Horse Racing News - Industry News and Events at PlayFecta

Minnesota Tracks Receive Help but No Expanded Betting

Minnesota is home to two prominent horse racing tracks: Canterbury Park and Running Aces. Both have become casino/resort properties and contribute significantly to the state’s economy. Businesses across Minnesota inundated lawmakers with requests for assistance as the coronavirus pandemic took hold two months ago. Most asked for financial assistance, but some wanted opportunities. The two […]

Posted on: May 28, 2020 | Jennifer Newell

Belmont Stakes Field Begins to Take Shape

We are less than a month away from the Belmont Stakes, which is in the unfamiliar position of kicking off horse racing’s Triple Crown. This year’s running takes place on Saturday, June 20, and the race itself will be different from previous editions. Instead of the traditional 1 1/2-mile affair, the track has been shortened […]

Posted on: May 26, 2020 | Christopher Feery

Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association - THA

NJ THA Fights On as SCOTUS Denies Sports Leagues Appeal

The case of the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (NJ THA) versus major American sports leagues hit another wall this month. The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) denied the leagues’ request to hear their arguments against the THA’s $150 million lawsuit. In a complicated legal matter dating back to 2014, the decision by […]

Posted on: May 25, 2020 | Jennifer Newell

Overnight Purses Set To Rise At Gulfstream

Businesses across the nation have been dealing with a new reality for several months. It has been no different for a horse racing industry that has managed to keep going in certain spots, albeit with an air of uncertainty. As more tracks begin returning to action, the light at the end of the tunnel is […]

Posted on: May 25, 2020 | Christopher Feery

Saturday Stakes – May 23, 2020

Memorial Day weekend is normally jam-packed with racing action. That’s not entirely the case this time around, but there is a bright side. A number of tracks have ed the ranks of those that are up and running, and many more should follow in the future. Looking ahead to Saturday, there are a number of […]

Posted on: May 22, 2020 | Christopher Feery

NYRA Unveils Safety Initiatives

Tuesday was a busy day for the New York Racing Association. The date for this year’s running of the Belmont Stakes was officially announced for Saturday, June 20, as was a condensed stakes schedule for the Spring/Summer meet. Additionally, the NYRA also took the wraps off of some new initiatives and rule changes for […]

Posted on: May 20, 2020 | Christopher Feery

152nd edition of Belmont Stakes to be contested June 20

On Tuesday (May 19) the New York Racing Association (NYRA) announced the oldest and longest event in the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes (Grade I) will be contested on June 20 at nine furlongs (1-1/8 miles) rather than the traditional version at 1-1/2 miles. Normally contested five weeks after the Kentucky Derby (Grade I) and […]

Posted on: May 19, 2020 | Kimberly French

Woodbine has 20 horses test positive for EHV-1

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) continues to examine cases of the neurotropic strain of EHV-1 May 18 at Woodbine. On Sunday (May 17) the AGCO revealed two Thoroughbreds in Barn 12 at the Ontario facility tested positive for equine herpesvirus, and implemented protocols to manage the situation. Of the 59 horses in Barn 12, there […]

Posted on: May 19, 2020 | Kimberly French

Can Horse Racing Capitalize On Surging Interest?

While the overall sporting landscape remains rather barren in comparison to normal times, some encouraging signs emerged this past weekend. Golf, Nascar, and UFC all held events – albeit without fans – and attracted plenty of interest from a sports-starved nation. Meanwhile, more tracks were up and running over the weekend with live horse racing […]

Posted on: May 18, 2020 | Christopher Feery

Pimlico Officially Sets Preakness Stakes for October 3

Unprecedented times call for unprecedented measures. The coronavirus pandemic qualified and temporarily shut down most of the horse racing industry – as well as many other businesses – around the world. That included the Kentucky Derby, which upended the entirety of the Triple Crown. The Kentucky Derby needed a new date to set a path […]

Posted on: May 18, 2020 | Jennifer Newell