Tampa Bay and Gulfstream - Earliest Openings Ever

Tampa Bay Downs begins 69th racing season today (not the phony 86th number given in official press releases and published blindly in DRF). Gulfstream Park opens their 70th racing season (after celebrating 70th anniversary season in 2009).

Both starts are the earliest ever for the tracks. Gulfstream's card is pretty much a "Calder at Gulfstream" races in the first half through race 5 and better racing with northern invaders in races 6-10. Tampa's card is the more diverse with entries from all ports of call across North America.

Claiming Crown XIII

Bill Finley writes at the ESPN website that Claiming Crown should be eliminated:

http://espn.go.com/horse-racing/story/_/id/7302871/pull-plug-claiming-crown

Typical East Coast bias perspective from Bill Finley. Claiming Crown should be a day of recognition for the type of horses and races that comprise the vast majority of racing in the United States as well as the history of "selling" races that goes back to the mid 19th century. The fact that purses and interest in Claiming Crown has declined yearly reflects the complete lack of cooperation in an industry that cannot even coordinate post times between racetracks. But as long as racing continues to chase alternative gambling revenue at the expense of racing, there is very little hope for the industry. Having attended the majority of Claiming Crown events, I can certainly vouch that Claiming Crown is a more legitimate and fun day of racing than a trumped up slot-fueled stakes event at venues where it's difficult even to find the racetrack among the thousands of slot machines (events where you can find Bill Finley broadcasting from on Saturday afternoons).

Claiming Crown XIII is not a very good set of races and obviously the future of this event is in doubt for a variety of reasons. But this should be an day that celebrates the claiming game by an industry that couldn't exist without them.