Posts for a Snowy Day

Have you been following Cal Expo since Watch and Wager LLC took over the meet?  If not, you are leaving the potential for some good payoffs on the table.  From their press release:

The Watch and Wager LLC meet at Cal Expo offers reduced 16 percent takeout rates on the Pick 5, Pick 4 and High 5, and last Saturday was a great night to take advantage of this attractive discount.

Thanks to some horses coming through at healthy prices, the Pick 5 returned $3,375; the Pick 4 during the latter part of the card came back $1,793; while the High 5 on the nightcap was worth $4,390.

To put things in perspective, under the regular takeout the Pick 5 would have dropped from $3,375 to $2,690; the Pick 4 would have gone from $1,793 to $1,600; and that High 5 would have been a little less juicy with a $4,390 return dropping to $3,919.

The Pick 5 is 50-cent based wager that begins on the third race each night, while the $1 Pick 4 is conducted on the last four races of the evening, with a $15,000-guaranteed gross pool on Thursdays, a $20,000 guarantee on Friday and $25,000 guaranteed on Saturday. The 10-cent High 5 puts a spotlight on the final race and all of these wagers offer the reduced 16 percent takeout rate.


Another NJ OTW?  It's not Cherry Hill, home of the late Garden State Park, but it seems like Pennwood Racing, a partnership between Greenwood Racing (PARX) and Penn National Gaming have finally found an acceptable location for opening another OTW office in New Jersey.  If all goes well, Favorites at Gloucester Township will be opening late this summer.  The facility will be off of Route 42, a road which connects the Walt Whitman Bridge (which connects New Jersey to Philadelphia) with the Atlantic City Expressway.  This OTW will help Freehold Raceway with its purses and is far enough away not to impact on-track handle at the Raceway by any significant amount.  Of course, a OTW in the Cherry Hill area would have been more financially adventagous but at this point, any OTW is better than none..


I hate discussing issues like this, but it is the state of racing.  Plainridge Racecourse is now in the fight of its life as on the deadline for submitting initial applications, Raynham Racetrack, a former greyhound track in partnership with Greenwood Racing (Parx Casino and Racetrack) ck and Casino)has thrown its hat in the ring to be Massachusetts only slot parlor.  In addition to the Raynham partnership, two other groups (PPE Casino Resorts and Mass Gaming and Entertainment) filed applications without specifying if they plan on building a slot parlor or full casino and where it would be.  With only one slot license available and with Plainridge already having begun construction, failure to win the slot parlor license would likely mean the immediate cessation of racing in Massachusetts.  Of course, if Suffolk Downs doesn't get a casino license, expect their future to become in jeopardy as well. 


Looking for a Buddy?  Here are a couple of horses currently available form Horse Rescue United:

First up is Mr. Stingray an 11 year-old 16 hand bay standardbred gelding - tails/pleasure/dressage riding - suited for intermediate to advanced rider.

Mr. Stingray (Front) - Available through HRU

Mr. Stingray was ridden often in the past, mostly Western, but is now riding English. Ray has a very comfortable seat and listens well. He is a very sweet boy who loves attention. If you have a no-nonsense attitude, Ray is perfect on trails as he gains confidence from his rider.

Ray retired from harness racing about 3 1/2 years ago. He was a pacer and has an old bowed tendon on his left front from racing, but he is fully sound for riding. Ray shows STB show/dressage potential, as he doesn't canter.   

 
Then there is Turk, who is good for all-around riding and driving.  He's suited for an intermediate rider.
 .  

Turk - Available through HRU

Turk is a New Zealand-bred standardbred former harness pacer who is very sweet and well-mannered. He is fully sound and has two years of riding experience, mostly on trails. While suited for all-around riding, Turk is great on trails and also drives. 

Mr. Stingray and Turk, as well as other horses are available for adoption by HRU and more information on them and others may be found on their Facebook page (with videos) as well as Horse Rescue United's web page.  While these horses are safe where they are, they are taking up room another horse from New Holland could benefit from.  If you are interested in any of these horses, check out the website of Facebook for further information.