R.E.I.N. Fund Launched to Help Members of Racing Industry Impacted by COVID-19

Jun 12, 2020 Kevin Kerstein,Churchill Downs Communications

The Churchill Downs Foundation has launched the Relief for Equine Industry Needs (“R.E.I.N.”) to assist members of the racing community that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The R.E.I.N. Fund will specifically address the needs of backstretch communities by providing meals, micro-grants and financial assistance with emergency needs as well as the fulfillment of essential care for horses. One of the earliest supporters of the R.E.I.N. Fund has been trainer Jack Sisterson who announced in early May that he would donate a portion of his horse’s purse earnings to the cause.

“Horsemen are the most generous people I know,” Sisterson said. “With us being so fortunate to reopen our business, all the horsemen I talk to say, ‘I wish I could help the less fortunate.’”

Along with Sisterson’s support, jockeys Tyler Gaffalione and Julien Leparoux, along with owners Skychai Racing, have pledged to donate a portion of their earnings to the R.E.I.N. Fund.

“I made a deal with Jack at the beginning of the meet to help the cause,” Gaffalione said. “It’s such a great cause and it’s a way for us to easily give back to those less fortunate on the racetrack.”

As a result of the success of the R.E.I.N. Fund, the Churchill Downs Foundation has been able to aid several members of the horse racing community when they returned to Churchill Downs in mid-May. Applications for aid within the racing community can be sent to [email protected]. An advisory committee will then review the applications.

For more information, visit https://www.churchilldowns.com/horsemen/rein.

ASMUSSEN TIES ROMANS AS ALL-TIME LEADING TRAINER AT CHURCHILL DOWNS – Hall of Fame horseman Steve Asmussen tied South Louisville native Dale Romans as the all-time leading trainer in Churchill Downs history on Thursday when 2-year-old filly Thoughtfully rolled to a comfortable 8 ¾-length victory in the second race for win No. 737 beneath the historic Twin Spires.

“This was definitely worth coming back early from the OBS sales in Florida,” 54-year-old Asmussen said. “It is a very special win and we are very excited to reach this very significant milestone.”

Romans has been the record-holder since Nov. 12, 2017 when he surpassed Hall of Famer Bill Mott, who was Churchill Downs’ all-time leader for more than 31 years.

Asmussen will attempt to surpass Romans on Friday. He has entries in the first three races at Churchill Downs as well as Races 6 and 8. Romans, who is seeking his first win of the Spring Meet, has entries in Races 4 and 5.

GARCIA OFF MOUNTS FRIDAY DUE TO LEG INJURY – Jockey Martin Garcia will be off his mounts on Friday at Churchill Downs due to a leg injury suffered during training.

Garcia was transported to University Hospital for evaluation and hopes to return to the races on Saturday, according to his agent Jay Fedor.

CHURCHILL DOWNS PARTNERS WITH NYRA FOR CROSS-COUNTRY PICK 5 ON SATURDAY – Churchill Downs and the New York Racing Association have partnered to offer a cross-country Pick 5 on Saturday with three races from Churchill Downs and two from Belmont Park.

Belmont will kick off the sequence with Race 7 at 4:32 p.m. (all times Eastern) when a full field of filly and mare maidens compete on the Widener turf course at one mile.

Action will alternate between the two tracks with Churchill hosting the second leg with Race 8 at 4:46 p.m. Another full field will compete on the turf with fillies and mares 3-years-old and up comprising the 5 ½-furlong allowance sprint. Race 8 at Belmont, set for 5:04 p.m., will see New York-bred fillies and mares run six furlongs on Big Sandy.

Churchill will then host the final two legs, with another allowance sprint in Race 10 at 5:50 p.m. that offers a full field of 12 at 6 ½ furlongs on the main track.

The concluding race will be the Cross Country Pick 5’s lone stakes race at 6:22 p.m.: the Grade III, $100,000 Louisville at 1 ½ miles on the turf headlined by Grade I-winning $1.8 million earner Arklow.

The Louisville field from the rail out (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds): Perfect Tapatino (FR) (Adam Beschizza, Roger Attfield, 20-1); Sky Promise (David Cohen, Robertino Diodoro, 20-1); Apreciado (Martin Garcia, Mike Maker, 12-1); He’s No Lemon (Rafael Bejarano, Graham Motion, 15-1); Arklow (Geroux, Cox, 8-5); Tiz a Slam (Tyler Gaffalione, Attfield, 7-2); Lombo (Tyler Baze, Phil D’Amato, 30-1); Jais’s Solitude (Corey Lanerie, Eddie Kenneally, 20-1); Golden Dragon (Joe Talamo, Maker, 30-1); Fearsome (GB) (James Graham, Cyril Murphy, 15-1); Ry’s the Guy (Chris Landeros, Ian Wilkes, 20-1); Admission Office (Julien Leparoux, Brian Lynch, 3-1).

The minimum bet for the multi-track, multi-race wager is 50 cents. Wagering on the Cross Country Pick 5 is also available on ADW platforms including www.twinspires.com.

TV SCHEDULE THIS WEEK – The racing action from Churchill Downs Racetrack throughout the 2020 Spring Meet will be broadcast on FOX Sports’ “America’s Day at the Races,” which will air every race day on either FS1 or FS2.

Friday, June 12

1:00 – 2:20 p.m. (FS2)

4:30 – 6:30 p.m. (FS2)

1:00 – 6:30 p.m. (MSG+)

2:00 – 6:00 p.m. (FOX Sports Ohio)

Saturday, June 13

1:00 – 2:30 p.m. (FS2)

2:30 – 6:30 p.m. (FS1)

1:00 – 6:30 p.m. (MSG+)

3:00 – 6:30 p.m. (FOX Sports Ohio)

Sunday, June 14

2:00 – 2:30 p.m. (FS2)

2:30 – 6:30 p.m. (FS1)

1:00 – 6:30 p.m. (MSG+)

DOWN THE STRETCH – Racing continued Friday at Churchill Downs with a first post of 1 p.m. There was a $37,872 carryover in the 20-cent Single 6 Jackpot that spanned Races 4-9. … Friday’s work tab at Churchill Downs featured champion Monomoy Girl who worked a half-mile in :48.80 before galloping out five furlongs in 1:01.40. … Turf racing on Saturday and Sunday will be run in Lane 1 on the hedge. … “Inside Churchill Downs” will air Friday at 6 p.m. on ESPN 680/105.7. The one-hour horse-racing program is hosted by Churchill Downs’ Darren Rogers and Kevin Kerstein, along with TwinSpires.com handicapper Scott Shapiro. For those outside the Louisville area, the show will air live on www.espnlouisville.com.