When Phil checks which links on his blogs were clicked usually one or two get a bit more action than the rest but not by much.

Not so with the post – Was Andy Right. Three links each received many so more clicks than the rest that perhaps there could be a message in the bottle:

3. ESPN – Finley – Borell Firing Disgrace

2. Bear Stables Ltd. Dispersal at CTHS Ontario Mixed Sale

1. Esquirol Farms Thoroughbred Dispersal

When You Say Nothing At All

I am thankful to all those who said no. It’s because of them I did it myself .

Albert Einstein

Phil’s vignette of Canadian History while it happens:

The Telegraph – Cohen – Justin Trudeau names Canada’s first equal cabinet with 15 men and 15 women ‘because it’s 2015’

The Globe and Mail – Trudeau’s ‘Because it’s 2015’ retort draws international attention

Women who seek to be equal with men lack ambition.
Timothy Leary

After All This Time

I don’t like country music, but I don’t mean to denigrate those who do. And for the people who like country music, denigrate means ‘put down’.

Bob Newhart

NY Times – Taparia and Koch – A Seismic Shift in How People Eat

Call Any Vegetable

Bloodhorse – Snierson – Massachusetts Racing Appears at Crossroads

DRF – Rampellini – Texas Racing Commission funded through February

Crain’s Detroit Business – VanHulle – State rolls dice on sports betting

South China Morning Post – Cox – Xi Jinping’s purge on golf a lesson for horse-racing dreams in China

Gimme Sympathy

Phil has a question:

What does the Esquirol Farms Complete Thoroughbred Dispersal Sale say about the health of the thoroughbred industry in Alberta under the tutelage of Shirley McClellan and Rick LeLacheur.

Remember: I didn’t and don’t want to be a “feminine” version or a diluted version or a special version or a subsidiary version or an ancillary version, or an adapted version of the heroes I admire. I want to be the heroes themselves.What future is there for a female child who aspires to being Humphrey Bogart?
Joanna Russ

Thoroughbred Racing Commentary – Mathew – How an international agenda has been key in establishing one of the world’s top stud farms

Washington Post – Bump – Why were the polls so wrong?, Kentucky governor edition

Hawkmoon

Phil noticed that somebody has corrected the spelling of Shirley McClellan’s name on the Horse Racing Alberta website. At least when John Short used to misspell Shirley McClellan’s name he had an excuse. It was misspelled on holybull.ca and he copied it without correcting.

Compared to the methodology used by the University of Kentucky in their  2012 Kentucky Equine Survey – Kentucky Equine Survey Report Appendices – Detailed methodology  – The Economic Impacts of Horse Breeding, Raising and Racing In Alberta looks like one of Disney’s denizens prepared it. Even the title is cumbersome and incorrect.

Should the title and gist of the Report not more closely follow Horse Racing Alberta’s Mission Statement and Statutory Mandate.

Correct Phil if he’s wrong, but the words breeding and raising are not contained in either the Mission Statement of Horse Racing Alberta nor the mandated objects contained in the Horse Racing Alberta Act. Phil’s no fool and understands that raising, looking after, retiring and breeding horses are ancillary to racing horses, but that’s what they are: ancillary.

Phil’s not going to cast any aspersions on the folk’s over at Serecon as Phil’s pretty sure Serecon did what they were instructed to do, but it’s the usual suspects Shirley McClellan and Rick LeLacheur that again have shown their lack of ability to perform what their legislated mandate requires.

The starting point of the report should be the economic impact of horse racing and break it down into its components parts: things like handle, backstretch employment, feed, track employment, OTB employment, food, beverage and lodging, boarding, breeding etc.

Start with the word breeding and you not only lose track of what Horse Racing Alberta is supposed to be doing, you also lose track of the fact that the thoroughbred horse racing industry provides about 75% of the handle wagered in Alberta and 75% of the economic impact in Alberta. Could it be that the powers that be at Horse Racing Alberta started with breeding so that their business folly of continually favouring the standardbred industry over the Thoroughbred industry wouldn’t stick out like windmills in southern Alberta.

Start with the word breeding and you forget how important Black Type is to the quality of thoroughbred racing not only in Alberta, but internationally. Horse Racing Alberta under the tutelage of Shirley McClellan and Rick LeLacheur has lost its focus and about half of the thoroughbred stakes races in Alberta have lost or will soon lose Black Type status. Lose Black Type in your races and not only the thoroughbred racing industry suffers, but the breeding industry suffers as well.

Under Shirley McClellan and Rick LeLacheur Horse Racing Alberta has failed to lead a racing industry revival. Thoroughbred purses have not improved under Shirley McClellan and Rick LeLacheur yet they were in charge during the high oil price boom years in this province.

Get thoroughbred purses up and field size will improve, then handle will improve, then yearling prices will improve, then the economic impact will improve.

Phil has no idea how the figures in Serecon’s Table 4 were derived and has no idea how to verify their accuracy, but even Serecon’s figures illustrate the utter lack of business acumen that the harness first policy of Shirley McClellan displays. Allocating resources equally to groups where one generates almost 3 times as much as the other makes sense only if your policy is favouritism towards one group over the other. When you factor in purse allocations the harness industry is almost break even while the thoroughbred industry is spending at least $20,000,000.00 from the thoroughbred owners’ own pockets. Unless your name is Estrada that’s a lot of money.

A little further down Phil’s got a link to Joe Drape’s New York Times article on the Crimson Tide. Tell one of the good old boys that soccer should get equal billing with football in ‘Bama and should have equal access to the Stadium on Saturday afternoons and you’ll end up Deacon Black and Blue cuz even the Good Old Boys understand that you promote your best and when it’s successful the Tide lifts all the boats.

The favouritism of the Standardbreds went so far as to attempt to disenfranchise Alberta HBPA the body that represents thoroughbred racing in Alberta from a representative on the Horse Racing Alberta Board in the passed but never proclaimed Horse Racing Alberta Amendment Act.

How can Shirley McClellan a career politician in a supposedly democratic province contemplate such an undemocratic act.

Has Shirley McClellan provided an explanation to Minister Ceci of the reasoning behind banishing Alberta HBPA from the Horse Racing Alberta Board that anyone one other than Alberta jiggie and her other lackeys believe.

Phil hopes that when the NDP government reviews Horse Racing Alberta and the horse racing industry in the province of Alberta that the NDP Government realizes that the thoroughbred industry in this province has been continually sacrificed to the benefit of the standardbred industry since the inception of Horse Racing Alberta. Give the thoroughbred industry in the province a break from being continually put down and watch how the thoroughbred industry in this province will prosper.

Note to the Undertaker:

Don’t scurry yet as Phil’s not done.

The so-called ABC sector, which controls almost half of the provincial spending annually, include everything from the Alberta Securities Commission and Alberta Energy Regulator to Horse Racing Alberta and various university board of governors.

“Albertans need to feel confident that our agencies, boards and commissions are using public dollars effectively and efficiently,” Finance Minister Joe Ceci said in a statement.

…The first phase of the review is expected to wrap up in March, while another 141 agencies will then be under the spotlight, wrapping up in the summer.

Calgary Herald – Province moves ahead with review of boards and agencies that control nearly half of provincial budget

Edmonton Journal – Alberta government expands salary disclosure to professors, nurses, public-sector employees

Phil has a question:

Do you believe in coincidences.

Do you believe that when there’s too many coincidences that there might be a plan.

Do you believe that Shirley McClellan on behalf of Horse Racing Alberta has built cordial rapport with Minister Ceci and is well on the way to negotiating an extension of the Slot Revenue Sharing Agreement with the province.

Out of Time

When it’s completed in the fall of 2016, the rebranded Starlight Casino Edmonton will be 115,000 square feet — about double the size of the existing casino. It will feature an expanded gaming floor with 850 slot machines and 34 table games, up from about 670 and 24, respectively, at the Palace.

But Santo was more excited about the Starlight’s increased food and beverage options, including an Atlas Steak and Fish restaurant, a Match Eatery and Public House and a supper club with live entertainment, dining and dancing. The company plans to create 300 new jobs to staff those entertainment facilities. Staffing at the Starlight will go up to 500 from 200 at the Palace.

Gateway has been redeveloping its 12 properties in Western Canada to offer customers more entertainment options than just gaming.

“What we’re trying to get away from is slots in a box and that’s essentially what a lot of gaming is today,” Santo said. “We want to develop entertainment venues that people can come, have a good time and eat and drink with their friends. If they want to gamble, that’s fine, and if they don’t want to gamble, that’s fine, too. We don’t want to be just about gambling. We want to be about entertainment — a night out.”

Edmonton Journal – Mah – Gateway Casinos announces $45M investment at West Edmonton Mall

Phil has a question:

When will Edmonton Northlands be announcing their Casino renovation plans complete with gaming tables, a poker room, expanded entertainment and food and beverage services.

Will Edmonton Northlands’ Casino renovation plans complete with gaming tables, a poker room, expanded entertainment and food and beverage services be sans horse racing.

Forbes – Top-Earning  Dead Celebrities 2015

Peanuts Movie

LA Times – Brown – ‘The Peanuts Movie’ gets Charlie Brown and Snoopy right, reviews say

With or Without You

DRF – Grening – Total handle, attendance up at Belmont fall meet

Carryovers

Sunday November 8 2015

Aqueduct
Pick 6    $29,002.00
Del Mar
Pick 6    $75,859.00
Super High Five     $51,700.00
Golden Gate Fields

   Pick 6 Jackpot    $39,383.00
Super High Five     $6,474.00
Gulfstream Park West
Pick 6 Jackpot    $45,726.00
Z-5 Super Hi-5     $1,240.00
Z-5 Super Hi-5     $984.00
Laurel Park
Pick 6    $3,657.00
Pick 5    $3,024.00
Z-5 Super Hi-5     $1,091.00
Z-5 Super Hi-5     $753.00
Z-5 Super Hi-5     $294.00
Z-5 Super Hi-5     $264.00
Turf Paradise
Pick 6    $3,166.00
Woodbine
Super High Five Jackpot    $94,769.00
Zia Park
Super High Five     $787.00

Tuesday November 10 2015

Hawthorne
Super High Five Jackpot    $56,870.00
Pick 6 Jackpot    $10,714.00

Wednesday November 11 2015

Delta Downs
Super High Five     $1,349.00

Friday November 13 2015

Lone Star Park
Pick 6 Jackpot    $5,851.00

Guaranteed Pools

Equibase Carryovers and Guaranteed Pools

Peter Redekop’s Alert Bay got all he could ask for in his Nov. 6 allowance prep for the Seabiscuit Handicap (gr. IIT), edging rival G. G. Ryder by a nose in a 1 1/16-mile turf event at Golden Gate Fields.

Bloodhorse – Balan – Alert Bay Relentless in Seabiscuit Prep

DRF – Simon: Keeneland proves Breeders’ Cup can thrive where it all began

Racing Post – Haynes – Turner: Emotions intact after memorable finish

Lady and the Track – Hammer – 2016 Kentucky Derby Tickets Available November 10

Pale Blue Eyes

Lady and the Track – Macatangay – Ladies Day at the Races at Churchill Downs

DRF – Sparkman: Fappiano and Sadler’s Wells rule Breeders’ Cup

Bloodhorse – Mitchell – American Pharoah’s Fee Set at $200,000

Racing Post – Bloodstock – Stevens – Gleneagles to stand at €60,000 next year

Bloodhorse – Adena Springs Releases 2016 Fees

Bloodhorse – Gainesway Announces 2016 Stud Fees

DRF – Rockridge Stud announces 2016 fees

DRF – Calumet Farm announces 2016 roster and stud fees

DRF – Airdrie Stud announces 2016 fees for its stallions

HolyBull.ca – Esquirol Farms announce Complete Thoroughbred Dispersal Sale

DRF – Curlin’s fee boosted to $100,000

DRF – Heritage adds two stallions in Bourbon Courage and Imagining

Bloodhorse – Qatar Bloodstock Releases 2016 Fees

TDN – Scat Daddy Filly Dominates at Woodbine

TDN – Take Charge Brandi to Curlin in 2016

Louisville Courier-Journal – Lintner – O’Neill: Two starts for Nyquist before Derby

2016 Road to the Kentucky Derby

The 142nd running of the $2 million guaranteed Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I) will be run Saturday, May 7, 2016, and for the fourth consecutive year, a tiered point system in select races will determine who qualifies to America’s greatest race.
Race    Track    Date    Points
Delta Downs Jackpot Delta Downs Nov 21, 2015 10-4-2-1
Remsen Aqueduct Nov 28, 2015 10-4-2-1
Kentucky Jockey Club Churchill Downs Nov 28, 2015 10-4-2-1
Los Alamitos Futurity Los Alamitos Race Course Dec 19, 2015 10-4-2-1
Jerome Aqueduct Jan 9, 2016 10-4-2-1
Sham Santa Anita Park Jan 16, 2016 10-4-2-1
Smarty Jones Oaklawn Park Jan 18, 2016 10-4-2-1
Holy Bull Gulfstream Park Jan 30, 2016 10-4-2-1
Withers Aqueduct Feb 13, 2016 10-4-2-1
Robert B. Lewis Santa Anita Park Feb 13, 2016 10-4-2-1
Southwest Oaklawn Park Feb 15, 2016 10-4-2-1
El Camino Real Derby Golden Gate Fields Feb 20, 2016 10-4-2-1
Fountain of Youth Gulfstream Park Feb 27, 2016 50-20-10-5
Risen Star Fair Grounds Feb 27, 2016 50-20-10-5
Gotham Aqueduct Mar 12, 2016 50-20-10-5
Tampa Bay Derby Tampa Bay Downs Mar 12, 2016 50-20-10-5
San Felipe Santa Anita Park Mar 12, 2016 50-20-10-5
Rebel Oaklawn Park Mar 19, 2016 50-20-10-5
Sunland Derby Sunland Park Mar 20, 2016 50-20-10-5
Spiral Turfway Park Mar 26, 2016 50-20-10-5
UAE Derby Meydan Racecourse Mar 26, 2016 100-40-20-10
Florida Derby Gulfstream Park Apr 2, 2016 100-40-20-10
Louisiana Derby Fair Grounds Apr 2, 2016 100-40-20-10
Wood Memorial Aqueduct Apr 9, 2016 100-40-20-10
Blue Grass Keeneland Apr 9, 2016 100-40-20-10
Santa Anita Derby Santa Anita Park Apr 9, 2016 100-40-20-10
Arkansas Derby Oaklawn Park Apr 16, 2016 100-40-20-10
Lexington Keeneland Apr 16, 2016 10-4-2-1

TwinSpires Blog – Nominees announced for 2015 Cartier Racing Awards

2016 Road to the Kentucky Oaks

Race    Track    Date      Points
Delta Downs Princess    Delta Downs Nov 21, 2015 10-4-2-1
Demoiselle    Aqueduct Nov 28, 2015 10-4-2-1
Golden Rod    Churchill Downs Nov 28, 2015 10-4-2-1
Starlet    Los Alamitos Race Course Dec 12, 2015 10-4-2-1
Santa Ynez    Santa Anita Park Jan 9, 2016 10-4-2-1
Busanda    Aqueduct Jan 16, 2016 10-4-2-1
Silverbulletday    Fair Grounds Jan 23, 2016 10-4-2-1
Forward Gal    Gulfstream Park Jan 30, 2016 10-4-2-1
Martha Washington    Oaklawn Park Feb 6, 2016 10-4-2-1
Las Virgenes    Santa Anita Park Feb 6, 2016 10-4-2-1
UAE Oaks    Meydan Racecourse Feb 25, 2016 50-20-10-5
Busher    Aqueduct Feb 27, 2016 50-20-10-5
Davona Dale    Gulfstream Park Feb 27, 2016 50-20-10-5
Rachel Alexandra   Fair Grounds Feb 27, 2016 50-20-10-5
Santa Ysabel    Santa Anita Park Mar 5, 2016 50-20-10-5
Honeybee    Oaklawn Park Mar 12, 2016 50-20-10-5
Sunland Park Oaks    Sunland Park Mar 20, 2016 50-20-10-5
Bourbonette Oaks    Turfway Park Mar 26, 2016 50-20-10-5
Gulfstream Park Oaks    Gulfstream Park Apr 2, 2016 100-40-20-10
Fair Grounds Oaks    Fair Grounds Apr 2, 2016 100-40-20-10
Santa Anita Oaks    Santa Anita Park Apr 9, 2016 100-40-20-10
Gazelle    Aqueduct Apr 9, 2016 100-40-20-10
Ashland   Keeneland Apr 9, 2016 100-40-20-10
Fantasy    Oaklawn Park Apr 9, 2016 100-40-20-10
Beaumont    Keeneland Apr 17, 2016 10-4-2-1

TwinSpires Blog – Reilly – California Chrome looks happy and eager in first work back

Bloodhorse – Balan – California Chrome Back Breezing at Los Al

Louisville Courier-Journal – Lintner – Chrome ‘training unbelievably,’ works Saturday

The 2015 CTHS Ontario Winter Mixed Sale features a Dispersal of Bear Stables Ltd.’s breeding stock.

Horse Race Insider – Jicha – Make BC a one-day festival again…and other thoughts

Phil has a comment:

Read Jicha’s post before dismissing him as a dinosaur.

Mac Nichol and Cheyenne Stables LLC’s MadeFromLucky looks to get back to his winning ways in Wednesday Remembrance Day’s $150,000 Discovery Handicap GIII going 1 1/8 miles on the Aqueduct dirt for conditioner Todd Pletcher with John Velazquez in the irons.

Bloodhorse – Novak – Madefromlucky Seeks Discovery Comeback

Upcoming Stakes

Nov 8
Del Mar
Betty Grable stake $100,000 3&up Fillies & Mares State/Prov 7f Dirt
Japan Racing Association
Copa Republica Argentina GII $997,000 3&up 12.5f Turf
Miyako Stake GIII $671,000 3&up 9f Dirt
Woodbine
Autumn Stake CDN-GII $200,000 3&up 8.5f AW
Coronation Futurity $250,000 2yo R 9f AW

Nov 11
Aqueduct
Discovery Handicap GIII $150,000 3yo 9f Dirt

Nov 14
Aqueduct
Red Smith Handicap GIII $250,000 3&up 11f Turf
Churchill Downs
Mrs. Revere Stake GII $200,000 3yo Fillies 8.5f Turf
Charles Town
A Huevo stake $50,000 3&up State/Prov 9f Dirt
Del Mar
Bob Hope Stake GIII $100,000 2yo 7f Dirt
Golden Gate Fields
Oakland $50,000 3&up 6f AW
Japan Racing Association
Daily Hai Nisai Stake GII $647,000 2yo 8f Turf
Musashino Stake GIII $671,000 3&up 8f Dirt
Laurel Park
City of Laurel Stake (L) $100,000 3yo 7f Dirt
Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (L) $350,000 3&up 6f Dirt
James F. Lewis III stake $100,000 2yo 6f Dirt
Richard W. Small stake $100,000 3&up 9f Dirt
Safely Kept stake $100,000 3yo Fillies 7f Dirt
Smart Halo stake $100,000 2yo Fillies 6f Dirt
Turf Paradise
City of Phoenix stake $35,000 3&up Fillies & Mares 6f Dirt
Luke Kruytbosch stake $35,000 3&up 6f Dirt
Woodbine
South Ocean stake $125,000 2yo Fillies State/Prov 8.5f AW

Nov 15
Aqueduct
New York Stallion Series (Staten Island Div.) $125,000 3&up Fillies & Mares R 7f Dirt
Del Mar
Desi Arnaz Stake (L) $100,000 2yo Fillies 7f Dirt
Japan Racing Association
Fukushima Kinen GIII $723,000 3&up 10f Turf
Queen Elizabeth II Cup GI $1,636,000 3&up Fillies & Mares 11f Turf
Parx
Christopher Elser Memorial (South Carolina Residency) $75,000 2yo Colts & Geldings R 6.5f Dirt
Donna Freyer Stake (South Carolina Residency) $55,000 2yo Fillies R 6.5f Dirt
Woodbine
Bessarabian Stake CDN-GII $200,000 3&up Fillies & Mares 7f AW

Nov 20
Remington Park
Silver Goblin stake $50,000 3&up State/Prov 6.5f Dirt
Nov 21
Aqueduct
Artie Schiller stake $100,000 3&up 8f Turf
Notebook stake $100,000 2yo State/Prov 6f Dirt
Camden
Colonial Cup Steeplechase Handicap GI $100,000 4&up 22f Turf
Raymond G. Woolfe Memorial Hurdle $25,000 3yo 16f Turf
Churchill Downs
Bet On Sunshine stake #$80,000 3&up 6f Dirt
Cardinal Handicap GIII $100,000 3&up Fillies & Mares 9f Turf
Charles Town
West Virginia Futurity $50,000 2yo State/Prov 7f Dirt
Delta Downs
Delta Downs Jackpot Stake GIII $1,000,000 2yo 8.5f Dirt
Delta Downs Princess GIII $400,000 2yo Fillies 8f Dirt
Delta Mile Stake (L) $250,000 3&up 8f Dirt
Louisiana Jewel $150,000 2yo Fillies State/Prov 8f Dirt
Louisiana Legacy $150,000 2yo Colts & Geldings State/Prov 8f Dirt
Orleans $75,000 3yo Fillies R 7f Dirt
Sam’s Town $75,000 3yo R 7f Dirt
Treasure Chest (L) $200,000 3&up Fillies & Mares 8f Dirt
Del Mar
Red Carpet Stake GIII $100,000 3&up Fillies & Mares 11f Turf
Gulfstream Park West
My Charmer GIII $100,000 3&up Fillies & Mares 8.5f Turf
Tropical Turf Handicap GIII $100,000 3&up 8.5f Turf
Hong Kong
Bochk Wealth Management Jockey Club Mile GII $516,000 3&up 8f Turf
Bochk Wealth Management Jockey Club Sprint GII $516,000 3&up 6f Turf
Longines Jockey Club Cup GII $516,000 3&up 10f Turf
Mahoning Valley Racecourse
First Lady stake $75,000 3yo Fillies State/Prov 6f Dirt
Glacial Princess stake $75,000 2yo Fillies State/Prov 6f Dirt
Woodbine
Glorious Song stake $125,000 2yo Fillies 7f AW

Nov 22
Aqueduct
Key Cents stake $100,000 2yo Fillies State/Prov 6f Dirt
Del Mar
Cary Grant stake $100,000 3&up State/Prov 7f Dirt
Japan Racing Association
Mile Championship GI $1,808,000 3&up 8f Turf
Woodbine
Kennedy Road Stake CDN-GII $200,000 3&up 6f AW
Nov 23
Japan Racing Association
Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai Stake GIII $580,000 2yo 9f Turf
Mahoning Valley Racecourse
Hollywood Gaming Mahoning Distaff $75,000 3&up Fillies & Mares 6f Dirt
Steel Valley Sprint $200,000 3yo 6f Dirt

Nov 25
Penn National
Blue Mountain stake $75,000 2yo Fillies State/Prov 6f Dirt
Fabulous Strike (L) $200,000 3&up 6f Dirt
Swatara (L) $100,000 3&up 8.5f Dirt
Woodbine
Sir Barton stake $125,000 3&up State/Prov 8.5f AW
Zia Park
Eddy County stake $140,000 2yo State/Prov 8f Dirt
Zia Park Championship (L) $150,000 3&up 9f Dirt
Zia Park Derby $200,000 3yo 8.5f Dirt
Zia Park Distaff stake $100,000 3&up Fillies & Mares 6f Dirt
Zia Park Oaks $300,000 3yo Fillies 8.5f Dirt
Zia Park Sprint $100,000 3&up 6f Dirt

Nov 26
Aqueduct
Fall Highweight Handicap GIII $250,000 3&up 6f Dirt
Furlough stake $150,000 2yo Fillies 6f Dirt
Churchill Downs
Falls City Handicap GII $200,000 3&up Fillies & Mares 9f Dirt
River City Handicap GIII $100,000 3&up 9f Turf
Del Mar
Hollywood Turf Cup GII $250,000 3&up 12f Turf
Fair Grounds
Thanksgiving handicap $60,000 3&up 6f Dirt

Nov 27
Aqueduct
Go for Wand Handicap GIII $300,000 3&up Fillies & Mares 8f Dirt
King’s Swan stake $150,000 2yo 6f Dirt
Churchill Downs
Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare GI $500,000 3&up 9f Dirt
Commonwealth Turf GIII $100,000 3yo 8.5f Turf
Dream Supreme stake #$80,000 3&up Fillies & Mares 6f Dirt
Del Mar
Seabiscuit Handicap GII $250,000 3&up 8.5f Turf
Remington Park
Don C. McNeill $75,000 2yo State/Prov 8f Dirt
Slide Show $75,000 2yo Fillies State/Prov 8f Dirt

Nov 28
Aqueduct
Cigar Mile Handicap GI $500,000 3&up 8f Dirt
Comely Stake GIII $300,000 3yo Fillies 9f Dirt
Demoiselle Stake GII $300,000 2yo Fillies 9f Dirt
Remsen Stake GII $300,000 2yo 9f Dirt
Churchill Downs
Golden Rod Stake GII $200,000 2yo Fillies 8.5f Dirt
Kentucky Jockey Club Stake GII $200,000 2yo 8.5f Dirt
Del Mar
Hollywood Derby GI $300,000 3yo 9f Turf
Jimmy Durante Stake GIII $100,000 2yo Fillies 8f Turf
Native Diver Handicap GIII $150,000 3&up 9f Dirt
Fair Grounds
Battle of New Orleans stake $50,000 3&up Fillies & Mares abt 5.5f Turf
Golden Gate Fields
Golden Gate Debutante $50,000 2yo Fillies 6f AW
Gulfstream Park West
Buffalo Man stake $75,000 2yo 6f Dirt
House Party stake $75,000 2yo Fillies 6f Dirt
Hut Hut stake $75,000 2yo Fillies 8f Dirt
Pulpit stake $75,000 2yo 8f Turf
Smooth Air stake $75,000 2yo 8f Dirt
Wait a While stake $75,000 2yo Fillies 8f Turf
Hawthorne
Blackhawk handicap $50,000 3&up 6f Dirt
Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap GII $250,000 3&up 10f Dirt
Pershing handicap $50,000 3&up Fillies & Mares 6f Dirt
Japan Racing Association
Radio Nikkei Hai Kyoto Nisai Stake GIII $580,000 2yo 10f Turf
Mahoning Valley Racecourse
Ruff/Kirchberg Memorial handicap $75,000 3&up State/Prov 9f Dirt
Turf Paradise
Queen of the Green stake $35,000 3&up Fillies & Mares 8f Turf
Walter R. Cluer Memorial stake $35,000 3&up 8f Turf
Woodbine
Kingarvie stake $125,000 2yo State/Prov 8.5f AW
Woodbine
Ontario Lassie stake $150,000 2yo Fillies R 8.5f AW

Nov 29
Aqueduct
New York Stallion Series (Thunder Rumble Div.) $125,000 3&up R 7f Dirt
Del Mar
Cecil B. DeMille Stake GIII $100,000 2yo 8f Turf
Matriarch Stake GI $300,000 3&up Fillies & Mares 8f Turf
Golden Gate Fields
Berkeley Handicap GIII $100,000 3&up 8.5f AW
Japan Racing Association
Japan Cup GI $5,426,000 3&up 12f Turf
Keihan Hai GIII $685,000 3&up 6f Turf
Woodbine
Display stake $125,000 2yo 8.5f AW
Valedictory Stake CDN-GIII $150,000 3&up 14f AW

Nov 30
Colonial Downs
*Buckland stake $50,000 3&up Fillies & Mares 5.5f Turf
*Kitten’s Joy stake $50,000 3&up 12f Turf

Dec 1
Portland Meadows
Detroit Lake handicap $9,000 g 3&up 6f Dirt
Foster Lake handicap $9,000 g 2yo 6f Dirt
Paulina Lake handicap $9,000 g 3&up Fillies & Mares 6f Dirt

FiveThirtyEight – The Grantland Articles We Loved Most

HolyBull.ca – The Grantland Article Phil Loved Most

Holybull.ca – The Grantland Article Phil Loved Second Most

Holybull.ca – The Grantland Article Phil Loved Third Most

Holybull.ca – The Grantland Article Phil Loved Fourth Most

Shelter From The Storm

Washington Post – Bonesteel – Bill Simmons says Roger Goodell is still a liar but wishes he hadn’t called him one on his ESPN podcast

Swift Thoroughbreds and Bradley Thoroughbreds’ Goldy Espony seized a clear lead turning for home and withstood a mild challenge from Danza Cavallo, who never cut into that clear advantage, to secure the win.

Bloodhorse – Angst – Goldy Espony Scores Front-End Long Island Win

TwinSpires Blog – Reilly – Goldy Espony gets away with another theft in Long Island

DRF – Litfin – Goldy Espony heads one-two finish for Brown in Long Island

From the Derby Bar and Grill Newsletter

RAILBIRD NOTES

BY GLEN TODD

OFFICIAL DATES SET FOR HASTINGS PADDOCK SALE

Hastings Racecourse in coordination with BC TOBA and HBPA on Sunday announced the official dates for a Two Year Olds in Training and Mixed Horses of Racing Age.

The sale will be held in the Paddock area of Hastings Racecourse on Saturday, March 26th and Preview day on Saturday, March 19th.

Further details will be available very shortly and the registration date will close on February 1st, 2016.

The associations are very excited about holding this sale which will not only allow Breeders a second venue locally to sell two year olds that possibly didn’t reach their reserve or were scratched from the September Sale.

The associations have already purchased several horses that will be offered for sale and are looking over the next few months to buy several more and of course any horsemen to enter their horses to the sale as well.

HORSE RACING IN BC STABLIZED IN 2015

After reviewing all of the statistics for the 2015 live season at Hastings Racecourse its pretty safe to say the industry has stabilized for the first time in nearly a decade.

The horse population for first time in I don’t know how many years at least was equal to 2014 which was an all time low.

The Hastings Handle on Live Racing increased by nearly 14% after years of declining.

There was also many telling factors that we had finally bottomed out as of 2014 and are on the improve.

RACING ASSOCIATIONS CONTINUE TO MEET

The three local horseracing associations along with track management have continued to meet since the season finale. They have been working on a possible purse increase for 2016 along with several incentive programs, making every effort to improve horse racing in our Province, not only for 2016 but well into the future.

HASTINGS RACING CLUB # 2

Hastings Racing Club Manager, Richard Yates has been burning the midnight oil wrapping up the first season of the very successful Hastings Racing Club, renewing old members and now taking applications for Hastings Racing Club # 2.

The original Hastings Racing Club which had a membership of 200 in 2015 will be expanded to 300.  Club 1 has already purchased a 3rd horse for 2016 season.

Hastings Racing Club #2 who also has  purchased one horse to get it off the ground and are looking to add to that by 2 more horses in the near future as well.

The associations are pretty confident they can sell all 300 memberships in each of the clubs.

Anyone interested in joining Club 2 please contact Richard Yates via email at rayates@shaw.ca

Club memberships would make a great Christmas Gift the racing fan who has everything except a horse.

The racing club management team will soon be sending out an application with an  criteria for trainers who may wish to become the trainer of Club 2. Watch for this application very shortly.

LOCAL OWNERS AND BREEDERS AT KEENELAND

We have been following the Keeneland Mixed Sale this past week as we were told a few of our local owners and breeders were present.

So far we have been able to find a few locals signing the purchase slips and we would imagine there will be a few more as we get deeper into the sale and prices begin to soften.

Agent Jamie Demetrick acting on behalf of Long Shadow purchased the 11 year old broodmare Stroke the Tiger by Smart Strike out of the No Louder mare Quiet Cheer.  The mare is believed to be in foal to Fed Biz.

Fed Biz stands at Winstar Farm in Versailles, Ky. for a $12,500.

The purchase price was $20,000.00.

Peter Redekop purchased the weanling California bred colt sold as hip # 1778 yesterday for $45,000.00.

The colt is by Unusual Heat who stands at the Harris Farm in California for a stud fee of $20,000.  The mare is the graded stakes winner Crazy Ensign by Fiery Ensign.

We will try to follow the sale and report any other purchases we find the rest of the week.

The sale continues today as session #7 gets underway at 10:00am EST.

HASTINGS NEWS BY GREG DOUGLAS

TwinSpires Blog – Hanson – Chilukki winner Spelling Again has found her niche at Churchill 

Bloodhorse – Balan – Spelling Again Sails Clear in Chilukki

Bloodhorse – KTDF Money Leads to Turfway Purse Adjustment

Bloodhorse – Hunter – Pedigree Analysis: Soaring

Thoroughbred Internet – Harlington’s chorus of Serena’s song

October / Breeders Cup Newsletter

Bloodhorse – Mitchell and Angst – Rutherford’s Manchester Farm Sells Broodmares

Bloodhorse – Oakford – Keeneland Day 6: Bernardini Half Sister Stars

Bloodhorse – Oakford – Keeneland: Stonestreet Purchases Lead Session

	DO THE DOWNS Carryovers
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SIGN UP FOR SATURDAY’S TOURNAMENT: This Saturday marks the alternate day for the October Player’s Choice horseplayer tournament.  Only five entrants played on Breeders’ Cup Saturday, the original date for the tournament.  Most of the usual players said they preferred

Be ready for Woodbine & Aqueduct

this Saturday instead so they could concentrate on BC fun last Saturday.  Enter by 9 p.m. tomorrow night for $25.  Prize money: $850.  Let’s see YOUR mug added to the Tournament Tigers gallery.  Good luck!  Uh, give yourself “permission” to win!

NOTE — VLTs OPEN 1 PM REMEMBRANCE DAY: Note that next Wednesday, Remembrance Day, simulcast racing will begin with Aqueduct at 11:20 a.m. and VLT play starts 1 p.m. (until the usual 2 a.m. closing time).

Mike Welsch Made the difference

Also, Welsch went on and on about American Pharoah and Honor Code which led to my nailing the Super Hi 5 for $2 in the Classic which resulted in a pickup of more than $3,000.  The race shape seemed to be pretty straightforward:  Pharoah on the lead and Honour Code making a late move to get third.  In fact, one of my $1 Super Hi 5 tickets cost just $4 (which I played because I had a few bucks remaining on my Touchtote ticket as the horses were loading into the starting gate).  I wheeled Pharoah with ALL with Honor Code with Keen Ice (a favourite hard-trying colt) with Tonalist.  That ticket, 4-ALL-9-2-1, paid more than $1,500.  Just for a $4 outlay.

Mark Casse

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:  “Am I dreaming?” — Woodbine trainer Mark Casse after his 4-year-old filly Tepin beat the boys in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Keeneland Saturday, putting her in the same league as previous filly winners, Goldikova, Miesque and Royal Heroine.  Also, his Catch a Glimpse won the Juvenile Fillies Turf Friday, his very first Breeders’ Cup victory.  Another Canadian connection to the biggest dance of the year was Wavell Avenue, an Ontario-bred, winning the Filly & Mare Sprint.

THE MELBOURNE CUP WALK OF FAME:  Not only is Flemington Park in Australia famous for “the race that stops a nation,” it also boasts growing 16,000 roses, some of which are pictured here.  Masses of roses also line both sides of the long victory walk taken Tuesday by Melbourne Cup winner Prince of Penzance (142/1) and jockey Michelle Payne, the first female jockey to win the ‘Cup in its 155-year history.

THE WEEK THAT WAS

Michelle Payne 142/1 Melbourne Cup winner (Reuters: Hamish Blair photo)

SWEET SHOCKER DOWN UNDER:  Move over, Black Caviar.  There’s a new female–this one human–who has suddenly captured the hearts of Australians.  She is the sweetest of jockeys, Michelle Payne, 30, who became the first female to win the 155-year-old Melbourne Cup Tuesday on the most unlikely of horses, a 6-year-old gelding by the name of Prince of Penzance who was 142/1 because he appeared well below grade 1 calibre.  “When I was five, I told my friends I would win the Melbourne Cup,” Payne said after the race. “Everything fell into place!”  Indeed.  Prince of Penzance burst from the 24-horse cavalry charge down the stretch to post a decisive victory in the 2-mile race.  Here are the prices:  (Interestingly, the top three finishers came from inside post positions 1, 2 and 4. So a bettor who boxed the four inside horses as a hunch in the tri would have collected big.)

#19 — Prince of Penzance — 6-year-old gelding — $287.70, $90.30, $66.70 #8 — Max Dynamite (8/1) — 5-year-old gelding — $10.10, $8.40 #2 — Criterion (21/1) — 5-year-old horse — $14.10 #10 — Trip to Paris (4/1) — 4-year-old gelding $2 exactor $3,253, $2 quinella $1,290, $2 triactor $55,700 20-cent superfecta (19-8-2-ALL) $5,544

20-CENT BETS AT DEL MAR TODAY?  The chief operating officer at Del Mar, Josh Rubinstein, has told The Insider that everything is in place to begin offering Canadian

Andrea Kinnear receives $250 from VLT hostess Roseanne

bettors fractional wagers (such as 20-cent superfectas and 60-cent pick-4s) on Del Mar races. That could begin as early as today. Check it out.

TAKES A BREAK FROM PATIENT CARE, WINS VLT TOURNEY:  One of the ways Andrea Kinnear takes a break from caring for brain surgery patients at the Health Sciences Centre is testing her luck on the Downs’ 140 VLTs which resulted Saturday in her winning the free monthly VLT tournament and $250.  She had turned $20 in free spins into $78 playing Big Easy. That was more than the other nine finalists. Get into the draw each Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and maybe you’ll be next!

Where are they now? by Rob MacLennan

With the end of the Northlands season local trainers now are mainly located in Toronto or Phoenix. Woodbine runs through the end of November with local trainers Blair Miller, Jodi Jared Brown Won on Monday Radul and Murray Duncan all having a few horses that should run again. Red Wings and Wild n Crazy have recently run for trainer Murray Duncan. Turf Paradise has seen a couple of wins recently for local connections. Jared Brown won Monday with the hard-knocking claimer Bosque Angel ($4.80). He was to have raced the maiden filly Dotted Princess in yesterday’s fourth race. I’m looking forward to seeing Two Bucks to Win on the grass where he should have a big shot. He might be worth betting. The Don Schnell barn has had a couple of winners in the last couple of weeks; Aware ($10) and Dr Vincentstein ($10). The old classy gelding I Am Awesome ran another third over the weekend. In other news Quiet Ry who was an also-ran in the Manitoba Derby for Clay Brinson ran second at Hawthorne on Saturday. The Derby winner Flashy Jewel has run twice since his Derby win but has been well-beaten in grass stakes. At Delta, trainer Jerry Gourneau continues to win for horse owner Henry Witt Jr.  He did so Friday with $20,000 claimer Sierra Delta ($3.60).  Witt had claimed the 3-year-old gelding for $15,000 at Lone Star in April.

HISTORY ON THE HOOF: The best of Bob Did you know . . .  winds clocked at more than 100 kph and savage rains thrashed the Downs on June 6, 1976, resulting in the cancellation of the final three races?  It was the first time in Downs’ history that a thoroughbred race program had been called off due to a storm.  Track historian Bob Gates was in the middle of it with a terrified woman here.

Lest we forget Remembrance Day next Wednesday

Bloodhorse – Frac Daddy to Stand at Park Stud in Ontario

Indian Charlie’s son Uncle Mo is open lengths ahead of any freshman sire in North America – TDN Sire Lists.

Uncle Mo’s almost namesake Uncle Sigh  a New York bred son of Indian Charlie never achieved the same success as Uncle Mo on the race track, but is a multiple graded stakes placed colt who is racing a 4, something that Uncle Mo never did. He got back to the winners circle at Aqueduct on Saturday coming off the pace.

If the price is right Uncle Sigh would be a superlative stallion prospect for Western Canada. Uncle Mo and Indian Charlie progeny have shown they can run at 2 years old and sprinting is one of the main forte’s of the Indian Charlie line. Taylor Made for western Canadian racing.

Racing Post – Riley – Cecil bidding to bring down curtain in style

Bloodhorse – Balan – Lukes Alley, Golden Sabre Back for Autumn

Lady and the Track – Hammer – Beloved NYRA Oddsmaker and Jockey Donald LaPlace Dies at 85

DRF – Hovdey: Even racing can’t keep a good woman down

Louisville Courier-Journal – Frivolous may face males in Churchill’s Clark

Bloodhorse – Frivolous Targets Clark for Career Bow

DRF – Privman – Full Ransom regains good form in Kathryn Crosby

A Day In The Life

During Keystone XL’s seven-year review process, the pipeline’s political significance ballooned far beyond its measurable consequences. In partisan narratives, it was often framed as a fight pitting jobs against the climate and energy security against environmental concerns. In reality, the pipeline stood to make little difference in any of these arenas.

FiveThirtyEight – Aschwanden – Keystone XL Wasn’t About Jobs Or The Climate — It Was All Politics

NY Times – Buckley – China Burns Much More Coal Than Reported, Complicating Climate Talks

National Post – Jack M. Mintz: A better way to pay for the middle-class tax cut

NY Times – Drape – Alabama Is Rolling in Cash, With Tide Lifting All Boats

Ohio

Cruel leaders are replaced only to have new leaders turn cruel.
Che Guevara

The Bitter Southerner – Glier – The Long Memory of Henry Rodriguez

We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master.
Ernest Hemingway

The Globe And Mail – McCregor – Hockey players know who the real heroes are

The Globe And Mail – Lederman – As we remember, let’s think about doing more for Canada’s veterans

There will be no justice as long as man will stand with a knife or with a gun and destroy those who are weaker than he is.
Isaac Bashevis Singer

National Post – Patterson – One hundred years after In Flanders Fields, a doctor and soldier writes on what’s changed — and what hasn’t

The Unknown Soldier

NY Times – Silverstein – The Displaced

National Post – AP – Croatian authorities struggle to identify three-year-old refugee who they believe is lost

FiveThirtyEight – Paine and Hickey – The Perfect Bond Movie: Sean Connery, Judi Dench, And A Watch That Blows Stuff Up

Phil has a question:

What about Sir James Bond.

National Post – Andrew Coyne: First fix for the Conservatives — their psyche

Tear In My Heart

Iris

Phil has a question:

Rock minds think alike or is someone copying.

If you steal from one author it’s plagiarism; if you steal from many it’s research.

Wilson Mizner

NY Post – Landman – Meet the chef groupies looking for sex in the kitchen

Garden and Gun – Portman – These Are the Best Peas in the South

National Post – Kates – Where vegetarianism and veganism differ: a diet versus a lifestyle

The Boxer

LA Times – OpEd – Strauss – As the age of autonomous vehicles nears, why are policy wonks focused on the past?

NY Times – Higgins – Patrick Kane Will Not Face Rape Charges

Do It Again

LA Times – McNamara – Why huge ‘SNL’ ratings won’t help Donald Trump become president

Today, as a Republican presidential candidate, Trump emphasizes his success in the real estate business as he makes the case that he can fix a broken Washington. But it is the abilities he practiced over 14 seasons as the host and an executive producer of “The Apprentice” — a blunt speaking style, a tendency to taunt his rivals and play them against one another, and a theatrical sense of timing — that have flustered rivals who at times can’t seem to believe that they are losing to him. Former Florida governor Jeb Bush recently described Trump as “an actor playing a role of the candidate for president.”

The Globe And Mail – Barbaro and Palmer – Trump is breezy but not very funny as host of Saturday Night Live

Washington Post – Sellers – What Trump learned on ‘The Apprentice’

Phil has a question:

When Donald Trump is eliminated from the Republican Presidential Primaries will the victor walk over and say: “You’re Fired” to Trump’s face and Phony Hair.

Southern Living – Spectacular Thanksgiving Sides

What Wonderful World

Maybe I’m Amazed

Phil M Stockmen