Bigger purses have changed the claiming game, presenting challenges – and opportunities – for both horsemen and racetracks.
La Vitesse won a Parx allowance last out by 14 lengths. She’ll look to validate that Wednesday in the Blue Mountain Juvenile Fillies at Penn National.
The Fabulous Strike, anchoring Penn National’s Thanksgiving eve card, looks to draw a big field, as do two undercard stakes.
The Grade 3 Penn Mile has attracted 37 top-quality nominees, while venerable star Ben’s Cat headlines the likely undercard performers.
Jenny Bowman has been named Penn National racing secretary, joining Maryland’s Georganne Hale as one of a small group of female racing secretaries nationwide.
Penn National’s gate crew staged a strike Saturday, protesting what they called unfair labor practices. But, belatedly, the show went on without them.
Eric Johnston, the racing secretary at Sam Houston Race Park, has been named Director of Racing Operations for Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course.