JC / Railbird - Thoroughbred racing news and notes

I met Marc Subia today and he told me the story of his amazing autograph jacket. "It's my most prized possession." Marc started coming to Del Mar with his dad in the 1970s. It's his home track. And he's been collecting jockey autographs for decades ...

Grand Jete keeping an eye on me as I take a picture of Rushing Fall's #BC17 garland. #thoroughbred #horseracing #delmar

Another #treasurefromthearchive — this UPI collage for Secretariat vs. Sham. #inthearchives #thoroughbred #horseracing

Thanks, Arlington. Let's do this again next year. #Million35

That's a helmet. #BC16 #thoroughbred #horseracing #jockeys

Lady Eli on the muscle. #BC16 @santaanitapark #breederscup #thoroughbred #horseracing

12 Days and Counting …

Only 12 days to go until Saratoga opens! In about half an hour, I’ll be on the Mass Pike heading west for the weekend on a little exploratory pre-opening trip. I’ll be back on Sunday with a report on the track and some thoughts on the upcoming season. For now, check out John Pricci’s handicapping tips for the meet (MSNBC) and Paul Daley’s guide to betting two-year-olds (Lowell Sun).

Posted by JC in Saratoga on 07/15/2005 @ 11:00 am / Follow @railbird on Twitter

Shakeup at NYRA

“Charles Hayward, the president and CEO of the New York Racing Association, announced four major personnel changes Thursday intended to give the beleaguered franchise a ‘fresh approach’” (Daily Racing Form). Racing secretary Mike Lakow, chief veterinarian Dr. Celeste Kunz, and vice president of human resources and labor relations Ralph Chetcuti were fired by Hayward. Steward David Hicks retired. Hayward were circumspect in his comments on the changes:

All these people made significant contributions. Mike Lakow is one of the preeminent racing secretaries in the country. I have no desire to say anything negative about these people. The fact I fired them is the result of the evaluations of how they fit into what we’re trying to accomplish moving forward (New York Post).

Trainer Bobby Frankel, always good for an inappropriate quote, told the Post, “It’s a disgrace. They owe us an explanation. It’s like the Gestapo, they just chop your head off. It’s not right.”
Mike Lakow has been replaced by assistant racing secretary P.J. Campo. Dr. Kunz, best known for saving Charismatic after he broke down in the 1999 Belmont Stakes, was replaced by Dr. Anthony Verderosa.

Posted by JC in NY Racing Issues on 07/15/2005 @ 10:05 am / Follow @railbird on Twitter

Charles Town Insurance Max $50,000

Matt Hegarty reports in the Daily Racing Form today that Charles Town’s jockey accident insurance is capped at $50,000, not the more standard $100,000 or $1 million found at most tracks. Apprentice rider Shannon Campbell was paralyzed in an accident at Charles Town last Saturday. A fundrasier is being planned to help with her medical bills. Jockeys’ Guild vice-president Albert Fiss, reacting to the news that Campbell’s coverage is limited to $50,000, said, “You would think that West Virginia of all places, with what happened last year and the money coming from slots, would do the morally right thing.” The Jockeys’ Guild allowed its catastrophic insurance to lapse in 2002, ostensibly because of the cost (in 2002, the Guild paid $466,000 for $1 million of coverage). Fiss acknowledged that the plan “would have covered Campbell if it had been in place last week.”
Related: At a forum on the jockey insurance issue held in Kentucky on Thursday, an insurance executive called the situation a “powder keg” (MSNBC).

Posted by JC in Jockeys' Insurance on 07/15/2005 @ 10:00 am / Follow @railbird on Twitter

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