JC / Railbird

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

A True Story

Sure it is, which is why no people or horses are named. (Fauquier Times-Democrat)

Posted by JC in Miscellany on 01/13/2005 @ 5:00 pm / Follow @railbird on Twitter

– A breakdown in Aqueduct’s second race yesterday was a “rude welcome” for new track superintendent John Passero. [Aside: When did Ed Fountaine give up using articles?] (NYP)
– Owner Ken Ramsey is under investigation for a possible breach of ethics by Kentucky racing officials. (DRF)
– The California racing board issued a conditional license to jockey Pat Valenzuela on Wednesday. (LAT)
– Coolmore Stud raised $3.5 million for tsunami relief in an auction of one-time breeding rights to 50 of its stallions. (Globe)
– Send links, comments to railbird at jessicachapel dot com

Posted by JC in Miscellany on 01/13/2005 @ 4:55 pm / Follow @railbird on Twitter

One Thing After Another

This isn’t NYRA’s week. A report issued by New York state comptroller Alan Hevesi on Tuesday accused the organization of spending more than $1 million on inappropriate and excessive expenses between 2002-2003, including country club memberships for two NYRA executives (Lexington Herald-Leader), and this morning came the announcement that the clerk of scales Mario Sclafani and his assistant Braulio Baeza have been suspended indefinitely as a result of the ongoing investigation into jockey weights at New York racetracks. Throw in the latest on the Jockeys’ Guild and it’s all enough to make even the most devoted fan feel a bit hopeless about the corruption and mismanagement that seem so rife in the game. (San Francisco Chronicle)

Posted by JC in NY Racing Issues on 01/12/2005 @ 12:15 pm / Follow @railbird on Twitter

← Before After →

A True Story

Headlines: January 13

One Thing After Another