British Racing Presenters & Jockeys

I watch the coverage of significant race meetings in Britain on both RacingUK and Channel 4 (available on Justin TV). Here's an interesting story about one of Channel 4's presenters - Emma Spencer - and her former husband Jaime Spencer and the hottest jockey in England today - Hayley Moore.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1268719/Channel-4-racing-host-Emma-Spencer-refuses-interview-winning-jockey-blamed-stealing-husband.html

I am thankful that American media outlets do not cover this part of the racing world here. It would be way too much information.

68th Jersey Derby?

Monmouth Park is claiming this to be the 68th Jersey Derby today. They are only recognizing one Jersey Derby run prior to Garden State Park's opening in 1942. There were numerous Jersey Derby's run at old Monmouth in the 1870s and 1880s won by hall great three year old horses Harry Bassett, Tom Bowling and Spendthrift. The race was run continuously from 1871 to 1879 at least.

Champions Day at Greyville

South African racing season ends today with their Champions Day racing program at Greyville. I've been watching the coverage on Racing International and one nice change from the usual post race coverage has been acknowledgement and appreciation given to the winning horse's groom in the trophy celebration afterwards. You never see any recognition to the grooms in North American or European racing coverage and this neglects an important part of the story of getting horses ready for the races.

Fabulous Frankel

The idea that Juddmonte and Henry Cecil are going to send this horse to run around two turns at the Breeders Cup Mile at Churchill is preposterous. They are not talking about sending him to Churchill at all and plan to run him as a 4 year old. Perhaps if the Breeders Cup is awarded to Belmont Park in 2012 we might get a chance to see this great one.

International Racing Hall of Fame

Each country has their own racing Hall of Fame. How about an International Racing Hall of Fame based in Newmarket or Dubai? Inaugural inductees would be the greatest horses from each country:

Australia - Phar Lap, Makybe Diva

Canada - Northern Dancer

England - Ormonde, Pretty Polly

France - Gladiateur

Germany - Tincino

Hong Kong - Viva Pataca

Hungary - Kincsem

Ireland - Pretty Polly

Italy - Ribot, Nearco

Japan - Deep Impact

United States - Man o' War Citation,Secretariat

I was thinking of this idea when I see the retirement of one of the greatest racers in Hong Kong a few weeks back - Viva Pataca

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/john-moore-darren-beadman-hong-kong-sha-tin-farewell-for-superstar-viva-pataca/876861/

Grand Prix de Paris

America is not the only country having trouble with historic racing fixtures. If you go back and review newspapers in late June from the late 19th century into the first half of the 20th century, you will invariably see references to the Grand Prix de Paris and the magnificent processions through the Bois de Boulogne to Longchamp where la creme de la creme would turn out for the race.

Sounds like the affair to be held on Thursday (Bastille Day) will be much tamer than the good old days per the article by Alan Shuback in TDN:

http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/racing-news/2011/07/11/international-spotlight-lost-luster-of-grand-prix-de-paris.aspx

The only time when Longchamp attracts a significant crowd is on Arc day and I would guess at least half of that crowd are not locals.

Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006

It has been almost five years now since this horrific piece of legislation passed Congress and was signed into law by President Bush. What strikes me as amazing is that whenever you try to register with a global racing wagering site, you are asked what country you reside in. On the list are such notable liberal nations as North Korea, Iran, Syria and Saudi Arabia but the good old United States is not to be found. The United States stands alone among the nations of the world prohibiting online wagering (with the exception of legalized horse racing sites).

Requiem for the Futurity

John Sparkman in Thoroughbred Times Today has a good piece on the history of what was one of America's greatest races - the Futurity - run for the 122nd time and at the earliest date in its history on July 3 at Belmont Park.

The main point is one hard to reverse - horses are running less every year as 2 year olds and what used to be an abundance of good 2 year old stakes are dwindling down to a handful of races leading up to what is usually the championship decider - the Breeders Cup Juvenile.

http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/racing-news/2011/07/07/moving-the-futurity-from-september-to-july-is-unlikely-to-save-americas-first-great-juvenile-race.aspx

Sensible Plan for Ohio Racing

Bloodhorse has an article with advance knowledge of recommendations by consultants on how horse racing should be operated in the state of Ohio moving forward. Ohio recently passed legislation allowing video lottery terminals at the state's racetracks so it's a good time to implement these recommendations.

Of course I'm sure they will likely be ignored. There is also a lot of talk of current Ohio racetracks "shifting" territory to allow for major metropolitan areas to be covered for VLT's.

Horse Racing needs to have more regional cooperation in the running of race meetings - there's no way the current number of dates will be able to be run with the shrinking horse population.

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/63915/ohio-racing-needs-drastic-changes

The Passing of Radio Race Calls

DRF has published this previously but race calls from Churchill Downs were broadcast on local radio for more than 40 years but have been discontinued. At one time, radio race calls (delayed a few minutes from the actual race) were a daily staple in most cities in the country. I can vividly remember listening to them on KSTP-AM when Canterbury Downs opened in 1985.

A few places might still have them - Oaklawn I think might have them and possibly Keeneland. But they are going the way of newsstands, newspapers, pay phones, and typewriters.

From DRF Website:

Feature off the air

For more than 40 years, the feature race of the day at Churchill was carried on Louisville radio by WHAS (840 AM), except on occasions when a programming conflict arose. Veteran sportscaster Paul Rogers handled the race calls since the legendary Cawood Ledford quit doing them in the mid-1980s.

But in another example of how racing is losing ground in the mainstream media, there is no more daily coverage of Churchill, with the exception of Oaks and Derby days, when WHAS provides extensive coverage. The end of an era owes to a business conflict between Churchill and Clear Channel Corp., the syndicate that owns WHAS.

The Way We Were

New York Times has a nice feature up on their website with classic pictures from racetracks in the 1950's.

lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/07/they-had-the-horse-right-here/?scp=3&sq=horse racing&st=cse

Check out slide #12 and the crowd of 53,112 for the final day of racing for the year at Aqueduct.

Who needs Winter Racing? Yea, I know. The great horsemen of the metropolitan area.

Trainer Abuse in Iowa

Trainer ruled off for abusing horses in Iowa. More stewards should take action like this. It happens quite a bit especially now that the horse population is shrinking and tracks are desperate to fill races.

www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/63446/iowa-trainers-license-revoked-by-stewards

At Oaklawn's meeting, trainer David Wakeland at one point had six starts with his horses all beaten by 17 lengths or more. In his 39 starts at Oaklawn dating back to 2009, his horses have lost by a median of 20 lengths. Four of the starts resulted in the horses being distanced. Disgraceful that Oaklawn stewards kept allowing this idiot to start horses at their track.

Sunday, June 5 - North American Racing Preview

Woodbine ha nice card with 3 stakes races and Belmont has good card also with mix of open and NY bred events.

2:04 p.m. ET - Belmont 3rd - Easy Goer has four runners (Mission Impazible scratched) led by Grade I winner Rail Trip in his 2nd start since moving to the Dutrow barn facing Centennial Farms' Convocation, Godolphin's Tahitian Warrior and Bromans' top NY bred Friend Or Foe.

4:41 p.m. ET - Woodbine 8th - 68th Plate Trial - final prep for the June 26 Queen's Plate matches 4 of DRF's Ron Gierkink's Top 10 with Bear Stables' Bear's Chill to flash in orange on the lead with Zayat's Sensational Slam, Charles Fipke's impressive Wando winner Check Your Soul and Martin Schwartz's Bowman's Causeway all trying to run him down in the lane.

5:16 p.m. ET - Woodbine 9th - 56th Woodbine Oaks - 5-2 favs Inglorious faces eight rivals including Bear Stables' Bear Its Time - impressive Lady Angela winner - and the 1-2 finishers in the Fury - Eugene Melynk's Roxy Gap and Glen Hill Farms Marketing Mix trained by Tom Proctor. Stronach Stable also has recent Woodbine maiden winner Abrianna trained by Roger Attfield.

Jerry Brown has got the Woodbine Oaks as his race of the week (hint: Jerry doesn't like Inglorious):

www.thorograph.com

Like Brother, Like Sister

Shackleford's older sister - 4 year old Afleeting Lady - broke her maiden in her 7th lifetime start in the 8th race today at Churchill. She is by Afleet Alex (Shackleford is by Forestry) and this was her first start in the care of Dale Romans.

She paid $41.40 to win.

Homebred Comparison

For the 2011 Epsom Oaks, 9 of the 13 entries could be considered homebreds (If one considers Fork Handles a homebred - bred and trained by Mick Channon but running in the name of Dr. Marwan Koukash). For the 2011 Kentucky Oaks, 4 of the 13 entries were homebred runners.

The situation was reversed for the Epsom Derby with only a couple of homebreds including winner Coolmore's Pour Moi and the Aga Khan's Vadamar. Kentucky Derby featured at least 7 homebreds in the field including winner Animal Kingdom and eventual Preakness winner Shackleford.

Haven't seen any studies comparison of percentage of homebreds racing in UK vs. USA - would be interesting to see.

2011 Epsom Derby

Storylines for the 231st running of the original Derby:

Executive Summary: 13 runners, 2 absolute no-hopers, 2 unlikely longshots, the 2000 Guineas 3rd place finisher, 5 from Coolmore (including one trained in France by Fabre), one each from Godolphin and the Aga Khan and finally, HRH The Queen's entry - Carlton House. Race will be broadcast live on both TVG and HRTV at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time on Saturday - Down the Stretch radio show on Sirius may broadcast race also.

Carlton House - A win would stop the nation - 58 years after finishing 2nd with Aureole (four days after her coronation), the Queen is back with her 10th Derby runner seeking her greatest win.

Castlemorris King - Maiden has no chance

Marhaba Malyoon - Bath Maiden winner has no chance

Masked Marvel - Crafty connections (Gosden-Buick) and Montjeu has already sired two Derby winners

Memphis, Tennessee - One of Coolmore 5 - all in with a chance - this one ridden by 18 year old Joseph O'Brien (Aidan's son)

Native Khan - French bred finished well for 3rd in Frankel's Guineas romp - Guineas has always been best prep for the Derby but Fallon takes off to ride for Coolmore.

Ocean War - Godolphin Blue with Frankie up has won both 3 year old starts but appears overmatched here

Pisco Sour - frontrunning 3rd at 40-1 in the Dante - will give you a run for your money on the front at 50+-1

Pour Moi - Andre Fabre - seeking Derby glory at Epsom after 8 unsuccessful attempts - trained Coolmore entry is co-favs with Carlton House - had spin around Epsom last week that drew raves - another sired by Montjeu and ridden by the hottest jock on the continent - 19 year old Mickael Barzalona.

Recital - Another Coolmore entry, another sired by Montjeu, this one ridden by Fallon (if court case by Native Khan's owners fails Friday) Update: Fallon was banned in court action on Saturday from riding this one - Patrick Smullen will substitute. Could this be British version of Albarado-Johnny V?

Seville - Another Coolmore entry, this one sired by Galileo whose offspring have already won 4 of the 6 classic races run in Europe this spring. Soumillon up.

Treasure Beach - Final Coolmore entry - another sired by Galileo and ridden by Colin O'Donoghue.

Vadamar - The Aga Khan's hope for his fifth Epsom glory to tie his grandfather's mark of Epsom Derby winners and 30 years on from Shergar's dominant win. French trained horse hasn't won since 1976 with Empery.

Saturday, June 4 - North American Racing Preview

4:36 p.m. ET - Woodbine 8th - 56th Nassau - Team Block's 6 year old mare Never Retreat heads north to face the Roger Attfield trained Woodbine stakes winning mares Miss Keller (2nd in the race last year) and Mekong Melody.

4:59 p.m. ET - Churchill 9th - 37th Dogwood - Dilschneider-Claiborne - Stall connections send out favored Might making her stakes debut in her fourth career start. She faces Oaklawn stakes winners the Jayaramans' Holy Heavens and Bret Calhoun trained Gran Lioness along with IEAH's Fantasy of Flight shoved into a stakes race after impressive maiden win on Oaks Day at Churchill.

5:17 p.m. ET - Belmont 9th - 61st Vagrancy - Pletcher-Starlight's Hilda's Passion seeking redemption after running 2nd on Derby Day as 3-5 favs in the Humana Distaff. Phipps filly Streaker and D. Wayne Lukas off the plane Tidal Pool appear to be main rivals among 7 runners.

5:29 p.m. ET - Churchill 10th - 23rd Aristides - Eight sprinters over 6 furlongs with only one non-stakes winner - Good Lord trained by the crafty Forrest Kaelin off an allowance win on the Churchill strip. Atta Boy Roy has been training well at my local track Canterbury and ships in for this. Top 3 finishers from last year's race - Riley Tucker, Atta Boy Roy, and Cash Refund - all return for return engagement.

5:50 p.m. ET - Thistledown 8th - 77th Ohio Derby - 10 three year olds trying to enhance their reputations with two recent impressive maiden winners - Padua's Le Mans and Wests' Global Power - taking on previous stakes winners Caleb's Posse and Wilkinson.

7:38 p.m. ET - Hollywood 8th - 58th Californian - Twirling Candy seeks redemption after troubled Big Cap fifth as 1-2 favs and will face impeded Big Cap runner up Setsuko and Big Cap 4th place finisher Soul Candy and 8th place Spurrier.

Memorial Day Monday - May 30 - American Racing Preview

3:05 p.m. ET - Monmouth 6th - Skip Away - Two lightly raced four years old try to restore reputations after losses - Godolphin's Tahitian Warrior and Estate of Edward Evans' Christmas for Liam who was dueled into defeat in the Westchester and Pletcher has opted for this softer spot rather than trying the Metropolitan. Tahitian Warrior was scratched out of this race.

3:59 p.m. ET - Lone Star 4th - 15th Ouija Board - 6 year old mare Wasted Tears shoots for her 3rd consecutive Ouija Board win off six month layoff.

4:09 p.m. ET - Calder 9th - Memorial Day Handicap - Nine SoFla stalwarts meet in the traditional Calder Memorial Day feature with the head of the SoFla older division - Tackleberry - taking on the nation's best later in the day in the Metropolitan.

4:27 p.m. ET - Lone Star 5th - 15th Valid Expectations - Baffert sends the Pegram owned Irish Gypsy in from SoCal and is listed at even money on the line. Local hopes Gleaming, Cosmo Gal or Tin Top Cat provide significant competition to the shipper.

4:55 p.m. ET - Lone Star 6th - 15th Dallas Turf Cup - Ramsey barn's Dean's Kitten and the Asmussen trained Expansion are the two morning line favorites with Schramsberg looking to do the Connolly-Dallas Turf Cup double to claim top Texas older male turf honors.

4:59 p.m. ET - Churchill 9th - 8th Winning Colors - Sassy Image is 4 for 5 at Churchill for Preakness winning trainer Dale Romans and owner brother Jerry. Marty Wolfson's Stephanie Got Even returns to 6 furlongs in her 3rd start for new connections and there are many others in here with a shot.

5:23 p.m. ET - Lone Star 7th - 13th Cinemine - Morning Line has this down to two - Stall-Dilschneider's Aide who gets back to dirt and the WB Calhoun trained local hope Grandacious.

5:26 p.m. ET - Belmont 9th - 17th Sands Point - Winter Memories makes her 2nd three year old start and faces five tough rivals led by undefeated Naples Bay for Cox-Clement connections.

5:33 p.m. ET - Monmouth 11th - Violet - Clement's Denomination tries to return to winning ways facing Red Oak's Unbridled Essence on her home course.

5:49 p.m. ET - Belmont 10th - 118th Metropolitan - Per usual, a superb renewal of one of America's greatest races. Four New York breds led by Grade I winner Haynesfield in field of 11 - may be a recurring theme with addition of slot money for NYRA. Trainer Cam Gambolati seeks to renew Memorial Day glory 26 years after Spend A Buck's $2 million dollar bonus win in the Jersey Derby. Pletcher has 3 entries, Asmussen with 2 and Luis Olivares only needs Tackleberry.

5:51 p.m. ET - Lone Star 8th - 15th Lone Star Derby - Race run on turf for first time and larger field of 9 will run with no standouts but representatives from Ramsey (Derby Kitten), Farish (Close Ally), Shah-Baffert (Uncle Sam), and Doug O'Neill (Thirtyfirststreet) barns.

6:19 p.m. ET - Lone Star 9th - 15th Lone Star Park Handicap - Baffert's Game On Dude returns to site of his Lone Star Derby win last year facing Asmussen trained Thiskyhasnolimit and West Point's perennial stakes challenger Awesome Gem who ran 2nd in the race last year.

7:15 p.m. ET - Golden Gate 8th - Berkeley - 8 year old Cal bred legend Bold Chieftain tries to win race after finishing 2nd last year facing an eclectic bunch included SoCal shippers Mobilized and Uh Oh Bango (in his turf debut) and San Francisco Handicap wire to wire winner Our Nautique for Hollendorfer.

7:35 p.m. ET - Hollywood 8th - 59th Los Angeles Handicap - three Cal breds favored in here - Amazombie, Cost of Freedom and M One Rifle who have all taken turns beating each other in the past year.

8:05 p.m. ET - Hollywood 9th - 45th Gamely - Spendthrift's Malibu Pier and the Moss' Cozi Rosie renew their rivalry with Dubawi Heights added to the mix making her first Grade I start after winning the Wilshire in last. Hopefully Eclair de Lune will show more life for Arlington's Dickie D. than the miserable showing of Goldwaki on Saturday in the American Handicap.

Saturday, May 28 - North American Racing Preview

4:36 p.m ET - Woodbine 8th - 56th Eclipse features return to Woodbine of Wertheimer & Frere's Exhi who went two for two at the strip last year. Solid six horse field also includes Kinghaven Farms' Fifty Proof and last year's Eclipse winner Southdale.

5:17 p.m. ET - Belmont 9th - 53rd Sheepshead Bay has six sold betting entries led by Godolphin's Hibaayeb, Team Valor's La Luna de Miel and the former South American wonder horse Belle Watling who gets back to a more suitable long distance grass race.

5:29 p.m. ET - Churchill 10th - 74th Louisville Handicap has 5 year old mare Keertana taking on nine male challengers with the most formidable one appearing to be the German bred Musketier trained by Roger Attfield.

5:37 p.m. ET - Arlington 8th - 75th Arlington Matron has wide open field of 10.

6:08 p.m. ET - Arlington 9th - 77th Arlington Classic will be run on yielding turf with three scratches (#8,#10,#11) with favored Wilcox Inn defeating Animal Kingdom in his first start and not winning since.

7:35 p.m. ET - Hollywood 8th - 72nd American Handicap - Sidney's Candy return to the turf facing usual SoCal middle distance turfers including Liberian Freighter and The Usual Q.T. with one new face - Goldwaki - a former Wertheimer & Frere colt bought by Richard Duchossis in his bid to win the 2011 Arlington Million. This is Thorograph's Race of the Week and Jerry's crew doesn't like Sidney's Candy or Goldwaki.

www.thorograph.com

Sagamore Farm and the return of the Cerise Diamonds

New York Times had a nice story on Sunday on Under Armour founder Kevin Plank and his efforts to rebuild the historic Sagamore Farm in Maryland.

Love how the famous cerise diamonds that were part of Alfred Vanderbilt's racing silks have been incorporated into the silks for the new Sagamore.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/22/sports/under-armour-founder-works-to-restore-sagamore-farm.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=sagamore%20farm&st=cse#

http://www.blackburnarch.com/pubs/Mid-Atlantic%20Sagamore.pdf