Winter Racing season begins

Back in the day, racing in the East always ended with a meeting held in either Maryland or the Washington D.C. area in late October or early November. Racing in the West (not California mind you) would also end by November 1. Winter racing was located in New Orleans, California, and exotic locales like Havana and Juarez. There were also the infamous "Merry-Go-Round" tracks of Guttenberg and Gloucester in New Jersey which ran all winter racing that led to the establishment of the Jockey Club organization. The opening of Hialeah (and eventual success after initial failure) in 1925 began the improvement of winter racing and subsequent reopening of racing in California in the early 1930's and the training of Kentucky Derby winner Lawrin in Florida in 1938 all led to the winter racing environment that racing currently operates in.

Winter racing is still obviously a few notches below the summer season. Gulfstream, Santa Anita and Fair Grounds are the premier winter tracks - Turfway and Aqueduct are in the 2nd tier of winter racing.

Racing on the Radio

Thoroughbred Digest with Jay Privman - 10-11:00 a.m. Saturday and Sunday on www.1540theticket.com

Felix Taverna - 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. Saturday and Sunday on www.kogo.com