Pre-eminent US racing partnership group Starlight Racing, holders of an ownership interest in Authentic, are enthusiastic supporters of the $1 million BetMakers Bonanza.
Their star Into Mischief colt is in the final stages of preparation for the running of the Breeders Cup Longines Classic at Keeneland on November 7.
There is plenty on the line for Authentic in the Grade 1 feature of US racing’s richest two-days with a $3.3 million purse; with a win in the Breeders Cup Longines Classic he is almost certain to be awarded both the three-year-old and horse of the year honours with the added extra bonus this year through the inaugural BetMakers Bonanza.
The BetMakers Bonanza is the brainchild of Monmouth Park’s Dennis Drazin which sees an extra $1 million on the table for any horse that can win Monmouth’s feature Haskell Stakes, pick-up the Kentucky Derby and then win the Longines Classic.
The ‘Bonanza’ is an addition to the landmark deal BetMakers signed in February with Darby Development LLC (owner / operators of Monmouth Park) and the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association to bring fixed-odds wagering on racing to the state of New Jersey.
As far as Authentic and the Bonanza goes, it’s ‘two-down, one to-go’!
“The Bonanza is a great incentive and we thank BetMakers for getting behind it,” Starlight Racing Racing Manager Corbin Blumberg said.
Starlight Racing is no stranger to success, with 26 Grade One wins and the most recent triple-crown winner Justify (2018) having graced their stable, building an absolutely elite list of feature race success.
In recent years, they have extended their footprint into the Australian market, being active at the major yearling sales with their oldest horses racing now three-year-old’s.
“Having spent some time previously in Australia it was an awesome experience; it does seem the model that is used for funding the industry is the best in the world,” Blumberg said.
“It makes sense for the industry in the US to get behind a similar model, with the different betting options for the public equally as important as the benefits that flow back to horsemen crucial.”
Starlight Racing’s website highlights that for prospective owners to be involved in their partnerships that their “ideal candidate is interested in being not just a benefactor of racing but a custodian of the thoroughbred race horse, improving the sport and preserving it for future generations”, a point that has resonated with BetMakers CEO Todd Buckingham.
“Exactly, 100 percent agree,” he said.
“The funding model we will be rolling out in the US sees tracks get a direct slice of money bet by punters through wagering operators.
“It’s a model that is very similar to what was brought into Australia 10-years ago that has seen purse money double and has seen a huge re-invigoration of racing.
“It’s fantastic to see our first sponsorship of the BetMakers Bonanza ‘live’ going into the last leg and even better that some of the check will go to a like-minded organisation if Authentic can pull off the massive achievement in the Longines Classic.”
In a wide betting market, Authentic is rated a 6-1 chance in Global markets with his Bob Baffert-trained stablemate Improbable favourite at around the 4-1 mark.
Win, lose or draw in the final leg of the ‘BetMakers Bonanza’, Authentic will be highly sought-after stallion prospect, and perhaps even spending time during his career at stud ‘shuttling’ to Australia not out of the question.
For more information about Starlight Racing please go to www.starlightracing.com and for more on the BetMakers Bonanza please email Dallas Baker at dallas.baker@thebetmakers.com
