It was veteran Jockey day for the last five races at Santa Anita Park on Boxing Day with Mike Smith winning the 5th and the La Brea, Gary Steven winning the Mathis Brothers and the Malibu and Kent Desormeaux closing the day wiring the field in the nightcap.
Kent Desormeaux also got a touch of redemption when Perfectly Majestic finished second to the odds on favourite Om in the Mathis Brothers and Mr. Brightside did a slow fade to 6th.
DRF – Dybal – Baze rides four winners, including Allaboutaction, on opening day
The Ennead garners that Phil’s not a country and western fan, but Phil heard a song after someone put a dime in the jukebox that astonished Phil: If You’re Going Through Hell Keep Going.
When Phil checked the song on the World Wide Web Phil was impressed that Rodney Atkins was driving an International Scout in the video but a tad dismayed that he wasn’t keeping his International Scout in better running condition.
The phrase if you’re going through hell keep going was written by Sir Winston Churchill and Phil was astonished that there had been no copyright infringement litigation.
But what most astonished Phil was that some country and western guy had actually read or heard of Sir Winston Churchill and this phrase.
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
Bloodhorse – Sunland Snowed Out After Good Start
TDN – Willoughby – Analysis of Godolphin Restructuring
Racing Post – Porteous – Ferguson to quit training at the end of April
TDN – Ferguson To Focus On Godolphin
Bloodhorse – Mitchell – Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin, Darley to Merge
Phil’s Vignette of Canadian History:
Paul Denton – What Is the history of boxing day?
Ali always said I would be nothing without him. But what would he have been without me?
Joe Frazier
Horse Race Insider – Pricci – There’s No School Like the Old School
Racing Post – Racing vulnerable after C4 secures F1 rights
TDN – Conway Finds Lasix-Free Races Regulation Unconstitutional
DRF – Grening – Emergency rule would raise New York workers’ comp rates dramatically
A nickel ain’t worth a dime anymore.
Yogi Berra
Carryovers
Sunday, December 27, 2015
Fair Grounds
Pick 5 Jackpot $6,310.00
Super High Five $1,288.00
Golden Gate Fields
Pick 6 Jackpot $2,413.00
Gulfstream Park
Pick 6 Jackpot $20,733.00
Hialeah Park
Pick 6 Jackpot $344.00
Laurel Park
Pick 6 Jackpot $105,345.00
Pick 5 $5,133.00
Super High Five $1,894.00
Santa Anita Park
Super High Five $35,067.00
Sunland Park
Pick 6 Jackpot $1,023.00
Turf Paradise
Pick 6 $1,095.00
Pick 6 $1,095.00
Turfway Park
Super High Five $7,666.00
Tuesday, December 29, 2015
Hawthorne
Super High Five Jackpot $294,219.00
Pick 6 Jackpot $8,176.00
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
Delta Downs
Super High Five $1,286.00
Guaranteed Pools
Equibase Carryovers and Guaranteed Pools
DRF – Grening – $100,000 races for juveniles offered in spring
Thoroughbred Racing Commentary – Sexton – The world’s 10 most expensive stallions for 2016
TDN – Finley – Velazquez Headed to Australia to Ride, Promote Animal Kingdom
THE Arima Kinen lived up to its billing as the world’s biggest betting race as single-race turnover just above ¥41 billion yen (about £229 million) was recorded for Japan’s end-of-season grand prix at Nakayama.
Racing Post – Godfrey – Gold Actor lands Arima Kinen as Ship sets sail
TwinSpires Blog – Reilly – Gold Ship favored to go out in style in Arima Kinen
Twinspires Blog – Reilly – Glory takes on the establishment in Robert J. Frankel
Upcoming Stakes
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
Gulfstream Park
Windley Key stake $75,000 3&up Fillies & Mares 5f Turf
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 3&up Fillies & Mares State/Prov 6f Dirt
Oregon Fall Starter handicap $7,500 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
Santa Anita Park
Blue Norther Stake (Listed) $75,000 2yo Fillies 8f Turf
Robert J. Frankel Stake GIII $100,000 3&up Fillies & Mares 9f Turf
Dec 30
Santa Anita Park
Kalookan Queen Stake (Listed) $75,000 3&up Fillies & Mares 6.5f Dirt
Dec 31
Aqueduct
Alex M. Robb stake $100,000 3&up State/Prov 8.5f Dirt
Fair Grounds
Louisiana Futurity $100,000 2yo Colts & Geldings State/Prov 6f Dirt
Louisiana Futurity $100,000 2yo Fillies State/Prov 6f Dirt
Santa Anita Park
Eddie Logan Stake (Listed) $75,000 2yo 8f Turf
Jan 1
Aqueduct
Lost in the Fog stake $125,000 3yo 6f Dirt
Jan 2
Aqueduct
Jerome Stake GIII $200,000 3yo 8.32f Dirt
Fair Grounds
Bonapaw stake $60,000 4&up abt 5.5f Turf
Gulfstream Park
Dania Beach Stake GIII $100,000 3yo 7.5f Turf
Ginger Brew Stake (Listed) $100,000 3yo Fillies 7.5f Turf
Hutcheson Stake GIII $100,000 3yo 6f Dirt
Mucho Macho Man Stake (Listed) $100,000 3yo 8f Dirt
Old Hat Stake GIII $100,000 3yo Fillies 6f Dirt
Laurel Park
Native Dancer stake $75,000 4&up 8.5f Dirt
Nellie Morse stake $75,000 4&up Fillies & Mares 8.5f Dirt
What a Summer stake $75,000 4&up Fillies & Mares 6f Dirt
Santa Anita Park
Midnight Lute Stake GIII $100,000 4&up 6.5f Dirt
San Gabriel Stake GII $200,000 4&up 9f Turf
Santa Ynez Stake GII $200,000 3yo Fillies 6.5f Dirt
Sunland Park
Bold Ego handicap $65,000 4&up Fillies & Mares 5.5f Dirt
Turfway Park
Wintergreen stake $50,000 4&up Fillies & Mares 8f AW
Jan 3
Santa Anita Park
Monrovia Stake GII $200,000 4&up Fillies & Mares abt 6.5f Turf
Jan 5
Portland Meadows
Crater Lake handicap $9,000 4&up 8f Dirt
Crescent Lake handicap $9,000 4&up Fillies & Mares 8f Dirt
East Lake handicap $9,000 3yo 8f Dirt
Mary Goldblatt Starter handicap $9,000 3&up Fillies & Mares 6f Dirt
McFadden Starter handicap $9,000 3&up 8f Dirt
Jan 8
Delta Downs
By the Light $75,000 3yo Fillies 7f Dirt
Jan 9
Aqueduct
Interborough Stake (Listed) $100,000 4&up Fillies & Mares 6f Dirt
Delta Downs
Big Drama $75,000 3yo 7f Dirt
Gulfstream Park
Fort Lauderdale Stake GII $200,000 4&up 8.5f Turf
Hal’s Hope Stake GIII $150,000 4&up 8f Dirt
Marshua’s River Stake GIII $150,000 4&up Fillies & Mares 8.5f Turf
Santa Anita Park
San Pasqual Stake GII $200,000 4&up 8.5f Dirt
Sham Stake GIII $100,000 3yo 8f Dirt
Tampa Bay Downs
Turf Dash (Listed) $100,000 4&up 5f Turf
January 10
Aqueduct
Ladies Handicap (Listed) $100,000 4&up Fillies & Mares 8.32f Dirt
Sunland Park
Pepsi Cola stake $85,000 3yo State/Prov 6f Dirt
Bloodhorse – Hammonds – Om an Easy Winner of Mathis Brothers Mile
LA Times – Sondheimer – Jockey Flavien Prat prepares to return as Santa Anita meeting begins
Bloodhorse – No ‘Surprise’ in New York Stallion Stakes
Bloodhorse – State-Breds Get Spotlight in LA 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
Jerome Aqueduct Jan 2, 2016 10-4-2-1
Sham Santa Anita Park Jan 9, 2016 10-4-2-1
Lecomte Fair Grounds 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 Jan 30, 2016 10-4-2-1
Robert B. Lewis Santa Anita Park Feb 6, 2016 10-4-2-1
El Camino Real Derby Golden Gate Fields Feb 13, 2016 10-4-2-1
Southwest Oaklawn Park Feb 15, 2016 10-4-2-1
Risen Star Fair Grounds Feb 20, 2016 50-20-10-5
Fountain of Youth Gulfstream Park Feb 27, 2016 50-20-10-5
Gotham Aqueduct Mar 5, 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
Louisiana Derby Fair Grounds Mar 26, 2016 100-40-20-10
Florida Derby Gulfstream Park 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 – Nyquist, Songbird Prepping for 2016 Debuts
TwinSpires Blog – Reilly – Nyquist, Songbird post works as connections map out plans
Bloodhorse – Lewyn – Ravenheart Tough in MD Juvenile Futurity Win
Bloodhorse – FL Derby Preps Anchor Jan. 2 Gulfstream Card
TDN – Twirling Candy Colt Goes Gate-To-Wire in Arcadia
TDN – Uncle Mo Colt Gets the Job Done at Gulfstream
TDN – Trappe Shot Filly Impresses in Arcadia
Racing Post – Animal Kingdom sibling makes winning debut
2016 Road to the Kentucky Oaks
Race Track Date Points
Santa Ynez Santa Anita Park Jan 2, 2016 10-4-2-1
Silverbulletday Fair Grounds Jan 16, 2016 10-4-2-1
Busanda Aqueduct 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
Rachel Alexandra Fair Grounds Feb 20, 2016 50-20-10-5
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
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
Fair Grounds Oaks Fair Grounds Mar 26, 2016 100-40-20-10
Bourbonette Oaks Turfway Park Apr 2, 2016 50-20-10-5
Gulfstream Park Oaks Gulfstream Park 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
TDN – Belvoir Bay Super Impressive in Blue Norther
Bloodhorse – McCoy – Father and Son a Force at Tampa Bay
Swift Thoroughbreds and Bradley Thoroughbreds Goldy Espony dictated the pace throughout the 1 1/2-mile La Prevoyante Stakes GIIT and rolled to her fourth stakes win of the year and third in a U.S. graded event Saturday December 26 at Gulfstream Park.
Bloodhorse – Lewyn – Goldy Espony Rolls in La Prevoyante
From the Derby Bar and Grill Newsletter
RAILBIRD NOTES
BY GLEN TODD
We hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and wishing you all a Happy New Year and many trips to the winner’s circle and cashier window.
With 2016 only a few days away the racing associations are still very busy working on the 2016 Stakes Schedule as well many other items that pertain to the 2016 live season at Hastings Racecourse.
Look for a new purse schedule to be announced shortly with the talk of all bottoms races being raised to $11,000.00.
Hastings Racecourse have been in talks with the City Vancouver on a new lease. Its hoped they are successful by opening day.
Stall applications for Hastings are available on line on the Hastings Website at http://www.hastingsracecourse.com/racing-office-for-horsemen/
Hastings Two Year Olds in Training and Horses of Racing Age Sale to be held on Saturday, March 26th in the Paddock area. Registration documents will soon be available on line. Mike Heads of BCTOBA has been appointed Sale Manager
Hastings Racing Club II is well under way and .Richard Yates states it is nearly half sold already. Racing Club II has already acquired one horse and likely will purchase a second horse in the Hastings Paddock Sale.
HASTINGS NEWS BY GREG DOUGLAS
ESPN – Finley – Refusing to lose
Bloodhorse – Healthy Prat Returns to Winner’s Circle
Bloodhorse – Angst – Birdatthewire Prevails in La Brea
TwinSpires Blog – Scully – Birdatthewire gets up late in La Brea
Lady and the Track – Hammer – Birdatthewire Wins La Brea Stakes in Dramatic Fashion
Bloodhorse – Balan – California Chrome Drills in Company at Los Al
TwinSpires Blog – Reilly – California Chrome drills in company; blinkers off for San Pasqual
Bloodhorse – Precious – NY Video-Streaming Approved for Another Year
TwinSpires Blog – Kitten stares down ‘gun in McKnight; Goldy locks up another in La Prevoyante
Bloodhorse – Hammonds – Charming Kitten Game in McKnight Score
HBPA Alberta – MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT DR. STEVE SMITH
Bloodhorse – New Mexico Racing Commission Seeks New Leader
January 15 – 17 2016
Sheraton Red Deer
3310 – 50 Avenue
Red Deer, Alberta, T4N 3X9 Canada
TDN – Punchestown Set For Facelift
LA Times – Gold – El Niño isn’t a drought buster — it’s a missed opportunity
Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfils the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things.
Winston Churchill
Bloodhorse – Bellamy Road to New York for 2016
Bloodhorse – Golden Gate Reports Increased Handle in 2015
DRF – Dunleavy – Always Sunshine comes from off the pace to win Dave’s Friend
DRF – Dunleavy – Athena enters Barbara Fritchie picture by winning Thirty Eight Go Go
| NOTE: This is your TWO WEEK Insider. The next issue is Jan. 7. |
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$12 turkey dinner
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• Pick up your DRF and racing programs for Boxing Day
to share in $850 in prize money (Go to the VLT cage)
the Wheel for Christmas cash!
potatoes, gravy, veggies, cranberry sauce, dinner roll and butter)
taxes/gratuities = $20.15)
Bullet briefs . . .
| BEGINS ON BOXING DAY AT SANTA |
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DENMAN WANNABES: Former Oaklawn announcer (and hilarious imitator) Frank Mirahmadi (left) will call Santa Anita’s races from Dec. 26 to Jan. 3 and alternate with Golden Gate’s Michael Wrona (middle) who will call Santa’s races from Jan. 7 to 24. Meanwhile, the track is conducting a “worldwide search.”
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Trevor Denman
Will only call at Del Mar |
How do you replace a racing legend? That’s the task facing Santa Anita following Trevor Denman’s sudden announcement that he will no longer call the races at Santa Anita so he can spend more time at his Minnesota ranch and travel. He will only call races at Del Mar.
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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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stations, dancing and light show by NuFrequency, door prizes, party favours and a chance
to win $1,000, all hosted by FAB 94.3’s Alix Michaels. Tickets $49.95. Phone 204-885-3330.
chicken, beef bourgignon, lemon-baked basa, various salads, chef’s cake and dainties
and more — all for just $15.75 ($20.15 including taxes and gratuity). Tickets available at the
VLT cage.
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A touch of the tropics each Thursday
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THURSDAY BUFFETS TO FEATURE A TROPICAL TOUCH: You already are enjoying the best prime rib money can buy (certified Angus) and pasta station at Thursday prime rib buffets. For January, add a touch of the tropics — dishes with a tropical flair to warm up your January experience. (Example: Pineapple chicken.) No one will mind if you get into the mood by wearing shorts and a Hawaiian shirt. All you can eat, as usual, for $26.95. Jan. 7, 14, 21, 28. Book your tropical flight of fancy now at 204-885-3330.
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Official stations of horse racing.
Click to listen |
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Woodbine’s new
Tapeta track |
GOOD WEATHER AIDS TRACK-SWITCH: With temperatures in the double digits, Woodbine is able to move quickly in removing Polytrack and installing Tapeta, a different synthetic mix. The Toronto track has become the only track to buck the trend of returning to dirt after experimenting with a synthetic surface. CEO Jim Lawson sees it as the “next generation of racing surfaces.” Woodbine wants to have an all-weather surface that will withstand early spring and late fall rain. It will be particularly interesting to see how Polytrack horses perform on Tapeta. Every synthetic surface is different.
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Where are they now?
by Rob MacLennan
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Winnipeg Futurity winner to race on Boxing Day at Turf Paradise
Watch for Don Schnell’s Heber in the Lost in the Fog juvenile stakes, the eighth race at Turf Paradise Saturday. It’s a tough wide-open field and the Winnipeg Futurilty winner has been assigned a morning line of 15/1. Also in the field, at 5/1, is Ready Intaglio who made a couple starts at ASD for trainer Eurico Martens. Also at the desert track, Jared Brown had a nice win with Believe Too running in the colours of Tom Payne. The recently-claimed gelding upset a first level allowance field and just hung on to get the victory. He paid $17.80 to win. Brown also notched on-the-board finishes with Two Bucks to Win, Destiny Knocks and Kathy’s Lil Secret. This weekend, look for Jack No, Scene Queen and Tom Kha.
At Fair Grounds, Jerry Gourneau’s talented gelding Witt Six missed the board but ran a very creditable race against a top-notch field including 2014 Preakness runner-up Ride on Curlin. At Delta Downs Gourneau had more luck recently with a pair of third-place finishes.
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Q: How do I check the Pool Totals to see if there are any good betting opportunities–such as “bridgejumper” races where there’s an inordinate amount of money in the show pool?
A: Select the POOL TOTALS tab to the right of the RACE ENTRIES tab directly above the list of horses here (outlined in red). Now you can see all money in Win, Place and Show pools and percentage of the pool each represents. If you scroll down further on the Pool Totals page, you’ll also have access to all of the Exotic Pool Totals for that race. Purpose: You can see how much money was bet on a pick-4 or superfecta you played.
BONUS TIP – If you haven’t taken the multimedia tour of the new HPIbet system, you can access it anytime in the text links at the bottom of every page. Under the SUPPORT menu, just select the Take The Tour option. See illustration here.
Send your questions for Marshall to theinsider@ASDowns.com
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HISTORY ON THE HOOF: The best of Bob |
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LA Times – Sondheimer – Gary Stevens rides Runhappy to victory on opening day at Santa Anita
Lady and the Track – Hammer – Runhappy Takes Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita With Ease
DRF – Andersen – Runhappy wins fourth straight stakes in Malibu
Bloodhorse – Balan – Runhappy Untouchable in Malibu Victory
TwinSpires Blog – Scully – Runhappy dominates Malibu
Bloodhorse – Balan – Toowindytohaulrox Springs 21-1 Daytona Upset
Bloodhorse – Angst – Best Behavior Tops Stonetastic in Sugar Swirl
DRF – Hersh – Bullards Alley charges late to win Woodchopper
DRF – Hersh – Fila Primera handles mud in Pago Hop
Bloodhorse – Balan – Gender Agenda Makes the Grade in Frankel
DRF – Privman – Year in review: American Pharoah becomes the one
TwinSpires Blog – Reilly – It’s all Green Gratto in Gravesend
DRF – Hammersly – Arizona Moon adapts to surface switch in Lost in the Fog
ESPN – Documentary links Peyton Manning, other pro athletes to use of PEDs
NY Times – Nocera – Jerry Tarkanian and Walter Byers: Adversaries Who Left Mark on N.C.A.A.
The Globe And Mail – Why do we celebrate religious holidays – without religion?
NY Times – Things That Annoy in the Season of Joy
NY Times – Nancheria – Selflessness Isn’t Seasonal
NY Times – Mathis – The Painful Charade of Office Secret Santas
NY Times – Khan – The Phenomenon of Tiptoeing through Holiday Political Correctness
NY Times – Garfield – It’s Tough Waging the War on Christmas
The Globe and Mail – The Globe and Mail’s 2015 Canadian artists of the year
National Post – Charles Krauthammer: This column may be good for you, or it may be all in your head
LA Times – Tanfani – Trump left his mark on Atlantic City — for better and for worse
National Post – Jen Gerson: The problem with the new Star Wars film (no spoilers)
NY Times – South Carolina Faces the High Cost of Curating History’s Dustbin
Kin Hubbard
The Globe and Mail – Southey – The eight other reindeer would like to address a few rumours
NY Times – Mather – The Usual (and Not-So-Usual Suspects) in Sports for 2016
The Globe and Mail – Prevost – A new pitch for Fenway neighbourhood
Albert Einstein
Phil M Stockmen
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