A Missed Opportunity for Racing in General

This year, a great marketing opportunity for horse racing was missed. For the past three weeks, championship races were held. On Saturday, October 25, Breeders Crown races for standardbreds were held at Woodbine Racetrack. Last Saturday, November 1, the quarter horses had their AQHA Championship races at Los Alamitos Race Course. This weekend, the thoroughbreds have their Breeders Crown races at Santa Anita.

Think of the marketing campaign which could have been developed. While each breed would be responsible for promoting their own events, it could have been done under the banner of 'Racing's Championship Season', raising the consciousness of the American public to horse racing in general. By packaging the three breeds championship races together, each series of races could have been sold to ESPN or another network and promoted by all the ADWs. I am not suggesting television revenue would be split equally between the three breeds, but for three weekends in a row, racing would be re-introduced into the American consciousness.

I know most people would ask why would the thoroughbred people be interested in such a partnership. Well, while they are the biggest of the three breeds, they are hurting as well. While standardbred, quarter horse, and thoroughbred interests like to think they are separate industries, we are all part of the horse racing industry with common problems. While each breed needs to take care of their own interests, if we neglect the 'foundation' issues all the breeds have, it will be for naught. By promoting all three breeds championship series together, it would provide an opportunity for the racing industry to address those foundation issues and help promote horse racing in general to the American public for a three week period.

It is too late for this year, but hopefully racing's interests can get past their parochial divisions and work together in future years. Like it or not, horse racing will grow together or fail together. The sooner we recognize it, the better off we all will be.

Time to Revamp the Sire Stakes

In this month's edition of Trot magazine (a publication of Standardbred Canada), Dean Hoffman discusses how Sire Stakes programs have become obsolete. He raises an interesting point. The original purpose of the Sire Stakes was to promote agriculture in racing states by bringing horses into the individual states, thus increasing employment and stimulating the local economy. Before semen transport, what happened was the broodmare was sent to to a stallion in a particular state, artificially inseminated, and took up residence in the state until she gave birth. Now with semen transport, it is a whole new game. Hoffman brings up as an example the Ohio Horse of the Year from a few years ago. The stallion semen was transported to Michigan; the horse was foaled in Michigan, and the only time the resulting offspring came to Ohio was to race in the Ohio Sire Stakes races. Any benefit to the economy in Ohio was negligible.

Let's look at the New Jersey Sire Stakes. In the past, before neighboring states had racinos, there were a lot of stallions and broodmares residing in New Jersey. Then with semen transport, many of those broodmares stayed home. Now, with the decline of racing in New Jersey, there are a total of eleven standardbred stallions remaining in New Jersey at a total of three farms. What is the incentive to have a broodmare bred in New Jersey? You save $200 on the nomination fee to the NJSS. Hardly an incentive to send a broodmare to the New Jersey to be bred and to give birth. While I realize without a sire stakes program these three farms would go away, how is the New Jersey Sire Stakes benefiting the state? It isn't.

If bettors are going to subsidize programs like the sire stakes through the takeout, then let's have these races serve the purpose they were intended for. Let's replace sires stakes programs with programs for horses sired or foaled in a particular state. This way, these state restricted programs will promote agriculture in the state. More horse farms will exist in these states along with a corresponding increase in employment at the farms and ancillary businesses.
Some breeders may complain; they shouldn't as it will make yearlings more attractive. Let's say Pennsylvania and New Jersey had sired or foaled programs. A yearling sired from a New Jersey stallion and foaled in Pennsylvania would be eligible to two state restricted programs instead of one; thus making the foal more valuable.

It is time these races keep up with the times.

Hilltop Saturday Night

Saturday night features a solid race card at Yonkers Raceway (The Hilltop Oval). Unlike the Meadowlands and Woodbine where their big nights typically feature an overwhelming majority of stake races, Yonker's card with the exception of the Lady Maud and the Messenger is a typical Saturday night card consisting of overnight races. That is the beauty of Yonkers Raceway; it is a blue collar track. Yes, Yonkers has stakes and late closing events for the top horses in the country, but the emphasis of their racing program is geared towards the horsemen who support their racing program year round.

As much as a lot of people are ready to write off the half mile ovals, one can't help but notice the quality of horses showing up for these stakes races is improving (as are the overnight races). Amazing how the objectiosn disappear when you have decent purses.

I have reviewed the entries for the Lady Maud and the Messenger Stakes as well as the Open Handicap for Saturday night. Here are my selections:


7th - Pace - $364,430 Lady Maud Final - 3 year old fillies

Yellow Diamond has been unbeatable of late; hard to go past her. Kiss Me Kate has been racing well and has more than held up against the best in her division. Making second start back off a brief layoff; best chance if you are looking for an upset of the top selection. Shanghai Lil finished second to top pick in last; completes a chalky trifecta. Up Front Kellie Jo seems to finally be hitting her stride; factor for exotics.


8th - Pace - $40,000 Open Handicap

Mccedes held his own in the Quillen Memorial at Harrington against some of the nation's best FFA'llers. Ships in with a victory in Chester Open; pick despite bad post with decent odds. Giddy Up Lucky has been racing well from inside posts; another opportunity to grab a good portion of the purse here. Runover Feeling gets needed post relief; must use in exotica. King Cat Anvial N won last start but has little success from the outside posts.

9th - Pace - $542,000 Messenger Stakes - 3 year old open

Breeders Crown Champion If I Can Dream is the best 3yo pacer in training at this time; should win the last jewel of the triple crown with little effort. Hypnotic Blue Chip finished third against older horses in last week's Open Handicap; should pick up runner up honors. Clear Vision, qualified nicely off of brief break; trifecta threat. Doubleshotascotch is brest of rest.

If you have the opportunity, try to catch the card. It should be a good night.

Joy at Freehold?; Messenger Rewind

Freehold horsemen must have slept well last night. While Governor-elect Christie has ruled out VLTs for New Jersey Racetracks, his pledge to work together with racing and casino interests to strengthen both industries should convince reasonable people to give the Governor-elect a chance to see what he envisions happening. As a result, one would hope Freehold Raceway management (Pennwood Racing) accepts the terms of the current purse enhancement agreement as a sign of good faith, thus allowing purses for the 2010 racing season to return to 2008 levels. If Pennwood Racing turns down the purse enhancement agreement, then it is time for them to put the track up for sale. In the same spirit of good faith, Governor-elect Christie give Pennwood Racing a seat at the table when discussions take place, something Governor Corzine was unwilling to do.

This weekend at Yonkers Raceway is the the Lady Maud and the Messenger Stakes. While we will cover the two stakes in more detail later, it would appear that Yellow Diamond should have an easy time of it in the Lady Maud. As for the Messenger, If I Can Dream, Hypnotic Blue Chip, or Clear Vision will take down the major portion of the purse.

I truly doubt this year's Messenger can rival last year's edition. Somebeachsomewhere put on one of the gutsiest performances in last year's Messenger Stakes out dueling Shadow Play after being parked out virtually the whole last half mile in what could easily be described as a monsoon.



If this year's race is half as good as last years, racing fans will be in for a treat.

A New Spirit of Cooperation in New Jersey

As a follow up to my earlier post today, it has become clear why NJ horsemen were supporting Christie. Apparently, the horsemen have been assured by the Governor-elect that he will work with both the casino and racing industries to see both prosper. This apparently will be done without slots as during an interview with NBC yesterday, Governor-Elect Christie made it clear there would be no slots anywhere but in Atlantic City.

With VLTs off the table, I don't see a quick fix coming to New Jersey racing. That being said, we look forward to hearing proposals from the Governor-elect. Time will tell if the horsemen's faith in the new Governor is justified. Hopefully it is.