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Kentucky Downs raises purses
Kentucky Downs has raised purses to a record $10 million for its September meet and added a $500,000 inaugural Breeders’ Cup qualifier for 2-year-olds.
Fourteen turf stakes races highlight the five-day meet from Sept. 1-13 with higher purses for 13. The 6 ½-furlong Kentucky Downs Juvenile Turf Sprint on Sept. 8 will award entry to the similarly named inaugural Breeders’ Cup race at Churchill Downs on Nov. 2. Half its purse is available to Kentucky-bred and -sired horses through Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund supplements.
The opening-day Tourist Mile and Grade 3 Kentucky Turf Cup on Sept. 8 each have raised purses to $750,000 through the KTDF.
Patriots broadcaster Santos dies at 78
Gil Santos, the New England Patriots’ longtime radio voice, died Thursday on his 78th birthday.
WBZ NewsRadio confirmed Santos’ death. It didn’t give a cause of death.
Santos started working Patriots’ broadcasts games in 1966 as a color analyst. He took over play-by-play duties when the team moved to Foxborough in 1971. WBZ lost the team’s broadcast rights in the 1980s, and Santos returned with the station in 1991 and remained a fixture through the 2012 season.
Santos called 743 games in 36 seasons, and also did many Boston College football games. He retired from WBZ in 2009 after 38 years, and was inducted into the Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame that year. In 2013, he was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame.
Jags to open dog park in stadium
These cats are for the dogs.
The Jacksonville Jaguars announced Thursday they plan to be the first NFL team to have a dog park inside the stadium.
The 2,000-square-foot area, operated by Pet Paradise, will open this fall in the south end zone and feature artificial turf, a pool and palm trees.
Fans can leave their dogs there and go watch the game. Or they can stay in the park with their dogs during the game.
“People are just taking their pets everywhere now,” said Fernando Acosta-Rua, president and CEO of Pet Paradise. “Pets are just becoming more and more part of the family, so it’s a natural extension to be able to take them wherever you’re going.”
Pet Paradise is based in Jacksonville and has 34 resorts across the country.