Wednesday Bits

It's about time; a prominent American standardbred stallion will be doing double duty in 2015.  Father Patrick will be standing stud as well as racing next year which will allow his off-spring to be eligible to stake races which requires their sires to have raced at the age of four.  If Father Patrick is successful, perhaps this will become a more common practice.

Yonkers begins its simulcasting to France this Sunday and to make it work, the first five races are trotting events at the distance of 1 1/4 miles.   The first two events have twelve horse fields while the next three races will have ten horses competing in each tilt.  The last seven contest will be traditional; pacers competing at a mile with only eight horses in each field.

Realizing racing odd-distance races with overflow fields at 11:10AM is not going to attract a flock of horseplayers, Yonkers has wisely altered their wagering menu in order to have decent pools for those wagers being offered; so some races will be contested without triples, superfectas, and Pick-3s and 4s.  It will be interesting not only to see how the French receive the Yonkers simulcasts, but how much North American horseplayers are receptive to this 'European' style of racing. 

Not wanting to go into national politics, I shall briefly touch on it.  With the GOP taking control of the Senate, a little light shines on the possibility of repealing PASPA as Harry Reid, the Senator from Nevada will lose his position as Majority Leader thus no longer able to control what legislation reaches the Senate floor.  As the Senator from Nevada Reid, has it in his state's interest to keep their monopoly in sports gambling.  As a result, the path to sports gaming in New Jersey (and face it, other states), may have opened up.


Rest easy harness horsemen in Massachusetts, the attempt to repeal casino gambling in the Bay State failed 40% to 60%..  Hence harness racing will continue at Plainridge Racetrack while the state of thoroughbred racing remains in flux with the supporters of Suffolk Downs suing the Massachusetts Gaming Commission over their awarding of the casino license in the Boston area.   

Meanwhile, being ignored is the future of harness racing at Tioga Downs which may suffer the same fate Suffolk Downs currently does if the casino license in the Southern Tier is award to a competitor.  Perhaps people feel it is in the bag, but remember the awarding of a license is just as much as political as based on hard factors.  Rest assured those who have the ability will be voicing their opinions for and against the various candidates.  

While most horsemen are focused on Harrisburg, many of the sport's best 2yos and 3yos will be going through their final preparations in the Matron Stakes at Dover Downs Thursday afternoon.  Superfecta players may be disappointed as there is no Superpfecta wagering on the Matron races as well as place and show wagering being cancelled.

Trends From The First Two Days Of The Sale In Harrisburg

Muscle Hill is the star of the Standardbred Horse Sale in Harrisburg; 26 sold for an average of better than $73,000 through the first two days. This represents more than 80% of the offering; there are six more for sale. A colt out of Brooklyn passed to Swedish interests via Jonas Czernyson for $390,000, and three others cracked the $100,000 threshold. Almost 58% of those sold have brought at least $50,000.

SBSW tops the pacing stallions as 50 have averaged a shade over $64,000. Last year he averaged $82,000 for the entire sale. Only five, two colts and three fillies, by SBSW remain to be sold. A colt brought $300,000 and another $240,000. In 2013 a filly sold for $355,000 and a pair of colts cracked $200,000. Ten of those sold yesterday and today topped $100,000 while 26—more than half—sold for at least $50,000.

RC Royalty only has 11 for sale in Harrisburg, but the six that have sold thus far are averaging a sweet $65,333. All but one brought at least $50,000 and that filly sold for 45. The top colt brought $100,000, a first for that stallion.

American Ideal is getting clobbered. Nineteen have sold for an average under $30,000. Ken Jacobs bought a colt for $100,000, and only one other brought at least $50,000. More than half brought $25,000 or less. He didn’t do well here last year either, although his stud fee jumped to $10,000 in 2014. The sire of the speedy but challenging colt, In The Arsenal, averaged almost $42,000 for 20 sold in Lexington. However, as is the case here, only one topped $100,000. There are four colts and nine fillies by American Ideal still to sell. Maybe he can right the ship. Regardless, something is off here.

Bettor’s Delight is selling a crop for the Ontario Sire Stakes this year. Twenty-three averaged better than $41,000 in Lexington with none over $100,000 and nine above $50,000. He’s averaging about $52,000 for 26 sold during the first two days in Harrisburg. One colt topped $100,000, while 13, or half, have brought at least $50,000. The sire of the top tier sophomore All Bets Off is amazingly consistent from year to year. He heads back to Ontario for a $12,000 fee in 2015.

Donato Hanover has already sold 39 for an average of better than $49,000. This represents 87% of the offering. A colt out of a sister to Hot Shot Blue Chip sold for $200,000 and two other colts and two fillies bettered $100,000. Thirteen, or 33%, brought at least $50,000. Fifteen of the Donatos failed to top $25,000—that’s 39%, which is high.

Credit Winner is very strong again this year. At this sale in 2013 twenty-four averaged $77,000. Thirty-three  sold in Lexington for an average a shade over $70,000, thanks to a $355,000 colt and a $320,000 filly. There haven’t been any high ticket purchases to match those numbers during the first two days in Harrisburg, but a colt brought $225,000 and a filly $190,000. Another colt sold for $100,000. Almost 60% of the offering topped $50,000. There are two more colts and three fillies left to sell.

Last year 26 Cantab Halls averaged $50,000 in Harrisburg. He played second fiddle to Muscle Hill at this year’s sale in Lexington as his average dropped from $85,905 to $64,394. Myron Bell spent $400,000 for a colt out of Dream Angel in Lexington, but there have been no lavish purchases like that for Cantab in Harrisburg. Three colts and a filly topped $100,000 while 10, or 39%, brought at least $50,000. This is weak for one of the two best trotting sires in NA. There are nine colts and five fillies left to sell. Plenty of room for the numbers to improve.

Seventeen by Roll With Joe are averaging $45,471. Two colts sold for more than $100,000 and six of the 17 brought at least $50,000. There are seven colts and 13 fillies left to sell. Is that going to improve his average? We’ll see.

Well Said, who stands for $15,000, is averaging $42,594 for 32 sold. One colt and one filly have topped $100,000. Hanover seems to be putting up disappointing results across the board. Fifteen of the 32 brought at least $50,000. A dozen, or more than 32%, failed to sell for more than $25,000.

Western Ideal, sire of this year’s top freshman pacer Artspeak, averaged only $11,000 a couple of years ago. Last year that jumped to $27,000, and he’s averaging better than $48,000 for 24 sold thus far in Harrisburg.

Lucky Chucky, who sold only a dozen in Lexington, has only sold eight so far in Harrisburg. He’s averaging a pedestrian $37,250, with only one bringing more than $50,000. There are seven more to sell. Last year 32 averaged $32,000 in Harrisburg.

Kadabra is flying high—the fillies anyway—as 23 overall have averaged better than $56,000. None of the colts have topped $100,000, but four of the fillies have. Quite a discrepancy here as the top colt brought $50,000 and the other five sold for $30,000 or less. There are ten colts and five fillies left to sell.

Sixteen by Explosive Matter are averaging $35,125, with one topping $100,000 and two, or 12%, bringing at least $50,000. This is awful. There are 21 left to sell. Let’s hope they saved the best for last.

Twenty-two by Art Major are averaging $45,000. Two sold for $100,000 and seven brought $50,000 or more. The colts are doing a lot better than the fillies.

Joe FitzGerald

Today's Business Report - Empire Resorts

Remember earlier this year when the horsemen at Monticello pulled their signal as part of a contract dispute with the raceway?  Well, today terms of an agreement were announced in a press release (the non-propaganda version is available here).  Contrary to what the MHHA fails to mention is the term of the contract is for two years.  The contract will be extended for an additional seven years ONLY IF Empire Resorts subsidiary, Montreign Operating Compangy (MOC), which is involved in seeking a gaming license from the State of New York, obtains a license which will allow them to build a new gaming facility without a horse racetrack,  Should MOC obtain a gaming license, the horsemen will receive a million shares of Empire Resorts and warrants to purchase an additional 300,000 shares of common stock which the horsemen can sell to fund the purse account as a way around the state law which caps contributions to purse accounts at 2013 levels.

So the horsemen look to do well if MOC, obtains a gaming license to build their Montreign casino resort.  Of course, there are other applications for a casino in Sullivan County as well as Duchess and Orange counties, so it is not a slam dunk although should the selection committee consider the continuation of horse racing and the preservation of jobs an important factor, the chances of gaining a license improves.  If Montreign doesn't get licensed, then the clock on the end of racing at Monticello begins ticking.

The casino selection committee is due to announce the winners of the four non-Indian casino licenses any time now.

Super, very Welcome News ...

By Pete Lawrence, VFTRG Contributor

The Jeff Gural organization is putting its money where its mouth is, in announcing a new version of the venerable Graduate Series for 2015.

My father's Graduate - OK, it was mine - was a FFA pace road show that included pre-Gural Meadowlands, Freehold, pre-Gural Vernon, Buffalo (or was it Batavia?), and maybe another stop or two, with a rich final.

I'm pretty sure it wasn't restricted to 4YOs, like this new one will be, and it was only for pacers. No trotters, or least not in my day, and probably not in my father's day.

Jeff is doing everything he can do to keep the top horses racing beyond their sophomore seasons by making racing, well, maybe not more lucrative than breeding, depending on your stallion syndication deals, but more lucrative that it was before.

A note, though ...

The past few years, it's become fashionable to say that 4YOs can't compete with the "older" horses, that the jump from three to four is too great. Historically, I don't think that has really been the case.

(It's also a faux given that females can't compete with males, and it's usually true, but Tarport Hap, Silk Stockings, Handle With Care and others more than held their own against male FFAers. And this year, trotting mares Classic Martine and Charmed Life both have, as well, at least in the Toronto upper classes. So has marvelous Maven in the U.S.)

The jump from age two to three is huge, but it's the natural progression. So is three to four the natural progression. In my youth, lots of newly minted 4-year-olds became the new generation of FFAers, and no one thought anything of it, Do the names Bret Hanover, Albatross (except for those problematic and turbulent first three starts at four), Cam Fella, On The Road Again and Mack Lobell ring any bells?

(I know I'm forgetting some trotters here ... Friendly Face, Go Get Lost, etc.?)

And it's not just those all-time greats. I used to look to the second-shelf 3YOs turned four to be be nice Open and FFA types, too, and many were. One that comes clearly to mind was Seedling Herbert, who was just sorta there at three, but blossomed at four. Granted, that was a long time ago, but I haven't been cataloging or making notes since then and can't cite specifics, though I know many horses have successfully made the transition.

I dunno, top fillies and mares that never take on males anymore - Bunny Lake and Rainbow Blue are two big ones, and I'd have loved to see Bee A Magician try it last year in female-friendly sophomore races like the Kentucky Futurity open division - and 4-year-olds that are seen as too undeveloped, or something, to be free-for-allers are part of today's wussified racing scene.

But what do I know?

Anyway, bully for Jeff Gural, et al, for creating new opportunities for 4-year-olds. Maybe it'll make for more top FIVE-year-olds, like Sweet Lou.

Oh, how I wish Captaintreacherous was coming back to race next year at age five. Would he be the new Sweet Lou, aka, "Mr. 1:47"?

We'll never know.

P.S. - How great would other multi-track series also coming back be? Who remembers the Atlantic Seaboard Pace (I think that was the name) and the Can-Am Series?

A Michigan Phoenix and a Non-starter

So much for being banished forever.  As rumored, the standardbreds will return to Hazel Park in 2015 for a 16 day meet (October 2 - November 21) racing Fridays and Saturdays.  Mind you sixteen days is not much when you consider the number of days they raced in the past, but when you were told to 'hit the road and not come back', you take what you get and take it happily.

Northville Downs, which was rumored to have financial problems which may have resulted in its closing requested race dates and was given 44 days which will be run twice a week during the late winter and early spring.  Racing less dates than even Hazel Park will be Sports Creek Raceway with a whopping 10 days at the end of the year.   This means there will be 70 racing dates for the standardbreds in 2015.   Well, if there is any consolation, Michigan has more racing days than Kentucky.

What about Jackson Raceway?  As of now, it has not been given a license to operate primarily due to a lack of financial backing to guarantee the purses for the requested 28 day meet.  Other objections the MGCB had was the lack of a simulcast agreement as well as Jackson Raceway not being a licensed racetrack.  The last two objections can probably be addressed easily, however getting the financing to ensure purses are paid seems to be a huge hurdle.

Of course, those connected with Jackson Raceway may appeal the decision of the MGCB and ask them to reconsider their application but it is unknown of such a request will be made.


For those of you who followed the Breeders Cup, there is a good chance you are done gambling for the weekend but if you are still looking for racing action today, there are a few harness tracks operating today.  Scarborough, Saratoga, and Harrah's are providing the afternoon action with Dover Downs, Balmoral Park, and Cal Expo providing the evening/night time action.  Note today is Cal Expo's first Sunday night card of the season; the first Sunday in a couple of years.  Depending on your ADW, you may find some Canadian action at Flamboro Downs and Rideau Carleton in Ontario while Western Canada has Alberta and Fraiser Downs racing.

Have a Great Sunday.