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

Awards You Won’t See

But should:
“I Forgot My Parachute Before I Jumped Award: To Tim Smith, who resigned as commissioner of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association ostensibly to take the top job at the New York Racing Association, only to back out of consideration for that post before ever taking it.
“The Bald — And We Do Mean Bald — Faced Lie Award: To Pat Valenzuela, who shaved off all the hair from his head, chest, armpits, and pubic area, and therefore could not supply hair-follicle samples as required for his mandatory drug testing, while maintaining his innocence because he had not been given any notice on the required length of hair needed for the test.
“If This Is Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, I Must Be In the Winner’s Circle Award: To Steve Asmussen, who set a single-season record for winners for a trainer, with 536 and counting through December 14, surpassing the previous record of 496 set by Jack Van Berg in 1976.” (Thoroughbred Times)

Posted by JC in Miscellany on 12/23/2004 @ 4:30 pm / Follow @railbird on Twitter

OTB Future Looks Dire

The New York City OTB is considering “several doomsday plans” to halt the flow of red ink, including closing up to half of its betting parlors, merging with other betting outfits, and laying off employees. “Records show that OTB turned a profit of $123 million last year but still ended up $9.5 million in the hole, after NYRA and others in the state racing industry took $95 million, the state and city took $35 million, and more than $2 million was spent on miscellaneous expenses.” (New York Daily News)

Posted by JC in Betting on 12/23/2004 @ 4:25 pm / Follow @railbird on Twitter

Pack the Minivan

Grab the kiddies, and head to Aqueduct. “If ever a time existed for this lowly, seedy, you’ll-lose-your-family’s-mortgage industry to take action, it’s now. In case you missed the memo: Pop culture digs the unseemly.” (ESPN)

Posted by JC in The Sport on 12/22/2004 @ 8:30 am / Follow @railbird on Twitter

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