Horses in Training - Expected Starts for Top Horses – January 2:

Acclamation - 6yo h - Warren - Old English Rancho (EW Johnston) - wintering at Olde English Rancho - will return in spring and be pointed to BC Turf - Santa Anita - November 3
Acting Happy - 5yo m - R Dutrow - Jay Em Ess - working at Gulfstream
Alternation - 4yo c- D Von Hemel - Pin Oak - working at Oaklawn
Amazombie - 6yo g - Spawr - Spawr & Sanford - Palos Verdes - Santa Anita - Jan 21
Animal Kingdom - 4yo c- Motion - Team Valor - working towards 2012 return
Apart - 5yo h - Stall - Dilschneider & Claiborne - no recent works
Applauding - 3yo f - Stall - Ramona Bass - Silverbulletday - Fair Grounds - Jan 21
Awesome Feather - 4yo f - Chad Brown - Stronach - Sunshine Millions Distaff - Gulfstream - Jan 28
Awesome Gem - 8yo g - C. Dollase - West Point
Awesome Maria - 5yo m- Pletcher - Robsham - working at Palm Meadows
Bind - 4yo c - Stall - Claiborne - no recent works
Black Caviar - 5yo m - Moody - Wilkie, Errett Bloodstock, et al - Australia Stakes - Moonee Valley - January 27
Born To Sea - 3yo c - Oxx - Tsui - pointing towards English 2000 Guineas
Bourbon Bay - 6yo h - Drysdale - Heerenspergers - working at Hollywood
Boys at Tosconova - 4yo c - R Dutrow - Jay Em Ess - possible for Hal’s Hope - Gulfstream - Jan 14
Brilliant Speed - 4yo c- Mott - Live Oak - Mac Diarmida - Gulfstream - Feb 26 - possible for Sheema Classic or Dubai World Cup - Meydan - March 31
Byword - 6yo h - Fabre - Juddmonte -
Caleb's Posse - 4yo c- Von Hemel - wintering at Oaklawn
Camelot - 3yo c - O'Brien - Coolmore - will be pointed towards 2012 Epsom Derby - 2000 Guineas possible
Capt. Candyman Can - 6yo g - Wilkes - Rausch & Zell
Carlton House - 4yo c- Stoute - The Queen - will return as 4 year old
Champ Pegasus - 6yo h - R. Mandella - Diamond A Racing & Vargas - will return to training in February aiming towards 2nd half 2012 campaign
Cost of Freedom - 8yo g - Sadler - Barber - working at Golden Gate
Creative Cause - 2yo h - Harrington - Steinman - San Vicente - Santa Anita - Feb 19
Dialed In - 4yo c - Zito - LaPenta - working for Gulfstream return
Duke of Mischief - 6yo h - Fawkes - Lieblongs - working at Calder
Ever So Lucky - 3yo c - Sheppard - Augustin - wintering at Gulfstream
Flat Out - 6yo h - Dickey - Preston Stable - Donn - Gulfstream - Feb 11
Frankel - 4yo c - H Cecil - Juddmonte - Lockinge - Newbury - May 19 - then Eclipse - Sandown - July 7
Game on Dude - 5yo h- Baffert - Dizney - San Antonio - Santa Anita - Feb 5 - then Santa Anita Handicap - March 3 or Dubai World Cup - Meydan - March 31
Hansen - 3yo c - Maker - Hansen - Holy Bull - Gulfstream - Jan 29 or Fountain of Youth - Gulfstream - Feb 26
Harmonious - 5yo m - Shirreffs - Wygods - will stay in training - longterm goal - BC F&M Turf - November 2 - Santa Anita
Havre de Grace - 5yo m - Jones - Fox Hill Farm - expected to return in 2012 with main objective - Delaware Handicap
Igugu - 5yo f- De Kock - Sheik Mohammad Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum - Paddock Stakes - Kenilworth - Jan 7 - then J&B Met - Kenilworth - Jan 28
Inglorious - 4yo f - Carroll - Donver Stable - wintering at Palm Meadows
It's Tricky - 4yo f - McLaughlin - Godolphin -Sabin - Gulfstream - Feb 25 - and/or - Rampart - Gulfstream - March 31
Liaison - 3yo c- Baffert - Zetcher - Lewis - Santa Anita - Feb 4
Machen - 4yo c - Howard - Courtlandt -
Maclean's Music - 4yo c - Asmussen - Stonestreet - will he ever return?
Mandaean - 3yo c - Al Zarooni - Godolphin - wintering at Newmarket - to be pointed to European classics.
Maritimer - 3yo c - Sid Attard - Norseman Racing Stable - will winter at Palm Meadows
Misty For Me - 4yo f - O'Brien - Coolmore -
Moonlight Cloud - 4yo f - Fabre - Strawbridge -
More Joyous - 5yo m - Waterhouse - Singleton -
Mr Commons - 5yo h - Shirreffs - St George Farm Racing
Mucho Macho Man - 4yo c - K Ritvo - Reeves & Dream Team Racing Stable -at Gulfstream - possible for Hal's Hope - Gulfstream - January 14, Sunshine Millions Classic - Gulfstream - January 28, Donn - Gulfstream - February 11 or Gulfstream Park Handicap - March 10
My Miss Aurelia - 3yo f - Asmussen - Stonestreet -
Orfevre - 4yo c - Ikee - Sunday Racing -
Overdose - 7yo h- Ribarszki - Mikoczy - in Dubai with primary goal - Al Quoz Sprint - Meydan - March 31 - will prep either February 23 or March 1
Plum Pretty - 4yo f - Baffert - Peachtree - training at Santa Anita for 4 year old return
Prayer for Relief - 4yo c - Baffert - Shah - San Fernando - Santa Anita - Jan 14
Presvis - 8yo g - Cumani - Marinopoulos -
Princess Arabella - 3yo f - Baffert - Peachtree -
Rail Trip - 7yo h - Ron Ellis - Jay Em Ess Stable - back at Ron Ellis’ Hollywood Park barn
Recital - 4yo c - O'Brien - Coolmore -
Redeemed - 4yo c - R Dutrow - Jay Em Ess - Donn - Gulfstream - Feb 8
Redding Colliery - 6yo h- McLaughlin - working at Belmont Park
Reve d'Essor - 4yo f - Matsuda - Sunday Racing -
R Heat Lightning - 4yo f - Pletcher - Robsham - no recent works
Rocket Man - 7yo g - Patrick Shaw - Crabbia -
Rumor - 4yo f - Mandella - Ramona Bass/Claiborne/Dilschneider - Santa Monica - Santa Anita - Jan 28
Sacristy - 3yo f - Catalano - Peachtree - Forward Gal - Gulfstream - January 29
Saamidd - 4yo c - Suroor - Godolphin -
Shackleford - 4yo c - Romans - Lauffer & Cubbedge - Donn - Gulfstream - Feb 11
Sidney's Candy - 5yo h - Pletcher - WinStar - no recent works
Smiling Tiger - 5yo h- Bonde - Klein & Lebherz - no recent works
Snow Fairy - 5yo m - Ed Dunlop - Anamoine Limited - will race as 5 year old
So You Think - 6yo h - A. O'Brien - Coolmore - will race as 6 year old
Stay Thirsty - 4yo c - Pletcher - Repole - no recent works
Switch - 5yo m - Sadler - CRK Stable - no recent works
Tackleberry - 5yo c - Olivares - working for Gulfstream return
The Factor - 4yo c - Baffert - Bolton -
The Usual Q.T. - 6yo h - Cassidy - working at Santa Anita
To Honor and Serve - 4yo c - Mott - Live Oak - winter at Payson Park -Gulfstream Park Handicap - March 10 - then Metropolitan - Belmont - May 28 - then Foster then Whitney or Woodward - longterm goal - BC Classic - Santa Anita - Nov 5
Transcend - 6yo h - Yasuda - Maeda - February Stakes - then Dubai World Cup - Meydan - March 31
Treasure Beach - 4yo c - O'Brien - Coolmore -
Turbulent Descent - 4yo f - Puype - Blinkers On Racing Stable - will rest for summer/fall campaign
Union Rags - 2yo c - Matz - Chadds Ford Stable - Fountain of Youth - Gulfstream - Feb 16 - then Florida Derby - Gulfstream - March 31
Wigmore Hall - 5yo g - Bell - Hawtin -
Winter Memories - 4yo f- Toner - Phillips Racing - will return as 4 year old
Zazu - 4yo f - Sadler - Moss - will resume training in early 2012

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.

Prairie Meadows Turns To ADW

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/prairie-meadows-ia-hbpa-partner-to-build-iowas-first-ever-online-wagering-platform-2011-11-28

While Canterbury Park continues its quixotic quest for Racino dollars and threatening to close without them, its chief competitor to the south is getting into the account deposit wagering business.

In a perfect world, these two racetracks would reach a joint agreement and run non-competing, successive, shorter meetings that - if combined with Remington Park -comprise an eight month circuit of racing from April through November. Maybe even throw in a two week stint in Omaha.

But cooperation in this industry is close to nonexistent and without Racino dollars, Canterbury will continue to be the weaker track in the midwest.

Black Thursday at Racetracks

At least four fatal breakdowns at major racetracks on Thanksgiving - two in stakes races.

Back Street Heat - 4 year old in $17.5 claimer - 6th at Fair Grounds
Galix - promising 2 year old colt in the Hollywood Prevue
General Maximus - 4 year old ridgeling - favorite in the Fall Highweight Handicap
BZ Warrior - 5 year old horse - after finishing 9th in $10k claimer and being vanned off after 7th at Aqueduct

Even money favs Allaboutdreams in pulled up and vanned off in the 3 horse first race at Golden Gate. Track announcer Michael Wrona says after horses cross the line "I'm not sure what happens with the trifecta." I'm not sure what happened to Allaboutdreams.

Derby Future Odds

As provided by Wynn Las Vegas courtesy of Brisnet:

2012 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands odds from Wynn Las Vegas

Gran Premio Nacional Day at Palermo

4 Group I Clasicos on the card at Palermo this afternoon. Only one race included on the Calder simulcast card - race 13 the Gran Premio Maipu over five furlongs on the dirt.

The Clasicos need to be shown if the South American racing simulcast product is ever going to catch on in North America.

Japan Racing - Post Times?

Twin Spires is taking racing from Kyoto tonight with the Stay Gold colt Orfevre trying to become 7th Triple Crown winner in Japan history by winning the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger). Twin Spires program has post time of 8th race from Kyoto at 11:55 p.m. Eastern time and the 9th race at 4:25 a.m. (Sunday). You talk about a break between races!

I believe the Kikuka Sho post time (11th race) is 2:40 a.m.

All global racing associations that want to successfully import their signal to North America should emulate Australian Racing (South America, UK/Ireland (which does some of this), South Africa, New Zealand and Japan). Would be nice to eventually add France, Hong Kong and Singapore to this list.

Sectional Timing in UK

Watching the RacingUK coverage of Champions Day at Ascot and they are making a great deal that the races are being sectionally timed (i.e. fractions, timing by mile marker). This is something that North American racing has had since the 1890s (1895 is first year in Champions).

Arc Simulcast?

Neither Twinspires nor XpressBet has put up the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe simulcasts on their schedule for the weekend? Details on Saturday and Sunday events are on the Thoroughbred Times link below:

http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/racing-news/2011/09/22/amwest-to-distribute-arc-weekend-signal.aspx

Best weekend of racing in Europe - trust that the account wagering sites will get their act together and present the cards from Paris on Saturday and Sunday.

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.