New York is sucking right now (ardenstreet)

At least not at the moment. Let’s review.

As Val’s comment indicated, one of Curlin’s imprisoned owners has an expired racing license and according to the newly launched Paulick Report, it’s looking like the New York State Racing and Wagering Board won’t be renewing Shirley Cunningham’s license in the “best interest of racing”. This means Curlin will not be racing in New York.

As mentioned yesterday, the new OTB bill boosts the take out on NYRA tracks by 1% starting in the fall. Here are some unsavory particulars…

For example, a New York bettor who makes a win bet on a race at Churchill Downs through NYRA’s account-wagering operation will be paid off as if the takeout is 17 percent, instead of 16 percent, the takeout charged by Churchill. NYRA would keep the difference.

So glad I never opened a NYRA account… thank you NYRA for never answering my email, which convinced me to never open a NYRA account!

Rest assured NYRA Rewards customers, “NYRA plans to increase rebates to customers of its NYRA Rewards Program”. However, that doesn’t mean you’ll be able to watch race replays on NYRA’s site (hat tip to Power Cap). Currently displaying on NYRA’s race replay page:

For regulatory purposes, NYRA is not permitted at this time to provide a link to our race replays. NYRA understands and regrets this inconvenience for our fans who have come to rely upon these services.

Please be assured NYRA is doing everything within its power to work with the New York State Racing and Wagering Board to restore this link to our web site as soon as possible.

And there you have it. While I couldn’t wager on Churchill using Twinspires this weekend (things are strange all over), at least I can watch NYRA replays there! And will the 1% be added to my payouts via Twinspires on NYRA tracks since I’m a New York resident (and presuming I ever cash a ticket again)?

If you’re interested in learning more about the thievery known as take-out (look up breakage while you’re there too), check out Track Thieves and specifically his chart of the takeout rates at various tracks on various pools.

Have a nice day!

Posted by dana on Jun 18 2008    
Filed Under: Internet, 2008, Twinspires, Industry, Greed, :(, Gambling, Curlin, OTB, NYRA, Racing

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Pays to Dream on the outside lives up to his name (budmeister 26.2)

They’re retired with an injury!

Pays to Dream, the long shot that came on to surprise in the Dixie and then ran a game third in the Manhattan was retired with a fracture. Ugh is all I can say to that, and of course, get well soon!

Here’s his eye popping run in the Dixie on the Preakness Card:

And his game effort in the Manhattan:

Posted by dana on Jun 09 2008    
Filed Under: Turf, :(, YouTube, Get Well Soon, 2008, Injury, JJ Castellano, Belmont, Retirement, Race Replay, Pimlico, Edgar Prado, Racing

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Oddly named yet supremely talented G1 winning filly Panty Raid (Sarah K. Andrew)

I can’t claim that headline as my own, Sarah used it first when posting the photo above, but it still applies!

Panty Raid has been retired due to a non-career ending injury!

The injury was not career-ending, but it was decided to retire her anyway. “By the time we would have been able to get her back to the races it might have been this fall,” said John Greathouse. “She was already home.”

Grrrrr. They would have had to wait until the fall? Deprived again of seeing another talented horse.

Feast your eyes in this performance in the Juddmonte Spinster (grrrrrr) where she beat older fillies and mares. She did not go on to run in the Breeders’ Cup, which makes her early retirement even more enervating.

Please, no more bad news!

Posted by dana on May 28 2008    
Filed Under: Get Well Soon, Sarah K. Andrew, Farewell, Asi Siempre, 2008, YouTube, :(, Retirement, Let Horses Race, Grrrr, Race Replay, Injury, Racing

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Nashoba’s Key blowing away the field in the Santa Margarita (Charles Pravata)

You probably already know the bad news by now… and I really don’t have too much to add.

The super creepy part is that just last night when I was making my normal rounds at flickr, I was looking at this photo of Nashoba’s Key and almost posted it just for the hell of it. I’m not liking my new found “I thought of a horse and now something bad to has happened to it” e.s.p.

My favorite Nashoba’s Key moment was in the Clement Hirsch. She and Balance were sitting off two long shots setting the pace. Nashoba’s Key rolls up to Balance and totally turns her to head to give her the eye! Balance’s rider race rides her a bit to keep her boxed in and then she makes her move but Balance doesn’t really go on. Nashoba’s Key finally gets some room and blows by her. Classic. I wish it was on YouTube so I could embed it but it’s up at NTRA.

Rest in Peace.

Posted by dana on May 28 2008    
Filed Under: Farewell, 2008, Charles Pravata, :(, Injury, Racing

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NYRA Customer Service at Belmont (~ RAYMOND)

As I was watching the video of Dr. Ian McKinlay repair a quarter crack over at fellow TBA-er Fran’s fab Hoofcare Journal, I was struck by something he said about Belmont.

He talks about how it’s apparent to him that the track is really hard at Belmont right now and how he never used to see wall separations, but in this year alone they are 30% of the injuries he sees! Sprinkle in Paul Moran’s recent post about hard tracks and that the person at NYRA who is responsible for the maintenance of the track goes by the nickname of “fast track” and you’ve got a recipe for disaster.

John “Fast Track” Passero first popped up on my radar last summer when Bloodhorse ran an article about how the New York Thoroughbred Horseman’s Association voiced it’s displeasure with the overly fast surfaces.

Trainer Tom Bush was quoted as saying:

“Horses are running way too fast; we’ve got track records being broken,” Bush said. “The track is hard because there isn’t enough preparation after repetitive sealing. Horses are suffering from more foot issues–shedding frogs and bruises–and it is because they are being concussed. After all, the message on John Passero’s cell phone is, ‘John Fast Track Passero.’”

What was “Fast Track’s” response?

“I was a bit surprised by all this,” Passero said. “I don’t know what is driving this train. If horses are having problems, it’s not because of the track. I will stand by the tracks. The NYRA tracks speak for themselves.

So, over tea this morning (which is actually having the desired “happy caffeine feeling” effect, unlike yesterday) I put this letter together to send NYRA. I sent it to nyra@nyrainc.com, the only email address I have (as it’s listed on their site)… if anyone has a better address, please post it here!

I encourage you to copy this letter and send it, or write your own (it’s not like mine is stellar, I just wanted to send something)… but PLEASE, voice your displeasure over their ridiculous practice! Over sealing tracks to make them artificially fast is a complete scourge that must be stopped, let NYRA know that!

To Whom it May Concern:

The recent report of the reemergence of Big Brown’s hoof problems combined with the following quote from Dr. Ian McKinlay are disconcerting at best.

“The tracks at Belmont have definitely firmed up, I can tell that from they type of injuries I’m getting now. When I started in 85 at Belmont, very rarely would I see a wall separation, which starts in the sole. You get an abscess in the sole and it travels up the wall and eventually comes out at the hairline, it’ll take the whole quarter out… I never saw them. As of the the last 4-5 years I’ve been getting more and more of them. This year being 2008, I’m probably running at 30% of the injuries are these wall separations.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sx5gU1K7KtQ
(quote is from the video and starts at 5:58)

As a fan of the sport and NYRA track regular I’m asking that you please stop your practice of over sealing all NYRA tracks. The fact that the director of racing surfaces, John Passero, refers to himself as “fast track” sums up the attitude that must be examined and addressed in this new era of concern for safety of the horses and scrutiny by the media.

Last year when the horseman brought the issue of the over sealed track to the attention of NYRA, Passero was quoted in Bloodhorse as saying:

“If horses are having problems, it’s not because of the track. I will stand by the tracks. The NYRA tracks speak for themselves.”

http://www.bloodhorse.com/NOW/News/TopNews/40544.aspx

Please, for the safety of the horses, reexamine and change your track maintenance practices, enough is enough!

Posted by dana on May 26 2008    
Filed Under: You Can Help, TBA, Industry, Raymond Haddad, :(, Injury, Belmont, Grrrr, NYRA, Racing

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Nobiz Like Shobiz and his entourage after winning the 2007 Wood at Aqueduct (Sarah K. Andrew)

Nobiz Like Shobiz is inextricably tied to my intro to horse racing. The 2006 Champagne was being run at Belmont on my second trip to the track. Besides being a fan of champagne in general, I quickly became a fan of Nobiz, although at the time Swifty and I couldn’t tell a claiming race from a Derby Prep. No Biz, along with Hard Spun were my very first Derby horses.

You may remember that No Biz was a bit of a Derby hype horse. The Times had a great feature on him and his team prior to the Derby that not only included the picture used in this post (possibly one of my all time fav pics), a quote from his exercise rider, Derrick Sturniolo, that Swifty and I still use to this date:

He’s all business on the racetrack. But he’s a big old love bug in the barn.

but a pre-First Saturday in May video that gives the casual fan a look at how horses get to the Derby entitled The Education of a Race Horse.

What I loved about Elizabeth Valando as an owner is that she would run Nobiz as long as he was sound. I had high hopes for a long(ish) career for him, particularly since he so brilliantly lived up to his potential on the turf.

Fellow TBA-er Michael recently shared a conversation Rick Porter about his deal with Hard Spun where Porter had admitted regrets about rushing into the deal and would liked to have campaigned him as a 4yo. It’s unclear to me from Porter’s quote if he meant that Darley wanted to campaign Hard Spun as a 4yo and Porter wouldn’t agree to it or if Darley wanted to start running Hard Spun in their colors immediately (hopefully Michael can clear up my confusion).

I feel like I grew up quick, fast and in a hurry this year as horseplayer… I’m no longer shocked by the “bred to be a stallion” culture, but No Biz was one of those rare horses that we could have counted on seeing mature into an elder statesman, if you will. Which makes his injury all the more sad. I really didn’t want to see him in the BC last year as it wasn’t really his distance, although he ran a really game race. Who’s to say the injury wouldn’t have emerged eventually (what I don’t know about horses physically is a LOT).

And one more thing, I STILL didn’t see anything about his retirement at DRF! Was it buried in another article? That’s a bit ridiculous.

Alright, Queue Ethel Merman and dim the house lights while we take a look at the big old love bug’s notable moments:

Holy Bull:

Wood:

Tagg after the Wood:
View at NTRA

Hall of Fame:
View at NTRA

Kent Stakes:
View at NTRA

Jamaica Handicap:
View at NTRA

BC work:

BC Turf Mile:

A few odds and ends:

Elizabeth Valando talks about Nobiz

NTRA video archive

Flickr photos tagged with Nobiz Like Shobiz

Sarah K. Andrew’s Nobiz photos.

Thanks to Nobiz, Barclay Tagg and team and Elizabeth Valando for the fond memories… I can’t wait to visit Nobiz, wherever he ends up!

Posted by dana on May 24 2008    
Filed Under: Jamaica Handicap, Champagne Stakes, Sarah K. Andrew, Get Well Soon, Farewell, 4yo, 2008, TBA, YouTube, Turf, Hard Spun, Belmont, Retirement, Nobiz Like Shobiz, Race Replay, :(, Injury, Barclay Tagg, Racing

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Swifty just called me, his opener was “Guess where I am?” I was half expecting him to have gotten himself invited to some Japanese after party after Casino Drive’s impressive romp. “On a bus”. Not nearly as glamorous.

The Long Island Railroad runs trains to Belmont during race days. Normally they’re pretty good about leaving enough time for folks to make the last train after the last race. In fact, one usually ends up sitting on the train for a good half an hour before it leaves.

Today’s card had 10 races, not the normal 9… apparently no one bothered to tell the LIRR because the last train left before the end of the 10th race!

Swifty described the scene as approximately 200 angry people standing around. He managed to hop on some bus that was behind a horse transport truck. Here’s hoping he has as much luck getting home as he did at the windows!

Posted by dana on May 10 2008    
Filed Under: 2008, :(, NYRA, Belmont

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Rags to Riches, in a league of her own training at Belmont (EASY GOER)

I have to admit, when I checked the TBA RSS late in the afternoon and saw the posts about Rags to Riches retirement, a tear came to my eye. While not a surprise, it is indeed a bummer. Although, if she were my horse, and OH how I wish she was, I would do the same thing.

In my mind, she’s a legend… no question about it. Clearly being only the third filly to win the Belmont and the first in over 100 years to do so makes a compelling case right off the bat. Beating the eventual horse of the year in the thrilling stretch duel makes the case even stronger. But all of her wins were incredible… running 5 wide in the Las Virgenes, winning by at least 5 lengths in the Santa Anita Oaks and the Kentucky Oaks? Legend.

She’s one of the reasons that I count myself extremely lucky that 2007 was my first full year as a racing fan. I had the pleasure of sitting at the top of the stretch at the Belmont when she came roaring around that corner.

At the very least, I won’t have to miss her running the in Distaff in the fall if it doesn’t work out, but I’m sure she would have been running in the Gentleman’s Classic anyway!

Hat’s off to R2R, and many thanks to her connections, particularly for running her in the Belmont. A move that not all would make with a filly.

I’m sure she’s gonna be one of the those cool moms who’s kid’s are really smart AND can kick your ass, until then…

Maiden Race:

Las Virgenes:

Santa Anita Oaks:

Kentucky Oaks:

Belmont Stakes:

Posted by dana on Mar 24 2008    
Filed Under: Legend, YouTube, :(, Farewell, TBA, 2008, Kentucky Oaks, Injury, Belmont Stakes, Belmont, Retirement, Fans, Rags to Riches, Triple Crown, Todd Pletcher, Race Replay, Racing

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Hesanoldsalt and Eibar Coa win in the rain at Saratoga 2006. (Sarah K. Andrew)

I just sat down to catch up on some news when this sad item awaited me in my RSS reader.

Apparently he reared up, got away from his handler and took off only to crash into a tree when someone tried to stop him. The full story is at Bloodhorse.

“He looked great when he came in,” said Zito. “He was gonna have a good year. It’s sad, and when I think of all the good memories we had with him, it’s just incredible. I loved that horse. He was a wonderful, wonderful addition to our barn.”

Here he is running a very game second to Corinthian in the Gulfstream Handicap last year. With a touch more distance it looks like he could have done it…

Rest in Peace.

Posted by dana on Jan 17 2008    
Filed Under: Farewell, 2008, Sarah K. Andrew, YouTube, Eibar Coa, :(, Race Replay

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Alexander Tango far left coming on to win the Garden City at Belmont (Sarah K. Andrew)

What a hideous way to start the morning. Apparently Alexander Tango died in a freak accident over night.

More info here.

Posted by dana on Nov 08 2007    
Filed Under: Farewell, Alexander Tango, :(, Racing

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