Railbird 2004–2019

Archive for 2004

Headlines: December 22

– Graves: Rider change no surprise (TU)
– Smarty: Person Who Mattered, 2004 (Time)
– Ireland faces industry meltdown (Guar.)
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Posted in Miscellany on December 22, 2004

Ghostzapper Who?

“But no hero, no champion, nothing could make us happily forget everything ugly and awful in the world like Smarty Jones, a rambunctious little chestnut colt from that non-hotbed of thoroughbred breeding, Philadelphia, who captured the imagination of non-racing fans like no horse since the three Triple Crown winners of the ’70s, and maybe like none since the first and greatest of those, Secretariat.” (Salon)

Posted in Horses on December 21, 2004

A Safe Prediction

Bill Finley looks ahead: “At this writing, there are 148 days, three hours and 18 minutes until the running of the 131st Kentucky Derby, but it’s not too early to get excited. I can’t tell you who is going to win, but I can tell you, even this early, that it’s likely to be an outstanding horse.” (ESPN)

Posted in Racing on December 21, 2004 / Tagged Kentucky Derby

What Jockeys Want

“While the Thoroughbred Racing Associations awaits an answer from the Jockeys’ Guild about how the $2.2-million in annual payments meant for catastrophic injury insurance has been spent, the Guild has issued a sweeping list of demands from the tracks … $2-million a month from the TRA, and corresponding amounts from tracks that are not members of the organization, for media rights … Provision by the tracks of medical insurance of at least $1-million per accident in states without workers’ compensation … Guaranteed riding fees of 1% of the average purse paid … Educational programs at each track in English and Spanish … Guaranteed provision of a masseuse, a board certified physician, and X-ray equipment at each track … Veto power over any jockey’s decision to wear logos or advertisement on his or her pants …. Recognition of the Guild as “the exclusive labor representative of all jockeys” at each track.” In exhange for meeting these demands, the Guild promises that it will not “cause, authorize, participate in, sanction, or encourage any strike or work stoppage for any reason except safety.” (Thoroughbred Times)

Posted in Jockeys' Insurance on December 21, 2004

Headlines: December 21

– Laurel: Project “class A disaster” (Sun)
– Hollywood meet ends on down note (LAT)
– Fallon says he’ll regain title (BBC)
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Posted in Miscellany on December 21, 2004