The Bug Boys

Video Get Well Card to Rene Douglas

2009-06-11T17:26:00.001-04:00

My friend, former jockey Robert Montano, filmed a "Video Get Well Card" to Rene Douglas while at Belmont Park on Belmont Stakes Day. It features numerous jockeys and NYRA people offering encouragement. Take a look, you'll recognize a lot of faces.

Double click on the video to get to the Youtube page where you can see it in full screen.

Bow Our Heads to the Jockeys

2009-06-09T12:08:00.001-04:00

One thing that was overlooked on Saturday due to all of the great racing was the jockeys paying tribute to Rene Douglas and the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund during the day.
At Belmont Park, jockeys will gather for a ceremony in the winner's circle at approximately 4:15 p.m. Eastern. Jockeys in the United States and Canada are scheduled to have similar tributes at approximately the same time at all tracks that are running Saturday.

All active riders are being encouraged to donate one losing mount fee from their Saturday earnings to Douglas.

In addition, NYRA made a $5,000 contribution to the fund.

The jockeys wore tributes to "RD" and the "PDJF" on their boots all day. Take a look at Calvin Borel's right boot here while sitting on the Kentucky Derby winner.

Contributions in support of Rene Douglas can be made out to his name and sent to Citibank, 539 N. Michigan Ave, Chicago, Ill., 60611.

Also related to the jocks, I absolutely love the piece by Sid Gustafson on The Rail yesterday entitled Here's to the Jockeys. I want to quote the whole piece, but here is a snippet

Let us take a moment and bow our heads to the jockeys. They take all the risks and talk about none of them. They take criticism close-lipped and quiet-like, the true horsefolk they are. All the risk is theirs, yes, but the blame for losing a race is not theirs, not in the last two Belmonts at any rate.

I think we often forget who indeed accepts the most risk at the track every day. The owners and gamblers may lose money. The trainers may lose their livelihood. The fans may suffer broken hearts. But it's the jockey colony that faces their collective mortality every time they get a leg up. Thank you for what you do.

Belmont Stakes Day Miscellany

2009-06-08T19:54:00.000-04:00

You have certainly seen enough coverage of last Saturday at Belmont, but here are a few photos of what I found interesting throughout the day....

I never noticed this before, but the metal fence behind the paddock on the Clubhouse side has these horses painted in the colors of the last two Belmont Stakes winners.

There was a lot of law enforcement around the park - including these guys on the roof.

Kevin Plank of Under Armour fame is a refreshing addition to the thoroughbred racing world. First he buys and restores Sagamore Farm, and now he is throwing big advertising bucks at the sport. Here is his infield sign right up there with Sheik Mohammed's

And the saddle cloths were sponsored by Under Armour too. "I must protect this horse, I mean house."

The ESPN robot camera operator was trying to look down dresses all day

And most importantly, this baby didn't move an inch. They all came back safe.

10,099 Happy People

2009-05-25T20:48:00.003-04:00

That was the attendance at Belmont Park today for the card including the 2009 edition of the Met Mile. Maybe it was the perfect weather, but people just seemed happy today. There was a lot of noise at the finishes, a lot of cheering for the horses and jocks and very little heckling.

- Bribon took the big race for trainer Bob Ribaudo. I think I may be good luck for Mr. Ribaudo. I was at Saratoga last Summer for the Sword Dancer Stakes, won by his Grand Couturier. And now I was there for Bribon winning the Met Mile. That's 2 of his 3 lifetime Grade One wins. I am available whenever you need me, Mr. Ribaudo.

Bribon was cooled off right in front of me at the rail, which gave me a chance to catch this photo.

He's very handsome, but there will not be any dates in his future because he is unfortunately a gelding. The Twitterverse lit up shortly after the race pointing out that the three most recent "stallion-producing" races have been won by a filly and two geldings.

- Curious claim in the 7th race by owner Lords of Racing and trainer Assaf Ronen. They took Masala T for $10,000. The Tale of the Cat gelding went off at 36-1 and has lost 8 races in a row. Good luck to them with that and congratulations to Lianna Stables for cutting their losses.

Monday Preakness Thoughts

2009-05-11T21:43:00.001-04:00

- Why is Calvin Borel working out Mine That Bird? Shouldn't they get Mike Smith on him? Or anybody else for that matter?

- Why no outrage that Tone It Down is presumably running in the Preakness? As an earner of $46,470 and a best credential of coming in 3rd in the Federico Tesio Stakes, he doesn't seem any better than any horse Zayat, Allen or Whitney were going to run.

- Another Sheik trying to buy his way into dominating a sport. This time, Drag Racing.

"...an estimated $10 million per year budget for a two-car team"

"A top team spends about $4 million and up for the NHRA series"

Sounds a lot like Godolphin, Darley, Shadwell, etc. (h/t to autoblog.com)

Sagamore Farm - Update

2009-05-10T07:40:00.003-04:00

Over the last few years I have crafted a number of posts about Sagamore Farm, and its owner Under Armour founder Kevin Plank. Today the Baltimore Sun has an excellent article about the improvements that Kevin Plank has done to the farm. This article is chock full of great quotes.

I also recommend the photo and video links below.

Photos

Video

Calvin Borel Should Not Ditch Mine That Bird

2009-05-08T21:58:00.002-04:00

This may be the Pinot Grigio talking, but I think Calvin Borel ditching Mine That Bird is a real asshole move. I have no idea what Jess Jackson is promising Calvin other than a few more rides on Rachel Alexandra, but it must be sweet to get him off the Kentucky Derby winner. And if Jackson pressured Borel to vacate his triple crown opportunity, then he is an asshole too. I am no fan of Mine That Bird or his connections, but it is my opinion that it is Calvin Borel's responsibility to continue on him until he loses.

And on that note - I am a fan of Rachel Alexandra's new owner, but where's the sport in buying the filly a week before the Preakness? Did you really do anything to earn the glory? No. You just threw enough dollars around to buy into that spot. And, you're welcome for all of the wine that I've bought over the years to support your hobby.

I understand that Mine That Bird was bought after winning Stakes in Canada and Jess Jackson's team bought Curlin after he broke his maiden convincingly. But, this is the 20+ length Kentucky Oaks winner. We all know that she is great. Let the pre-existing connections win the races and buy her later to breed to Curlin.

This all being said, I am excited for the Preakness. I greatly enjoy the gamesmanship and the discussion of entering more Triple-Crown-Nominated horses to exclude Rachel Alexandra from the 14 that go to post. Does Mr. Zayat, who buys yearlings at auction, want to keep her out?

Time to refill my glass. If you are at Belmont on Saturday, please come and find me. I'll be the one with the bloodshot eyes.

Separated at Birth?

2009-05-03T21:59:00.005-04:00

Maybe it's just my frustration over the what happened in the Kentucky Derby, but doesn't Bennie Woolley....

....remind you of Jeff the Drunk from the Howard Stern Show?

Chip may be accused of having the same judgment as Jeff if he doesn't run his horse in the Preakness.

Photo credits to ESPN and HowardTV

"SAVE THE PREAKNESS"

2009-04-12T13:05:00.003-04:00

Almost 25 years to the day, Maryland (Baltimore) lost the Colts, when they moved to Indianapolis. Now that has become the rallying cry for saving the Preakness. Every day for the last three weeks, the local papers have led with a story about saving the Preakness Stakes. The lawmakers are trying to draft legislation, the city is trying to back investors, and the citizens are fearing the loss. Did we not learn anything in the last 25 years? I guess not!

You would not need to "save" the Preakness, if you would have "saved" racing. You would not have had to save the Colts if you spent the money to build a stadium. If the state would have pledged a fraction of the money they need to "Save the Preakness" five years ago, the industry would be strong, the tracks would be profitable, and the industry healthy. Now, they are throwing time and money at saving one race. If you worked to save/promote the other 364 days, the industry and tracks would be able to stay open. Did I mention that if you had more/better racing, you would have more training and breeding farms, which equal more jobs, and at the end of the day MORE TAXES.

Don't "Save The Preakness", SAVE HORSE RACING IN MARYLAND!

Oh No, Joe!

2009-04-04T22:20:00.000-04:00

Great day at Aqueduct today. Great racing, great people and no rain.

Here is Joe Talamo almost going down with Kurbat at the start of the Excelsior Handicap.

Here is I Want Revenge telling me that he's worried about Talamo getting on his back again after seeing that last race.

And despite a slow, awkward start, Joe and Revenge emerged victorious in the 2009 edition of the Wood Memorial.

Thanks to everyone that made this day so memorable.

Bad Business Plan

2009-04-01T16:28:00.003-04:00

The front page of today's Baltimore Sun sports section had an article about the closing of Maryland Stallion Station. The article for the most part blames the economy and the failures of Maryland racing. In my opinion, those were just the final two straws that broke the camels back. Maryland Stallion Station had a bad business plan from jump.

Let me start off by saying I have a great amount of respect for Don Litz, and his partners. They built an amazing facility, and brought in some very promising young stallions. The did a tremendous amount of marketing, and had client list that would be considered the "who's who" of the mid-atlantic horse industry. But..........The plan had a tragic flaw.

When they opened five years ago, the plan was to be a stand alone stallion operation. Have the mares shipped in, a quick trip to the shed, and shipped back out. This idea was different from all the other local farms that had stallions, pregnant mares, and mares with foal. Most of the other farms were one stop shops. At the time I thought it was very progressive thinking. Do what you do best, and nothing else. It only took a year to see that the numbers were not going to be in the favor of Maryland Stallion Station. I even spoke to a few friends that would not breed to a MSS stallion because of the hassle of shipping. Most owners with a heavy mare will send her to the farm of her next breeding stallion. It makes sense. The mare hangs out waiting to foal, delivers, and is bred back on her foal cycle. The plan has worked for a hundred of years, why change it.

The economy and the local industry were just a small part of the problem. The business plan is what put them out of business. It will take a few years for the proof, but all of the stallions were shipped to other Maryland farms to stand. I guess we will need a few years to see if it was the plan, the economy, or the stallions.

The Horse or the Jockey?

2009-03-23T21:18:00.000-04:00

I'm catching up and watching the Rushaway Stakes on the DVR this evening with my 9-year-old son. After the win by Cliffy's Future, they went to Jeannine Edwards with the news that the colt was scheduled to be gelded after the race.

My son was intrigued by the word and thus asked for its definition. The conversation went like this:

Son: What does that mean?
Me: Do you really want to know?
Son: Well, yeah, I do.
Me: It means that the Doctor will cut his testicles off.
Son: The horse or the jockey?

I'm still laughing as I type this. I can understand his confusion with the horse being named Cliffy. I don't know what these Pokemon games are teaching him, but that kid is hard core.

Handicapping the Stimulus

2009-03-23T21:00:00.000-04:00

The State of New York has named the person in charge of spending Federal stimulus money in the State, and I like the way he thinks.....

Timothy J. Gilchrist, New York's stimulus czar, is using analytical skills honed from handicapping racehorses to win more federal aid.

Gilchrist has lived within a short drive of the Saratoga Race Course for most of his 51 years. That's where he can be found watching the thoroughbreds on weekends during the summer and some weekdays, if his job as a top adviser to Gov. David A. Paterson allows.

"Handicapping is analysis; it's looking for the hidden things, what gives a horse an advantage," Gilchrist said. "I'm now handicapping the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, looking for what gives New York State an advantage."

I hope he hits a few superfectas with Uncle Sam's bankroll!

Formula One is Making Changes - How About Us?

2009-03-17T14:21:00.005-04:00

The Formula One auto racing series is making some changes for their upcoming season. I think horse racing can learn a lesson from some of them:

Formula One's next championship will be decided by the number of race wins and not accumulated points.

Sure, many of us have been advocating for a point system that F1 is moving away from, but the "point" is that they are trying to fix something that is not working. Their method of determining a champion is flawed much like our subjective Eclipse balloting is. They are changing it. We are not.

Car weights will be published following Saturday's qualifying session and would rename tire grades for better clarity to spectators.

I'm not exactly sure what this means, but it seems that they are making an effort to get more information to the fans. I'd bet that they don't charge for this information.

Drivers must also be available for further autograph sessions and better media availability.

Two good ideas - market the riders and increase media access. Kinda like "Jockeys" but without Denman's shoehorned calls dubbed over the action.

There are several other rule changes in the article for which there are no horse racing corolaries. Formula One has proven that it is possible to change old concepts that are not working. However, it required the actions of a governing body that has real authority. We all know that horse racing has no such entity.

Despite the fans clamoring for it, it's unlikely that we will see real change anytime soon.

Saturday Notes

2009-03-14T09:39:00.002-04:00

- I will ignore the big fancy Derby Trail races today and shine a light on lesser races at Aqueduct. The 1st is a $10,000 claiming affair for 4yo+ non-winners over the last 6 months. Those that complain that today's horses don't run enough have to check out this race. The average number of lifetime starts for the 8 contenders is 37. Come on Chas is the most experienced while making his 68th start and looking for his 9th win. Hedge Fund is making his 8th start in 2009 alone.

The 4th race is another geezer event with the 8 entries averaging over 33 starts each. Commissioner Chris brings the experience to this State-bred OC25000n2x in his 64th start. Nice to see all of these old guys racing in New York today.

- If the old guys aren't your thing, take a look at the 2nd race. This Maiden race features 7 entries with 5 combined starts among them. Morning line favorite and $400,00 auction purchase, Much The Best, has one of those names that just put added pressure on everyone. Good luck to him against $800,000 Darley purchase, Now Act, also looking for his first win in his 2nd start.

- In the 5th race, there is a 4yo first time starter named John 'N Howard. This one is owned by legend John Nerud and Howard Kaskel of Sugar Maple Farm. I don't have time to research the history behind this colt, but I'm paying attention to any horse that John Nerud names after himself.

- I wanted to comment on the news about Scott Lake filing for bankruptcy, but John has said it much better than I could.

- Check out the Thoroughbred Bloggers Alliance homepage. There is a lot in racing information flying around and the homepage does a good job of pulling it together and making it usable.

The Illusion of Belmont Park Redevelopment

2009-02-23T15:48:00.002-05:00

The New York Racing and Wagering Board and Empire State Development Corp. today released a document entitled, "Belmont Park Redevelopment Study". As the title suggests, it documents suggestions on the redevelopment of Belmont Park and its surrounding area. For example:

"The report looks at developing two parcels totaling 36 acres at Belmont. The report said a hotel and casino could be located on an eight-acre portion, while a nearby 20-acre parcel could house retail space, a small hotel, senior housing and recreational facilities."

I am excited about the prospects of development at Belmont Park. I have believed for a long time that the proposed racino should be at Belmont and not Aqueduct. However, my excitement waned when I read the following:

- it would take 10 months to prepare a request for proposals, which first must be approved by the state Franchise Oversight Board before going to developers

- Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who controls the fate of bills in the Democratic-run house, has sharply criticized the idea of adding another casino in downstate New York

So, 10 months to RFPs, a likely glacial timeframe for selection, and lack of political support. Perfect. This project is going nowhere fast. And, there is the proposed casino at Aqueduct that is still technically alive. Is the State using possible development at Belmont merely as leverage in its negotiations with Delaware North?

The common sense solution to downstate racing is to add an all-weather track at Belmont to the existing tracks, update the grandstand, develop a casino, hotel, retail, etc. on its vast grounds and provide adequate transportaion there. Then, of course, close Aqueduct (sorry purists) and sell off that land to fund the Belmont renovations.

At the end of the day, downstate will have one fantastic racing facility that is efficient because it runs most of the year. It will have built-in subsidies with the casino and other endeavors. Of course, the subsidies will not be necessary if the OTBs are merged into NYRA, but that's a conversation for another day.

The full report is here. I hope to dig into it tonight for the particulars, but will be pessimistic as to whether any of this will ever get done.

Lists

2009-02-11T21:24:00.000-05:00

I've skimmed through two long lists this week. One was the list of investors who lost money with Bernie Madoff - bad list filled with despair and sorrow. The other list was the 2009 Triple Crown Nominations - fun list filled with hope and joy.

I'll ignore the former and point out a few items interesting to me on the latter:

- A.P Indy is the sire of 14 nominated colts
- Boundary, sire of Big Brown, has none (I believe his last, small, crop are 3 year olds now)
- In addition to Nicanor, who will not be running in the Derby, Dynaformer has 6 other nominees to be the "Heir of Barbaro"
- Our favorite sire Malibu Moon has two nominees, but not today's maiden winner BZ Warrior
- Medaglia D'oro has 13 nominated colts
- Street Cry has but 3 colts nominated, one of which is an Iowa-bred
- Tiznow also has only 3 nominees. This seems unusually low to me considering all of the Tizzes running out there.
- 14 nominations for Unbridled's Song. Cue the Eight Belles clip....
- Steve Asmussen has 25 nominees from 13 different owners
- Nick Zito has 19 nominees from 9 different owners
- Rick Dutrow has only 4 nominees. Hmmm. Seems low.
- Todd Pletcher has 20 nominees. Will one of then come in last at the Derby again?
- Zayat Stables has nominated 22, yet only 7 have the letter Z in the name
- Each dam has only one nominated foal. Unlike the Octo-Mom, there were no multiple births here.

Personal Reflections

2009-01-19T20:48:00.000-05:00

- Call me a hater, but I'm just not ready to accept a Kentucky Derby winner named "The Palmplemousse".

- I enjoy reading pedigree analysis and auction pages, but does it really matter that the third dam is a half-sister to a Grade II winner in 1975? When you are looking at good horses, they are ALL related to elite stock in some way. They have been inbred for hundreds of years!

- I like reading the stories about new stallions siring their first foals. This week we saw Corinthian, Jazil, After Market, Sun King and Shakespeare becoming dads for the first time. As a relatively new racing fan, it is still a charge for me to see the horses I followed on the track being productive in the shed. It's exciting to wonder if these offspring will be as successful as their parents.

- Speaking of sires, as we reflect on the race named after him, I think we can officially label Smarty Jones as "disappointing". He was ranked 32nd on the list of first-croppers. Filly Be Smart is responsible for over 45% of his first-year earnings, so how bad would he look without her? No wonder his 2009 fee is listed as PRIVATE.

Indian Blessing - My 3yo Champion

2009-01-12T20:05:00.002-05:00

The 3-year-old Filly Eclipse category is as close as they come this year. On any given day, it seems that any of them could beat all of the others. If I was making the nominations, I would have nominated Indian Blessing rather than Eight Belles. No disrespect the deceased Derby runner-up. I just think that Indian Blessing had a more impressive year. In fact, I would make the case that Indian Blessing is the Champion 3-year-old filly.

Music Note won three Grade 1 races and almost won a 4th in the Alabama. She split with Proud Spell, and who can blame her for losing to Zenyatta and Cocoa Beach on an unfamiliar surface in the Breeders Cup? Proud Spell won the Kentucky Oaks, the Alabama and two Grade 2 races. I think her absence from the Breeders Cup and her loss as the heavy favorite in the Cotillion hurts her case.

And why exclude Eight Belles? Her four races prior to the Derby were wins in a N2L Allowance, an overnight stakes race, a Grade 3 and a Grade 2. Her performance in the Derby was indeed impressive, but her abbreviated campaign to me is not championship caliber. Bring the boos and the accusations of heartlessness, but that’s what I believe.

Indian Blessing won two Grade 1s, two Grade 2s and a Grade 3 over four different distances, two different surfaces and under three different jockeys. She finished no worse than 2nd in a campaign consisting of only graded stakes and the Breeder’s Cup. She is often labeled a sprinter, but she won at 8.5 furlongs this year too. Over eight races, she lost to Ventura, Zaftig and Proud Spell. Ventura is a year older and is a credible candidate for Champion female sprinter. Zaftig produced a ridiculous 113 speed figure to win the Acorn. And Proud Spell’s win is offset by Indian Blessing’s win over her on the same track and the same distance the month before.

So, my write-in vote goes to Indian Blessing. She just did more than the others. It’s too bad that the real voters will not get a chance to vote for her. In many other years, any of the these pp's would qualify for the championship, but in this year of great female performances, her challenging and diverse resume stands over the competition.

Presented Without Comment

2008-12-31T18:35:00.002-05:00

Dubai's opulent, multimillion-pound New Year's Eve celebrations have been cancelled due to the Gaza violence, leaving hordes of expatriates hastily making alternative plans.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of the Gulf state, called off festivities late last night.

He said "all public New Year’s celebrations" should be stopped "in solidarity with the Palestinian people, who are currently enduring death, suffering and destruction in Gaza".

Day of Horror

2008-11-29T20:45:00.005-05:00

It seems that the days you most look forward to are the ones that disappoint the most. Today was one of those days. I have been looking forward to this day at Aqueduct for a while. Cigar Mile, Demoiselle, Remsen. Friends, good weather, and I picked the winner in the first!

I joked that I should have left after that early score, and now I kinda wish that I did. A wonderful performance by Springside in the Demoiselle......

led to her pulling up after the line and being vanned off.

Early word is that she is heading to New Bolton on Sunday and has a good chance to make it.

But, then there is Wanderin Boy. We were all marveling at the close finish between Harlem Rocker and Tale of Ekati. Then the INQUIRY light came on. We watched the replay. Tale fans thought he was pushed out. Rocker fans thought there was no offense. We discussed. Then someone realized that they didn't all come back. Who was missing? Oh no. It was Wanderin Boy. People were crying. Others were disgusted that he was even in the race. We waited and hoped for the best, but those in the know, knew it was bad.

I didn't find out that he was put down until I got home. The communication of this information is always poor. Wanderin Boy was a quarter mile from retirement. So sad. Here is my last photo of him as he walked to the paddock today.....

Thoughts and Comments

2008-11-23T16:40:00.000-05:00

- Hat tip to Left at the Gate and Pull the Pocket for consistently reporting on the big news from the harness racing world. The harness industry has proven this year that good things happen when you run good horses FREQUENTLY. Both Somebeachsomewhere and Deweycheatumnhowe have interesting stories, interesting connections and they run all the time at a variety of tracks. Maybe it's because of the blogs, but I don't previously remember so much coverage of the sulky folks. Anyway, it's been fun watching their individual rivalries, which we don't get enough of in thoroughbred land.

- I don't see how Curlin is being valued at $20 million. Let's assume he covers 100 mares each year, which is probably low. First year- 100*$75,000 fee = $7.5 million in revenue. Second year- 100*$65,000 reduced fee = $6.5 million. Third year- 100*$55,000 further reduced fee = $5.5 million. So, before any of Curlin's progeny hit the track, he has already generated at least $19.5 million. This is obviously not all profit. I'm sure there are immense expenses is standing a stud. But he can potentially stand for another 20 years! Even in a depressed market, Curlin is worth a lot more than $20 million.

- J Be K has been retired and will stand at Gainesway Farm for $10,000. I could not find any information about an injury, so I assume that he is sound and available to race in 2009. Does the world really need J Be K to rush off to stud at this point? It there great demand for another promising 3yo sprinter that started 9 times? I liked J Be K and I respect Mr. Zayat, but this stuff bugs me. Under-Racing and Over-Breeding. Maybe if they continue racing, there will be fewer unwanted horses being led to slaughter.

- Finger Lakes Horse of the year, Tin Cup Chalice arrived in Japan for the December 7, 2008 Japan Dirt Cup. The Japan Racing Association paid the transportation costs. This is such a wonderful game when a horse comes out of nowhere to compete on the international stage. However, it is frustrating when it seems that few people in his New York home have any idea who he is. Good luck to the Big Apple Triple winner.

OK.....What Now?

2008-11-05T07:25:00.003-05:00

I was told that if I vote "YES" for question 2 (slots referendum in Maryland), horse racing would be saved. Well, the bill passed and we will get 15,000 machines soon. But how does this save racing? Will 5000 people show up at Laurel on Saturday? Will they reopen Pimlico for training? Will they keep the Pimlico meet open for more than 20 days? Will they give us back the DeFrancis Dash, and the other stakes races that vanished? I know that I am being a little silly right now, but how will this $100 Million (earmarked for horse racing) save racing. The plan has been to use the money to increase purses and bring back the big time breeding bonuses. This is great if you are an owner or breeder, but what if you are just a fan. How will this help? People will say that more money will bring in better horses, and more people will come out and bet. I say Bull Shit! You are only going to come out to see the big time horses if you are already a fan. I would like to see $80 million go to the purses and incentives and $20 million to marketing the sport. That $20 million investment would yield huge dividends. The more people you expose to the game, the more people who will become fans (for life), the more they come out to the track, the more they bet. You see......a quick easy marketing model for you guys.

Now to the question.....Who is going to save us? Halsey Minor, Frank and Magna, Governor O'Malley?

Value Proposition

2008-10-31T22:05:00.002-04:00

The stud fee for Big Brown was announced today by Three Chimneys to be $65,000. A reasonable fee, I guess, for a Derby/Preakness winner. But, as I said before, I'm not interested in breeding a mare to those feet for that kind of money. I'd rather breed two mares to Invasor at $28,000, one mare to Bustin Stones at $6,500 and have $2,500 left over to bet on these promising progeny.

What would you do with $65,000 of stallion dollars?

Thank You Mr. Minor

2008-10-23T18:18:00.002-04:00

Yesterday I posted an open letter to Halsey Minor. I questioned his plan to turn around both Laurel and Pimlico racecourses without slots. Mr. Minor was kind enough to answer my questions, and offer up some information. Below you will find his response that was posted in our comment section. I like everything he said, and I am ready to buy into the program. Thanks Halsey, and I hope you succeed in transforming not only the Maryland racing scene, but the national level also.

Lets start with the fact that Pimlico and Laural are in deplorable condition. I know you probably think Laurel is OK but you have accepted the presence of trash everywhere and a ceiling that's so stained from roof leaks it looks like its going to come down on you. I wouldn't even get out of the car with my kids if i saw the condition of the parking lot. Have you been to Camden Yards or Pac Bell Park lately?

These are not the horseman's fault. They are product of management failure. If we did NOTHING MORE than improve the facilities we would go along way torwards turning around the sport.

How about a $90 mm renovation? That's what I was planning in a public private partnership with the town of Hialeah for Hialeah Park. Each track is different but lets start with the goal of building facilities that aren't disgusting and instead belong in Disney World and not skid row.

This is an industry that started with disdain for the fans as Lord and Kings raced against each other and has continued that practice right up to today. The sport needs to begin a reformation where the participants are accountable to the fans. A novel concept I know.

The truth is no one has invested anything in this sport for decades and every dollar Stronack has invested has gone into malls, slots, training facilities etc and not the facilities and has only WEAKENED the company and the sport.

I can proved racing works in nice facilities, go back to 1959 or visit Saratoga, Keeneland or Del Mar today. Show me one place that has slots that has advanced horse racing? If Maryland gets slots the track owners won't care if you're racing pigs or thoroughbreds so long as the casino get the biggest cut possible. You guys have been saddled with bad management and now that same bad management is going to make out like bandits as you, the horse owners, are made to push the button of our own demise out of desperation.

Slots are a mirage. You are grasping at something that will bring about the inevitable destruction of your livelihood.

Lets rebuild the sporting of racing by starting out doing the basics right. When I can walk alongside the track at Laurel in front of the clubhouse and not fill 5 trash bags with 2 year old garbage and its still not working then you can say we need to try a new high risk way. Until then lets clean up the sport and the management of the sport and see what happens.

I have a million other things that I think need to be done but when the basics are so poorly executed its easy to know where to start.

- Side Note to Halsey Minor - I am a marketing guy in Baltimore that would love to work (with you) to achieve your goal of fixing the problems with racing.