Nov 222015
 

North American jurisdictions not only need to standardize the medication rules right across North America they need to standardize the whip use rules.

 

Watch the replay of the Delta Downs Jackpot Stake and you’ll notice that Kent Desormeaux on the winner, Exaggerator,  is complying with the California rules down the stretch while the other riders are following the Louisiana rules.

Bloodhorse – Novak – Exaggerator Holds in Delta Jackpot

TwinSpires Blog – Scully – Exaggerator concludes juvenile season on a high note with game Delta Jackpot victory

DRF – Rampellini – Desormeaux brothers team up with Exaggerator to win Delta Jackpot

Lady and the Track – Macatangay – Exaggerator Wins Delta Downs Jackpot and Derby Points


Sporting Post – Aussie Jocks Baulk At Whip Rules

Cairns Post – O’Neill – Cairns racing identities voice concerns over new whip rules


We Don’t Need Another Hero


A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.
Lao Tzu


Phil has been informed that fractional wagers are now available for California tracks. Like the other fractional wagers in Canada 20¢ is the minimum for US 10¢wagers and 60¢ is the minimum for US 50¢ wagers.


When The Whip Comes Down


Thoroughbred Racing Commentary – McClean – The horse with a will to win almost impossible to resist


Bloodhorse – Tapp – A Few Questions With Keith Desormeaux


Paris


Phil’s vignette of Canadian History:

Edmonton Journal – Cummings – Life and Times: TV pioneer brought cable to Northern Alberta


The Globe and Mail – McGregor – Development on Ottawa River draws divide in indigenous communities


The Guardian – Pikulicka-Wilczewska – A day at the races in horse-mad Turkmenistan


 

 

Esquirol_Farms_


Bloodhorse – Short Hospital Visits for Jockeys Saez, Doyle


Gold Dust Woman


DRF – Rampellini – Kyriaki ships in from California to take Treasure Chest


Sports Illustrated – AP – Jockey Joe Talamo takes day off to marry longtime girlfriend


DRF – Privman – Talamo completes hectic weekend by winning Cary Grant with Solid Wager


Forever Young


Racing Post – Scargill – Sutherland to make second riding comeback


CTHS Ontario 2015 Winter Mixed Sale Results


Economic Impacts

Phil’s Comments on the Serecon Report


Racing Post – Mottershead – Qipco blames Channel 4 for ‘shrinking’ audience


Bloodhorse – Precious – Asmussen Fined in New York PETA Probe


DRF – Crist: A Lasix argument that doesn’t hold water


Gold Dust Woman


Phil found a new favourite website:

Dishing Up The Dirt


DRF – Dunleavy – Darby Dan dusts off its silks for son of Soaring Softly


Bloodhorse – Balan – O’Neill Wins No. 2,000 with Formally Wild


DRF – Litfin – Frosty Margarita part of four-win day for Irad Ortiz Jr.


Carryovers

Sunday November 22 2015

Aqueduct
Pick 6    $34,739.00
Churchill Downs
Pick 6 Jackpot    $145,088.00
Fair Grounds
Pick 5 Jackpot    $6,753.00
Super High Five     $793.00
Gulfstream Park West
Pick 6 Jackpot    $49,422.00
Z-5 Super Hi-5     $1,826.00
Z-5 Super Hi-5     $1,444.00
Laurel Park
Pick 6    $11,896.00
Super High Five     $3,269.00
Z-5 Super Hi-5     $2,260.00
Z-5 Super Hi-5     $678.00
Super High Five     $623.00
Z-5 Super Hi-5     $440.00
Z-5 Super Hi-5     $405.00
Turf Paradise
Pick 6    $1,558.00
Woodbine
Super High Five Jackpot    $264,215.00

Tuesday November 24 2015

Hawthorne
Super High Five Jackpot    $99,789.00
Pick 5    $7,549.00
Pick 6 Jackpot    $4,859.00

Guaranteed Pools

Equibase Carryovers and Guaranteed Pools


One of Phil’s constant comments is that if the thoroughbred purses in Alberta improved so would the quality of racing which in turn would improve the handle and the purses.

Here’s how it’s done:


Bloodhorse – Claiming Crown Attracts 309 Nominations


Bloodhorse – Lewyn – Oaklawn Purses Drive Stall Apps Way Up


Louisville Courier-Journal – Lintner – Churchill’s strong Fall Meet years in making


DRF – Dunleavy – Ritvo says goal is to race 200 days a year in Maryland

Bloodhorse – LaMarra – Maryland’s Growth Potential Focus of Meeting


Constant Craving


Vice Sports – NBA, MLB, and Other Sports Leagues Named in Daily Fantasy Sports Class Action Suit

Sports Illustrated – McCann – NBA, sports investment groups among those sued over DFS


Upcoming Stakes

 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


TwinSpires – Blog – Aqueduct Holiday Fest stakes probables revealed


 


Bloodhorse – Balan – Los Alamitos to Drop Futurity, Starlet in ’16


TwinSpires Blog – Hanson – Lament of a California stakes gravedigger


TwinSpires Blog – Scully – Inaugural running of Steel Valley Sprint features top 3 from Perryville


Simple Man


DRF – Dunleavy – Aye a Song hangs on to win West Virginia Futurity


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
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


Bloodhorse – Balan – Rusty Slipper Gives de Sousa First Graded Win

TwinSpires Blog – Reilly – Rusty Slipper bestrides Red Carpet with de Sousa


Bloodhorse – Angst – Button Down Secures First Stakes in Cardinal

TwinSpires Blog – Hanson – Button Down shows signs of things to come in Cardinal


2016 Road to the Kentucky Oaks

Race    Track    Date      Points
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 – Hanson – Jet Black works her Magic in Delta Downs Princess

Bloodhorse – Novak – Jet Black Magic Upsets Delta Princess

DRF – Rampellini – Jet Black Magic turns tables on La Apassionata in Delta Princess


Black Magic Woman


Bloodhorse – Lewyn – Goffs Posts Excellent Gains in Gross, Average


Lady and the Track – Laughter – 2015 Eclipse Awards Predictions


Jigglies at their best


awards dinner 2015


Bloodhorse – Balan – California Chrome Strong in Los Al Drill


DRF – Litfin – Sky Flight gets up to win photo in Artie Schiller


From the Derby Bar and Grill Newsletter

BCTOBA Newsletter for November 20, 2015

HASTINGS NUMBERS UP FOR 2015

The 2015 Thoroughbred season ended on the last Sunday in October with a nine race card that handled close to $1 million. The total handle and field size average were both up from 2014, which is always encouraging. Hastings Racecourse General Manager Darren MacDonald was pleased with the 2015 numbers; “there was a 14.7 % increase over last year in all sources wagering” (which includes on-track and simulcast wagering).

The 2016 live Thoroughbred season at Hastings will begin on Sunday, April 17th and end on Sunday, October 16th for a total of 53 live racing days. The calendar, showing dates and post times, is available on the Hastings website. The Owner and Breeders Incentive Programs for 2016 have also been announced and can be found on the homepage of the BCTOBA website at www.bctoba.com.

The local racing Associations have announced that there will be a Two Year Olds in training and Horses of Racing Age sale in the Hastings Racecourse paddock on Saturday, March 26th, 2016.

NEW B.C. STALLIONS

There have been two recent additions to the stallion roster in British Columbia:

Lent, a son of Pulpit and from the female family of two-time Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner Bayakoa, is a half-brother to Fort Larned, 2012 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner with earnings over $4.4 million.

Devil in Disguise, a two-time stakes winner at Hastings and was second in the Grade III B.C. Derby and third in the Grade III Canadian Derby at Northlands Park.

These two stallions will fill a much needed void with the passing of the brilliant local stallion Rosberg. Lent will stand at Emerald Acres and Devil in Disguise will stand at Canmor Farms, both are located in Aldergrove, B.C.

2015 THOROUGHBRED AWARDS DINNER

A reminder to everyone that the 2015 Thoroughbred Awards Dinner is rapidly approaching and will be held on Thursday, December 3rd at Newlands Golf Course. Reception is at 6:00, dinner at 7:00 and the awards presentations begin at 8:00. For tickets call Cristan Gossen at 604-671-8140, or B.J. Davidson at 604-534-0145 ext. 301.

RAILBIRD NOTES

RAILBIRD NOTES BY GLEN TODD

BY GLEN TODD

HASTINGS NEWS BY GREG DOUGLAS

Hastings News by Greg Douglas


Barbie Girl


Bloodhorse – Mitchell – Runhappy Back on Work Tab; Malibu Next


Bitch


INDIAN CHARLIE WORLDWIDE - We Never Let the Truth Get In The Way Of A Good Story


Louisville Courier-Journal – Lintner – Effinex ‘almost certain’ to run in Clark

Bloodhorse – Potential Clark Horses Keen Ice, Effinex Work

Lady and the Track – Hammer – Shotgun Kowboy Heads to Churchill Downs for Clark Handicap

TwinSpires Blog – TURF TALK: No Eclipse Implications in Clark Despite Weak Older Male Division


DRF – Hegarty – New York commission to release Asmussen report Monday


The Horse – Walking in Water: A Key Ingredient in Valegro’s Winning Mix?


Bloodhorse – Virginia Group Pursues Thoroughbred Home


Last Midnight


True friends stab you in the front.
Oscar Wilde

“If it wasn’t for Century Downs and people like [HRA CEO] Shirley McClellan that made this happen, those are the heroes in my opinion…they’ve got some great people there on the racing side of it,” with Hoerdt singling out track superintendent Don Monkman, Wittup and Raeann Gemmill.

Standardbred Canada – Century Concludes First Season

Shirley McClellan’s a hero.  A trippa di zianata.

I hate to shatter Kelly’s Hoerdt’s illusion but his rose coloured glasses are out of focus if he thinks Shirley McClellan is a hero. Phil thinks his rose coloured glasses need to be shattered. I’m sure the Undertaker could find time to help him pick up the pieces and get home.

As a matter of perception to the thoroughbred racing industry in Alberta Shirley McClellan is Villain No 1 with a bullet.

You can’t call someone a hero who’s pulling down $250k per annum and then ignores her duties and obligations to Horse Racing Alberta to work on Jim Prentice’s campaign for leadership of the Alberta Tories and work on trying to keep the Tories in power in the last provincial election including using the opening of Century Downs in Calgary as a massive photo op advertisement for the now defeated Jim Prentice.

Think Shirley McClellan’s a hero ask Bobby Allen from Alberta Downs for his opinion on that subject. HORSE RACING ALBERTA DEC 5 14 – Alberta Downs DEMAND LETTER

Phil has a question:

Do the actions of Shirley McClellan described in the Dec 5, 2014 Demand Letter sound heroic to you.

If Shirley McClellan is such a hero why was the Cuff Report commissioned to try and straighten out the brutal mismanagement at Horse Racing Alberta.

Where’s the 2016 Schedule for both Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing along with the purse structure.

Why hasn’t the slot revenue split agreement that expires March 31, 2016 been renewed.

Why haven’t thoroughbred purses increased over the last 10 years.

Why has the handle for racing in Alberta stagnated while the province of Alberta was enjoying the halcyon days of economic and population growth.

Why was Alberta HBPA the group that represents the thoroughbred racing participants to lose their representative on the Board of Horse Racing Alberta pursuant to the passed, but not yet proclaimed Horse Racing Alberta Amendment Act.

The Mission Statement and objects of Horse Racing Alberta may sound warm and fuzzy motherhood and apple pie, but the reality is that recently defeated Tories treated Horse Racing Alberta like a semi-retirement home for their loyal to top up their pensions.

Why doesn’t Shirley McClellan follow the legislated mandate of Horse Racing Alberta to lead a racing industry renewal.

Why does the Chair and Board at Horse Racing Alberta not ensure that Shirley McClellan their high paid employee follow the legislated mandate of Horse Racing Alberta to lead a racing industry renewal.

How many thoroughbred races in Alberta have lost Black Type Status under the Rick LeLacheur – Shirley McClellan tag team at Horse Racing Alberta. Better add a few more: Jockey Club Of Canada Letter to Northlands Park Racing Secretary Jason Teague.

Please do not cast any aspersions upon Jason Teague, Northlands Park nor any other body for leaking this document as they were only complying with the Jockey Clubs requirements:

A notice of change in black-type status for all effected races in Canada will be communicated to industry participants and breeder societies by The Jockey Club of Canada in January however it is the obligation and the responsibility of the racetrack operator to adequately communicate, to all future race participants, the change in Black-type Status should the race continue to be offered.

Does the loss of Black Type Status on more than 20 races in Alberta under the Rick LeLacheur – Shirley McClellan tag team at Horse Racing Alberta sound like a heroic effort at leading a racing industry renewal.

Is there any person in the world who can eat just 1 salted peanut.

Phil’s often compared Shirley McClellan to the Jewish bubbe who has 2 chickens. One gets sick so she kills the healthy one to make chicken soup for the sick one. At least the bubbe had the decency to take the axe to the neck of the healthy chicken and finish the job quickly. Rather than put the axe to the thoroughbred’s neck Horse Racing Alberta has attached the jiggies to the thoroughbreds backs like leeches trying to suck the innards from the thoroughbreds.

Over the last decade the pro standardbred policies of Horse Racing Alberta have not lead a racing industry renewal, but they have dragged the thoroughbred industry down to the same level of acceptance as the standardbreds.

Note to the Undertaker:

Don’t scurry yet as maybe the QKB wants the Gravy recipe.


I never see what has been done; I only see what remains to be done.
Buddha


Heroes and Villains


Vietnamese Chicken Noodle Soup

National Post – Bonnie Stern: Three soups to help you fight the flu


Bloodhorse – Balan – CHRB Discusses California Stabling Disputes

DRF – Andersen – California horsemen look for alternatives to stabling at Los Alamitos


DRF – Hegarty – Ruling in Mahoning Valley mix-up expected by Monday


Speaking of villains what breed of horse was Goldfinger training at his ranch.


Bloodhorse – Lewyn – Good Project Front-Running Railway Winner


Long Train Running


Bloodhorse – Kieckhefer – Slots Spread, Illinois Tracks Can Only Watch


Would Kelly Hoerdt still think that Shirley McClellan was a hero if he knew about the ADW deal just given to Max Gibb’s Rocky Mountain Turf Club whose ADW will be offered by Express Bet.

The current ADW agreement has Northlands Park and Century Downs splitting the province for customers with their ADW being offered by HPI. A percentage of the wagers made go to Northlands Park and Century Downs to cover their operating expenses and a percentage is allocated to the horsemen.

Not only Kelly Hoerdt, but all standardbred horsemen and all thoroughbred horsemen should be contacting their representatives to find out if the same percentage of wagers from the Rocky Mountain Turf Club ADW be allocated to the horsemen across the province. The answers you get may astonish you and I’m sure that Shirley McClellan won’t be a hero in too many horse persons eye when the find out the proposed allocation from RMTC’s ADW.


Giving horseplayers a voice.October / Breeders Cup Newsletter


Racing Post – Qatar Racing to cut back on trainers in 2016


Bloodhorse – CBA Symposium Scheduled for Feb. 2


Racing Post – Sexton – Profile: record-breaking freshman Uncle Mo


Bloodhorse – Angst – Adena Springs Stallion Tiago Euthanized


DRF – Rampellini – Custom for Carlos in demand


DRF – Thoroughbred Charities of America stallion season auction set for January


DRF – Chitu to Bridlewood Farm in Florida for 2016


DRF – Curlin to Mischief to Rancho San Miguel in California for 2016


Bloodhorse – Novak – Smarty Jones to Stand at Calumet Farm


Bloodhorse – Pedigree Analysis: Blitey


To book a great ASD time, call Samantha at 204-885-3330 ext. 0!

Sam with New Year’s Eve tickets
ASD‘s receptionist will . . .

• Book your prime rib buffet tonight which includes the
popular pasta bar
• Book other Thursday buffets including SPECIAL
TURKEY-ENHANCED buffets on Dec. 10 and 17
• Book your tickets for the FABulous New Year’s Eve
Gala ($49.95) hosted by FAB 94s Alix Michaels
Bullet briefs . . .
• $193,000 carryover in today’s Super Hi 5 at Woodbine
• Sadly, an ASD institution has passed (see The Week That Was)
• P Val makes a comeback–at Delta (tonight?)
• $1 million Delta Jackpot this Saturday;  Can colt beat filly’s time?
• Mack attack: Trainers come to aid of fired Breeders’ Cup trainer
• Why did a player make–and cancel–big bets on unlikely winner?
TONIGHT’S PICK-3 CONTEST NOW AT $60:  Since none of you had correctly picked last week’s pick-3 at Charles Town, tonight’s prize has been increased to $40 in wagering vouchers plus $20 if you win and you’re in the Race Book Saturday afternoon.  Download races here and submit your three picks in the subject line of your email by 8 p.m. to theinsider@ASDowns.com.  The usual rules apply (one entry per person, no entering on behalf of someone else).
INSIDER HALL OF FAME AWAITS FIRST INDUCTEE! Make three $50 wagers this Saturday and you’re on your way!  See rules in last week’s Insider.
DO THE DOWNS


Carryovers

Click for schedule
Popular pasta bar tonight
CLICK HERE TO ENLARGE
BONUS BUCK$$$ CONTINUE! Get up to five per cent of your wagers in bonus cash each Friday deposited into your HPI account. See levels here.
GET READY FOR NOVEMBER TOURNEY: The second-last Player’s Choice horseplayer tournament will be held ONE WEEK FROM THIS SATURDAY, the Thanksgiving long weekend in the U.S.
Official stations of horse racing.
Click to listen
BABY WARS
Can anyone beat 1:42.73 set by filly Songbird?
THIS SATURDAY: $1 million Delta Jackpot
Exaggerator, the fourth-place finisher in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, is the morning-line favourite to win Saturday’s $1 million Delta Jackpot, a prep race on the road to the Kentucky Derby. A $200,000 guaranteed pick-4 will end with this race, which is preceded by the Delta Princess for 2-year-old fillies.  The standard for all 2-year-olds to equal or beat is the time of filly Songbird in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.
NEXT SATURDAY: Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct and the Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill
THEY NAMED ME WHAT?  Miss Moneyhenny.  A rather cute play on the Miss Moneypenny character in Sean Connery’s James Bond movies. This 2-year-old filly who’s racing at Parx has a mom named Hen Reception and a grandfather named Henny Hughes so, unlike many horses that have been given unusual names, her name DOES have a family connection.
Mack attack
Breeders’ Cup trainer fired by “Mattress Mack” gets support

Business people generally shy from controversy, especially the negative kind.  But Houston furniture chain owner Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale has put himself in the eye of a storm

Maria Borell (with Sunday Silence tattoo on her back) gets support

since he fired trainer Maria Borell, the trainer of Breeders’ Cup Sprint champion Runhappy, the day after the win without paying her any commission on the horse’s big win of the $1.5 million race.

In an online poll, 87 per cent of the public are siding with the fired trainer.  And former McIngvale trainers have gone public with court-filed affidavits in which they document the difficulties encountered dealing with McIngvale’s racing manager, Laura Wohlers, who is McIngvale’s sister-in-law. Charles Simon who trained Runhappy and other horses for McIngvale in 2014, said he quit when Wohlers attempted to “micromanage” the business from a furniture store and “disregarded my advice in over-training horses.”
McIngvale has insisted Borell was paid a salary and deserved nothing more despite her horse’s win but other trainers say trainers generally are paid a commission on top of their salaries when their horses win.  Simon said he was paid $76 a day plus 12 per cent of the purse for his horses finishing first, second or third when he trained for McIngvale in 2014.
How nasty will this become before it is settled?  And one has to wonder whether McIngvale’s business is being affected.  In her lawsuit, Borell is seeking not only commission but two breeding rights which generally accrue to trainers whose horses win grade 1 stakes.
*       *       *
Suspicious ticket cancellation
Why did bettor cancel bets 5 1/2 hours after making them?
A California player’s cancellation of $5,000 in win bets on a horse in Del Mar’s first race Saturday has prompted an investigation by the state’s racing authorities.  The bets, placed 5 1/2 hours before the race, were made on Tale of a Champion.  That made the odds 3/5 which, in the absence of other wagers at such an early hour, showed the horse to be a huge favourite.  Those bets were cancelled near post time when the horse was 2/1.  The odds then shot up to 10/1 when the race was off.  Tale of a Champion finished last.
Reports say the ticket buyer was known as a large bettor.  He had bet no other horse in the race after his cancellation, according to reports. The race, a $40,000 claimer on the turf, was the 7-year-old horse’s first race since finishing the last of 12 horses at 68/1 two years ago in the Breeders’ Cup Turf.  A $5,000 wager on that kind of horse after such a long absence certainly raises a lot of questions.
Sadly, a racing institution passes
Manitoba Jockey Club vice-president
Sharon Gulyas shares in an important part
of the Jewish burial tradition

On a fittingly mild Sunday afternoon a horseplayer widely known simply as “The Russian” (inset above) was laid to rest at Shaarey Zedek cemetary across from Kildonan Park at the age of 79, leaving a gaping hole in the racing landscape at Assiniboia Downs.  The Russian, Sammy Vizhgorodsky, wasn’t just a player, he was an institution since immigrating to Winnipeg in the 1980s. Who could forget his raspy accented voice proclaiming “there should be an investigation” if a horse he loved didn’t win.  “Call in the RCMP,” he would say if his horse lost.

He made news some years ago when he butted heads with the city over a hotel he owned but it was pick-4s and pick-6s that really got him going.  “Who do you like?” he would ask as a person passed his table.  “Who do I like where?” would be the usual answer.  He was hailed at his graveside service as being a man of high integrity “whose word was his bond.”  And Manitoba Jockey Club vice-president Sharon Gulyas would add the word “thoughtful.”  She said he had insisted in buying her a gift at Christmas for the past 20 years. Gone but never forgotten.  The “I won big” group will dedicate a pick-4 or pick-6 ticket to his memory this Saturday.  Hopefully with no investigation being required.
THE WEEK THAT WAS
Patrick Valenzuela
Watch him at Delta

P VAL IS BACK; WILL HE RIDE TONIGHT?  Patrick Valenzuela, a very talented jockey with a checkered past, is making a comeback which could start as early as tonight if either of the horses he is named to ride (race 7 and 10) make it in from the also-eligible list.  He hasn’t ridden since Jan. 20, 2014.  If he doesn’t ride tonight, he should be riding in tomorrow’s first race and has a mount in Saturday’s $1 million Delta Jackpot.  Drug use has haunted his past.  In 2004, he even shaved every hair from his body so none could be plucked to be analyzed for drug content.  Watch out when P Val is riding a horse with early speed.

NEW REVAMPED BEYER SPEED FIGURES FOR TURFERS: Starting yesterday, the Daily Racing Form provides enhanced Beyer speed figures for turf races that apparently calculate more accurately a horse’s speed in relation to similar races held on dirt.  Generally speaking, turf figures have been raised a few points. However, Beyer speed figs in some races will still have to be adjusted upward even more when the first part of a route race goes very slowly which could lead to a low overall Beyer despite the quality of the winning horse.
“I WON BIG” GROUP CONTINUES SATURDAY: So, with about $200 carried over from last week from a minor pick-4 win at Woodbine, Saturday’s “I won big” group will once again concentrate on the pick-4s at Woodbine but will look for an opportunity track perhaps to nail a sizable pick-6.  I know, everyone’s longing for a bacon feast which happens when we win big. So?  Let’s do it.  Clubhouse plaza 10:30 a.m.
SOBERING HOCKEY FACT:  The reality is–wait for it–that we may not have an opportunity, ever, to cheer for a Stanley Cup winner.  That’s because there are 30 teams in the NHL and how likely is it that each team will get a chance to win the ‘Cup every 30 years?  This stark fact struck me while I was reading–and laughing at–the latest round of Toronto Maple Leaf jokes floating around the internet.  (Question:  What are 30 millionaires sitting around watching the Stanley Cup playoffs called?  Answer:  The Toronto Maple Leafs.)  But the Leafs are unlikely to be the only team that will face such sarcasm.  I can foresee a team or teams not winning the ‘Cup in 100 years, maybe even 200 years.  A chilling fact, to be sure.
____________________________________________________________________
Where are they now?
by Rob MacLennan
Witt Six to race in Zia Park Derby next Wednesday
As the first snows approach, we now think more and more of summer warmth, especially of our local connections that are racing south of the border and to the east.
WOODBINE:  Murray Duncan had Wild N’Crazy in on Sunday and he ran a good third in a tough race at Woodbine. The lone upcoming entrant for Duncan is Sugah Sweet in the first race this Friday. Also at Woodbine Jodi Radul has Sunny Weather with jockey Chris Husbands in the ninth race on Friday.

DELTA:  Moving south, trainer Jerry Gourneau has two entrants this week at Delta Downs in Vinton, LA:  FP Silent Eyes on Friday in the seventh race and Sierra Delta in the ninth

Witt Six (outside of Flashy Jewel)
to race in Zia Derby

race Sam’s Town Stakes on the undercard of Delta Jackpot day. My pick for the Delta Jackpot (seventh race) is Found Money for California-based trainer Doug O’Neill who has been red hot as of late and ships in to try to win a race he has won before with Goldencents.

WITT SIX IN ZIA PARK DERBY:  Jerry also has Manitoba and Canadian Derby runner-up Witt Six in the $250,000 Zia Park Derby next Wednesday. The race came up tough with Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s International Star leading the field. The whole Zia card is filled with stakes and high quality racing.
TURF PARADISE:  At Turf Paradise the Brown and Schnell barns continue to be active. Jared Brown has three horses this Saturday: Bosque Angel in the sixth, Many Routes in the seventh and Dotted Princess in the eighth. Sounds like an easy pick-3, doesn’t it? The Brown barn is expanding with three recent claims including the fast mare Woodlandsway, the talented 3-year-old Believe Too who was actually nominated to the 2015 Golden Boy Stakes by the Robertino Diodoro barn and the hard-knocking bottom claimer Indy Racer.
Don Schnell continues his good start at Turf Paradise. Idling ran another second in a $6,250 claimer on the grass. Three more horses ran yesterday and you can check out their results on Equibase: I Am Awesome, Runaway Cal and the Winnipeg Futurity winner Heber.
HISTORY ON THE HOOF: The best of Bob
Did you know . . .  Wendell Holmes Mustard had one of, if not the longest consecutive careers as an owner/trainer at local race tracks–from 1951 at old Polo Park to the time of his death in 1980 at Assiniboia Downs?  Read “A kind man and the horses knew it” here.

NEXT INSIDER:  Next Thursday morning–Thanksgiving in the U.S.–which kicks off three days of great stakes action including the grade 1 $500,000 Cigar Mile and the $300,000 Remsen Kentucky-Derby prep race at Aqueduct on Saturday.  Plus classy turf stakes at Del Mar. First post a week from today: 10 a.m.


DRF – Sparkman: On song in the Mrs. Revere


Bloodhorse – Military Attack Takes Prep for Hong Kong Cup


Bloodhorse – Lewyn – Buffering All the Way for Winterbottom Win


Bloodhorse – Precious – New York Lifts Ban on Palm Sunday Racing


Ohio


TwinSpires Blog – Reilly – Lady Lara, Lochte make for logical outcomes at Gulfstream Park West 

Bloodhorse – Balan – Lochte Scores in Soggy Tropical Turf ‘Cap

Bloodhorse – Angst – Lady Lara Rolls to My Charmer Victory


NY Times – Stodghill – On the Cigar Trail in Cuba


1995 Donn Handicap

Phil has a question:

Will the Undertaker, QKB or CCW have mixed emotions if HolyBull.ca unbelievably pulls up on the 21st anniversary of the 1995 Donn Handicap.


Maggie Mae


Racing Post – Haynes – Connections devastated at loss of Red Cadeaux


Bloodhorse – LaMarra – Cougar Ridge Edges Departing in Delta Mile


DRF – Gierkink – Ami’s Mesa stays unbeaten with Glorious Song triumph


TwinSpires Blog – Reilly – Dolphus, Rachel Alexandra’s half-brother, wins debut at Fair Grounds 

Bloodhorse – Half Brother to Rachel Alexandra Wins Debut


TwinSpires Blog – Reilly – Stacked Deck states Sovereign case in Kennedy Road

DRF – Gierkink – Stacked Deck solidifies Sovereign Award credentials in Kennedy Road

Bloodhorse – Stacked Deck Excels in Kennedy Road Victory


TwinSpires Blog – Reilly – Maurice completes Yasuda Kinen/Mile Championship double 

Bloodhorse – Moore Pilots Maurice to Mile Championship


Readers will say, well, surely this is the sort of nonsense politicians always pack into their memoirs. And they will be right. But it is remarkable to come face to face with someone so utterly convinced of his own idealism, or so cynical as to insist upon it, so soon after he irrefutably demonstrated his lack of it — by squandering billions of dollars for a few seats the Liberals would probably have won anyway, proroguing the legislature to derail inquiries into same, and summarily resigning to watch the various police investigations unfold from afar.

National Post – Chris Selley: Dalton McGuinty a man of many (self-serving) regrets

Phil has a question:

Does McGuinty regret almost destroying the horse racing industry in Ontario.


LA Times – Sahagun – California outlaws recreational and commercial bobcat trapping


National Post – Hutchinson – Want to destroy ISIL? Hit them where it hurts: the pocketbook. Pulling terrorist financing’s plug

National Post – Humphreys – Montreal cops make 48 arrests – including Rizzuto son – after massive organized crime sweep

If drugs, gun running, theft, extortion and protection money fund ISIL why don’t we send in the Mob to clean them out.


Liar, Liar


We’re soldiers. Soldiers don’t go to hell. It’s war. Soldiers kill other soldiers. We’re in a situation where everyone involved knows the stakes and if you are going to accept those stakes, you’ve got to do certain things. It’s business.

Tony Soprano


Wrecking Ball


NY Times – Grimes – Hollywood and Booze: An Enduring Marriage


FiveThirtyEight – Hickey – The 20 Most Extreme Cases Of ‘The Book Was Better Than The Movie’


Money


Garden and Gun – Mischner – A Smaller-Batch Answer to Steen’s Cane Syrup


NY Post – AP – Government wants to kill 1,000 bison at Yellowstone this winter


Don’t Fence Me In


LA Times – Jones – On Maui, you can get into an equine state of mind by becoming a cowboy for a day


Washington Post – Noack – Why babies should sleep in cardboard boxes, explained in 2 charts


Garden and Gun – Mischner – The Interview: Mavis Staples


The Weight


NY Times – Morris -Estefan and ‘La Bamba’ Cover Only Part of America’s Latin Culture in the 1980s


Bitter Southerner – Relyea – With Drawl


Hotel California


Southern Living – Taylor – 3 Whiskey Classics For The Holidays


FiveThirtyEight – Hickey – Here’s What Your Part Of America Eats On Thanksgiving


Garden and Gun – Portman – Gravy 101: Learn the Basics


NY Times – Schaerlaeckens –  Topping Studies With a Dollop of Athletics at the Culinary Institute of America


Gravy Train


National Post – Colby Cosh: Is Alberta victim to low oil prices, or its NDP government?

National Post – CP – Rachel Notley set to release Alberta’s new climate change policy before flying Paris conference


Invite the right people

Before you begin to think of the kinds of whiskeys you’ll be pouring, make sure you have the right audience. They should be open-minded whiskey drinkers, or people who aren’t whiskey drinkers but are curious and interested in learning about whiskey.

Whiskey 101


Whiskey Man


LA Times – Turan – The beautiful and thrilling ‘Carol’ belongs among the best movie love stories


The Globe and Mail – Volvo unveils a seat ‘time machine’ hoping to change how we won’t drive


NY Times – Nocera – Danger at the Ballpark, and in a Baseball Ticket’s Fine Print


National Post – Knight – Reboot, reuse, recycle: The Secret in Their Eyes is the latest in a long line of cinematic do-overs


Going, Going, Gone

Out of The Rain


Phil M Stockmen

  One Response to “See What You’ve Done”

  1. STAMPEDE PARK confirms 38 positions will be eliminated or left vacant saying it is not immune to the economic downturn and has to cope with the $2,000,000.00 trim to its revenue from the Alberta government that was implemented by the Prentice government.

    When will NORTHLANDS PARK be giving the bad news about their organization!

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