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By Nowornever · Posted
One of my pet peeves is drivers from three deep the fence coming off and getting beaten by the horse who was behind them on the pegs. Nine times out of ten there is space up the inside but drivers are not patient enough to wait and instead come off the fence usually straight onto the back of the parked horse who is going backwards at the 400m. Good example yesterday was Montage at Invercargill. Montage a grinding type who likes the speed on was situated in a perfect position three deep the fence but the driver came off the fence to sit parked on a hot pace then got shuffled back then came three wide again before fading with 400m to go due to working too hard. The horse who took up his spot when he came off the fence was Robins Hustler who had the perfect trip and ran second. -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Pegasus Day at Gulfstream is one of my most enjoyable days at the races. The melding of great entertainment, world-class horses, and a great vibe shows racing at its best. It is expensive to put on and showcases our sport in the highest light. It is also the most ironic considering the recent announcement regarding the closing of Gulfstream and seeking development absent horse racing. I was perplexed to listen to Belinda Stronach on Pegasus Day speak of the non-compatibility of racing in an urban environment, despite all of the major racetracks worldwide being domiciled in such urban centers, almost without exception. Furthermore, her citing a crowning achievement of her tenure as the exit of Maryland racing was confusing at best. This is not a personal attack on 1/ST Racing, but merely an acknowledgment that avarice and 'land values' are now the driving force of the company, and not the future of Thoroughbred racing. Contrary to the ethos of founder Frank Stronach, whose goal was to place corporate holdings into a trust to preserve and protect racing, the properties are now meant to be used for their 'highest and best use.' The interpretation of such is that return on investment and profitability are primary motives and the acknowledgment that we do not meet this standard has been settled within the corporate ranks. It is incumbent upon all stakeholders to recognize this new reality and plan for a future without 1/ST Racing. Our 'partner' seeks a divorce and we can and must protect our interests post-divorce. Without a concession that allows for racing and development to co-mingle, we have no future at Gulfstream, nor at Santa Anita. To date, we have an unwilling 'partner' and the inexorable march to the inevitable closure of both stares back at us. The above racing properties have always had a higher and best use as urban density if your determination is that of profitability and land value versus a recognition that' we' bought racetrack properties in urban environments and their purpose is that of Thoroughbred racing. That is their tradition and a disregard for the impact these closures will have upon our industry is callous and self-centered, absolving any responsibility to the business that created this windfall opportunity, as well as to the chaos it thrusts us into through the loss of two iconic and historically important racetracks. We must negotiate the best divorce we can and I implore those parties that can and do have influence to align in order to create permanence and a certainty for our sport. The idea that 1/ST Racing would exit the racing business, then consider building another racetrack to reenter a business they just exited defies credibility. Suspend reality for a moment and accept the statement as true. If so, we are certain to face the same scenario once again when this new location becomes too valuable to conduct racing. We cannot accept decoupling in Florida and build our own gallows. Accepting the casino license committed Gulfstream to offer horse racing as a primary premise–not an arbitrary premise that they can eliminate for further profit. The same goes for horsemen's rights and the independence of a horsemen's group to protect their interests independent of the racetrack. The idea that a 'horsemen's group' would support or be neutral on the issue of decoupling suggests either collusion or an inability to understand any semblance of a fair deal. To give up more than six million annually in purse enhancements in return for a promise of three years of racing challenges the absurd, despite any corporate help offered during this time frame. If the threat of a reduction of racing dates and the inevitable retribution of any who opposed decoupling comes to fruition, so be it. Horsemen are tough and resilient; these are requisites for the life we live. Please get involved in the fight and do not wait for a savior, as one is not coming to our rescue. No concession without concession, no compromise without compromise must be our united stance. We must determine our own future and bring to bear political influence and the financial resources of individual and industry groups to ensure racing has a home in these important centers. The post Letter To The Editor: Gulfstream, Santa Anita, And Decoupling appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
The Robert. B. Lewis Stakes (G3) is a Southern California Kentucky Derby prep race that has been dominated in recent years by Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who has won the last six editions among his 12 victories in this Santa Anita Park race.View the full article -
But seriously, they should have some credibility with comments being somewhat appropriate! if this is the best they can do then they would be far better off not saying anything as they are pathetically inaccurate. I appreciate that they are running s business and therefore trying to msje as much ss they can for shareholders and have made changes to things. Entain are a gambling agency that I personally believe have made several decisions that are detrimental to retaining and attracting punters on harness racing. Hopefully Brodie is wrong and what they are doing works for the good of the industry. Some things I like but others not so much but then again I dont own the business, so its Entains right for 25 years, if they havent sold it off, which I would be betting on. -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
I was feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness May 7, 1984. It was my first day at Daily Racing Form, hired to report on the breeding industry, farm news, and horse sales. At the time, the paper's Midwest offices were located at Keeneland, in fact on the ground floor of the clubhouse in what were some of the original stalls when the track first opened in 1936. I was not long removed from having earned a degree in Journalism from the University of Kentucky, where I was a rare student who requested morning classes. That way, I would not miss a single day of racing at Keeneland. For several years while a student, I was also employed during the race meets by Turf Catering, where I worked in the main kitchen and routinely snuck out to place wagers. A job with Daily Racing Form–which I began reading at age 11–and an office at Keeneland–my favorite place to be–well, life couldn't get much better for a 24-year-old. Until on the first day of employment by DRF I met James E. “Ted” Bassett III. Introduced to Bassett, he shook my hand, slapped me firmly on the back, and closed the door to his office so we could chat. “You related to Lance Liebman,” Bassett inquired. “Yes sir, first cousin,” I informed him. “Worst damn decision I ever made,” Bassett said, laughing. I knew the story … and Bassett would devote two pages to it in his autobiography, published in 1999. In 1958, my cousin Lance was about to graduate from Frankfort High School. Having applied to Yale, he was required to be interviewed by a Yale alum … in his case, Ted Bassett. Bassett informed the school he thought Lance, being from a small town in Kentucky, might not adjust well to life at Yale. Luckily, Bassett recounted in his book, the school ignored his recommendation. Ted Bassett celebrates his 95th Birthday during the Keeneland Fall Meet in 2016 | Keeneland/Photos by Z The day I met Bassett, he reeled off my cousin's accomplishments: graduated summa cum laude from Yale; M.A. in history from Cambridge; magna cum laude from Harvard Law School; law clerk to Supreme Court Justice Byron White; worked as assistant to New York Mayor John Lindsay; professor and later Associate Dean of the Harvard Law School; Dean of the Columbia School of Law; Director of the American Law Institute. Ted Bassett and I had an immediate and life-lasting connection. About 20 years ago, I informed Ted that Lance and his wife, Carol, were going to be visiting our farm near Frankfort. Bassett surprised Lance by showing up for lunch and the two of them spent a wonderful afternoon reminiscing. As we were leaving his office that Monday in 1984, Bassett turned around and took a key from his office desk. “You will find your job is not Monday to Friday, nor is it just during regular working hours,” he said. “Here is a key to the Keeneland offices so you can always have access to the library.” The Keeneland Library, arguably the best of its kind in the world, was then housed at the end of the second floor of the track's general offices. I routinely used its extensive collection of materials to research information for stories and columns. Over the years, I had countless conversations, discussions, track kitchen breakfasts, etc., with Ted Bassett. About six months after I was hired at Daily Racing Form, the office chief, the late Logan Bailey, informed me I had one of only six votes for the Eclipse Award winning breeder (today, all voters choose the breeder as they do all the other categories). Actually only five ballots were cast because the head of the committee, Bassett, would poll the voters and his vote was never required. Logan and I would do considerable research each year of the leading breeders, which we would share with the other voters. When we had chosen the winner we would also meet with Bassett to discuss our choice. Ted always thanked us for our tireless efforts in making the difficult decision of who stood out that year among the many breeders and breeding partnerships. My late father always told me during this journey we call life, you will encounter many people, but only a few will truly have a lasting impact. For me, Ted Bassett was one of those people. I once asked Ted why he always used “we” when describing something that had happened … never “I.” His explanation took 30 minutes. Basically, however, it was that anything one accomplishes only happens because of the work of others. A simple lesson, but one I have followed … and still do. Every text or email sent about my business says “we will do this,” or “we will do that.” As part of my duties for Daily Racing Form, I wrote an advance and recap of every sale session for Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton (as well as Kensington when it was holding auctions). One year I was walking through the Keeneland sale pavilion during one of the final sessions of a two-week September marathon. “Come outside with me,” Bassett said, grabbing my arm. We exited the front of the pavilion and walked down to the lower parking lot. “See all those trailers,” Bassett said. Before us were parked dozens of two- trailers, three- trailers, and four-horse trailers. Ted Bassett | EquiSport “Look at the license plates,” Bassett said. “Iowa, New Mexico, Kansas, Illinois, Louisiana, Ohio, Texas. “Everyone sees the headlines, the million-dollar yearlings, but it is just as important to us to fill these trailers. We must be here for the consignors selling in the final days and the buyers buying in the final days. If someone drove their trailer here, that trailer needs to leave here with horses in it.” A nugget of Bassett wisdom … and I never thought about a horse sale the same ever again. One year, the National Turf Writers Association (now National Turf Writers and Broadcasters) wanted to add a writing competition for stories written about the Breeders' Cup races. I was asked to approach Bassett with the idea, Ted having then left Keeneland's active management team to serve as president of Breeders' Cup. He loved the idea and agreed to support it wholeheartedly, even offering to attend the group's annual dinner and present one of the awards. One year, I received a call from Bassett. He could not attend that year's NTWA banquet. I told him I was upset, that he said he would always support us. “We've never had a cross word, but we're about to,” Bassett said. I knew I was in trouble. “I've been invited to a dinner that same night with the keepers of the stud books of every major country that breeds Thoroughbreds,” Bassett said. Before he could say more, I began apologizing. When I spotted him at the Breeders' Cup, I was ready to apologize more. Ted saw me striding toward him. He smiled, shook my hand firmly, and slapped me on the back. Anyone who ever met Ted Bassett knew of his Marine background, a flag he proudly waved until he died Jan. 23 at age 103. It was as if he never left the service, because he always gave you a strong handshake and then slapped you hard on the back or shoulder. What I wouldn't give today for one more Bassett smile, one more Bassett handshake, one more slap on the back. I will always be grateful for the sage advice, the private moments, the enduring friendship. The post Letter To the Editor: In Gratitude For Ted Bassett appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article
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