The Massachusetts fall legislative session ends tomorrow and barring some last minute surprise House vote on the slots-simulcasting bill passed by the Senate in October, that means not only will the racetracks’ best chance of getting slot machines in years pass by, but that as of January 1, all will have to close their doors and layoff workers for at least a couple of weeks, until a bill reauthorizing simulcasting is approved when the legislature reconvenes in the new year. Which can’t be good news for struggling Suffolk Downs, relying as much as it does on simulcasting handle. Is it the end? I know, I’ve fretted about this already in two lengthy posts (here and here) this year, so I won’t again. Still, what a shame. For want of the slot money already lost by Massachusetts residents in neighboring states, thoroughbred racing in New England will almost certainly disappear.
Posted by JC in State Issues on 11/17/2005 @ 8:30 am / Follow @railbird on Twitter
Looking for Derby news and picks? Visit the 2006 Derby Watch page.
—
I was going to wait until after the Remsen at Aqueduct and the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill on November 26 before putting together any kind of list of potential 2006 Kentucky Derby contenders, but in the past week a surprising number of visitors have come to the site searching for variations of “2006 Derby picks” and “Early Kentucky Derby picks,” so I think I’ll start one now …
The super-early Railbird top 10 Kentucky Derby prospects:
1. Stevie Wonderboy
2. First Samurai
3. Henny Hughes
4. Private Vow
5. Sorceror’s Stone
6. Catcominacha
7. Flanders Fields
8. Dawn of War
9. Brother Derek
10. Superfly
List to be updated and expanded later — perhaps in December sometime, when a couple of new dazzling two-year-olds have emerged even as a couple of others have fallen off the Derby trail before they’re really on it.
Related: Steve Haskin couldn’t wait either. (Flashback to last year: Haskin kicks off Derby season with a look at the new road ahead).
Posted by JC in Racing on 11/14/2005 @ 8:30 pm / Tagged Kentucky Derby / Follow @railbird on Twitter
Another Suffolk Downs racing season is coming to an end. Originally scheduled to close next Saturday, November 19, Suffolk’s last day will be Wednesday, November 23, to make up for three racing days cancelled earlier this fall. Despite the short fields and tiny pools that particularly plague the track this time of year, there were several good plays on Saturday’s card and even a couple of long-priced winners. In the ninth, Dan’s Soldier, a three-year-old gelding by the same sire as Lost in the Fog, was sent off at 9-1 despite his improving form and a switch from route to sprint. Dan’s Soldier paid $20.60 to win. In the seventh, a three-year-filly named Starship Elaine paid $17.40 to win. I didn’t have Starship Elaine, but my friend Sage, making her very first trip to the track and her very first wager, did. Sage bet the filly because it shared her late grandmother’s name; I should have known not to play against beginner’s luck.
Posted by JC in Suffolk Downs on 11/12/2005 @ 10:00 pm / Follow @railbird on Twitter
