JC / Railbird

Miscellany Archive

Catching Up

The cable installer arrived an hour late yesterday afternoon, but my annoyance disappeared with the realization that this was the man who was going to restore the Internet to me. Sweet, sweet Internet! It’s been an excruciating week without the web. The only way I’ve been able to get online is to visit my new local public library, which actually has a good wireless network, but less-than-ideal space for working long stretches, and as a result I’ve missed much news, such as the entire lead up to the Belmont Stakes. Although, through old media, I’ve been able to keep up with the basics — no Oratory, no Scrappy T; Nick Zito is entering three; Afleet Alex is the 6-5 favorite. Unfortunately, yesterday’s cable installation didn’t go smoothly, and it’ll be a few more days before everything is set right. By next week, I should have reliable web once more, and TVG.
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I’ll be in New York on Saturday afternoon, and couldn’t be more excited about the Belmont Stakes or the Belmont undercard. Afleet Alex is the deserving favorite in the Belmont, but there’s a lot of other talent entered — Andromeda’s Hero, Reverberate, Giacomo — and there’s sure to be a surprise or two in this, the last leg of a surprise-filled Triple Crown series. As for the undercard, Lost in the Fog will try to extend his unbeaten streak to seven in the Riva Ridge Stakes, and Funny Cide will start in the Brooklyn Handicap along with Evening Attire and Gygistar. That’ll be some good racing.
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A couple of Suffolk notes: Saturday is Rudy Baez Day at Suffolk Downs. The former jockey, one of New England’s best, was paralyzed in 1999 at Rockingham Park. He’ll be honored with the Rudy Baez Stakes and with the presentation of an award from Challenge Unlimited, an organization dedicated to using horses to help children with disabilities. The $50,000 Rudy Baez Stakes is the first of four reinstated open stakes races this year. The others are the Old Ironsides on June 18, the My Fair Lady on August 13, and the Topsider on August 27 … The turf course finally opened with the fifth race on Tuesday, an uneventful claiming $8000 race for fillies and mares, which was won by Shehaz Pazzaz, a 10-year-old mare who won over the Suffolk turf course twice last year.

Posted in Miscellany on June 9, 2005

Ghostzapper Wins

And Railbird moves. The two are unrelated, other than that I was so busy packing yesterday I missed watching Ghostzapper’s romp in the Met Mile. The 2004 Horse of the Year won by more than six lengths in his first start in seven months. After such a dominating performance, who will face the champ next? Here’s one match I’d like to see: Ghostzapper vs. Lost in the Fog.
Anyway, I’m moving today and tomorrow, and won’t have web access again until Thursday at least June 8, so I’ve decided to take a short vacation. I’ll return to posting then, with site improvements and fresh content, including an expanded Suffolk Downs section for my fellow New England racing fans; an interview with Daily Racing Form writer, and author of “The Home Run Horse,” Glenye Cain; and a review of Ted McClelland’s “Horseplayers: Life at the Track.”
‘Til Monday Wednesday …

Posted in Miscellany on May 31, 2005

Headlines: May 27

– Trainer Joe Woodward wins nine straight at Churchill Downs, setting a new track record for consecutive wins. He tied the previous record of eight, set in 1997, in a claiming race with a horse named Native Bull, setting another record in the process — most claims entered for a horse — when 28 valid claims were made for Native Bull, who was dropping dramatically in class. (CJ)
– A quarantine is in place at Delaware Park after strangles is discovered. NYRA has put on temporary ban on horses shipping in from the state. Fortunately for trainer Rob Bailes, the ban won’t affect Preakness runner up Scrappy T, who was moved to Bailes’ Maryland barn the day before the outbreak was found. Scrappy T may start in the Belmont. (NYDN)
– NYRA missed a $4.4 million payment to the mutuel clerks’ pension fund in January. Vice president Bill Nader called the problem a “cash-flow issue.” (TT)
– Send links, comments to railbird at jessicachapel dot com

Posted in Miscellany on May 27, 2005