[Gremlin Lad]

Friday December 17, 2010


Seeking to make long-stalled legislative gains in the aftermath of the New York City Off-Track Betting Corp.’s shutdown, a number of racing interests are stepping up efforts to create a single, statewide OTB network in New York. At a December 15 hearing called by the Assembly racing committee, some industry executives said the four-decade-old OTB model in New York should be replaced with a track-owned betting conglomerate as a way to end the internecine warfare for a dwindling betting dollar. "If we can fix this we can put New York in the forefront of racing," New York Racing Association President Charles Hayward said of a renewed effort to merge OTB operations now scattered across the state. But Hayward urged state lawmakers not to wait for the industry agreement for a new OTB model. "We aren’t going to get together to solve this problem," Hayward said of the tracks and OTBs that have long butted heads in New York. He called for an "independent" review of the pari-mutuel model in New York that, Hayward believes, will end the longtime, patronage-heavy system that now—with NYCOTB’s shutdown—has five regional OTB corporations operating.

[Gremlin Lad]

After months of planning approvals and construction, the OC Tavern Grill and Sports Bar, located in the Southern Orange County beach community of San Clemente, is ready to open its doors to horse players. The mini-satellite wagering location, the first of its kind in a California eating and drinking establishment, will begin taking action Dec. 17. The horseplayers addition, dubbed the "OCT Room," is attached to the spacious main restaurant and bar and will hold about 70-75 patrons. It comes equipped with more than 25 flat-screen televisions for race watching. There is an outside smoking patio with room for another 30 customers. “We’re very excited and there’s been a real buzz in town about this,” said the tavern’s owner, Michael Merrigan. “We’ve been known as a great neighborhood location for sporting fans to this point and I think the addition of the OCT Room will only make us more popular.” The tavern will be the second mini-satellite location in the state, both in Southern California, under a state law approved in October 2007. The law authorizes up to 45 such facilities statewide -- 15 each in three geographic zones -- in an effort to reach players who may not be close to a racetrack or one of the 30 or so main satellite facilities located at county fairs or tribal casinos.

[Gremlin Lad]

Turfway cancels live racing; Churchill calls off simulcasting

Turfway Park officials canceled live racing on Thursday due to snow and an ice storm that blanketed Kentucky. Churchill Downs officials also canceled simulcast wagering for the day due to the inclement weather conditions.

An overnight mixture of freezing rain and snow has created icy and deteriorating road conditions, making travel difficult. According to the National Weather Service, lingering sleet and freezing rain and drizzle should taper off, with most of the area seeing an end to the wintry mix by midday. Thursday's high temperature was expected to reach 33.

With the icy conditions, ship-in horses have been prevented from safely reaching Turfway.

The facility remains open for simulcasting, though, and racing is expected to resume Friday with a first post of 5:30 p.m. (EST).

Weather conditions permitting, Churchill Downs is scheduled to reopen Friday for simulcast wagering at 11:30 a.m.

[Gremlin Lad]

Friday Dec 17, 2010

Charles Town canceled live racing on Thursday because of inclement weather.

Beulah Park, which canceled Monday-Wednesday due to track conditions, announced that Friday's program has also been scrapped.

[Gremlin Lad]

Churchill Downs Inc. (CDI) announced on Thursday that it has completed the purchase of Harlow's Casino Resort & Hotel in Greenville, Mississippi, a deal valued at approximately $138 million. CDI's acquisition of the casino property follows its licensure by the Mississippi State Gaming Commission. Harlow's, which is located on approximately 69 acres of leased land near the Mississippi River, features a 33,000-square foot gaming floor with 841 Class III slot machines, 23 table games and a poker room; a five-story, 105-room attached hotel; a 2,600-seat entertainment center; and three separate dining areas. The property, which opened in November 2007, sits at the base of a new $336 million U.S. Highway 82 Bridge that connects Harlow's to customers in the neighboring state of Arkansas. To mark the transfer to CDI ownership, Harlow's management team will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday at 9:30 a.m. (CST) at the casino's entrance lobby...

[Gremlin Lad]

Saturday 12/18/2010


Archarcharch wins on Santa Super Saturday card at Fair Grounds.

Archarcharch (outside) ran a big race to break his maiden in the six-furlong Sugar Bowl and will try longer distances next season at three (Hodges Photography/Lou Hodges Jr.)
Fair Grounds offered five stakes races on its Santa Super Saturday program, and the $56,400 Sugar Bowl S. for two-year-olds appeared to lose some luster with three early scratches -- morning-line favorite Cheyann Belief (D'wildcat), Gonna Tell Mama (Bernstein) and Soaring Native (Early Flyer). However, the four-horse field delivered an exciting conclusion, with Archarcharch (Arch) running down pacesetter and odds-on choice Joe Hollywood (Congrats) in deep stretch to garner his first career victory. Trained by Jinks Fires, the Robert Yagos-owned colt stamped himself as a three-year-old to watch next season in his second career start.




A fast-finishing second versus maiden special weight rivals at Churchill Downs on November 27, Archarcharch raced about four lengths off the pace in third through an opening quarter-mile in :22 1/5 on Saturday and advanced into second, only a length behind, after a half in :46. Jockey Jon Court asked for run upon entering the stretch, and Archarcharch began to wear down his rival. Joe Hollywood dug in gamely along the rail when initially confronted, but he could not withstand his challenger in the final sixteenth of a mile. Archarcharch carried his momentum to a 1 3/4-length win, clocking six furlongs over the fast track in 1:10 2/5.


The even-money second favorite yielded payouts of $4 and $2.40. Joe Hollywood wound up 5 3/4 lengths clear of B G Suavecito (Suave), and Hydro Power (Aptitude) trailed.


"I think people probably thought we were a little bit silly bringing a maiden down here to run against winners," Fires said, "But we've always been pretty high on this horse. All of his works have been above-average so we thought we had a nice colt. The owner turned down a lot of money for him because we did think so."


Jinks was asked about future plans.


"We plan on going in the Smarty Jones (at Oaklawn Park on January 17) first and hopefully if that works out well we'll continue on.


"He's bred to go that way -- long -- but he has enough natural speed that we thought sprinting would be good rather than, if we had to, going into the Smarty Jones at a mile," Jinks added


Archarcharch, who has now earned $47,744, owns the pedigree for longer distances. He's out of the Grade 2-placed Woodman's Dancer (Woodman), and second dam Pattern Step (Nureyev) captured the 1988 Hollywood Oaks (G1).

[Gremlin Lad]

Saturday December 18, 2010


Rodriguez sustains fractured clavicle


Apprentice jockey Jaime Rodriguez sustained a fractured clavicle after being unseated at the start of Friday's 4TH race at Aqueduct. He will be sidelined for an undetermined period of time.


The 19-year-old Puerto Rican native was injured when his mount, Giopi (Ire) (Medicean), stumbled at the start of the race. Rodriguez got up immediately, walked to the ambulance, and was taken to Jamaica Hospital, where the fracture was diagnosed.


Rodriguez has won 11 races from 120 mounts at Aqueduct this year.


Giopi, a three-year-old gelding trained by Brad Baker, was not injured in the incident.

[Gremlin Lad]

Sunday - December 19, 2010

Watching one horse today

Fair Grounds Race #4

# 6.. Goldilox

[Gremlin Lad]

Goldilox ... got a check, but didnot help our wallets.

[Gremlin Lad]

Philly Park (PARX) is scheduled to be open and conduct thoroughbred races on Friday December 24, 2010.

[Gremlin Lad]

Wednesday December 22, 2010

I will be watching one horse at CALDER today.

RACE #6 #7 Marquet Cat ML 3-1 Turf ONLY

[Gremlin Lad]

New Santa Anita Dirt Handles Record Rainfall

By Blood-Horse Staff
Updated: Tuesday, December 21, 2010 2:29 PM
Posted: Monday, December 20, 2010 5:01 PM

Santa Anita’s new traditional dirt track received its initial baptism of record rainfall that is ongoing in the Los Angeles area and has weathered the storm well as opening day, Sunday, Dec. 26, draws near, according to a track release.

“The track was open this morning,” track superintendent Richard Tedesco said early Monday , accordinmorning, after it was closed Saturday and Sunday (Dec. 18-19). “We got six inches of rain so far (since last Friday afternoon) and have two more coming this afternoon. It should taper off after that, but a big one is scheduled on Tuesday or Wednesday. We had the dogs up this morning, and there were gallopers over the track.”

Added Santa Anita President George Haines: “Right now, we’re very surprised the track is as good as it is, after six inches of rain. We’re happy. We’re going to prepare it again for a big rain tonight. It looks like we’re going to get another two inches. I think generally the horsemen have been able to use the main track and exercise their horses, and they’re happy.”

The forecast through the evening of Dec. 20 is for the Los Angeles area to receive six to 12 inches of rain by the evening of Wednesday, Dec. 22. 2010.

[Gremlin Lad]

The Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering Dec. 21 issued a license for slot machines to Hialeah Park. Officials said gaming could commence in November 2011. John Brunetti, Hialeah Park chairman and owner, was not available for comment Dec. 22. Randy Soth, the track’s general manager, said obtaining the license will enable the Hialeah, Fla., track to move forward on its plans for building a casino that would open with a target date of November 2011. Hialeah’s casino, with Las Vegas-style slot machines, would be in the now-closed north portion of its grandstand building. The south portion of the building is open for Hialeah’s 24-day Quarter Horse meet that began Dec. 3 and extends through Jan. 24, 2011. “Obtaining the slots license is a very important step in the process,” Soth said. “We have been pursuing that, parallel with the legal process.” The legal process involves a lawsuit in a state court in Tallahassee in which Calder Casino & Race Course and two other South Florida pari-mutuel facilities are challenging Hialeah’s legal right to have a slots casino.

[Gremlin Lad]

Wednesday December 22, 2010

I will be watching one horse at CALDER today.

RACE #6 #7 Marquet Cat ML 3-1 Turf ONLY

6th race - Calder Race Course - December 22, 2010 Off at: 2:39 Race Type: Starter Allowance Age Restriction: Three Year Old and Upward Purse: $16,000 Distance: One And One Sixteenth Miles On The Turf Track Condition: Good Winning Time: 1:42.22

PgmHorseJockeyWinPlaceShow

7 Marquet Cat Paco Lopez $6.40 $3.00 $2.40
8 Lucas Brady Jose L. Alvarez ....$3.40 $2.60
2 Maddy's Crowd Joe Bravo................$ 3.40

Also ran: 3 - Almuraad (IRE) , 1 - Broadway Actor , 6 - Nineinthenine , 10 - Serapi Cat , 4 - Excellent Soldier Scratched horses: Dixie Matt (Re-entered) , Flyin Trey (Trainer) , Decaf Again (Re-entered) , Roman Silver (Trainer) , Face the Cat (Main-Track-Only) , Nathan Ridge (Trainer)

Wager TypeWinning NumbersPayoff
$2 Pick 3...1-4-7 (3 correct) $127.00
$2 Exacta..7-8 $20.80
$1 Superfecta...7-8-2-3 $135.50
$2 Trifecta...7-8-2 $49.00

Winning Breeder: Patricia Generazio Winning Owner: Mel Paikoff Winning Trainer: Edward Plesa, Jr.

[daoilman]

Looks like your gonna get some snow up there Lawrence, please keep us updated, thank you.

[dugbug15]

we are getting 6" to 20" inches here in millis,ma,(about 7 miles from where the patriots play) according to our tv weather guys.supposed to to start in earnest around noon time.heading to plainridge racecourse to add money to my betting account.a modest amount at that.
good luck everyone.

[joeyp1222]

Looks like your gonna get some snow up there Lawrence, please keep us updated, thank you.

looks like we need to run to tioga for the santa anita card today. coupon in paper for $5 buffet there all day so you an pig out lol
peter miller and jeff mullins has one horse today and i like the card. gotto watch out for closers today if the frasctions go too quick today
they may need a few days to get used to the track give me a call if you want to go

[joeyp1222]

we are getting 6" to 20" inches here in millis,ma,(about 7 miles from where the patriots play) according to our tv weather guys.supposed to to start in earnest around noon time.heading to plainridge racecourse to add money to my betting account.a modest amount at that.
good luck everyone.

good, keep that snow over there lol just got a dusting here around binghamton,ny

[Gremlin Lad]

Tuesday 12/28/2010

Good ole Delaware County, NYS.

Monday 12/27/10 ... woke up to 2 feet of snow on the ground...especially in the driveway....wind just whipping the snow around until about 3PM.

Forget about going anyplace....needed to dig out first...then if you did get out, the highway was snow covered.....

Good thing I had the day off from work.

Tuesday 12/28 ... Looks a lot better outside, but snow is still being blown around. 19 degrees ...with wind it feels like minus something.

Here roads are wet, but travelable, so I guess I got to go to work.

Philly Park cancelled 12/27 and I think they cancelled today (Tuesday) also.


Sure hope Turfway Park races today, otherwise it is going to be a boring day at work.
Think I will watch the #7 horse in the first five races at Turfway.



On the bright side...Thursday, Friday, and Saturday will be Indian Spring !!!!

Stay warm and safe !!

[Gremlin Lad]

Live Video Streaming Available For NYRA Rewards Members




Finally, there is a way for New York residents to watch live NYRA races on the internet.

[Gremlin Lad]

12/29/2010


War Pass dies at his new residence.



WAR PASS (Cherokee Run), the champion juvenile colt of 2007, died Christmas Eve at William S. Farish's Lane's End Farm near Versailles, Kentucky. The five-year-old stallion had just arrived the evening before in good order from standing his second Southern Hemisphere season at Widden Stud in Australia.
The morning of his death War Pass showed no signs of illness or injury. He was turned out in his paddock and died several hours later. Preliminary necropsy results are inconclusive.

War Pass compiled a record 7-5-1-0 with earnings of $1,583,400. He was undefeated in four starts at age two, winning his debut at Saratoga by 2 3/4 lengths and later notching an allowance at the same course by 5 1/2 lengths. He made his stakes debut in the Champagne S. (G1) at Belmont Park, winning by 1 1/2 lengths, then concluded his championship campaign with a 4 /4-length score in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Monmouth Park.

High-weighted on the Experimental Free Handicap, War Pass made his three-year-old debut in an allowance at Gulfstream Park. He won for fun by 7 1/2 lengths, but met his first reversal when last of seven in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) at odds of 1-20. He fared better in what would be his final career start in the Wood Memorial S. (G1) at Aqueduct, finishing a half-length second to Tale of Ekati.

"We are very saddened to lose such a promising stallion. His first foals arrived this year and were extremely well received. He will be buried in the Lane's End cemetery," Farish said.

Bred in Kentucky by Cherry Valley Farm, War Pass was sold for $180,000 as a Keeneland September yearling. Raced by Robert V. LaPenta and trained by Nick Zito, War Pass was produced by the multiple stakes-placed Mr. Prospector mare Vue, making him a half-bother to 1996 Spinaway S. (G1) winner Oath (Known Fact), the dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Honest Man (Unbridled's Song), and Grade 2-placed Vision of Beauty (Danzig).

War Pass's fourth dam was Bayou (Hill Prince), the champion three-year-old filly of 1957 and a noted producer, whose illustrious descendants include two-time champion and $3.5-million earner Slew O' Gold and multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire Aptitude.

[Gremlin Lad]

The New York Racing Association has reached an agreement with New York City to provide content for Channels 71 and 73 on Time Warner and Cablevision basic cable systems, channels that had previously carried the NYCOTB Racing Network. "We would like to thank the City of New York for working with us to return racing content to Time Warner and Cablevision," NYRA President and CEO Charles Hayward said. "The restoration of these channels is a positive step for the New York racing industry and we are pleased to be able to provide customers in the city with television racing coverage." The channels will show racing content from approximately 11 a.m.-8 p.m. (ET), with coverage usually extending to the end of the card at Santa Anita. Featured coverage will include the live NYRA racing card (at Aqueduct, Belmont Park, or Saratoga) with handicapping insights from NYRA TV Analysts Jason Blewitt, Eric Donovan, Andy Serling, and Maggie Wolfendale. After the conclusion of NYRA's live races, the channel will highlight select simulcast signals from tracks around the country. On NYRA dark days, usually Mondays and Tuesdays, the channel will exclusively show simulcast signals from around the country.

[Gremlin Lad]

12/30/2010

Not horse racing news BUT at a horse racing track.....


Suffolk Downs has been given approval to simulcast dog racing by the Massachusetts State Racing Commission, which recently issued a decision to allow the shuttered Wonderland Greyhound Park to transfer its simulcasting license as a way to generate revenue to pay its debts. Chip Tuttle, chief operating officer of Suffolk Downs, estimated the track could handle between $250,000 and $500,000 a month in simulcast bets on dog racing, and generate $30,000 to $60,000 a month in revenue for Wonderland. The commission voted 2-1 Dec. 24 to approve the license transfer following public hearings at which Suffolk Downs management testified that a viable simulcast market for Greyhound racing remains in Greater Boston. Massachusetts voters banned live dog racing by a referendum that took effect Jan. 1, 2009, though Wonderland was allowed to retain its simulcasting license. The dog track closed its doors and laid off the remaining employees in the summer of 2010 following failed attempts to legalize expanded gaming in the state.