– Churchill Downs has suspended and fined three jockeys for wearing unapproved ads during the Kentucky Derby. Jeremy Rose, Corey Nakatani, and Kent Desormeaux have each been suspended seven days and fined $5,000 for the infraction. The ruling has been appealed, which means the jockeys may continue to ride pending the outcome. (Inq.)
– NYRA is considering raising admission prices at Saratoga for Travers Day. Gate prices on August 27 could rise to $10 for general admission and $20 for the clubhouse. (TU)
– The California legislature is considering a bill that would require CHRB to write regulations pertaining to conflicts of interest among its members. An earlier version of the bill tried to bar CHRB members from having any financial interest in racing. (TT)
– Send links, comments to railbird at jessicachapel dot com
Posted by JC in Miscellany on 06/18/2005 @ 10:00 am / Follow @railbird on Twitter
This Saturday is the NTRA National Pick 4, comprising the Stephen Foster Handicap and the Fleur de Lis at Churchill, the Ogden Phipps at Belmont, and the Californian at Hollywood. And there’s more good racing to be had — Hollywood Park also has the Affirmed on its card and Churchill the Northern Dancer. Here in Boston, Suffolk Downs treats local fans to two stakes races, the African Prince for state-breds and the Old Ironsides, one of the four reinstated open stakes races.
Saint Liam is the morning line favorite in the Stephen Foster, but he’ll get some competition from the likes of Badge of Silver and Perfect Drift. (Lexington Herald-Leader)
“They’re not exactly Affirmed and Alydar, but the 4-year-old fillies Ashado and Society Selection continue a rivalry dating back to when they were 2-year-olds in today’s Grade 1, $300,000 Ogden Phipps Handicap at Belmont Park.” (New York Post)
Buzzards Bay is his making first start since his fifth-place Kentucky Derby finish in the Affirmed. Stablemate Choctaw Nation is returning in the Californian, his first start since running third in the Dubai World Cup. (Blood-Horse)
Don’t Get Mad is the expected favorite in the Northern Dancer, despite the interruption to his training caused by the equine herpes quarantine at Churchill. “We’re in a good spot,” said trainer Ron Ellis. (Courier-Journal)
Posted by JC in Races/Results on 06/17/2005 @ 4:15 pm / Follow @railbird on Twitter
The New England Turf Writers Association will honor the inaugural class of the New England Racing Hall of Fame at their awards dinner this July 7. The inductees are jockey Rudy Baez, who won 24 riding titles at Suffolk Downs and Rockingham Park; thoroughbred owner and breeder Peter Fuller; the late James Moseley, who was chairman of Suffolk Downs and instrumental in the track’s 1992 reopening; the late Sam McCracken, a noted Boston Globe turf writer for 30 years; and Waquoit, the 1987 Massachusetts Handicap winner. A plaque bearing the inductees’ names will be hung in the Sports Museum of New England. Tickets to the dinner, which will be held at the Danversport Yacht Club, are $55 apiece. Call 617-568-3220 for more information.
Lowell Sun racing writer Paul Daley wonders if the New England Turf Writers “may have missed the boat” with their selections this year:
Don’t get me wrong. Each of the inductees, Waquoit, Baez, Fuller, Moseley and McCracken, fully deserve induction into the newly-created Hall of Fame and would have received their due quickly if not this year. That is not the issue.
But what about Rockingham Park’s Lou Smith, and jockeys Anthony DeSpirito and Carl Gambardella? Have we forgotten them so quickly?
Posted by JC in Suffolk Downs on 06/17/2005 @ 4:10 pm / Follow @railbird on Twitter
