Sunland Derby Gains Notoriety
03-28-2010 --Gene Kershner
One of the least known Kentucky Derby prep races that has emerged over the past twelve months is the Sunland Derby (G3) to be run Sunday afternoon at Sunland Park in New Mexico at 1 1/8 miles.
Fan Friendly Oaklawn Park Does It Again
04-10-2010 --Michael amo
FAN FRIENDLY OAKLAWN PARK
Racing Festival of the South, the last ten days of the Oaklawn Park meet, is rightly named. The track does its absolute best creating a festive time for every fan. If you scored them you would give them an “A+” and a sure revisit (or visit if you have yet to come).
Although the match between Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra never materialized, you would never know it from the 45,000 fans in attendance on Friday. Knowing the betting odds would be so low that a bet on Zenyatta was an untenable proposition; they still came for the race and to see a real sports legend. As the race neared the atmosphere filled with excitement like a Broadway stage waiting for the star to appear. The photographers lined the path to the paddock waiting for the diva to show. The first three positioned horses almost unnoticed paraded from the barns to the their assigned stalls in the paddock. The crowd roared, not surprisingly, as Zenyatta took the same route.
The noise surpassed unimaginable when the dark-brown mare enter the track. Her huge stature was punctuated by the smaller size of her competition. She pawed the ground and pranced down the track to the entrance of the infield where owners, trainers and jockeys were waiting. Although the behavior pattern was expected, to see it up-close was a sight that made you proud to be a fan of this wonderful sport. But it gets even better.
When track announcer, Terry Wallace, announced the # 4, the crowd cheered, followed by a curtsey by the queen to all her fans. Zenyatta looked at the grandstand and bent her neck to the ground twice, as if to say thank you for coming, thank you for being racing fans.
Towering over her competition Zenyatta with her jockey Mike Smith in the irons came onto the track. The sun shone on her immaculate dappled coat and aqua silks. She loaded into the starting gate without incident just like another day at the office. When the gate opened she let the others run while she assumed her traditional position at the back of the pack some ten lengths from the leader Be Fair. As they moved down the backside the fans began to wonder would she be a victim of the tracks speed bias or would she overcome it? The answer would come within a furlong.
With ease, jockey Smith stepped on the gas peddle and she ever so gently accelerated. The gap between her and the leader shrunk as they rounded the top-of-the-stretch turn. Next came her breath-taking charge. With little effort and a lengthening stride, Zenyatta passed the field as if they were in reverse. She pulled away to win to the excitement of the crowd even they all expected the outcome.
Saturday’s Arkansas Derby told a different story and one that arguably could make Zenyatta’s win even more impressive if that is even possible. A turf winner coming off a win in an allowance race jumped to the lead when the gate opened. Clearly expected, but what followed was not. Maximizing the speed bias of Oaklawn’s track, Line of David increased his lead down the backside. All waited for the field to pass him. This 3-year-old with no qualifying graded stakes winnings did what had to be done to get his ticket to the Kentucky Derby. He held on at the wire to win the Arkansas Derby (GI), to collect the $600,000 for the win and to accept a position in the starting gate on the first Saturday in May.
In looking back at the Apple Blossom one must wonder, was the same bias in the track and did the super mare run right through it? Apparently so. That is a mark of a real champion even against weaker competitors.
Will Zenyatta Blossom
04-09-2010 --Michael Amo ,Live from Oaklawn Park
Fans at Oaklawn are giddy over Zenyatta. Lining the rail this morning they came out to see if Zenayatte would make an appearance. She did. What a ham!
ThoroFan Goes to Arkansas to Cover the Arkansas Derby next weekend, April 10!
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THOROFAN TO ARKANSAS
ThoroFan will be covering the Arkansas Derby from Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas next weekend. Thanks to the media department at Oaklawn Park ThoroFan has been given media credentials so we can bring the action live to our website visitors. A ThoroFan from Arkansas, Jack Small, will be working to help ThoroFan establish an Arkansas Chapter. The Arkansas horsemen have expressed interest in help.
2010 Hall of Fame Nominees Announced
--National Museum of Racing
April 26, 2010
National Museum of Racing announces 2010 Hall of Fame Nominees
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Six horses, two jockeys and two trainers are finalist nominees for election to the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Under the revised format announced earlier, all the candidates are grouped together rather than being divided into categories.
Voters will be asked to vote for as many as four and are not required to include one from each type of candidate. The four with the highest number of votes will be elected.
The nominees were selected by the Hall of Fame Nominating Committee from a total of 76 candidates suggested throughout the year by turf journalists, Thoroughbred industry participants and racing fans.
“The revised system creates the possibility that we might have more than one Hall of Famer from one group and none from another,” said Edward L. Bowen, chairman of the Hall of Fame Nominating Committee.
The nominees include contemporary female horses, contemporary male horses, jockeys and trainers. To be eligible, trainers must have been active for 25 years and jockeys must have been active for 20 years. Horses must have been retired for five years. All must have been active within the past 25 years. A separate Historic Review Committee is assigned to consider participants from farther back in history.
The results of the vote on contemporary candidates will be announced on May 28. The induction ceremonies will be held at the Fasig-Tipton Sale Pavilion in Saratoga Springs on Friday, August 13 at 10:30 a.m. The ceremonies are free and open to the public.
The nominees for 2010 are: Azeri, Best Pal, trainer Gary Jones, Open Mind, Point Given, jockey Randy Romero, Safely Kept, Sky Beauty, jockey Alex Solis and trainer Robert Wheeler.
Azeri won 17 of her 24 starts, including three consecutive victories in the Apple Blossom Handicap, and posted 12 Grade 1 wins during her career. She was named Horse of the Year in 2002 and Champion Older Female in 2002, 2003 and 2004. She retired as the all-time leader in earnings among females ($4,079,820, since surpassed by Zenyatta).
Best Pal was a durable gelding who raced seven years. He won 18 of 47 starts, including six Grade 1 victories. Best Pal is one of only four horses to win the Santa Anita Handicap, Hollywood Gold Cup and Charles H. Strub Stakes.
Jones won 1,465 races from 7,900 starts (18.5 percent), including 102 graded stakes and 233 overall stakes, and had purse earnings of $52,672,611. He won 15 meeting titles on the Southern California circuit. Jones twice won the Santa Anita Handicap and trained 1986 Champion Older Male Turkoman.
Open Mind was the Champion 2-Year-Old Filly of 1988 when she won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. She won 12 of her 19 career starts, including the New York Filly Triple Crown (Acorn, Mother Goose, Coaching Club American Oaks) as well as the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks and Alabama Stakes at age 3. Open Mind posted a 10-race win streak, which included seven Grade 1 events. She repeated as her division champion as a 3-year-old and finished her career with nine graded wins among her 11 stakes victories.
Point Given was Horse of the Year and Champion 3-Year-Old Male in 2001. That year, Point Given dominated in the Grade 2 San Felipe and Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby before finishing fifth in the Kentucky Derby. However, he rebounded to win the Preakness, Belmont, Haskell and Travers in succession, all of which were $1 million, Grade 1 events. Point Given was retired with nine victories in 13 starts and earnings of $3,968,500.
Romero won 4,294 races from 26,091 mounts (16 percent) and had purse earnings of $75,264,198 in a career that dated from 1973-99. He was the regular rider of two of the most spectacular fillies of his era, Go for Wand and the undefeated Personal Ensign. He won Breeders’ Cup races on both of them, as well as a Breeders’ Cup on another distaffer, Sacahuista. Romero won 122 graded stakes and 342 overall stakes and earned riding titles at 10 tracks, including Belmont, Arlington, Gulfstream, Keeneland and Fair Grounds.
Safely Kept raced four years, winning 24 of her 31 starts and accumulated earnings of $2,194,206. She won four of her five starts as a 2-year-old in 1988 and then took eight of her nine races at age 3 to earn the Eclipse Award as Champion Sprinter. At 4, Safely Kept was a perfect seven-for-seven. Each victory was in a stakes race and culminated with a triumph in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. She concluded her career with five wins in seven starts as a 5-year-old, including her third victory in the Genuine Risk Handicap, Maryland Million Distaff and Garden Stakes Handicap.
Sky Beauty won 15 of her 21 starts and had purse earnings of $1,336,000 in her four-year career. She posted a five-race win streak at age 3, which included the New York Filly Triple Crown and the Alabama Stakes. At age 4, Sky Beauty posted another five-race win streak, including a 10-length romp in the Go for Wand. She had a brief campaign at 5, adding her second victory in the Vagrancy. Nine of Sky Beauty’s 15 wins were in Grade 1 races.
Solis began his career in 1981 and continues to ride at an elite level today. Through 2009, he had 4,760 wins among 31,424 mounts (15 percent) and purse earnings of $218,003,546. Among his victories are 299 graded stakes and 586 overall stakes. Solis won the Preakness, Santa Anita Derby, Florida Derby and Jersey Derby with Snow Chief and the Breeders’ Cup Classic and Dubai World Cup with Pleasantly Perfect. He ended Cigar’s 16-race win streak aboard Dare in Go in the 1996 Pacific Classic and snapped Azeri’s consecutive win streak at 11 with Got Koko on the 2003 Lady’s Secret Handicap. Solis has won 16 meeting titles on the Southern California circuit.
Wheeler trained from 1938 right up until his death in 1992. He won 1,336 races and trained for prominent owners such as C.V. Whitney, J. Rukin Jelks, Greentree Stable and Nelson Bunker Hunt. Wheeler conditioned 56 stakes-winning horses, including Track Robbery, the 1982 Champion Older Female. The majority of his career predates the grading of races, but from 1976 on he won 18 of the 69 (26 percent) graded stakes his horses ran in and 44 of his 175 (25 percent) overall stakes attempts.
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame is located across from the Saratoga Race Course on Union Avenue in Saratoga Springs. Hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a. m – 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon – 4 p.m. Hours during the Saratoga Race Meet are 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily. Programs at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame are made possible in part with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a State agency. Call 518-584-0400 for more information.
Victim's Game
04-12-2010 --Vic Zast
Vic Zast in his bog in today's horseraceinsider.com explores who is a falt in the New York racing mess and the skills needed to be effective racetrack executives, especially when racing is so dependent upon governemt and political processes.
Indiana Racing Regulators Explore New Ways
03-26-2010 --Michael Amo
Indiana Horse Racing Commission is considering ways to improve the quality of racing for Indian-bred horses.
BARRY IS BACK
05-26-2010 --
Barry Bornstein, ThoroFan's Director of Photography, is back from Aiken SC with new pictures from Saratoga. Timely, he has a gallery of the Nick Zito trained Ice Box, second in the Kentucky Derby and third in the Preakness. It looks like he will be the favorite in the Belmont Stakes on June 5, 2010.
Check out his new photos and enjoy
Zippy Chippy - 100 Races 100 Losses
05-11-2010 --
Old Friends - Cabin Creek in Saratoga, New York
ThoroFan, Connie Bush, tells us about one of our heros.
Indian Casino on Long Island
04-29-2010 --
Off the Reservation: The Lighthouse Project Casino
By Jed Morey on Apr 28th, 2010
The Shinnecock Nation is set to finally receive federal recognition. This status gives the tribe the ability to apply for a Class III gaming license, which would allow it to operate a full-fledged, high-stakes gaming facility. The biggest question is, where? Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano would like the ball to stop on his number on the roulette wheel and he has tens of millions of reasons for it
INVITATION TO OLD FRIENDS CHARITY PARTY
07-24-2010 --
Honorary host,. Richard Migliore, cordially invites you.
Reasons for the Decline of Horse Racing
06-07-2010 --
The New York Times' "The Rail " article written by Bennett Liebman analyzing the the factores driving the decline in Thoroughbred racing is a good anthology of "racings' blues."
Read the entire story
Trainer D. Wayne Lukas Wonders if Casinos are Good for Horsemen
06-02-2010 --
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - As D. Wayne Lukas sat in a tiny office in his Oaklawn Park barn, the conversation turned to the horse track's newest attraction — a large gambling parlor featuring games from blackjack to Texas Hold 'Em.
Analysis: Is Structure Really the Problem?
05-12-2010 --
Let’s take a breath and talk about what structure can or can’t accomplish. The real problem horse racing has, or appears to have because we don’t have meaningful data to support much of anything, is growing its customer base. The real drivers of the sport are the fans, the bettors of today and tomorrow, and anecdotal views are that we are losing market share to other sports and other forms of betting.
Read the full article
ThoroFan Rallies for Racing: Video
04-26-2010 --
ThoroFan Rallies for Racing: Video
Woodbine Executive Speaks Out About Slot
04-06-2010 --Michael Amo
"That gambling game has changed. The slot-machine bonanza has forever altered the economics of racing. Slots have goosed the pocketbooks of everyone from horse and track owners to governments but they don’t create new fans and don’t promote the sport."
“Slot play appeals to a different market than horse racing,” acknowledges Martin. “When we went into it, our hope was that we could generate horse-racing fans from people who came because of the slots. I’ll admit we probably had some success but it’s been limited. It’s two different games. One is a game of skill trying to pick a winning horse — slots is certainly not that.”
Read more...
Trojan Horse
03-28-2010 --Michael Amo
Are VLTs a Form of an Attack on Racing not Unlike the Trojan Horse asks Barry Irwin of Team Valor
Medication Use: A Fan’s Need to Know
05-03-2010 --
The Racetrack Medication and Testing Consortium introduces to racing fans a wonderful new tool, "Recent Rulings Database." Now when a fan comes across a medication while handicapping or reading an article in an industry publication they will have a quick resource to learn more about that medication.
Read more...
Fans Are the Future of Racing
05-24-2010 --
With the Thoroughbred racing industry and sport in dire straits, racing leaders may be too focused on the short term. Although handle is critical to survival, erosion of the fan-base is the root cause of the problem.
Read full story...
NYC OTB PLAN DOA
12-01-2010 --
NYC OTB
Monday, November 29, 2010, a special session of the New York State Legislature failed to resolve the bankruptcy issues plaguing NYCOTB. New York State Assembly did entertain and pass a bill. While the New York State Senate was not able to respond similarly. The result may be the shut down of NYCOTB if no other action is taken. Click here to read the entire bill that went before the State Assembly.
A number of entities have claimed foul with the proposed plan, but none as vocal as the Catskill OTB. The corporation sees the solution to the problem as a fix for all OTBs not just NYCOTB.
NYCOTB believes and the Legislation states that failure to reach a solution will cause NYCOTB to close, perhaps even as early as Friday, December 3rd.
NYRA, major creditor of NYCOTB, is preparing for the worst. Today, they announced free bus service to Aqueduct from Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan. The buses will have scheduled stops near some locations of NYCOTB betting parlors. This will certainly help increase NYRA’s handle and attendance. Similarly it will allow NYCOTB regular patrons to continue to enjoy simulcasting, albeit at the track rather than off track.
BREEDERS' CUP COVERAGE
10-04-2010 --
This year ThoroFan will cover the races in a unique and eclectic way. Thorofan will be live in Louisville reporting on activities and offering insights on the races. This is our third year covering the Breeders’ Cup and all indications are that it will be our best coverage to date.
NYS INSPECTOR GENERAL CRITICAL OF VLT PROCESS
10-22-2010 --
By New York Times News Service
Published: 2:00 AM - 10/22/10
ALBANY — State Senate leaders manipulated the choice of who would build New York City's first casino, leaking information and showing favoritism to a troubled bidder that was donating to Democratic candidates and had ties to key political figures, the state inspector general said Thursday.
2010 BREEDERS’ CUP CLASSIC: THE MAKING OF GREATNESS
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The theater was silenced as the audience of all ages and genders watched Secretariat devoured Sham, his 3-year-old nemesis, at every pole in the 1973 Belmont Stakes. Even though everyone knew the outcome of the race, there was a collective gasp as Secretariat crossed the finish-line some 31 lengths in front. As the image faded, the real image of the race played again in our minds. In the movies or in real life Secretariat clearly is a horse for the ages.
2010 BREEDERS' CUP: JAPANESE INVASION
10-20-2010 --Kate Hunter
This week's article is really special. Kate Hunter, an equine photograher and member of the Thoroughbred Bloggers'Alliance, writes about two Japanese horses entered in the Breeders' Cup and their likely performance. She,also, gives us a glimpse at Thoroughbred breeding and racing in Japan. Kate lives in Japan and photographs racing for the international media.
HORSE RACING'S BIGGEST NIGHT
01-15-2011 --
Monday night at 6 p.m. (EST) horseracing fans across the globe will be focused on the 40th Annual Eclipse Awards dinner from Miami Florida. Just 10 weeks ago, thebiggest day in Thoroughbred racing was held at Churchill Down in Louisville, Kentucky. The Breeders’ Cup Classic, a race with $5 million in prize money, featured the 2009 winner, Zenyatta, taking on cast of international challengers. However, on Monday night she will only face two other nominees, Blame and Goldikova for the coveted title of Horse-Of-The-Year.
ZENYATTA: HORSE-OF-THE-YEAR SAY THE FANS
11-22-2010 --
The 72,000 fans that packed Churchill Downs to watch the Breeders’ Cup Classic and Zenyatta try to end her career with a perfect record were stunned to silence. As the sun set and the lights on the track brightened, the dreams of race fans were darkened. They saw two horses run their career-best race! They saw a six-year-old mare fight the aging process to lose by a head to the younger colt, Blame. They heard Mike Smith, Zenyatta’s jockey, tearfully explain why the loss was his fault for getting her in trouble or perhaps not moving sooner. No human or horse needs to be remorseful. What a ride Zenyatta and Mike Smith have given us fans.
ZENYATTA: THE HORSE OF THE CENTURY OR YEAR
11-06-2010 --
The weather in Louisville is cold, but the heat of anticipation is in the air. The gates just sprung open for the first of fourteen Breeders Cup races for 2010, the Marathon. But everyone seems to be watching one race while thinking of another, the Breeders’ Cup Classic; the last race of the two days of races. Will Zenyatta fulfill the desires of all fans by wining the Classic for the second year in a row?
PREAKNESS STAKES-DON'T BE SWAYED BY THE ODDS
05-21-2011 --
The 136th running of the Preakness Stakes is filled with intrigue and money-making opportunities. Will Animal Kingdom win and keep alive the hopes of many for a Triple Crown? Will Dial In get the needed pace to win and collect the $6.1 million purse and bonus combination? Will Astrology not stop running, gate-to-wire? Will Sway Away get even for being shut-out of the Derby. All these questions will be answered today.
OUR MOST MEMORABLE BREEDERS' CUP RACES
10-29-2010 --By Gene Kershner
When the powers that be at ThoroFan asked me to write an article about my most memorable Breeders’ Cup race, I hesitated, thinking I’ve only been a fan for the past six years and there has been 26 years of history since the first Breeders’ Cup race in 2004, how can I do this post justice. So what did I decide to do? I enlisted some of my pals in the blogosphere and twitterverse to assist me in this wholesome endeavor. Below, you’ll see seven (including mine) synopses of each writer’s most memorable Breeders’ Cup race. So buckle your seatbelts, it’s time to jump in the way-back machine and reminisce about some of the best BC races ever ran.
HOW FAN FRIENDLY IS KEENELAND RACE TRACK?
04-28-2011 --
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF RACING AND HALL OF FAME - SARATOGA SPRINGS, NEW YORK
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National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame to host Kentucky Derby party to benefit Old Friends at Cabin Creek: The Bobby Frankel Division
BELMONT TO SARATOGA - JEREMY EDGE WALKS TO HELP RACING CHARITIES
03-10-2011 --Blood Horse Magazine
All fans are called to join the cause!!!!
N.Y. FAN ADVISORY BOARD BILL MOVES THROUGH COMMITTEE
03-11-2011 --Thoroughbred Times
Paul Post discusses the new Legislation currently moving through New York State Senate. In the article, NYRA CEO, Charles Hayward, affirms to Post how much NYRA supports fan initiatives. He also addresses NYRA's desire to improve viewing access for fans at the Oklahoma track.
“BUDDY CAN YOU SPARE A DIME?”
01-12-2011 --Michael Amo
Gulfstream Park in an effort to introduce fans to horizontal wagering, is offering a new10 cent pick six, comfortingly called the “Rainbow 6”. The bet can only be made on self-service machines. It gets players involved in the traditional pick six with a very low investment and risk. For example, including 3 different horses in each race which accumulates to 729 wagering (3x3x3x3x3x3= 729) combinations would cost the player at some tracks with a minim $2 bet $1458. In Gulfstream’s 10 cent wager, the cost to a player is only $72.90. If luck is on your side a quick-pick could get you in game for just one thin dime.
ESCAPE FROM THE PRESENT
10-18-2010 --Vic Zast
(CHICAGO, IL – October 18, 2010) The unanimous love that the horse racing community has showered on Disney’s Secretariat is two-faced. Everyone within the community seems to believe he will benefit if the movie is popular. But, prior to the premiere a few weeks ago, many of the same people thought little about drawing the movie’s audiences into racetracks.
NATIONAL RACETRACK ACCREDITATION IS GOOD FOR OUR SPORT
08-24-2010 --
The conditions of the event have been set. Owners and trainers were called to the post by NTRA’s President, CEO Alex Waldrop at the 58th Annual Round Table Conference on Sunday morning at the Gideon Putnam Hotel in Saratoga Springs. How well they perform may determine the outcome of Thoroughbred racing in this country.
THREE CHIMNEYS STAFF RESCUES HORSES FROM SPINSTER BARN
07-25-2011 --Three Chimneys Farm, Kentucky
Spinster Barn caught fire after being hit by lightening. Three Chimneys' well trained staff rescued the mares in the barn.
