Phil has often commented that the one of the most cogent comments he has ever heard about thoroughbred racing in the province of Alberta is that:
We need to improve the professionalism of horse racing in the province of Alberta.
This comment is as appropriate today as the day it was made and applies right across the province including across all degrees of consanguinity.
Phil has a suggestion:
Replace Shirley McClellan and Rick LeLacheur with persons who are appointed on merit and you’ve taken the first step.
NY Times – Rogers and Mather – Muhammad Ali Defends Islam AftetTrump’s Remarks
A man who views the world the same at fifty as he did at twenty has wasted thirty years of his life.
Muhammad Ali
Phil’s Vignette of Canadian History – Beech – Who’s the wine industry’s daddy?
Phil has a question:
Do we really need to know who was the father of the Canadian wine industry in order to celebrate and drink some wine.
Wine is the most healthful and most hygienic of beverages.
Louis Pasteur
ESPN – West – Cliff Berry hangs up his saddle
Bloodhorse – Johnson – California Shipper Looks Strong in Springboard Mile
Bloodhorse – Cliff Berry to Cap Career in Springboard Mile
Bloodhorse – Bauer-Herzog – ‘Mexican Pharoah’ Targets Clasico del Caribe
NY Times – Branch – Elite Rodeo Circuit? Whoa
Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.
Cowboy Wisdom
This is Horse Racing – Homecoming for a ‘rock star’
Carryovers
Guaranteed Pools
Equibase Carryovers and Guaranteed Pools
Bloodhorse – Pete Aiello New Race Caller at Oaklawn
Bloodhorse – Help Wanted: Track Announcer at Oaklawn Park
Bloodhorse – ‘Pharoah ‘Bobblehorse’ Promotion at Oaklawn
Louisville Courier-Journal – Lintner – Baffert bobblehead in Churchill’s ticket deal
Upcoming Stakes
Dec 13
Golden Gate Fields
Miss America $50,000 3&up Fillies & Mares 8.5f Turf
Hong Kong
Longines Hong Kong Cup GI $3,225,000 3&up 10f Turf
Longines Hong Kong Mile GI $2,967,000 3&up 8f Turf
Longines Hong Kong Sprint GI $2,386,000 3&up 6f Turf
Longines Hong Kong Vase GI $2,128,000 3&up 12f Turf
Japan Racing Association
Capella Stake GIII $633,000 3&up 6f Dirt
Hanshin Juvenile Fillies GI $1,173,000 2yo Fillies 8f Turf
Remington Park
Jim Thorpe stake $50,000 3yo State/Prov 8f Dirt
Remington Springboard Mile (L) $250,000 2yo 8f Dirt
She’s All In stake $100,000 3&up Fillies & Mares 8.32f Dirt
Trapeze stake $100,000 2yo Fillies 8f Dirt
Useeit stake $50,000 3yo Fillies State/Prov 8f Dirt
Dec 18
Delta Downs
Lookout $65,000 3&up Fillies & Mares State/Prov 7.5f Dirt
Dec 19
Aqueduct
Queens County handicap $100,000 3&up 9f Dirt
Delta Downs
B-Connected $65,000 3&up State/Prov 7.5f Dirt
Fair Grounds
Blushing K.D. stake $60,000 4&up Fillies & Mares abt 8.5f Turf
Buddy Diliberto Memorial stake $60,000 4&up abt 8.5f Turf
Letellier Memorial stake $50,000 2yo Fillies 6f Dirt
Sugar Bowl stake $50,000 2yo 6f Dirt
Tenacious stake $60,000 3&up 8.32f Dirt
Tiffany Lass stake $50,000 3&up Fillies & Mares 8.32f Dirt
Gulfstream Park
Mr. Prospector Stake GIII $100,000 3&up 6f Dirt
Tropical Park Derby $75,000 3yo 8.5f Turf
Tropical Park Oaks $75,000 3yo Fillies 8.5f Turf
Japan Racing Association
Turquoise Stake (L) $633,000 3&up Fillies & Mares 8f Turf
Los Alamitos
Los Alamitos Futurity GI $350,000 2yo 8.5f
Sunland Park
KLAQ handicap $65,000 3&up 5f Dirt
Tampa Bay Downs
Inaugural stake #$100,000 2yo Colts & Geldings 6f Dirt
Lightning City Stake (L) #$100,000 4&up Fillies & Mares 5f Turf
Sandpiper stake #$100,000 2yo Fillies 6f Dirt
Turfway Park
Prairie Bayou stake #$60,000 3&up 8.5f AW
Dec 20
Aqueduct
New York Stallion Series (Fifth Ave. Div.) $150,000 2yo Fillies R 6f Dirt
Japan Racing Association
Asahi Hai Futurity Stake GI $1,274,000 2yo 8f Turf
Sunland Park
Johnie L. Jamison stake $85,000 3&up State/Prov 6.5f Dirt
Sunland Park
New Mexico State Racing Commission handicap $85,000 3&up Fillies & Mares State/Prov 6f Dirt
Dec 26
Aqueduct
Damon Runyon stake $100,000 2yo State/Prov 8.32f Dirt
Gravesend handicap $100,000 3&up 6f Dirt
Fair Grounds
Pago Hop stake $75,000 3yo Fillies abt 8f Turf
Pan Zareta stake $60,000 4&up Fillies & Mares 6f Turf
Woodchopper stake $75,000 3yo abt 8f Turf
Gulfstream Park
La Prevoyante Handicap GIII $100,000 3&up Fillies & Mares 12f Turf
Sugar Swirl Stake GIII $100,000 3&up Fillies & Mares 6f Dirt
W.L. McKnight Handicap GIII $100,000 3&up 12f Turf
Japan Racing Association
Hanshin Cup GII $1,173,000 3&up 7f Turf
Laurel Park
Dave’s Friend stake $100,000 3&up 6f Dirt
Jennings handicap $50,000 3&up State/Prov 8f Dirt
Maryland Juvenile Filly Championship $50,000 2yo Fillies State/Prov 7f Dirt
Maryland Juvenile Futurity $50,000 2yo State/Prov 7f Dirt
Thirty-Eight Go Go stake $100,000 3&up Fillies & Mares 8f Dirt
Santa Anita Park
Daytona Stake GIII $100,000 3&up abt 6.5f Turf
La Brea Stake GI $300,000 3yo Fillies 7f Dirt
Malibu Stake GI $300,000 3yo 7f Dirt
Mathis Brothers Mile GII $200,000 3yo 8f Turf
Sunland Park
La Senora stake $85,000 2yo Fillies State/Prov 6f Dirt
Turf Paradise
Arizona Juvenile Fillies stake $35,000 2yo Fillies 6.5f Dirt
Lost in the Fog Juvenile stake $35,000 2yo 6.5f Dirt
Dec 27
Aqueduct
East View stake $100,000 2yo Fillies State/Prov 8.32f Dirt
New York Stallion Series (Great White Way Div.) $150,000 2yo Colts & Geldings R 6f Dirt
Japan Racing Association
Arima Kinen GI $4,530,000 3&up 12.5f Turf
Hopeful Stake GII $1,173,000 2yo 10f Turf
Portland Meadows
Bill Wineberg stake $15,000 2yo Colts & Geldings State/Prov 6f Dirt
Janet Wineberg stake $15,000 2yo Fillies State/Prov 6f Dirt
Lethal Grande Oregon Sprint Championship $12,000 3&up State/Prov 6f Dirt
Oregon Distaff Starter handicap $7,500 g 3&up Fillies & Mares State/Prov 6f Dirt
Oregon Fall Starter handicap $7,500 g 3&up State/Prov 6f Dirt
Oregon Hers stake $12,000 3yo Fillies State/Prov 8f Dirt
Oregon His stake $12,000 3yo Colts & Geldings State/Prov 8.5f Dirt
Horse race Insider – Jicha – Racing invites new ideas but probably will ignore them
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
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 -Novak – Street Fancy Bursts to Starlet Score
2016 Road to the Kentucky Oaks
Race Track Date Points
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
NHLPA – Lomon – Gustav Nyquist Is A Thoroughbred. Literally.
From the Derby Bar and Grill Newsletter
RAILBIRD NOTES
BY GLEN TODD
HASTINGS NEWS BY GREG DOUGLAS
R.J. & LOIS BENNETT TAKE CENTRE STAGE
AT ANNUAL THOROUGHBRED AWARDS DINNER
Square Dancer Completes Cinderella 2015 Story
Three New B.C. Racing Hall of Fame Inductees
Vancouver, B.C. (Dec. 7/15) — Russell and Lois Bennett didn’t just visit the podium at the 2015 Thoroughbred Awards Dinner. They owned it.
Affectionately known as the Royal Couple of British Columbia’s racing industry, Mr. & Mrs. Bennett proudly walked off with six honours and shared in a seventh at the annual salute to outstanding performances at Hastings Racecourse.
Members of the Canadian and British Columbia Horse Racing Halls of Fame, the popular Kelowna couple swept both the Leading Breeders and Leading Owners awards for the 2015 season.
They then returned to the prize table to collect silverware in five more categories, including the prestigious B.C. Bred Horse of the Year as owners of three-time stakes winner Touching Promise.
“We’ve been breeding and owning horses since the 1950’s and it never gets old,” Russell said. “I cannot say enough about our trainer Barb Heads and her team in the backstretch. They’ve been great.”
Touching Promise was recognized as Champion Older Filly/Mare in the B.C. Bred and Open Divisions. The Bennett’s Brass & Gold was named Champion Older Male B.C. Bred Division while Catz on Fire shared Champion 3-year-old Male B.C. Bred Division honors with Cederberg and Mighty Fraser, both trained by Hall of Famer Troy Taylor.
Square Dancer Wins Open Horse of the Year
Calling it “an amazing run”, trainer Steve Henson happily accepted Open Horse of the Year honours representing the 200 equal ownership partners of Square Dancer, the 5-year-old gelding who authored a true Cinderella story in 2015.
Running under the blue and white colours of the Hastings Racing Club, Square Dancer won three races in four starts, including the $100,000 Redekop Classic on BC Cup Day (Aug. 3) and the $75,000 S.W. Randall Plate (Sept. 13) before finishing second in the $100,000 Grade 3 Premiers Handicap (Oct. 12).
“It’s been a real rush for me,” Henson told the sold-out Awards Dinner gathering. “I love to talk, I love people and I love this industry. Was I the right guy for the job? Damn right! Thank you Team Henson and thank you Mr. Todd for picking me. Good thing you did.”
That was ‘Mr. Todd’ as in Glen, who along with Hastings Racecourse General Manager Darren MacDonald and Club Manager Richard Yates received the Diamond Award of Excellence for their input in introducing the initiative whereby 200 racing fans each invested $250 to become ownership partners in the Hastings Racing Club.
The concept caught on to the point that the Club will be expanded to 300 members in 2016 and already a second Club of 200 members is well into its formation for next season.
Three New Inductees join BC Horse Racing Hall of Fame
Strait of Dover, owned by Kelowna’s Wally and Terry Leong, in 2012 became the first horse bred in British Columbia to win the Queen’s Plate at Woodbine and was duly acknowledged as a 2015 inductee into the B.C. Horse Racing Hall of Fame.
Hastings Racecourse track announcer of 25 years Dan Jukich and longtime owner and breeder Dixie Jacobson were also honoured as 2015 Hall of Fame members.
The 2015 HBPA Backstretch Award for outstanding contribution to the betterment of racing and the backstretch environment went to Hall of Fame trainer Harold Barroby.
Complete List of Individual 2015 Award Winners
Leading Jockey: Richard Hamel; Leading Trainer: Mike Anderson; Leading Owners: R.J. & Lois Bennett.
Champion 2-year-old Filly, BC Bred & Open: C U At Eau Claire; Champion 2-year-old Male, BC Bred & Open: Stanz in Command; Champion 3-year-old Filly, BC Bred: Quatre Cat; Champion 3-year-old Filly, Open: Academic; Champion 3-year-old Male, BC Bred: Catz on Fire, Cederberg, Mighty Fraser; Champion 3-year-old Male, Open: Bluegrass Angus; Champion Older Filly/Mare, BC Bred & Open: Touching Promise; Champion Older Male, BC Bred: Brass and Gold; Champion Older Male, Open: Square Dancer; Champion Sprinter: Modern; BC Bred Horse of the Year: Touching Promise; Open Horse of the Year: Square Dancer.
DRF – Crist: Class of 2014 looking better all the time
Decoupling would end a requirement that racetracks with slot machines or card clubs offer live racing. Before this year it was limited to the Greyhound racing industry.
Bloodhorse – LaMarra – Decoupling Option Part of Tribal Compact
The Guardian – Wood – York declines to back BHA’s new policy over bookmaker sponsorship
If nobody said anything unless he knew what he was talking about, a ghastly hush would descend upon the earth.
Alan Herbert
Bloodhorse – Einstein to Magali Farms for 2016 Season
The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don’t do anything about it.
Albert Einstein
January 15 – 17 2016
Sheraton Red Deer
3310 – 50 Avenue
Red Deer, Alberta, T4N 3X9 Canada
Thoroughbred Racing Commentary – Johnson – How Jimmy Jerkens uncovered the key to Effinex
Highlights of Bill 6 – Enhanced Protection for Farm and Ranch Workers Act
For any further information or if you require help with training and compliance contact robin@eliteinjury.com
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Race schedule is designed to attract
more partner wagering |
Assiniboia Downs has announced a 2016 live race schedule that will see some changes over the past season. (You can download the calendar here.)
held (50), there has been an increase in
Sunday night racing to take advantage of the
fact that few tracks race Sunday night. There
will now be five Sunday nights of racing.
racing for the first time. Mother’s Day
brunch will still be held in addition to a buffet
during night racing.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday–will be 7:30 p.m. rather than 7 p.m. This should attract more
wagering as Downs races extend past races held at eastern tracks
Canada Day, August civic holiday and Labour Day.
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DO THE DOWNS
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Click for schedule
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Have you booked New Year’s Eve Gala yet?
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CLICK HERE TO ENLARGE
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BREAKFAST SANDWICH A WINNER: It’s not listed on the menu but it’s so delicious, players have been ordering the breakfast sandwich at the Downs anyway for $4. It’s egg, sausage and cheese on a toasted English muffin. The breakfast sandwich was given away free to early-morning arrivals in the Race Book on the U.S. Thanksgiving Thursday. Players loved it so much that food and bev manager Manley Chan said he will continue to offer it for breakfast or during lunch.
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Official stations of horse racing.
Click to listen |
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| NOVEMBER’S BETTER BETTOR TRACKS |
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Most profitable
thoroughbred tracks
Will Rogers
Evangeline
Fair Grounds
Harness
Fraser
Balmoral
Dover
Least profitable
thoroughbred tracks
Australia
Hawthorne
Penn National
Harness
Meadowlands
Northfield
Saratoga
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Jim Rome with Shared Belief
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “It’s a sport we have great passion for, but it’s a sport that’s filled with some of the highest of highs and lowest of lows.” — sports radio talk show host Jim Rome, reflecting sadly on the death of his extremely talented 4-year-old, Shared Belief, who died after emergency surgery after a bout of colic (gut rupture). The champion male at 2 had won 10 of 12 races and might have won the Triple Crown last year had he been sound in the spring. He had been training at Golden Gate Fields for a winter campaign.
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Former jockey Alyssa Selman with her dog, Gwen, on the deck of her house in Stephenfield, Manitoba, bought with the help of donors such as trainer Bob Baffert (top left, white hair) who was thanked in Tucson, Arizona, this week by ASD CEO Darren Dunn for having donated the halter of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. You may still buy a $45 necklace (top right)–designed especially to support Selman–at the VLT cage. What a great gift–not only to bring luck to the wearer but to bring good karma to the giver! (Much thanks to George Williams for the photo at Alyssa’s home.)
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ASD PLAYER IS GIVEN 80/1 CHANCE OF WINNING $800,000: An Oakbank businessman and horseplayer at the Downs, Bill Drew, has been assigned a relatively
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Bill Drew
Given a better chance than most. |
good chance of winning the $800,000 first prize in the $2 million National Handicapping Championship in Las Vegas at the end of January–80/1. If you’re in Vegas, you can actually bet on him–or others–at Treasure Island casino. Most players have odds of 175/1. No one is below 40/1. See the oddsmaker’s list containing Drew’s name here.
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Trevor Denman
Will only call Del Mar races |
SANTA BEGINS DEC. 26–WITHOUT DENMAN: Santa Anita won’t be the same when it opens its winter/spring meet on Boxing Day. Announcer Trevor Denman, 63, the popular “scraping the paint, moving like a winner” caller at Santa for 33 years, will be gone. He will still be calling races at Del Mar in the summer and fall but wants to spend more time travelling and at his farm in Minnesota. The new caller will alternate between Frank Mirahmadi, who resigned his announcing job at Oaklawn, and Michael Wrona who has been calling the races at Golden Gate Fields. Each will announce races at Golden Gate when they aren’t calling at Santa.
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Where are they now?
by Rob MacLennan
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Second in Winnipeg Futurity, Coolidge captures Arizona Futurity The Don Schnell barn celebrated a pair of wins last Saturday at Turf Paradise. Idling got the job done at 1/5 but more importantly, Coolidge, second in the Winnipeg Futurity, won the
$50,000 Arizona Breeders Futurity. Coolidge battled early in the race and kicked away to win by half a length over a California invader. His stablemate, Heber, who had beaten him in the Winnipeg Futurity, finished fourth. That made it back-to-back stakes wins for the son of El Mirage. He returned $6.40 to win. His previous victory came at Albuquerque in September when he won the $55,000 Manzano Stakes for 2-year-olds and paid $15.60. Heber finished fourth in that race, too. What’s next for this exciting prospect from the Arnason/Schnell team? I’m guessing the Lost in the Fog Juvenile on Boxing Day at 6 1/2f. Other Schnell charges keep chugging along. Aware found a very tough field sprinting and didn’t show her usual grit. Idling who had won at 1/5 was claimed by Joe Toye. Look for Valedictoryaddress on Saturday to try to take her field gate to wire.
Meanwhile, Jerry Gourneau continues to be busy at both Delta Downs and the Fair Grounds. Jerry has two horses entered this week at the Fair Grounds and even though they might be in tough spots we have all seen Jerry pull off upsets. Watch for Delta Firewater in Delta’s 8th race tomorrow.
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Master Fuzz B wins Wpg Sun Classic,
Sept. 30, 1990 with Frank Licata up. (Gerry Hart photo with thanks to Bob Gates) |
“Ivan: Referring to the horse with 96 starts (see story here), what about our own Master Fuzz B (1985 Ch colt, by Fuzzbuster 76 — Miss Anna B. 76 by Lurullah 57)? Between 1987 as a 2-year-old and 1994 at nine, Fuzz B. accumulated 96 starts, 11 wins, 26 seconds and 20 thirds. (Think he was a little lazy and thought second was a good enough day’s work.) He earned $90,338, no small sum in those days. He also got a first in the 1991 Inaugural Handicap, a second in the 1990 Free Press Handicap and a third in 1987 in the Edmonton Juvenile. He had a great year at eight (1993) with 15 starts, 3 wins, 4 seconds and 4 thirds. P.S. Fuzz B is still enjoying a happy retirement at 30 plus!” — Louise Townsend
HISTORY ON THE HOOF: The best of Bob |
NY Times – Asimov – A Top 10 Wine List So Good, It Takes 12 Bottles to Hold It
The Globe And Mail – Dixon – Art school at centre of redrawn Vancouver neighbourhood
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
Garden and Gun – Gwynne – Good Dog: Neighborhood Menace
The Bitter Southerner – Reynolds – Northbound Toward Home
Garden and Gun – Reed – The High & The Low: Stone-Ground Killer
NY Times – Mather – U.F.C. Says Holly Holm’s Next Fight Will Be Ronda Rousey Rematch
During the kind of a winter hush in thoroughbred racing Phil will be devoting less time to Holybull.ca and will not be posting comments as scrutinizing the spam and inappropriate comments will not be on Phil’s agenda.
Phil M Stockmen
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