Sal’s Wrap of the 2022 Runhappy Malibu Stakes and Sundre Other Happenings

Sal says that Mucka was right; neither Sal nor Phil received a Christmas Card or Seasons Greeting e-mail or text from the minions or powers that bee over at Horse Racing Alberta this year or an invite to their holiday soiree, but that didn’t damper Sal or Phil’s festivities. Same as it ever was. Besides, as you know the minions and powers that bee at HRA are much better at receiving than giving.

If you want to make peace, you don’t talk to your friends. You talk to your enemies.

Moshe Dayan

Sal says that the Naughty Birds told Santa what they figured the Undertaker wanted for Christmas.

Just before the 11th race ran at Santa Anita on Boxing Day Frank Mirahmadi announced that Santa Anita had broken the record for opening day handle and thanked all the patrons both on and off track.

Now you may ask yourself why is Sal making such a big fuss about neither Sal nor Phil receiving a Christmas greeting from the useless minions or powers that bee at Horse Racing Alberta. And you can tell yourself that Phil and Sal are customers and when Horse Racing Alberta and the Century folk fail to treat their customers properly; slowly but surely those customers are lost to other interests and the handle at both the betting windows and the slots continues its descent into the abyss. And you can tell yourself that Clark Kent, the Undertaker and the rest of the useless minions over at Horse Racing Alberta don’t care as long as the Naughty Birds got the word to Santa about what they wanted for Christmas and their paycheques keep coming despite their never making any improvement in the horse racing industry in Alberta.

Sal says that it’s just not the Christmas greetings that are lacking. Santa Anita’s Boxing Day opening is a major event in thoroughbred racing and when you consider that Santa Anita is one of the top US betting destinations for Alberta players, Horse Racing Alberta’s and Century’s failure to properly promote Santa Anita’s Boxing Day opening is just another of the thousands of missed marketing opportunities and an abject failure for both Horse Racing Alberta and Century. Heads should roll.

Without promotion, something terrible happens… nothing!

P. T. Barnum

You Ain’t Going Nowhere

And the free calendar that Santa Anita gives away provides a recap of past highlights and serves as a reminder of the racing days for the upcoming year.

Santa Anita posted an all-time record opening day handle of $26.3 million US because they put effort into marketing and promotion while Horse Racing Alberta continues to post record low handle figures every year because they’re just a bunch of useless window gazing salary collectors.

It is not the employer who pays the wages. Employers only handle the money. It is the customer who pays the wages.

Henry Ford

Bloodhorse – Willman – Santa Anita Posts All-Time Record Opening Day of $26.3M

“It was a fantastic day,” said Santa Anita Senior Vice President and General Manager Nate Newby. “Today, Santa Anita Park again proved why we are indeed ‘The Great Race Place.’ We’d like to thank our fans and horseplayers around the country and those that were with us here on-track for their continued support of our program.

“We’d also like to thank our horsemen, horse owners from around the world, our Hall of Fame jockey colony and our racing department for putting together one of the best cards run anywhere this year. Combining it with picture-perfect weather, it was just a great start to our Classic Meet.”

Paulick Report – Willman – Santa Anita Sets All-Time Opening Day Handle Record, More Than 41,000 In Attendance

Bloodhorse – Ehalt – Memorable Opening Day for Baffert, Santa Anita

Century Racing Club will be raising their membership fees to $325.00 effective January 1, 2023.

Sal says that thoroughbred fans don’t want to be involved in the ownership of jiggies and the jiggie fans have little interest in owning thoroughbreds. Give the jiggies the boot and keep the membership fee at $250.00 for the thoroughbred club to try and increase involvement and promotion. And set up a separate club for the jiggies.

By keeping the breeds together Horse Racing Alberta and Century are perpetuating the insane Tenile mentality of killing the healthy chicken to make chicken soup for the weak chicken.

MyRacehorse Presents: Colt by Candy Ride $64/share

Los Angeles Times – Bennett – Almost a saint’: Roberto Clemente is as influential as ever 50 years after his death

Front Office Sports – Gentrup – Mobile Sports Betting Expected to Eclipse $80B in 2022

Martha Stewart – Vaughan – 12 Classic Leftover Turkey Sandwich Recipes

Delish – Peter and Villarosa – 19 Turkey Sandwiches That Are Even Better Than The Full Bird

Where is My Mind

The Atlantic – Brooks – How to Make the Most of Bad Gifts

Vox – Abad-Santos – The Cheesecake Factory knows what you want

Front Office Sports – Perez – NFL Dominates Christmas Viewership, Far Outpacing NBA

Canadian Thoroughbred – Alberta’s 2022 Leaders by Breeders’ Bonuses

The good old days are now.

Tom Clancy

Bloodhorse – Rollins – Biden Signs Omnibus Bill With HISA Language Into Law

Paulick Report – Laurel Park Moves Christmastide Stakes Day Program To Dec. 30

Southern Living – When to Take Your Christmas Tree Down, According to Tradition 

Orthodox Christmas Day in Canada

Paulick Report – ‘Twice The Horse That He Was In May’: Rich Strike Targets Five Races In 2023, Beginning With Dubai World Cup

The Ringer – Phillips – The Legend of Pelé, the Brazilian Boy Who Remade Soccer in His Image

Times Like These

Economize – Del Mar Fairgrounds able to rethink whole property

Thoroughbred Racing Commentary – Godfrey – The greatest showman: Frankie Dettori takes starring role at Santa Anita

Immigrant Song

Bloodhorse – Dual Grade 1 Winner Code of Honor Dies at 6

Bloodhorse – Industry Leaders React to HISA Amendment Approval

Times Like These

Bloodhorse – Angst – Surging Rhea Moon Secures Grade 1 Win in American Oaks

TDN – ‘Moon’ Shines Over Rivals in American Oaks

DRF – Rhea Moon wins American Oaks in Grade 1 debut

TDN – Sheerin – Small-Time Irish Breeder Molloy Over The Moon With American Oaks Winner

Times Like These

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TDN – Arrogate’s Fun to Dream Gives Baffert Record La Brea Win

Paulick Report – Willman – ‘It Looks Like She’s Just Getting Better And Better’: Baffert Homebred Fun To Dream Lands La Brea In First Top-Level Test

DRF – Free – Fun to Dream continues big day for Baffert with La Brea victory

Man Who Sold the World

Bloodhorse – Dicey Mo Chara Rallies to Win San Gabriel Stakes

Paulick Report – Willman – ‘I Would Have Loved A Dead Heat’: Dicey Mo Chara Tops Powell Exacta In San Gabriel, Earns First Stakes Win

Times Like These

TDN – Country Grammer Wins San Antonio With Authority

Bloodhorse – McCroskey – Country Grammer Delivers for Dettori in San Antonio

Brisnet – Reilly – Country Grammer responds to Dettori in San Antonio romp

DRF – Anderson – San Antonio: Country Grammer, Dettori stay perfect together

Paulick Report – ‘This Horse Has Brought Us So Much Joy When Things Were Down’: Dettori Guides Baffert-Trained Country Grammer To San Antonio Triumph

Under Pressure

Bloodhorse – Perez – Longshot One More Bid Outlasts Favorites in Mathis Mile

All Apologies

Bloodhorse -Joseph – Golden Glider Grabs Tropical Park Derby in Photo Finish

DRF – Welsch – Golden Glider wins Tropical Park Derby head bob

Smells Like Teen Spirit

TDN – Corona Bolt A Sixth SW for Bolt d’Oro in Sugar Bowl S.

TDN – Into Mischief Filly Stays Unbeaten with Fair Grounds Stakes

Brisnet – Reilly – Jace’s Road wires Gun Runner; Pretty Mischievous makes nifty move in Untapable

TDN – Quality Road ‘Rising Star’ Makes Amends in Gun Runner

TDN – Into Mischief ‘Rising Star’ On Best Behavior in Untapable

TDN – Immaculately Bred Curlin Firster Gets ‘Rising Star’ Nod

Gold Dust Woman

Brisnet – Hanson – Spooky Channel fires fresh in Diliberto Memorial

Gold Dust Woman

Bloodhorse – Capuano Retiring After 41 Years of Training

TDN – Trainer Dale Capuano Retires

Paulick Report – ‘Racing’s Been Good To Me’: Maryland Mainstay Capuano To Retire From 41-Year Training Career

TDN – Fipke Firster The ‘Bee’s‘ Knees in Dubai

Everlong

NY Post – Donlevy – King Charles bans Prince Andrew from Buckingham Palace: report

Sex On Fire

The Ringer – Solak – The Broncos Had to Fire Nathaniel Hackett Because They Can’t Fire Russell Wilson

Sports Illustrated – Breer – Jim Harbaugh Makes Sense for the Broncos and Russell Wilson

Southern Living – Here’s What To Bring To That New Year’s Eve Party

Food 52 – Laperruque – 48 Cheers-Worthy Recipes for New Year’s Eve