tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post8517513902268034720..comments2024-03-05T05:38:22.024-05:00Comments on Left at the Gate: Busy TimeAlan Mannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12570505944559196118noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-27770670487050592392010-12-24T12:20:05.485-05:002010-12-24T12:20:05.485-05:00You want to make the January-October races more me...You want to make the January-October races more meaningful? Reduce the number of Grade I races and award bonus money in BC races for horses that have won X number of G1's or graded stakes in general. You need to make it financially worthwhile for horses to keep running.<br /><br />As for the Eclipse Awards, in the words of GMP's favorite jurist, "get over it."El Angelohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14145024095815950963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-79787694258587485082010-12-24T08:34:05.415-05:002010-12-24T08:34:05.415-05:00Green, OR, if the Eclipse folks refuse to change t...Green, OR, if the Eclipse folks refuse to change their MO, someone just needs to create a point structure with alternate awards (think Golden Globe), that at first would be scorned at by the elites but over time would become recognized as legit.<br /><br />There should also be a "Peoples Choice Award" so a popular horse like Zenyatta would not fall through the cracks.<br /><br />As for the point system, it can not be based on the current Grading system which has far too many inequities, otherwise three year olds will win HOY ever year, way too many graded races restricted to 3yo's.Figlessnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-74197815967349173112010-12-23T14:25:59.292-05:002010-12-23T14:25:59.292-05:00Hialeah for the BC may be the solution to revive t...Hialeah for the BC may be the solution to revive this landmark Amercian race track. I would rather see more effort put into reviving a handicap racing circuit at all the major tracks.<br /><br /> And then allocate points for wins-places-shows in these Grade I and II stakes such that a consistent season-long performer could win an Eclipse and never race in the BC. The present system has become a bore.<br /><br /> Otherwise, we will continue to see pre BC stakes races lapse further into side show status. NYRA must lead the way or it will never happen. Bucking the BC is the problem. /S/greenmtnpunterAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-81481736226836123482010-12-23T12:57:11.768-05:002010-12-23T12:57:11.768-05:00Overrated?Overrated?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-33693583534073951482010-12-23T09:44:24.347-05:002010-12-23T09:44:24.347-05:00NYRA now has LIVE video streaming, as do the survi...NYRA now has LIVE video streaming, as do the surviving OTBs.<br /><br />NYCOTB's demise has truly shocked the State into positive action.<br /><br />In racing news, SA opens its new dirt track Sunday with a very nice card featuring the returns of Setsuko (my early Derby Fave) and Nobles Promise facing the overrated Twirling Candy and a bunch of other talented late developers. Nice race.<br /><br />Beware the increased takeout.Figlessnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-58817443901509481802010-12-23T09:17:03.317-05:002010-12-23T09:17:03.317-05:00ljk, thanks, and hialeah would be PERFECT!
IF the...ljk, thanks, and hialeah would be PERFECT!<br /><br />IF the new dirt track ends up being safe, SA would also be a fine permanent venue.<br /><br />A December date would obviously eliminate CD and Belmont from consideration, fine by me.<br /><br />But you are correct, it will never happen because the BC Board is more concerned with the word "World" than "Championship" in their title .Figlessnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-32631698215248013742010-12-22T22:42:23.053-05:002010-12-22T22:42:23.053-05:00Sorry I'm a little slow. But I do know a moron...Sorry I'm a little slow. But I do know a moron when I see one.Mutamanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06744482812081269248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-69041092971441599442010-12-22T16:31:02.307-05:002010-12-22T16:31:02.307-05:00welcome to 2010 mutaman. You should also know tha...welcome to 2010 mutaman. You should also know that our president is barack obama.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-58158175921020534672010-12-22T16:07:02.896-05:002010-12-22T16:07:02.896-05:00I just read where David Milch, writer of "Hil...I just read where David Milch, writer of "Hillstreet Blues" and "Deadwood" and owner of Breeders Cup record holder Val Royal, has written a series about life at the track called "Luck". The show will air on HBO sometime in 2011 and stars Dustin Hoffman. It will be directed by Michael Mann.Mutamanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06744482812081269248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-51580252780369100752010-12-22T15:13:10.673-05:002010-12-22T15:13:10.673-05:00Any truth to the rumor Rex has hired a team farrie...Any truth to the rumor Rex has hired a team farrier?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-51561391831503920702010-12-22T11:07:08.643-05:002010-12-22T11:07:08.643-05:00Swagger? Really?
So the Republicans take over the...Swagger? Really?<br /><br />So the Republicans take over the House, the economy gets better, the deficit is at least dented (not growing crazily like today), the red states pick up 10 electoral votes in the new census (in my heart I know FL is a red state), and Obama will run on a "hey, let's raise taxes!" platform? Good luck with that.<br /><br />Love Figless' idea. I read awhile back that the BC was still looking at a permanent site OR purchasing a site. I can picture balmy Saturdays in December at BC owned Hialeah Park, and I could give a rat's ass if the Euros showed up. Never happen but a wonderful thought.<br /><br />Don't forget to boycott SA.<br /><br />Happy Holidays!ljkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15345829432231688681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-34407130775457117412010-12-21T15:40:40.670-05:002010-12-21T15:40:40.670-05:00anon 1207, i could care less about the Euros.
Rea...anon 1207, i could care less about the Euros.<br /><br />Realize it will never happen and Euro participation is no doubt one of the reasons, but IF I were commissioner and therefore in charge of looking out for whats best for the sport of racing in America, I would move the Cup to December thereby maximizing media attention and minimizing competition.<br /><br />Some of the Euros would still come for all that money, in fact I remember some horse skipping the BC because it was too close to the Arc.Figlessnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-87111542059597804882010-12-21T15:37:02.502-05:002010-12-21T15:37:02.502-05:00Sheading no tears for the Landlords, many of these...Sheading no tears for the Landlords, many of these leases were politically connected deals very favorable to the landlord all these years.<br /><br />However, some of the restaurants essentially turned over their thriving businesses to NYCOTB and now are screwed, and that sucks.Figlessnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-37566189337501666822010-12-21T13:56:46.800-05:002010-12-21T13:56:46.800-05:00It is a sad holiday season for OTB landlords.....
...It is a sad holiday season for OTB landlords.....<br /><br />http://therealdeal.com/newyork/articles/35007<br /><br />Landlords lose at OTB, too<br />December 21, 2010 01:30PM By Patrick Eganjknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-55769941020734710832010-12-21T12:07:31.543-05:002010-12-21T12:07:31.543-05:00If you put the Breeders Cup in December, you won&#...If you put the Breeders Cup in December, you won't get any European horses.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-61100514617856426352010-12-21T09:59:36.709-05:002010-12-21T09:59:36.709-05:00Peace from the rural hinterlands of Nevada...Peace from the rural hinterlands of Nevada...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-88472777881705436222010-12-21T09:26:23.122-05:002010-12-21T09:26:23.122-05:00The bettor should have a place at the table, certa...The bettor should have a place at the table, certainly.<br /><br />If I were Racing Commissioner December would not be a boring month, because the Breeders Cup would be run on the same day as the Army-Navy game, with little to no competition for the sports fans attention.<br /><br />Two weeks later, I would announce the Eclipse Awards winners, with electronic voting that is all the time you need.<br /><br />Thoroughbred racing would be in the spotlight all month.Figlessnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-51997015312010295792010-12-21T09:11:41.644-05:002010-12-21T09:11:41.644-05:00would a bettor be considered as "one you prov...would a bettor be considered as "one you provides content?"<br />RGAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-34161991306508898672010-12-21T04:06:33.982-05:002010-12-21T04:06:33.982-05:00Ironic that Hollywood Park (which has had little-t...Ironic that Hollywood Park (which has had little-to-no problem with their synthetic track since it was installed) was forced to cancel their card after Sunday's second race due to unsafe track conditions. Nice lead-in to the opening of Santa Anita's new dirt track next weekend.<br /><br />Btw, very intriguing match in the Malibu between Twirling Candy and Caracortado.DiscreetPIckshttp://www.DiscreetPicks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-90693774985592146102010-12-20T23:05:05.117-05:002010-12-20T23:05:05.117-05:00Nice to hear from you again, and in such fine fett...Nice to hear from you again, and in such fine fettle (fetlock?) too. You've made me feel a little (just a little, mind you) politically optimistic and for that, I thank you.<br /><br />As for Albany, downstaters I once know used to call it "Smallbany" in typical chauvenist sneer. I actually like small, but maybe the insult is fitting for the small-mindedness that seems to envelop folks when they get near the state capital.<br /><br />And here come the "forward into the past" folks wanting state legislatures to be able to override federal laws. They talk a lot about the Constitution, but I think they're mistaking it for the Articles of Confederation. <br /><br />And speaking of Confederacies, my adopted home, the South, has been into states rights ever since there were states. And until the federal government got involved, those states were the home of Jim Crow and government sanctioned lynching and violence against union organizers (but they prayed in school so it was cool with God).<br /><br />Now, they argue that giving state legislatures more power will help bring more power to the people? That's some wild non-FDA-inspected tea those folks are sipping.<br /><br />As for horse racing, true, not much in December, but I have time off from work now, so I can play more. Will you come back and yack with us, maybe when AQ returns to action in the days before New Year?<br /><br />Peace to you and to all the readers and bloggers.steve in nchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04061356872686618093noreply@blogger.com