Phil is sick and tired of all the recent sentimental nostalgic babble in the thoroughbred racing publications about the good old days of racing that exist only in the minds of those reminiscing about things that never really happened. As the eminently wise and distinguished philosopher, Marilyn Manson, said: “Times have not become more violent. They have just become more televised.” As for the thoroughbred industry: thoroughbred racing has not become more corrupt, the corruption is just more publicized.
Harness racing was in its Golden Era when Dan came along and a superstar could routinely draw triple the attendance at a professional baseball game. And that meant money — and lots of it. The sport was rife with punters and sleazy types who made a profession of cheating the odds any way they could, including drugging horses with alcohol and cocaine.
The Vault Horse Racing – DAN PATCH: WADING INTO THE ENIGMA
Going way back to the early 20th century the jiggies were more masters of chemistry than horsemanship and they just keep at it.
Bloodhorse – Downey – Government Claims Harness PED Case Involves 30 Tracks
Paulick Report – Goreé: Arizona Horse Tracks Are ‘A Killing Field’ And It Has To Stop
Publicity is justly commended as a remedy for social and industrial diseases. Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants; electric light the most efficient policeman.
Louis D. Brandeis
The only time there wasn’t any cheating in the horse racing industry was when there was no horse racing industry. Unfortunately for the horse racing industry the sunshine and electric light have so illuminated the many regulatory problems in the industry that horse racing could again return to the days of no cheating in no horse racing unless major changes are made and made quickly.
If one more person tells me this is just like old times, I swear I’ll jump out the window.
Buster Keaton
The next time Phil hears some person reminiscing about the good old days of thoroughbred racing that were so much more honest than today Phil unlike Buster won’t jump out the window but Phil will throw the nostalgializer out the window.
Nostalgia is inevitably a yearning for a past that never existed…
John Green
Have you noticed that the American Rednecks scream their fucking lungs out about their First Amendment Rights when someone questions QAnon or the responsible media outlets kick demented Donald off, but somehow forget about the First Amendment when they get around to banning and burning books and rewriting what they want to believe is American history. Are those book burning and banning Rednecks afraid that one of their children might read one of those books and develop a thought. Instead of burning and banning books the Rednecks of this world or at least the minority of the Rednecks that are literate need to read a couple of classics: A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens and You Can’t Go Home Again by Thomas Wolfe.
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to heaven, we were all going direct the other way–in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.
Charles Dickens – a Tale of Two Cities
The whole conviction of my life now rests upon the belief that loneliness, far from being a rare and curious phenomenon, is the central and inevitable fact of human existence.
If holybull.ca offers a Kentucky Derby Contest this year Phil will consider Wolfe and / or Dickens for a book prize. Or maybe Phil will call on one of Holy’s long lost cousins – The Ox. Or not. Phil won’t be making a list nor will he be checking it twice.
‘Remember when’ is the lowest form of conversation.
Tony Soprano
Phil’s going to opine that Tony wasn’t dismissing the past offhand. Phil opines that Tony like Phil was sick and tired of those that keep sentimentalizing and sanitizing the past. If you don’t believe Phil ask Jennifer, but she might hide behind doctor patient confidentiality.
If Sal calls Phil and tells Phil that Phil can’t rant anymore rather than accede to Sal’s request Phil will request that Sal perform an anatomically difficult act.
The Ringer – Gray – How ‘Euphoria’ Turned the Teen Drama Soundtrack Into a Perfect Fever Dream
TDN – Corey Johnson – The Day Chick Lang and Cab Calloway Integrated the Turf Club at Hialeah
There are worse crimes than burning books. One of them is not reading them.
Ray Bradbury
March 5 2022 3 year Old Stakes
Fountain of Youth GII 1 1/16 Miles
Davona Dale GII 1 Mile
Gotham Stake GIII 1 mile
Busher Invitational 1 Mile
Battaglia Memorial 1 1/16 Miles AW
Cincinnati Trophy 1 Mile AW
San Felipe Stake GIII 1 1/16 Miles
Phil has a question:
With CDI boycotting Baffert and Baffert returning the favour could a horse get into the 2022 Kentucky Derby with a single digit point total.
March 6 2022 3 year old Stakes
Santa Ysabel S GIII 1 1/16 Miles
In every age ‘the good old days’ were a myth. No one ever thought they were good at the time. For every age has consisted of crises that seemed intolerable to the people who lived through them.
Brooks Atkinson.
Bloodhorse – 2022 Triple Crown Nominations
Saturday, May 7, 2022
Bloodhorse – Champion Echo Zulu Tops 103 Kentucky Oaks Nominations
Friday, May 6, 2022
TDN – Bill Finley – TDN Kentucky Oaks Top 10 for Feb. 24
The Beginning Is the End Is the Beginning
TDN – Derby Top 12 For March 1
Bloodhorse – King – The Fountain of Youth a Showcase of Derby Dozen Talent
Horse Racing Nation -Kentucky Derby 2022 Contenders
Racing Dudes – 2022 Kentucky Derby
Horse Racing Nation – Greer – How Baffert’s Kentucky Derby dispute affects the leaderboard
Horse Racing Nation – Ryan – Baffert’s Derby owners: No word on when horses may be moved
Phil has a question:
Is the question when or if.
“Medina is a horse that I will forever cherish. I don’t mean to sound sentimental but I get emotional every time I watch the race–I had to stop watching the race. We came into the [Derby] not expecting a whole lot, we were 12/1. I still have a text message from Bob saying ‘there’s speed down the outside, we have a chance.’ And we won.”
…
Zedan’s loyalty to Baffert is clear. He opened the press conference by declaring him to be “the best trainer in the world in my view” and he added, “I believe in due process and I believe that there is an unjust and uncalled-for witch hunt on Bob Baffert.
“Where we are right now is that we are going through the full due process. We have filed for a stay, we have filed for an appeal in front of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, and I have the highest respect for all and I understand, and I believe that once our case is objectively considered we will prevail.”
TDN – Emma Berry – In Saudi With Country Grammer, Zedan Discusses Medina Spirit
TDN – Sue Finley – Zedan Offers Passionate Defense of Baffert on Saudi Telecast
By the pricking of my thumbs,
Something wicked this way comes. [Knocking]
Open locks,
Whoever knocks!
2nd witch – William Shakespeare
Belmont Stakes Racing Festival
Bloodhorse – Ehalt – Mo Donegal to Miss Fountain of Youth; Galt Draws In
Brisnet – Hanson – Speaker’s Corner, Never Surprised top Fountain of Youth Day stakes
Bloodhorse – Fountain of Youth Contenders Turn in Final Tune-Ups
Paulick Report – Promising Pletcher Trainee Emmanuel Tops Oversubscribed Fountain Of Youth Stakes
Paulick Report – Pletcher Brigade, McPeek’s Rattle N Roll Breeze Toward Fountain Of Youth
Paulick Report – Rattle N Roll Tops Nominees To March 5 Fountain Of Youth
I wish my horse had the speed of your tongue.
Brisnet – Reilly – Three points to ponder: 2022 Fountain of Youth, San Felipe, Gotham
Bloodhorse – Ehalt – Dean’s List Seeks High Grades in Gotham
Why So Serious? / Like A Dog Chasing Cars
History – Greenspan – The Myth of Ponce de León and the Fountain of Youth
The Ramones own the fountain of youth. Experiencing us is like having the fountain of youth.
Joey Ramone
The Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park
Bloodhorse – Ehalt – Uncertain Mo Donegal Favored in Fountain of Youth
Bloodhorse – Glider Headed to Gotham
Paulick Report – Gotham Contender Bold Journey A ‘Special’ Horse For Maggie Seidman
Brisnet – Scully – Express Train seeks Big ‘Cap on stakes-laden Santa Anita program
Paulick Report – Golden – O’Neill Has Happy Jack, Worse Read Sanchez Heading To San Felipe
Bloodhorse – Stakes Winners With Gulfstream Success Load Davona Dale
TDN – Smile Happy Possible for Florida Derby
Bloodhorse – Holy Bull Winner White Abarrio Returns to Worktab
Bloodhorse – Rollins – Secret Oath Says ‘Adios’ to Honeybee Rivals
Horse Race Insider – Pricci – COACH LUKAS HAS A NOT SO SECRET WEAPON FOR THE DERBY
Bloodhorse – Lukas Holds Pair of Aces in Secret Oath, Ethereal Road
Paulick Report – Yates – Lukas Reveals Plans For Secret Oath, Ethereal Road
TDN – Report: UAE Oaks Winner Shahama To Join Pletcher Barn
TDN – One-Eyed Runner Pulls off Rebel Shocker
Bloodhorse – Ehalt – One-Eyed Un Ojo Registers 75-1 Upset in Rebel Stakes
DRF – Privman – Road to the 2022 Kentucky Derby: Rebel Stakes analysis
Bloodhorse – Rollins – Straight Up G Wires Mine That Bird Derby Field
Bloodhorse – Kieckhefer – Godolphin Again Dominates Dubai Carnival: Derby Hope?
TDN – Pinehurst Takes Them Gate To Wire In Saudi Derby
Bloodhorse – Emblem Road Takes Saudi Cup for Home Team
TDN – Locally Trained Emblem Road Upsets The Saudi Cup
Bloodhorse – Kieckhefer – Japanese Horses Sweep Saudi Turf Races
TDN – David Cassidy: A Triple Crown Life Event Held Aug. 16
Bloodhorse – Angst – Lukas to Owners: Hire Trainers With Integrity
Gambling Insider – Century Casinos to acquire Nugget Casino Resort in $195m deal
Phil has a question:
How much will the purses increase from this global handle.
I can see he’s not in your good books,’ said the messenger.
‘No, and if he were I would burn my library.”
Bloodhorse – Angst – Churchill Downs Inc. to Abandon Online Sports Betting
Gambling Insider – Sporttrade expands US footprint via Penn National and Caesars Entertainment deals
Paulick Report – Henry – Classic Causeway Heads Tampa Bay Derby Nominations
Horse Race Insider – TAMPA BAY FESTIVAL MAR 12
By the end of the 1950s, American cars were so reliable that their reliability went without saying even in car ads. Thousands of them bear testimony to this today, still running on the roads of Cuba though fueled with nationalized Venezuelan gasoline and maintained with spit and haywire.
P. J. O’Rourke
Transparent communication to customers, let alone internal stakeholders, is a necessity to compete in the modern American sporting marketplace.
Racing is in competition with other sports, not just for attention, but more than ever, wagering dollars. And make no mistake, those other sports are doing a far better job of communicating with customers about rules, officiating and infractions than almost any organization in American racing.
Many across the American racing landscape wish to see a more communicative, transparent approach to adjudicating the sport at every level.
HISA’s leadership should take note sooner rather than later.
TDN – Pat Cummings – Letter to the Editor: Concerns About HISA
Phil has a question:
Will HISA be ready to take over horse racing regulation in the US.
Nothing is more responsible for the good old days than a bad memory.
Unknown
Phil has a question:
Is it not ironic that the author of a quote about nostalgia and bad memory has been forgotten.
Bloodhorse – Angst – At Conference, Horsemen Outline Concerns With HISA
Bloodhorse – Crosby – KHRC Denies Stay of Baffert, Medina Spirit Rulings
TDN – Bill Finley – KHRC Denies Baffert a Stay of Suspension
Paulick Report – The Friday Show: Answering Your Questions About Medina Spirit’s Kentucky Derby DQ
Bloodhorse – Eric Mitchell – Medina Spirit to be Buried at Old Friends
Bloodhorse – Angst – CHRB Review Finds No Violations in Medina Spirit Death
NCBI – McKay and Cidlowski – Physiologic and Pharmacologic Effects of Corticosteroids
Phil has a question:
How many of the Kentucky or any state or provincial horse racing regulatory body understands basic biochemistry.
If you don’t understand biochemistry how can your write regulations that deal with permitted and banned substances.
Tax not so bad a voice to slander music any more than once.
Bloodhorse – Eric Mitchell – Rascal Cat Helping to Launch Another College Program
I see no hope for the future of our people if they are dependent on the frivolous youth of today, for certainly all youth are reckless beyond words. When I was a boy, we were taught to be discrete and respectful of elders, but the present youth are exceedingly wise and impatient of restraint.
Hesiod
Bloodhorse – Spendthrift, MyRacehorse Debut Foal Derby for Authentic
Bentley’s documentary-style approach wound up creating a visual archive. “Before even making the movie, that’s the thing I started to realize,” Bentley says. “This world of horse racing feels like it’s from a bygone era. I had a strong desire to capture it before it fully faded away.”
Texas Monthly – Cohen – The Human Cost of Horse Racing
Of course, the music didn’t really die. Before leaving Iowa, I went back out to the cornfield and stood alone at the crash site. It was sad and eerie yet also strangely unsatisfying. The world long ago moved on from this place. The corn grew again and died again and grew again. Kids thousands of miles away and dozens of years in the future heard the music made by the guys who died here, and it moved them so much that they started making music too. As I walked back through the corn to my car, a song played over and over in my head. It was “That’ll Be the Day,” and it made me glad to be alive.
NCAA – 2022 March Madness: Men’s NCAA tournament complete schedule, dates, TV times
ESPN – Lunardi – 2022 NCAA Tournament Bracketology
The Lines – The Five Best (Free) March Madness Bracket Contests You Can’t Miss In 2022
NCAA – Wilco How to play the official March Madness Bracket Challenge Game
Quanta – Mutalik – Play First and Lose: Zugzwang in Chess, Math and Pizzas
Phil’s Drink n a Flick
FiveThirtyEight – Loepky – Two Hockey Fans Want To Change How The NHL Approaches Accessibility
The Ringer – Surrey – From Noir to Nirvana: Everything ‘The Batman’ Has Been Compared To
CNN Business – Meyersohn – How Heinz uses a fake number to keep its brand timeless
Of course, the music didn’t really die. Before leaving Iowa, I went back out to the cornfield and stood alone at the crash site. It was sad and eerie yet also strangely unsatisfying. The world long ago moved on from this place. The corn grew again and died again and grew again. Kids thousands of miles away and dozens of years in the future heard the music made by the guys who died here, and it moved them so much that they started making music too. As I walked back through the corn to my car, a song played over and over in my head. It was “That’ll Be the Day,” and it made me glad to be alive.
Texas Monthly – Hall – The Night the Music Died
National Post – Chaya – Trump takes shot at Trudeau for ‘woke tyranny’ amid Ukraine crisis
Phil’s not gonna criticize demented Donald as the man really does need help.
Phil is gonna remind Donald of what Lynyrd Skynyrd said to Neil Young:
Well I hope Neil Young will remember
A southern man don’t need him around anyhow
and this is what Phil says to Donald:
Well I hope Donald Trump will remember
A northern man don’t need him around anyhow.
The Ringer – Serrano – This Oscars Photo Is Worth a Thousand Words
The Ringer – Seigel – ‘Oh Shit, This Is Real’
Phil has a question:
Did Mrs. Tom select the female actors for this egomaniacal farce.
Is Tom chicken of Machine Gun Kelly.
The Ringer – Nayman – The Grotesque Beauty of ‘Batman Returns’
The Ringer – Princiotti – The Rams Won the Super Bowl by Swinging Big, but Smaller Moves Matter
Politics, as a practise, whatever its professions, has always been the systematic organization of hatreds.
Henry Adams
Quanta – Escamilla-Rivera – In Search of Cracks in Albert Einstein’s Theory of Gravity
A man should look for what is, and not for what he thinks should be.
Albert Einstein
Texas Monthly – Justice – Jerry Jones Can’t Hide From the Cowboys Voyeurism Scandal
Texas Monthly – Hepola – The Lost Soul of the Dallas Cowboys
ESPN – Rees – New England Patriots’ Bill Belichick happy to be outlier at NFL combine
Phil M Stockmen
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.