Magna Inks Deal with NBC
Magna Entertainment Corp. has signed a deal with NBC under which the network will televise Magna’s Sunshine Millions program pitting Florida-breds against California-breds from 2004-'06.
The format of the event, which includes four stakes races each at Magna's Santa Anita Park and Gulfstream Park in late January, will remain basically the same, although the broadcast will be increased from one hour to two hours. Purses for the restricted stakes totaled $3.6-million this year.
Magna President Jim McAlpine revealed the new contract arrangement (although he did not disclose the terms) during Thursday's Alibi Breakfast at Pimlico Race Course. Magna decided to invest more resources in Sunshine Millions after being pleased with its inaugural running on January 25.
House Strips Racing Exemption from Internet bill
The House Judiciary Committee passed a version of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Funding Prohibition Act, House Resolution 21, which was stripped for an exemption that would have protected state-licensed activities such as pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing.
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association and the American Horse Council released a statement Wednesday afternoon chastising the Judiciary Committee's decision to approve the bill without the protective language.
"The bill in its original form was beneficial because it would have made it more difficult for off-shore operators, but we needed adequate protection for horse racing to back the bill, and we don’t have that now," NTRA Deputy Commissioner Greg Avioli said. "Without the state-licensed exemptions in the bill, no regulator will support it, which hurts the sponsors of the bill."
A Record Derby Day for Youbet
Youbet.com announced that its handle for this year's Kentucky Derby was $2,433,780, a 141 percent increase over the 2002 record. Also, on Derby Day, the company processed over 5,000 funding transactions and opened over 1,000 new accounts.
"We have had a wealth of good news to announce recently, but these numbers truly reflect how far Youbet.com has progressed and our ability to efficiently perform on major racing days," said Charles F. Champion, president and CEO of Youbet.
There were 10,466 users on the system during the race; at the peak of the day, there were 5,558 users logged in at one time.
In the week leading up to the Kentucky Derby, Youbet.com members wagered $6.7 million, a 34 percent increase over the company's previous weekly record set earlier this year during the Santa Anita Handicap Week.
Head-to-head Wagering Returns for Preakness
Impressed with the results from the first head-to-head wagering offered during last year's Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships at Belmont Park, Pimlico Race Course officials will offer the bet on 12 of 13 stakes races at the track on Friday and Saturday.
Bettors can choose one of two horses selected for the head-to-head contests by Pimlico racing officials. They will win if their runner finishes ahead of the other horse, regardless of whether either runner wins or finishes in the money.
"We are always looking for new wagers that work, and the head-to-head concept had unqualified success at the Breeders’ Cup," said Maryland Jockey Club Chief Operating Officer Lou Raffetto when he announced the innovation. "I think the public is going to love this bet."
The head-to-head wager has not previously been conducted on a Triple Crown race.
SARS Forces Cancellation of Asian Race
The $3 million Singapore International Cup was cancelled because of fears over the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
The Australian Associated Press reported the May 17 event planned for Kranji racecourse by the Singapore Turf Club will not be held.
In a joint announcement with primary sponsor Singapore Airlines, the Turf Club said the two groups had decided to cancel both the International Cup and the $1 million Krisflyer Sprint.
"The Club and Singapore Airlines deeply regret that the current situation arising from the SARS outbreak in the region has made this decision necessary," STC president and chief executive Yu Pang Fey said.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club faced a similar dilemma the QE II Cup, but decided it inappropriate to meddle with the race because it is the opening leg of the World Racing Series for 2003.
Hong Kong has been able to proceed as it has a greater depth of domestic horses to run a group I race over 2000 meters compared to Singapore.
The Singapore International Cup was first run in 1999 and last year was promoted to international group I status for the first time. It was also the first time the race had been run as a leg of the World Racing Series.
British Racing Faces Massive Overhaul
Hundreds of new meetings, a three-tier prize money format (similar to the Premiership, Nationwide League and Conference in football) and urgent action to support National Hunt racing are among the 76 recommendations of the British Horseracing Board's racing review committee, which has been considering the future of the sport for the past nine months.
The proposals also seek to reverse a dramatic decline in British racing's share of the betting market. The introduction of 300 extra meetings is expected to plug the current gaps in betting-shop coverage, ensuring that there are three meetings every weekday and every Sunday, four on Saturdays and bank holidays, two every evening from April to August and one "matinee" meeting late Saturday afternoon.
Other suggestions include the establishment of a Racing Hall of Fame, further development of all-weather racing, and the compulsory weighing of all horses before they race.
Playfair Shuts Down Simulcast Operations
Eric Nelson, the Las Vegas developer who has a 10-year lease to operate Playfair Race Course, shut down the Spokane track’s simulcast operations on Tuesday because of a dispute regarding live racing dates.
In an agreement with the Washington Racing Commission struck earlier this year, Nelson must conduct 40 days of live racing at Playfair this year to retain his simulcast operation.
Nelson called his simulcast shutdown "a cooling-off period," but there is some skepticism as to whether he plans to conduct a live meet this season.