day in more than 20 years — who attended July 3 to see the fireworks. The fair has also announced a few of its concerts with Tower of Power, War and country act Lonestar as some of the headliners. For update information on the Alameda County Fair, go to www.facebook.com/alamedacountyfair. Robert Jordan covers Dublin and Pleasanton, contact him at 925-847-2184. Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Horse racing: Rachel runs again, stays the course (The Saratogian) Posted: 03 Mar 2010 09:29 AM PST By NICOLE RUSSO The Saratogian Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra turned in her most serious work in advance of her season debut, covering six furlongs in 1:13 3/5 at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans Tuesday morning. With regular exercise rider Dom Terry up, the daughter of Medaglia d'Oro went out late yesterday morning in company with the 3-year-old colt Depaul, recently unplaced in the Lecomte Stakes. Rachel Alexandra doesn't typically go out with a workmate, which is a strategy to spark a horse's competitive nature; but with time ticking down until her season debut and a later clash with Zenyatta, trainer Steve Asmussen elected to change things up. "The concern was that her last work was so smooth and easy that she didn't get enough out of it," Asmussen said. "The other horse is a variable that ensures she gets more out of it." Brian Hernandez, Jr. was aboard Depaul for the work. Ironically, Hernandez was Rachel Alexandra's jockey for the first five starts of her career, with two stakes placings, before Calvin Borel took over in the 2008 Golden Rod, sparking the filly's nine-race win streak. Depaul broke off for the work first, with Rachel Alexandra following behind under stout restraint from Terry. The filly has typically been aggressive early in her works; in another nod to this personality, she's worked this week in a fight eight bridle, a piece of equipment that can help relax an eager horse. "She was a little keen early (Tuesday)," Asmussen said. "She was very aggressive and hard-held early." Terry kept the filly behind Depaul early, pacing her through a half-mile in :51 flat, before swinging her to the outside of her workmate in the stretch. The filly effortlessly blew by and opened up about six lengths and covering her final quarter in :22 3/5 to stop the clock in 1:13 3/5. Depaul finished in 1:14 4/5. Asmussen, while wishing the final time had been a bit faster, was still pleased with the strong closing time and the effortless way the filly finished. "I was hoping she'd go a little quicker," he said. "She settled off the other horse really nicely. She stayed with her left lead trying to stay with the other horse, then she switched to her right lead and accelerated. We're happy with where she's at." Rachel Alexandra is still on track to make her season debut — and her first start since winning the Woodward Sept. 5 at Saratoga Race Course — in the March 13 New Orleans Ladies Stakes at the Fair Grounds. The 4-year-old will have a maintenance move next Monday, six days before the race. Meanwhile, the field for the New Orleans Ladies is starting to develop. Trainer John Shirreffs, who conditions the unbeaten Zenyatta, will send Zardana, winner of the Grade II Bayakoa Handicap, to challenge. Although Zardana will be the only other graded winner in the field, plenty of local talent could be on hand for the inaugural running of the $200,000 race. Clear Sailing, a 4-year-old daughter of Empire Maker, is a perfect 3-for-3 this season at the Fair Grounds, most recently winning the Pelleteri Stakes on Feb. 13. Fighter Wing was second in that race, while Double Espresso won the six-furlong Pan Zareta Stakes on Feb. 20. The stakes-placed Unforgotten and Pleasantly Blessed are also possible. Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

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