The Fair Grounds 2003-2004 season ended on Sunday. The usual array of bad results (i.e. declines in both handle and attendance) was served along with a platter of excuses (it rained on big racing days) and rays of hope in all the darkness. The hopeful factoid was a bit of a reach - highest combined attendance for FG Oaks, Louisiana Derby, and New Orleans Handicap days since the track's grandstand was rebuilt and reopened in 1997.

Visiting New Orleans in December provided a rather stark picture of 21st century racing in the Crescent City. If I had to describe it in one word, it would be invisible. I never found a newsstand or other outlet selling a Daily Racing Form or track program after searching throughout the downtown/French Quarter area (the FG web site does say they exist). The track itself is wonderful - the grandstand is centered around the multi-leveled paddock area. There are well-kept displays on the history of the Fair Grounds and its place in American racing. The neighborhood around the facility is a little "edgy" at night - you will not see Fair Grounds going to any sort of "twilight racing" anytime soon. But to anyone familiar with the history of racing of New Orleans - Metairie, Colonel Bradley, the continuous tradition of opening the season on or about Thanksgiving - it was sort of letdown, a feeling that is was in the past and future would be rather dismal and slotty.

I don't know why there isn't an teletheatre in downtown New Orleans - maybe it's a political thing. Walking through the French Quarter, there was one bar showing the feed from the track. You would think a wide-open, fun-loving section like the Quarter would welcome off-track betting with open arms.

A few final notes on poor, bankrupt Fair Grounds. The on-track handle is a measly 5.5% of overall handle - this number must be one of the lowest on-track handle percentages in North America. In 1949 - 55 years ago - the New Orleans Handicap was won by My Request on March 12 in front of 10,500 with a handle of $392,908. A week later, a crowd of 9,820 saw Joe. W. Brown's Rockwood win the Louisiana Derby with a handle of the day of 375,474. 55 years ago - these two days easily surpassed the 14,160 that witnessed the three spotlight events at the track this year and though I don't have the handle numbers for these two days this year, I would bet that the 1949 handle beat the 2004 handle. Very sad indeed.

When Senator Kefauver's Crime Committee visited the city in January, 1951, New Orleans Mayor de Lesseps Morrison testified that at one-time in his city "you could walk the five block stretch on St. Charles Street from Canal to City Hall and never miss the results of a single race from the loudspeakers which blared through the open doorways of the bookie parlors." Aside from an occasional television set in the Quarter, you would never have known Fair Grounds even existed in the business and tourist center of town.

Storm Flag Flying - BC Fillies 2002 winner - ran 3rd to Randaroo in the Distaff Breeders' Cup Handicap at the Big A on Saturday. Based on Shug McGaughey's comments on DRF.com, this might have been her final race. She has not been very impressive since the Breeders' Cup win.

Vazandar is now 7-2 to win the Minnesota Derby after his 3rd place finish in an Alw NW1X at Oaklawn.

Dubai World Cup update - final

American honor on the dirt is upheld with a stirring stretch battle with Pleasantly Perfect outdueling Medaglia D'Oro. Dubai Duty Free ends in dead heat between the German-trained Paolini and Right Approach bred by Her Majesty The Queen.

The advantages that Dubai has in offering this sort of 1-day event are:

1) Location - centrally located for the entire world - most everyone must travel which puts all on an even playing field.
2) Timing - Late enough in the year for the African/Asian/Australian season and not too early for the European season if you want to prep in France or Dubai. Also on the flip side of the calendar from the Breeders' Cup which gets virtually no representation from South Africa, Asia, and Australia.
3) Neutral track - a wide variety of races and surfaces give many opportunities on where to place a good horse
4) Money - The Maktoum family's resources have obviously made the event go.

Not sure if it would be that interesting an event to travel too since you would need to be on your mobile making bets the entire time but it looks rather cool on the tele.

Dubai World Cup - Update II

US sprinters still rule on Dirt - Our New Recruit and Alke run 1-2 inthe Golden Shaheen.

Polish Summer is produced on the outside from the Juddmonte/Fabre/Stevens combination and wins the Sheema Classic. Ken McPeek's Gulfstream shipper Hard Buck runs a credible 2nd. Mr. Abdullah did not seem to be on hand to accept congratulations from the Maktoums.

Dubai World Cup day has begun

During - Baffert/Mattress Mac horse - takes a big dump running sans drugs in the Godolphin Mile as the home team's Firebreak with Frankie D. up wins the first thoroughbred race on the card.

UAE Derby goes to the South Africans with Lundy's Liability - supposedly headed to Richard Mandella's barn after this win.

This really is a wonderful day of racing. Only significant drawbacks are the pervasive feeling that it is a "home horse" affair with the Maktoums - similar to old-time meetings in the US when the bookmakers owned both the racetrack and many of the horse running - and the absence of on-track wagering due to religious constraints in Dubai.

Last weekend on the Roger Stein show, Roger promised to reveal the story on whether or not SoCal trainer Frank Monteleone is a "snitch". Not sure what this may be about but Roger always makes things interesting every weekend.

Baltimore Sun published an article on Tuesday on efforts to build a racing/horse project near the former Havre de Grace racetrack - a lovely spot near the Chesapeake in Maryland.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/harford/bal-md.ha.racetrack16mar16,1,5415604.story

This is exactly what the sport needs right now - reconnecting with the past and certain areas' strong association with horse racing. Havre de Grace ran from 1912 to 1950 - usually running both a spring and fall meeting. Horses that ran there included Man O'War, Citation, and Seabiscuit. Fans and horseplayers travelled from across the East Coast to go racing there. The town is wonderful and going to the site of "The Graw", you can still the outlines of the track and I believe there are still portions of the grandstand seating on the site. The site is currently a Maryland National Guard maintenance facility.

Odds on Magna meeting pool guarantees today for Magna Pick Five (500k) and Santa Anita Pick Six ($1 million):

Both pools meets guarantees: 3-1
Magna Pick Five meets - SA P6 doesn't: 5-1
SA P6 does - Magna P5 doesn't: 8-5
Neither pool meets guarantees: 5-2

Another Loser for Lukas? The streak seeks to past the Joltin' Joe mark of 56 today with the following starters at Santa Anita:

Hasslefree in the 7th race
Arbitrate in the 8th race
Heroic Moment in the 11th race

Will the "perfect" season at Santa Anita for Mr. D. Wayne continue?

Big Cap Day at Santa Anita - One of The One Million Dollar Races

Will Lion Heart become Lion Tamer?

No, No Jeffrey - the story of Island Fashion

Pleasantly Perfect is out - Weak field remains