Grand Circut Changes Change Little

I realize the changes made this year to the Grand Circuit was a first step, but in reality does it change much in harness racing?  Unfortunately not.  By including all open stakes in the Grand Circuit, all that has happened is it legitimizes the decisions horsemen connections make which is to bypass the smaller stakes for the  marquee events.  Now, don't get me wrong, given the choice of racing in a $60,000 stake versus a $400,000 event is an easy decision, but by including all these new stops, nothing is going to change the fact the big horses will be picking their spots to race rather than competing in the smaller events.. 

Yes, points will be earned for each start made in a Grand Circuit start, but the prizes for the overall champion doesn't seem so significant to get connections to keep racing their horses.  Connections will continue to cherry pick events, bypassing older events with smaller purses for the big events meaning races like the Reynold and Tompkins-Geers will continue with second and third string horses instead of gaining the top  horses in the country.

Rather than being too hard on the first year decisions, we will see what future steps will be taken to fine tune the new strategy and encourage horses competing in the smaller market stakes  A year end stakes race for the best performers is the way to encourage horses showing up to more dances, and not ignore the smaller tracks.

I realize the sport has changed quite a bit over the past thirty years but one of the worst changes has been the lack of horses dancing every dance taking on all comers.  It would be in the interest of the sport to return to that particular part of racing's traditions.


With payments cut, the Meadowlands Pace has fewer  nominations than ever with only thirty horses making the initial payments.  This makes the race likely to have a purse more likely in the lower $600,000 instead of the advertise $800,000.  Has the Meadowlands Pace lost its lustre?  The decline in the purse value certainly does become a factor but when you have other races in the $300,000 range with lower payments it makes it a lot easier to bypass these events.  This shows another way how slot money has changed the game.


Yesterday at the Harness Congress, a topic very dear to me was discussed; globalization.  At the session, the biggest hindrance mentioned was the problem with timing, in particular the issue of time zones.  For big day events, the key is to get races run where you can maximize exposure but for ordinary races, there needs to be away to get the signal out there for little additional cost so those who are willing to wager at off hours are able to; even if it means a bare bones broadcast.

Speaking of Globalization, as to emphasize the importance of making the American product more appealing, in today's Saratogian, Racing Secretary Don Hoover mentioned some of the places people were wagering on Saratoga's races from: Germany, South Africa, Saint Kitts, and other locations.  Granted this was probably ADW wagering and not wagering from retail outlets, but it goes to show you if you have quality product to sell, somebody is going to bet on it.


While there is no racing at the Meadowlands today, we will likey start seeing the impact of the Pennsylvania tracks once again as Harrah's opens up this weekend and Pocono Downs a mere two weeks later.  Will the Meadowlands continue its string of surpassing last year's handle on a daily basis.  As long as they can get competitive fields together, they should do okay for we have seen competitive fields do better than quality.  Now is where we will see how Peter Koch is at classifying horses with fewer horses available to race.  Will he be able to continue carding the competitive races he has been able to pull off so far or will short price winners become typical?

Internet Marketing Embraced and the New Grand Circuit

At Sunday's general session of the USTA board of directors, several initiatives have been announced taking advantage of technology and the Internet, from the revised and updated rule book being made available shortly on tablets to a new emphasis on Internet marketing.

The Strategic Wagering Program has been lauded once again for increasing wagering thanks to the guarantees which are shared between the USTA and the member tracks.  Very few guarantees were missed making the program a good inexpensive marketing tool to stimulate wagering..

The message regarding marketing is it needs to change and be geared towards the Internet and social media to reflect the target market's moving away from television and print media.  In a way this is fortuitous as most racetracks don't have the financial means to launch traditional marketing campaigns.  Since online marketing requires less capital, more tracks should be able to market to their target audience which spends a large time on social media and the Internet.

How many times have you wondered who set the morning line at your favorite racetrack?  Well, if things go as planned, you will have to start blaming a computer as the USTA will be working with Trackmaster in their effort to have a computer program set the morning line for racetracks; this being something some racetracks have been looking for.

John Campbell spoke about changes to the Grand Circuit coming this year.  Our own Joe F. provides this dispatch:

John Campbell, the new president of the Grand Circuit, announced Sunday that all non-restricted stakes races in North America will now fall under the Grand Circuit umbrella. Points will be allotted to owners, trainers and drivers, and awards will be passed out at season’s end.

Tracks that had not previously been affiliated with the Circuit, or had allowed their membership to lapse, like Yonkers, Northfield, Saratoga, Hazel Park, Dover Downs, Harrah’s and Red Shores are now part of the syndicate.

Some of the races that did not carry the GC designation last year but now do are the:

Rooney…. Lismore….Yonkers Trot….Hudson Filly Trot….Messenger….Lady Maud….Sheppard….Battle Of Brandywine….Colonial….Valley Forge….Maxie Lee….Betsy Ross….Cleveland Classic….Battle Of Lake Erie….Quillen….Progress Pace….Matron Pace…..Matron T&P divisions….William Connors Open…..Joe Gerrity Series.…Gold Cup and Saucer

The Role of a Qualifier Needs to Change

In today's HRU, Dean Towers talks about how more horses tend to be live coming off layoffs and how the schooling races they are competing in at race speeds don't show in the program.  We may not be able to do something about that; primarily because how do you have clockers at every training facility?  But we can do something about qualifiers being somewhat meaningless.

At one time, in the program it used to have a description indicating (paraphrasing), "Qualifying races are meant to show the horse is able to meet the track standards without breaking.  Qualifying races are not necessarily competitive".  My question is why are qualifying races not competitive with respect to going in race times?

For example, the qualifying standards at the Meadowlands are listed as:
 

QUALIFIYING STANDARDS (P) 1:58 (T) 2:01 - 2 YR. PACERS 2:02 - 2 YR. TROTTERS 2:05 - 3 YEAR OLDS ALLOWED 1 SECOND. 5/8TH MILE TRACK ALLOWED 1 SECOND. 1/2 MILE TRACK ALLOWED 2 SECONDS. THE N.J.R.C. RULE CHANGE FOR QUALIFIERS IS NOW CHANGED FROM 30 DAYS TO 45 DAYS IN N.J.

 

While I have a problem with changing the qualifying rule from thirty days to forty-five days, that is a topic for another time.  Let's look at the qualifying standards for aged horses.  For a pacer qualifying at the Meadowlands, they need to pace the mile in 1:58 (a trotter must trot in 2:01).  Tell me what horse is going to earn a check in 1:58 (or 2:01)?  Perhaps if the track is rated slow, but over a fast track, that horse is going to go back to his stall without earning a nickel.  In fact, looking at last Thursday's races, for those contested at a mile, the fifth pace finisher's average time was 1:54.3, the trotter at 1:58.2.  It would be more appropriate if qualifying standards were based on actual pari-mutuel race times.  Perhaps standards of 1:56 for a pacer and 1:59 for a trotter would be more appropriate at the Meadowlands?

The point is while qualifiers are not meant to be competitive within themselves, they should be more than a casual jaunt around the oval, they should be serious efforts to show a horse can be competitive at race speeds..



To no one's surprises, Cal Expo has agreed to accept entries from Lou Pena who recently had his license restored by a judge in New York for violation of due process (the fact six months had passed since his appeal of his license revocation where decisions are normally rendered within thirty days). It's just a question of his obtaining horses for his stable and it's off to the races. Let's not kid ourselves, just like owners on the East coast, they will be flocking to Pena so he may build his stable back up.

I'm sure many of you are wondering how Pena got licensed in California. First of all, his license is New York has been restored so technically he is in good standing in all states he is licensed in. Secondly, even if you bring up the fact he appears to have violated the withdrawal times for permitted medications in New York, it is important to note other states recommend withdrawal times, don't mandate them so his alleged infractions in New York wouldn't be an infraction in California.

The fact that something can be a violation of the rules in one state and not another is a symptom of the fractured system of regulation we have with each state having their own set of rules. There should be one set of rules throughout the country. States should agree to a compact where all harness racing in the United States operates under the same rules. This way, everyone know what the rules are and it would prevent individuals with suspended licenses crossing the border to another state with more 'relaxed' rules.

As for those with inquiring minds, I look forward to the March 15 hearing in a Schenectady courtroom to see if the NYGC has an explanation as to why they never issued a decision regarding the Pena appeal heard back in August. For the NYGC to leave any licensee swinging in the wind for five months past the due date of a decision is inexcusable.

 

 

Surprise, No Surprise

As expected in this corner, the NHL, NBA, NFL, NCAA, and MLB received a permanent injunction against the New Jersey law which provides for sports wagering on college and professional sports.  The judge in the case ruled the 1992 law which bans professional sports wagering, except where grandfathered, is constitutional.

Of course, New Jersey will appeal the case, and once through the US Court of Appeals it will be on to the US Supreme Court.  My guess is if the law is upheld in the Court of Appeals, it is a dead issue.  After all, if the Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal by the State of Delaware to offer single game wagering on NFL games (they are allowed a three game parlay because it was grandfathered), what makes anyone thing the Supreme Court will hear to this case?

The best chance of New Jersey getting sports wagering is if the federal law is repealed.  Of course, in a bit of irony or what's good for the goose is good for the gander, Senate President Harry Reid from Nevada may very well not allow any such bill come up for a vote (sounds familiar Senator Sweeney?).

The bottom line is don't expect to see sports wagering in the Garden State any time soon, either at a casino or a racetrack.


In a little amusement, the State of New Jersey is trying to be second in the nation with online gaming and of course, trying to get sports wagering.  You may find it amusing that the Governor has announced March 3 is the start of National Problem Gambling Awareness Week.


I got on to the new NJ4Bets today for the first time and I must confess I like it.  If you are a NJ resident and have been holding off on establishing an account, now is a good time to join.  Click here to see the site.  There are more racetracks available.

Stallion Relocation and Tumbling Stud Fees

VFTRG contributor Joe F takes a look at the breeding industry with regards to the game of musical chairs being played and the declining of stud fees.

It’s no surprise that stud fees are falling, but I thought I’d break down the gory details, just to give you a feel for exactly how difficult the present environment is.

Relocation seems to be the theme for 2013, particularly to Ohio and Pennsylvania, and away from Ontario. In the former, VLTs have been well received at Scioto Downs and the state’s five other racetracks expect similar results. And although the politicians in Pennsylvania have been dipping their hands into the cookie jar,  it’s still one of the better states to race in.

New York’s governor, Andrew Cuomo, wants to see full service, non-Indian casinos in his state, and this has folks on edge. But all things considered, New York is still one of the more lucrative venues for horsemen and breeders, so expatriates from Ontario have been trickling in.

Indiana Governor Mike Pence would like to eliminate the racing subsidy entirely, a la Ontario, however the Indiana Senate just voted for a bill which will permit expanded gaming at racetracks, so a signature from the governor could give a boost to those intent on revitalizing the breeding industry in the state. As it is, already dirt cheap stud fees have been lowered and there has been an exodus of some of the better stallions to neighboring Ohio.

Rocknroll and Muscles have been spirited off to Pennsylvania, leaving the New Jersey sire stakes program to Muscle Hill and If I Can Dream. Although, with the offspring of the Perretti stallions being eligible to the NJSS for a few more years the competition could be fierce in the trotting division—Muscles versus Muscle. Still, a residency format is a must to sustain that program.

Stallions showing stud fee increases from 2012 to 2013

·       SBSW has jumped 25% to 20K. Then again, that’s where he was in 2011.

·       Crazed, the Credit Winner stallion, has moved from Blue Chip to Hanover. His fee has risen 42% to 6K. On the other hand, Crazed stood for $7,500 in 2009, so he’s actually down 20% since then.

·       Cantab Hall, Hanover’s mighty twelve year-old son of Self Possessed, and the sire of Wheeling N Dealin, Tamla Celeber, Uncle Peter and Explosive Matter, is up 25% to 10K. However, as was the case with SBSW and Crazed, Cantab stood for 12K in 2007, so he’s actually down 17% since then.

·       The marginal pair that is up without any qualification are Justice Hall, the sire of Intimidate and Canadian Justice, and Art’s Chip, who has been moved from Indiana to Ohio. Twelve-year-old Justice Hall, who has been splitting his output between Quebec and Indiana, now commands a $3,500 stud fee, while thirteen-year-old Art’s Chip gets the same in Ohio. That’s it, Justice Hall and Art’s Chip.

·       The wild card is Muscle Hill, who entered the market at 30K but now stands in that breeding waste land, New Jersey, at an unadvertised fee. I guess we can safely assume that he commands the highest price in NA. Muscle Hill is a GC stallion in the tradition of Meadow Skipper, who commanded a 30K fee at the close of the 1970s in Kentucky. Sire stakes money didn’t factor into the equation. Of course the difference is that Muscle Hill’s progeny have yet to set foot on a track for a money race. Details, details. But they sold for a ton; that makes him GC worthy doesn’t it? Or, will he go down the same road as the discounted Ds: Dewey and Donato. Stay tuned.

 

Stallions Sporting For Sale Signs

·       Here are a few of the stallions standing for fees that have been reduced 50% or more from 2012 to 2013: Dewey, Santana Blue Chip, Armbro Deuce and Mister Big. Glidemaster, the sire of Maven and Blue Porsche, just misses the cut at 48%. His fee has been reduced a whopping 78% since 2009. Tell All is down 40% since his arrival in Ontario in 2011. He’s down 60% since 2009. Twelve-year-old Western Terror, the sire of Drop The Ball, Economy Terror, Western Silk and Up The Credit, is down 50% since 2011.

 

·       Other stallions standing for between 20 and 50% less than they did in 2012 are: Camluck, Jereme’s Jet, McArdle, Lucky Chucky, No Pan Intended, Shanghai Phil, Conway Hall, The Cincinnati Kid, Palone Ranger, Art Official, Artistic Fella, Federal Flex, Holiday Road, Conway Hall, Credit Winner, Delmarvalous, Donato Hanover, Explosive Matter, Jailhouse Jesse, Master Glide, Western Ideal, Quick Pulse Mindale, Rock N Roll Heaven, Sand Vic, Shadow Play, Shark Gesture and Angus Hall. And many of those reductions are closer to 40% than they are to twenty.

 

·       It’s telling how many young stallions with no offspring old enough to have raced have been discounted: Lucky Chucky (-33%), Art Official (-28%), Holiday Road (-22%), Delmarvalous (-22%), Explosive Matter (-20%), Palone Ranger (-33%), If I Can Dream (-17%), MOMM (-14%), Mister Big (-53%), Rock N Roll Heaven (-29%), Roll With Joe  (-7%), Shadow Play (-20%) and Sportswriter (-16%). Winning Mister is standing his first season and he’s already had 44% knocked off of his original 8K fee. What happened? Is this akin to driving a new car off the lot?

 

• Where is 2011 Hambletonion winner, Broad Bahn? He was standing at Winbak, NY, for $7,500 last year, supposedly. There were rumors about him returning to the track? He seems to have disappeared.

 

·       New to Ohio: McArdle, No Pan Intended, Santana Blue Chip, Keystone Savage, Art Official, Big Rigs, Break The Bank, Foreclosure, Amigo Hall, Dejarmbro.

 

·       New to Pennsylvania: Lucky Chucky, Rocknroll Hanover, Muscles Yankee, Crazed, Winning Mister, Bettor’s Delight, Ponder.

 

·       Hats off to those stallions that at least held their own in the stud fee department. Kadabra got hammered at the sales but he’s holding fast at 15K in Ontario.…..Rocknroll is down 40% since 2010 and Muscles is off 50% during the same period but they held on at 15 and 10, respectively….Here Comes Herbie, Ponder, Always A Virgin, Big Jim, BBJ, Mach Three, Yankee Glide and Well Said are a few others.