Sal says that Saturday’s Saratoga dirt track should have been renamed the graveyard of stalkers as speed held up most of the day and when it didn’t it was the deep closers making late moves with the stalkers running in quick sand.
New rendering of the Century Mile Racetrack and Casino
Sal says that there are rumours flying around about Northlands Park staying in the racing game for another seven years, Enoch getting back into it and Sundre other rumours.
Sal says to take Hemingway’s advice and develop a built in Bullshit detector.
Perhaps these rumour mongers should show up at the meetings instead of spreading bullshit rumours and starting their own hidden splinter groups.
With Northlands Park handle and slot revenue plummeting faster and lower than Donald Trump’s approval rating why would any person in their right mind reward them with 7 year’s more racing. To see if they could get negative handle and negative slot revenue numbers.
With Northlands Park handle and slot revenue plummeting faster and lower than Donald Trump’s approval rating why would any person in their right mind believe a rumour that they were being rewarded with 7 year’s more racing.
Nobody at HBPA Alberta has broken a mirror lately so there’s no reason for 7 years bad luck.
Enoch will be racing 2 harness dates in 2017 September 16-17 while Century Downs is busy installing the rail and putting the thoroughbred surface on the track.
Lord, what fools these mortals be!
Shakespeare
Eckville Echo – Central Alberta entrepreneurs purchase Alberta Downs race track
ESPN – DRF – Grening – Tom’s d’Etat to miss rest of year with ankle injury
HASTINGS NEWS BY GREG DOUGLAS
ANOTHER DAZZLIN’ PERFORMANCE
AS DAZ LIN DAWN WINS STAKES #6
Vancouver, B.C. (August 25/17) – They are running out of words to describe 3-year-old filly Daz Lin Dawn at Hastings Racecourse. Trainer and part-owner Nancy Betts calls her “incredible”; co-owner Paul Caravetta refers to her as “sensational” and jockey Richard Hamel, who’s been working his trade for three decades, simply says: “She’s one of the best horses I’ve ever ridden”.
Daz Lin Dawn went chasing consecutive stakes victory number six Friday night and her four opponents wound up chasing her in the $50,000 CTHS Sales Stakes for three and four-year-old fillies.
“She keeps getting better and better and knows where to position herself,” Hamel told analyst Drew Forster in the winner’s circle. “She didn’t need me tonight; I kind of just went along for the ride.”
Daz Lin Dawn bided her time from the number 2 post and drew clear of leader C U At Eau Claire entering the stretch, winning the 1 1/16-mile test in a final time of 1:45.84.
Betts had said prior to the race that the CTHS Sales Stakes would likely be a prep for the $100,000 BC Oaks on Derby/Oaks Day at Hastings on Saturday, Sept. 9. She was quick to confirm those plans in the winner’s circle Friday.
With this year’s CTHS (BC Division) Yearling & Mixed Sale set for Thunderbird Show Park in Langley on Sept. 11, Daz Lin Dawn is a walking advertisement, having been purchased in the 2015 CTHS Sale for $15,000 and now boasting career earnings of $225,650.
“Incredible”? “Sensational”? Take your pick. They both fit.
Lord Vancouver, like Daz Lin Dawn, was favoured to win the $50,000 co-feature of the CTHS showcase Friday and didn’t disappoint his supporters. With Enrique Gonzalez taking the ride for owner/trainer Phil Hall, Lord Vancouver took the lead at the top of the stretch and finished the 1 1/16-miles in a final time of 1:45.45 for three and four-year-old colts & geldings.
Hall was justifiably elated with the win after pointing out that Lord Vancouver had lost the 2016 version of the same race by a nose to owner Robert Scott’s Stanz in Command, who finished sixth Friday. “I was pretty confident when he took the lead turning for home,” said Hall, leading trainer this year at Hastings. “He loves to compete and looked good tonight.”
Live racing resumes at Hastings Racecourse Monday at 5:00 p.m. and with the annual Fair at the PNE dark on Mondays, racing patrons can enjoy the luxury of free parking.
Sal says that the other co-owner is Dennis Dale.
Quello è per i nove:
This above all: to thine ownself be true.
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.
Shakespeare
Sal says that if you would like a picture, video or any other info for your yearling in the upcoming Alberta and British Columbia Sales posted on Holybull.ca please send info to hs@holybull.ca.
Sal’s Early 2017 CTHS Alberta Sales Preview
2017 CTHS Alberta Thoroughbred Sale Catalogue
TDN – Martini – Barretts Yearling Sale Tuesday
Bloodhorse – Wincze Hughes – West Coast is Best in Travers Stakes
ESPN – AP – West Coast invades Saratoga to win Travers Stakes
TDN – Flatter Colt Goes Coast to Coast in Travers
This is Horse Racing – Sean Clancy – Go West
Brisnet – Scully – West Coast seizes initiative at start, leads wire to wire in Travers
I’ve been accused of vulgarity. I say that’s bullshit.
Mel Brooks
TDN – West Coast Plans Up in the Air
Brisnet – Reilly – West Coast reinforces recent Travers trends
Brisnet – Genaro – Ruthless one of several fillies to dominate in Travers’ early years
TDN – Thornton – Travers Undercard Eclipses Main Event
Bloodhorse – Novak – Drefong Crushes Forego Competition
TDN – It’s All Gio Ponti’s Drefong in the Forego
Sal says that none of these bridges was designed nor built by Gio Ponti.
Auto Blog – Dalidd – Italian designers envision amazing Solar Wind bridge
Horse Race Insider – Pricci – Saratoga Diary: Live on Travers Day
Paulick Report – Travers Day Handle Second Highest All-Time
Reminds Sal of the old joke:
New York, New York. What did I say wrong.
Put the state before the city.
Not only did Mayweather set himself up for a handsome paycheck expected to exceed $200 million, but he also ended a career as a defensive master with a performance that was decidedly offensive. This was Mayweather exorcising the demons of his previous megafight, against Manny Pacquiao two years ago, which proved to be dull to its broad, mainstream audience.
NY Times – Floyd Mayweather Jr. Beats Conor McGregor With a 10th-Round TKO
NY Times – Barry – Fleece of the Century
Father Time will always be undefeated, but Floyd Mayweather, who closed out his legendary career on his own terms Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena, came about as close as any fighter can come to beating him.
…
Mayweather is still a fantastic athlete and was in great condition, but he is no exception to the rule. Everybody gets old. He was, however, smart enough to realize it, electing to retire from the sport rather than the sport retiring him, which is what happens to most great fighters.
“This is my last fight, ladies and gentleman. For sure, this is my last fight,” he said after the victory that gave him a beautiful 50-0 record to walk away with.
ESPN – Rafael – Healthy, wealthy and wise, Mayweather strolls into retirement
ESPN – Purdum – Floyd Mayweather: I attempted to bet on myself but was denied
ESPN – Purdum – Las Vegas sportsbooks breathe sighs of relief with Floyd Mayweather win
Esquire – Jake LaMotta: What I’ve Learned
Bloodhorse – Wincze Hughes – Practical Joke Too Good in H. Allen Jerkens
TDN – Into Mischief’s Practical Joke Comes Through for Popular Jerkens Score
Sal says that it’s time that we in Canada and the world stopped trying to right past wrongs and started to prevent future wrongs. Get over it and move on.
“I have so much confidence in her. You never really know until they cross the wire, but when she tipped out I know how devastating her turn-of-foot is, and I felt confident she would get it done. She really is a horse of a lifetime. Everything she’s overcome. Just her natural abilities are remarkable, and she’s just a rare, rare horse.”
…
“I got a perfect trip,” Ortiz said. “I saved ground on the first turn and then split some horses and when I dug in, I asked her and she was there for me.
…
Saturday’s race was the beginning of the end of the mare’s time on the track as her owners announced that she will be offered at the Keeneland November breeding stock sale after one more Breeders’ Cup run. Winner of the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T), she was second by a nose to Queen’s Trust in the 2016 Breeders’ Cup FIlly & Mare Turf (G1T).
Bloodhorse – Shea – Lady Eli Surges to Victory in Ballston Spa
TDN – Lady Eli Makes it Three Straight in Ballston Spa
Brisnet – Lady Eli lands Ballston Spa in Saratoga finale
Sal says that Sal would like to know what Ortiz was on if he thought he got a perfect trip.He gets the horse stuck in traffic in a 5 horse field and only her superior talents got her through.
Reminds Sal of a recent obituary:
A long time well respected horse player heads off to the great racetrack in the sky.
The lawyer handling the estate gathers Mike Smith, Robby Albarado, Kent Desormeaux, Gary Stevens, Corey Nakatani and Irad Ortiz Jr. He advises them that the horse player’s last wish was that they would be his pallbearers.
Mike Smith speaking for the group replies that they would be honoured to be his pallbearers and asks why they were chosen.
The lawyer replies: “The horse player said he wanted you guys so you could let him down for the last time.”
TDN – Bill Finley – Op/Ed: On Absolute Insurer Rule, Judge Got It Right
Boston Globe – Yang – Here’s how Brad Stevens responded to ‘why did you trade Isaiah Thomas?’
Paulick Report – Moss, Porter To Be Honored By National Turf Writers And Broadcasters
Brisnet – Teilly – No Joy for Euros in Sword Dancer as Sadler’s gets Money
TDN – Kitten’s Joy’s Colt Gets His Grade I in Sword Dancer
Bloodhorse – Angst – No Denying By the Moon in This Year’s Ballerina
TDN – By The Moon Tiptoes on Front End to Ballerina Victory
TDN – Forever Unbridled Cages Songbird in the Personal Ensign
TDN – DeBernardis – Paradise Woods Returns in Torrey Pines
TDN – Medaglia d’Oro Filly ‘Super’ on Debut, Named ‘TDN Rising Star’
Brisnet – Reilly – Battle of Midway a poignant winner of Shared Belief
Bloodhorse – Balan – Battle of Midway Cruises to Shared Belief Stakes Win
Bloodhorse – Balan – Giant Expectations Hits Best Stride Late in Pat O’Brien
TDN – Frost Giant Colt Makes the Grade, Stamps BC Ticket in Pat O’Brien
Paulick Report – CHRB: Jockey Suspension Proposal Advanced, Seven-Day Corticosteroid Rule Proposed
TDN – Wilsons ‘Count’ Down to Breeders’ Cup
ESPN – DRF – Gierkink – Ami’s Mesa draws off to win Seaway Stakes
ESPN – DRF – Russo – Just Call Kenny rolls to first graded win in Iselin Stakes
TDN – Bossinakis – Del Mar Outlines Fall Meet Schedule
TDN – Kitten’s Joy’s Liquid Amber Dominates the Flame of Tara
TDN – Power Broker Colt Runs to His Name, Earns Rising Stardom at Monmouth
Sal says that his fly in the ointment on the wall says that this is what happened at the HBPA Alberta AGM Thursday August 24, 2017.
Geoff Smith and Paul Ryneveld from Century Casinos and Century Downs spoke to the meeting about the construction of the Century Mile and the fall 2017 thoroughbred meet at Century Downs.
Construction on the Century Mile is proceeding. Black dirt has been stripped. Track is being staked and will be graded and base set shortly. Ponds are being dug and the pads for barn and casino / grandstand building are being built. Updates to the building plans will be posted in next couple of weeks. From the new rendering on Century Mile Sal says to expect nothing like the current building at Balzac.
Building steel should be erected in late 2017 and closed in shortly thereafter.
Fall of 2018 opening for casino and track.
Sal also says to expect a major expansion to the Century Downs building in the next few few years as they’ve outgrown their slot capacity and will add more family friendly areas for horse racing fans.
700 stall applications for Century Downs fall meet. Sal said that for everybody supposedly not going down suddenly the horse population is 700.
Tim Lawson will be contacting trainers in next few days to advise of stall allocation.
Portables pens will be provided for ponies. Portable tack sheds will be provided. Shavings are provided by Century at a $50.00 per month fee per stall. Horse trailer parking will be provided.
40 ship in stalls.
Equipment for moving round bails will be provided. First training day will probably be September 20 or sooner if surface is down. Surface is on track in the chutes. Training times will be posted.
Move in day September 17, 2017.
Ron Grieves had a couple of horse down to test the surface in a small area. Sal says that after so many years of being fed BS by Northlands it’s a distinct pleasure to hear the Century people speak about track surface, rails, barns and harrows with actual knowledge of what they are talking about. Surface installation will be supervised by Steve Wood and Ron Grift
The starter will be a retired starter from Hastings Park.
Calendars with all the special event days will be out shortly.
President’s Report.
Purses are up about 15% and should be maintained for the year.
Slots and handle are down at Northlands. From comments from members that is not a surprise.
Slot revenues and number of slot are up at Century Downs. Even with the reduction from 51% to 45 the Century slots will be close to same in 2017 as 2016. With Northlands there’s the triple whammy handle down, slot revenue down and the slot revenue reduction.
Wintering bonus will be about $120k in 2017 and will be in place for 2017.
WCB Get your application in for the $5.00 per start rebate. Require a letter from WCB stating your account is in good standing.
2018 schedule should be similar to 2017. Negotiations proceeding for extension of season at Northlands Park past June 30, 2018.
2018 Century schedule still being negotiated.
Olds College groom school has had funding cut. HBPA Alberta is providing some funding but other sponsorships are welcome.
$65,000 paid out for benevolence so far in 2017.
Other Reports and questions
HBPA Alberta office moved to Northlands Park.
HBPA will be horsemen’s bookkeeper at Century Downs and a Century Mile.
Website is being upgraded and HBPA Alberta has a Facebook Page.
Elections are in 2018 and there will be a number of vacancies to replace.
Northlands Park has had problems with their camera crew in 2017. That’s why some of the objections don’t show all the angles cuz sometimes the cameras checking the action at Coliseum Steak and Pizza not the track.
Racing Club.
140 enthusiastic members.
Bad racing luck 3 year old was injured and out for year. 2 year olds have yet to start and only older mare is running but has not won yet.
Sal says thanks to all board members , trainers and members who put in money, time and effort on the Racing club.
Any immigration issues please talk to Teresa Sealy.
Ice Machine will be moving to Calgary, looking for volunteer to take them down.
Sal says that there was no presentation from ATOBA.
Sal says that sources say that the sandwiches and cookies were not up to snuff this year.
Hawthorne Sal
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