Racing resumes at the Meadowlands thus Friday (snow permitting) so it is only fitting that I handicap the card.
The sixth race is an open pace for ten year olds and up who will be racing for $25,000. Some people have an objection with carding a race for senior citzen horses with a $25,000 purse but it should be noted some of these horses have been racing for $21,000 and $24,000 purses currently. The field was limited to the top ten money earners but if you are going to card a race like this, it should be an invitational. For example, Make It Brief is making his first start since 2007 and Sequoiahs Spririt N's last effort was in a NW4000L5 start. The racing secretary should have looked at the individual horses and looked not only at money earned but current form; then a $25,000 purse may have been deserved for this field.
Here are my early selections for the evening's card:
1st Trot - $14,000; NW $10,000 in Last 5 Starts; AE NW $60,000LT, Optional Claiming $30,000
2 - R-Valerie (Signore, 10-1)
9 - Spitiy Rayccer (Berry, 8-1)
6 - No Doze (Meittinis, 3-1)
2nd Pace - $12,500; 4YO Mares NW2PM or $30,000 LT as of 11-20-10 (White Ruffles Elig Preferred)
7 - Only The World (Tetrick, 2-1)
8 - Fortunes Smile (Brennan, 15-1)
2 - Whistle A Tune (Bartlett, 10-1
3rd Pace - $9,000; Claiming $15,000
1 - Rockinrollin Now (Brennan, 5-1)
6 - Twenty Till (Campbell, 10-1)
7 - Casino King (Bartlett, 15-1)
4th Pace - $12,500; 4YO Mares NW2PM or $30,000 LT as of 11-20-10 (White Ruffles Elig Preferred)
2 - B J's Skye (Kakaley, 3-1)
10 - Upland Hanover (A Miller, 7-2)
8 - Back Stabbers (Campbell, 15-1)
5 - Jimmy The Terror (Gingras, 5-1)
5th Pace - $23,000; Mare NW $22,500 in Last 5 Starts AE: Opt Claiming Price $75,000
2 - Southwind Swallow (Tetrick, 3-1)
8 - High Speed Life (Gingras, 9-2)
1 - Native Doll (Kakalay, 15-1)
6th Pace - $25,000; Open 10YOs and Up
10 - Tarver HAnover (Campbell, 6-1)
5 - Mypanmar (D Miller, 9-2)
6 - Irak Attack N (Gingras, 12-1)
7th Trot - $32,000; NW $22,500L5 Opt claiming Price $75,000 AE: Higher Money Earners Draw Outside
10 - Winning Master (Kakaley, 2-1)
6 - T Js Mr Lavec (Bartlett, 6-1)
2 - Jolie's Prayer (Sears, 15-1)
7 - Donttellmywife (Brennan, 4-1)
8th Pace - $20,000; FM NW $16,000L5 AE: Opt Claiming $50,000
1 - Gerries Madison (Sears, 5-1)
3 - Ridge Jumper (Dube, 6-1)
5 - Semjac Legacy (Tetrick, 3-1)
9th Trot - $14,000; NW $10,000L5 AE: NW $60,000 LT, Opt Claiming $30,000
4 - I Look Special (Brennan, 10-1)
2 - Paisley (Campbell, 9-2)
7 - Definitely Mamie (Sears, 3-1)
8 - Tilly Bomb (Tetrick, 7-2)
10th Pace - $32,000; Mares Invitational
4 - Western Graduate (Simpson, 8-1)
1 - Bet The Ranch (Sears, 2-1)
5 - Cuz She Can (Dube. 12-1)
Coupled: Bet The Ranch and Red Star Hottie
11th Trot - $20,000; NW $16,000L5 AE: NW $75,000LT, Opt Claiming $50,000
1 - Beach Nut Brand (Gregory, 5-1)
6 - Whybabywhy (Holland, 3-1)
4 - Darlabar Man (Plutino, 15-1)
12th Pace - $14,000; Mares NW $10,000L5 AE: MW $60,000LT
4 - Princess Mcardle N (Sears, 3-1)
7 - Autumn Magic (Campbell, 5-1)
3 - Indulge Me (Manzi, 8-1)
13th Pace - $9,000; Claiming $15,000
6 - Leave It To Sam (Brennan, 4-1)
8 - Penn Turbo Ted (Dube, 10-1)
3 - Basilo Blue Chip (Berry, 3-1)
1 - In Kenny;s Honor (A Miller, 15-1)
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Announcing D.A.R - Dignity After Racing, Who are You Driving For?
A new group has been established to take care of our equine atheletes. This group, D.A.R. - Dignity After Racing is a group of breeders, owners, trainers, drivers, and fans who are concerned about the welfare of our standardbred athletes once their racing days are over.
Here is the working statement of D.A.R.:
D.A.R. - Dignity After Racing
An Organization of horsemen, breeding farms, racing centers, and horse lovers devoted to seeing these wonderful horses that so many of us benefit from have a life of dignity and love after their racing, breeding or days behind a buggy have come to an end.
Goals
1) To lobby for rule changes to help protect the standardbred race and breeding horse horses from ending up in feed lots by putting stiff sanctions and/or fines into place for owners & trainers who purposely put their horses into grade sales or sell their horses directly or indirectly to kill brokers.
2) To have all registered standardbreds with embedded with computer ID chips under the skin to help catch the few horses that slip past us at the sales.
3) To set up a safety net farm system for owners & trainers who cease operations and are unable to support their horses so they have a place to turn to before things get out of control with a long term goal of funding three regional retirement farms to be run by retired grooms.
The group realizes that all this will not be done overnight; it will take time to change attitude of some in the industry plus raise funds. A group of dreamers? No, this is a group of people who realize things need to change along with the world we live in. Society evolves, and racing needs to evolve with it. An industry that refuses to adapt dies. It goes past eliminating slaughter; it is about the dignity of the animal which allows many to make a living. Does this mean there won't be euthanasia? No, there are times it will be necessasry.
If you are interested in learning more and/or joining about D.A.R., you may visit their page on Facebook.
Anouk Busch sent this video to me showing the two standardbreds and the draft horse she purchased at New Holland. You can see at least one of the standardbreds is not in great shape. Note: For those who are sensitive, you may want to avoid the end of the video where Anouk shows the draft horse as you will see the horse's right side of the face is unsettling due to the cancer of the eye. HRU will be paying for any surgery needed (the prognosis is good).
If you want to see some pictures from Anouk's day at New Holland you an do so by clicking on the link,
Interesting conversation on Standardbred Canada's website regarding who the driver should be driving for, the owner or the bettor. The conversation has been somewhat heated.
Here is the working statement of D.A.R.:
D.A.R. - Dignity After Racing
An Organization of horsemen, breeding farms, racing centers, and horse lovers devoted to seeing these wonderful horses that so many of us benefit from have a life of dignity and love after their racing, breeding or days behind a buggy have come to an end.
Goals
1) To lobby for rule changes to help protect the standardbred race and breeding horse horses from ending up in feed lots by putting stiff sanctions and/or fines into place for owners & trainers who purposely put their horses into grade sales or sell their horses directly or indirectly to kill brokers.
2) To have all registered standardbreds with embedded with computer ID chips under the skin to help catch the few horses that slip past us at the sales.
3) To set up a safety net farm system for owners & trainers who cease operations and are unable to support their horses so they have a place to turn to before things get out of control with a long term goal of funding three regional retirement farms to be run by retired grooms.
The group realizes that all this will not be done overnight; it will take time to change attitude of some in the industry plus raise funds. A group of dreamers? No, this is a group of people who realize things need to change along with the world we live in. Society evolves, and racing needs to evolve with it. An industry that refuses to adapt dies. It goes past eliminating slaughter; it is about the dignity of the animal which allows many to make a living. Does this mean there won't be euthanasia? No, there are times it will be necessasry.
If you are interested in learning more and/or joining about D.A.R., you may visit their page on Facebook.
Anouk Busch sent this video to me showing the two standardbreds and the draft horse she purchased at New Holland. You can see at least one of the standardbreds is not in great shape. Note: For those who are sensitive, you may want to avoid the end of the video where Anouk shows the draft horse as you will see the horse's right side of the face is unsettling due to the cancer of the eye. HRU will be paying for any surgery needed (the prognosis is good).
If you want to see some pictures from Anouk's day at New Holland you an do so by clicking on the link,
Interesting conversation on Standardbred Canada's website regarding who the driver should be driving for, the owner or the bettor. The conversation has been somewhat heated.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Inter Dominion 2011 Preview
The following is a report from VFTRG contributor Sam Rawnsley, a driver in Tasmania, Australia who was profiled here late last year. Sam has graciously agreed to give our readers periodic updates as the Inter Dominions approach. Here is Sam's first report.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“You ain’t seen nothing yet.”
This is the catch phase for the 2011 Inter Dominion to be held at Addington Raceway, starting in March 25th with the final on April 8th, or have we?
We seen it all last year when Blacks A Fake made history in becoming the first pacer to win 4 finals, the big question being can he do it again? Who really cares, he has nothing to prove; we will never see another horse like him. He is a machine, the best of the best, but having him there again this year sure adds to the excitement that is building around this year’s series.
70 pacers and 72 trotters have nominated for the series with all the super stars, Mr Feelgood, Blacks A Fake, Smoken Up, Monkey King, Stunin Cullen, Sleepy Tripp and a lot of up and comers plus a lot of interest in Auckland Reactor, who is back in work and is being set for the Inter Dominion by his trainer Mark Purdon.
The 4 year old mare De Lovely is also nominated along with Russley Rascal and Franco Emirate, all of which are stepping up to the plate to take on the big guns. De Lovely has the speed to match it with them and she will be a big contender in the series.
Of the 72 trotters who have nominated for the trotters Inter Dominion 5 are from Scandinavia; this will be a major task for these horses if they come due to the fact that they have to go to England for quarantine and then only have about 5 weeks to get ready for the series. This is one massive ask for these trotters; let’s hope we can get a couple there.
There have been some great horses that have won the Inter Dominion over the years. Springfield Globe back in 1939 who was by the great Globe Derby, who sired the first 3 across the line that year. Captain Sandy took the series out in 1950 and then done it again in 1953.
Then along came the “Mighty Atom” Caduceus who took out the 1960 final in Sydney in front of 50,000 fan; that’s not counting the ones that jumped the fence to get in! 1963 was won by the millionaire pacer Cardigan Bay, some say the best ever. How do you compare?
Then along came a horse they called The Frog. Who would forget that night when the crowd went silent as the sirens blasted “some thing is wrong with The Frog!!” Preux Chevalier was ok and he smashed then in the 1985 final at Moonee Valley.
For many years the man they call “Mr Inter Dominion”, Brian Hancock has played a major roll in the series winning in a total of 6 times as a driver or trainer with his super star pacer Our Sir Vancelot wining it in 1997, 98, and 99. It took the great Blacks A Fake to beat that record making it 4 finals.
So what will this year series bring us, the excitement is building day by day and trainers are putting together final plans so their horses are cherry ripe come inter time. Will we see the grand champ Blacks A Fake continue to be a superhero and win another final? Natalie Rasmussen knows every thing about this horse, when he sleeps, when he drinks, when he eats. She loves him as well and he just keeps giving her his best time and time again. It is possible, don’t worry about that! Or will we see Mr Feelgood stamp himself as one of the best pacers in the world, if he can win again? Or will a new kid on the block stand up and let the world of harness racing know that he or she has arrived?
Only time will tell, so if anyone is floating about Christchurch in late March or early April make sure you call into Addington Raceway, because you might see something that you have not seen before, one great race!
Monday, January 3, 2011
Full Circle Program, New Holland, The Wind's A Changin'
The USTA has proudly announced the 1,000th horse registered under the Full Circle Program. The Full Circle Program allows the owner of a current standardbred to contact someone involved with the horse previously to determine the future of the horse. It can be as simple as giving the horse back to the breeder; a sale back; perhaps sharing the expenses to retrain the horse for a future career. The program is voluntary on all so an existing owner is under no obligation to contact an interested party, and the interested party can decide not to rescue the horse due to a change in circumstances. While not a perfect program, the fact it exists likely means more standardbreds will avoid an unfortunate end when their racing career concludes.
Today, Anouk Busch, standardbred trainer and head of Horse Rescue United (HRU) made a trip to New Holland, a place best described as the largest meat broker in the Eastern United States. Many types of livestock, including horses, are auctioned off to kill brokers who ship their horses off to slaughter in Canada or Mexico. This is not to say some horses don't get a reprieve; some get purchased by the Amish for use as road horses; a few others are purchased by others for legitimate uses, some are purchased by kill brokers who will ship the horses to other auctions where they hope to make a bigger profit off someone else or then they will send the horse to slaughter; but don't kid yourself, for the vast majority of horses and other animals, death within days await them. For some horses, there is no hope of rescue; they get immediately purchased by kill brokers, bypassing the auction where the slight chance of redemption exists.
Well, today Anouk was a buyer, bidding successfully against kill brokers for three horses. HRU has a preference for standardbreds but will save horses of other breeds. So today, a draft horse in need of eye surgery and special TLC will be heading to quarantine along with a standardbred gelding and a standardbred mare. For these horses, their futures will not end tragically.
While the USTA Full Circle Program is a great step forward and the USTA is to be congratulated as is Anouk Busch for her efforts, this is not the end all for efforts to save unwanted standardbreds. The following message has been posted at various spots on Facebook, even on the USTA's wall:
Ok,to all my stb people,owners,trainers,drivers,grooms...me and some friends are working on a project to try help our retired horses/no longer racing horses and their grooms.We are thinking big and we already got some big names on board.we are in the very early beginning stages and need all the help we can get.you can contact Randy McCown for more info. please share this message
The ultimate goal is to have regional farms for retired standardbreds who have no homes run by retired grooms. However, they realize many preliminary steps are required to get to this goal and the initial aim should be to reduce the flow of standardbreds to kill brokers and may involve modifiying rules of the USTA. One may think this group is a bunch of tree huggers, but it is not. Some grooms, owners, trainers, breeders, and racetrack operators are already on board to help. They realize this is not a problem which will be solved overnight, but they realize it has to start somewhere; doing nothing is not an option. You don't know how far you can go until you start.
This is not to criticize the steps the USTA has already undertaken on behalf of our equine athletes; those efforts are not to be diminished. The fact is horses do fall through the cracks and as with this year's BLM mustang round up riling up the most attention and demonstrations this government program has ever seen, not just from "tree huggers", but mainstream people, attention on what happens to racing horses will continue to grow and the industry needs to be proactive.
No, the problem will not be solved overnight and may not be solvable, but you got to start and try somewhere. The USTA, horse rescues, and those looking to improve the situation are trying.
Update: Anouk returned home from New Holland with two standardbreds; one an unraced eight year old son of Misfit, the other a nine year old gelded son of Keystone Fool who last raced in 2007 ($19,882,4 2:02.3h). In addition, Anouk came home with a draft horse with eye cancer which will require chemo or removal of the eye. The prognosis is good. HRU will take care of that as soon as the quarantine period is over.
Today, Anouk Busch, standardbred trainer and head of Horse Rescue United (HRU) made a trip to New Holland, a place best described as the largest meat broker in the Eastern United States. Many types of livestock, including horses, are auctioned off to kill brokers who ship their horses off to slaughter in Canada or Mexico. This is not to say some horses don't get a reprieve; some get purchased by the Amish for use as road horses; a few others are purchased by others for legitimate uses, some are purchased by kill brokers who will ship the horses to other auctions where they hope to make a bigger profit off someone else or then they will send the horse to slaughter; but don't kid yourself, for the vast majority of horses and other animals, death within days await them. For some horses, there is no hope of rescue; they get immediately purchased by kill brokers, bypassing the auction where the slight chance of redemption exists.
Well, today Anouk was a buyer, bidding successfully against kill brokers for three horses. HRU has a preference for standardbreds but will save horses of other breeds. So today, a draft horse in need of eye surgery and special TLC will be heading to quarantine along with a standardbred gelding and a standardbred mare. For these horses, their futures will not end tragically.
While the USTA Full Circle Program is a great step forward and the USTA is to be congratulated as is Anouk Busch for her efforts, this is not the end all for efforts to save unwanted standardbreds. The following message has been posted at various spots on Facebook, even on the USTA's wall:
Ok,to all my stb people,owners,trainers,drivers,grooms...me and some friends are working on a project to try help our retired horses/no longer racing horses and their grooms.We are thinking big and we already got some big names on board.we are in the very early beginning stages and need all the help we can get.you can contact Randy McCown for more info. please share this message
The ultimate goal is to have regional farms for retired standardbreds who have no homes run by retired grooms. However, they realize many preliminary steps are required to get to this goal and the initial aim should be to reduce the flow of standardbreds to kill brokers and may involve modifiying rules of the USTA. One may think this group is a bunch of tree huggers, but it is not. Some grooms, owners, trainers, breeders, and racetrack operators are already on board to help. They realize this is not a problem which will be solved overnight, but they realize it has to start somewhere; doing nothing is not an option. You don't know how far you can go until you start.
This is not to criticize the steps the USTA has already undertaken on behalf of our equine athletes; those efforts are not to be diminished. The fact is horses do fall through the cracks and as with this year's BLM mustang round up riling up the most attention and demonstrations this government program has ever seen, not just from "tree huggers", but mainstream people, attention on what happens to racing horses will continue to grow and the industry needs to be proactive.
No, the problem will not be solved overnight and may not be solvable, but you got to start and try somewhere. The USTA, horse rescues, and those looking to improve the situation are trying.
Update: Anouk returned home from New Holland with two standardbreds; one an unraced eight year old son of Misfit, the other a nine year old gelded son of Keystone Fool who last raced in 2007 ($19,882,4 2:02.3h). In addition, Anouk came home with a draft horse with eye cancer which will require chemo or removal of the eye. The prognosis is good. HRU will take care of that as soon as the quarantine period is over.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Harness Racing Briefs
First of, thanks to Daryl, for handicapping Saturday night's Northfield Park. He certainly did better than i would have as Northfield has been one of those tracks that mock me. Daryl had a few chalky winners, an exacta and a couple of trifectas (box).
I see this past week Bob Macintosh received a warning letter from the KHRC for a minor medication issue. This letter of warning came after repeated attempts to contact the trainer by phone and and mail, Mr. Macintosh did not appear in front of the judges. Have to wonder if the judges would be as understanding if a non-grand circuit trainer ran afoul of the same situation.
One thing that never fails to amaze me is seeing people getting fined for lying on their license applications regarding arrest records. In horse racing they get fined but typically keep their license. In any other business, odds are they are shown the door. Would someone explain this to me?
The NYSRWB has ordered the various OTBs to pay harness tracks additional payments and maintenance of effort fees to the various harness tracks in NY by October, 2010. Want to bet how much of this money is actually paid out? Just another reason while the whole NYS OTB system is destined for collapse.
No news yet on the Fair Start proposal in New Jersey. Being the mess NJ harness racing has been in the past month, it doesn't surprise me that it has not yet been voted on. Hopefully, it will be voted upon at the next racing commission meeting.
Some people don't learn. On another board a person complains about the purse distribution from handle, claiming the problem is from the laws on purse distribution being from 1970 and not 2010. That's the answer, redistribute a shrinking handle instead of worrying about the customers and building the handle. I understand horsemen feeling they supply the horses to put on the show, but until a horseman's group can put on a harness meet without declaring bankruptcy or are willing to take on all the risk, I suggest the current split is fine.
Ask a trainer off the record what percentage of their fellow trainers compete 100% clean and you will get sick. Race fixing is not the biggest problem; cheating is.
Tomorrow starts perhaps the final chapter in Illinois harness racing as the Illinois legislature considers slots at the racetracks. The vote is said to be very close. If no slot machines are approved and the casinos keep their supplement money locked up, will Balmoral and Maywood be equal to Thunder Ridge Raceway in quality, if racing at all.
I see this past week Bob Macintosh received a warning letter from the KHRC for a minor medication issue. This letter of warning came after repeated attempts to contact the trainer by phone and and mail, Mr. Macintosh did not appear in front of the judges. Have to wonder if the judges would be as understanding if a non-grand circuit trainer ran afoul of the same situation.
One thing that never fails to amaze me is seeing people getting fined for lying on their license applications regarding arrest records. In horse racing they get fined but typically keep their license. In any other business, odds are they are shown the door. Would someone explain this to me?
The NYSRWB has ordered the various OTBs to pay harness tracks additional payments and maintenance of effort fees to the various harness tracks in NY by October, 2010. Want to bet how much of this money is actually paid out? Just another reason while the whole NYS OTB system is destined for collapse.
No news yet on the Fair Start proposal in New Jersey. Being the mess NJ harness racing has been in the past month, it doesn't surprise me that it has not yet been voted on. Hopefully, it will be voted upon at the next racing commission meeting.
Some people don't learn. On another board a person complains about the purse distribution from handle, claiming the problem is from the laws on purse distribution being from 1970 and not 2010. That's the answer, redistribute a shrinking handle instead of worrying about the customers and building the handle. I understand horsemen feeling they supply the horses to put on the show, but until a horseman's group can put on a harness meet without declaring bankruptcy or are willing to take on all the risk, I suggest the current split is fine.
Ask a trainer off the record what percentage of their fellow trainers compete 100% clean and you will get sick. Race fixing is not the biggest problem; cheating is.
Tomorrow starts perhaps the final chapter in Illinois harness racing as the Illinois legislature considers slots at the racetracks. The vote is said to be very close. If no slot machines are approved and the casinos keep their supplement money locked up, will Balmoral and Maywood be equal to Thunder Ridge Raceway in quality, if racing at all.
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