The "B" Track Tour - Sports Creek Raceway

This week's stop on the "B" track tour brings us to Swartz Creek, MI, the home of Sports Creek Raceway. Sports Creek races a short meet; basically two months. Their current meet which began last week continues through February 7 for a total of 34 racing programs; racing Friday thru Sunday. Like all the harness tracks in Michigan, Sports Creek is struggling. First they are competing against casinos and there is no realistic hope for slot machines at the racetracks. Secondly, their Governor has not been supportive of racing; a couple of times this past year, racing has been threatened with a shut down as a result of the Governor's actions. Lastly, being Michigan has been hit particularly hard during this economic downturn; a trifecta that racing interests from all breeds will find hard to overcome.

Sports Creek to be honest is more of a 'C' track. The horses racing at Sports Creek are coming predominantly from Northville Downs and Windsor Raceway with a few horses coming in from tracks like Colonial Downs, Indiana Downs and Lebanon Raceway. The bottom claiming price is $2,000 with conditioned races starting with non-winners of $500 in the last five starts. Certainly not the caliber of horse which will raise fear at many of our raceways.

While some people will look down at tracks like Sports Creek, tracks like these are essential to the sport as they provide the opportunity for young horsemen to develop their skills. If not for tracks like Sports Creek, where would these horsemen learn their trade? Almost every driver and trainer racing at our major raceways got their start at a track like Sports Creek.

One thing I found interesting is the heavy use of handicapped conditions at Sports Creek Raceway. Many tracks will have their Preferred and Open Handicaps, but here they are used successfully to fill races. For example, tonight there is a race for non-winners of three to five races. In this case, non-winners of three draw for the inside, non-winners of four draw for the middle and non-winners of five races will race from the outside. Similar conditions are written based on money earned. In addition, Sports Creek uses conditioned claiming races; again more so than done at your major raceway. As you can imagine with SCR not being a track that has much simulcasting interest, the wagering menu is simple; you will find no pick-3s or the such here.

Here are the picks for Saturday night:

1st Pace - $1,400  Non-winners of 1 extended pari-mutuel race lifetime
2 - Billiondollarbaby  5-1
3 - Imjispinetanku  7-2
8 - Benns Legacy  3-1

2nd Pace - $1,400  Claiming $5,000; Conditioned - non-winners of 1 ext pm race lifetime
2 - Taylors Beach Toy  7-2
3 - Sweetly Western  9-2
8 - Electric Rita  3-1

3rd Trot - $2,300  Non-winners of 3-4-5 ext pm races lt (post positions drawn by number of wins)
7 - Master Cruisin  8-1
1 - Nordic Gentleman  3-1
9 - Hallway to Heaven  7-2
8 -  Addie Mae  9-2

4th Pace - $1,600  Claiming conditioned $5,000; non-winners of 2 ext pm lifetime
3 - All Forthe Marbles  3-1
8 - Nick Stokes  9-2
7 -  Erika Jo  10-1

5th Trot - $1,400  Non-winners of $600 in last five starts 
2 - Geramiawasabulldog  5-1
8 - NV Nicki  4-1
6 - Sunset Lady  6-1

6th Pace - $1,400  Non-winners of $500 in last five starts
1 - Swift Terrific  9-2
3 - Mystery Baron  5-1
6 - Shambala  6-1
4 - Braxton Seelster  3-1

7th Trot  $1,600  Non-winners of 2 ext pari-mutuel races lifetime
3 - Hustlin Hooray  3-1
6 - Lola's Keeper  9-2
7 - The Ellenator  5-1

8th Pace  $3,000  Non-winners of $2,000 in last five starts ; non-winners of $4,000 draw outside
5 - Ellaraider  3-1
3 - Caitlyns Raider  6-1
1 - Keymodel  8-1

9th Pace - $1,600  Non-winners of $1,000 in last five starts
2 - A Toy to Remember  8-1
1 - Fallin Barnes  7-2
5 - Beach Streaker  3-1
3 - Ramgold  8-1

10th Pace - $1,400  Claiming conditioned $2,000; non-winners of last start
3 - Color Me Cam  3-1
1 - Imadragon  5-1
8 - Punch Ball  4-1

11th Pace - $1,800  Non-winners of $1,500 in last five starts
8 - Rip Daddy  7-2
3 - Smoken Cambest  4-1
7 - SF Drifter  8-1

12th Pace - $4,000  Winners over $4,000 in last five starts
2 - T Red  3-1
1 - Ima Forget Me Not  5-1
4 - Allamerican Comet  4-1
6 - Notre PA  8-1

13th Pace - $1,600  Non-winners of $1,000 in last five starts
3 - Armbro Catcher  6-1
5 - Farragut  3-1
8 - Vee Believe  9-2

14th Pace - $1,900  Claiming Handicap $4,000-$5,000
2 - Oakbrook Raider  10-1
8 - SS Regal Raider  7-2
4 - Standforsomething  4-1

15th Pace - $2,100  Claiming Conditioned $9,000; non-winners of 3 ext pm races lt draw inside; non-winners of 4 ext pm races or $10,000 lifetime draw outside
4 - SF Mudslinger  6-1
2 - Briar Clip  7-2
7 - In A Artbeat  10-1
9 - Give Me The Money  5-1

16th Pace - $3,000  Non-winners of $4,000 in last five starts
9 - Russell L  5-2
5 - Medal Play  6-1
2 - Tek's Raider  9-2
6 - Boogitydoc Boogity  10-1