Bonus introduced for winning Preakness Stakes

Horseracing Betting Lines

08/28/2010 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - It's been a few years since there has been a bonus for sweeping the Triple Crown races. During the time that VISA sponsored the bonus, no three-year-old thoroughbred won the three classics, Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes.

Now, MI Developments Inc. has announced a bonus program involving winning the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course and specified prep races at company owned racetracks. The name of the program is PREAKNESS 5.5. The 5.5 represents the $5.5 million that would be up for grabs by owners and trainers.

The tracks involved are all owned by MID: Gulfstream Park, Santa Anita Park and Golden Gate Fields. The $5.5 million bonus will be shared between the winning owner ($5 million) and trainer ($500,000).

"The purpose of this grand prize is to provide a spectacular event for the fans and to create a potential life changing experience for the stakeholders of the racing industry," stated Frank Stronach, Chairman of MID. "These events represent the greatest hope for the renewal of the thoroughbred racing business in America. Our continued development of MID's recently acquired assets should translate into improved results across MID Racing Properties' asset base."

In order to receive the bonus money horses prepping for the Triple Crown at the designated tracks must win at least two stakes races for three-year-olds.

At Gulfstream Park a horse must win either the Holy Bull Stakes or the Fountain of Youth, and also capture the Florida Derby on Sunday, April 3, 2011. The purse for the Florida and the Santa Anita Derbies have each been raised to $1 million.

At Santa Anita Park, before claiming the Santa Anita Derby a horse must win either the Robert B. Lewis or San Felipe Stakes. A horse can also qualify by winning the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields and then win the Santa Anita Derby.

"Gulfstream and Santa Anita have long and storied traditions of producing the finest three-year-olds in the country," said Gulfstream Park General Manager, Steve Calabro. "I expect this will produce Gulfstream's finest winter racing."

A consolation prize will also be offered sponsored by XpressBet. This will be called XpressBet .55. If the winner of the 2011 Preakness is not eligible for the Preakness $5.5 million bonus, the winning owner would get $500,000 and the winning trainer $50,000. However, the Preakness winning horse must have been a runner in one of the initial qualifying races and finished first, second or third in the Santa Anita or the Florida Derbies.

"I am really excited to support the owners and breeders in the 2011 three- year-old season," said Ron Luniewski, President of XpressBet. "As we move towards the three-year-old season, we will be offering some fun wagers based on the Preakness 5.5 and the XpressBet .55."

Any new idea that can increase interest in thoroughbred racing must be commended. I would like to see more bonus programs created spanning races over an entire year.

A logical one would involve the Haskell Invitational, Travers Stakes and Pennsylvania Derby. All are $1 million stakes for three-year-olds during the summer and early fall.

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FOOTBALL BETTING : Cassel Signs Contract

Kansas City, MO - Kansas City has not officially named Matt Cassel its starting quarterback, but there can be no doubt now.

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After praising his leadership and work ethic through spring workouts, the Chiefs announced Tuesday they had signed the 27-year-old Cassel to a multiyear contract. Terms were not disclosed, but he will almost certainly be one of the highest-paid members of the team.
"We are excited to be able to reach a long-term agreement for Matt Cassel to be a Kansas City Chief for many years to come," owner and board chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement. "His proven leadership on and off the field will be a tremendous asset to the organization."
Patriots made him their franchise player, meaning his salary for this season will be about $15 million.
New head coach Todd Haley, taking over for Herm Edwards after a 2-14 season, refused to name a starter at any position during offseason workouts. But it was obvious to everyone the team belonged to Cassel.
"I go out there each and every day with that focus that I'm the starter," Cassel said during a June minicamp. "Competition brings out the best in everybody."
The signing will come as welcome news to Cassel's new coaches and teammates. Amiable and hardworking, online football betting he appeared to win over everyone at minicamp.
"I think he's got some unique leadership qualities. I think his teammates like him and have respect for him. I think he's doing a pretty good job on the field, too," Haley said last month. "He's doing everything that I'm asking him, that our coaches are asking him to do. I don't have one single complaint how he's carrying himself."
After one workout, wide receiver Devard Darling declared Cassel "a breath of fresh air."
"He has a lot of swagger, a lot of confidence. It's good for us," said Darling. "We trust in him that he's going to go out there and lead us all the way."
nse to accommodate his specific abilities.
Trapped on the bench behind Heisman winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC and then unable to unseat Super Bowl MVP Brady at New England, Cassel seemed destined to be a backup all his life. As Brady was helped off the field last September, Cassel seized the opportunity he'd been waiting for since high school.
In his only sustained action since his teens, he hit 349 of 555 passes for 3,949 yards at New England. He had 23 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions as the Patriots, who had gone unbeaten through the regular season the year before, finished 11-5 and out of the playoffs.
Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, who had been Bill Belichick's assistant in New England, engineered the trade after the Patriots became convinced that Brady would recover fully from his knee operation.
"Since Matt arrived in Kansas City, he has embraced the team and the community," Pioli said. "His work ethic, his ability and competitive presence is what we expect from our players."

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MySportsbook.com refunds all bets on Oakland, Green Bay and Tampa Bay from NFL week one.

(September 14) – Week one of NFL action saw three teams go scoreless for the first time since 1977.  Another four were unable to get a touchdown and almost half of the underdogs covered the spread. Those three teams saved bettors at MySportsbook.com from losing out completely, thanks to the company’s unique NFL Shutout Rule -- which ensures that if the team you backed goes scoreless, your wager is refunded.

Sportsbook refunded tens of thousands of dollars to customers who bet on Oakland, Green Bay and Tampa Bay, the three teams that stunk up the field so badly that their fans and backers never had a chance to get up from their couches and cheer.  In the spirit of the low scoring start to the season, odds makers at the world’s largest online sportsbook and casino have set odds on how many total shutouts there will be this season. 

MySportsbook.com has posted updated sports betting lines for week two of the season.  Ben Roethlisberger’s health status is still questionable, so Willie Parker will try to lead Pittsburgh again as they travel to Jacksonville as a one point favorite.  After beating up on his little brother last week, Peyton Manning will look to lead the Colts to victory against Houston. Indianapolis is a whopping 13.5 favorite in the match-up.

Seattle, last year’s highest scoring team, showed the power of their defense with their gritty 9-6 win in Motown over the ravenous Lions.  They take their act back home to the comforts of Qwest Field where they will face the resurgent Arizona Cardinals.  The Seahawks are favored by a touchdown. 

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