This Day in Racing History – 100 Years Ago

 

They’re off at Juarez - opening day of racing at inaugural meeting of the Juarez Jockey Club at Terrazas Park. Pinkola wins the Chihuahua handicap in front of a crowd of 6,000. 7-1 Enfield takes the first race. Chicago Tribune reports that 30 poolrooms or bucketshops are taking the race reports and this earns the track 3k a day (this would continue to be the major revenue source for the track while it raced 8 winters during 7 of which Mexico was undergoing civil wars). Racing would be conducted on Sunday during the meeting. 

From the New York Sun – February,1914

"There is one permanent institution in Mexico, the Juarez race track. No matter whether the Federals or the Constitutionalists are in possession of the town the 'ponies' gallop around the circular track for purses, and the bookmakers give odds to gringoes and greasers alike."

Damon Runyon met his 2nd wife at the track.  The US army fought one of its final cavalry fights around the racetrack in 1919. 

Dog racing took over the facility but you can still  see the outlines of the track on Google maps.

http://wikimapia.org/1793183/Juarez-Racetrack-Driving-Range

Breeders Cup Thoughts

Coolmore's record is the Breeders Cup is quite poor - winning only 34% of the races that they should have. With favorites, they are even worst - 1 for 12. They may win a race over the two days but I have to look suspiciously on all of their favorites - from Lillie Langtry in the Juve Filly Turf to Rip Van Winkle in the Classic. Other habitual overbet horses come from Juddmonte (with the exception of the F&M Turf) and the barns of Todd Pletcher and Christophe Clement.

I'm going to concentrate on local SoCal trainers/runners - from Black Astor in the Marathon to Richard's Kid and Einstein in the Classic. I think the wild card is Godolphin - they have underperformed to date at Breeders but they have been very hot since the Saratoga meeting and are primed for a big effort this weekend.

Andy Beyer can still produce the fresh goods - his take on the BC Sprint in his preview column is a very contrarian look at this race http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/05/AR2009110502549.html

Best stories would be Bobby Frankel winning any race, Bob Holthus training Pure Clan to victory in the F&M Turf, Presious Passion in the Turf and of course, Zenyatta in the Classic.

Friday's card looks to be a lot more chalky than Saturday - ending with an impressive victory by either Music Note or Careless Jewel or a great duel to the wire.

Betting Without Borders - 140th Tenno Sho (Autumn) at Tokyo

Company
Screen Hero
Vodka

All prices in denomination of 1

Win Prices
North America - 10.4
Japan - 11.5
Australia -Queensland Tab - 10.1

Exacta Prices
North America - 365.1
Japan - 292.7
Australia - Queensland Tab - 538.2

Trifecta Prices
North America - 862.8
Japan - 1021.10
Australia - Queensland Tab - 2002.9

Legends Strike!

The Thoroughbred Legends first timer - Accessorize - trained by Nick Zito ran down the favored Sure As Gold on the rail to get up at 17-1 in the 2nd at Belmont. The colt is by AP Indy and is a half to talented turf runner Prussion and bred by Monticule. Bought for $300k at 2008 Keeneland September - one to watch for in the future.

http://www.tlrstable.com/

Belmont- October 11 - 2nd Race

First timers in here are from Stonestreet (Jess Jackson), Juddmonte, Thoroughbred Legends (Zito - Lukas - Baffert) and Will Farish (trained for first time by Shug?) and 2nd timers from Darley (Sheikh Mo), Mill House and Donald Dizney. Quite an impressive list of heavyweight owners and breeders. The Pletcher-Mill House entry of Sure As Gold is heavily favored.

The 88th Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe

Alan Shubeck in his story on the recent Arc refers to the 90th running of the event. The official website - http://www.prixarcdetriomphe.com/ - says it is the 88th running of the greatest race in Europe. You would think that the Daily Racing Form could get their history right on this. The inaugural running of the race was in 1920 - Alan has included 1939 and 1940 in his count when there were no races held due to World War II.

This Day in Racing History - June 3, 1944

76th Belmont Stakes won by 16-1 shot Bounding Home over favored Calumet Farm’s Pensive who is denied in his bid for Triple Crown glory in front of 34,233. Thrilling stretch drive sees Bounding Home in lead turning for home and Pensive held off by half-length in thrilling stretch drive. Belmont Stakes went off at 4:38: 30 seconds, CBS stations including WABC cut away from the race at 4:39 p.m. EWT to broadcast the false news flash that the Allies had landed in France. WOR and 125 stations in the Mutual System were also carrying the Belmont waited a few minutes longer to about 4:40 before broadcasting the false news. NY Racing Commission was about to cancel last two races on card when it learned the report was wrong. News never announced to Belmont patrons. False news also read over the loudspeaker at Polo Grounds at game between Giants and Pirates. D-Day would begin three days later.

TVG Presents The World

TVG offered a 24 hour presentation of racing from across the world beginning on Saturday morning and ending Sunday morning. Races shown included the Victoria Mile romp of the great Japanese mare Vodka and the upset win of Gloria De Campeao in the Singapore International Cup - along with the usual fare of Australian racing. Betfair is obviously making an attempt to introduce some new ideas with TVG and this one is a very good idea. Within this period of 24 hours, Rachael Alexandria won the Preakness, Vodka won her 5th Group I in Japan, and the French BC Mile winner Goldikova returned to the races with a disappointing 7th in the Prix d'Ispahan at Longchamps (not shown on TVG but available on the great international racing video site http://www.world-horse-racing.blogspot.com/. That's just the action from the distaff side. Gloria De Campeao's held off favorite Presvis in the Singapore Cup and a race earlier the Hong Kong sprinter Sacred Kingdom became the first horse to defeat the Singapore top sprinter Rocket Man with Godolphin's well travelled sprinter Diabolical in 3rd and Australian top sprinter Takeover Target finishing 8th.

I don't believe there is much interest in international racing yet within the horseplayer community. Obviously some will bet on any pictures that come into a simulcast facility. Australia has done a great job of marketing and presenting their races over the past decade. Hong Kong racing has been popular in the past when presented and continues to be a big draw in certain West Coast cities. Dubai racing has expanded beyond World Cup day. TVG has been presenting Japanese racing for the last few years, Magna has been attempting to drum up interest with South American racing, and YouBet recently signed a deal with South African and British racing organizations.

Overall however, I doubt the international handle amounts to even 5% of total North American wagers (not sure if it's even 1%). I'm not even sure anyone in the industry has an accurate number for this total.

What I would like to see is an increased emphasis on a dozen or so high-class international events presented by racing organizations around the world. Hong Kong International Day, Singapore Cup Day, Arc de Triomphe day, King George day, Dubai World Cup day, Japan Cup day - along with North American events like Breeders Cup and Canadian International day at Woodbine. International commingled wagering, a series of similar events on each racing card, racing information presented in a variety of formats, uniform medication rules, broadcasts available to the entire world via internet at a minimum - these events would represent the best that racing has to offer on a global scale.

The International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (http://www.horseracingintfed.com/) has hosted various conferences on this topic but everything still seems to move in slow motion. At least horseplayers who want to follow races internationally have numerous terrific websites to keep them current - now if we could only wager on these events in significant pools.

Betting Without Borders - Singapore International Day

Singapore International Cup Results (denomination of 1)

North America
Win Place
Gloria De Campeao 50.80 9.8
Presvis 1.05
Balius 3.2

Exacta 210.4
Tri 783.8
Super 8239.5

Singapore

Win Place
Gloria De Campeao 25.00 5.6
Presvis 1.4
Balius 2.8

Exacta (Forecast) 77.00
Trifecta (Tierce) 1,904
Super 6665


Exacta 210.4
Tri 783.8
Super 8239.5

Western Australian TAB

Win Place
Gloria De Campeao 22.20 7.2
Presvis 1.3
Balius 4.3

Exacta 113.6
Trifecta 1126.9
Super 5076.4

France

Win Place
Gloria De Campeao 6.2 1.9
Presvis 1.4
Balius 3.0

Exacta (Couple Gagnant) 8
Trifecta (Tierce Ordre) 85.8

Les turfistes de France took it on the short end of the mutual payoffs when the Pascal Bary trained Gloria De Campeao followed up a 2nd in the Dubai World Cup with a win in the 9th Singapore International Cup at Kranji racecourse.

Preakness 118 - Random Thoughts

Note: I refuse to recognize the 16 so called "Preakness" races run in New York around the turn of the 20th Century - there is no proof that the Preakness stakes run in New York were connected to the race begun at Pimlico. More on that later.

1) NBC does an absolutely magnificent job covering horse racing. Today's broadcast was the best I have ever seen of a horse racing broadcast (going back to Canonero II's Triple Crown bid). They started with a half-hour of the Mine That Bird story and the subsequent purchase of Rachael Alexandria to run in the race with Calvin Borel taking the mount on the filly over the Derby winner. I'm sure for viewers not familiar with the sport it must have been rather confusing what was happening - why wouldn't Borel ride the Derby winner at the Preakness? Jay Leno didn't even bring up the subject when Borel appeared on the Tonight Show Tuesday evening. NBC told the story very well. Bob Costas has become more comfortable with racing even with the usual "wink-wink" bit when discussing breeding Rachael Alexandria to Curlin. Tom Hammond was superb on the broadcast as usual. NBC did use the Vinery colors during the race for Friesan Fire instead of the Fox Hill colors and could have interviewed Mark Allen and/or Ahmed Zayat to discuss their actions last week but these are minor items.

2) It's sad that racing does not have a comprehensible narrative post-Triple Crown. There were numerous references to the Belmont Stakes during the broadcast even though NBC gives way to ABC for that telecast. Rather than asking Jess Jackson question on Rachael Alexandra's participation in the Belmont, better questions might have been whether the filly would venture to Santa Anita's Pro-Ride surface for the Breeders' Cup, what race might she be pointed to, and whether she might follow Curlin's career path with a four year old campaign. Jess Jackson may not have had much to say on these but at least they give a longer timeframe for the filly's prospective future races than the first weekend in June. Horse Racing has the Triple Crown series and that's it for public awareness. A top goal of the sport as a whole must be to keep the series as prominent as it now is and expand beyond the Triple Crown with a narrative that can be communicated clearly.

3) Jess Jackson's actions with Rachael Alexandra must be heartily commended. He is a true sportsman.

4) The sport has a potential golden opportunity with the gelding Mine That Bird similar to what Funny Cide's post Triple Crown career offered racing. Good Horse, Willing to Travel. I'm sure the infamous "envelope" for the Haskell will be offered to the Mine That Bird team and gratefully received. It would be nice to see a trip to Saratoga also on the schedule.

5) Overall it's hard to imagine a better Triple Crown two punch than what has occurred during the past two weeks - the ratings have and will be fantastic, the sport hit the cover of Sports Illustrated again and made a raucous appearance on Tonight Show, and no one was injured during the races. Bravo!

This Date in Racing History - May 5

1908– Churchill Downs meeting begins with pari-mutuel betting and auction pools. $5 dollar minimum for pari-mutuels. 34th running of the Kentucky Derby won by Stone Street – carrying the blue jacket and white sash of CE Hamilton and ridden by Arthur Pickens defeating the pride of Louisville favorite Sir Cleges back in 2nd. Famous Parimutuel Derby with authorities preventing bookmaking on the race. Events kept crowd down to 15,000 – approx 5,000 less than previous year – and cut wagering in half at least. Top two horses were still racing against each other in selling races at Churchill three years later as six year old geldings.

1934 - Cavalcade wins the 60th Kentucky Derby in front of record crowd of 60,000 at Churchill Downs - defeating A.G. Vanderbilt's Discovery in 2nd with the Dixiana filly Mata Hari fading to 4th after leading early. Cavalcade owned by Isabel Dodge Sloane's Brookmeade Stable. Ms. Sloane would become the first ever female leading owner in purse money won at the end of 1934.

1955 - Trainer Robert “Red” McDaniel saddles a horse in the sixth race at Golden Gate Fields, leaves before the race goes off, drives to the Golden Gate Bridge and jumps to his death at the age of 44. He had been America’s leading trainer in wins the previous 5 years and had saddled the winner of the Santa Anita Handicap in Feburary with Poona II.

1973 - 3-2 fav Secretariat wins the 99th running of the Kentucky Derby by two and a half lengths over Sham.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer publishes final edition

I was in Seattle this week and picked up a copy of final edition of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer - a paper that could trace its history back to 1863. They had a nice commemorative section that reviewed Seattle sports history. No mention of either Longacres or Emerald Downs. Rather shameful considering that Longacres' opening in 1933 after being constructed in 28 days was a huge event and the track was and its successor is an integral part of the community - more so thankfully than the money-draining, now online-only Post-Intelligencer.

http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=7394

Horses in Training - Expected Starts for Top Horses – January 12:

Acoma - 4yo f - Carroll - Helen Alexander & Helen Groves -
Afrashad – 7yo c- Suroor – Godolphin –
Albertus Maximus - 5yo c - McLaughlin - Shadwell - Donn - Gulfstream - Jan 31 - then Dubai campaign
Archipenko - 5yo c- de Kock - Sheikh Mo -
Ariege - 4yo f - Frankel - Stronach -
Arson Squad - 5yo c - Dutrow - Siegels
Asiatic Boy – 5yo c – De Kock – Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum –
Ball Four - 8yo g - Pletcher - Coolmore - Santa Anita Handicap - March 7
Barrier Reef - 4yo c - Albertrani - Darley - possible for Evening Attire - Aqueduct - Jan 17
Becrux – 7yo g – Drysdale – Team Valor & Barber –
Bob Black Jack - 4yo c - Kasparoff - Harmon & Kasparoff - out for several months with injury
Brillant – 6yo c – Howard – Mill House - Fair Grounds campaign
Casino Drive - 4yo c - Fujisawa - Hidetoshi -
Champs Elysees – 6yo h – Frankel – Juddmonte -
Charitable Man - 4yo c - McLaughlin - Warrens
Chatain – 6yo c- Penna – Lazy F Ranch –
Cocoa Beach - 5yo m- Suroor - Godolphin - will return in spring in New York
Colonel John – 4yo c – Harty – WinStar Farm - San Fernando - Santa Anita - Jan 17 or Strub - Santa Anita - Feb 7
Commentator – 7yo c – Zito – Farmer – one start in Florida then northern campaign
Cool Coal Man - 4yo c - Zito - LaPenta -
Court Vision - 4yo c - Mott - IEAH & WinStar - winter in Florida
Cowboy Cal – 4yo c – Pletcher – Stonerside – San Pasqual - Santa Anita - Jan 10 or San Fernando - Santa Anita - Jan 17 - then Strub - Santa Anita - Feb 7 - then Santa Anita Handicap - March 7
Cribnote - 3yo c- Violette - Red Diamond Stable - 3 year old campaign in Florida
Daiwa Scarlet - 5yo m- Matsuda - Keizo Oshiro - - February Stakes - Tokyo - Feb 24 - then race on Dubai World Cup night
Dearest Trickski - 5yo m- Sadler - Mankiewicz
Denis of Cork - 4yo c - Carroll -Warrens - injured - out til 2009
Diabolical – 6yo c- Suroor - Godolphin -
Diamond Stripes - 6yo h - Dutrow - Four Roses Thoroughbreds
Doctor Dino – 7yo h – Gibson – Salmean - Hong Kong Vase - Sha Tin - Dec 14
Eagle Mountain – 5yo c- de Kock - Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa - Super Thursday prep day in Dubai - March 5 – then Dubai Duty Free or Dubai Sheema Classic - Nad al Sheba - March 28
Einstein – 7yo h – Pitts – Midnight Cry - Donn - Gulfstream - Jan 31 or FP Turf Cap - Feb 23
El Gato Malo - 4yo g- C Dollase - West Point -
Euroears - 5yo c - Calhoun - Helzers - layoff for surgery
Fabulous Strike - Beattie - Downey – 6yo c – Dubai Golden Shaheen - Nad al Sheba - March 28
Fierce Wind - 4yo c - Zito - out of training for now - lung problem
Fleeting Spirit - 4yo f - Noseda - The Searchers
Forever Together – 5yo f – Sheppard – Augustin Stable - 2009 campaign to begin at Keeneland
Gayego - 4yo c - McLaughlin - Shadwell - Dubai Golden Shaheen - Nad al Sheba - March 28
Genuine Devotion - 5yo f - McLaughlin - Barry -
Georgie Boy – 4yo g – Walsh – Schwary -
Giant Gizmo - 5yo c- Frankel - Stronach - hurt - out for the year
Ginger Brew - 4yo f - Lynch - Stronach -
Gio Ponti - 4yo c - Clement - Castleton Lyons -
Go Between - 6yo h – Mott - Vegso – Sunshine Millions - January 24
Goldikova - 4yo f - F. Head - Wertheimers - will be kept in training with BC repeat main goal
Good Ba Ba - 7yo g - Schutz - Yuen -
Habaya - 3yo f - McLaughlin - Shadwell -
Harlem Rocker - 4yo c - Pletcher - Stronach - Donn - Gulfstream - Jan 31
Haynesfield - 3yo c - Asmussen - Turtle Bird -
Hello Broadway - 3yo c - Tagg - Valando - Hutcheson - Gulfstream - Jan 30
Honest Man - 6yo h - L. Jones - Fox Hill Farm -
Hyberbaric - 6yo g - Canani - Prestonwood -possible Santa Anita start - main goal - Dubai Duty Free - Nad Al Sheba - March 28
Indian Blessing – 4yo f – Baffert – Earnhardt - Palos Verdes - Santa Anita - Jan 25 then Golden Shaheen - Nad al Sheba - March 28
In Summation – 6yo c – Clement – Waterford Stable – Sunshine Millions Sprint - Santa Anita - Jan 24 or Palos Verdes - Santa Anita - Jan 25 - then return to Florida
Intangaroo - 5yo m- Sherlock - Tom Grether Farms -
Johnny Eves – 5yo c – Robbins – Hillard –
Kelly's Landing - 8yo g - Kenneally - Mr. Prospector - Gulfstream - Jan 17
Kip Deville – 6yo c – R Dutrow –IEAH Stable - Gulfstream Turf Handicap - February 1
Kodiak Kowboy – 4yo c – L. Jones - Fox Hill Farm - Fair Grounds campaign
Laragh - 3yo f - Dutrow - IEAH -
Lattice – 5yo c – Mott – Dilschneider & Claiborne –
Lear’s Princess – 5yo f – McLaughlin – West Point – injured - time off
Liquidity – 5yo c – O’Neill – Reddam –
Listen – 4yo f – O’Brien – Derrick Smith –
Literato - 5yo c - Suroor - Godolphin -
Little Belle - 4yo f- Suroor - Godolphin -
Luky Island - 5yo c - McLaughlin - Shadwell -
Macarthur - 4yo c - O'Brien - Coomore -
Macho Again - 4yo c - Stewart - West Point -
Mambo in Seattle - 4yo c- Howard - Farish - Fiar Grounds campaign
Marchand d’Or – 6yo g – F Head – Giral –
Marsh Side - 6yo h - Drysdale - Robert Evans -
Mast Track - 5yo c- Frankel - Frankel -
Meisho Samson - 6yo h - Takahashi - Matsumuto
Midshipman - 3yo c - Suroor - Godolphin - Dubai campaign before KY Derby
Minted – 4yo c – Fabre – Aga Khan –
Mint Lane - 4yo c- J Jerkins - Pinebloom Stable - injured - likely to return for 4 year old campaign
Monterey Jazz – 5yo c – C Dollase – Class Racing & Arndt -
Mr. Nightlinger - 5yo c - Calhoun - Martin Racing Stable
Much Obliged - 4yo f- Pierce - Pin Oak -
Music Note – 4yo f – Suroor – Godolphin -
Natagora – 4yo f – Bary – Friborg –
Noonmark – 6yo h – Asmussen – Bolton & Corrigan
Not Bourbon - 4yo c - Attfield - Fipke -
Old Fashioned - 3yo c - Jones - Fox Hill Farm - Southwest - Oaklawn - Feb 16 - then possibly LA Derby - Fair Grounds - March 14
On the Acorn – 8yo g – Indizguys Stable – Mitchell –
Out of Control -6yo c – Frankel – TNT Stud – Hong Kong Cup - Sha Tin - Dec 14
Pioneer of the Nile - 4yo c- Baffert - Zayat
Proud Spell – 4yo f – Larry Jones – Brereton Jones - Apple Blossom - Oaklawn - April 4
Proviso - 4yo f - Fabre - Juddmonte -
Pure Clan - 4yo f- Holthus - Lakin -
Pyro – 4yo c- Asmussen – Winchell –
Rail Trip - 4yo c - Ellis - Jay Em Ess Stable -
Rainbow View - 3yo f- Gosden - Augustin -
Rebellion - 6yo h - Motion - Hickory Tree -
Red Rocks – 6yo h – Hennig – Reddam -
Rio De La Plata – 4yo c- Suroor – Godolphin –
Run Away and Hide - 3yo c- Werner - Kird, Bates, et al -
Rutherienne – 5yo f – Clement – Virginia Kraft-Payson
Sageburg - 5yo c - Royer-Dupre - Aga Khan -
Saucey Evening - 3yo f - Motion - Augustin Stable -
Sailor's Cap - 4yo c- Toner - Team Valor -
Sakhee’s Secret – 5yo c – Morrison – Swire –
Secret Gypsy - 4yo f - Werner - Richland Hills - Gulfstream Park winter sprint stakes
Seventh Street - 4yo f - McLaughlin - Darley -
Smooth Air - 4yo c - Stutts - Mount Joy Stables - Sunshine Millions Classic - Gulstream Park - Jan 24
Solar Flare - 5yo c - L. Jones - Fox Hill Farm - Fair Grounds campaign
Spring House - 7yo c - Canani - Hubbard -
Square Eddie - 3yo c - O'Neill - Reddam - San Rafael - Santa Anita - Jan 17Stardom Bound - 3yo f - Dutrow/Frankel - IEAH - Las Virgenes - Santa Anita - Feb 9 - then Santa Anita Oaks - March 9 - then possible KY Derby track through SA Derby
Stream of Gold - McLaughlin - Zabeel -
Sweet Vendetta - 4yo f - Contessa - WinStar -
Tale of Ekati - 4yo c - Tagg - Fipke -Richter Scale - Gulfstream Park - Feb 14 or GP Handicap - March 14 then Godolphin Mile - Nad Al Sheba - March 28
Tariq – 5yo c – Chapple-Hyam – Homeizi & Sagar
Tiago – 5yo c – Shirreffs – Moss – San Antonio - Santa Anita - Feb 8
Tizdejavu - 4yo c - Greg Fox - Cooper & Ziebarth -
Tribesman – 5yo g – Hansen – Qvale
Two Step Salsa - 4yo c - Suroor - Godolphin - Dubai World Cup or Godolphin Mile - Nad al Sheba - March 28
Unbridled's Heart - 4yo c- Suroor - Godolphin -
Ventura - 5yo m - Frankel - Juddmonte - Santa Monica - Santa Anita - Jan 31
Vineyard Haven - 4yo c - Suroor - Godolphin- Dubai campaign - then KY Derby
Visionario – 5yo c – Fabre – Aga Khan -
Well Armed – 6yo h – Harty – WinStar Farm –
Whatsthescript - 5yo c- Sadler - Tommy Town -
Yeats – 8yo h – O’Brien – Coolmore – 8yo h - Ascot Gold Cup - June 19
Youmzain - 6yo ho - Channon - Jaber Abdullah - Dubai Sheema Classic - Nad al Sheba - March 28
Zada Belle - 4yo f - Albertrani - Darley - Fritchie - Laurel - Feb 16 or Distaff - Aqueduct - March 21
Zambezi Sun - 5yo c - Frankel - Juddmonte - California winter campaign
Zenyatta – 5yo m – Shirieffs – Moss - resting for 5 year old campaign beginning in spring at Hollywood
Zulu Chief - 4yo c - O'Brien - Coolmore -