More good news!

Taken from thebigm.com:

MIDATLANTIC CO-OP, NYRA UNABLE TO REACH SIMULCAST AGREEMENT

Scottsdale, AZ [April 28, 2008] — MidAtlantic Cooperative LLC, the simulcast purchasing enterprise that represents 16 regional racetracks, has been unable to reach a new simulcast agreement with New York Racing Association Inc. [NYRA]. 

Therefore, effective April 30, 2008, MidAtlantic Cooperative members will cease simulcasting NYRA racing from Belmont Park.  The cessation will not affect the simulcast of the Belmont Stakes, for which a separate agreement has been reached. 

MidAtlantic Cooperative could not accept NYRA’s unprecedented monetary demands for its Aqueduct, Belmont and Saratoga signals.  A series of counter proposals, which would have provided significant increases to NYRA, were rejected by it.

“MidAtlantic Cooperative remains committed to reaching an acceptable contract and minimizing the interruption of simulcasts,” said Executive Director Martin Lieberman.  “However, this is a necessary step to protect the long-term interests of our members.  NYRA’s unreasonable price demands, if agreed to, will negatively impact our member racetracks’ ability to present live and simulcast racing in the region.”

The MidAtlantic Cooperative includes 16 member tracks and their off-track wagering entities, including: Meadowlands Racetrack, Monmouth Park, Freehold Raceway, Atlantic City Race Course, Philadelphia Park, Penn National Race Course, Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, Charles Town Races, Delaware Park, Dover Downs, Harrington Raceway, Ocean Downs, Rosecroft Raceway, Colonial Downs, Suffolk Downs and Rockingham Park.
 
Contact: Martin Lieberman
(480) 614-1307; (631) 766-1948<!–martinlieberman@cox.net

Cool huh? For me, that also means I cannot wager on NYRA races through my NJ Online Wagering account. Nor can I go to Freehold, Atlantic City, Philly Park, Delaware Park or the Philly Turf Clubs which are all within an hour of me. The ray of hope is that Harrah’s Chester Downs isn’t on the list and that is only 30 minutes away. I usually play the Belmont meet with regularity and was looking forward to opening day.

This happened a number of years ago ( three years ago ) during a Belmont meet. Went on for about a month. The one thing I did notice is that Laurel and Pimlico are no longer members of the Co-Op. When this happened in ‘04, they were included.

One thing that is the same? The fans and players lose.

Catching up on some recent news …

Somethings to get caught up on.

First off, in what looked to be great news about a topic discussed here in the past, Jayne Vaders was suspended indefinitely by the PA Racing Commission. However, as it seems is the norm, the news turned sour just as quickly when her lawyer won another stay this week.  

Sick sport huh? Here is someone who has been caught cheating numerous times yet it has taken two years and now longer for the issue to be handled. Once it is handled, I’m sure it will end up being a slap on the wrist, ala the Rucker and Ledford incidents at the Meadowlands.

There is a thread over at Pace Advantage discussing this topic and a poster claims to have lost over $18000 by claiming a horse off of Vaders.  I have a friend I went to high school with that also took a bath after claiming one off of her. Claimed the horse at the Pha for $12500 and the horse wasn’t competitive until they dropper her to the $5k level.

And then the news the Calder was raising their take out percentage broke. We can’t gain any news fans, times are tough for most economically, but we are going to raise the price of wagering on our product for this meet. I don’t have much to say about it other than they are on the no bet list along with Hawthorne ( more on that below ). Pull the Pocket said what needed to be said about the Calder Take Out over at his place.

On a more positive note ( sarcasm), Michael Gill looks to be seriously getting back into the game. You know Mike Gill right? He was the owner of a horse who broke down at Gulfstream a few years ago and before the horse could be tested/evaluated by any officials his trainer and vet on record cut the horses leg off? Yeah that guy. Anyways, over at Thats Amore Stables place, the topic gets discussed in a more positive light, including comments from two of Gill’s former trainer, Mark Shuman and Phil Schoenthal.

Here’s another one for the reasons this game sucks list. If anyone hasn’t seen this DQ, I bet you can’t watch it and not lose your lunch. This has got to be the worst I’ve ever seen and anyone who reads knows my thoughts on the subject. Here is the video:

 
Gruesome huh?

Apparently there was another head shaker at Pimlico on 4/24 at Pimlico, the 6th race. I haven’t viewed that yet.

Good news though. The Oaks and Derby are this weekend. Should be interesting if nothing else.

 

John Campbell and Tim Tetrick day at Chester …

So I followed up my visit to Delaware Park for their season opener with a Sunday afternoon at Chester Downs for the opener there. Apparently it was John Campbell and Tim Tetrick day as they combined to win 8 of the 13 races. What a great card it was too, plenty of upper level conditioned races as well as the Open and the Betsy Ross series for Free For All filly and mare pacers. The Betsy Ross was headed by the likes of Southwind Tempo, Stylish Solution, My LIttle Dragon, Symphony In Motion, Street Dancer and Darlins Delight.

Big Mid-Atlantic Saturday …

The opening of Delaware and the first big stakes card at Pimlico bring back some thoroughbred racing excitement to my agenda. The racing in Maryland has taken a turn for the better and Delaware, while offering short fields, usually has some decent horses.

Pimlico’s opening Saturday card is highlighted by the Federico Tesio Stakes ( race 9 ) for 3 year olds. Occasionally this race yields a Preakness starter and this year looks to have a few entered who may have some potential. John Servis is on record saying that Indian Jump would earn a Preakness spot with a good effort as is Graham Motion, Icabad Crane’s trainer. ESPN will televise the Tesio during their broadcast of the Lexington Stakes from Keeneland.

Three other stakes are carded, including the Allen’s Prospect ( race 4 ) for 3 year olds and up going 6F. Grand Champion and Ravalo are the most notable runners entered. The Geisha Handicap ( race 6 ) for 3 year old fillys and older mares going 1m 1/16th is highlighted by Maryland/Delaware terror Lexi Star. The other stake on the card is the Jim McKay ( race 8 ) for 3 year olds and up going 1m and 1/16th. Mostly local crew assembled for this one, Eddie C. is the now horse. Etude is a horse I like in here, getting back to doing what he does best I feel, going a route of ground.

I’ll be spending my Saturday at Delaware Park with my Asst. Trainer friend. A rather average card kicks off the Delaware meet. The card is highlighted by the Peach Blossom for 3 year old fillies going 6 furlongs. The usual suspects are back riding, including Dominguez, Pino and Caraballo along with Rose Marie Homiester Jr. who comes off a great Tampa meet. The usual training suspect are also back, including Scott Lake, Tony Dutrow, Steve Klesaris, Mike Pino and Howard Wolfendale. A new shooter amongst the training roster is David Jacobson.

Friday Night Big M … The Su Mac Lad opener

Last night was the opener of the Su Mac Lad series for Free For All trotters at the Big M. A stellar field lined up including world record holders Giant Diablo and Enough Talk. The solid field was rounded out by the likes of Green Day, Father Foley trotting series hero Swan Image and the ultra consistent American Lane.

In the end, it was Enough Talk showing that his world record setting effort at Dover was no fluke, he won by 3/4 of a length and paid $13.00. Swan Image was 2nd followed by San Remo Kosmos.

Here is the video:

Tug River Princess …

What a nice pacing filly she is. Wednesday night she extended her streak to 12 in a row by winning The Blossom final at the Meadowlands. She also has captured the Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund final and the Tender Loving Care final this year.  She has yet to be defeated and most of her wins are of easy and measured type. She can win cutting the mile, she can brush to the lead or she can grind out it first over. She has won at atleast 3 different venues and for atleast 3 different drivers.

Here is the video of her DSBF Final, in which she took her lifetime mark of 1.51.2 and won by 8.5L.

 Here is the video of her Blossom Final win, in 1.53.0.

What else did we learn this weekend?

Well … we learned that Fox Hill Farm’s Eight Belles is going to be entered in both the Kentucky Oaks and the Kentucky Derby. I can almost guarantee that barring an injury, she’ll be in the Derby starting gate.

We also learned that Adriano will be clogging up the Derby, just as predicted by yours truly regardless of what the connections were saying after the Lane’s End. He didn’t run a lick in either of his dirt starts, but Derby here they come. I selected him in the Lane’s End, but he probably should stick to turf and/or synthetic and the people at Churchill should start considering a revamp of the criteria that it takes to be eligible for the Derby.

 

What did we learn this week?

So what did we learn this week?  I expanded the period to week, from weekend, since Keeneland has good weekday racing and some important harness racing took place Monday to Thursday.

Well …

Yeah. Lets go racing over synthetics …

As I’ve mentioned previously, I’m not a fan of synthetic surfaces. As I’ve also previously mentioned, not even the exciting, classy racing at Keeneland can overcome my disdain for the synthetics.

Today’s Lexington Bluegrass Stakes at Keeneland only strengthened my disdain. Pyro, the even money favorite, and many peoples early Derby choice, just ran an absolute dud to finish 10th. He couldn’t even fight off Medjool for 9th.

And before anyone sends me a comment asking why I am so suprised after I’ve been publically skeptical of Pyro on some sites/blogs, mentioning that he hasn’t run particular fast even while being ultra impressive visually, I’ll say this: I was skeptical of him at even money. I didn’t think he was a lock like most folks. He hadn’t run faster than the fillies on the same cards. I wasn’t skeptical enough to predict him to finish 10th. He is a good horse.  I thought he might run 2nd or 3rd, beaten a length once he faced a solid field. Not 10th.

Rant over … I don’t mind losing money, or watching logical horses lose so long as a reason exist other than the change of surface. Race after race over this stuff horses change form radically with no other explanation. How can anyone take it seriously from a wagering stand point?

More reasons this game sucks … Carrothers having a meltdown!

Ahhhh another example. Anyone who just watched the 5th at Keeneland has to be questioning their decision to wager on this game. The best horse again, for atleast the 4th time this meet, got DQ’d. This one may have been the worst call yet and if you flip on TVG you can watch Matt Carrothers continuing melting down about it, as he had a win bet on the #10 and had the #10 ( 7-1 ) in his pick 6.

Unlike Matt, I had nothing monetary invested in the race and this horse was not only best, she was clear when she drifted out. Kent D. is going to get an Academy Award for his performance on the 2nd place finisher. You would have thought Lezcano pulled a 9mm on Kent in mid-stretch, when in actuality, he was a length clear.