Odds-on favorite Dreaming of Drew delivered on her pari-mutuel promise in the 75th edition of the CA$250,000 Princess Elizabeth Stakes for Canadian-foaled 2-year-old fillies Oct. 31 at Woodbine.
Monthly Archives: October 2020
British Racing Remains Green-Lighted Amid New Lockdown
Prime minister Boris Johnson Oct. 31 announced a second national lockdown for England until Dec. 2, including the closure of all betting shops, but racing will be allowed to continue.
Majestic Dunhill Earns First Graded Win in Bold Ruler
For the longest time trainer George Weaver has believed Majestic Dunhill was perfectly suited by seven-furlong races.
Step Dancer Becomes First Stakes Winner for War Dancer
Hayward Pressman, Diamond M Stable, and Donna Pressman’s Step Dancer became the first black-type winner for sire War Dancer by capturing the $80,000 Awad Stakes Oct. 31 going 1 1/16 miles on Belmont Park’s inner turf course.
Twin River’s ‘pure gamer’ strategy limits Q3 casino profit decline
US regional casino operator Twin River Worldwide Holdings (TRWH) posted solid if unspectacular earnings in the final financial report before its rebrand as Bally’s Corporation.
Figures released this week show the Rhode Island-headquartered TRWH generated revenue of $116.6m in the three months ending September 30, a nearly 10% fall from the same period last year. But adjusted earnings managed a 6.8% rise to $38m while net income slipped only 4% to $6.7m.
Pandemic restrictions on TRWH’s re-opened casinos were blamed for the revenue decline, even though the total got a boost from the additions of Casino KC (Missouri) and Casino Vicksburg (Mississippi), which formally became part of the TRWH fold on July 1.
The fact that the profit decline was limited to single-digit territory was credited to reduced marketing spending, the elimination of lower-margin amenities and “labor savings.” TRWH CEO George Papanier said the company’s “disciplined approach” had given the company the liquidity “to better deal with the kind of uncontrollable events 2020 has dealt us.”
Given to Give Up Training for BHA Equine Welfare Role
James Given has been appointed the new British Horseracing Association director of equine health and welfare and is set to wind down his training operation before taking up the role in 2021.
Pletcher, Motion Work Breeders' Cup Contenders
Todd Pletcher looked on Oct. 31 as Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1T) contender Halladay and Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) runner Valiance breezed on the Belmont Park training track in preparation for the Nov. 6-7 Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Keeneland.
Lacking Breeders' Cup Mounts, Smith to Ride at Del Mar
When the 37th running of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships is staged Nov. 6-7 at Keeneland in Lexington, Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith will be more than 2,000 miles away, riding at Del Mar.
Rookies Race in Coronation Futurity
Eight hopefuls, including Barb Minshall trainees British Royalty and Threefiftyseven and Gail Cox charge Tio Magico, square off Nov. 1 in the CA$250,000 Coronation Futurity Stakes at Woodbine.
Authentic, Maximum Security Put in Final Classic Works
Bob Baffert has won the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) three times with the likes of Bayern, American Pharoah, and Arrogate.
Authentic, Maximum Security Put in Final Classic Works
Bob Baffert has won the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) three times with the likes of Bayern, American Pharoah, and Arrogate.
Swiss Skydiver Distaff-Bound; Busy BC Tab at Churchill
Four prospects for the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) and the two favorites for the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) breezed at Churchill Downs Oct. 31 in preparation for their races next week at Keeneland.
Tiz the Law Breezes Toward Classic at Keeneland
An early arrival at Keeneland ahead of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships appears to be paying dividends for Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) winner Tiz the Law.
Busy Morning at Churchill for Breeders' Cup Workouts
Four prospects for the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) and the two favorites for the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) breezed at Churchill Downs Oct. 31 in preparation for their races next week at Keeneland.
Kenya gambling regulator blocks SportPesa betting site’s return
Kenyan sports betting operator SportPesa’s triumphant return to its home market has been rudely disrupted by the local gambling regulator.
On Friday, SportPesa’s official social media feeds enthusiastically proclaimed that the company was once again free to accept Kenyan bettors’ action thanks to the transfer of its brand name to a new locally licensed bookmaker, Milestone Games Ltd, about which precious little is known.
The excitement didn’t last long, as Kenyan media reported Saturday that Cyrus Maina, chairman of Kenya’s Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB), had written a letter to Milestone operations manager Bernard Chauro on Friday prohibiting Milestone from using the SportPesa brand.
Maina told Chauro that there was “a variance in the trade name the board approved vis-à-vis the name Milestone Games Limited currently wishes to adopt.” Maina noted that Milestone had been granted authority to use the SportPesa brand by Sportpesa Global Holdings.
In Tough Year, Breeders' Cup Sees International Support
The 39 international horses pre-entered, according to Breeders’ Cup, is down from 47 last year, but represents an increase from the 32 the only other year Keeneland hosted the event, in 2015.
PETA Buys Stock in Racetracks
PETA’s proposals will affect Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort and Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, JACK Thistledown Racino, Belterra Park Gaming, and Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course etc.
Costanzo Named Racing Secretary at Gulfstream Park
Costanzo, a native of Chicago who has worked in the racing office since 2009, had served as stakes coordinator at Gulfstream for five years before becoming assistant racing secretary last year.
Thoroughbred Owner Cohen Approved to Become Mets' Owner
Steve Cohen, a partner in Sol Kumin’s various Thoroughbred ownership groups, received approval Oct. 30 from Major League Baseball owners to become the owner of the New York Mets.
Wynn Resorts’ WynnBET betting/iGaming brand inks NASCAR deal
Casino operator Wynn Resorts has signed a sports betting partnership with motorsports organization NASCAR to boost the profile of its new WynnBET digital gaming division.
On Friday, Wynn and NASCAR announced a ‘national multi-year’ deal under which WynnBET will become the latest Authorized Gaming Operator of the body overseeing most North American stock car race events. NASCAR’s chief digital officer Tim Clark said he was “excited to partner with such a deeply experienced and innovative team.”
As far as land-based casino gambling is concerned, okay, but Wynn seriously lags its US rivals in terms of digital sports betting, casino and poker experience. That wasn’t always the case, as Wynn launched an ‘interactive’ division that applied for a New Jersey online gambling license in 2014 only to withdraw the application the following year without explanation.
In 2018, following the demise of the US federal sports betting ban, Wynn inked a betting partnership with UK-licensed BetBull, then struck another betting/iGaming deal with Scientific Games Corp in 2019.