Horse Racing News - Industry News and Events at PlayFecta

Saturday Stakes – May 9, 2020

The stakes schedule for this Saturday is really light. That’s the bad news. On the positive front, another track is returning to the party and will be up and running with live horse racing action. We’ll walk through that and everything else you need to know about the full Saturday slate, but let’s begin by […]

Posted on: May 8, 2020 | | Christopher Feery

Thoroughbred Safety Coalition Shares Update On Reform Initiative

Back in November, the Thoroughbred Safety Coalition took flight with the goal of setting standards and best practices aimed at improving safety and accountability for the equine industry. The catalyst was the troubles at Santa Anita Park which cast a black cloud over the world of horse racing. The group’s founding members – Breeders’ Cup, […]

Posted on: May 6, 2020 | | Christopher Feery

Gulfstream Pick 6 Climbs Over $1M Once Again

There wasn’t a lone winner of the Gulfstream Park Rainbow Pick 6 over the weekend, so that means that the pool has once again climbed to an eye-popping level. As of this writing, the carryover stands at $1,036,320. Gulfstream will be up and running again on Thursday, May 7. We can safely expect interest to […]

Posted on: May 4, 2020 | | Christopher Feery

Secretariat Wins Virtual Triple Crown Showdown

The first Saturday in May sure wasn’t the one to which horse racing fans have become accustomed. It was Kentucky Derby Day without the actual Run for the Roses. Most people are understanding of the coronavirus pandemic, having seen its path of destruction around the world and through many parts of the United States. Most […]

Posted on: May 3, 2020 | | Jennifer Newell

Saturday Stakes – May 2, 2020

It’s another light Saturday in terms of tracks that will actually be up and running, but there’s a very big caveat to that. There are a number of quality races on tap, including one of the key stops on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Let’s take a look. Arkansas Derby 1 There’s even more […]

Posted on: May 1, 2020 | | Christopher Feery

Virtual Kentucky Derby Day Set for May 2 on NBC and Online

The official Kentucky Derby, as fans around the world know it, is rescheduled for September 5, 2020. The coronavirus pandemic required the postponement of one of the biggest days in all of sports. But if the stars – and social distancing rules and antibody tests and vaccines – align, the 146th Kentucky Presented by Woodford […]

Posted on: May 1, 2020 | | Jennifer Newell

Santa Anita Hits Dozen Horse Deaths in 2020

Santa Anita Park headed into 2020 with the hopes of a much better year than the prior one. A total of 37 horses died at the racetrack in 2019 from a variety of injuries and situations. The track began to implement strict horse welfare policies in late 2019 and early 2020, making them more rigorous […]

Posted on: April 29, 2020 | | Jennifer Newell

Oaklawn Announces Big Changes for Arkansas Derby

Traditionally, the Arkansas Derby is one of the biggest stops on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. That’s still the case this time around, even though the horse racing calendar has been flipped on its head in the current environment. The Arkansas Derby is still on tap to be run this Saturday. Initially scheduled for […]

Posted on: April 27, 2020 | | Christopher Feery

Saturday Stakes – April 25, 2020

As has become the norm on Saturdays in the current environment, there are just a few tracks that have cards scheduled to run. While the offerings remain scant, the bright side says that there’s a trio of intriguing stakes races to serve as the highlight. Let’s take a look at what’s on tap in that […]

Posted on: April 24, 2020 | | Christopher Feery

Churchill Downs to Host Virtual Kentucky Derby for Charity

The decision to delay the Kentucky Derby in 2020 was not an easy one. As the coronavirus pandemic prompted states across America to close everything from restaurants to racetracks in early March, executives with companies like Churchill Downs paid close attention. And as the spread of the virus increased in number and severity, they knew […]

Posted on: April 24, 2020 | | Jennifer Newell