Noted: December 8
– Oh, to be a British punter: Because then I could handicap, bet, and watch races live, all on one web site. The Betting Site, a venture launched by the Racing Post and horseracing channel Racing UK today, offers access to past performances and other data, nine different bookmakers, real-time odds, and the ability to watch more than 4,000 races a year live online and on cellphones.
– Saratoga’s closing weekend next summer should be a little livelier than it was this year: NYRA announced changes to its 2006 stakes schedule on Wednesday. The Woodward, which has been run at Belmont in September, will now run Labor Day weekend, along with the Forego, Hopeful, and Spinaway. “We needed to fill the void on that closing weekend,” NYRA senior vice president Bill Nader said. “We all agreed this was the right decision. Now, in terms of life after the Travers, well you’ve got it.”
– 2004 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Wilko, who hasn’t started since his 12th place finish in the Preakness, will return to the track on Saturday in the Larkspur Stakes at Golden Gate Fields. “I think this race can be a little confidence-builder,” trainer Craig Dollase said of the Larkspur. “We think this is a matter of getting a race under his belt.” The race is a prep for the Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita on December 26.
– Kentucky has everything a horse could want: “Blue grass, horse retirement homes and an occasional proper burial.”
– Jockey Stewart Elliott seeks clemency.
