Phil agrees with Jicha. American Pharoah may be the attraction in the Haskell on Sunday with the newbie fans jamming Monmouth Park on the Jersey shore.

But for the bettors and fans who’ll be there long after American Pharoah’s glow has faded Saturday’s Jim Dandy at Saratoga is the betting race of the weekend.

But the Haskell looms a non-competitive exhibition while the Jim Dandy is arguably the best 3-year-old race since the Kentucky Derby.

Phil was more than a tad disappointed when he checked the early PPs for the Jim Dandy on Saturday. Some one needs to come to the rescue.

TwinSpires Blog – Scully – Short but exciting cast set for Jim Dandy

This is Horse Racing – Texas Red, Desormeaux set for Jim Dandy

Bloodhorse – Johnson – Strong Field Lines Up for Jim Dandy

Angel From Montgomery

Bloodhorse – Angst – Belmont Runner-Up Frosted Back in Jim Dandy

Horse Race Insider – Pricci – Saratoga Summer on the Jersey Shore

ESPN – Finley – Making money on the Haskell

Phil has a question:

Is Finley talking wagering or gouging customers.

Saratoga Special – August 1, 2015

Bloodhorse – Angst – Monmouth, New Jersey Racing Enjoy Spotlight

Bloodhorse – After Anxious Moment, American Pharoah Cool

Walks Like an Egyptian

Bloodhorse – Hangin With Haskin – The Day the Haskell Came of Age

Bloodhorse – American Pharoah Arrives at Monmouth

Traveling Band

NJ.com – Munson – Haskell 2015: Here’s when we’ll know just how great American Pharoah is

My only fault is that I don’t realize how great I really am.
Muhammad Ali

NY Times – Sandomir – Pedro Martinez’s Hall of Fame Delivery: Moving, With Light Touch

There is no greatness where there is not simplicity.
Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy

Glory Days

NY Times – Barry – A Struggling City Renovates Its Golf Course, Envisioning More Green

NY Times – Drape – Racetracks Open Their Wallets in Attempt to Attract American Pharoah

Thoroughbred Racing Commentary – Johnson – American Pharoah at Monmouth: Everywhere’s packed – and the benefits don’t stop there

Every crowd has a silver lining.
P. T. Barnum

Running with the Bulls

July 31st – August 3rd 2015

Horse Race Insider – Jicha – Haskell has big horse but Spa has ‘Dandy’ of a race

The Saratoga Special July 31 2015

This is Horse Racing – The Saratoga Special

Former Fort Erie and Northlands Park Track Announcer Mike Dimoff’s son Carson is off to Frank Stronach’s homeland to play hockey this winter.

The McBeth Report – Everett draft picks to Austria

Louisville Courier-Journal – Rees – New mom Broussard restarts jockey career

Let’s raise a glass.
And $1 Million for Charity.

Join Breeders’ Cup and Maker’s Mark^® in our goal to raise $1 Million over the next three years to support a variety of deserving local and thoroughbred industry charities. Breeders’ Cup and Maker’s Mark^® have collaborated on a limited-edition, five-bottle collection featuring a few of the most legendary champions in Breeders’ Cup history. Each bottle pays tribute with a customized design and signature from each Champion’s connections.

This is an extremely limited offer, as only 500 bottles were made for each Champion. Don’t miss your chance to savor the memories of these past champions while helping the local community.

Through your donation you will be granted access to participate in the exclusive commemorative bottle auction which will take place at Keeneland on Thursday, October 29. This event will be the only opportunity to collect the first three bottles of the series. No reserve will be placed on the bottles up for auction.

Champions for Charity event tickets are required, click here to learn more.

Toronto Star – Kennedy – Blue Jays get David Price in trade with Tigers

NY Times – Witz – Blue Jays’ Latest Deal, for David Price, Seems to Amplify the Yankees’ Silence

Winning

TwinSpires Blog – Caldwell – ‘Pharoah Phan Phestival’ offering all American Pharoah, all the time 

Bloodhorse – Angst – American Pharoah Will Dictate Race Schedule

ESPN – Duckworth – After the Triple Crown

Motorcycle

RT – Egypt ready to open ‘New Suez Canal’

72 km of Suez canal built in less than 1 year and we can’t even keep the gophers out of the potholes in Canada.

Sunshine Of Your Love

Breeders’ Cup Challenge

There will be no sweep of the Canadian Triple Crown this year after Breaking Lucky edged out Queen’s Plate winner and 3-4 favorite Shaman Ghost Tuesday evening in the $383,500 Prince of Wales at Fort Erie.

TwinSpires Blog – Hanson – Breaking Lucky edges Shaman Ghost in Prince of Wales

Phil has a question:

Has the Harper government allowed the Canadian $ to slip that far.

TDN – Breaking Lucky Upsets Prince of Wales

TSN – CP – Breaking Lucky wins Prince of Wales Stakes

Bloodhorse – Lewyn – Breaking Lucky Surprises in Prince of Wales

Phil has a trivia question:

Where did Jim McAleney get his first riding victory.  (anyone born, raised or living north of the 54th parallel is disqualified from answering)

Born to Run

NJ.com – Izenberg – Triple Crown 2015: Why Secretariat was the greatest ever

Secretariat

Bloodhorse – ABR Releases Another Digital Video Ad

I Believe In

Jesus Built My Hot Rod

Lady and the Track – Park – Haskell Invitational Features American Pharoah & Best Dressed Couple

Leather and Lace

ESPN – O’Neil -Bob Baffert: little downside to racing American Pharoah again

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Entries for the 36th Running Of THE GRADUATION $25,000 Guaranteed

36th Running Of THE GRADUATION $25,000 Guaranteed
2-YEAR-OLDS  FIVE FURLONGS
TO BE RUN SATURDAY, AUGUST 1, 2015
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

P#	PP	Horse	Virtual Stable	A/S	Med	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1	Actions Speak (MB)		2/G	L1	C Chow	120	D Schnell	8/1
2	2	Joe Dunk In (KY)		2/G	L	T Nelson	120	R Diodoro	7/2
3	3	Ozark Daredevil (AR)		2/G		C Husbands	120	T Rycroft	2/1
4	4	Forty Proof (MB)		2/G	L1	R Cumberbatch	120	D Schnell	10/1
5	5	Zack Man (KY)		2/C	L	A A Morales	120	E Martens	9/2
6	6	Copper Coins (FL)		2/G		R Hughes	120	V Olito	20/1
7	7	Pecos (MN)		2/F	L	R R Singh	119	C E Smith	5/2
8	8	Nolan the Great (KY)		2/C	L	D Nelson	120	E Martens	6/1

Owners: 1 – Barry Arnason and True North; 2 – Rollingson Racing Stable and Tremblay, Norman; 3 – Riversedge Racing Stables, Ltd.; 4 – Sherisse Ziprick, Marcy Wright and Barry Arnason; 5 – Jerry Antoniuk; 6 – Ressa Harris; 7 – Terry Propps; 8 – Jerry Antoniuk

 

Entries for the 56th Running Of THE MANITOBA MILE  $25,000 Guaranteed

56th Running Of THE MANITOBA MILE  $25,000 Guaranteed
3-YEAR-OLDS & UPWARD ONE MILE
TO BE RUN SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, 2015
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

P#	PP	Horse		A/S	Med	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1	Magic D’ Oro (KY)		5/H	L	C Chow	124	T Lindsay	7/5
2	2	Sconnie Nation (KY)		4/G	L	R R Singh	124	J Gourneau	6/1
3	3	Caporetto (KY)		6/H		T Nelson	119	B Hrymak	10/1
4	4	Indy Awesome (FL)		5/G	L	A A Morales	124	C Brinson	7/2
5	5	Secretsatmidnight (FL)		5/R	L	C Husbands	119	R Diodoro	5/2

Owners: 1 – Martin Yeroschak and Barry Arnason; 2 – Henry S. Witt, Jr.; 3 – Brent Hrymak; 4 – Lothenbach Stables, Inc.; 5 – Ted Graling
Entries For the 67th Running Of  THE MANITOBA DERBY $75,000 Guaranteed

67th Running Of  THE MANITOBA DERBY $75,000 Guaranteed
** ENTRIES CLOSE WEDNESDAY, JULY 29 AT 9:30 A.M. **
3-YEAR-OLDS  ONE MILE AND ONE EIGHTH
TO BE RUN MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 2015
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

PP	Horse		A/S	Med	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer
1	Flashy Jewel (KY)		3/C	L	A A Morales	122	C Brinson
2	Spider’s Alibi (TX)		3/C	L	R R Singh	122	C E Smith
3	Madd Edition (MB)		3/G	L	J Pruitt	122	S Brown
4	Impromptu (KY)		3/G	L	M Escobar	122	B B Rhone
5	Witt Six (TX)		3/G	L	C Chow	122	J Gourneau
6	Carouse (KY)		3/C	L	R Eikleberry	122	R Diodoro
7	Quiet Ry (KY)		3/G	L	C Husbands	122	C Brinson
8	Tactical Warrior (MB)		3/G	L	P Leacock	122	H Wallerstedt
9	Safecracker (MB)		3/G	L	R Cumberbatch	122	T Lindsay

Owners: 1 – Lothenbach Stables, Inc. ; 2 – Terry Propps ; 3 – Robert Nokes ; 4 – Jason Bullard ; 5 – Henry S. Witt, Jr. ; 6 – Charles Garvey ; 7 – Lothenbach Stables, Inc. ; 8 – K 5 Stables ; 9 – Dennis Mitchell, Don Bell, Gaye Bell and Gold Medal Stable

 

Entries  For The 28th Running Of THE MANITOBA OAKS $25,000 Guaranteed

28th Running Of THE MANITOBA OAKS $25,000 Guaranteed
FILLIES, 3-YEAR-OLDS  ONE MILE
TO BE RUN MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 2015
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

PP	Horse		A/S	Med	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer
1	Jungle Story (MB)		3/F	L	C Husbands	115	D Schnell
2	Holiday Maker (KY)		3/F	L	D Nelson	119	J Brown
3	Floating River (MB)		3/F	L	A A Morales	115	H Wallerstedt
4	Supreme Rush (MB)		3/F	L	C Chow	119	H Wallerstedt

Owners: 1 – Barry Arnason, Al Daley, Darrell Sundsbak and Cam Ziprick ; 2 – Wind Dancer Stable and Bill Meikle ; 3 – K 5 Stables ; 4 – K 5 Stables

Saturday, August 1, 2015 7:00 PM CDT
Sunday, August 2, 2015 7:00 PM CDT
Monday, August 3, 2015 1:00 PM CDT

Louisville Courier-Journal – Rees – Amoss accepts 45-day suspension from Indiana

 

couple different looks at Emerald Downs’ new jumbotron, which will be unveiled Friday.

EmD TO UNVEIL BIG SCREEN FRIDAY! Horse racing has officially hit the big screen at Emerald Downs.

Starting with Friday’s eight-race card, Emerald Downs will unveil its new jumbo-sized video screen for its live racing audience. Affixed behind the tote board and in front of the grandstand, the 25 by 47-foot video screen can be seen nearly throughout the entire facility. Viewing angles have already been tested from as far as south of the grandstand to more than halfway up the North Park.

Track President Phil Ziegler said the video screen is a “game changer” in how fans watch and enjoy the races at Emerald Downs.

“There are many families that enjoy being by the rail but they couldn’t see most of the race,” Ziegler said. “Now they will see all the action plus replays.”

During live racing, Emerald Downs will show its house feed on the video screen, which includes each race and replay, paddock analysis, produced features and horsemen interviews. However, Ziegler expects that there will be several other opportunities that come with the new screen.

In fact on Sunday, Emerald Downs will project a live broadcast of the 47th Running of the $1.75 Million Haskell Invitational (G1) at Monmouth Park. Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, listed at 1-to-5 on the morning line, will break from post No. 4. Post time for the Haskell is at approximately 2:52 p.m. PT.

Trainer Craig Lewis hanging with Warren’s Veneda Thursday morning at Del Mar.

LGA MILE FEVER @ DEL MAR

In preparation for the $200,000 Longacres Mile (G3) on Sunday, August 16, Emerald Downs sent one of its top correspondents to spread word and recruit nominations for the Northwest’s richest and most prestigious race.

Director of Media Relations Vince Bruun, made his annual two-day trip to Del Mar, where he’s been rubbing elbows with some of the top trainers at the San Diego racetrack. Rumors are already starting to swirl of several possible nominations including last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Bayern (Bob Baffert), Grade One winning mare Warren’s Veneda (Craig Lewis), graded-stakes placed Sammy Mandeville (Doug O’Neill) and recently-purchased Emerald Downs runner Prohibition (Vann Belvoir).

Nominations close for The Mile close Sunday, August 2 and entries will close at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 12.

INAUGURAL SCOTTISH DAY ON SUNDAY

Grab your kilt and celebrate the great country that gave us haggis and scotch!

Gates open approx 30 minutes before the first simulcast race, with EmD post time of 2 pm.

FREE admission to those wearing authentic tartan kilts!

Adding a Scottish flair to the day will be Clan Gordon Pipe Band, along with adorable Aberdeen Scottish Terriers. Pony rides and bounce houses in the park as well!

Additional Info:

Crabbie’s Corner – Ginger Beer Beer Garden by the Winner’s Circle! 1 PM – Last Race

Beverages Available: $5.00 Alcoholic Ginger Beer $6.75 Three Mixed Drink Selections featuring Crabbie’s Ginger Beer

BBQ Available in the area: $3.75 Hot Dog $5.50 Bratwurst $1.50 Chips

Also on tap for Scottish day is an Scotch Tasting in the Park! For $75 you get: Scotch Tasting Six ½ oz pours (3 oz total) Admission Grandstand Seat Official Track Program Glen Cairn Souvenir Scotch Glass from Scotch and Vine

Scotch & Cigar Tasting $150 Six ½ oz pours (3 oz total) Five premium cigars Admission Grandstand Seat Official Track Program Glen Cairn Souvenir Scotch Glass from Scotch and Vine

Contact Group Events to get your ticket today! 253.288.7700 or groupevents@emeralddowns.com

Dining Specials

Scottish Cold Smoked Salmon Appetizer Cold smoked salmon served with herbed cream cheese, sliced red onion and rye bread.

King Salmon Penne Pasta Tender pieces of wild Alaskan king salmon sautéed in a rich scotch cream sauce and tossed with penne pasta. Served with garlic bread.

Drambuie and Scotch Milkshake A refreshing adult milkshake made with Drambuie and Scotch Whiskey blended with honey vanilla ice cream.

UPCOMING EVENTS

August 7: Fab Friday/NW Brewing Co. Brew Night

August 8: EmD 3on3/Breakfast at the Wire

August 9: EmD 3on3/ Hall of Fame Banquet

August 15: Senior Day/Breakfast at the Wire

August 16: Longacres Mile Day

MATCH-UP OF THE WEEK: AMONG THE STARS & DIAMONDS DENA

Sunday’s ninth and feature race showcases six older fillies and mares who’ll face off in a starter optional claiming race for $25,000, including Among the Stars and Diamonds Dena are this week’s Media Match-Up of the Week!

Friday , July 31, 2015 4:30 PM PDT
Saturday, August 1, 2015 2:00 PM PDT
Sunday, August 2, 2015 2:00 PM PDT

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Bloodhorse – Emerald Downs to Unveil New Video Screen

I had only one superstition. I made sure to touch all the bases when I hit a home run.
Babe Ruth

ESPN – Cronley – Bad luck begone

There is a fifth dimension, beyond that which is known to man. It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition.
Rod Serling

Bad Luck

Sorry if Phil left you wandering.

There is nothing more difficult to define than an aphorism.
Umberto Eco

But Alan Foreman, an attorney who is vice-chairman of the RMTC, said that, though he was not familiar enough with the Delaware case to comment on the specifics, he disputed Murphy’s assertions about how to develop medication regulations.

The RMTC recommendations regarding corticosteroids, he said, “came from a conference of scientific experts that was put together for that purpose [of developing corticosteroids rules].” He added, “They’re not pulled out of thin air. They’re the subject of scientific research.”

What’s more, it is critical, he said, for regulatory bodies to be able to act quickly as new and designer drugs hit the market. Waiting for the peer review process, which can take years, might allow new drugs to flood racing, leaving regulatory bodies helpless to respond.

“If you wait for all that to be done, you’re going to have a very tough time regulating,” he pointed out.

The Bacing Biz – McCoy and Vespe – Pletcher overage that wasn’t has major implications for racing

Bloodhorse – Steps Toward Integrity – by Eric Mitchell

Horse Race Insider – Indulto –  Fed Bills Fumble on Meds

NY Times – A Drug Hits Cycling Before It Hits the Market

NY Magazine – Murphy – A Man and a Woman Tell Us Why They Went on Ashley Madison

I Get Around

TwinSpires Blog – American Pharoah Returns — All the Haskell News & Notes

Lady and the Track – Del Mar Picks & Plays August 1, 2015

Lady and the Track – Macatangay – Texas Red the One to Deny in Jim Dandy Stakes

TwinSpires Blog – Mucciolo – Saratoga Notebook – July 29

Bloodhorse – Angst – Seven to Face American Pharoah in Haskell

ESPN – West – Pharoah set for victory lap

ESPN – Ehalt – Pharoah generating excitement at Monmouth

Man on the Moon

Thoroughbred Racing Commentary – Carpenter – American Pharoah more than held his own among the greats – the numbers prove it

Asbury Park Press – Edelson – Longshots ‘dream’ of Haskell victory over American Pharoah

Dancing In The Dark

NJ.com – Spahr – Traffic advisories issued in anticipation of record Haskell crowds

Edmonton Journal – Stock – Mrdjenovich ready for bell to ring in Buenos Aires featherweight belt unification fight

Bloodhorse – Shulman – Lady Eli Showing Improvement From Laminitis

Edmonton Sun – FRANK FONTANA’s Northlands Favourites

Matt’s Picks and Free Program – Friday July 31, 2015

Matt’s Picks and Free Program – Saturday August 1, 2015

Friday, July 31, 2015 6:30 PM MDT
Saturday, August 1, 2015 1:00 PM MDT
Monday, August 3, 2015 1:00 PM MDT

Meet Gillian Foote at Park After Dark Friday, August 14, 2015

Thoroughbred Racing Commentary – The rise and rise of York Racecourse: Why tracks need to keep investing in facilities

Bloodhorse – Monmouth Ups Haskell Purse to $1.75 Million

Louisville Courier-Journal – Rees – Haskell purse hike in lieu of bonus series

If you pay them they will come.

The Voice

Louisville Courier-Journal – Rees – More than Haskell’s purse appeals to Crawford

Carryovers

Saturday August 1, 2015

Arlington
Pick 4    $14,172.00
Assiniboia Downs
Super High Five Jackpot    $21,557.00
Ellis Park
Pick 5    $1,396.00
Pick 6    $743.00
Super High Five     $1,296.00
Gulfstream Park
Pick 6 Jackpot    $88,046.00
Super High Five     $3,394.00
Indiana Grand Race Course
Pick 6    $835.00
Laurel Park
Pick 5    $3,315.00
Pick 6    $1,111.00
Marquis Downs
Pick 4    $506.00
Monmouth Park
Pick 6 Jackpot    $8,402.00
Northlands Park
Super High Five Jackpot    $5,309.00
Prairie Meadows
Pick 4    $1,388.00
Ruidoso Downs
Tri Super    $6,823.00
Saratoga
Pick 6    $309,846.00
Sunray Park
Super High Five Jackpot    $198.00
Woodbine
Super High Five Jackpot    $22,578.00

Sunday August 2, 2015

Hastings Racecourse
Pick 6    $2,572.00
Presque Isle Downs
Pick 6    $216.00

Guaranteed Pools

Saturday August 1, 2015

Northlands Park
$10,000  — Pick 4

Equibase Carryovers and Guaranteed Pools

TwinSpires Blog – TURF TALK: American Pharoah returns in Haskell

Bloodhorse – American Pharoah Has Final Work for Haskell

 TwinSpires Blog – Scully – American Pharoah ready for Haskell bid

TwinSpires Blog – Hanson – Precursor of Haskell an unforgettable Choice

Bloodhorse – Belmont Average Handle, Attendance Decline

TwinSpires Blog – Protonico’s back in action on Haskell undercard

Bloodhorse – Shulman – Protonico Heads Monmouth Cup Stakes Cast

Bloodhorse – Durkin Named TCA Honored Guest

TwinSpires Blog – Scully – Rock Fall to clash with Salutos Amigos in Vanderbilt

Bloodhorse – Lochte Seeks Winning Form in Oceanport

The Informant – Show cause hearings open to media

Speaking of Cobalt

Ontario’s rules go into effect August 1, 2015

Ontario Racing Commission Notice To The Industry Cobalt Testing

Phil has a question:

When will Horse Racing Alberta be instituting cobalt testing rules in Alberta.

Do the CCW and QKB realize that the only reason they think they’re ahead is because they’ve been lapped a couple of times.

BC CUP DRAWS LARGE SIZE FIELDS

The BC Cup card of nine races slated for Monday has drawn largest amount of entries in sometime.

The total entries reached 79 horses with the BC Cup Debutante drawing the largest field of 11 starters and 1 on the also eligible list. That is a per race average of 8.7 and nearly two more horses in every race over 2014.

The Redekop Classic for older horses has a field of 10 going one and one eighth miles for the $100,000 purse.  The Redekop Classic this year was opened up to BC Bred or BC Owned horses and the purse was increased from $75,000 to $100,000 and it drew the best older colts and geldings on the grounds.

All and all it should be a great day of racing with perfect weather in the forecast for Monday.

TAPS AND HOSES INSTALLED ALONG OUTER RAIL

Thursday morning Wayne Oliver of Oliver Irrigation installed five taps and hoses along the outer rail from the Winner’s Circle to the Paddock to aid horsemen in this hot weather.

A big thank you goes out to Wayne Oliver who installed the water lines and taps free of charge to aid horsemen in the unsaddling area.

NEW MOISTURE MEASURING EQUIPMENT HAS ARRIVED

The track maintenance crew received their new computerized water monitoring system on Wednesday and are putting it in to use immediately.

The machine measures the amount of moisture in track from the rail out to outside fence.  They can then judge the amount of water needed to keep the track with an consistent amount of moisture around the whole oval.

The track crew will know exactly where to apply more water to keep the track consistent.  So if you see the track crew out on the track with a probe they are measuring the amount of moisture.  The information is then downloaded from the probe into a computer program and it then prints out a graph of the moisture levels.

CTHS SALES CATALOGS NOW AVAILABLE

The sale catalogs are now available for 2015 CTHS Yearling and Mixed Sale to held at Thunderbird Park on Wednesday, September 9th.

Catalogs are available at the CTHS Office, the Hastings Racing Office and the Derby Bar and Grill.

The catalog can be also found on line at  http://www.cthsbc.org/CTHS%20Sale/2015/2015%20Sale%20Entries.html

FIRST SLOPPY TRACK ON SUNDAY

We finally got some long overdue and well needed rain over the weekend and day number 28 on Sunday we had the first sloppy track of the 2015 live racing season at Hastings Racecourse.

I don’t anyone can remember us going 27 racing days in a row without rain and some off tracks.  The moisture although should really help the racing surface.

Speaking of the track condition,  the track and racing associations have ordered and should have sometime this week a track variance moisture machine that measure the different moisture levels from the rail to the outside fence of the racing surface.  The machine downloads all of the information on locations around the track to a computer program and then will give a printout of the results. The track maintenance crew can then judge the amount of water to be applied on the track and which areas need more or less water to keep it consistent across the entire racing surface.

HASTINGS HAS PAST THE MIDWAY POINT OF THE 2015 SEASON

Sunday marked the 28th day of racing in 2015 of the scheduled 54 day season. As of Sunday we have run a total of 198 overnight races of the 363 scheduled.  That leaves only 165 overnight races left for 2015.

A total of 14 stakes races have been run so far but that number will start to pick-up to a total of 40 by mid October.

The purse pool for the last 165 overnight races is below budget by a few thousand dollars and there will be no problem financially  running all 165 races.

People have to realize its a real challenge to run 363 overnight races over 54 days and try to run all of the categories and stay within our allocation of funds for purses.

We budget for an average of $14,876.03 per race for 363 races over 54 days and then juggle the categories around to make it all balance.

This season has been the easiest since 2010 when the purse allocations all changed and we were allocated a total number of dollars for the entire season. We must thank the racing office management and the racing secretary for doing an extremely confident job of controlling the daily payouts.

2015 WAGERING HANDLE STEADY AT 21% UP

The live racing handle which actually creates are smallest source of income is still up 21% after 28 days.  This is a very strong number and likely the highest percentage gain at racetracks across North America.

The on track daily handle is only slightly up but our off track wagering is up significantly.

AVERAGE HORSES PER RACE IS SLIDING DOWNWARDS

The first 24 days of the season we were averaging slightly over 7 horses per race but in the last 4 racing days our field sizes have dropped and we are now at 6.92 horses per race.

Bloodhorse – Taming Laminitis – by Lenny Shulman

Bloodhorse – Untapable Looks for Shuvee Relief

Bloodhorse – Novak – Darley Closes Aiken Training Track Stable

Bloodhorse – Balan – O’Neill Sets Del Mar Record With Five Wins

HBPA NOMINATION MEETING RESCHEDULED TO AUGUST 12TH

The HBPA of BC has postponed ed its Nomination Meeting scheduled for July 29 in order to remember Bobby Hall that evening at Emerald Acres.

The meeting will be rescheduled to Wednesday August 12.

A CELEBRATION OF LIFE FOR PAM MCDOUGALL WILL BE HELD IN THE PADDOCK THEATRRE

 NORTHLANDS PARK

SUNDAY AUGUST 16th AT 1:00 PM MDT

Lady and The Track – Smith – Two-Year-Old Thoroughbreds to Watch: Team Picks 2

Wagering on our product continues to be positive. Overall wagering to date totals $10,459,898 which is an increase of $763,094 (7.9%). Although off-track wagering has increased by $953,183 (14.3%); on-track has decreased by $190,089 (6.3%).

HBPA Alberta – Wagering & Purse Account Stats: May 1 – July 25, 2015

TwinSpires Blog – Glorious Goodwood on tap this week

2015 HBPA of Alberta Election – Board of Directors

Alberta

As previously communicated to the membership, 2015 is an election year with respect to members electing seven (7) Owners and four (4)Trainers in good standing to sit on the Board of Directors of the Association for a three (3) year period commencing in August, 2015 and ending August 2018.

No later than July 8, 2015 Election Ballots will be mailed from our Calgary office to HBPA of Alberta member Owners and Trainers in good standing who have a valid 2015 Horse Racing Alberta license. So that all Trainer members receive their Election packets timely, they will be hand delivered at Northlands rather than sending the information through the mail.

Please refer to the information contained in your package with respect to the proper voting procedure. Ballots must be placed in the envelope addressed to Mr. Kenneth McTavish and must arrive postmarked no later than August 7, 2015.

If you prefer, you may vote in person on August 7, 2015 from 10 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The letter addressed to Kenneth McTavish containing the completed Ballot must be placed in the Ballot box which will be placed at the HBPA office located in the Edmonton Northlands Control Office, on the backstretch.

 If you are a licensed Owner or Trainer and do not receive your Election packet by July 27, 2015, kindly call Denise at the Calgary office (403-263-7499) or Theresa Sealy at Northlands (780-474-1724).

The following individuals are running for office. The new Board will take office at the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting on August 27, 2015

OWNERS                                                                   TRAINERS

                                                                                  Rod Cone

Darrell Bauder                                                           Ryan McLean

Brian Bygrave                                                           Craig Smith

Norm Castiglione                                                      Joan Petrowski

Dr. Rod Cundy                                                          Tim Rycroft

Don Danard                                                              

Victor Kleparchuk                                                    

Don Knight                                                               

Curtis Landry                                                           

Linda Smith                                                  

Dr. Steve Smith DVM          

per:

Mat Monaco – HBPA of Alberta       

Bloodhorse – Angst – One-Fifth Curlin Share Surpasses $6 Million

  For Sale

Racing Post – Kerr – Solow overcomes Arod to maintain unbeaten run

Bloodhorse – Solow Aims to Keep Win Streak Alive in Sussex

Thoroughbred Racing Commentary -Sexton – Expectations sky high as Frankel’s first yearlings are set to go through the ring

Bloodhorse – Oakford – Small Farm Yields Big Returns for Smith

Bloodhorse – Oakford – Korean-Bred Not Just a Novelty at F-T Sale

Lady and the Track – Macatangay – West Virginia Derby: Tale of Verve Tries to Escape Fluke Label

Bloodhorse – LaMarra – It’s Wait and See for Large WV Derby Field

It’s

1. Flashy Jewel 7/1

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TOP THREE:  Math prof Jim Roberts (centre) will be going to Vegas while Al Ilott (right) picks up $250 and Brian McKellar gets $100 for their second and third place finishes in Saturday’s Get Serious Las Vegas Horseplayer Challenge. The next trip will be awarded Saturday, Sept. 5.

Rob MacLennan Picked the longshot

*       *       *

TOURNEY NOTES:  MacLennan’s picks would have won contest.  Anyone who simply bet $2 win/place on paddock host Rob MacLennan’s top picks for the nine races Saturday would have won $68.60–and the trip to Las Vegas (which was won with a closing bankroll of $52.10).  Rob had three first-place finishers (including Something Bourbon that paid $27.70 and $7.10) and three seconds. Why did he like the longshot?  Because the horse had been fractious in a previous start–and Rob liked him then–so he thought a clean load in Saturday’s race could result in a win.  Which it did.  Nice.  Will Rob’s picks in the last live tournament on Sept. 5 be Vegas-worthy, too?  Uh-oh, pressure’s on!

SELMAN TRUST FUND WATCH

Charged with race-fixing at Evangeline Downs: Billy Patin, Joe Patin, LeSean Conyers

HOTTIES OF THE WEEK Hottest jock:  Rohan Singh (5 wins) Hottest trainers: Shelley Brown (3 wins) Biggest upset:   Tiz A Star $41 (Wed 3rd) Biggest 20-cent superfecta:  $535 (Wed 6th — 3-2-6-5) BOB’S BLOG TODAY:  Merry’s Jay, the first Manitoba-bred to win the Manitoba Derby in 1976, returned to the track in 1986 at the age of 13.  What race was he in?  Or was he?  Track historian Bob Gates tells you what happened in today’s blog here.

What Lolo wants (a win), Lolo gets again The most contentious group of horses on the grounds is older females and they once again provided thrills Saturday night in the Winnipeg Sun Stakes.  Last year’s champion, Go Go Lolo (#1 above), did her patented mow-em-down late maneuver with Chris Husbands (inset) at the reins to pay $5.10 as the fan favourite, proving she is, at this point anyway, #1.

Oriana Rossi Injured like Selman	Renaldo Cumberbatch Hat trick	R. James Speers 60-year anniversary

BEST CHANCE FOR CANADIAN TRIPLE CROWN FIZZLES:  The best chance in years for a Canadian Triple Crown fizzled Tuesday when Queen’s Plate winner Shaman Ghost finished second to 13/1 Breaking Lucky in the $500,000 Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie.  Ghost was the first Queen’s Plate winner since 2010 to even try to win the second leg of the Triple Crown–because of the difficulty in transitioning from a Poly to a dirt surface–because he had two previous wins on dirt.  With horses

July VLT champ Felix Berthelette gets $250 from Roseanne

having to race on three different surfaces to win the Canadian Triple Crown–synthetic, dirt and turf (the Breeders’ Stakes)–the Canadian Triple seems even more difficult to win than the U.S. Triple Crown.  There have been 12 winners of the Canadian Triple Crown, the same as the U.S. Triple. Wando was the last, in 2003, when Woodbine had a dirt track.

TwinSpires Blog – Caldwell – Beholder vs. Warren’s Veneda – Take 2

Lady and the Track – Clement L. Hirsch 2015 Odds, Picks, Post Positions

TwinSpires Blog – Powell – Handicapping Insights — July 30

TwinSpires Blog – Mucciolo – Del Mar Notebook – July 28

Bloodhorse – Angst – March Into Amsterdam Off Two Stakes Victories

Lady and the Track – Laughter – Bing Crosby Winner Wild Dude Heads to Keeneland for Breeders’ Cup Sprint

Bloodhorse – London Tower Game in Eternal Search

Bloodhorse – Balan – Gimme Da Lute Brings Class to Real Good Deal

Ball and Chain

But now I have come to believe that the whole world is an enigma, a harmless enigma that is made terrible by our own mad attempt to interpret it as though it had an underlying truth.
Umberto Eco

NY Times – Belson – N.F.L. Upholds Tom Brady’s Ban; Cellphone’s Fate Helped Make the Call

Belson just moved to No 1 with a bullet on Phil’s pun list.

NY Times – Powell – Tom Brady Hands Off the Dirty Work

In a closed society where everybody’s guilty, the only crime is getting caught. In a world of thieves, the only final sin is stupidity.
Hunter S. Thompson

NY Times – Belson – Tom Brady Declares Innocence on Facebook and Explains Phone Destruction

TSN – Macramalla – Legal Look: Brady faces uphill battle

Lawyers In Love

Phil’s Drink and a flick:

Bloody Maria

The Guest

Bloodletting

NY Times – Seelye – Many in Boston Feel Relief as Olympic Bid Ends, but Others See a Stagnant City

Please Come To Boston

NY Times – AP – Bruins Get Winter Classic

Hazy Shade of Winter

Superstition is foolish, childish, primitive and irrational – but how much does it cost you to knock on wood?

Judith Viorst

National Post – Wade – 2016 Rio Olympics are a year away and organizers want visitors to think of sun and samba, not pollution and crime

National Post – AP – Brooks and Barchfield – ‘What you have there is basically raw sewage’: Water venues for Rio 2016 Olympics contain dangerous levels of viruses, bacteria from human feces

Phil has a question:

Can anyone justify spending billions of dollars for countries to see whose dope is best when the rivers of the world are so polluted you can almost walk across them.

How often do you read the food labels for country of origin.

Do you realize that the shrimp, clams, oysters, mussels and sundre fish you buy may come from a river or bay like the one pictured in the National Post article.

The Globe And Mail – Longer federal election campaign will cost taxpayers millions more

Phil has a question:

Does it cost the taxpayers less when they’re only being forced to spend 65 cent dollars.

Government big enough to supply everything you need is big enough to take everything you have. The course of history shows that as a government grows, liberty decreases.
Thomas Jefferson

National Post – National Post Radio: The identity of Ashley Madison user leaked — and he lives in Mississauga

NY Times – Will Dana, Rolling Stone’s Managing Editor, to Depart

The Globe and Mail – Suderman – University of Virginia graduates sue Rolling Stone over rape story

Nothing Compares To You

National Post – Urbina – The extraordinary cat-and-mouse chase through the Antarctic ‘Shadowlands’ that left a fishing poacher at the bottom of the ocean

Zombie

Phil M Stockmen