JC / Railbird

Miscellany Archive

Headlines & Commentary: March 11

– Gulfstream rock concerts were unfairly maligned in Tuesday’s NY Times article on Marylou Whitney and Frank Stronach. “The Gulfstream concerts … were actually all about the horses. That’s right. Their main purpose was not only to get people to come to the track — that’s relatively easy with the right attractions — but to introduce them to and educate them about the sport and the wagering. ” (Left at the Gate)
– Mullinsgate rolls on: Paul Moran notes that more horseplayers than trainers have Ivy League degrees (ND); T.J. Simer responds to Mullins’ assertion that his remarks were off the record (LAT); Santa Anita stewards say they’ll talk to Mullins about his “controversial” comments. (DRF)
– A Massachusetts state legislator says tracks could close without expanded gaming. Senator Michael Morrissey says Suffolk Downs and Wonderland dog track are most vulnerable to closure if slots legislation isn’t passed. (Herald)
– Send links, comments to railbird at jessicachapel dot com

Posted in Miscellany on March 11, 2005

Headlines & Commentary: March 10

– Trainer Nick Zito has a lot of tough decisions to make this year — “like who to run in which Kentucky Derby prep, and what to wear to the Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Saratoga.” Matt Graves calls Zito a 4-5 shot for the honor this summer. (TU)
– Writer William Murray died of a heart attack Wednesday. He was 78. Murray wrote for the New Yorker magazine for more than 30 years and was the author of a series of mystery novels set at racetracks. He also wrote several nonfiction books about racing, including “The Wrong Horse.” (ND)
– Detention ends for trainers Julio Canani and Jeff Mullins at Santa Anita. Both trainers were required to put runners into a 24-hour pre-race detention barn for 30 days following positive tests for excess carbon dioxide levels in horses they ran earlier this winter. (DRF)
– Ray Paulick wants racing officials to freeze test samples for future testing. “The cheaters are always a step ahead of the testing laboratories. But freezing test samples gives the labs an opportunity to catch up. It is a common sense and inexpensive way to deal with the problem.” (BH)
– Send links, comments to railbird at jessicachapel dot com

Posted in Miscellany on March 10, 2005

Headlines & Commentary: March 8

– The Texas horse industry is in trouble, reports Gary West. “Only months after Texas was honored as the 2004 host of the Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships, the state is leaking horses.” (ST)
– What happened to racing? “Horse racing’s popularity has been in steady decline the past generation. Or three. No sport has fallen so far from such a lofty perch.” (DB)
– The Jockeys’ Guild calls Churchill Downs’ lawsuit an attack on jockeys. “They have decided to attempt to destroy the Guild rather than treat their modest requests with decency and fairness,” says Guild vice-president Albert Fiss. (Globe)
– A new arrest is made in UK race-fixing probe. The unnamed jockey was arrested on Tuesday on a charge of conspiracy to defraud. (BBC)
– Send links, comments to railbird at jessicachapel dot com

Posted in Miscellany on March 8, 2005