Larry Jones horse whispering to Buy the Barrel (wendyu)

Get ready to hop aboard the midnight train to Jonesville, Larry Jones-ville that is! Not only are the Hennegans following Jones around with with their cameras this weekend (and hopefully twittering soon! hint, hint), Joe Drape’s feature in the NY Times is currently the lead story on the Times’ sports page. I don’t know about you, but I’m already liking this year’s Derby hype coverage waaaay more than last year’s!

No doubt you’re waiting to see how everyone does tomorrow before you place your futures wagers for both the Derby and the Oaks. Don’t forget, this year’s wagering menu introduces the futuracta!

Speaking of the Oaks, this year’s TV coverage is being dropped by ESPN. However, it’s being picked by Bravo, who had already planned to do a one hour Oaks day special, geared towards the ladies.

Churchill spokesman John Asher said Bravo’s Oaks coverage has the potential to reach new fans.

“While ESPN did cover a considerable chunk of Oaks Day, we’re very excited that we’ll be able to reach a new audience for the Kentucky Oaks on the Bravo telecast of activities surrounding the Kentucky Oaks and Susan G. Komen for the Cure. We think that presents wonderful opportunities.

While ESPN gets a big thumbs down for this move, bravo to Bravo. Plenty of racing fans of the female variety, myself included, have mentioned that making the game more accessible to women would be a great thing, so cheers for that. On the other hand, part of me thinks this has the potential to be similar to the new insipid positioning of menswear inspired women’s wear as “boyfriend”-wear.

It’s times like this I try to remind myself that not everyone has to experience racing in the same way to find it enjoyable. I’ll be watching the simulcast signal, but if Bravo can attract some new folks to the game or at the very least broaden it’s appeal, that’s probably not a bad thing. Particularly compared to no coverage at all.

And finally, this fan of racing and technology is very happy to see Jessica blogging again at the newly upgraded Railbird v2. Newly expanded focus, same smart observations. Other recent smart observations include Pull the Pocket on thinking like a marketer and the Wind Gatherer with an appeal.

I’m off to do a bit of handicapping, best of luck this weekend!

Posted by dana on Mar 13 2009    
Filed Under: Mainstream Media, Churchill Downs, Kentucky Oaks, 2009, Film, Hennegan Brothers, Derby Trail, Larry Jones, Marketing, Racing

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Very little in fact, but here it goes… a big, BIG congrats and shout out to GbG pals the Hennegan Brothers on their Eclipse Award for The First Saturday in May (buy the DVD)!

Recently I noticed that Breeders’ Cup posted this clip, created by the Hennegans, to their YouTube channel. I knew about it, but never saw it and am still not clear on where it aired. I love their sensibility and it instantly made me excited for the BC even though 1) it already happened and 2) it wasn’t all that exciting.

In photo news, you have until the end of tomorrow to go vote in round one of the TBA photo do over. Also, GbG regular rotation photog Raymond is on fire as of late over at Aqueduct… check him out too.

And speaking of being on fire, there was plenty of chatter over at Twitter during the races, much of it about Jones. (That should be *greet* Just Jenda… sadly Twitter does not have an edit function).

As if all that weren’t enough, there are plenty of new kids in town at the TBA… most recently Chalk Eating Weasel, Amateur Capper, Michigan-Bred Claimer, Keiblog Racing and Gallop France. In the recent past Thoroughbred Brief, Triple Dead Heat, Turk and the Little Turk and Mary Forney have also joined the growing ranks of people willing to spend their spare time writing about the game that they love. Good for them, and good for us!

Posted by dana on Jan 10 2009    
Filed Under: YouTube, Aqueduct, 2009, First Saturday in May, Hennegan Brothers, Breeders' Cup, Larry Jones, Racing

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It’s amazing what a little digging can uncover. As it turns out trainer John Shirreffs has a YouTube account and has been posting clips of training!

Here’s Zenyatta, “Back at Hollywood”. She walks the shed row, munches on some grass and breezes on the track. Presumably it Shirreffs talking with a pal who confesses a white pony ran off with him. There’s also a non sequitur about rhythmic breathing while the stunning filly jogs around the track.

Here’s October 16th featuring Life is Sweet’s first day on the main track, a small bit of Zenyatta galloping and some very odd schooling that consists of standing around while Trevor Denman’s race call is played. She definitely reacts as his call gets more excited, trying to bite her groom at one point… it’s pretty funny. The soon to be retired Tiago does the same schooling but they work on putting the saddle on him.

And finally this past Saturday morning, some footage of the track and then some shots in barn where he mentions “the movie”. Could John Shirreffs be the next Hennegan Brothers? And finally, back to some walking with Zenyatta, or Zenya as he sweetly calls her, and company.

Alright, now get the hell out of her house!

Posted by dana on Oct 17 2008    
Filed Under: Workouts, YouTube, :), 2008, Zenyatta, Hennegan Brothers, John Shirreffs, Fans, Tiago, Breeders' Cup, Hollywood Park, Racing

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Trainer Bill Mott back in the saddle after his first win at Saratoga (Hen Bros)

Bill Mott finally gets his first win of the meet in the 7th with 4-5 favorite Compromise. Numaany sat off the pace and looked perfectly positioned but didn’t fire. I’m sure there will be some excellent eye witness reports filed later.

I’m still wowed by Viscount in the 2nd, a classy baby race won by Precious Package. Viscount broke a la Evening Attire and was so far behind the field that he wasn’t even in the frame. He rallied with a nice inside trip to almost nip an unimpressive Spaniard on the wire for second, which hurt because I would have had the exacta.

Nonetheless, I’ll be keeping an eye on both Precious Package and Viscount. Zito’s Nowhere to Hide turned in a good first effort and seems to be worth watching on his next out. Good lord, I can’t believe all of a sudden I’ve become so interested in 2 year olds! What’s next, talented horses having 4 and 5 year old campaigns? Fingers crossed!

Hanginonaprayer, the filly who broke through the gate, dumped her rider and ran an excellent race all by herself to the delight of the crowd last Sunday just closed very well to show in the 8th. Well done Hanginonaprayer!

Congrats to Bill Mott, glad to see him back in action!

Posted by dana on Aug 02 2008    
Filed Under: Hennegan Brothers, 2008, Riderless Horse, Evening Attire, 2yo, Saratoga, Bill Mott, Maiden, Racing

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Larry Jones’ pick-up! (Hen Bros)

Trainer Larry Jones has been tampered with AGAIN. Less than a month ago Jones and Jim Squires had a positive drug test (which Squires is appealing) and now someone has been turning horses out at his barn!

The latest episode lead to an employee being fired and according to the article “Jones is confident he is not the target of other horsemen or activists”. To make it worse, not only did the culprit(s) turn out the horses, his stable pony, Pal, had blisters in mouth that were not the results of cuts… what the hell kind of message is that?

It took me a while to come around to Larry Jones. Swifty and I swung back and forth thinking he was an idiot to thinking he was a genius several times during our beloved Hard Spun’s 3yo campaign. I think ultimately his last 3 races and in particular his incredible finish in the last year’s Classic sold me. I thought, incorrectly, that Hard Spun should have gone in the Dirt Mile because he wouldn’t get the distance and while he didn’t win, he did turn in another strong performance.

I also hear it from some trusted friends that Larry and his wife Cindy are two of the nicest people you could ever meet! And c’mon, look at his truck. If Swifty still had a car I’d be pimpin’ his ride Hard Spun style for his birthday!

And if anyone has any ideas for a new poll, let me know!

Posted by dana on Jul 02 2008    
Filed Under: 2008, Hennegan Brothers, Larry Jones, Hard Spun, Racing

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