Is anyone at all interested in the Dubai World cup this weekend? It will be fun to see Red Rocks race and interesting to see Anak Nakal.
If either of those win it will be a real news story.
The current plan is to give away data for all the WC races as part of the TG UK promotion. An email will be forthcoming later this week.
You\'re funny too! I was thinking of them because they came from here and ran great races in America-No idea how to wager as of yet. It is really wonderful of you to provide information as part of the UK promotion!! I\'m really looking forward to it!
Girly, you think he\'s funny here, get him in person with a drink in his hand. Aim for Siro\'s when Rick B is in town, that\'s my strategy.
Meanwhile, it\'s been 11 years (!) since one of the best pieces of racing journalism I have ever seen. Isn\'t it about time you wrote another?
Thanks, but Rick\'s already buying. And has Catherine been talking to you? This has the aroma of collusion. Dickinson says I\'m almost ready ... a few more mornings over the Tapeta and I\'m there.
JB--
The free WC sheets would be a lovely gesture,yet another marketing coup,and
Saturday looks to be a nice way of wrapping up winter racing coupling the
Sheikh MO Show in the morning and the Fla Derby, which is traditionally
surrounded by an entertaining undercard, in the afternoon.
Thats the good news. The bad news can be described with one four letter
abbreviation: NYRA. Based on this past 12 weeks, the long term NYRA franchise
extension is looking every bit as ill advised and undeserved as the Merrill
Lynch and AIG bonus payouts. Lets review NYRA\'s first quarter of 2009:
1) Ten horses have suffered fatal breakdowns in calendar year 2009 during the
races. Of course we have no way of knowing how many horses were euthanized or
suffered career ending injuries during morning training hours (And let\'s be
honest-- a career ending injury to a thoroughbred in the wrong hands is akin to
a life threatening injury). Zada Belle suffered a serious injury during the
running of last Saturday\'s Distaff and hopefully the vets at Rood and Riddle
will be able to save her.
2) Possibly related to 1) above, the quality of racing has been abysmal this
winter, with races written for $7500 claimers, $10,000 claimers and Maiden
$15,000 claimers.
3) Short fields, coupled with a dominant rider, seem to leave very few value
opportunities.
4) Slots, and the long awaited renovation of the dilapidated Aqueduct facility,
keep on slipping into the future.
This is not to say that winter racing has been noteworthy on other fronts.
Oaklawn is a bright spot. Fair Grounds always seems to have bad luck
weatherwise and still runs far too many state bred races. As Michael D. and
others have pointed out Gulfstream has put on a good meet, but the Hallandale
facility\'s future is uncertain due to Magna\'s financial problems.
Back to NYRA, there is really not enough hue and cry about the sad state of
affairs at Ozone Park, and the quality of Saratoga racing seems to diminish
each summer,such that Spa racing looks more and more like downstate racing each
year. I believe there would be more scrutiny of NYRA\'s performance by a certain
major racing publication were it not for the close relationship between the
publisher of said publication and the CEO of NYRA.
I care about horses. I care about Racing. I will not be betting NYRA this
Saturday. I am far from a whale, but I will choose to spend my wagering dollars
at the facilities which are trying to put on good racing. If we all keep
betting the NYRA product, no matter how dismal it gets, change for the better
will not be forthcoming.
So JB, thanks again for the forum. You have chided me recently about my alleged
and purported recreational drug use, allegations which I shall neither confirm
nor deny. You also seem to think that I aspire to publish my rants and musings
to a larger audience, but this certainly is not the case; it would be enough
for me to get a few people higher up in Racing\'s food chain to realize the
necessity of maintaining and improving the quality of Racing, and most
importantly, preserving the health and well being of thoroughbreds.
Any information on betting pools (w,p,s,exotic,multi-race) for the Dubai races this Saturday? I haven\'t seen an ad; so does anyone know if I will be able to bet on twinspires.com?
Bee,
Much of your NYRA knock is justified but there is another side.For one thing, the NYRA management would like to race less days in winter but the Albany clueless politicians call that shot period!The number of days NYRA must race is mandated by Albany.
The other issue there is the smaller claiming outfits would go broke.I don\'t think thats a good thing but some will argue that it would help quality over time.Its a matter of opinion.
Slots are held up because banks no longer finance \"projects\" and the entire hold up had little to do with NYRA which desperately needs slot money.
Saratoga is only close to what it used to be but it\'s still the best race meet by a pole.Any venue can only put on a meet equal to the horse population that it has on the grounds.There is little,if anything, that anyone can do about that, NYRA or whoever.Maybe 5 racing days with only 9 races per day at the SPA would improve quality but revenue would take a hit.
Regretfully, you may read more bad news, re NYRA\'s finances, in the coming months as the slot delay will turn their mid term cash flow outlook rather gloomy. A decision to cut purses or a loan against future slot revenue will have to come within one year.
There are many player related racing issues which a group of us is trying to get addressed at NYRA and it ain\'t easy!We love the game too and hope that the real endangered specie, the player/fan can be saved from extinction.
Mike
Richie-- chided? Never.
Yes, twinspires is taking wagers for Saturday (see their news section). Doesn\'t spell on the wager types, but last year was the entire gamut.
Win and Place (Place pays for Second and Third Place) Exacta, Trifecta, Superfecta, Rolling Pick 3\'s and a Pick Six.
A heavy rainstorm has pelted Dubai and threatens to return Sat. for the World Cup Day card. I didn't even know that Dubai gets heavy rain. I'll have to refresh my world climatology. LOL. In any case, expect a possibly wet course at the Nad Al Sheba course tomorrow, for the first time in the WC history and consider it in your handicapping.
http://www.drf.com/news/article/102522.html
Bob
P.S. Jerry, thanks much for the Dubai W.C. PPs.
Don\'t those guys have enough money to pay \"Mother Nature\" to make it stop.......
It has happened before see 1997, cancelled because of rain, card reschedule 5 days later.
RICH Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It has happened before see 1997, cancelled because
> of rain, card reschedule 5 days later.
Yes it has. but unless they postpone it again, this will be the first time the the races are run under wet conditions.
Bob