Put On The Show Takes on the Boys

In an interesting twist, Put On A Show is becoming the first mare in history to take on the boys in the $500,000 Breeders Crown Open Pace at Woodbine.  Taking on the boys is more common when it comes to trotting but quite honestly, this year's aged pacing division is not as deep as it has been in the past so if one wa going to decide to take on the boys, this is the year to do it.  The rest of the field for the Open Pace is Aracache Hanover, Bettor Sweet, Foiled Again, Foreclosure N, Golden Receiver, Hypnotic Blue Chip, Razzle Dazzle, Up The Credit and We Will See.  We'll have to see how the post draw goes but there is a reasonable chance to think she will give a good account of herself. 

In the $600,000 Open Trot, Commander Crowe looks to bring Breeders Crown glory back to Europe as he has only five other contenders, Arch Madness, Hot Shot Blue Chip, Daylon Magician and Mister Herbie to tangle with.  Can the Commander do it despite his loss this past weekend in France?  I think so.  On the whole, it is my gut feeling the aged European trotters are better than North America's.  Of course, with shipping and quarantine procedures to deal with, horses making the trip over the Atlantic either way are at a disadvantage. 

In addition to the Open Pace and Trot, the 2yo and 3yo Filly Trots and Mare Pace have no need for eliminations, all the horses declared for these races head directly to the final on October 27.


Hard to believe it but Watch and Wager kicks off their (inaugural 2012) Late Fall-Winter meet a little over two weeks away.  There will be qualifiers on October 20 and 27, then show time. 

Yes, we are approaching the end of October and no one knows what racing will look like in Ontario next year.  There will be racing, but who knows what kind of racing it will be or how much.  But why rush, it's only the lives of thousands of people you are playing with.  With the Liberal party's leader and Provincial Premier Dalton McGuinty resigning, no business can be done in the provincial parliment as McGuinty 'Prorouged' parliment, until a new leader is selected by the Liberal Party.   In the meanwhile, the interim racing report was delivered and can be expected to be released by the end of the month.  Then we will get a good idea of what racing will look like. 

Another study regarding racing in the State of New York showing how horse racing is great for the state's economy.  Yes, handle has gone up at NYRA and overall at the Harness tracks.  While it was a positive report, and there is the typical back slapping,  You decide how good this portends to racing in the Empire State.

This year's RUS season is not over yet.  This time on Saturday evening at Indiana Downs, a field of five trotters will compete in an under saddle event worth $10,000, this time on the turf course.  This will be a first for North America.