Friends of New York Racing is releasing its first study of the New York racing industry on Monday, and will recommend that the “three major thoroughbred racetracks should be run as a business for profit in partnership with the state, all off-track betting outlets should be folded into the enterprise, and video lottery terminals should be allowed at Belmont Park.” Friends of New York Racing estimates that replacing NYRA with such a model would attract capital investment of up to $1 billion and produce more than $6 billion for education in 10 years, in addition to assuring racing’s future in the state. How very sensible — which means, what chance in Albany? (New York Times)
Posted by JC in NY Racing Issues on 06/26/2005 @ 12:30 pm / Follow @railbird on Twitter
A rare double disqualification in the Kent Breeders’ Cup Stakes made third place finisher Seeking Slew the winner of the race. Touched by Madness, who finished first, was knocked back to fourth; Spring House, who had been second, was made third. Both were disqualified for separate incidents in the stretch. Touched by Madness was one of six horses double-entered yesterday in the Kent and the Colonial Turf Cup. I didn’t spend much time handicapping either because of that, although I did look at the past performances for the Colonial enough that I liked Touched by Madness to win there. With five defections to the Kent bringing the Colonial field down to six though, big favorite English Channel easily won the Grand Slam of Grass’ first leg. (Daily Racing Form)
Carrying a career-high 124 pounds, Megahertz fended off a challenge from Winendynme in the stretch of the Beverly Hills Handicap to take her third straight stakes race this year. (Blood-Horse)
According to jockey Edgar Prado, Smuggler’s Mother Goose Stakes win was a matter of patience. “We sat right behind the speed,” he said. “I bided my time.” The early speed was the favorite Summerly, who tired in the stretch and finished third by two lengths. To win, Smuggler has to dispatch a stubborn Spun Sugar, who held on for second. (New York Post)
Longshot Kelly’s Landing set a track record in the Aristides Breeders’ Cup. (Lexington Herald-Leader)
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Yesterday was “Family Day,” the first of Suffolk’s Spectacular Saturdays, a series of events and giveaways from now to the end of the meet. I wasn’t there — it was too hot to contemplate taking even a quick subway ride, and I’d promised to attend an afternoon barbecue — but I will be at the track for sure on July 23 when Suffolk 70th anniversary hats will be given out.
Posted by JC in Races/Results on 06/26/2005 @ 11:30 am / Follow @railbird on Twitter
Only six are entered in Saturday’s Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont. Trainer Steve Asmussen is expecting his filly, Kentucky Oaks winner Summerly, to turn in a strong performance, the kind that will make her a contender for an Eclipse award: “Summerly has every right to improve [in the coming months], even more than Ashado did last year,” he said. Asmussen admits Summerly isn’t quite where she was condition-wise before the Oaks because of missed training time due to the equine herpes quarantine at Churchill Downs,
Summerly will face Spun Sugar (winner of the Black-Eyed Susan), Smuggler, Seeking the Ante, Winning Season, and Lady Pegasus (who may be scratched).
The $300,000 Grade 1 Mother Goose is supposed to be a divisional test, but its field is less than it could be owing to purse competition with Delaware Park, writes Dave Litfin. Sis City and Round Pond are skipping the race and being pointed to the Delaware Oaks with its $500,000 purse. (Daily Racing Form — sub. req.)
Posted by JC in Races/Results on 06/24/2005 @ 12:45 pm / Follow @railbird on Twitter
