In the aftermath of the tragic fire at Lebanon Raceway, the question needs to be asked, why were there no sprinklers or fire detection systems in the stables? More importantly, why don’t people learn? Just twenty one years ago there was another major fire there which killed 35 horses. It is safe to say if there was a sprinkler system installed, we would not be mourning the lose of two horsemen and 43 horses today.
Barn fires occur more often than one would like to think. Every year, you hear of at least two or three barn fires that occurred at a track or fair grounds; then there are the fires that don’t make the news. The fact is barns made of wood and the hay used for bedding which is stored in the barns is highly combustible; a disaster in waiting. All it takes is an electrical short, someone smoking in a barn, a cold day where someone brings in a heater, lightning, or some other circumstance and you have a recipe for disaster.
How could this happen? There is no excuse to not have sprinklers in stable areas. Yes, I know many of these stables have been built years ago, but they certainly can be retrofitted. I recognize many track operators are losing money so it may be a financial hardship for the them to pay for the installation of fire alarms and sprinklers by themselves. These are not excuses for inaction.
There are ways to pay for this retrofitting. If you are in a state where a percentage of the handle is dedicated to capital improvement, use these funds to upgrade the barns. If you operate a track that doesn’t charge for stabling, charge $25 a month towards the cost of installing sprinklers. Already charging for stabling? Add a $25 a month surcharge. Consider using a small portion of your purse account each year to help pay off the installation of sprinklers and alarms. Can’t install sprinklers now? There is fire retardant paint which may be used to slow down the spread of the fire.
I hear the arguments now. Do you know how much it costs to race a horse and now you want to increase my expense? Well, what is the cost of replacing your racing stock or rebuilding your business if your entire stable is wiped out? What is the cost of the loss of human life? I agree race track operators should pay or share in the cost of upgrading their facilities, but if they are unable or unwilling to do so, are you just going to sit by and hope nothing happens?
If you stable at a training center, make sure their stables have sprinklers and fire alarms. If not, tell them to install them or you will find another facility that does. These days there is no excuse for a public stable not to be protected against fire. Hope is not a defense
Monday, December 7, 2009
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Getting Hosed in New York
This past week, NYC-OTB filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy. According to NYC-OTB, they will pay their creditors what is owed to them in full. In the short term, breeders and race tracks will breathe a sigh of relief. Though the funds owed to them will be delayed in coming, it will eventually arrive. That’s the good news. As part of this filing, NYC-OTB wants to change the rules regarding payment to the tracks and breeders in the future. Currently, payments are calculated based on gross revenue. NYC-OTB is asking the state legislature to change the funding formula so payments to the tracks and breeders will be calculated on net income.
New York racing is about to get shafted big time. At the present time, the amount of money paid to the tracks and breeders is determined by legislation. In effect, the state determines the commission that the tracks will get from the various OTBs. The tracks don’t have an option to negotiate with the OTBs, but at least they are guaranteed a percentage based on the handle. Now, NYC-OTB wants to change the deal. The New York race tracks (harness and thoroughbred) will still be forced to give NYC-OTB the signal, but they won’t know what, if anything, they will get for their signal as it will depend on net profits. Being OTB is a bastion of political patronage, I think it is safe to say any profits, if any, will be minimal.
You try to go into a store and take a refrigerator from them and tell the salesperson you will pay the store at the end of the year, assuming you made money and see how far you get. Safe to say you will not be coming home with a new refrigerator. Yet, this is the deal NYC-OTB wants the tracks and breeders to take; they want to pay for the product at the end of the year and if there is no money left, the tracks will just have to do without.
This is going to hurt the New York horsemen and race tracks and the sad thing is they can’t do much about it. First of all, rest assured if the deal changes for NYC-OTB, it is going to change for the other regional OTBs. Tracks and horsemen want to complain? Be careful of how much you complain because your VLT percentage may be cut to compensate the municipalities what they used to get from OTB.
The New York OTB model is long obsolete yet it remains a part of the political fabric of New York State. It is time to kill it off once and for all or at least let the race tracks run OTB. New York race tracks and horsemen are powerless to kill the OTB corporations off but the out of state race tracks could. All it takes is for the out of state horsemen to deny their home tracks permission to send their signal to the NY OTBs. However, that won’t happen as they will not be willing to give up the commission earned on wagering from New York State gamblers. The only hope is that investors will not purchase the bonds NYC-OTB is proposing to sell as part of their reorganization.
New York racing is about to get shafted big time. At the present time, the amount of money paid to the tracks and breeders is determined by legislation. In effect, the state determines the commission that the tracks will get from the various OTBs. The tracks don’t have an option to negotiate with the OTBs, but at least they are guaranteed a percentage based on the handle. Now, NYC-OTB wants to change the deal. The New York race tracks (harness and thoroughbred) will still be forced to give NYC-OTB the signal, but they won’t know what, if anything, they will get for their signal as it will depend on net profits. Being OTB is a bastion of political patronage, I think it is safe to say any profits, if any, will be minimal.
You try to go into a store and take a refrigerator from them and tell the salesperson you will pay the store at the end of the year, assuming you made money and see how far you get. Safe to say you will not be coming home with a new refrigerator. Yet, this is the deal NYC-OTB wants the tracks and breeders to take; they want to pay for the product at the end of the year and if there is no money left, the tracks will just have to do without.
This is going to hurt the New York horsemen and race tracks and the sad thing is they can’t do much about it. First of all, rest assured if the deal changes for NYC-OTB, it is going to change for the other regional OTBs. Tracks and horsemen want to complain? Be careful of how much you complain because your VLT percentage may be cut to compensate the municipalities what they used to get from OTB.
The New York OTB model is long obsolete yet it remains a part of the political fabric of New York State. It is time to kill it off once and for all or at least let the race tracks run OTB. New York race tracks and horsemen are powerless to kill the OTB corporations off but the out of state race tracks could. All it takes is for the out of state horsemen to deny their home tracks permission to send their signal to the NY OTBs. However, that won’t happen as they will not be willing to give up the commission earned on wagering from New York State gamblers. The only hope is that investors will not purchase the bonds NYC-OTB is proposing to sell as part of their reorganization.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Tragedy at Lebanon Raceway
Early this morning, a fire went through one of the barns at Lebanon Raceway, killing two people and doezens of horses (the number reported varies between forty-four and sixty-five). It has been reported that the two people killed were trainer Ronnie Williams and James Edwards. Racing at Lebanon has been cancelled as a result of today's tragedy. You may read about the tragedy here.
This is not the first time tragedy struck at Lebanon. Back in 1988, a similar type of fire struck the fairgrounds, where the racetrack is, killing thirty-five horses. Depending on further details, I may have something further to say about this tragedy, but for now my thoughts go to those who lost their life. I would like to extend my sympathy to the families of Ronnie Williams and James Edwards for their loss as well as those who suffered losses in this fire.
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This is not the first time tragedy struck at Lebanon. Back in 1988, a similar type of fire struck the fairgrounds, where the racetrack is, killing thirty-five horses. Depending on further details, I may have something further to say about this tragedy, but for now my thoughts go to those who lost their life. I would like to extend my sympathy to the families of Ronnie Williams and James Edwards for their loss as well as those who suffered losses in this fire.
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The "B" Track Tour - Sports Creek Raceway
This week's stop on the "B" track tour brings us to Swartz Creek, MI, the home of Sports Creek Raceway. Sports Creek races a short meet; basically two months. Their current meet which began last week continues through February 7 for a total of 34 racing programs; racing Friday thru Sunday. Like all the harness tracks in Michigan, Sports Creek is struggling. First they are competing against casinos and there is no realistic hope for slot machines at the racetracks. Secondly, their Governor has not been supportive of racing; a couple of times this past year, racing has been threatened with a shut down as a result of the Governor's actions. Lastly, being Michigan has been hit particularly hard during this economic downturn; a trifecta that racing interests from all breeds will find hard to overcome.
Sports Creek to be honest is more of a 'C' track. The horses racing at Sports Creek are coming predominantly from Northville Downs and Windsor Raceway with a few horses coming in from tracks like Colonial Downs, Indiana Downs and Lebanon Raceway. The bottom claiming price is $2,000 with conditioned races starting with non-winners of $500 in the last five starts. Certainly not the caliber of horse which will raise fear at many of our raceways.
While some people will look down at tracks like Sports Creek, tracks like these are essential to the sport as they provide the opportunity for young horsemen to develop their skills. If not for tracks like Sports Creek, where would these horsemen learn their trade? Almost every driver and trainer racing at our major raceways got their start at a track like Sports Creek.
One thing I found interesting is the heavy use of handicapped conditions at Sports Creek Raceway. Many tracks will have their Preferred and Open Handicaps, but here they are used successfully to fill races. For example, tonight there is a race for non-winners of three to five races. In this case, non-winners of three draw for the inside, non-winners of four draw for the middle and non-winners of five races will race from the outside. Similar conditions are written based on money earned. In addition, Sports Creek uses conditioned claiming races; again more so than done at your major raceway. As you can imagine with SCR not being a track that has much simulcasting interest, the wagering menu is simple; you will find no pick-3s or the such here.
Here are the picks for Saturday night:
1st Pace - $1,400 Non-winners of 1 extended pari-mutuel race lifetime
2 - Billiondollarbaby 5-1
3 - Imjispinetanku 7-2
8 - Benns Legacy 3-1
2nd Pace - $1,400 Claiming $5,000; Conditioned - non-winners of 1 ext pm race lifetime
2 - Taylors Beach Toy 7-2
3 - Sweetly Western 9-2
8 - Electric Rita 3-1
3rd Trot - $2,300 Non-winners of 3-4-5 ext pm races lt (post positions drawn by number of wins)
7 - Master Cruisin 8-1
1 - Nordic Gentleman 3-1
9 - Hallway to Heaven 7-2
8 - Addie Mae 9-2
4th Pace - $1,600 Claiming conditioned $5,000; non-winners of 2 ext pm lifetime
3 - All Forthe Marbles 3-1
8 - Nick Stokes 9-2
7 - Erika Jo 10-1
5th Trot - $1,400 Non-winners of $600 in last five starts
2 - Geramiawasabulldog 5-1
8 - NV Nicki 4-1
6 - Sunset Lady 6-1
6th Pace - $1,400 Non-winners of $500 in last five starts
1 - Swift Terrific 9-2
3 - Mystery Baron 5-1
6 - Shambala 6-1
4 - Braxton Seelster 3-1
7th Trot $1,600 Non-winners of 2 ext pari-mutuel races lifetime
3 - Hustlin Hooray 3-1
6 - Lola's Keeper 9-2
7 - The Ellenator 5-1
8th Pace $3,000 Non-winners of $2,000 in last five starts ; non-winners of $4,000 draw outside
5 - Ellaraider 3-1
3 - Caitlyns Raider 6-1
1 - Keymodel 8-1
9th Pace - $1,600 Non-winners of $1,000 in last five starts
2 - A Toy to Remember 8-1
1 - Fallin Barnes 7-2
5 - Beach Streaker 3-1
3 - Ramgold 8-1
10th Pace - $1,400 Claiming conditioned $2,000; non-winners of last start
3 - Color Me Cam 3-1
1 - Imadragon 5-1
8 - Punch Ball 4-1
11th Pace - $1,800 Non-winners of $1,500 in last five starts
8 - Rip Daddy 7-2
3 - Smoken Cambest 4-1
7 - SF Drifter 8-1
12th Pace - $4,000 Winners over $4,000 in last five starts
2 - T Red 3-1
1 - Ima Forget Me Not 5-1
4 - Allamerican Comet 4-1
6 - Notre PA 8-1
13th Pace - $1,600 Non-winners of $1,000 in last five starts
3 - Armbro Catcher 6-1
5 - Farragut 3-1
8 - Vee Believe 9-2
14th Pace - $1,900 Claiming Handicap $4,000-$5,000
2 - Oakbrook Raider 10-1
8 - SS Regal Raider 7-2
4 - Standforsomething 4-1
15th Pace - $2,100 Claiming Conditioned $9,000; non-winners of 3 ext pm races lt draw inside; non-winners of 4 ext pm races or $10,000 lifetime draw outside
4 - SF Mudslinger 6-1
2 - Briar Clip 7-2
7 - In A Artbeat 10-1
9 - Give Me The Money 5-1
16th Pace - $3,000 Non-winners of $4,000 in last five starts
9 - Russell L 5-2
5 - Medal Play 6-1
2 - Tek's Raider 9-2
6 - Boogitydoc Boogity 10-1
Sports Creek to be honest is more of a 'C' track. The horses racing at Sports Creek are coming predominantly from Northville Downs and Windsor Raceway with a few horses coming in from tracks like Colonial Downs, Indiana Downs and Lebanon Raceway. The bottom claiming price is $2,000 with conditioned races starting with non-winners of $500 in the last five starts. Certainly not the caliber of horse which will raise fear at many of our raceways.
While some people will look down at tracks like Sports Creek, tracks like these are essential to the sport as they provide the opportunity for young horsemen to develop their skills. If not for tracks like Sports Creek, where would these horsemen learn their trade? Almost every driver and trainer racing at our major raceways got their start at a track like Sports Creek.
One thing I found interesting is the heavy use of handicapped conditions at Sports Creek Raceway. Many tracks will have their Preferred and Open Handicaps, but here they are used successfully to fill races. For example, tonight there is a race for non-winners of three to five races. In this case, non-winners of three draw for the inside, non-winners of four draw for the middle and non-winners of five races will race from the outside. Similar conditions are written based on money earned. In addition, Sports Creek uses conditioned claiming races; again more so than done at your major raceway. As you can imagine with SCR not being a track that has much simulcasting interest, the wagering menu is simple; you will find no pick-3s or the such here.
Here are the picks for Saturday night:
1st Pace - $1,400 Non-winners of 1 extended pari-mutuel race lifetime
2 - Billiondollarbaby 5-1
3 - Imjispinetanku 7-2
8 - Benns Legacy 3-1
2nd Pace - $1,400 Claiming $5,000; Conditioned - non-winners of 1 ext pm race lifetime
2 - Taylors Beach Toy 7-2
3 - Sweetly Western 9-2
8 - Electric Rita 3-1
3rd Trot - $2,300 Non-winners of 3-4-5 ext pm races lt (post positions drawn by number of wins)
7 - Master Cruisin 8-1
1 - Nordic Gentleman 3-1
9 - Hallway to Heaven 7-2
8 - Addie Mae 9-2
4th Pace - $1,600 Claiming conditioned $5,000; non-winners of 2 ext pm lifetime
3 - All Forthe Marbles 3-1
8 - Nick Stokes 9-2
7 - Erika Jo 10-1
5th Trot - $1,400 Non-winners of $600 in last five starts
2 - Geramiawasabulldog 5-1
8 - NV Nicki 4-1
6 - Sunset Lady 6-1
6th Pace - $1,400 Non-winners of $500 in last five starts
1 - Swift Terrific 9-2
3 - Mystery Baron 5-1
6 - Shambala 6-1
4 - Braxton Seelster 3-1
7th Trot $1,600 Non-winners of 2 ext pari-mutuel races lifetime
3 - Hustlin Hooray 3-1
6 - Lola's Keeper 9-2
7 - The Ellenator 5-1
8th Pace $3,000 Non-winners of $2,000 in last five starts ; non-winners of $4,000 draw outside
5 - Ellaraider 3-1
3 - Caitlyns Raider 6-1
1 - Keymodel 8-1
9th Pace - $1,600 Non-winners of $1,000 in last five starts
2 - A Toy to Remember 8-1
1 - Fallin Barnes 7-2
5 - Beach Streaker 3-1
3 - Ramgold 8-1
10th Pace - $1,400 Claiming conditioned $2,000; non-winners of last start
3 - Color Me Cam 3-1
1 - Imadragon 5-1
8 - Punch Ball 4-1
11th Pace - $1,800 Non-winners of $1,500 in last five starts
8 - Rip Daddy 7-2
3 - Smoken Cambest 4-1
7 - SF Drifter 8-1
12th Pace - $4,000 Winners over $4,000 in last five starts
2 - T Red 3-1
1 - Ima Forget Me Not 5-1
4 - Allamerican Comet 4-1
6 - Notre PA 8-1
13th Pace - $1,600 Non-winners of $1,000 in last five starts
3 - Armbro Catcher 6-1
5 - Farragut 3-1
8 - Vee Believe 9-2
14th Pace - $1,900 Claiming Handicap $4,000-$5,000
2 - Oakbrook Raider 10-1
8 - SS Regal Raider 7-2
4 - Standforsomething 4-1
15th Pace - $2,100 Claiming Conditioned $9,000; non-winners of 3 ext pm races lt draw inside; non-winners of 4 ext pm races or $10,000 lifetime draw outside
4 - SF Mudslinger 6-1
2 - Briar Clip 7-2
7 - In A Artbeat 10-1
9 - Give Me The Money 5-1
16th Pace - $3,000 Non-winners of $4,000 in last five starts
9 - Russell L 5-2
5 - Medal Play 6-1
2 - Tek's Raider 9-2
6 - Boogitydoc Boogity 10-1
Thursday, December 3, 2009
The Best Laid Plans......
Well, it made sense. Have a matter of a ten day suspension hanging over your heard and planning to go on vacation during the down time? Why not drop your appeal and go skiing while you are suspended? Well, that is what Ron Pierce decided to do. Only one problem, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) has other plans. They have taken the stand that Pierce should enjoy his vacation, but the suspension will be served on their terms, after vacation.
Kudos to the KHRC. Too many times drivers and trainers appeal their suspension merely to keep racing and then decide to drop their appeal when it becomes convenient to serve their suspension. In Mr. Pierce's case, the period between Chester closing and the Meadowlands opening would have been a convenient time to serve the days and go on vacation. In this case, the KHRC has decided the days will be served when 'it counts'. While some people suspect the KHRC will have Pierce serve the days during the 2010 Red Mile meet, based on previous precedent I suspect he will be suspended starting April 29 when the 2010 Kentucky harness racing season kicks off at Players Bluegrass Downs in Paducah.
Some people are complaining the KHRC has 'it in' for Ron Pierce. I say good for the racing officials. Suspension are meant to be a penalty for violating rules, a time away from the sport where you suffer a financial loss for your infraction; it is not meant to be a meaningless slap on a wrist. This is not about whipping. This is another case of a driver or trainer gaming the system by appealing a suspension and then dropping an appeal in order to serve a suspension at a more convenient time. I have seen a Grand Circuit trainer/driver who is based out of the Meadowlands droppping a suspension so he could serve it in January; a real hardship for that participant. Racing officials in Kentucky deserve credit for not allowing a suspension to become a meaningless slap on the wrist. One would hope officials would go one step further, add a few days for filing a frivolous appeal.
Perhaps the approach of New York authorities take is the answer to frivolous appeals. There you often see suspensions reduced when a participant does not initially contest a ruling. Appeal the fine/suspension, which is your right, know you will serve the full suspension when the racing commission decides; not you. While it will not eliminate frivolous appeals, it should cut them down
Kudos to the KHRC. Too many times drivers and trainers appeal their suspension merely to keep racing and then decide to drop their appeal when it becomes convenient to serve their suspension. In Mr. Pierce's case, the period between Chester closing and the Meadowlands opening would have been a convenient time to serve the days and go on vacation. In this case, the KHRC has decided the days will be served when 'it counts'. While some people suspect the KHRC will have Pierce serve the days during the 2010 Red Mile meet, based on previous precedent I suspect he will be suspended starting April 29 when the 2010 Kentucky harness racing season kicks off at Players Bluegrass Downs in Paducah.
Some people are complaining the KHRC has 'it in' for Ron Pierce. I say good for the racing officials. Suspension are meant to be a penalty for violating rules, a time away from the sport where you suffer a financial loss for your infraction; it is not meant to be a meaningless slap on a wrist. This is not about whipping. This is another case of a driver or trainer gaming the system by appealing a suspension and then dropping an appeal in order to serve a suspension at a more convenient time. I have seen a Grand Circuit trainer/driver who is based out of the Meadowlands droppping a suspension so he could serve it in January; a real hardship for that participant. Racing officials in Kentucky deserve credit for not allowing a suspension to become a meaningless slap on the wrist. One would hope officials would go one step further, add a few days for filing a frivolous appeal.
Perhaps the approach of New York authorities take is the answer to frivolous appeals. There you often see suspensions reduced when a participant does not initially contest a ruling. Appeal the fine/suspension, which is your right, know you will serve the full suspension when the racing commission decides; not you. While it will not eliminate frivolous appeals, it should cut them down
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