View From the Racetrack Grandstand

A Mini-Staycation to Årjäng, Sweden

2013-05-21T15:40:00.001-04:00

I received some photos from racing at the Årjäng Racetrack in Sweden. These pictures come from this past Sunday's racing card, a day when there was no special races.

To say these photos are relaxing would be an understatement. Since most of us will never be going abroad for harness racing, it is time to bring the racetrack her from Sweden. The Årjäng track has races for warm and cold bloods, monté, and ponies. In the colder winter months, the track even hosts ice racing.

One thing I noticed about this track is the rural feel to it. Make no mistake, we are not talking county fair racing, but a scenic, easy going feel; a place people go to enjoy a day at the races. We are never going to get the crowds of yesteryear back, but if we had tracks similar to the one at Årjäng, a new generation of racing fans would likely become interested in the sport, not only as a respite from the busy schedules we face but also develop an infinity for the standardbred.. On the fiscal side, these smaller facilities would be less expensive to maintain than some of the current raceways which are in a more urban area..

Take a look at these photos and enjoy.

Horses warming up. Photo by Anders Erlandsson

A fan getting ready for a race by sitting on the hill. Photo by Anders Erlandsson

Field getting ready for a start. Photo by Anders Erlandsson

Lining Up. Photo by Anders Erlandsson

Relaxing under the trees. Photo by Anders Erlandsson

Field coming out of the clubhouse turn.
Photo by Anders Erlandsson

Making a move on the turn. Photo by Anders Erlandsson

Post Parade. Photo by Anders Erlandsson

Coming down the stretch the first time.
Photo by Anders Erlandsson

Notice the crowd as the field fans out heading for home.
Photo by Anders Erlandsson.

Fans taking advantage of the different viewing points.
Photo by Anders Erlandsson.

DRF Paywall; Best Browser for Viewing VFTRG.

2013-05-20T19:16:00.002-04:00

PTP discusses how the DRF is looking to institute a paywall for their content, either providing the content free for those who wager through their ADW or are willing to pay a subscription to get the data. As PTP mentions, if the DRF wishes to charge for the data, it is their right and quite honestly, charging for the data is probably the only thing which will allow the DRF to continue doing what they are doing. In this case the fans of the runners will be impacted much more than the trotting fans.

Some people ask how do they leave comments or see them. The truth is it often is a browser issue. Since Blogger is owned by Google, the blog is best viewed by Google Chrome. At times, if you just refresh the screen, it will show the messages; but it may take a few tries to see it. If you are just reading the blog entries, you can continue to use your current browser.

Elitlopp 2013 Preview and Draw

2013-05-20T16:56:00.000-04:00

Post positions were drawn for the two elimination heats of the Elitlopp which will be contested this Sunday at Solvalla Racecourse in Sweden. This year Arch Madness drew a lot better getting the rail after receiving the seven post in his elimination heat last year. The other North American competitor, Take My Picture drew pretty well, getting the second post. If these two will meet, it will be in the final as they both drew different elimination heats.

Here are the post assignments for each heat:

Elimination Heat 1
1--Nesta Effe (TBA)
2--Take My Picture ( Nik Drennan)
3--Timoko (Richard Westerink)
4--Formula One (Reijo Liljendahl)
5--Raja Mirchi (Lutfi Kolgjini)
6--Shaq Is Back (Daniel Redén)
7--Maharajah (Stefan Hultman)
8--Friction (Stefan Melander)

Elimination Heat 2
1--Arch Madness (Trond Smedshammer)
2--Commander Crowe (Fabrice Souloy)
3--Sebastian K. (Åke Svanstedt)
4--Brad de Veluwe (Tuomas Korvenoja)
5--Mack Grace SM (Lucio Colletti)
6--Nahar (Robert Bergh)
7--Panne de Moteur (Stefan Hultman)
8--Amaru Boko (Timo Nurmos).

From the press given to him this year, one must look at Mahrajah as the horse to beat as he has been on the top of his game winning the Oslo Grand Prix, living up to all the hopes people had for him when he first started racing as a youngster in Europe. Take My Picture, who by the way also raced under saddle last year (2-0-2-0) and timed in 1:57.1 at the Meadowlands on Hambletonian Day finishing second to Master Pine, must also be respected coming off of three straight victories in the Preferred class at Woodbine with a 12-6-1-1- record and a mark of 1:52.3. He last raced on May 8 before shipping over but the time off should have allowed him time to acclimate and recover from the shipping. It will be curious to see how the expatriate Shaq is Back will do, having been exported after his last start at the Red Mile in 2010 a winner of over $440,000 at the time.

In the second heat, we have a great rematch between Arch Madness and Commander Crowe. With Arch Madness making his third trip over (his connections should be congratulated for doing this), he gets to race against his nemesis. Unless something dramatic happens, these two should advance and do battle in the race final. As the winner of the Oslo Grand Prix, one must give Sebastian K a serious look. If there is any concern regarding Arch Madness, it was he was scheduled to race in the Grand Prix only to tie up in a training mile which necessitated a scratch.

One thing is for sure, the Elitlopp will be a great race as usual. Unfortunately, most if not all of North America will be stuck watching the race on delay as there will be no wagering in this part of the world.

To catch some of the spirit, here is the second trailer which was released for the Elitlopp.

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The Four Year Olds

2013-05-20T11:54:00.000-04:00

Right now the four year olds are doing battle amongst themselves but what will happen when they need to tackle the older FFAllers? VFTRG contributor Joe F., gives us his take on it.

Perhaps it’s just a coincidence, but this, the year Jeff Gural’s rules punishing four-year-olds that have been retired early take effect, is beginning to look like the year of the four-year-old. The premium sophomore pacers beat each other up to the point where there was no true standout in 2012. The top tier stakes wins were spread around, with Heston winning the BC, ARNRD the Pace, Michaels Power the Jug, Duer the Adios and Thinking Out Loud the NA Cup. That’s reflected in the fact that Heston Blue Chip received 68 votes for three-year-old Pacer of the Year, while Michaels Power got 50, Dance 17, TOL three and Lou, two. Contrast that with the Dan Patch for two-year-old pacers where Captaintreacherous beat Rockin Amadeus 144 to one, or the three-year-old filly contest where Jewel got 141 votes to three for Romantic Moment. There may not have been a single superstar in the sophomore colt division but there was plenty of talent.

Back in the day it was expected that there would be an annual infusion of new blood into the FFA division from the top performers in the previous year’s colt division; one year it was Best Of All, Nardin’s Byrd and Romulus Hanover joining the fray; another it was Laverne Hanover, Horton Hanover and Super Wave making their presence felt; and another it was Governor Skipper, Senor Skipper and Big Towner coming of age. Lately we’ve been lucky to get a single compelling four-year-old moving into the FFA lineup. As a matter of fact, that’s exactly what has happened during the past three campaigns: Hypnotic Blue Chip, We Will See and Cheddar have successively been the lone four-year-old to make a meaningful contribution to the FFA division.

Obviously the exodus of the top colts to the breeding shed was the major factor in the shortage of quality four-year-olds: Rocknroll Hanover left after his three-year-old campaign in 2007; the following year it was SBSW who bid racing fans adieu; then it was Well Said after his sophomore campaign in 2009; RNR Heaven joined the Blue Chip roster after his very successful 2010 season; and Roll With Joe, Big bad John and Big Jim all moved on after their three-year-old campaigns in 2011.

Hypnotic Blue Chip was top dog among the four-year-old pacers in 2010. He won eight of 27 starts and earned almost $800,000. JJ blasted him past Shark Gesture in the USPC and he went on to win in a WR :47.2. It is telling that Shark Gesture was the 1/5 favorite in that race while HBC was the 11/1 third choice. The competition from his elders was fierce, Shark Gesture, WTW, Foiled and Bettor Sweet, to name four. Stakes-wise, aside from the USPC, HBC also won the Battle of Lake Erie. He made a very strong showing but still didn’t stand shoulder to shoulder with the best of his elders.

Other four-year-olds that came online in 2010 are: Lisagain, Dial, Alexie Mattosie, Elmo, Vintage Master, Annies, Gallant Yankee, River Shark, Drop Red and Clear Vision. Obviously none of them posed a threat to Shark Gesture, WTW or Foiled--not the way Kingcole, ARNRD, Sweet Lou, Needy, Michaels Power and Heston Blue Chip are a threat to Golden Receiver and the nine-year-old incarnation of Foiled, anyway.

The four-year-old class of 2011 wasn’t much better. We Will See was great; he earned $1.2 million, winning the Franklin, CPD, USPC and Allerage Open, and he took a mark of :47.2. It was a long drop before one hit number two, Art Professor, who did his damage in opens, avoiding the heavy hitters for the most part, and won no stakes races. RNR Heaven, who dominated his class, had been retired. OML, a gelding, returned from a solid sophomore season, but was an absolute zero; Razzle Dazzle was not the horse we saw in this year’s Levy; Meirs won the Clyde Hirt, Exit 16W and Cam Fella, and seemed to be on his way, but he disappeared for four months, and that was that.

Cheddar was by far the best of the returning four-year-old pacers last year, but he was limited by physical problems and only started eleven times. He won nine races, but several of those were cheapies. His only grade one win was the Franklin, where he was outstanding. The Des Smith and Quillen were his other two stakes wins. Alsace came back but he never fulfilled the promise he showed at three. The same goes for Up The Credit, who had serious issues, although a :48.3 win over NW25 at Woodbine the other night may signal good things at age five. Foreclosure got good for Burke at season’s end, but he was pretty ordinary prior to that. Flipper J ? Feel Like A Fool?

There’s every reason to believe that 2013 will be historically significant when it comes to four-year-old clout in the FFA division. Which group would I prefer, Sweet Lou, Heston Blue Chip, Needy, Michaels Power, Kingcole, Duer, ARNR Dance, Escape The News and Dynamic Youth, or, Golden Receiver, Cheddar, Foiled, Razzle Dazzle, Annies, Up The Credit, Versado, Something For Doc and Fred And Ginger? Give me the former. Good things can be expected of Cheddar, but Golden Receiver fell off the table after winning the Haughton in mid-August last year, winning only one more race—an open at Pocono—and nine-year-old Foiled is showing his age. And, despite his Levy win, Razzle Dazzle has been a trick or treat type throughout his career. Give me those young legs this time around, thank you.

Another Year, Another Injustice?

2013-05-20T07:59:00.001-04:00

Those who have been reading this blog for awhile know that I believe Billy 'Zeke' Parker deserves to be inducted in the Hall of Fame. Next month, a screening committee meets to decide which individuals get on the ballot for the Harness Racing Hall of Fame and most people feel Parker will once again be bypassed. That is a shame. While I understand it is harder for an overnight driver to get into the Hall, having close to 11,000 victories should more than compensate for not driving in the 'big time'. I believe his driving statistics show he belongs in there for you don't get those many wins driving cheap horses if you are not Hall of Fame worthy. I also feel his ability to overcome what life has thrown at him makes his accomplishments even more amazing considering how many people in the sport who have gone through what he has have fallen to the wayside into obscurity.

When you think of it, why can't a man with as many wins as Parker get into the Hall of Fame when an owner who is fortunate to have a lot of money to buy horses gets in when their only contribution to standardbred racing is owning a famous horse or two that they bought (if they bred the horses it is a different story)? There seems to be a serious disconnect here.

Anyway, there was an article this past weekend about Billy Parker and his problems regarding getting into the Hall of Fame. Take a look, it is interesting reading regardless of where you stand on the issue.

Take Me Out to the Racetrack

2013-05-18T09:21:00.001-04:00

In the past, I have talked about how pathetic Thunder ridge is for harness racing. Well, Bill Finley, editor of Harness Racing Update visited the track in Prestonsburg, KY to find out if it is as bad as it has been called. Turns out it is worse.

"Take me out to the Racetrack" may not be the typical expression but on June 1, it is the slogan for the Meadowlands as Jersey Fest takes place at the Meadowlands. Jersey Fest, a joint program between the Meadowlands Racetrack and the North Jersey Media Group (publisher of The Record) is an event celebrating all things New Jersey.

More importantly, an event like this will bring newcomers to the racetrack for an enjoyable evening. By sponsoring this event with the local newspaper ensures the event gets publicity which benefits all involved in this program, including the charities tied to this event. Granted, not everyone will become harness racing fans by the evening's conclusion but it gets them in the door which is the first step.

No Table Games at Vernon Downs - Best Thing Possible

2013-05-18T06:10:00.001-04:00

The State of New York has entered into an agreement with the Oneida Indians which requires the Tribal Authority to pay 25% of the net profits of their Turning Stone Casino to the State of New York (roughly $50 million annually) in return for a monopoly on casino operations within a ten county area surrounding Turning Stone Casino. As a result, if the deal gets the necessary approvals, Vernon Downs (which is only three miles away from the Indian casino) will be precluded from offering table games though will be allowed to continue to operate their 750 VLTs.

This has caused a dispute between the ownership of Vernon Downs. Majority shareholder Jeff Gural is pleased with the deal while minority shareholder Gary Greenberg is unhappy with the agreement claiming it "...will be the death knell of Vernon Downs. There will never be full-table games at Vernon Downs thus depriving the horsemen, employees, customers and shareholders a chance to compete on a fair level with Turning Stone or any other full table game casino in the state".

While I understand Mr. Greenberg may be disappointed with this agreement, one would think he has not been keeping up to date with what is going on in the gaming business and the oversaturation of casino gambling. Quite honestly, this deal, while negotiated without input from Gural is the best possible agreement one could hope for and instead of it being the death knell of Vernon Downs, guarantees its continued operation.

First of all, Indian gaming sets up its own rules with regards to takeout rates and operation whereas casinos operated by a non-tribal group is subject to state law which regulates takeout rates on casino games. If Vernon Downs were to open table games and thus be a full-competitor to Turning Point, a pricing war on the takeout level could occur, with Turning Point reducing their take to a level Vernon Downs could not match. Quite honestly, a head-to-head match up is something Vernon Downs could not win. Of course, this competition is predicated on the state allowing Vernon Downs to operate a full casino, something which was not assured. After all, the first three full casinos proposed (Monticello Raceway, Saratoga Raceway, Tioga Downs) did not include Vernon Downs. Also, any capital expenditure to expand floor space for table games has the potential of putting Vernon Downs once again in to bankruptycffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff

Secondly, as we are seeing in the Mid-Atlantic region, oversaturation of casinos results in money being divided between casinos, not really the introduction of new gaming dollars. Therefore, being so close to Turning Point, while Vernon would probably get some new business, it would not be at the levels being forecast by some detractors.

Lastly, the ten county ban on casino gambling with Vernon Downs being allowed to keep its slot machines means the proposed harness track in the Syracuse area will die of. Let's face it without slot machines, who is going to want to build a racetrack these days? This means Vernon will by default have a ten county monopoly on horse racing and be the only place outside of Turning Stone with slots.

Bottom line is if this agreement is approved, many others have fallen apart in the past, it is basically agreement which could have been iod foj

Fruition of a Dream and Other Goings On

2013-05-17T07:07:00.001-04:00

A field heading into the first turn at Historic Track.
Matinee racing begins the first weekend in June.

Saturday night is the fruition of a dream. A dream of having a race full of super stars for fans to get interested in. Of course, I am talking about the Meadowlands Maturity. True, the four year old trotters have already stepped up to the plate in their own edition of the Meadowlands Maturity but let's face it, the majority of harness racing fans prefer pacing events. Just look at some of the names in the Maturity; A Rocknroll Dance, Bolt the Duer, Mel Mara, Hurricane Kingcole, Sweet Lou, Warrawee Needy, and others take to the field of battle for what should be an exciting tilt.

Of course, this race is just four year olds, but they will soon do battle with the aged FFAllers and after a little seasoning, the FFA ranks should be exciting for the rest of the season. Races the fans and gamblers will be excited about, looking forward to Saturday night when the big boys take to the track that week.

Fans of the trotting side of the sport should be looking forward to tomorrow night as well as the AJ Cutler Memorial FFA will be contested at the Meadowlands as well. Mister Herbie, making his second start of the season, going against Guccio, the hot Modern Family, Wishing Stone, Sevruga, and some outsiders. This race is the appetizer for the Meadowlands Maturity Pace.

Kind of reminds me of Saturday nights at Yonkers before the Meadowlands first opened. I can't wait.

In Harness Racing Update, Dean Towers has some suggestions for making harness racing more palpable for thoroughbred players for which there is little incentive for them to crossover. The ironic thing about it is many of these items are things the standardbred fan have been asking for already. If you aren't pleasing your standardbred fan base, how do you expect to draw thoroughbred fans in?

Trainer Renee Allard, the fourth leading trainer at the Meadowlands has been shown the door from the Meadowlands, Tioga Downs, and Vernon Downs by track management for unspecified reasons. When one doesn't know the story behind the exclusion, one must be careful in making comments so I won't pass judgment on the exclusion.

While I am a supporter of the right to exclude someone from racing, there is a downside to it; why do some trainers get excluded and other's don't? I realize each situation is different but as Allard is shown out the door, the welcome mat for Casie Coleman has been put out (after Coleman apparently agreed to certain conditions). If memory serves me correctly, this is the second year in a row Coleman has served a long suspension under the trainer's responsibility rule. The Meadowlands was correct in refusing entries from horses transferred to her assistant trainers during her suspensions, and I can understand why those exclusions were lifted once the suspension was over but allowing Coleman to return to the Meadowlands leaves some to question if justice is being applied fairly or are certain favorites being given a pass?

I don't expect any track to publicize why they have excluded someone from racing as it would open track management to the potential of civil litigation. That being said, I don't know why a track can't issue a general list of activities which could result in an exclusion along with a disclaimer that management may exclude individuals for other reasons as well. This way, horseplayers can get an idea as to why someone was excluded without subjecting track management to the possibility of litigation.

After several years of hope, the proposed Fair Start Rule in New Jersey has apparently been killed off at the May meeting of the NJRC. I kind of suspected this was going to be the end result once the proposal started stagnating within the commission. Disappointed? Yes. The racing commission had the opportunity to do something to protect the gambler's interest and they failed to do so. Being the racing commission are industry insiders one shouldn't be surprised at what happened. If racing commissions were to be truly looking out for the betting public's interests, why don't these commissions have gamblers as full members on these boards?

While the damage has been done, Ontario horsemen must be pleased with the firing of OLG Chair Paul Godfrey as well as the resignations of the OLG's entire board. It seems while the OLG was busy decimating horse racing throughout the province, Godfrey and others in the OLG were doing quite well financially, making rules for themselves which made life 'more comfortable' in a period of austerity. While racing will never be the same in Ontario, if plans to include racing in the provincial gaming strategy is followed through, those who manage through this lean time may be rewarded. No, purses will likely never be what they once were, but they certainly should be an improvement over current purse levels.

Where Have the NJ-Sired Horses Gone?

2013-05-16T07:00:00.000-04:00

Friday night the NJSS make its 2013 debut at the Meadowlands with races for 3yo filly and 3yo colt and gelding trotters. Notice, the use of the word 'divisions' was left out of the sentence as there is one race for the fillies and one for the colts and geldings.

That's right; a total of eight colts and geldings will be competing in a $34,000 tilt while twelve fillies will be taking to the track in their $36,000 contest (On Saturday night there are twenty-one pacing colts and eleven pacing fillies competing in their sires stakes races). Certainly there are more NJ-sired trotters than these twenty, but it wasn't that long ago when you used to have three or four divisions of the sires stakes for each age, sex, and gait. Now, with almost all the stallions having departed for more lucrative states the off-spring count has fallen dramatically. Couple this with the fact there are more lucrative races to be had elsewhere, you can see why the number of entrants have fallen off. It wouldn't surprise me if the two year old trotting races will be so sparsely subscribed to that they will be contested as non-wagering events.

Until relief comes to New Jersey racing, things will only get worse which is why it is important the bill to create stakes races for NJ-bred horses is passed as soon as possible. Not only will it provide standardbred farms with business as nurseries, it will provide NJ-based horsemen with racing stock which will allow them to remain in state until help comes.

Many of the tracks in Ontario have had racing dates dramatically cut. Admittedly, with purses being cut, this will be tough for horsemen; especially this year. Wouldn't it be something if these meets were marketed as boutique meets and the public responded accordingly? Unfortunately, we'll likely never know. Even though these tracks are getting assistance to pay their expenses, I suspect they will be running bare bones operations, meaning any thought of having a (creative) marketing campaign highly unlikely.

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Does Harness Racing Need the Equivalent of Title IX?

2013-05-15T21:15:00.001-04:00

This week, Monticello Raceway had their Lady Godiva Pace for women drivers. The race had to be rescheduled from earlier in the year because it was hard to get eight women drivers together. Even this time it took some last minute effort to get some lady drivers from afar to complete the field.

If there was a thoroughbred version of the Lady Godiva, there would have been no problem getting enough women jockeys together to compete; you probably could have gotten enough women jocks to fill more than one race without much effort or travel. For some reason, thoroughbred trainers and owners seem to be more willing to give women jockeys a chance, at least with overnight horses.

Unfortunately, for some reason, harness racing has never really embraced women drivers. Yes, at some of the smaller tracks you will see women drivers, especially when they train and own their own horses. But when it comes to your larger tracks, women seldom get the opportunity to be in the sulky during a race. This attitude needs to change in order to attract a more gender-diverse customer base.

I am convinced the only way to get more women in the sulky is to give them more opportunities to compete against their own. What if tracks scheduled one race each day for women drivers? It would certainly increase the demand for women drivers as you would need at least eight to ten of them daily for at least one race. Granted, it isn't the same as driving eight or ten races each day but after a bunch of races a women driver may get enough 'face time' for trainers and owners to be willing to give a woman driver a chance against the men.

True, by carding races exclusive to women drivers you can argue you are giving them special treatment, but let's not kid ourselves, if a woman is not any good as a driver, trainers will stop naming them even in women only events. The opportunity may be given to them, but it will be up to them to take advantage of it and prove themselves.

For the sport to attract more women to the betting windows, we have to get to a point where a Lady Godiva Pace is not be a novelty, but just part of a day at the track.

BLM Round Ups - Humane and Necessary? You Decide but Something has to Give

2013-05-14T14:10:00.000-04:00

Let's move away from the subject of horse racing and talk about the Government and the Wild Mustang issue.

NBC News did a feature on the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) round ups on the wild mustangs. The reality is horses are being moved off public lands to placate ranchers who raise cattle; competing for the same grazing land. Watch the video at the end and you decide if the round up is humane or not.

I would suggest not from what you can see , plus one of he biggest problems with the BLM policy is the fact horses are easily gotten by dealers with a large number of them heading across the border with domesticated horses due to lax rules. Clearly with more horses in captivity than out on the open range, the collection of horses is costing taxpayers a lot of money.

The truth is something needs to happen but it must be done humanely. There are ways to give mares birth control to keep them from getting pregnant. Instead of using helicopters, round ups can be done the old fashioned way.

I would love to see the wild horses run free but there is a bigger threat than giving grazing lands to a large population of horses in the wild; the competition for water; not cattle versus horses but animal versus man. The west has dwindling water supplies due to over development and with increasing periods of drought (in fact some predict a new dust bowl is inevitable due to over development and population). Then what happens?

In Australia, there are plans to cull 10,000 wild horses in their Northern Territory due to drought (only look at this link if you can handle upsetting photos) which have resulted in watering holes drying up, resulting in horses literally dying of thirst; to the point some pro-horse groups are calling for the cull as a humane way to handle an environmental disaster. There, some blame the government for not doing anything to manage the herd size so it seems doing nothing is not an option.

Therefore, reducing the size of America's wild horse population is a necessity. Those who oppose any control of their herd size is just as irresponsible as those seeking the land for cattle grazing. Realistically, the government must step in; it is a question of doing it the right way; humane, not cruel,

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Giving Back to the Sport

2013-05-14T08:45:00.000-04:00

As a rule, I don't comment directly or edit the postings contributors or guest columnists make on my blog. After all, it is their opinions and they are giving their time to write their pieces. However, Joe F. and myself differ with regards to Intimidate's race at Hippodrome 3R this past Sunday.

I for one congratulate the connections of Intimidate for racing at 3R. Make no mistake, the race was basically a de facto exhibition race for Intimidate, one that he got paid $3,000Cdn for competing but the money really wasn't the point.

It's no secret Quebec racing was all but extinguished when Attractions Hippiques imploded, shutting down racing in the province virtually overnight. The Quebec Jockey Club has slowly been rebuilding the industry from the ground up racing at 3R and on a provincial circuit (equivalent to a fair circuit) but let's not kid ourselves, it is likely sometime until we see top quality racing in Quebec on a regular basis.

What we had with Intimidate was locally based owners and a trainer from Quebec giving back to the hometown crowd by bringing their horse back to Trois Rivieres for a de facto exhibition race; allowing the local fans the opportunity of seeing a Breeders Crown champion in the flesh. So Intimidate made his first start of the year in a Quebec bred race for four and five year olds. While it doesn't quite equal what Frank Azur did a few years back when he brought Blueridge Western, Noble Falcon, along with drivers Brian Sears and Tim Tetrick to the Orleans County Fair in Barton Vermont for an exhibition race, both events were cases of owners giving back to the hometown fans; something not typically done in these days where the eyes are always on the big prize.

Yes, one can wonder why Intimidate's connections seem to be skipping most of the big races as last year? Is it their target is the Breeders Crown once again and trying to save their horse or are there other reasons involved? I don't know. However, I am sure there are other owners who are more than happy to take advantage of Intimidate's absence and pick up the big checks instead of him. This is an owner's decision.

But the point remains, in this day where top horses are being raced like thoroughbreds, going only for the big money, we should be applauding when a horse's connections look to give something back to the home crowd.

We need more people like the connections of Intimidate.

Experimentals, Dewey, and Donato

2013-05-14T05:56:00.001-04:00

Regular VFTRG contributor, Joe F. offers his opinion regarding this year's Experimental ratings as well as the influence of Deweycheatemnhowe and Donato Hanover:

The crew that took over Stan Bergstein’s Experimental Ratings/ Predictive Rankings have come up with another curious list. Fashion Athena, who won some PASS races when left to her own devices and lost whenever challenged, is rated number four, a slot ahead of the unanimous winner of his division, Wheeling N Dealin. Fashion Athena finished out against a C-1 field at The Meadowlands in her first 2013 start. She’ll finish ahead of Wheeling N Dealin? She’s faster than he is? Give us a break. She deserves to be rated a dozen spots ahead of Royalty For Life, too? Sure she does? Bee A Magician deserves the top ranking? No doubt about it—not.

The OSS Santana Blue Chip gelding, Windsong Jack, is ranked number five on the pacing list. He only raced in the Ontario Sire Stakes last year and will no doubt do the same this year. I guess a fast mile at Georgian Downs got him that ranking, as well as some easy OSS money. Santana Blue Chip fell flat on his face as an OSS stallion; they sold 14 of them for a $14,000 average in 2011 at Forrest City, while only two sold, one for $2,500 and the other for $4,500, in 2012. He was deported from Canada. Do you think he’s producing the number five open pacing colt? Another OSS colt, Mach Pride, is ranked number seven. We’re told he may be the strongest threat to Captaintreacherous. When will that be? He isn’t eligible to the BC, the Meadowlands Pace, or just about anything else, aside from the NA Cup where he’s 25/1 in the spring book. Windsong Jack isn’t even eligible to the Cup.

Something in their formula keeps taking them to Canada. Tarpon Hanover, who was good early in the OSS and won the Battle of Waterloo but was no factor in the Nassagaweya or Metro, is number 13, while Wake Up Peter, who won his BC elimination and finished a strong second in the final, is two spots back of him at number 15. Say what? Tarpon, an $82,000 Badlands Hanover yearling, is 30/1 in the NA Cup spring book. Windsong Jack is elevated off of a fast mile at Georgian Downs; Mach Pride gets the same treatment for winning fast at Rideau Carleton; and Tarpon gets a star for a fast mile at Grand River. Last year they had Wrangler Betonme, the pride of the Alberta SS program, in the top twenty. He started twice and earned no money. Who would have figured? Anybody.

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Three super star trotters have joined the breeding ranks during the past decade: Donato Hanover, who is nine-years-old; Dewey, who is eight; and Muscle Hill, who is seven. Of the three, Donato is most important because he is key to keeping alive the line running from Noble Victory through Garland Lobell. Maybe Chapter Seven, a son of the short-lived Conway Hall stallion, Windsong’s Legacy, will get it done, but Donato is the logical choice, and really the only reasonable possibility for Andover Hall in NA at this point. Donato’s oldest are four-year-olds this year. Check Me Out was a great filly but where are the boys? Possess The Will, Weingartner and From Above, all from his first crop, showed promise at two, but they could barely make it onto or around the track as sophomores.

More than 46% of the Donatos sold at the high end--$50,000 plus—at Harrisburg in 2011; that figure dropped to 30% in the fall. His stud fee was cut 25%. Muscle Hill’s yearling average was 33% higher than his was in 2012. Dewey didn’t even have a Check Me Out in his first forgettable crop. Like Donato he started out with a $20,000 fee but during his journey from Kentucky to Ontario in 2010 and now to New York, that fee got cut in half. Dewey’s average fell 11% at Harrisburg in 2012: the buyers are not a patient group.

Historically the first couple of crops are where premium stallions tend to produce the son or sons that will extend them. Bob Marks has been pounding home that theory for ages. If you look at the Valley Victory line that comes down from Speedster; Speedy Scot was from the first crop of Speedster; Speedy Crown was from Speedy Scot’s second crop; Speedy Somolli was a product of Speedy Crown’s second crop; Baltic Speed was from Speedy Somolli’s second crop; Valley Victory (Peace Corps, too) was from Baltic Speed’s first crop; Victory Dream was from Valley Victory’s first crop; Self Possessed was from Victory Dream’s first crop; Cantab Hall and Cash Hall were both from the first crop of Self Possessed; Explosive Matter was from Cantab Hall’s first crop. OK, Gene Abbe was thirty-years-old when Big Towner emerged from his last crop, but more often than not those early crops tell the tale.

Donato himself was from Andover Hall’s first crop; Mr Muscleman was from Muscles Yankee’s first crop and Tom Ridge from the second; Broadway Hall was from Conway Hall’s first and Windsong’s Legacy from the second; I believe Chocolatier, Here Comes Herbie and RC Royalty were all from the second crop of Credit Winner; Florida Pro was from Arnie Almahurst’s first; Mack Lobell was from the first of Mystic Park; Noble Gesture from Noble Victory’s first; Sierra Kosmos from Nearly Perfect’s first; Bonefish, Express Ride and Nevele Diamond were from Nevele Pride’s first and Bonefish from his second.

It goes the same way with pacers. Captaintreacherous is a first crop son of SBSW, and that one was from the second crop of Mach Three. Abercrombie was from Silent Majority’s first crop. Look at the Meadow Skipper line: MHF was from his first crop and Albatross the second; Oil Burner was a product of MHF’s second crop; No Nukes was from his first; Jate Lobell was from No Nukes’ first; Rocknroll Hanover was from Western Ideal’s first; Rocknroll Heaven was from his first…..So the fact that Dewey and Donato are both coming up short on potential extenders this early in their stallion careers is not a good sign.

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Golden Receiver is getting a lot of love for his wire to wire win in the TVG open the other night. He’s made nine starts in 2013 and has a win in the Presidential. Last year he had won the Presidential, swept the Spring Pacing Championship at Woodbine and won the Graduate by now. The latter two have gone away. Saturday’s TVG opens used to be the Graduate.

After winning the Haughton in mid-August of last year Golden Receiver lost four of his last five seasonal starts. The win was in an invitational pace at Pocono. That’s why he didn’t top the very beatable Foiled Again in the Dan Patch voting.

Cheddar is a better horse than Golden Receiver or Foiled at this point. Cheddar only faced Golden Receiver twice last year, in the Mohawk Gold Cup where Cheddar finished second behind WWS and Golden Receiver finished eighth, and in the Franklin elimination, where Cheddar cruised to victory and Golden Receiver finished ninth.

Cheddar is staked to the TVG. Will he be able to compete in it? Casie Coleman’s suspension is up, but will Gural allow her to race at the Meadowlands? Michaels Power, another Coleman trainee, is also staked to the TVG. A beard won’t get it done. Cheddar hasn’t raced at the Meadowlands since the Pace in July 2011—almost two years ago. It’s hard to envision his connections turning their backs on the TVG, though.

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Congratulations to Intimidate for his win in a $6,000 division of Series Quebecoise at Hippodrome 3R on Sunday. That’s one way to follow a win in the Breeders Crown, I suppose. Why race in the Cutler elimination Saturday night when you can go in Series Quebecoise on Sunday. Then again, he isn’t staked to the Cutler, Cashman or TVG. Maybe he’ll stay in Quebec and be required to race backwards. Or, maybe he’ll move on to Mohawk and be handicapped against the locals by being assigned the middle of the grandstand post. Maybe San Pail—another strange operation—will come back and he, Intimidate and Goo can stage the Oddball Trotting Futurity. Can we stick Blais in the Mr. Spaceman HOF with Hans and Hughes, or are there extenuating circumstances?

Would It Work Here?

2013-05-13T06:55:00.001-04:00

In NSW, Australia, two men are charged with race fixing and betting corruption with regards to Prussian Secret winning the Tamworth Cup, a race for thoroughbreds. The grounds for the race fixing charges? It is alleged that Prussian Secret was 'drenched' with performance enhancing drugs prior to the race.

This plot was discovered by Strike Force Trentbridge, a group formed to investigate allegations of racing fixing in the Australian state of New South Wales. The Strike Force is a group funded by NSW racing to handle investigation in the 'gallops', standardbreds, and greyhound racing industry and they work with civil authorities.

While I can't speak about greyhounds, administering illegal medication is done in all forms of horse racing; it is part of the human condition. People will try to get an advantage over their opponents, especially when money is involved regardless of the type of sport. It is when money is involved, people tend to notice it more.. .

One has to wonder what would happen if medication violations in North America were treated as criminal offenses instead of administrative violations? Granted, someone merely accused under the trainers responsibility rule would never be convicted as you need to be caught in the act of medicating a horse, but in those cases where someone is caught red-handed, perhaps handing them over to the criminal court is the way to go. The question is would it work here? Would racing appoint its own Strike Force Trenbridge and cover the expense in order to root out cheaters?.

What do you think?

Open and Fair Process? Not So Sure

2013-05-12T17:02:00.002-04:00

"Maryland Horsemen see a Horse Racing Renaissance" trumpets an article in the Washington Examiner regarding slots money 'pouring' in. Yep, reading the headline you would think all the horsemen in Maryland are tickled pink. That may be the case if you are a thoroughbred horseman; standardbred horsemen are a lot more guarded; especially when they don't know the status of Rosecroft Raceway after this year.

As you may recall, last year casino gambling was approved for Prince George County, home of Rosecroft Raceway which is operated by casino operator Penn National Gaming (oh, they race horses too). Rosecroft Raceway was purchased out of bankruptcy by PNG which is hoping to build a slot parlor there, making it known if they don't get a casino at Rosecroft, they will likely pull the plug on racing there. Unfortunately, the politically-connected are envisioning a casino opening at the National Harbor to be operated by MGM (there is a third bid as well) as if it is a foregone conclusion. Of course, this will be a fair and open process, correct?

Don't bet on it. There are those who feel the process of selecting a casino operator is merely a process of going through the motions. In fact, when the Executive Director of the Maryland Horse Industry Board is talking about the casino at National Harbor as a foregone conclusion, standardbred interests need to wonder how fair the vetting process is going to be. After all, the Maryland Horse Industry Board is to represent the entire equine industry in the state from racing breeds to pleasure horses. Unfortunately, standardbred representation on this board is somewhat lacking with only one of the eleven seats occupied by standardbred interests. Technically, only one seat is assigned to thoroughbred interests but when a consultant who has worked on the Preakness Stakes and other Maryland Jockey Club projects is given a seat representing organized shows and competitions, you have to wonder where the boards objectivity starts and ends. The last place this board wants to see a casino is at Rosecroft as it would mean divvying up the slot revenue with standardbred interests.

Purses at Rosecroft, while not phenomenal, aren't that bad with purses between $3,000-$7,000. Enough to keep the industry on life support. True there is racing on the Eastern Shore at Ocean Downs, but there is no secret Ocean Downs has no desire to extend their racing season. Purses also will be in the $2,800 to $7,000 level using the classified system, but racing three months a year does not make a stable industry.

While many would like the selection process to be merely a formality, standardbred interests in Maryland need to work with Penn National to make sure the process is fair and the projects are judged on their merits, not political connections. Otherwise, Penn National will be walked over with the standardbred industry possibly getting trampled at the same time.

The Tides of Alternative Gaming; Saying Goodbye and Outrage

2013-05-10T05:41:00.000-04:00

First a quick note. If you live near Woodstock, Virginia, there is a Wine and Trotting Festival at the Shenandoah County Fairgrounds in Virginia this Saturday from 11am-6pm. This is the last fair in the state to host harness racing so it would be great if it can get a good turn out. The event will go off rain or shine. Admission is $20 ($10 without the wine tasting; $2 for those 16 and under.

Delaware racinos, already hurting badly from expanded gaming in Pennsylvania and Maryland could be getting pounded more if House Bill 135 gets legislative approval and is signed off by Governor Merkel. This bill would allow the building of two new casinos in Delaware, specifically in Sussex and New Castle Counties.

Delaware moves fast so if this bill becomes law, a nine-member committee will determine where the casinos will be built and the decisions will be final.

This is going to become more common as states react to the increased competition. A state builds racinos because everyone else has them; then the surrounding states improve their offerings to drive more business to them; then other state builds more casinos to get business back.

With the exception of New Jersey where the gaming money flows out to surrounding states, gaming revenue is like tidal water; flowing in at high tide, flowing out at low tide. The only problem is as states start or expand gaming with additional casinos, whether brick and mortar or virtual, it is like beach erosion, tracks will not get back to where they started so purses begin to erode and erode and erode.....

Even in states most friendly to racing, slots are going to carry racing only so far. Racing needs to figure out what comes next to ensure its survival.

Passport Time - I would be remiss not to mention that Arch Madness is over in Europe to race in the Oslo Grand Prix this Sunday, doing battle against the likes of Maharajah and Commander Crowe. He will remain in Europe to do battle in the Elitlopp at the end of May. It will be interesting to see Arch Madness in the Grand Prix being he just shipped over this week for the race. Quarantine is tough on horses, throwing them off their normal routines. [Update: Arch Madness was scratched from Sunday's race due to tying up during a training session on Friday.]

Also heading overseas is Take My Picture who is aiming for the Elitlopp on May 26.

Unfortunately, both the Oslo Grand Prix and Elitlopp look not to be available for wagering in North America. I expect the day to come when races like these will be available to North American audiences. It is a question of when, not if.

Did You Know that besides being on the USTA website, The Grand Circuit has a presence on Facebook? You can click here and like their page and keep up to date with all the doings.

It's Not Just the Standardbreds. Venerable Hollywood Park is rounding into the final turn for the last time as they have made official the worst kept secret that the wrecking ball is coming to the Inglewood track shortly after Christmas this year. While Southern California still has Del Mar and Santa Anita for their racing circuit, there has been talk about Los Alamitos expanding their track for a more regular thoroughbred meet. When Churchill Downs sold the track to the current operator they twice tried for slots with no success. Long time harness racing fans remember the days Hollywood Park also featured harness racing, with Niatross and driving greats such as Joe O'Brien having raced there.

Outrage in West Virginia. The WVRC is investigating the death of Slippin' Around at Mountaineer Racetrack who collapsed in the receiving barn of the thoroughbred track prior to racing. From the news story, it appears the WVRC is investigating the abandonment of the horse and whether it was abandoned as it was dying and who is responsible. No animal, especially one which is cared for by humans, deserves to be abandoned as it dies.. Not having first-hand knowledge, I cast no judgment but if the investigation shows the horse was indeed abandoned as it lied dying, whoever is held responsible, be it the trainer, veterinarian, or someone else should never be allowed to participate in horse racing again.

A Quandary and Some Selections

2013-05-09T16:03:00.000-04:00

The Slaughter Quandary: I know some people are sick and tired about me talking about horse slaughter, but racing has developed a real quandary. On one hand, people say we need to get people connected to the horses to increase interest in racing but on the other hand, little is done with regards to the slaughter issue. Racing can't have it both ways. If you want people to be interested in horses, you need to make sure they are treated properly for their entire life. They can't be disposed of as property.

Look at Standardbred Canada and the Ontario horsemen for example. All during the fight to retain SARP, articles were written how many horses will end up being sent to slaughter because the owners will not be able to support them, yet when SARP was in place, when was the last time you saw something written on their website about horses being sent to slaughter? While not adequate, at least the USTA has instituted programs like the Full-Circle program in an effort to provide voluntary protection of horses and on occasion has talked about the slaughter issue; but nothing like the thoroughbred program developed in conjunction with animal welfare groups.

I try not to use this blog as a soap box, but until the problem is adequately addressed, I feel the duty to occasionally discuss the issue. If some feel uncomfortable about it, so be it.

With that done, let's take a look at some of the Friday night action at the Meadowlands; specifically the John Simpson Memorial races for 3yo trotting fillies as well as colts and geldings

In the first division (race 1) of the Simpson for fillies, I like Caneel Hall (#3) who last raced in the non-wagering division of the Lady Suffolk at Freehold last week. Despite jumping off at the start, Caneel Hall managed to come back and lose by less than two lengths. Where she hasn't jumped off stride the filly has been close. Granted this may be a slightly tougher field but at 6-1, she's worth a look. After Caneel Hall, True Day Dream (#5) and Lady Dynamite are the logical contenders).

In the second division (race 2), I am going to toss Vida De Vie (#7), even though she won the wagering division of the Lady Suffolk at Freehold last week. Yes, she won but when four of six horses jumped off last week, you need to discount the effort. Instead, this race looks chalky as Miss Steele (#3) finished back a neck last week in her first start back. Andie Sophia (#5) is the chief contender, finishing fourth last week. If you insist in going three deep to play the trifecta, I will give Audio (#6) a chance to redeem herself for last weeks bomb of an effort.

Now turning our attention to the colts and geldings, the first division (race 5). Despite the horrible post, Fashion Blizzard (#8) is my top pick in the race being a winner of five races last year. However, if he falls below 2-1, I would take another look at Show Ticket (#4) who was a little short in his first race back; now being a bit more tighter. Cajole Hanover (#6) seems to have benefited from stopping early last year and given time to grow. We will see how much better the green colt is. For Super players, Muscle Mountain (#1 POE) is the stronger half of the entry and in good position to grab the final slot.

Lastly, in the second division (race 11), I am going to take a slight stab and go with My Man Can (#4) who won a prep race last week. At times he should brilliance last year when he didn't implode. Corky (#7) comes off three straight qualifiers. If you can get something above 2-1, he may be worth the win wager. After these two, you have to like Explosive Action (#6) who closed to finish second in his season debut as well as Tornado (#5) who seems to have the class advantage over these.

What a True Kill Auction is Like

2013-05-09T07:10:00.001-04:00

You have heard me talk before about rescue groups who go to the auctions to buy horses who may end up being sent to slaughter. Well courtesy of Horse Rescue United founder Anouk Busch, we have a third party description of a kill auction from the perspective of the horses written by her based on a trip Anouk made to the New Holland Sales.

Jessica: I had been shown no compassion. No love. No kind words. No understanding. I became a terrified, cranky, moody, mistrusting, kicking and biting mare who got dumped at New Holland Sales.

Cooper: I had been a faithful racehorse who earned my owners checks and earnings of about $25.000. Then I got amished and worked for about 6 years as a buggy horse. I worked so hard. Never complained. Always trusted. But when my stifle got too bad to hurry up and down the streets I got dumped at New Holland Sales.

Tristan: I was being somewhat happy in my former life. I worked and was lucky enough that my owners kept my manes and tail on me. I was playful even though I was a bit hungry. I was full of mud too. But I'm such a happy boy it didn't matter to me. Then my eye became a problem. It got worse and worse and I got no care. It hurt a lot and I could hardly see. Still I plowed the fields as I was told to do. But then my leg got lame and 1 day I found myself at New Holland Sales.

Justice: I was a kind buggy horse and I got in foal. Maybe by accident since when it became close for me to foal they brought me to New Holland Sales.

That day we all found a scary scenario...Tristan run through the ring first.

"Nobody wanted me. One bid came and Oh My God, it was from the kill buyer. One of the biggest kill buyers on the East Coast. Then a girl raced her hand. Nervous I glanced her way. The hammer fell. Sold for $ 35. Who bought me??? The girl raised her hand again. But the next horse already came through they took the girl's number. She seemed ok."

Then Cooper came in the ring. The girl watched all the standardbreds closely and was waiting for a miserable mare to come through but Cooper...

She yelled does he have a tattoo?? When the killer bid on him last, "Yes, he rides and drives", yelled the auctioneer back.

She bid. The killer bid one more time and hesitantly the girl raised her hand again. $200 sold to the girl .

Then Justice came in. The girl liked her kind look but she already had two. Her limit was two and she was dead set on saving the miserable mare that she just knew would be kill. She didn't bid; had to look away. The mare sold for $150 to an Amish dealer.

Then finally near the end the miserable mare came in the ring. A low bid for kill. Then the girl bid and the hammer fell for $75.

Then the Coggins came back positive on the miserable mare (ed. note - later came back as a false positive) and the girl went and got Justice from the Amish guy who also sends to kill when the horse can no longer work... $200.

The girl promised she would pay one month quarantine on the miserable mare and try to help her if she could.

Well next thing you know we all ended up being Horse Rescue United horses.

Where we are loved, cared for, rehabilitated, treated with compassion, kindness, and adequate feed. We got retrained and even the miserable mare came to us. She's now named Jessica and is now the Belle of the Ball.

Please note that Justice sadly had a still born which we had named Astrea, a filly. Auctions houses are hotbeds for illnesses and the stress alone might have hurt her foal. we will never know. Justice thankfully recovered well from her loss thanks to her being fostered by her foster parents. She is now happily adopted and looks amazing.

Tristan now.

Tristan was found to have incurable cancer that has already spread to his bones. He is living out his live as HRU as long as we can keep him comfortable and happy.

Jessica has transformed from the scared, moody, and cranky mare to a kind, trying, and still feisty girl. She loves her treats and has made more progress than any HRU horse has before.

Cooper was happily adopted out, but a history of reoccurring colic turned out to be fatal. We suspect he might have had a cancer mass internally.

Jessica

Jessica is still waiting for an adoptive home as a pasture companion. You can read and see more about her and other horses at www.horserescueunited.org or by checking out Horse Rescue United on Facebook.

Wednesday Afternoon Doings

2013-05-08T15:51:00.000-04:00

Hanover Raceway in Ontario will be introducing their fans to racing under saddle as they will be scheduling a RUS qualifier to be contested during their regular wagering card. Granted, a qualifier is not likely to be as good a RUS race, but still it is a way to expose their fans to RUS racing, This qualifier has been requested so the connections may make a decision as to whether or not to nominate to the RUS late closing series at the Meadowlands. If you are in Ontario and looking to race in RUS events this year, why not qualify under the lights?

Just when you thought things in the Godolphin scandal were going picture perfect, things have taken a decidedly North American turn with trainer Al-Zarooni appealing his eight-year ban from training in Britain. Perhaps it was his admitting to his transgressions, including identifying four other horses which were treated with steroids but not yet tested which made him think his penalty would have been lighter. Maybe he thought the racing board didn't consider his testimony where he thought Britain was like other jurisdictions where anabolic steroids are allowed under certain circumstances, such as in Dubai where racehorses are not allowed to race for 28 days after use, unlike Britain where they are banned at all times. I am not doubting his story, but according to the BBC story, it would appear his actions seem to be belie his words..

Scioto Downs opens up tonight with ten races, with all races going with at least one trailer. The first track in Ohio to benefit from slots have purses which will keep many horsemen to stay home. With purses ranging between $5,000 and $25,000 quality should not be much of an issue. It will be interested to see if Scioto Downs will be able to draw wagering interest. Those unfamiliar with Scioto's betting menu should be aware in addition to the dime Superfectas, there are $.50 trifectas and a dime Super High-Five (9th race) in addition to the typical Pick-3s and Pick-4. On Thursday nights, there is a guaranteed $3,000 pool for the Pick-4. I suspect the guarantee will be going up as the meet continues..

The Meadowlands has four divisions of the Simpson going on Friday night which would make ten great betting races. Instead there will be four divisions with anywhere from six to nine horses. One assumes the races were broken into four divisions to eliminate coupled entries, but by doing so, you have at least two races which are unbeatable. New Jersey needs to eliminate the coupled entry rules so we don't have to dilute the racing product in order to avoid entries.

In addition, the Meadowlands will be offering a few late closing series in June geared towards horses that have raced at Freehold Raceway this year as well as C2 horses. If you weren't classified as of May 17 in C-2, you are eligible to enter if you made six starts or more at Freehold. Nominating fee is $100. This should help ensure full card fields are offered, Remember, it is ee

By now you have heard Woodstock Raceway has surrendered its license to operate. This was not surprising being Woodstock is owned by Winrac, the same for-profit company that owned Windsor Raceway. To tell you the truth, I thought Dresden Raceway, also owned by Winrac would have closed but they have decided to race this year, probably because their commitment is only for sixteen days of racing. I imagine Winrac wants to keep their hands in the pot just in case things turn out better than they expected, such as the full casinos coming to the racetracks.

Lastly, thirty-one horses died in a fire in transport to a slaughterhouse in Canada. As horrible as death by fire is, the sad thing is it may have been better than the fate awaiting them in Canada.

TVG FFA Pacing Series Preview

2013-05-08T08:15:00.001-04:00

Frequent VFTRG contributor Joe F. offers his opinion on the opening leg of the TVG FFA Pacing Series at the Meadowlands.

The first leg of the TVG FFA Pacing Series at M1 will be raced on Saturday. There will be two $50,000 divisions, each with seven starters. Having only seven starters in races featuring pacers that cover several classes does not make for a very appealing wagering vehicle. About 60% of the nominees are not entered for one reason or another. And considering the fact that a pacer must start in at least five of the nine preliminary legs and earn enough points to qualify for the $500,000 final, that’s surprising.

The system for allocating points is markedly different from that employed by Yonkers for the Levy series. In that one each starter receives 25 show up points—half of what the winner of a given leg would get. There are no appearance points for the TVG series unless a race is cancelled. Also, while only the top five places get points in the Levy, all finishers get points in the Meadowlands series. In the Levy the place horse gets half as many points as the winner and the third place finisher gets a quarter of what the winner receives. In the TVG, on the other hand, the place horse will get a whopping 71% of the winner’s point allocation while the third horse gets 43% of what the winner gets. This system will serve to keep the connections engaged; missing or finishing back in a couple of legs won’t put you out of reach of a spot in the final.

There are two seven horse $40,000 eliminations for the Cutler on Saturday and those trotters will only earn half as many points as will be available to them next week in the final. It appears that this week’s two pacing divisions are both considered full-fledged opens that award maximum points.

Attracting high profile four-year-olds to the Meadowlands is a point of focus for Jeff Gural, and half of the thirty-four nominee to the FFA pacing series are in that class. The problem is that only four of them showed up for this introductory leg. Nine of the four-year-old nominees have not made a start in 2013, and two of those—Sweet Lou and Dynamic Youth—are entered this week. Sweet Lou’s sophomore campaign was a disappointment, with the Tattersalls Pace being his only major open win, but he did bank more than a million dollars. Dynamic Youth’s only open stakes win is the Cane. Hurrikane Kingcole, who was very impressive at this track last week, had no open stakes wins in 2012 and only one—the Nassagaweya—in 2011. Warrawee Needy, the fourth four-year-old, has never won an open stakes race.

Which four-year-olds aren’t in? Nominated but missing are: Heston Blue Chip, Michaels Power, ARNRD, Bolt The Duer, Pet Rock, Mel Mara, Panther Hanover, Bettor’s Edge, Hillbilly Hanover, Allstar Legend, Our Lucky Chip, Lucky Jet and I Like Dreamin.

Betterthancheddar, who may be the best of the older horses, is staked to the series but he isn’t entered. He hasn’t made a start this year. (Casie Coleman’s suspension ended May 3. If the powers that be at the Meadowlands opted to continue to deny her privileges it would obviously have an impact on nominees like Cheddar and Michaels Power.) BC winner Bettor Sweet is also eligible, but he isn’t in either. WWS, who is a shell of what he was two years ago, is staked to the race but not entered. Rockincam, Special T Rocks and Classic Rock Nroll are three other nominees who are not entered.

More than half of those entered are geldings. Two of those, the elder statesmen, Foiled Again and Golden Receiver, drew the three post in their respective divisions. The latter takes on Razzle Dazzle, who won his first open stakes race in the Levy recently, Warrawee Needy, who has been burning up the track at Woodbine, winning his last three against cheaper, and Sweet Lou, who is a mystery at this point. Foiled has an easier go of it in the eleventh, although Kingcole crushed a field of four-year-olds in :50 at M1 the other night and Dial, who has been at the top of his game, easily beat a wo25 field in :49 at Harrah’s on Saturday.

Four of the fourteen entered in the two splits are from the Burke barn. People complain about that, but at least he shows up. Where are all the others?

Shuffling Off to Buffalo and a New Breeding Program

2013-05-07T16:00:00.003-04:00

Shuffling off to Buffalo for at least a short while driver Jody Jamieson (and trainer/driver Nicholas Boyd), who because of the changes in Ontario is seeking out opportunities to race while staying nearby their base of operations. Jamieson's quest has his shuffling off to Buffalo where followers of racing at Buffalo Raceway will be seeing Jamieson racing in ten of the twelve races on Wednesday (Nick Boyd will be racing in one race). It should be interesting to see if handle increases at the Hamburg oval and if Jamieson cleans up.

The New Jersey Sires Stakes may not be the only game in town in New Jersey if a bill (A-4033) Assemblyman Ronald Dancer has proposed becomes law, the law would dictate funds dedicated to the NJSS would be diverted to the Standardbred Development Program (SDP) which would be open to NJSS-eligible horses as well as allow the foals born in NJ if the broodmares, spend 150 consecutive days in New Jersey after being bred. If the bill is approved, temporary rules may be adopted to allow the Standardbred Development Program to begin operation in 2014.

While this bill will not get stallions to return to the state, adoption of the SDP could be a shot in the arm for the NJ breeding industry and help fill races. With artificial insemination, the need to ship horses to breeding farms has been greatly reduced. While this program will not stimulate breeding within the state, breeding farms may once again be populated with broodmares getting read to give birth.

Thoroughbred fans, get ready for the William Hill Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park this year. Not to be outdone by the Meadowlands' deal with Hard Rock Café, Monmouth inked a deal for naming rights with William Hill, a British Bookmaker who will be handling Monmouth Park's sports betting operations, if (and I am still convinced a big if) NJ's sports betting bill gets judicial approval.

Speaking of New Jersey, over on a message group we were talking about fair racing and how fair racing is a great way to acquaint people to horses; to let them develop a connection to them, after all, at fairs you can often walk amongst the stables and watch all the preparation up close. To this day, I think it was a foolish decision way back to end the NJSS fair circuit and during the early years of the sires stakes, the Garden State Stakes. Located at fair and training tracks throughout the state of New Jersey, you had the opportunity for people to come out for the day and enjoy the races (sans wagering).. While Stanley Dancer's Egyptian Acres was probably the best stop on the circuit for fans, I remember Willowbrook Farms ("The Home of the Hobos") in Tinton Falls, and Johnson Park in Piscataway on the banks of the Raritan (the track often was under water when flooding occurred. Sadly, I doubt the fair circuit will come back; especially at this juncture.

But then conversation turned to Weequahic Park in Newark, and whose career's may have started there. While looking for information, I located a website with stories from the days of Weequahic Park as well as a page where some photos from that era are posted. Those who use Google Earth can still see where the track once stood.

If you have a fair track near where you live, make sure you try to come out when there is racing for once it is gone, there is a good chance it will be lost forever. Fair boards need to see racing still draws a crowd.

Legislation to be introduced in New York would have the first three full-fledged casinos at existing harness tracks. Under the proposal, Monticello Raceway would be first with Tioga Downs and Saratoga Raceway the next two.

Rescuing Horses in the Internet Age; Separating the Bad from the Good

2013-05-07T07:04:00.000-04:00

So you want to rescue a horse. Congratulations. Fortunately for you, the Internet,  has made it much easier for individuals to get involved thanks to social media, like Facebook as well as quick payment systems such as Paypal and Google Wallet. The bad news is the Internet has made it easier for people to scam good natured people.

The purpose of this article is not to tell people to donate to horse rescues. It certainly is not to tell you that you shouldn't donate to horse rescues. It is to tell you what to look for when you decide to spend your hard earned money on horse rescue.

Before we go further, let's talk about the various avenues available for rescuing horses; horses of all types and even donkeys.

The simplest program is the programs that deal with the unpleasantness of the grade auctions and buy their horses directly, often for less than $100 or obtain their horses from owner surrenders. They then go through the expense of quarantine and will evaluate the horse and begin training the horse for another career if possible. When offered to the public, they are offered for adoption with a contract with a nominal fee, a fee to allow the rescue to continue their work and they will take the horse back if the adoption doesn't work out. When they look for donations, they generally look for donations to help cover their expenses and continue their work.

Then there are those groups who basically market horses which went through auctions and were purchased by an auction operator, supposedly for slaughter . In this case, the owner doesn't care which way he make his money; either selling to you for a profit or selling it to the kill-buyer. Often these operators welcome the assistance of others to work with them in getting the horses placed. Potential buyers are welcome to the feed lot to see the horse. Some object to this type of arrangement as at times these owners will buy horses from other auctions and run them through their own auction to inflate the prices.  Some object to this type of operation because it allows the auction operator to buy more horses because he/she can make a profit selling the horses to the public, playing on their emotions. Regardless of what you feel about this method, you will typically end up with the horse you have saved.

Then there are the most controversial programs, the Broker-Owned sales. Here, rescues will work with a kill-buyer and seek to get horses sold before 'the truck arrives'. They will often help by facilitating the raising of bail money to save a horse. Sometimes you don't know the horse is owned by a kill-buyer.  Opponents have a problem with a 'rescue' being in bed with a kill buyer. They also have a problem with them claiming the truck is coming for them when often it isn't because the horse is likely not a candidate for slaughter due to pregnancy or low weight. The best horses generally are not offered for sale as they are the ones the slaughterhouses want. Once again, allowing a broker to make a profit will allow them to buy more horses; horses which may not have a chance to be offered for rescue. It should be noted that some people have claimed the horse they thought they were buying is not the horse offered to them when they show up and/or they end up with a lot more work to get the horse in good shape than they thought they were getting into. If you go this root, you will almost certainly be paying a premium.

I will leave it to you to decide which type of rescue you should use or support.  Some will argue a horse saved is a horse saved no matter how it is done. Others are willing to let a horse go to slaughter instead of enriching the kill-buyer. All I will say is do your research and decide which way you want to go. If things go wrong, complain; but make sure you complain for the right reason. Were your expectations realistic?

Earlier, I mentioned the Internet has made it possible for questionable groups to scam people, taking advantage of their sentimentality and desire to save a horse from slaughter. Of course, there are groups who legitimately are working to save horses and find social networks like Facebook are low-cost methods to fund raise. As a potential downer, it unfortunately is up to you to do your research because law enforcement typically have bigger problems to deal with.

Here are some rules and things you should look for when making donations.

A 501(c)(3) organization is not an endorsement. All it means is a group may collect donations that are tax-deductible to the donor . A 501(c)(3) organization is a non-profit, meaning there are no retained earnings.
A 501(c)(3) status can be abused. It takes time for the government to revoke the status and in the meanwhile, a group can take advantage of this 'seal of approval'. Look at a site like www.guidestar.org and check on the status of a 501(c)(3).
While a website is not a guarantee of legitimacy, if there is no website, it is a warning sign.
If a horse is being sold, that is a problem. Horses should be adopted out with a contract which specifies the rescue will take the horse back if anything goes wrong or is not well maintained by the adopter. A horse should not be allowed to breed. A rescue should require at least once a year a report from a veterinarian on the status of the horse. A rescue that lets a horse go without a contract is a seller of horses, not a rescue.
Is the rescue accredited? It should be on their website. Don't take their word. Check with the accrediting agency and make sure they are still members in good standing.
On the website, it should list the current officers of the charity and their primary occupation.
Check the latest Form 990 (which ideally should be posted on the rescue's website or failing that on Guidestar) and make sure the officers are volunteers. If they make a salary it could be a warning sign. Look for other expenses on their report and do they seem out of wack or expenses which seem extravagant (conventions, etc.)? Rescues should be working on saving horses, not enjoying themselves on the donors' dime. Read the entire form 990. No, you don't need to read every single thing but you want the form to pass the smell test.
All non-profits must make their latest Form 990 available to the public either on their website, through a third-party website or in person or by mail. A non-profit may charge $1 for the first page and $0.15 per page after that. If making request by mail, they have 30 days to complete your request.
Remember, there may be a delay in posting their 990. If you don't see 2012's form 990 on their website or on Guidestar.org (or other site) that is okay in the early part of 2013. However, if you don't see the 2011 form out there, it should be a warning sign.
Note Guidestar is a voluntary service. If you can't find a rescue on Guidestar, look elsewhere such as Foundation Center.
Beware of the 'truck is coming' story. You know horses can be going to slaughter. When a group uses this angle, they are tugging on your emotions and hoping you take out your credit card or checkbook.
Do your research. Check the web for complaints. Any group can have some detractors; you can't please everyone but there comes a point where the complaints are too many to ignore. Where there is smoke, there usually is fire.
If the rescue is close enough, consider visiting them. Just realize you may not be able to just show up and visit, you may need to make arrangements to visit. A big warning is when they try to seriously discourage visits or refuse to allow you to visit.

The point of this article is not to tell you to avoid horse rescues. There are some real good horse rescues out there but unfortunately, there are those who are more concerned with your money than actually rescuing horses. The cause is good. Good enough that it is worth doing the work to make sure the rescue is legitimate.

Do you think I missed something here? Let me know and I will share your thoughts.

Pari-Mutuel Barrel Racing, We Hardly Knew Ye

2013-05-06T16:25:00.001-04:00

An administrative law judge (ALJ) in Florida has issued a final ruling that has determined the Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering (DPMW) in Florida improperly issued a license for race dates to Gretna Entertainment for barrel racing match races.

Many wondered how the heck a license could have been issued in the first place, but Florida, in their haphazard way of doing things, the DPMW managed to come to a conclusion that barrel match racing could constitute pari-mutuel racing.

Two seasons later, the administrative law judge came out with his ruling. If you are interested, you can read the whole eight-five page ruling, but to cut to the chase, here is what the ALJ ruled:

Pari-mutuel match wagering is probably not allowed by Florida Statute but as an ALJ, he is not allowed to make a ruling on an interpretation of the law; that is something for the agencies and civil courts to decide.
Where the DPMW failed is if they felt the law permitted wagering on pari-mutuel wagering, they were compelled to propagate rules regarding the conduct and wagering on barrel racing. This is something the department failed to do. The ALJ suggested the department didn't want to issue rules so not to give those opposed to wagering on barrel racing any ammunition so they created their own policy statement; something not allowed by law in this case

So pari-mutuel wagering on barrel racing is history; no later than the current annual license expiring, correct? There is a good chance it is history, but when the real goal is to operate a card room and gain slots, both at risk now, you can bet the death throes will continue for a while yet. Here are the scenarios:

The DPMW could decide to appeal the ALJ ruling. The case then continues on.
The DPMW could decide to promulgate the rules the judge claimed they failed to do which by implication suggests the division feels pari-mutuel barrel racing does meet the legislature's intended definition of pari-mutuel quarter horse racing. Then the quarter horse, thoroughbred, and standardbred horsemen would be expected to move on to appeal in civil court.
The DPMW demurs and accepts the ALJ's ruling. Then Gretna Entertainment may decide to go to court. (Technically, the Florida Quarter Horse Track Association, no relationship to the FQHA could appeal the ALJ's ruling. The FQHTA is a group that Gretna Racing is a member of and intervened in the case. Gretna Racing can not directly challenge the ALJ's ruling).)
Gretna Entertainment builds their J-track and runs a proper pari-mutuel quarter horse meet.
Gretna Entertainment goes off into the sunset.

Considering the money involved, this case is not going to go off into the sunset, that quick. There is likely at least one more act to be played out.

Things that Rankle Harness Racing Fans

2013-05-06T13:00:00.000-04:00

I am sure we all have our pet peeves, but there are some of peeves which irk the harness racing fan big time. You know, the ones that make them want to scream. For example:

New Fans, Who Needs New Fans?
It annoys the heck out of the harness racing fan when they hear some people in harness racing suggest it is better to let slot players be instead of trying to convert them to horse racing (Note: This is not Ivan Axelrod saying this, he is relaying what others are saying). What is the rationale? Purses would likely do better with the gambler playing slots than they would do if that person was to turn to the horses.

To be fair, these people are not saying don't attract new horseplayers, but it certainly rankles the harness racing fan when they hear this mentality for it suggests what the fan already thought; horsemen (and track operators) just care about the short term and don't care about the long term consequences. However, logic suggests racing would do better in the long run if it worried more about developing new fans from anywhere it can, even if in the short term it meant lower revenues.

It's Post Time, Time to Grab a Hot Dog
Do I really need to go into this one? What is post time? It used to be when a race would go off (or admittedly at many tracks, a two minute warning). Now, it can be when the horses come out to the track to warm up, it can mean five to ten minutes till the race starts, it can also be the time the mutuel manager watches to see when virtually every last dollar that can be bet on the race is bet. Whichever definition you choose, if you are at the track go ahead and get your hot dog. Unless it is a rare stakes night, you will be back in your seat in plenty of time for the race to go off. In the meanwhile, people will continue to complain one of the problems with horse racing is it takes too long to complete a race card.

When Did I End Up in a Third World Racetrack?
Scioto Downs and a few other tracks are excused from this category. You show up at your local racino and you walk through the beautifully appointed casino to bet the races and all of a sudden you wonder where the heck you are, Oriental Park Racetrack? Okay, that may be a bit extreme, but you know what I am talking about? A run down facility, snack stands closed, few tellers, a coat of paint being considered a capital improvement. Talk about being a second class citizen. You have to be a real racing fan to subject yourself to such abuse. Odds are you are going to the casino or will be playing from home where everyone will complain how little the track makes from your wager.

I know, this is the gaming companies running a cost analysis and deciding racing doesn't pay so why put money into the track? Well, the same applies for non-racino tracks. You will complain how few people show up but you won't do anything about it. It takes money to make money. If you aren't willing to make the capital expenditures, consider seeking a partnership with someone who will.

Harness Racing is Stronger Than Ever?
Huh? What racing are the horsemen watching? Small pools where $10 can sink the odds? The two hundred people showing up at the track to watch the races? No doubt horsemen and racetracks are prospering (if a racino), but it is propped up on government largesse. Take a look at Ontario and see what happens when someone kicks the chair out from under racing. How strong is racing really?

Too Much Money is Being Bet through ADWs
Yes, racing let the ADWs get in the racing game and pay a much smaller fee for the product. You will also hear racetrack executives complain how a $1 million can be bet via ADWs and they make only $30,000 for the evening (to be split between horsemen and operators). Stop whining about it and do something. Why aren't racetracks working together in an effort to recoup the gambling lost to ADWs by forming your own ADW. Work with other tracks and form a partnership to compete against ADWs. At least then, while you may not get as much money as you would with betting through your own windows, you will get more money if the ADW is owned by a consortium of tracks. Yet no one makes any such move.

The Year 1976 as a Turning Point

2013-05-06T06:46:00.000-04:00

Many fans of the trotting sport hear the 1976 and immediately answer "The Meadowlands". As VFTRG contributor Joe F. explains, the Meadowlands was only part of the year that was a turning point in standardbred breeding and racing. Joe's piece is a great read. Sit back and enjoy.....

During the post parade Sam McKee makes it a point to inform the bettors about what brand of sulky a driver is using. If he guesses wrong he will come back prior to the race and make a definitive call. It wasn’t always like that. One of the major reasons the year 1976 serves as a significant turning point for harness racing is the fact that In December of 1975 Joe King’s modified sulky had been successfully introduced as the Yonkers meet came to a close. When racing shifted to Roosevelt Raceway the bike was used on 14 horses on the initial eight race card and six of them won. The bettors cried out for a designation on the program and the OTB entry sheet. The buzz was similar to that which accompanied the emergence of King’s single-shaft sulky earlier in the decade, only this time the USTA was powerless to legislate it out of existence. The modified bike would speed up the game as nothing else had.

Although it was obvious that the horses were moving markedly faster than they had in the past, some trainers, drivers and owners remained in a state of denial. Joe O’Brien was one of those. Seventeen of the eighteen trotters in that year’s Hambletonian were hitched to the new bike; O’Brien’s outstanding Speedy Scot-Armbro Flight filly, Armbro Regina, was the only one pulling a traditional wooden sulky. Regardless, there’s no doubt that the new bike was a major factor in the speed explosion that was initiated in 1976.

Another factor in the sudden explosion of pacing speed was superior breeding. Meadow Skipper was sixteen in 1976. His first crop, which contained Most Happy Fella, hit the track in 1969, and Albatross came along the following year. By ’76 Skipper had a number of quality horses in play, including: Governor Skipper, Handle With Care, Nero, Jade Prince, Escort, Windy Way, Tarport Skipper, Windshield Wiper, Raven Hanover, Seedling Herbert and JR Skipper. They hadn’t taken over yet, but by the time Skipper passed, six years later on January 28, 1982, he was firmly in possession of the crown.

A look at the Little Brown Jug provides us with some perspective on the sea change that was occurring. Pre Skipper—the winners of the Jug came from Adios, Billy Direct, Good Time, Knight Dream, Poplar Byrd and their sons. MHF won the race in 1970—the first year a Meadow Skipper was eligible. This win was followed by a brief dry spell during which Strike out, Melvin’s Woe and Armbro Omaha won the Jug, but during the 42 years from 1970 on, almost 75% of the Jugs were won by colts, and one filly, that trace back to Skipper on the top line. In addition, eight of the first ten editions of the Meadowlands Pace were won by sons or grandsons of Meadow Skipper.

Most Happy Fella’s first crop was four-years-old in 1976, and it included Tarport Hap and Silk Stockings. Oil Burner, whose claim to fame as a stallion lay with No Nukes, was a member of MHF’s second crop, along with Precious Fella, the sire of Tijuana Blue Chip and Whitey’s Fella, as well as the influential New Zealand sire, Smooth Fella. Tyler B came along in ’77 and Cam Fella two years later. No Nukes (79) was MHF’s most influential grandson, giving us Western Hanover and Jate Lobell. Tyler B contributed Dragon’s Lair.

Skipper’s son Nero, who was four in ’76, was a great colt and in March of that year Alan Leavitt syndicated him for $3.6 million, the highest valuation ever placed on a standardbred; there were 25 shares valued at $144,000 each. The first of his progeny raced in 1980 and his last crop hit the track in 1997. He was very prolific, and he was popular, for a while. In the end he was not highly regarded as a sire—Runnymeade Lobell, Icarus Lobell and Trutone Lobell were three of his best. Skipper did have some misses.

Albatross produced plenty of good racehorses, but was not a sire of sires. His son Niatross is credited with success in his first two crops with the likes of Nihilator, Barberry Spur, Pershing Square, Caressable, Handsome Sum, Masquerade, Semalu D’Amour and Smartest Remark, but he fell off the earth after being relocated to New York.

The Skippers did not dominate the sophomore pacing division in 1976. Keystone Ore, Stanley Dancer’s Bye Bye Byrd colt, was the star for most of the season. He won the Cane, Jug, Tattersalls and Bluegrass. But his sire was 21-years-old and Keystone Ore would be his last shooting star. Nesbit, Batman, Bye And Large, Bye Bye Max, Meadow Paige, Albert’s Star, Keystone Smartie and Keystone Memento had all come before Ore. And none of them would extend their dad.

Tar Heel was 28-years-old in 1976. Richmond, a full-brother to Nansemond and Isle of Wight, was a stakes colt but not a prominent one. Like Bye Bye Byrd, Tar Heel, who lived to the age of thirty-four, was past his prime as a stallion. His son O’Brien Hanover was twenty-one, but he had never been anything but a NYSS stallion. Laverne and Isle Of Wight were ten that year, Kentucky was nine and Nansemond eight, but none of them were worth anything as stallions. Steady Beau was sixteen and sired Steady Star, the fastest horse on the planet for nine years, but that one never won anything of note. Armbro Ranger, from Steady Star’s first crop, was a top tier colt, but he was about it.

Good Time had Crash racing as a two-year-old in 1976 but the little guy was just about out of gas. His son Race Time was fifteen but, aside from Dream Maker, there wasn’t much there that year. Good Time’s two best, Columbia George and Best Of All, were nine and twelve, respectively. Like Steady Star, they had Hanover behind them and were primed for outstanding careers at stud. Unfortunately that didn’t happen. George had Beckilyn Hanover, Le Baron Rouge and Timeron Hanover as four-year-olds that year, but none of the sons of Good Time were of any value when it came to extending him.

Bret Hanover, the great hope of the Adios line, was fourteen in 1976, and standing for $2,500 at Castleton Farm.. His son Warm Breeze was three that year. Like Steady Star, Warm Breeze was very fast but his accomplishments on the GC didn’t match his speed. When he won the Matron he paid $118. He was the fastest colt that year at :54.4 and did set a WR of :53.1 the following year at Sacramento. His premier son, Falcon Seelster, was an accomplished sire but unless McArdle throws an outlier Bret is destined to dead end on top with McArdle. It’s Abercrombie who has kept that Adios branch alive via his son, Artspalce. The winners of the last four Jugs have been out of Artsplace mares; 35% of the Jugs since 1970 have been won by colts, and a filly, that are out of Adios line mares. The mares from all of the above were productive, but things began to narrow on top.

Yonkers cancelled their International Pace in March of 1976 after the connections of the top five Down Under pacers turned down their invitations. The devaluation of the dollar as well as harsh quarantine rules that pretty much required a horse to spend most of the season here made the introduction of horses from Australia and New Zealand much less desirable for the Kiwis. Horses like Cardigan bay and Cardinal King that had been so instrumental in the growth of the sport during the 1960s became less prominent. The import business was still strong but there was less incentive to ship the best Down Under horses to North America. The sport had decided to privilege speed over stamina and toughness; distance racing was going the way of the wooden sulky. Also, sire stakes advocates saw a conflict of interest in subsidizing their blood polluters at the same time all these grizzled geldings were being imported from Down Under.

There were 712 two minute miles recorded in 1975; with 20% of the year left there were already double that number recorded in 1976. Yes, the opening of the Meadowlands played a significant role in this but it was more than that. Roosevelt Raceway recorded 25 two minute miles in all of 1975, while in the first 38 nights of the 1976 summer meet in Westbury there were already 31 such miles. Two-year-old Governor Skipper qualified in a pedestrian, by today’s standards, 2:03.4 and it was met with shock and awe.

The speed explosion on the twice arounds wasn’t confined to the top tier horses; on the fourth of July Adelweiss Rainbow won in 2:00 at RR, and the same night the more celebrated Albert’s Star won in :59.3 and Jug winner Seatrain in :58.1. Those three would have amounted to 12% of the 2:00 miles at Roosevelt in all of 1975. Later on in the month Silk Stockings broke her own TR at Monticello, notching a win in :57.2. While Keystone Ore won over the Saratoga half in :56.2. And when Keystone Ore won the Cane his :57.1 mile broke Silk Stockings :58.2 mark for three-year-olds.

Striking Image, a pretty good brother to Ring Of Light and Mirror Image, broke the YR two-year-old TR. Albatross held the RR two-year-old mark of 2:00.4, which he set for Harry Harvey when he jogged in the Roosevelt Futurity, but Stanley Dancer’s Nansemond brother to Triple B, Kawartha Eagle, won in 2:01 at Roosevelt that year, a mere tick off the record. Rambling Willie broke the WR for a mile and a quarter on a half in the Yonkers Summer Series and Handle With Care broke the mile and a half record in the Hudson Valley FFA Pace.

When the Meadowlands opened on September 1, large quality fields and an aggressive style of driving accelerated the parade of broken records. Rambling Willie established the TR beating Nero, and Oil Burner went the third fastest mile ever by a three-year-old in the Holmes, beating Armbro Ranger in :55.1. He had tied the WR of :54.4 for a three-year-old pacer earlier at Syracuse. And Young Quinn got Nero at the wire in :55, a WR for an aged gelding and the third fastest mile in history. The conflation of Meadow Skipper’s influence, the modified sulky and the opening of the Meadowlands led to unprecedented speed.

Five weeks after the Meadowlands opened Jade Prince had folks shaking their heads when the two-year-old Meadow Skipper colt went the fastest race mile ever--:54.1—for Jack Kopas in winning the second heat of the Fayette Pace at The Red Mile. He had paid $30 in the first heat as part of an entry with Super Clint and Crash. The :54.3 win by four-year-old Albatross at Sportsman’s Park in 1972 was and still is a significant marker, similar to Steady Star’s :52 time trial, but having a freshman take that record from him was incredible. Taurus Bomber had equaled the Albatross mark earlier in 1976 at Springfield, but that accomplishment turned into a footnote.

Thirty-seven years later those high tech bikes are still a key ingredient to success, The Big M is still a prominent player in the speed game and Skipper still rules on top. With regard to the latter however, the Volomite line running though Sampson Hanover and SBSW may be mounting a challenge Skipper and his progeny haven’t faced before, so we’ll have to keep an eye on that one.