Cooperation and Irony

News from Yonkers Raceway and the SOA of NY shows that horsemen and track management can work together for the benefit of each other. Starting on September 1st, Yonkers will no longer card races for $7,500 claimers and their lowest conditioned class (nw3000cd). The decision to eliminate these classes comes as it is becoming increasingly harder to get horses raced at Yonkers due to the level of purses; horsemen need to upgrade their racing stock.

The cooperation comes with Yonkers Raceway writing a claiming series for horses that have started for a claiming tag of no more than $10,000 or less than $7,500 during the period of June 1 through July 25. The reason for this claiming series is three fold. It will give horsemen a chance to see if their $7,500 claimers can be competetive in $10K company and it will also provide the means to lose the $7,500 claiming lines off the program (many tracks will not allow a horse to race if they show a past performance line with a claiming tag below the track minimum). The track is also rewarding horsemen who have been loyal to Yonkers during the lean days. To be eligible for this series, a horse must be under the control of a trainer that made at least twenty starts during 2003 (pre-VLTs). The purse for the eliminations will be $15,000 with the final going for $50,000 ($30,000 consolation).

Lastly, in order to get more horses raced, two NYSS races will be taken off the betting program to allow overnight horses a chance to race. Being sire stake races cost tracks little to put on, it is admirable that management is willing to work with the horsemen.

Some horsemen object to protectionism occuring at tracks, feeling they should have the right to race wherever they wish. Ideally, the horsemen are correct. However, being many horsemen abandoned Yonkers in search for greater profits, there is nothing wrong with rewarding those who kept the place running by offering special race opportunities provided the out of town horsemen are not kept from racing in overnights.

In a bit of irony, the SOA are reminding their horsemen that the Meadowlands is experiencing a horse shortage and are pointing out to their members that they may wish to consider racing at the Meadowlands to get their horses raced.

Rediscover Why You Love Harness Racing

Remember the first day you went to the racetrack? The sights, sounds, smells (when the wind blew the right or wrong way depending on your perspective) and even the colorful characters which attracted you to racing? The times you spent with your father or parents at the track? How long ago was it?

For a lot of us, it has probably been too long.

Whether due to changes in financial situations, personal or work obligations, or just convenience, many of us have gotten to the point of watching the races either from a television monitor or computer screen. Does racing have the same thrill for you as it did back then? Probably not.

Let's head back to the track and experience racing in person and regain our personal connection to racing; all the things which attracted us to racing in the first place. Bring someone along and share the joys you experienced when you started going to the races.

In a similar vein, Churchill Downs has begun an effort to get their online gamblers back to the track. While their goal is to get money bet on track as they earn more on a dollar wagered at the track than over the internet, it also helps get people rediscover the joy of racing. Let's face it, racing becomes impersonal, almost mechanical when you are constantly watching the races on a computer screen; after awhile it becomes just another device to gamble. Hopefully some of our harness tracks that have their own account wagering will try a similar effort.

This is one of the reasons I enjoy the 4th of July weekend of racing in Goshen, NY. The sounds of people cheering in the grandstand; the smell of horses; hearing the wheels swishing over the ground; the sound of hoof beats hitting the racetrack; the whinny of horses in the stalls; the smell of the food. All this helps reconnect me to joys of racing as well as part of my youth.

At Yonkers, I find the same seats I used to occupy with my late father and close my eyes; I feel the spirit of my father's presence; his explaining the difference between a trotter and pacer; the time he told me you can't bet the 8-8 daily double on a half mile track because it never comes only to have it come in that night. The time I told a bunch of people in the clubhouse that Le Baron Rouge from the 8 hole was going to beat Big Towner and they were looking at me like I was nuts (they finished in a dead heat; and as a result Le Baron Rouge at 45-1 paid only $2.40). Heading to Yonkers anytime Fly Fly Solly dropped into A-3 company.

Other memories go through my head. Though long gone, remembering the time I went 9 for 9 at Roosevelt which included Lynn Forbes (the pacer) paying $32.00 to win (the last time I ever won at Roosevelt); the pageantry of The Roosevelt International. The time at Freehold I told my father not to play Saratoga Ideal because he had a long layoff and he won (at a price I can't remember other than it was huge). The time I made a big killing playing Ronstadt at Monticello the week after she finished 2nd to Seven O'Clock at Liberty Bell Park in the PASS screaming my lungs out. Following the trials and tribulations of Corky Collins. Taking my then three year old niece to Garden State Park hearing her call out the saddle cloth numbers during the NJ State Fair races and having her screaming and crying when I told her it was time to go to some of the rides. Celebrating my birthday with Fourth of July doubleheaders at Brandywine Raceway. Driving across Kentucky after seeing the last race at The Red Mile to catch the early daily double at Louisville Downs (no small feat).

You don't get these memories betting on horses over the Internet or watching a race on a television.

Yes, your local track may not be as nice as you remember it but let's head back to the track. For one day let's forget the problems racing may have and close your eyes and remember the good times. Bring your children or grandchildren along and share your memories and make some new memories with them.

Come home to the track and fall in love all over again.

The March to the Hambo/Hambo Oaks - NJ Edition, Yonkers Stakes Highlights

Well, the NJSS finals at the Meadowlands for 3yo trotters have concluded.

In the NJSS Final for 3yo filly trotters, Margarita Momma outfinished Gabby's Dream to win by a neck in 1:55.3 on a good track. For me Gabby's Dream was more impressive being hard used and parked to the half. That being said, from what I have seen thus far this season, Margarita Momma seems to get all the luck; should the luck go her way, Gabby's Dream could be there on August 8th. Of course, this race was against state breds; it will be interesting to see the both of them against open company.

In the NJSS Final for 3yo colt trotters what can you say? The march of Muscle Hill continues. Muscle Hill easily dominated the field to win handily in 1:53.3 over the same off track. The horse that interested me, Vesuvio AS finished 4th six lengths back. I would be disappointed in Vesuvio AS's finish except he was parked half of the mile, three wide at the 3/4s. I need to see another race from Vesuvio to see if he is still a legitimate contender.

Interesting is the fact that Muscle Hill was part of a five horse entry due to common ownership. The entry took the first three positions and four of the top five. There were two entries in this race so out of the ten horses there were only five betting interests. The Meadowlands was wise to cancel place and show wagering. One needs to wonder if it would have made sense to card this race as a non-wagering event instead of having a non-bettable race for gamblers.

In other action, Showherthemoney pleased the crowd by winning the Miss New Jersey Pace for 3yo filly pacers in 1:50.4. Personal favorite McGibson got jammed in and got loose late. Whether or not McGibson would have caught Showherthemoney is hard to say. What I can say, why McGibson may not be Linda Toscano's first team, McGibson will be heard from often this year.

In the NJ Classic for 3yo pacing colts, Passmaster Havover won a thrilling stretch duel against Dial or Nodial who finished third. Three times Passmaster Hanover passed Dial or Nodial and twice Dial or Nodial came back, but the third time was the charm for Passmaster. Dial or Nodial threw in a couple of bad steps at the end, but that is understandable considering the pressure. The time for the mile was 1:50.2.

These were four great races celebrating the strength of the NJ sired horse. With a lot of the stallions and broodmares having left the state for greener (slot) pastures, you have to wonder if this may have been the last year a leading Hambo contender will be prepping in NJSS races and whether NJ sired horses will be as relevant in the future.

Over at Yonkers Raceway, Not Enough makes it five for five this year winning the $293,000 Lismore Final for 3yo pacing fillies easily in 1:53.4 (good track). Once Not Enough got to the lead it was all over. In the $421,000 Art Rooney Final for 3yo pacing colts, If I Can Dream won the race in 1:55.3. Hypnotic Blue Chip for the second time this year jumped off stride in the big money race (last time the Berrys Creek). Hypnotic Blue Chip was leading into the final turn when he jumped and went inside the pylons. Barber Pole, one of the preseason favorites was disappointing again.