JC / Railbird

Miscellany Archive

Headlines: April 30

– ESPN will televise Breeders’ Cup starting in 2006 (ESPN) … “We’re fans of horse racing,” said ESPN vice president Mark Shapiro. “We carry over 130 hours of horse racing. The Breeders’ Cup is an evolutionary step, a monster product, seven hours of Super-Bowl-like racing moving to ESPN” (NYT) … Steven Crist is optimistic that the move from NBC is a good one: “[There] are a lot of silver linings to the small cloud of losing the waning prestige of being carried by a broadcast network. A longer, better, and more aggressively promoted Breeders’ Cup will be of more lasting value than the brief frisson of seeing a 10-second promo on “Joey” during Breeders’ Cup week.” (DRF — sub. req.)
– Funny Cide makes his 2005 debut on Sunday. Upset with the 127-pound weight assignment, trainer Barclay Tagg has scratched Funny Cide from the King’s Point Handicap. (DRF)
– Jockey Pat Day will miss the Derby this year for the first time in 22 years. Day had hip surgery on March 30 and won’t return to riding until mid-May. (CJ)
– A short history of Belmont’s first 100 years. (ND)
– Send links, comments to railbird at jessicachapel dot com

Posted in Miscellany on April 30, 2005

Headlines: April 29

– The National Association of Government Employees and the Massachusetts Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association have one thing in common: “Both are run by [David] Holway, and both are hurting financially.” (Globe)
– “Before Derby fever tightens its grip on the sport … let’s take a moment, please, to honor the best 3-year-old that won’t race next week at Churchill Downs: Lost in the Fog.” (ST)
– Retired Hall of Fame jockey Angel Cordero is on vacation — in trainer Todd Pletcher’s barn. (BH)
– Lessons learned in the wake of the Sweet Catomine fiasco: The van driver now knows better than to say he’s transporting a pony when he’s got a champion filly in the back, the trainer knows better than to parrot the party line, and the owner knows better than to visit the press box post-race. (LAT)
– Send links, comments to railbird at jessicachapel dot com

Posted in Miscellany on April 29, 2005

Headlines: April 26

– “The owner of the Yankees has to be one of the most unsympathetic horse owners ever to send a Derby favorite to the gate,” says Laura Vecsey, “and that’s saying something in a sport of kings populated by robber barons, ne’er-do-wells, sheiks, heiresses and playboys.” (Sun)
– USA Today profiles trainer Jeff Mullins. “These are the best and worst of times for Mullins. He’s armed with his best Derby shot ever, yet disarmed by the negative attention he’s attracted by being cast as a cheater and baiter of bettors.”
– Belmont celebrates 100 years. The track kicked off a season-long celebration of the anniversary on Monday with cake and special guests. Opening day is May 4. (NYP)
– Churchill announces tough testing rules for upcoming meet. Every horse entered will be tested for milkshakes. (TT)
– Send links, comments to railbird at jessicachapel dot com

Posted in Miscellany on April 26, 2005