– Andrew Beyer wants pre-race detention barns to become commonplace. “Instead of depending on chemists to develop tests for snail venom and other illegal substances, the sport could forestall much cheating by putting horses under strict surveillance before they compete.” (WP)
– The Kentucky Horse Park is hosting a 30th birthday party for John Henry. The bash will include cake, a video tribute, and special guests from the champion’s past. (TT)
– Records set at Calder Fasig-Tipton sale. “No juvenile auction in history has generated a higher gross, average, or price for an individual horse.” (BH)
– Lone Star Park hires a new announcer. (ST)
– Send links, comments to railbird at jessicachapel dot com
Posted by JC in Miscellany on 03/02/2005 @ 9:20 am / Follow @railbird on Twitter
According to a report on Blood-Horse, the Jockeys’ Guild paid Matrix Capital Associates, the consulting firm owned by Guild president Dr. L. Wayne Gertmenian, $412,000 in consulting fees in 2003, an increase of 12% over 2002 when Matrix was paid $375,903. Matrix took over management of the Guild in 2001, and the organization has been the subject of much criticism since last fall for letting its catastrophic insurance policy for members lapse. The question I keep coming back to when I read these articles about Guild finances and Matrix is this: What is Matrix Capital Associates? It’s been a registered corporation in the state of California since 1982, but prior to 2001, the only mention I can find of it online, in Lexis-Nexis, or in any other database, is on Dr. Gertmenian’s curriculum vitae as the publisher of his “Economath Primer.” After 2001, the only company or organization that it appears in connection with is the Jockeys’ Guild. So, I wonder: In its 20+ years, what other organizations has Matrix Capital Associates done consulting work for? And what exactly is the consulting work it’s doing for the Jockeys’ Guild now?
Posted by JC in Jockeys' Insurance on 03/01/2005 @ 5:35 pm / Follow @railbird on Twitter
Vic Zast gets an earful for his condescending, stereotype-laden February 12 Blood-Horse essay on women and racing (as does the magazine for publishing it) in the February 19 issue’s letters to the editor section: “What were you thinking printing an article with that malicious tone in a magazine aimed at horse owners, breeders, etc …,” writes JoLynn Johnston, director of marketing at River Downs. “Horse racing has plenty of competition and enemies in the world, so why an upstanding, well-produced industry publication like the Blood-Horse would stoop to printing this trash is unfathomable.”
Deb Morris of Las Vegas was even more scathing in her response: “After reading Victor Zast’s ‘Advice for Men Only,’ I had to look at the magazine and check the year. Yes, it was 2005, not 1805, or 1905 … Women love racetracks. Plenty of us love the action, the betting, and the thrill of winning … Pick winners with a hat pin? Sorry, most women nowadays use speed figures, class, Tomlinson numbers, etc. … Not just men are horse racing lovers. Not only do I know who Secretariat was, I know who Sir Ivor was. And Domino. And I had Smarty Jones. Did you?”
Right on, ladies! The letters aren’t available online; many thanks to Alan Mann, proprietor of Left at the Gate, for sending me a photocopy.
Posted by JC in Women & Racing on 03/01/2005 @ 11:45 am / Follow @railbird on Twitter
