Railbird 2004–2019

Miscellany Archive

Headlines: January 13

– 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)
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Posted in Miscellany on January 13, 2005

Headlines: January 12

– Should Todd Pletcher break Bobby Frankel’s four-year Eclipse Award streak later this month, the veteran trainer “appears ready for an all-out blitz” to retake his title in 2005. (TU)
– Jay Cronley confronts a chronic longshot winner. “Bystanders have rights.” (ESPN)
– More trouble for the Jockeys’ Guild: The California Horse Racing Board plans to look into claims that the Jockeys’ Guild double-billed the state and a Guild charity for the same expenses (SBJ); according to a recently-filed financial report, the Guild’s revenue declined 31% from 2002 to 2003. (BH)
– Santa Anita starts drying out. (DRF)
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Posted in Miscellany on January 12, 2005

Headlines: January 10

– 2004 made Jeremy Plonk feel stupid. “I still have no idea how a horse from Philadelphia Park sniffed the roses in May … I remain clueless as to what a 128 Beyer Speed Figure looks like … It’s still a little fuzzy how jockey Edgar Prado can own a career Breeders’ Cup record of 0-for-41.” (NTRA)
– An announcement not heard for seven months at Laurel crackled over the backstretch loudspeakers Sunday morning: “Attention horsemen: The track is now open for training.” (WP)
– Santa Anita cancelled racing Sunday after the first race, citing an unsafe track surface caused by the unrelenting rain that’s hit southern California. (LAT)
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Posted in Miscellany on January 10, 2005

Headlines: January 9

– Eclipse votes should be made public, says Dale Austin. “There shouldn’t be secrets authorized in sports, especially in the attempt to glorify the great moments.” (Cap.)
– Georgia horsemen are on “a seemingly quixotic mission” to make horseracing legal in the state. Their argument: “Horse racing would help farmers, provide a new source of tax dollars and draw tourists.” (AJC)
– Aqueduct cancelled its Saturday card just before the fourth race, owing to unsafe track conditions. The Count Fleet Stakes was rescheduled for January 15. (NYP)
– Congrats wins San Pasqual Handicap, Badge of Silver takes Hal’s Hope Handicap. (LAT)
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Posted in Miscellany on January 9, 2005

Headlines: January 8

– The fantasy of being a racehorse owner quickly turns to hard reality for “Dream Derby” contestants. (WP)
– Mr. Light’s world record of 1:31:41 for a mile on the turf has been verified, beating the previous record of 1:31:63 set by Elusive Quality at Belmont Park in 1998. (TT)
– The Jockeys’ Guild faces “the possibility of losing a significant portion its annual revenue,” after TRA and California racing officials said that the Guild had failed to provide them with adequate information about its finances. (DRF)
– The California Horse Racing Board admits to making “a crucial error in the wording” of jockey Pat Valenzuela’s suspension. (LAT)
– Churchill’s 2005 stakes will be worth a record $10 million. (CJ)
– Racing columnist Larry Stumes retires, revisits Greg Gilchrist, subject of his first feature, for his last column. (SFC)
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Posted in Miscellany on January 8, 2005