Railbird 2004–2019

Archive for 2013

That’s a Wrap

Woodmans Luck runs down Depreciable in the stretch to win the last ever race at Hollywood (PDF). Farewell, beautiful track, and thanks for all the memories.

Watch the replay and the final winner’s circle presentation:

And raise a glass for one last toast:

To winning wagers on Willie Shoemaker, getting carried away in the seats where Cary Grant was granted access, and to those two flamingos left floating around on the infield lake that don’t want to leave.

More from Hollywood’s closing day: About the flamingos who evaded capture, “We have to give them a little bit of time to forget about it” … in the paddock for the penultimate race … riding Swaps … a full lot … crowd jams grandstand and Mel Brooks grouses, “There are 100,000 people that have never been here, and they’re using up the tellers” … and then they pried bits and pieces of memorabilia from every corner, reports Ed Zieralski: “In the end, fans took everything they could. One guy was hauled out by the Inglewood police for looting” … get your own piece of Hollywood when the track holds an auction on January 24-25 … saying goodbye and savoring memories … paying tribute … Vladimir Cerin, the last trainer to stand in the winner’s circle, would have shared that distinction: “I almost would have taken a four-horse dead heat there and let everyone have a piece of the last race.”

Posted in Racing on December 22, 2013 / Tagged California, Depreciable, Hollywood Park, Last Race, Last Winner, Woodmans Luck

The Double

There are cowboys, a bucking horse, and jockey Calvin Borel playing himself in the trailer for “50-1,” the movie loosely based on Mine That Bird’s improbable victory in the 2009 Kentucky Derby, but the image that arrested me was of Bob Baffert, played by Bruce Wayne Eckelman in a role that’s definitely true to one thing — the trainer’s distinctive hair. I tweeted about what I thought was a wig:

Hold up, @HeadRacingTwit, aka Penelope Miller, tweeted back:

“Gotta tell you,” she said. “I saw the guy at BC and he had the same ‘do. Either it’s not a wig or he’s going Method.” She was right — there was Eckelman looking for all the world like Baffert’s twin — and she wasn’t the only one who remembered the actor causing doubletakes at Santa Anita.

“I think there’s a snippet of him in the @ErnieMunick #BC13 vid come to think of it,” added Superterrific.

There is: Watch Munick’s video and look for “the stunt Baffert.”

Good thing I didn’t have any money on the wig.

“I think the lesson here for us all,” tweeted Jen Montfort to me and Penelope, “is that the direction of the part really is crucial.”

The horse agrees.

Related: Churchill’s Darren Rogers recalled how that fateful call to trainer Chip Woolley went down: “I said, ‘You know you’ve got the earnings, right?’”

(All GIFs taken from the “50-1” trailer.)

Posted in Miscellany on December 19, 2013 / Tagged 50 to 1, Chip Woolley, Kentucky Derby, Mine That Bird, Movies

28 Headlines You’d Want to Click

If BuzzFeed covered horse racing:

30 Photos of Famous Racehorses Taking Naps
Video: We Can’t Get Enough of Wise Dan Rolling in His Round Pen
Everything You Need to Know about Uniform Rules
The 6 Types of Selfies Turf Writers Take
Racing Has Feelings about Congressional Hearings
11 Reasons Wise Dan Should Be Renamed Awesome Dan
Verrazano’s Very Crazy Year
The Unwritten Rules of Saratoga Everyone Needs to Follow
5 Trainers You Should Only Bet in Fall
The Fashionable Horse: Cooler Looks for All Seasons
Todd Pletcher’s Top 10 Tips for Trophy Display
Party Like an ABR Ambassador
These 37 Mo Foals Will Make You Say Uncle
The Top 10 Ladies of the Winner’s Circle
8 Things You Should Know about Brisnet Ratings
3 Amazing Walkovers You Should Do at Least Once
This Replay Must Be Seen to Be Believed
5 Tricks for Understanding Race Conditions
15 Photos that Prove Horses Have a Sense of Humor
This Trainer Is Miraculously Good at Claiming
5 Pace Scenarios that Make Bob Baffert Frown
13 Things You Don’t Know about Secretariat
Why Derby Day Is the Best Day to Get Married
The Definitive Ranking of Racetrack Cocktails
More than a Stud: 53 Stallions at Play
10 Replays to Watch with Your Cat
17 Signs You’re Hung Up on Speed Figures
This Is Why Going to the Eclipse Awards Is Absolutely Essential

(Inspired by emails about listicles with Superterrific.)

Posted in Miscellany on November 25, 2013

Breeders’ Cup 2013 Odds and Ends

Shortest odds in a Breeders’ Cup race: Wise Dan, 0.80, Mile.

The longest odds: Teaks North, 95.90, Turf.

Highest win payout: Ria Antonia, $66.60, Juvenile Fillies.

Longest odds on a returning Breeders’ Cup winner: Trinniberg, 17.00, Sprint.

Worst performance by a favorite: Ever Rider, 4.80, Marathon, pulled up tired.

Largest winning margin: Beholder, 4 1/4 lengths, Distaff.

Number of winning favorites: Five, all in Saturday races. (Wise Dan, Mile; Secret Circle, Sprint; Mizdirection, Turf Sprint; Groupie Doll, Filly and Mare Sprint; Dank, Filly and Mare Turf).

Number of winners who won last out: Six (Chriselliam, Juvenile Fillies Turf; Beholder, Distaff; Dank, Filly and Mare Turf; New Year’s Day, Juvenile; Secret Circle, Sprint; Mucho Macho Man, Classic).

Worst last-out performance by a Breeders’ Cup winner: Magician, ninth by 12 1/4 lengths in the St. James Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Number of starters in the non-juvenile races running without Lasix: Four, out of 106 (Olympic Glory, Mile, 9th; Romantica, Filly and Mare Turf, 2nd; Royal Delta, Distaff, 4th; Ever Rider, Marathon, DNF).

Posted in Racing on November 3, 2013 / Tagged Breeders' Cup

Breeders’ Cup Favorites

From Jeff Scott’s Breeders’ Cup tidbits:

Favorites won 32 percent (38-120) of races in the sample, a figure comparable to the record of racing favorites in general. The fact that BC fields are considerably larger than average may make the 32 percent strike rate higher than expected.

Favorites have had mixed success finishing in the money in the recent years. In 2012, favorites finished in the top three in five of six races on Friday, six of nine on Saturday. In 2011, three of six on Friday, four of nine on Saturday. In 2010, four of six on Friday, four of eight on Saturday.

10/26/13 Addendum: Breeders’ Cup contenders, by the numbers. “There are 121 group or graded stakes winners in the entries, including 71 winners of Group 1 or Grade 1 races.” And 74 of the 172 pre-entries won their last starts.

Posted in Racing on October 23, 2013 / Tagged Betting, Breeders' Cup, Churchill Downs, Favorites, Santa Anita, Statistics