– Recently retired dual Classic winner Afleet Alex will stand at Gainesway for $40,000. “Having Afleet Alex stand at Gainesway is one of the most exciting moments in our 18 years of owning Gainesway,” said president Antony Beck. “There’s already a huge buzz at the farm.” Alex’s stud deal is said to be worth $15-20 million for Cash Is King Stable.
– 12-1 Loyalton upsets in the Larkspur. “When I got to the quarter-pole I asked him to run,” said jockey Russell Baze. “He set sail for the wire, and I got that response, and I thought those other guys might be in trouble.” 2004 Breeders’ Cup winner Wilko, making his first start since the Preakness, finished third. “There’s no disgrace in getting beat in 1:08.59 in your first race back from a layoff,” said jockey Corey Nakatani. “They came home strong and he was making up ground. I think he got what he needed out of this race.” Wilko is scheduled to start next in the December 26 Malibu Stakes.
– Declan’s Moon will resume training soon.
– Paul Daley reviews “Champions”: “At a bargain cost of $50, this compilation will serve to settle arguments and be a handy research and reference guide, as well as helping us to relive glorious times through the lifetime past performances of 531 horses who were named champion, from A.P. Indy to Zev.”
Posted by JC in News on 12/11/2005 @ 11:15 pm / Follow @railbird on Twitter
The Jockeys’ Guild released results of an internal investigation into the Guild’s financial condition on Thursday, and the news, as might be expected, was ugly: According to interim president Darrell Haire, nearly $2.1 million was inappropriately spent by former management, most of the Guild accounts were depleted by November 15 (when then president Wayne Gertmenian and most of the Guild’s management was fired), and a number of unpaid bills have been piling up for the past six months:
“The investigation reveals an apparent pattern of increasing fiscal neglect extending for at least the past 18 months,” said Haire. “While at this time it cannot be determined with certainty exactly where the money went, it is generally believed that the money was inappropriately used to fund the organization’s daily operations and for paying health insurance claims.”
The Guild expects to file a lawsuit against Gertmenian in an effort to recoup some of the losses; the FBI and local police are also investigating. Gertmenian’s attorney, Mitchell Egers, said “his client did nothing irresponsible.”
Posted by JC in Jockeys' Insurance on 12/09/2005 @ 11:00 pm / Follow @railbird on Twitter
– 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.
Posted by JC in News on 12/08/2005 @ 9:30 pm / Follow @railbird on Twitter
