All Good Things Come To An End

In January of 2006, trainer Michael Matz, who was most noted for his presence in the show jumping world, had high hopes for a little race horse named Barbaro.  In May of that same year, Barbaro proved his weight in gold when he captured the Kentucky Derby, undefeated, and his owners, Roy and Gretchen Jackson, were ecstatic.  Matz, Barbaro's diligent trainer, was on top of the world, until it all came crashing down during the opening stretch-run in the Preakness Stakes, when Barbaro shattered his right hind leg.  Barbaro ultimately succumbed to his injuries in January of 2007, which left a large void in the racing world, as well as the nation.

Matz continued his training relationship with the Jacksons, sending Barbaro's full brothers, Nicanor and Lentenor off to the races.  Not quite as successful as their older brother, the colts moved forward in their racing program with great promise, and still remain on the track today.

We are now told that Michael Matz and the Jacksons have parted ways after more than 10 years of working together.  The details of the split are unknown to Matz, for not more than a couple weeks ago, the Jacksons sent him four juveniles to train.  "I was totally surprised; I have no idea what their reason was," Matz said.  "Obviously I did something wrong or they lost confidence in me.  I really don't know.  They called me in July to tell me, right after I ran three horses for them  - one ran first, the other second, and the third one was off the board.  When I sat down with them, two weeks later, I was told it was a business decision.  It was obviously something I said or did;  believe me, I just don't know."

Matz said he has nothing but fond memories of the time he spent together with the Jacksons, whom he called friends. 

You can read the article in it's entirety here 


Notes and Totes

*  More promise at integrating the rest of the world with harness racing  

*  Trying to schedule big races at appropriate times as to not lose the majority of the handle for the following races - Hey, why not schedule big races at the end of the cards?  Read it here 

*  Gold Cup & Saucer Field Set 

*  See You At Peelers will "See You At Harrah's Chester" on Sunday in the Valley Forge

*  Want A Free Pick 4 Ticket? 

On a side note, if you need a good laugh today, go to Pull The Pocket's blog and take a look at the horse racing video....Just don't be drinking coffee when you watch it!


Stay safe, keep your hooves on the ground, and keep reaching for the wire!

The Secret's Out!

Who said older horses can't put on a show? The Richard Moreau trained Secretsothernephew was in top form at the Little M last night as he made a late closing move to nudge by Dry Gulch (Jody Jamieson) and Bullet Speed (Randy Waples) in a wicked time of 1:49.3.  Driven by Sylvain Filion, the 4-yr-old son of Camluck won the eighth of 11 races with fractions of 12.3, 26.2, 54, 1:21.4, 1:35.3 - pacing his last quarter in 26.4 seconds!  Keep your eye on this guy in the future!

Running Circles Around The Competition

Here's a little filly to watch out for; The 2-yr-old sensation, Circles!  The daughter of Majestic Son and super-producer Merles Image won the $130,000 Ontario Sire Stakes Gold Final at the Little M on Monday evening by five lengths with a time of 1:57.0!  She has accumulated $190,000 in six races but will have to wait until Sept. 22 to defend her Gold Final title.  Monday's win was Circles' fourth in a season that has seen her capture all three of her Gold Eliminations and finish second in the first two Gold Finals of the season.

Notes and Totes

*  Pretty Katherine - Sold 
*  Summer Sizzler Catalogue Now Online 
*  Frenchfrysnvinegar Repeats 
*  Rocknroll Hanover to stand Down Under 



Stay safe, keep your hooves on the ground, and keep reaching for the wire!

Looking Beyond 2012

Brooklyn Backstretch blogged a great post regarding the Round Table discussion held to identify the problem areas in Thoroughbred racing.  Below are a list of 5 factors contributing to racing's decline (My comments are in red):

*  Competititon from other types of gambling (Yes, casinos!)
*  Brand perception (Stop sending race horses to slaughter!)
*  Dilution of the product ( Racetracks are in competition for business-Too many classes!)
*  The fan experience (What experience?  Racetracks want more people in the stands, yet do NOTHING to get them there - Grand River Raceway excluded, they try and involve all fans into their racing programs!)
*  Fragmented distribution (NA Cup, Confederation Cup, etc., should be picked up by NBC, ABC, or another main broadcasting company!)

McKinsey recommends (My comments in red):

*  Increased television coverage (Make it attractive for broadcasting sponsorship)
*  A Free-To-Play Website (Much like the free online poker-I like picking exactas and trifectas but am not seasoned enough to spend copious amounts of cash on betting websites)
*  Fewer, better races and better scheduling to increase field size and showcase the best product (Ensure all racetracks get their fareshare)
*  Creation of a social game (See above-A Free-To-Play website)
*  Innovative wagering platforms (?)
*  Track-integrated ADW (?)
*  Racing integrity reforms (Yes, yes, yes!)
*  Encouragement of ownership through greater transparency (Make sure all owners know the difference between a horse's head and it's rearend-No blaming the trainer for everything that goes awry!)
*  Dissemination of best practices from tracks around the country (A+ for effort!)

I would also add:

*  A unified governing body should be in place for the standardbred industry
*  A suspension should hold it's strength across the borders


Onward!


Stay safe, keep your hooves on the ground, and keep reaching for the wire!

I'll Take "Exactas" for $800, Alex!

We've all had it done to us in our trifectas...The horse we picked to win, wins, the horse we picked to place, places, and then WHAMO, the horse we picked to show, is off having a pretzel at one of the concession stands!  Since that's happened to me about, ohhhhhh, a thousand times, I have decided that today I will make only exacta picks and I will also be placing them in a "box".  Hey, I'm not a seasoned bettor, so I'm entitled!  Now for all you newbie bettors, placing your picks in a "box" means that your two horses can come 1-2 in either order.  For example, if you pick Noname Hanover to win and Fictitious to place, and Fictitious wins and Noname Hanover places - you still win!

Here we go, off to the NJSS Finals at the Big M:

Race 2-Post Time 7:20pm

Krispy Apple - Rocklamation

Race 3-Post Time 7:40pm

Hey Mister - Wincinnatti

Race 4-Post Time 8:00pm

Manofmanymissions - Whit

Race 6-Post Time 8:40pm

Shadyshark Hanover - Big Jim




Flamboro Raceway on Sunday:

Race 6-Post Time 2:43pm

Mr Joe Sixpack - Undercover Strike

Race 8-Confederation Cup Elimination-Post Time 3:25pm

Prodigal Seelster (7-2)
Mystician (3-1)
Foreclosure N (4-1)
Mystic Desire (9-2)
Odysseus Bluechip (6-1)
Arsenal (8-1)
Up The Credit (2-1)
Bestofbest Hanover (10-1)

Foreclosure N - Mystician

Race 9-Confederation Cup Elimination-Post Time 3:47pm

Mickey Hanover (7-2)
Eighteen (8-1)
Rollwithitharry (2-1)
Townslight Hanover (4-1)
Keystone Velocity (9-2)
Hare Craft (6-1)
Rock To Glory (10-1)
Wink N Atcha (3-1)

Wink N Atcha - Rollwithitharry

Race 12-Confederation Cup Final-Post Time 5:00pm

Would like to see Foreclosure N win the Cup, but this will be based on the above mentioned elimination races.  The top four finishers from each heat plus one 5th place finisher.

1. Arsenal
2. Bestofbest Hanover
3. Eighteen
4. Foreclosure N
5. Hare Craft
6. Keystone Velocity
7. Mickey Hanover
8. Mystic Desire
9. Mystician
10. Odysseus Bluechip
11. Prodigal Seelster
12. Rock To Glory
13. Rollwithitharry
14. Townslight Hanover
15. Up The Credit
16. Wink N Atcha


Notes and Totes

* See You At Peelers is racing Sunday at Tioga Downs
* NJRC Holds Crys Dream Winnings  and View From The Racetrack Grandstand Delves Into The New Dick Francis Novel - Dare To Dream (Actually, it's more about the case regarding Crys Dream)
* New Enhanced Testing For Clenbuterol



Good Luck To All This Weekend!!


Stay safe, keep your hooves on the ground, and keep reaching for the wire!

It's Jeopardy Time!!

There is so much spectacular racing going on this weekend that today we are going to have some fun to get us in the mood!  See how many of these trivia questions you get correct...do you know your racetracks?  Answers are below, but no peeking until you're done!

1.  Which track in New York state has a half-mile oval, is home to the second leg of the pacing Triple Crown, the Messenger Stakes, and is known for running races at 1 and 1/16 miles multiple times a night?

* Saratoga Raceway
* Monticello Raceway
* Yonkers Raceway
* Vernon Downs

2.  Harness Racing is much bigger in the Eastern United States than in the west. Which California track, home to the American Oaks of thoroughbred racing among other major events, including the first Breeders' Cup in 1984, stopped having standardbred meets in the 1980s?

* Hollywood Park
* Santa Anita Park
* Los Alamitos
* Del Mar

3.  Niatross is widely considered one of the best if not the best pacer of all time, winning 37 of his 39 lifetime races. At what Kentucky track did he race a time trial in 1:49 1/5, breaking the world record by nearly three seconds in the process?

* The Red Mile
* Blue Grass Downs
* Hazel Park
* Scioto Downs

4.  In 2004, Windsong's Legacy won the trotting Triple Crown, becoming the first horse since Super Bowl in 1972 to accomplish the feat. He won the first leg, the Hambletonian, at which New Jersey race track?

* Hoosier Park
* Scarborough Downs
* The Meadowlands
* Freehold Raceway

5.  In 2003, No Pan Intended became the first horse of the 21st century to win the pacing Triple Crown. The second leg of the crown, the Little Brown Jug, is considered the pacing equivalent of the Hambletonian and is the most prized race for a pacer. At which track did No Pan Intended win it?

* Rockingham Park
* Dover Downs
* Delaware County Fairgrounds
* Harrington Park

6.  While most tracks are geographically in the northeast, which standardbred facility is located in South Florida, the only standardbred track in the state?

* Derby Lane
* Pompano Park
* Flagler Track
* The Best Bet at St. John's

7.  Which Chicago area one-mile oval used to have thoroughbred racing in addition to harness racing until 1991, when it became exclusively a harness track?

* DuQuoin
* Maywood Park
* Balmoral Park
* Hawthorne Park

8.  Which track that has its location in its name, opened in August 2003 with a mixed breed meet and held a three-day harness meet the following month?

* Indiana Downs
* Buffalo Raceway
* California Expo
* North Dakota Horse Park

9.  The Dan Patch Invitational, named for the 19th century legend, is a track that runs a thoroughbred meet each fall that includes the state's derby. Which track is this that opened in his home state nearly a century after the horse was born?

* Hoosier Park
* Mount Pleasant Meadows
* Northville Downs
* Prairie Meadows

10.  This half-mile track in upstate New York might be best known for two things, only running Monday-Friday, and racing almost every Christmas Eve. It also traditionally races during the day, except on July 4th when it has an early evening first post time. Which track is this?

* Vernon Downs
* Saratoga Raceway
* Monticello Raceway
* Batavia Downs 


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Answers

1.  Yonkers Raceway

2.  Hollywood Park

3.  The Red Mile

4.  The Meadowlands

5.  Delaware County Fairgrounds

6.  Pompano Park

7.  Balmoral Park

8.  North Dakota Horse Park

9.  Hoosier Park

10.  Monticello Raceway

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Notes and Totes

* See You At Peelers is racing at Tioga Downs in the 8th race this Sunday - Here's the program

* Confederation Cup at Flamboro on Sunday - Here's the program
(Looking to the newly purchased Foreclosure N to clean house this weekend)

* Peach Martini Grabs Gold at Mohawk



Good Luck To All This Weekend!!


Stay safe, keep your hooves on the ground, and keep reaching for the wire!

You Must Be 5 Years Old To Enjoy This Ride...

My friends at Pull The Pocket and View From The Racetrack Grandstand have both blogged about the bold move made by the Hambletonian Society which stipulates that commencing in 2018, no horse will be eligible to race in the premiere event, unless they are sired by a horse five years or older.  In all honesty, this is a rule that should be implemented in both the Standardbred and Thoroughbred industries - any race, any horse, all the time.  Too big of a request?  I think not.  Darryl Kaplan, editor for Trot Magazine, discusses Somebeachsomewhere's retirement;

"Two days before the Cup, I spoke to co-owner and trainer Brent McGrath.  It was no secret that the ownership team were at the time being wooed by North America's top breeders, whom for obvious reasons, had little desire to see Beach race beyond 2008.

I asked McGrath, 'With a deal likely imminent that would have Somebeachsomewhere retiring at three, how many track, horsemen or industry groups have approached you to negotiate what it would take to keep this horse racing next year?'

Brent paused and responded, 'You're the first one to mention it."' 

Somebeachsomewhere was three-years-old, and in his prime when he was whisked away out of sight.  On average, he brought 8,000 fans to the racetrack to watch him compete each time out, and when doing the quick math, equates to approximately 168,000 fans and potential fans who would have seen him on the track.  I should know, I was one of them - standing on my feet cheering for him at the Little M (Mohawk) when he screamed across the wire winning the 2008 Pepsi North America Cup in 1:49 flat.  To this day, my complimentary Somebeach poster still hangs on the wall of the racing room, and each time I look at it I think what could have been.  The "Monster of the Maritimes" is sorely missed.


Somebeachsomewhere Poster


Each year we hold our breath waiting to see if this will be the year that a horse captures the Triple Crown, and each year, we know in the back of our minds that if this happens, the very next day that horse will be shuttled off to the breeding shed - it's all about the Benjamins - sad, but true. 

When Calvin Borel threaded the eye of a needle with Street Sense in the 2007 Kentucky Derby and claimed the blanket of roses we all thought that this duo was headed for great things in the future - great things for the industry.  They continued on the Triple Crown path but fell short in the Preakness, by a nose, to eventual HOY Curlin, and it was then that they decided to bypass the Belmont Stakes altogether.  In June of 2007 Tafel sold Street Sense's breeding rights to Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Darley Stud, but the Street Cry phenom raced up and until the Breeders' Cup Classic in October of that same year.  Again, he fell short, placing fourth on a sloppy track at Monmouth, and on Tuesday, October 30, 2007, his retirement was announced.  Another one bites the dust...or, the dirt.

Calvin Borel & Street Sense

The list of potential 4-year-old standardbred superstars would have been astronomical if they all would have remained on the track - fan bases would have grown - the industry would have prospered.  Below, are just of few of the great ones that left us way too early:

Somebeachsomewhere - Well Said - Muscle Massive - Major In Art - Federal Flex - Holiday Road - Yankee Glide - If I Can Dream - Shark Gesture - Sir Luck - Cams Card Shark - Grinfromeartoear - Rocknroll Hanover

I do believe that these were all three-year-olds when they left the track, however, I could be wrong and if so, please do not hesitate to correct me.



In conclusion: 

While we're at it, if the industry is going to start implementing rules, we might as well add that in order to be eligible for a Hall Of Fame induction, one must also be five years or older.  Plausible?  If not, tell me why.

However, I believe that what the Hambo Society has done is a beautiful step in the right direction - SOMEONE has to do something soon because thinking outside the "box" will ensure that the standardbred industry never ends up being backed into one of the box's many corners...


Stay safe, keep your hooves on the ground, and keep reaching for the wire!

New Joisey Bound!!

Phew, done my projects, now onto my exam - But enough about that, I don't want to bore the hell out of you!

Let's go to the New Jersey Sire Stakes Finals on Saturday, August 13, 2011 at the Big M!

2-3-4-6...No, that's not my superfecta picks, but the races to watch out for on Saturday!

Girls On Film!!  Nope, not the Duran Duran song, but race number 2 for the NJSS 3yo pacing fillies!  In this race we see the likes of Pretty Katherine (all but once a bridesmaid), Krispy Apple (the backstretch tornado -they never see her coming), Rocklamation (the silent sleeper), Honky Tonk Woman (she's a "rolling stone" when she gets her speed going), and Mystical Diva (diva is as diva does).  Nonetheless, this will be a real nail biter of a race, er a hoof biter of a race.  Don't miss this one.

Here's the lineup:

1.  Rocklamation
2.  Pretty Katherine
3.  Honky Tonk Woman
4.  Caviart Sarah
5.  Myluvmylife
6.  Weekend Update
7.  Krispy Apple
8.  Mystical Diva

Onto race 3 for 3yo NJSS trotting fillies!  These gals are hot to trot (Bad joke)  Ahem, anyways Hey Mister has my vote here (Is this not a filly?)  Enough said.

Here's the lineup:

1.  Tui
2.  Creme De Cocoa
3.  Wincinnatti
4.  Hey Mister
5.  Sashay
6.  Lost Symbol
7.  Southwind Amiga
8.  Firstclassprincess
9.  Tawesome More
10.  Dixieland Delite


MOMM's the word!  Manofmanymissions definitely needs to redeem himself after the dismal finish in the Hambletonian last weekend, and he will have his opportunity in the 4th Race for NJSS 3yo Colt Trot.  A couple problems I see heading towards him in this race, and they sport the names of Whiskey Tax, Vc Chocoholic, and Whit.  Now MOMM is the current favorite, but to me, I just don't feel "safe" enough to bet on him - he's like one of those spinning tops you played with as a kid - you just don't know if he's going to hold his position or shoot right out off the table!  Still debating, I'll look at him in the post parade and make a decision then.

Here's the lineup:

1.  Whiskey Tax
2.  Take Heart
3.  Vc Chocoholic
4.  Big Sky Storm
5.  Whit
6.  Guiltywithanexcuse
7.  Winuendo
8.  Celebrity Bombay
9.  Charlie De Vie
10.  Manofmanymissions

Race 6 will show us Big Jim once again, and he too may have his hooves full - with the likes of Shadyshark Hanover, Rock'em and Rockstar Temper!  Oh hell, they're ALL good horses in this line-up!  Let's just say it'll be an exciting race!

Here's the lineup:

1.  Rockstar Temper
2.  High Noon
3.  Roll'em Up
4.  Lizard King
5.  Best Man Hanover
6.  Big Jim
7.  Rock'em
8.  Shadyshark Hanover
9.  Lookinforadventure

Notes & Totes

*  Heads To Roll - Nope, not a Rocknroll Hanover progeny, but the title of the article concerning the "swabbing scandal" in New South Wales!

*  A casino battle is brewing in Ontario - Slot Revenue Debate

*  Secretsothernephew stopped the clock in 1:49.4 at the Little M (Mohawk) last night, as he chewed up the track in fast fractions:  12.4 - 26.2 - 54 - 1:22.3 - 1:36, coming his last 1/4 in 27.1.



Stay safe, keep your hooves on the ground, and keep reaching for the wire!

Vacation-Studying-Horse Racing

Last week I took a "vacation" from the computer, which is why I haven't updated this blog.  Outside of owning and operating an off-the-track standardbred rescue and rehabilitation facility, I also do residential bank appraisals, as well as real estate (which is my primary work).  In order to become an "accredited" appraiser with the Appraisal Institute of Canada, one has to take quite a few courses, and my latest course has me up to my elbows in projects.  Now for anyone who cares, the course I am currently taking is called "Foundations of Real Property Assessment and Mass Appraisal".  I realize the title just screams boredom, but in order to become a Certified Residential Appraiser, it must be done.  I am literally within inches of getting this degree, so to back out now would be a big mistake.  To be honest, I'd rather be studying the anatomy and physiology of horses, which is what I originally wanted to do when I was fresh out of highschool.....I wanted to become a large animal vet. *sigh*  Hmm, maybe I can "appraise" horses for their current market value?  Dare to dream. 

With that being said, I missed quite a bit of horse racing action this weekend, but I did catch my two favorite gal pals, Monkey On My Wheel and Village Janus, battle it out at Rideau Carlton.  MOMW held off the five-horse field to win it, which had me over-joyed because I had been following this "cutie patootie" for quite some time now.  She's really coming into her own now!

The only other race I caught was Crys Dream's race in the Hambo Oaks Elim. at the Meadowlands.  At first, I thought she was entered in error because last time I checked she tested positive and was on a 90 day suspension.  But apparently her suspension with the ORC doesn't travel south of the border.  This does not make sense to me.  If a horse tests positive and is suspended for a certain period of time, why does this cease to exist in other racing jurisdictions?  We obviously need a centralized governing body in harness racing.  Nothing against the horse, but what do we have rules for if all you have to do is shuttle elsewhere to race?  Anyways, she won, and it wasn't an impressive win either.

I definitely will be watching both the Hambo Oaks and the Hambletonian this weekend, and the programs look quite exciting.  Would like to see Manofmanymissions show up and take the win.

Well, back to studying......*snore fest*


Stay safe, keep your hooves on the ground, and keep reaching for the wire!