JC / Railbird

Miscellany Archive

Headlines: April 11

– “George Steinbrenner is the man. Bellamy Road is the colt. And between them, they could become the story of one magnificent spring in Bluegrass Country.” (SL)
– New York OTB is so broke that it can’t make payments to the legislature next year, says it chairman. “David Cornstein said that increasing revenue takeouts by the state are making it impossible for the city’s only legal bookie to break even.” (NYP)
– What’s next for Texas racing? “Was the Breeders’ Cup the start of a great future or the conclusion of a promising past? Or was it both crowning moment and last hurrah?” (ST)
– Maryland governor says slots are dead. Until 2006, anyway. (Sun)
– Send links, comments to railbird at jessicachapel dot com

Posted in Miscellany on April 11, 2005

Headlines: April 9

– America’s top fillies are running today. There’s Sweet Catomine, in the Santa Anita Derby; Ashado in the Apple Blossom at Oaklawn; and Summerly, Letgomyecho, and Sharp Lisa meet in Keeneland’s Ashland Stakes. (LAT)
– The buyer of the $8 million Storm Cat colt last September has been revealed. Trainer Bob Baffert confirmed that the owner is Fusao Sekiguchi and that the colt is in training at Santa Anita. (TT)
– New York horsemen are urging Governor George Pataki to veto legislation allowing video lottery terminals at Aqueduct. “This is a far cry from the VLT setup at Saratoga Raceway, where the horsemen there put up money out of their accounts to help get it started in January of 2004 and now are enjoying the profits,” writes Jerry Bossert. (NYDN)
– The NTRA reported Friday that total handle and purses are down this year. In the first quarter of 2005, handle was down more than 6% compared to the same period in 2004. (BH)
– Buy picks. Better yet, sell your picks and see how you compare to other handicappers. TrackInsiders.com, a web site that’s both a handicapping contest and a tip sheet market, launched yesterday with Keeneland’s opening.
– Send links, comments to railbird at jessicachapel dot com

Posted in Miscellany on April 9, 2005

Headlines: April 8

– Keeneland opens today with a record daily purse average of $650,000 (LAT) and a star-packed jockey colony. (CJ)
– My Old Kentucky Home, played just before the start of the Derby, has “Commonwealth natives and horse racing fans alike hustling for the hankies.” (Star)
– Potential Pennsylvania slots revenue is luring Maryland breeders over the border. “It’s kind of like the gold rush.” (WP)
– Derby Watch: It’s now or never for the Wood starters; Julio Canani’s boast takes on a life of its own.
– Send links, comments to railbird at jessicachapel dot com

Posted in Miscellany on April 8, 2005