Jennifer Newell, Author at Horse Racing News & Events

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

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

Churchill Downs Ready for Opening with New Safety Initiatives

The horse racing industry is collectively ready to resume racing. Since most racetracks have been closed for all business since sometime in March due to the coronavirus pandemic, every track is anxious to be in the spotlight again. Churchill Downs is not only one of the most famous tracks in the world, it is one […]

Posted on: May 13, 2020 | Jennifer Newell

Pimlico to Undergo Much-Needed Funding for Renovations

Maryland horse racing is one of many industries hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. Even before the shutdowns in March and subsequent economic hardships, tracks like Pimlico weren’t exactly flush with cash. Many tracks struggle to make ends meet due to the high costs of horse care and increased competition in the industry. And while […]

Posted on: May 11, 2020 | Jennifer Newell

Racetracks in Various States Get Opening Approvals but No Fans

In March, horse racing tracks across America went silent. A few continued to race but banned spectators. By April, barely a handful of those tracks were still running races at all. The coronavirus pandemic took America – and the world – by storm, and all non-essential businesses were ordered closed to prevent COVID-19 from infecting […]

Posted on: May 8, 2020 | Jennifer Newell

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

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

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

Tracks Across America Consider How and When to Reopen

The vast majority of horse racing tracks across America have been closed for more than a month. Most received their shutdown orders in the middle of March via governors of individual states who determined – along with health officials – that tracks were not essential businesses. By nature, racetracks aren’t exactly a model for social […]

Posted on: April 21, 2020 | Jennifer Newell