For photos from the Meadowlands contact Lisaphoto@playmeadowlands.com

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Some Random Thoughts for a Sunday Morning

News reports indicate that Pennsylvania may require horse owners to pay for drug testing.  Many people would argue that drug testing is the purview of the racing commission so they, the racing commission should pay for it.  However, if trainers weren't cheating, there would be no need to have drug testing.   Yes, some honest people will now be required to pay for drug testing, but as I learned in first grade, life is not fair and if the few cheats cause the problem, everyone has to suffer the consequences.  Maybe once the innocent parties have to pay for drug testing, then maybe the innocents won't keep their mouth shut when they see someone cheating.


What is there to say about Foiled Again?  The 10 year old pacer picked up where he finished his 9 year old career, in the winners circle after winning the first leg of the George Morton Levy Memorial Pace in his seasonal debut.  Some people are probably wishing a horse like Foiled Again was intact, but it is the geldings which provide racing with their long term heroes.  Foiled Again is a hero and here's hoping to see many more victories in 2014 from the ageless wonder.


While it wasn't the Levy this week, Shoobee's Place, one of the horses driver Joe Bongirorno was told to race conservatively last week won in his first start back at the Old Hilltop in a non-winners of $18,000 in the last six starts.  SP went off a second choice and won the race, paying $7.10.  Don't be surprised if Shoobee's Place tries the big boys next week.


With the Levy at Yonkers this week, along with the big drivers, it figured Yonkers would eat the Meadowlands for dinner handle-wise, except for on thing; it didn't happen.  Yonkers handled $861,682 for their twelve race card while the Meadowlands handled a 'measly' $2,902,002 for their eleven race card with their no-name drivers.  Balmoral Park with Illinois' decimated racing scene handled a mere $1,201,281 for their thirteen race card.  Well, there is some consolation for Yonkers; they did manage to out handle Cal-Expo, the king of $3,000 claimers which drew only $743,213 for their thirteen race card.

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