TDN Writers’ Room for January 22, With Mike Lakow

Wandering Eyes · January 23, 2020

On this week’s Writers’ Room, Joe Bianca, Brian DiDonato, Bill Finley, and Jon Green discuss the upcoming hearing in Congress on the Horse Racing Integrity Act, and talk to Gulfstream’s Mike Lakow about all things Pegasus.

“With the new purse distribution and the purses themselves, we have full fields and the horsemen were very supportive of the changes,” said Lakow, this week’s Green Group Guest of the Week, of the reduction in the Pegasus purse to $3 million. “Keep in mind the horsemen were paying a half-million, or $400,000 to run in the races. This year it’s free, so the horses enter and run for no fee. This year, horses make some money finishing from sixth through 10th, the most is paid out on the top five positions, but then 2% goes to thoroughbred aftercare, which is so important.”

The race will also be Lasix-free and Lakow said he didn’t really run into any objections from horsemen. “I’m surprised, I’m not going to say at how easy it was, but it wasn’t the issue you think it was going to be. I just started making calls and the non-Lasix was not an issue. Basically, I’d say 95% of the horses were in.”

Lakow also covers other changes on tap at Gulfstream, the importance of Thoroughbred retirement, and more.

In other news, sponsored by West Point Thoroughbreds, the podcast covers the new sales company rules regarding use of the whip, whether or not trepidatious is actually a word, and the TDN’s new series: Why are you hooked on racing? The writers weigh in with their own opinions.

Listen to the podcast by clicking here, or on Apple and Spotify.