Conference 7.286::sports_91

ESPN - Racing Across America series, through August:

Feb 24	Phoenix Gold Cup	Turf Paradise		5-6
Mar 3	Louisiana Derby		Fair Grounds		4:30-5:30
Mar 16	Remington Park Derby	Rem			5-6
Mar 30	Jim Bean Stakes		Turfway Park		4:30-5:30
Apr 6	Gotham Stakes		Aqu			4-5 (taped)
Apr 13	Oaklawn Hdcp		Oaklawn			6-7 (taped)
Apr 20	Arkansas Derby		Oaklawn
	& Ashland Stakes	Keeneland		5-6
May 3	Kentucky Oaks
	& Early Times Turf Classic, Churchill Downs	6-7 (taped)
May 17 	Black Eyed Susan
	& Dixie Hdcp		Pimlico			6-7 (taped)
Jun 15 	Ohio Derby		Thistledown		6-7 (taped)
Jul 27	Haskell Invitational	Monmouth		5-6
Aug 3	Whitney Hdcp		Saratoga		6-7 (taped)
Aug 24	Hopeful Stakes		Sar			6-7 (taped)

Additional races will be broadcast as on one of the networks (abc?) as 
part of the new American Championship Racing Series.  The Donn Handicap
(Feb. 9) is the first of ten of these races.

    

    Huge carry-over at Santa Anita this week, went all the way to 
    $6 million, the OTB action Canterbury Downs was heavy, the 
    place was packed and the booze was flowing.  Nothing like watching
    the Thoroughs race under palm trees while it's -5 outside.
    
    MrT

    >                    -< Who won the Eclipse Award?? >-
    
    Roseanne Barr.  Followed closely by Lou Gorman.
    
    Dan

    Can you believe the Rock is going to host a $500,000 race.  It will be
    seen on channel 5.  Dave Johnson's voice to drown out Dennis Clow's -
    thank God!!!  Looking forward to finally a race with top quality horses
    coming to New England soon!!
    
    Greg 

    re .4:
    
    >	>                    -< Who won the Eclipse Award?? >-
    
    >	Roseanne Barr.  Followed closely by Lou Gorman.
    
    Sorry, only complete horses can win that not just the back half. :-)
    
    
    re .6:
    
    Greg, has a date been set for that $500,000 race?
    
    
    py

    
    The Eclipse Awards are, I believe, in NYC on 2/9.  This is the day
    of the Donn Handicap at Gulfstream, so some winners may not attend.
    Craig Perret, possible winner of the Jockey award (Unbridled, Rhythm),
    is scheduled to ride Rhythm in the Donn.
    
    Allegedly, the early Las Vegas betting favorite for the Kentucky Derby
    is Excavate, who has run only one race lifetime.  He's trained by
    Charlie Wittingham and owned by the guy who runs/owns Arlington.
    Second and third favorites are Fly So Free and Best Pal.
    
    Brian

    Harry Vega has returned to the Rock after an unsucessful try in New
    York.  Leading rider Rudy Baez is on his yearly vaction for two weeks. 
    Speaking about not fairing to well in New York,  Ambrose Pascucci
    shipped in Fazesha a winner of 7 in a row at the Rock.  Fazesha went
    off as the 7-5 choice in New York and tired badly and finished third.
    I know that the 500,000 dollar race is scheduled for a July time frame.
    The spring track should be put in around the second or third week of
    April.  I am looking forward to the spring meet because of the Florida
    shippers coming up to race.  The quality seems to be alot better than
    the winter meet.  As Dennis Clow would say, "Gone!  And on my way!
    
    Greg
    
    

ABC TV will be televising the American Championship Racing Series from 10 tracks
around the country:

2/2	Donn Hdcp		Gulfstream	$500k	 9f
				Miami
3/9	Santa Anita Hdcp	Santa Anita	$1M	10f
				LA
4/13	Oaklawn Hdcp		Oaklawn Park	$500k	 9f
				Hot Springs Ark.
5/11	Pimlico Special Hdcp	Pimlico		$750k	9.5f
				Baltimore
6/8	Nassau County Hdcp	Belmont Park	$500k	9f
				Long Island
6/29	Hollywood Gold Cup Hdcp	Hollywood Park	$1M	10f
				Hollywood, Calif.
7/20	New England Classic	Rockingham Park	$500k	9f
				Salem, NH
8/10	Pacific Classic Stks	Del Mar		$1M	10f
				San Diego
9/1	Philip H. Iselin Hdcp	Monmouth Park	$500k	9f
				Monmouth, NJ
9/15	Woodward Stks		Belmont Park	$500k	9f
				Long Island

All races will be televised on Saturdays as part of ABC's Wide World of Sports,
except the Oaklawn Hdcp, which will be on ESPN, and the last two
(Islen and Woodward) on ABC, but on Sundays.

These are all grade I races, except for the two new events (NE Classic and 
Pacific Classic), which are ungraded.

Besides the purses there will be $1.5M in bonuses paid out to the horse which
accumualtes the most points (10 for first, 7 for second, etc.) for finishes
during the series.

Simulcasting of all the events will be held at each of the host tracks.

A $500k race at the Rock, able to attract the best horses since it's part of
the ACS.  9 additional simulcasts of Gr. I level races.  Unbeleivable!

(And where am I gonna park with 20,000 people at the Rock?  Unbeleivable!)

    
    Will the Rock $500K race be on grass or dirt?  Never mind where you
    will park...where will you stand?  Even when there has been 8000 at
    Rockingham, it's too crowded...
    
    Read a story in the Chicago paper this morning that said that Aqueduct
    will be sold to the Port Authority.  It seemed to suggest that Aqueduct
    would be paved over for the expansion of JFK Airport.  Is this true??
    
    Brian

The ACS bonus is calculated from points earned by finish position in any of
the races:

First	10 pts
2nd.	 7 pts
3rd	 5 pts
4th	 3 pts
5th	 1 pt

Bonus payments are:

Most points:	$750k
	2nd.	$375k
	3rd.	$225k
	4th.	$150k
	
	Total:	$1.5M

(I wonder how this compares to auto racing Championship point systems?)

re .12

All the ACS races are on the dirt.

re .11

There were some articles around November.  The New York Racing Association
(NYRA) was talking about discussions concerning selling Aqueduct so that
warehouse space at Kennedy could be expanded.  (Hmmm... this warehouse smells
a bit like, um, a horse ;-)

The other part of the story is that NYRA has been talking about buying
Hialeah in Miami, so that they could run races there during the winter,
and have some control over what kind of races get run while there is
no racing in NY.

Last week Gov. Cuomo came out in favor of selling Aqueduct.  He sees it
as an asset the state can dump so they can raise some cash.  (I'm not sure
if NYRA leases it or what.)  The plan would be to run a circuit of
Belmont (spring), Saratoga (summer), Belmont (fall), Hialeah (winter).

So far Gulfstream Park has not been real excited about this!  A couple of
years ago they deregulated the date assigments in Florida, and any track
can apply for permission to run at any time.  Gulfstream (also in Miami)
annihilated Hialeah when they ran at the same time.  Hialeah has been
shuttered for two years now.  This could end up
with a few thousand people live at Hialeah, and all the betting going
on up in NY.  This may be a taste of things to come as simulcasting
really takes over.

Bill

    
    Horse of the Year:          Criminal Type
    Jockey of the Year:         Craig Perret
    Trainer of the Year:        Carl Nafzger
    Breeder:                    Calumet Farms
    3 Yr Old Male:              Unbridled
    3 Yr Old Filly:             Go For Wand
    Sprinter:                   Housebuster
    Older Male:                 Criminal Type
    Older Female:               Bayakoa
    Grass Male:                 Itsallgreektome
    Grass Female:               Laugh and Be Merry

    
    Donn Handicap @ Gulfstream
    
         Jolie's Halo         10 pts
         Sports View           7 pts
         Secret Hello          5 pts
         Primal                3 pts
         Yonder                1 pt
    
    Jolie's Halo won by at least 8 lengths.  Still undefeated in his
    career.  Rhythm was never in it, finishing 8th.  Unbridled, with a
    minor injury, skipped the race.

    Davey Johnson was in good form Saturday with his "and down the stretch
    they come" call.  He gives me goose bumps all over with that call.  The
    only other question is will Suffolk Downs ever open again???  Jolie's
    Halo was very impressive Saturday!  What a late bloomer, the horse
    didnt race as a two year old at all.  I am looking at this years crop
    of three year olds.  Florida Derby time is just right around the
    corner.  Locally the Rock is doing pretty well for itself.  Carney is
    raking in about 500,000 to 600,000 during the weekday cards and around
    700,000 to 800,000 on the weekends.
    
    Greg
    
    
    

    Fly so Free was very impressive Saturday.  He pullled a Dajur and
    starting jumping around and lost action when he came from the sunny
    part of the track to the shaddy part of the track.  But Santos let him 
    knew who the boss was.  I still like Excavate if he proves to me he can go
    two turns.  Soon we will know who the pretenders are and who the
    contenders are.  Did anybody see the sprint race on ESPN yesterday. The
    horse ran a 107 and change.  Do they run down hill in Phoenix or what??
    
    Greg

    Santa Anita Handicap, 3/9
    
    Top Three Finishers:  
    
    	Farma Way 	10 pts
    	Festin		 7 pts
    	Pleasant Tap	 5 pts
    
    So, D. Wayne Lucas has two of the top older horses in training:  Farma
    Way and Sports View (2nd to Jolie's Halo in the 1st race of the
    series).  Both horses needed a lot of special handling after injured or
    unimpressive campaigns as three year olds in other trainers' hands.
    
    brian

Well, they've run the first two races of the 10 race American Championship Series.
Who do you think will win the series?  Farma Way?  Jolie's Halo?  Another
horse?  Inquiring minds want to know!

Bill

    
    It will probably come down to health, just as it often does in the NBA
    or MLB.  At the moment, I would say that Jolie's Halo has the slight
    edge since he was shipped from CA to Gulfstream and won the Donn.
    Farma Way has won 5 straight at Santa Anita.  We'll see how he does
    after he shipped East for some future race.
    
    Re: Derby.  Charlie Wittingham's hope, Excavate, finished a very
    lackluster 6th last week at Santa Anita.  Avenue of Flags, also at
    Santa Anita, is injured and will miss at least the Derby.  He beat
    Excavate a few weeks ago in a 6 or 7 furlong race.
    
    brian

    Well the matchup has arrived!  Unbridled, Jolie's Halo, and Farma Way
    will all meet versus each other this Saturday in the Oaklawn handicap.
    The last big race I can remember that had this excitement was the
    Pimlico Special and few years ago.  Allysheba, Lost Code, and Bet Twice 
    knocked heads.  Im Looking forward to the front end speed duel between
    Jolie and Farma Way.  My money is on the champ, Unbridled.  With
    patient Pat Day aboard he should get all the money!
    
    Greg

    Hey 'Saw, is this "Farma Way" related to you?  :*)
    
    Some uncle from Iowa or Nebraska?
    
    lEe

       Bill Shoemaker is in a LA hospital after rolling his truck down an
    embankment. He's in critical condition, and charged with DWI.
                                       Denny

    re .22 (Hi Greg!)
    
    Oaklawn handicapping time ... Jolie's Halo leads by two entering the
    stretch,  Unbridled is moving up on the outside...  Jolie's Halo by a
    neck heading for the wire...  Jolie's Halo beats Unbridled by a nose!
    
    (... and of course, Unbridled wins the rematch in the New England
    Classic)
    
     :-)  :-)   :-)
    
    Bill
     

Well, Jolie's Halo did outlast Farma Way and Unbridled.  Didn't win though.  Do
I get any credit for getting the order of the big three right?

Primal showed some mud ability in the past performances and looked good for 2nd.
But Festin sure was a surprise.

BTW, did anyone see the Thoroughbred Times?  How's it compare to the Form?

Bill

 Haven't seen any mention in this note of Bill Shoemaker's accident.   I
 only got sketchy details but apparently, last week sometime, he had had a
 few too many beers and went off a cliff or an embankment of some sort and
 his truck/jeep rolled over a couple of times.
    
 Shoe's got some pretty nasty injuries including some partial paralysis. 
 Also heard that the authorities were going to charge him with DUI.
 
 Anybody else hear any more or hear anything differently ???
 
 Bob Hunt

    re .28:
    
    I heard pretty much the same thing.  Saturday's ABC Wide World of
    Sports reported that Shoe was still in critical condition.
    
    
    py

    
    re:  Oaklawn Handicap
    
    Too bad I didn't make it to Sportman's for the simulcast.  I figured
    that either Festin or Primal would be a good longshot.  With the
    muddy conditions, Farma Way and Jolie's Halo burned each other out,
    and who in their right mind would bet on Unbridled on an off track?
    Unbridled has consistently failed in the slop.
    
    Festin is now the American Racing Series leader with 17 points after
    three races (he finished 2nd to Farma Way in the Santa Anita Handicap).
    
    Fly So Free finished a distant second to Strike the Gold in the Blue
    Grass.  Was it the conditions or has he peaked before the Kentucky
    Derby?  
    
    Cahill Road, a full brother of Unbridled, is going to go up against
    Meadow Star, the filly, in the Wood Memorial.  If he does well, he'll
    probably go to the Derby.  I wonder if two horses from the same
    sire/mare have ever won the Kentucky Derby??
    
    brian

    Cahill Road will come back big from his recent third place finish
    and romp in the Wood.
    
    Festin made a tremendous move down the stretch, coming from 7th place
    and cutting down onto the rail to boot!!!  Very exciting race.
    
    Is Rockingham selling the Racing Times?
    
    NAZZ

�    Festin made a tremendous move down the stretch, coming from 7th place
�    and cutting down onto the rail to boot!!!  Very exciting race.

   I saw that! Great race! Wasn't that the one that was so muddy? I saw
   several races, and what was amazing the winner of each one was number
   3, and the jockey (a midget dressed up like a golfer... I love that
   line... that's from JD and I use it every chance I get... and always
   credit JD as the author) was wearing yellow silks.

   Mike JN

Rockingham will be handing out 1991 season passes (good 'til the end of
December) on FRIDAY AND SATURDAY this weekend.  One pass for each paid
admission.

Ran into the guy who delivers the Racing Form to the local newstand and he
said the Racing Times should start showing up this weekend as well.

Bill

    I know it is very early yet but I know today who I am betting on in the
    Derby.  Strike the Gold!  He is out of Alydar although I heard last
    night that he doesnt meet the dosage requirements.  I like the blood
    lines, I like the trainer and jock, and Ill like the price est 4-1 or
    9-2.
    
    Greg
    

    
    Well, Meadow Star failed miserably in the Wood Memorial.  Cahill
    Road ran a magnificent race, but re-injured one of his front legs
    and will not race in the Triple Crown.  He may be retired to stud
    without ever racing again.  Too bad, as he looked to have as good
    a chance as any in the Kentucky Derby.
    
    The Derby front runners right now are:
    
         Fly So Free, Dinard, Best Pal, Hansel, Strike the Gold,
         Olympio, and Corporate Report (Lucas' only hope after 
         nominating 19 horses to the Triple Crown)
    
    Dinard and Best Pal are the best from the West, and I haven't really
    seen them...at the moment, I also would be on Strike the Gold.
    
    brian

Watched a tape of the Arkansas Derby last night.  I think I'll be going with
Olimpio for the Kentucky Derby.  Quite a performance by horse and rider!

    
    I'm picking Fly So Free, wire-to-wire.  Allegedly, he's been rated
    pretty strongly in his last two races, and they are just going to
    let him run on Sat.  We'll see.
    
    Good longshot (maybe 8-1?) - Hansel.
    
    brian

    This morning's paper said that Schulhofer feels there's enough speed
    in the race to let Fly So Free sit fifth or sixth in the first turn.
    I would think he'd be better taking his speed to the front.  If Fly
    So Free can get out and run, he is the only horse that could pull
    away from the field.  But I've got a feeling that Strike the Gold
    will prevail in a tight finish.
    
    NAZZ

    Can anyone type in the Post Positions?  I won't make my picks til I get
    done pouring over the Form tonight?
    
    -John

    
    1.  Fly so free
    2.  Alydavid
    3.  Wilder than ever
    4.  Sea Cadet
    5.  Strike the gold
    6.  Hansel
    7.  Forty Something (Lee's favorite)
    8.  Green Alligator
    9.  Lost Mountain
    10. Mane Minister
    11. Paulrus
    12. Corporate Report
    13. Another Review
    14. Happy Jazz Band (Utah's choice)
    15. Best Pal
    16. Quintana ( The Red SOx firstbaseman is showing he can play
    anywhere)
    
    REK
    
    

    You sure Lee's favorite horse isn't Fifty Something?  ;-)
    
    NAZZ

    
    Good race.  No one had a real good excuse.  Only Quintana looked like
    he got blocked and had to be checked.  He might be a good longshot
    pick in the Preakness or the Belmont.
    
    Hansel got bet down to co-favorite, and finished 10th.  About 10 days
    ago he was about 8-1, but I guess with the dropouts of Dinard, Cahill
    Road, and Olympio (why didn't he run??), he became one of the top
    horses.
    
    Fly So Free looked washed out before the race, and didn't want to
    be saddled.
    
    Strike the Gold and Best Pal should be the prohibitive co-favorites
    for the Preakness.  No other healthy horses look to be in their class.
    Fly So Free is going to be rested for a while.  
    
    brian

    As noted earlier Strike the Gold in front!  They must have given the
    Coke to the horse instead of Antley.
    
    Greg

    RE: -2
    >Strike the Gold and Best Pal should be the prohibitive co-favorites
    >for the Preakness.  No other healthy horses look to be in their class.
    >Fly So Free is going to be rested for a while.  
    
    Olympio will have alot of money on him, he is healthly and most
    importantly fresh.  Best Pal is freash, too and will probably be the 
    favorite.  Strike the Gold may even be the third choice.  
    
    Pimlico has tight, speed favoring turns, this puts Strike the Gold at a
    disadvantage as he comes off the pace. 
    
    -John

    
    The best older-horse handicap race in recent memory is the Pimlico 
    Special on ABC, Saturday afternoon.  Summer Squall, Unbridled, Festin,
    Farma Way, Jolie's Halo, and Western Playboy are all expected to
    start.
    
    Probably nothing is happening back in MA concerning Foxboro Raceway,
    but in Chicago, after 59 years as a 5/8 racetrack (built primarily
    for harness racing which is very successful), Sportmans Park
    is planning a $3M re-config which will increase the track to 7/8
    of a mile by extending the backstretch/stretch turn into the
    adjoining parking lot.  Sportmans has had several good years recently
    with both a spring thoroughbred and summer harness format, and this
    will help bring a high quality to the Chicago racing circuit that
    usually doesn't show up until Arlington International opens each year.
    
    brian

    Prediction for the Pimlico Special:  
    
    	  Win:  Jolie's Halo
    	Place:  Summer Squall
    	 Show:  Farma Way
    
    NAZZ

RE: -1
    
>    Prediction for the Pimlico Special:  
>    
>    	  Win:  Jolie's Halo
>    	Place:  Summer Squall
>    	 Show:  Farma Way
>    
>    NAZZ

     Woulda had the triple box!
    
     On to this Saturday, I am heading down for the second leg, "The Run for
     the Black Eyed Susan's".  And am hungry for knowledge on the race, the
     Boston papers have had zero info since the Derby.  From what I heard
     there are likely to only be seven starter's.  Four I know of for
     sure:  Best Pal, Olympio, Strike the Gold, Mane Ministier, also there
     will be some lame Maryland horse (there is every year).
    
     -Corn

    And I'd be a rich man today!
    
    Does anybody know if Housebuster is still active?  That horse
    is one mean sprinter - I'd love to see him compete this summer.
    
    I too would like to know who is running Saturday.  A small field
    could be trouble for Strike the Gold, as a front-running type could
    get out front, dictate the pace, and steal the race.
    
    NAZZ

    
    I think that a small field will help Strike the Gold.  As someone
    mentioned, Pimlico has tight turns.  Less horses means that Strike
    the Gold won't have to go as wide to pass horses coming into 
    the stretch.  If he wins the Preakness, he should really be
    an odds-on favorite at 1.5 miles and long turns at Belmont.
    
    I bet on Festin in the Pimlico Special.  He ran 4th, and probably
    just as fast as Farma Way.  Unfortunately, he was wide throughout.
    
    Today's paper says that Unbridled bled quite a bit in the race, and
    his future is uncertain.  He has never been a horse to bet the
    farm on, anyway.
    
    Housebuster is still running.  He got beat by Unbridled at Gulfstream
    back in March, and I believe that he has won two races since then
    at Churchill or Keeneland...
    
    brian

    I guess you can look at the small field in two ways:
    
    1)  Strike the Gold could end up being all alone as the trailer
        and loose contact with the field - don't think this is probable.
    
    2)  It gives Strike the Gold less horses to pass and hence less 
        "traffic problems" to worry about.  
    
    All-in-all I think the small field favors Strike the Gold.  Another
    key is the speed in the race.  If there isn't much speed (and so far I
    don't know who the speed is) that hurts STG and favors a horse who can
    get to the lead and go in slow fractions.
    
    Either way, I'm betting against STG...sometimes those one run horses
    don't run.  
    
    One last thing of all the races I think speed is best in the Belmont!
    Many times horses get on the lead in the Belmont with little or no
    pressure and can wire 'em!
    
    -Corn

    Strike the Gold is getting no respect at all.  Well I had him in the
    Derby, I will come right back with him this Saturday.  Housebuster won
    his last race in New York winning handily.  His previous two races he
    lost to Unbridled and Black Tie Affair.  He turned the tables on Black
    Tie Affair last time out winning for fun.  I have heard that Happy Alter
    trainer of Jolie's Hallo may skip Rockingham's big race in July.  Word
    is he doesnt like the Rock spring surface.  I will believe it when I
    see it.  Looking forward to Davey Johnson to really go nuts this
    saturday " And down the stretch them come".  
    
    Greg
    

    Hansel is a surprise entry into the Preakness.  Even though he failed
    miserably as the Derby favorite, his trainer saw and excellent workout
    yesterday, and feels he's ready to run.
    
    Don't know why, but I'm leaning toward Olympio on Saturday.
    
    NAZZ

    
    I bet that an STG - Best Pal perfecta won't pay $10, and not much more
    the other way.
    
    STG isn't getting enough credit, but there doesn't seem to be a whole
    lot of early speed in the race, so I'll Best Pal.
    
    brian

    
    RE: -1  "They don't pay anything if they don't come in."
    
    Anyway I'll take Olympio / Best Pal exacta and Olympio to win.
    
    -Corn

    STG.  I'll never bet against 'im again.  Sat four boxes from the
    finish line at the derby only to watch AliDavid limp by hours after 
    STG had his picture taken.  (I had my bucks on Alidavid)  
    
    STG.  amazing horse!  My bud put 50 on his nose and 10 on a 4-10 box.
    Needless to say, he bought the beer for the rest of the weekend!
    
    Bet STG.
    
    Chip

        
    I guess the Preakness proved once again that even with top-notch 
    thoroughbreds, no one knows whether the horse will decide to run that
    day or not.  Hansel didn't show for the Derby, and the roles were
    reversed with Strike the Gold in Baltimore.  In neither case was there
    anything physically wrong with the horse.
    
    The great ones may not necessarily be the most physically gifted
    animals, but the ones that want to run like hell *every* time a human
    wants to go for a ride...
    
    glenn
       

    
    Part of the blame has to go to Antley.  He never gave Strike the Gold
    much of a chance to win.  I thought that the rule was, if you believed
    you had the best horse, you made sure you gave the horse a chance to
    win the race.  Getting stuck on the rail all the way around the track,
    especially into the stretch, was profoundly stupid.
    
    If you believe that a trainer putting bandages on a horse's ankles
    on race day is a bad sign, then Olympio was in trouble too...
    
    Hansel uses Lasix.  We'll see if he shows up at the Belmont.  I'll
    bet STG blows the field away in NY.
    
    brian

    
    Hansel - supposed to be hot on Saturday, Hansel has run poorly in warm
             weather.  Coming off Lasix.
    
    STG - Trainer (Zito) wants this one bad, I'm sure he'll talk things
          over with Antley before the race.
    
    Green Alligator - Was HE the one finishing fastest of all in the Derby?
                      Possibly and he's fresh.
    
    Mane Minister - Third, third and coming off Lasix.
    
    Smooth Performance - Dermont Weld tries to repeat Go-and-Go's win,
                         SP has NEVER run on dirt.  A question mark.
    
    Corporate Report - Cost me a nice triple in the Preakness, "how did he
                       hold on" I mumbled for hours afterwards.
    
    Who's left - Another Review, Quintana (with Cordero),
                 Subordinated Debt & Scan - both horses for the course
    
    -Corn
    

    
    Strike the Gold all by himself at the finish line.  Antley will keep
    him on the outside and out of trouble.  I'd probably go with Green
    Alligator and Quintana boxed in a trifecta with STG.
    
    Does anyone else think that the Chrysler Triple Crown is bad for
    racing?  Would Hansel show up if it weren't for the $1M dollars?
    Carl Nafzger, trainer of Unbridled, thought that his horse was
    not fresh for the Belmont.  Would he have run Unbridled if he didn't
    have $1M staring him in the face??  Just another reason to detest
    Iacocca....
    
    brian

    Strike the Gold has drawn the outside post, right where they wanted
    him.  There will be nobody to box him in from the outside.  He is
    running on his home track, no lasix, outside post, and a mile and a
    half to go.  

    Some picks - box the first three in your exactas and triples!
    
    Green Alligator - Has been pointing for this one and should like the 
                      distance.
    
    Scan - Needed the last two.  Has shown tactical speed needed in the
           Belmont.
    
    STG -  Throw out last and hope he runs at the end!
    
    Subordinated Debt - Likes the course.
    
    Lost Mountain - Another hourse over the course, may get lost in
                    traffic.
    
    Smooth Performance - Never run on dirt but his Daddy is Seattle Slew.
    
    Mane Minister - No Lasix.
    
    Hansel - Wilts in Belmont heat.
    
    Quintana - Hasn't shown much but his Daddy is Affirmed so he may like the
               distance.
    
    Another Review - Will be way back ALL the way.
    
    Corporate Report - If a horse were the second coming of Secretariat
                       (sp?) and the trainer was Lukas and the jockey Day
                       I still wouldn't bet on him!  I'll never forgive Day
                       for his rides on Easy Goer.
    
    
    -Corn

    I agree 100% with you re. Day and Easy Goer!!!!!
    
    As for the Belmont, I like Green Alligator overtaking Strike the
    Gold down the stretch, with Subordinated Debt third.
    
    NAZZ

    What you talkin' 'bout?
    
    Mark.

 Willis said you made a boo boo Arnold....  

 :^)

 double rollward over the MAP

    
    Great race.  The trouble with coming from last, like Strike
    the Gold does, is that you often end up running a couple of
    hundred extra yards.  STG lost the race turning for home when
    Scan and Quintana forced him very wide.  If Scan had given up
    a little sooner, or Quintana hadn't made a brief move right
    at that moment, STG would have saved a little ground and 
    won the race.
    
    What the heck happened to Green Alligator.  He finished at least
    40 lengths back.  The Irish horse, Smooth Performer, was another
    disappointment.
    
    Corporate Report is improving.  He could be another formidable
    older horse for Lucas next year.
    
    brian

    
    Told you guys how to make some money, but as usual, guys like Hawk were
    more concerned with their libidos...
    
    glenn
    

    
    Was back in MA for the weekend, but had commitments.  It was really
    a two-horse race, Double Booked and Ivestia.  Disappointing crowd
    of 5900+ that day.
    
    What is Rockingham doing simulcasting harness racing at night?  Are
    they losing money with the current setup?  Would they have a
    harness meet at the Rock if the simulcasting goes well?
    
    brian

    re .71:
    
    I imagine that the rainy weather in NH may have resulted in the smaller
    than usual crowd.  
                                 
    Don't know if the Rock has any future harness plans beyond the current
    simulcasting.  They used to have harness racing in the winter before
    the track burned down in the early 80s, but since the rebuilding 
    it's just been thoroughbreds.
    
    
    py

    	One of the reasons for the small crowd is that the folks in
    the western part of the state can just go to Hinsdale and bet the
    Rock.  They hooked up their systems so you get the track odds at
    Hinsdale.  I was talking to one of the managers at Hinsdale
    two weeks ago and the simulcasts from the Rock has increased their
    handle over 25% and there's a 10% increase in the amount bet on
    the dogs.  Horse players are a funny bunch.  They don't believe
    betting on the ponies is luck but skill.  8^)
    
    				/Don  

    So who's gonna win the Hollywood Gold Cup (ACRS #6) this weekend?
    Roanoke?
    
    CG's Beau
    

    One thing is for sure Itsallgreektome wont win that race.  I am glad
    that Davey Johnson is calling the race instead of Trevor Denman.  "And
    away they go".  Roanoke has a very ligit shot, Summer Squal needed his
    last, it looks like a very solid field.  Prized is a newcomer to the
    series and might upset.  I would lean toward Farma Way on a speed
    favoring track.
    
    Greg

    
    Without Jolie's Halo, who is going to challenge Farma Way from
    the start?  I'd go with Farma Way.  Lucas changed to McCarron
    for this one.
    
    Prized hasn't run much in the past year or so.  In fact, I think
    that the first race he ran all of last year was the Arlington
    Million, and he finished 9th or so.
    
    I read that the trainer of Best Pal was relieved of his duties.  The
    owners got tired of finishing 2nd....some horses just prefer not
    to lead...
    
    brian

    
    Undoubtedly, the 12 lb advantage that Marquetry had over Farma Way
    helped him hold on by a head.  Turning for home, everyone expected
    Farma Way to accelerate past Marquetry, but it didn't happen.
    Itsallgreektome, one of the top grass horses, was a suprising third.
    Summer Squall, as he has on a few other occasions, gave it up after
    the first 3/4 of a mile.
    
    Who is coming to Rockingham besides Jolie's Halo for the next
    race in the series?
    
    brian

    RE: a couple back - Trevor Denman is the BEST!  I love his calls.
    
    RE: -1.  I liked Farma Way but had $2 across the board on Marquetry.
    I had seen his race in the Califorian on Inside Racing and he looked
    like he got crowded on the rail, but still hung in there.  I made my
    bet at the Rock and went home to watch ABC...I was shocked (and very
    pleased) when I found out he was 150-1 at the Rock!
    
    What about Saturday?  Anybody know who's coming all I hear is Marquetry
    and Festin'...I like Festin' but only if there is someone in there to
    challenge the pace...otherwise the winners share of $500K could be
    stolen from the front end.
    
    -John

    NEW ENGLAND CLASSIC UPDATE:
    
    Globe today had only four for certain, in a race that pays $10K for
    sixth!!
    
    Festin' - closer
    Marquetry - should be near lead, picks up 11 lbs to 121.
    Silver Survivor - closer
    Sunny Serve - Rock Sprinter
    
    Rock is trying to lure:  Smooth Performance (Lukas horse), 
                             Chief Honcho (second in Suburban),
    and two others I can't think of.
    
    Jolie's Halo is out - Trainer Hap Alter was unhappy with the works at
    Belmont.
    
    Rock is being squeezed by two things:
    
    1) Preceding and subsequent legs of ACRS on on the West Coast.
    2) Many top Handiacap horses are pointing toward the SPA, most notably
       the Whitney Aug 3rd.
            

    
    So here's a short list of good older horses who will bypass
    the Rock's $500K race:
    
        Jolie's Halo, Unbridled, Summer Squall, Farma Way, Primal, Rhythm
    
    Pretty depressing.  Silver Survivor probably can't run with any of
    the above, and then there's the local Rock horse.
    
    Looks like a 2 horse race right now.  Too bad.  I hope that the ACRS
    schedules the series more logically with respect to geography next
    year.
    
    brian

    
    Arlington is not even simulcasting the race, choosing instead
    to simulcast a $75K sprint from Laurel featuring Safely Kept,
    Housebuster, and Clevor Trevor.
    
    At least it's on ABC...

    
    
    From USA TODAY:
    
    John "The Count" Montefusco, who pitched 13 years in the major leagues
    with San Francisco, Atlanta, San Diego and the Yankees, and was NL
    Rookie of the Year in 1975, debuts as a harness driver today at
    Freehold, N.J. Raceway.  Montefusco, 41, drives Blue's Express in the
    first race and Rudder Tree in the third.
    
    JD

VNS COMPUTER NEWS                            Tracy Talcott, VNS Computer Desk
						Nashua, NH, USA

 Simulation - Secretariat called winner in simulated horse race
	{The Wall Street Journal, 12-Dec-91, p. B8}
   Secretariat won the day in a computer-generated race designed to determine
 the greatest racehorse of the 20th century. The Hawthorne Race Course in
 Stickney, Ill., which commissioned a computer programmer to create software
 pitting the 26 best horses of this century against one another, said the
 winner of the simulated race yesterday was Secretariat. The horse, which won
 the Triple Crown in 1972 and 1973, is widely regarded as the fastest horse of
 this century, and possibly of all time. In the computer simulation, Secretariat
 finished just ahead of 1920s champion Man o'War. Following those two, in
 order, were Kelso, Citation, Spectacular Bid, Forego, Swaps, Count Fleet,
 Native Dancer, Ruffian, Dr. Fager and Colin.

       Secretariat won the Triple Crown in 1973. Nobody won it in '72. He
    was the first winner in 25 years. I was at Belmont Park when he won the
    Belmont Stakes by 31 lengths, (that's about 6 1/5 seconds). I'll NEVER
    see anything like that again. He was the greatest 'athlete' of all
    time.
                                         Denny

    American racing is lame against the Grand National, Gold Cup etc that
    we have.
    
    Tone

    
     Decided to pop over from "BOXING", eh Tone ? Your right about American
    horse racing as compared to British though. Every American track is
    essentially the same as every other (oval, same direction) where as
    each British track is unique. Our horses are probably better but not
    the races themselves.
    
    

    
    We have two `sand' tracks, Lingfield & Southwell. Both attract very
    poor crowds and attention. There are a few reasons for this:
    
    1. The form book seems to work ALL the time i.e 6 short-priced
    favourites all going in.
    
    2. The horses that start fastest usually contest the finish, therefore
    negating the skill/tactics of the jockeys.
    
    3. Turf form doesn't translate across to `sand'.
    
    4. Turf racing at courses such as Aintree, Epsom, Ascot is much, much
    harder with the brain having to be used.
    
    Does this mirror the American scene??
    
    Tony

    
    Judging by the statistics I've seen over time in the Daily Racing
    Form, the betting favorite wins somewhere between 32-38%, depending
    on what track's statistics you are looking at.  I have never noticed 
    a major difference in those stats with regard to dirt or turf.
    
    There are certainly "turf-only" horses in America that only race
    well, and consequently only end up racing on, grass.  However,
    a lot of good stakes horses run equally well on either surface.
    
    One major complaint of horse players in the U.S. is with regard
    to rain and turf racing.  Normally, races are taken off the turf
    and put on the dirt (or rather, the mud) due to rain.  However,
    the trainers scratch the turf-only horses, and the number of
    horses that enter the race gets cut in half.  I have seen suggestions
    about having an "also-eligible" list of horses that would be brought
    into a race when that race was moved from the turf to the dirt.  This
    would preserve a decent size field for the bettors.
    
    I always heard that the longer the race, the more the jockey matters.
    Since turf courses are usually on the inside of the dirt track at
    American facilities, the jockey does have more responsibility to
    make sure he doesn't get trapped behind a wall of horses turning
    for home due to the tighter turns for the turf course.
    
    I like to go to the track and see a variety of types of races all on
    one day:  turf, sprint, and distance on the main track. 
    
    hth,
    brian

    Is Arazi gonna win on Saturday?? Or do you shermans have an ace up your
    sleeve??
    
    Tony 

    
     Apparently the favorites are two European horses one of which is Arazi
    and a California horse. What the hell is a "sherman" ?

    Polling opinion seems to indicate that AP Indy (the California horse)
    and Arazi are pretty much tied as the favorites.
    
    We shall see.  
    
    I, personally, shall be voting for Arazi.   
    
    
    kim

    For one, I can't see anyone seeing which way Arazi went.
    
    Secondly, a `Sherman' is an American. It's Cockney rhyming slang, 
    `Sherman Tank' = Yank.
    
    Tony

    Tony,
    Re. your P_name.  Wild guess, frustrated United fan?
    Are you a Red Sox fan also?
    
    8^)
    MikeL
    
    

    
    Tony,
    
     Today's Boston Globe says that the Derby is Arazi's to lose although
    AP Indy is given a slight chance. Remember though the Derby almost never
    goes according to form.
    
    _Tommy
    

       What I wanna know is : Is he the nexted "Next Secretariat"? Seems we
    hear that every other year.
                                  Denny

 Do they race him overseas just so they can dope him? I realize he has foreign
 owners but as business man wouldn't they race him over here for the $$$$$?

    Running off at the mouth (but hey, it's ALL sports related!  :)
    
    
    1)  Arazi has two owners, one is American Somebody Paulson (can't
    remember his first name although I just looked at it).  He sold half
    share of Arazi to Sheik Muhommad somebody of Dubai.  Mr. Paulson would
    like Arazi to try for the Triple Crown here in the States.  The Sheik
    would like a Kentucky-English Derby double.  They'll make a decision
    after the race Saturday (assuming Arazi wins).  For trivia buffs, Arazi
    has two jockeys, one who rides him in Europe (Steve Cauthen, who won
    the Triple Crown on Affirmed in 1978, the last time it was won, rides
    Arazi in Europe).  Patrick Valenzula rides Arazi here.  Of course, this
    is only Arazi's second U.S. start.  
    
    
    2)  There is money in overseas racing.  Remember, horsemen over there
    like to make a buck, too.  Quite a few prestigious races in England and
    France alone.  Also, a lot of money isn't just purse money.  It's stud
    fees.  The races just add to that stud (or syndicatation) value.  You
    can almost bet if Arazi wins big, he'll be syndicated for boucoup
    bucks.
    
    
    3) Doping, if you're referring to things like Lasix, is hardly illegal
    at most tracks here in the U.S.  In fact, NY state is maybe the only 
    state which doesn't allow use of Lasix.  So a lot of the horses you'll see
    Saturday are on drugs.  Those who go onto the Preakness (2 weeks from
    this Saturday), and who run on Lasix, will be doped there.  The Belmont
    always presents a potential problem for horses run on Lasix because as
    I said, NY racing doesn't allow the use of Lasix (for which I can
    commend them, I think).  
    
    There may be other medications (like Bute) which some race tracks
    allow, but I'm not terribly familar with them.
    
    
    4)  Trivia:  London bookies have made Arazi the 4-5 favorite (a one
    horse book).  Not sure what the line is one him here.  All I know is
    that if he wins, damned few will get rich off it.  If he loses,
    there'll be quite the stink.
    
    
    5)  Being the nexted Secretariat, and all.
    
    Having watched horse racing on and off, I can't say that there has been
    any really, really outstanding 3 year old for a long, long time. 
    Genuine Risk was.  I'm sure some other folks can name others.  But to
    me, the crop has always felt mediocre.  Horses get retired at 2 due to
    injury.  They don't own up to talent indications.  These huge Derby
    fields seem to be the result of general mediocrity (there were 19 or so
    horses entered into the field.  Even 12 horses is a BIG field for a
    race supposably geared towards the cream of the crop).  
    
    Anyway (what's your point, caller?), the racing scene hasn't had a
    superstar in a long time.  *If* Arazi is really the horse he seems to
    be, yes, he is.  And that's good.  The racing scene needs another
    Secretariat.  
    
    (of course, if he's really that good, you know he'll be retired at the
    end of the season.  Nobody ever races their really good colts beyond 3
    years old anymore...too much $$ involved.  A loss to the sport.)
    
    

    
    Ya know, the talk of a git together (read Road Trip!) to the Belmont
    sounds pretty interesting and I think we could do it but I'm curious
    about a few things; 
    
    What is the date of the race?
    
    Realistically, anybody got a multi-person vehicle who might be willing
    to transport a few friends down to LI if certain "rules" were ironclad?
    I got a S-10, seats 2, same as 'Saw but maybe my F.E.W. would agree to
    her Taurus wagon (with the 3rd seat = ~7) if the date was OK. 
    Otherwise, anybody got an idea about the cost to rent a
    "hellbus/caravan/plain van" type of vehicle?  Doing a convoy is also a
    possibility but IMO, less desirable. I have a CB which could be used in
    one vehicle if a convory actually happens.
    
    A sober driver could/would be assured if necessary.  (I believe in the
    DD responsibility if nobody else would). 
    
    Heck, 3 hour trip one way (9:00 AM @ MRO, stops along the way) get
    there around 1:00PM, see the preliminary races, Stakes race ~5:00PM
    and maybe get back to MRO ~10:00PM could be done.
    
    Anybody else feel that a trip to Belmont sounds like fun?  Should we do
    it?
    
    I remain,
    a neophyte social_director,
    Kev
    

    SHOCK! HORROR! There are absolutely NO stimulents/medications allowed
    in Europe. `Lasix' is it? You would lose your licence over here for
    thinking about it.
    
    One horse lost a prestiguous Classic race because he allegedly ate a
    Mars Bar the day before a race, and they found Glucose in his blood
    stream. 
    
    You can't you anything on horses with blood-vessel problems either. If
    a horse has such problems, they just have to live with it.
    
    Anyhow, the general feeling in Europe is that Arazi is potentially one
    of the best horses EVER!! 
    
    We will see.
    
    Tony 

    	Why don't we just have a road trip to Hinsdale.  You can bet
    the Belmont up there on simulcast.  8^)
    
    				/Don

Well, as I said in the Get-Together note, I'd be up for it IF there
was the possibility of a triple crown winner.


Since I'm on the way, y'all can just swing by and pick me up.  8^).  I'd
even let you use the baffroom to get ride of the preliminary beers.


'Saw

    'Sawhorse,
    
    I suppose reading between the cracks that what you're really saying
    is "No Way" but you don't wanna appear to be unsocial or nuttin.
    If'n a road trip actually happens, regardless of a triple crown
    possibility or not, the hellbus will stop by the sawmill for three
    thangs!
    1) mini baffroom olympics
    2) replenish the supply of brewskies (thanks for buying , btw)
    3) kidnap, with deadly force if necessary, the 'sawmain!
    
    hth!
    
    I remain,
    trotting......
    Kev
    
    ;^)
    

       Belmont Stakes is on June 5th.
                                  Denny

Kev,


I was just going along with what Denny had originally mentioned.
He had said he goes if there's a triple crown possibility.

How much does it cost to get in?

Are the seats bigger than those in the garden?  (Ie, do they take propbutts
into consideration?)


Are there hot babes there?


'Saw

       Then it's the 6th!
                                 Denny

       Doesn't cost more than a couple bucks to get in. Most of the 'seats'
    will be taken by reservation or people that get there at 8 in the
    morning. I don't like to sit at race tracks. I'd rather hang around the
    paddock/saddling area and watch the race from outside.
                                    Denny

Cool.

I know very little about race tracks and such -- never been to one, although
I did go to the Dog races in Plainfield one night.


Actually, if it's the 6th, it's a bad day for me then.  I've got the
International soccer game at Foxboro on the 7th, and then training at PKO
starting on the 8th.....


'Saw

    If there's a possibility of a triple crown winner, you can bet (and
    win), it'll be packed.
    
    
    The Belmont is indeed on the 6th of June.
    
    
    
    

       If there's a chance for a Triple Crown, I'll be there!
    June 8th in Maynard, eh 'Saw? Sounds like an afternoon at da Bull! I'm 
    there the week of the 1st.
                               Denny

>       If there's a chance for a Triple Crown, I'll be there!
>    June 8th in Maynard, eh 'Saw? Sounds like an afternoon at da Bull! I'm 
>    there the week of the 1st.


Yes, I'm there for June 8-9-10.  Maybe we could have a Monday Night
Get Together at Da Bull.   They've got Newcy Broon on tap!


'Saw

    
    The bridge-jumpers who will bet big on Arazi will be taking a big
    risk, despite his reputation.  Arazi has only raced once this year,
    after having 'scope surgery on both knees.  Also, there's a possibility
    of a thundershower in the afternoon, slowing the track down.  Arazi
    has never raced on an off-track (the Breeder's Cup 2-yr old was his
    only dirt race).  No enough data, I think, to bet the farm on Arazi.
    
    Will probably stay home and watch ABC, but if I were betting, I would
    lay a place bet on the mutual field.
    
    Most of the horses entered have never gone 1 1/4 in their racing
    careers, much less won at that distance.
    
    If not Arazi, I like the horses that come from off the pace...Snappy
    Landing, West by West, Conte Di Savoya...
    
    brian

Arazi did the Snuffy.....


How much did the winner pay?


'Saw

    The winner paid about $35, give or take.  A 16-1 (long)shot, I believe. 
    Not a bad return on $2...
    
    Hawk
    

 7-Lil E. Tee	35.60	12.60	7.60
 3-Casual Lies		22.00	11.60
1a-Dance Floor			12.80

Exacta (7-3) paid 854.40.

The Derby, the 8th race was the 6th in the pick six bet. It had rolled
over from previous days when no one had the winners and paid more that 
$95,000 saturday, with 2 winning tickets. Pick six is picking six
straight winners. It pays some - a couple of hundred - for 5 outta 6.

Pat Day had 2 other winners and finished in the money one other time.

A.P. Indy scratched early and most of that money jumped on Technology,
who started at 8-1 and went off at 5-2.

Arazi made a move in the 2nd turn and almost led at one point but then
did the big fade to 8th. It was the worst finish ever for the betting
favorite.

Casual Lies is trainied by Shelley Riley, and the second place finish is
the highest ever for a female trainer.

Dance Floor is owned by Hammer, who celbrated his showing by taking off
his shirt and dancing his dance in the very exclusive section of the
clubhouse, mortifying and offending every Kentucky Colonel in the place.

As to social matters, good times were had by almost all in the infield. I
saw more racing this year than all the previous years combined.

TTom

    
    Allegedly, there were rumors on the backstretch during the week
    that A.P. Indy had a sore foot.  Unfortunately, unlike the NFL,
    there are no injury reports in the days leading up to the race.
    
    Arazi might have been the worst betting choice finisher ever, but
    a few years ago, the betting favorite didn't even finish the race;
    Demons Begone bled and pulled up in the Derby just a few years ago.
    
    Lil E. Tee has never finished out of the money in his life...
    
    brian

One of the bigger stories around the Derby was that regarding Pat Day's
recovery, evidently from a bought of substance abuse that made him the
talk of the town, for all the wrong reasons.

After the Derby, the fans were cheering his sobriety as much as his
finally winning the Kentucky Derby.

TTom

Pat Day is from Brush Colorado. 


Very small community out east of Denver. 

    What a real snoozer Derby.  I was cheering for Arazi, one because I
    like the name, two because it'd be nice to have some excitment
    projected onto horse racing.  As I said before, it's been kinda a blah
    sport for sometime, no real superstars....
    
    
    

Probable entries for the Preakness:

	Horse			Last Race
	Agincourt		3rd, Lexington Stakes
	Alydeed			1st, Derby Trial Stakes
	A.P. Indy		1st, Santa Anita Derby
	Big Sur			4th, Arkansas Derby
	Careful Gesture		1st, Tampa Bay Derby
	Casual Lies		2nd, Kentucky Derby
	Conte Di Savoya		4th, Kentucky Derby
	Dance Floor		3rd, Kentucky Derby
	Hickman Creek		4th, Santa Anita Derby
	Lil E. Tee		1st, Kentucky Derby
	Pine Bluff		5th, Kentucky Derby
	Pistol and Roses	16th, Kentucky Derby
	Speakerphone		1st, Federico Tesio Stakes
	Technology		10th, Kentucky Derby
	Treekster		1st, California Derby

TTom

>	Agincourt		3rd, Lexington Stakes

If the jockey's name is Henry or Harry, bet this horse heavily....


'Saw

    I like the first one on the list, Horse.  Nice, simple, no frills
    name...
    
    Hawk
    

Triple Crown Thoroughbred Poll:

	 1. Lil E. Tee
	 2. A.P. Indy
	 3. Casual Lies
	 4. Dance Floor
	 5. Pine Bluff
	 6. Betrando (wasn't in Derby, won't be in Preakness)
	 7. Conte Di Savoya
	 8. Alydeed
	 9. Arazi (won't be in Preakness)
	10. Technology

TTom

Pre-Preakness :

 o Anybody catch Wes Unseld drawing for the post positions for the
   Preakness? He made his first draw and announced the name of the first
   horse drawn: "Number 1 is Shaquille O'Neal". The Preakness guy almost 
   wrote it down.

 o Hammer is miffed at his draw, 14th outta 14. His response was to 
   question the integrity of the draw, said the post position was for 
   "the same reasons we didn't have Jackie Robinson in the major leagues
   for so long", and otherwise pouted strenuously.

 o Alydeed (9-2) has moved into a solid second betting choice behind 
   Lil E. Lee (7-2). In the short Preakness track, Alydeed is expected 
   to set a very fast pace from the gate. Dance Floor, Casual Lies and
   Pine Bluff are all at 6-1.

TTom

    
    Lil E. Tee will probably finish in the money as he has always done,
    but I'll go with the fresh horse, Alydeed.
    
    D. Wayne Lucas has also entered Big Sur, another Alydar offspring,
    but I've read that he really doesn't belong with the best in
    the field.
    
    Pine Bluff got bumped and squeezed in the Derby.  Unfortunately, with
    so many horses in the Preaknees, it could happen again...
    
    brian

Pine Bluff won the Preakness. Alydeed finished second followed by Casual
Lies. Hammer's Dance Floor never overcame starting from the 14th slot but
still finished 4th.

TTom

    Would you adam and eve it!! Dr Devious who failed to act on the surface
    in the Kentucky Derby has just romped away the Epsom Derby.
    
    The Epsom Derby, btw, is the blue riband event of European Racing.
    
    Tony

    AP Indy, who missed teh Preakness and Kentucky Derby due to injury, won
    the Belmont Stakes impressively.  Pine Bluff, I think was second. 
    Casual Lies, the only other horse besides Pine Bluff to compete in all
    three Triple Crown events, came in third.
    
    
    AP Indy ran the 1.5 miles in 2:25, two second slower than Secretariat's
    2:23 and the second fastest time for the stakes race.  The last quarter
    was run FASTER than Secretariat's Belmont, actually.
    
    
    Makes you wonder how AP Indy would have done if he hadn't been injured,
    but hey, hindsight is twenty twenty.   :)
    
    
    kim

    
    Secretariet was the bestest ever!
    
    nuff said....
    
    Kev
    

       Last quarter may have been faster than Big Red's but Secretariat
    woulda still won the race by 10 lengths (2 sec)!!
                                  Denny

    Effective tommorw Foxboro park will over common pool wagering on
    Rockinghmam, Belmont, and the Gettolands.  Finally inter-state
    wagering!!  The common pool approach is an excellent choice.  
    When I go to the track I dont appreciate when the horse pays 4.00 to
    win at the simulcast site and pays 6.20 at the actual track.  So if
    you live in the Foxboro area and dont want to make the trip up to the
    Rock now you can get the same payoffs right at the track.  
    
    Greg

    	A viral epidemic caused Foxboro to cancel racing indefinitely.
    Can't feel too sorry for a track that tried to use the legislature
    to break up the fledgling racing circuit because they couldn't get
    the benefits of the circuit without bearing any of the cost.
    
    				/Don

>    	A viral epidemic caused Foxboro to cancel racing indefinitely.
>    Can't feel too sorry for a track that tried to use the legislature
>    to break up the fledgling racing circuit because they couldn't get
>    the benefits of the circuit without bearing any of the cost.
    
Having a similar problem at the Plainfield Dog Track right now....


'Saw

    Also, Rockingham, Wonderland and Raynham are having viral troubles. 
    With the dogs, it's kennel cough.  With the horses, I don't think
    they're quite sure.   I've heard it said that it's just coincidental
    that the dogs and ponies happened to get hit at the same time.
    
    
    
    
    
    kimBO

    
    I hear the riders have been coming down with cases of Jockey Itch,
    another virile disease.
    

    
    Does anyone know what date the Travers (sp?) race is running in
    Saratoga this year?  We've heard the weekend of August 15th or August
    22nd.
    
    Thanks,

    Anybody care to comment about the article in thisted weeks's SI?
    
    For those who only look at the pictures or don't get it (get it?)
    they have a article (think it's #1 in the mag) about a Horsey "hit man"
    hired by the wealthy to moider thier horses so they could collect the
    insurance $$$.
    
    The guy (forget his name but I think it's Burns, aka Sandman) took a
    regular extension cord, zipped it apart and hooked alligator clips up.
    Then he's put one clip on a horses ear, and the other on his *sshole.
    Plug it in and POW down it goes!
    Painless, fast and virtually undetectable - most vets attributed death
    to colic.
    Sickening part included some rich b*tch who had a colic exclusion in
    the policy so she had him whack the right rear leg with a crowbar
    forcing a vet to put the horse down.  The article was graphically
    sickening as the screams of the horse were described.
    
    I thought I'd put this in here so maybe we'd get some kind wourds out
    of father guidoJD.
    
    I remain,
    amazed at all the scams rich folk have access to!
    Kev
    

    
    There's no autopsy either donchaknow.
    
    The corpse is shipped to the dogfood folks!
    
    Rover eats Seabiscuit! Film at 11:00!
    
    Kev
    

I went to a steeplechase race in Camden, SC, yesterday. It was the
Carolina Cup which consists of 6 races of varying distances and number of
fences/jumps. The 5th race is the featured event.

My results were definitely outstanding - unbelievably bad, in fact.

On the first 5 races I had 3 did not finishes - one pulled up before the
first fence and the other 2 fell trying to jump a fence - 1 dead last but
still running, and 1 horse that I never saw whether it completed the race
or not. On the 6th and lasted race, my horse finished 3rd - of course, I
bet it to win - and in some sorta final blaze of glory, threw its jockey
right past the finish line.

All in all, a good time was had by all....

TTom