Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Select your timezone:
PEter Casey has confirmed that Flemenstar is on target for a first stab at three miles in tomorrow week's Lexus Chase when he's likely to face a stern test from John 'Shark' Hanlon's Hidden Cyclone.
Hanlon is leaning towards the Leopardstown showpiece although he has also mentioned next month's Argento Chase at Cheltenham as an alernative.
It was at the Foxrock venue's Christmas fixture last year that Halon's talented seven-year-old made a successful fencing debut, before being beaten into third there behind Sir Des Champs on his only other outing last term.
Hidden Cyclone has returned this season to post two straightforward victories in testing going at Naas and Gowran Park and a preference for soft ground has prompted Hanlon to factor the Prestbury Park Grade Two on January 26 into his calculations.
"The only other race I'm thinking of running him in is the trial at Cheltenham in January," Hanlon said of his stable star, which has yet to run outside of Ireland. "But with the rain over the past couple of days, I'd say he'll definitely be going for the Lexus."
A total of eight millimetres was reported to have fallen at Leopardstown on Tuesday night, easing the going to yielding to soft, soft in places, and the forecast remains unsettled. In all, 12 were left in the showpiece three-mile Grade One, with Nicky Henderson's Hennessy Gold Cup winner Bobs Worth and Charles Byrnes' long-absent Weapons Amnesty – both dual Cheltenham Festival winners – among those scratched, though Weapons Amnesty is also in the woodiesdiy-com Christmas Hurdle.
Flemenstar, 7/4 ante-post favourite for the Lexus, reaffirmed his status as thecountry's most exciting chaser with a superb victory over two and a half miles in Punchestown's John Durkan Memorial Chase earlier this month. His Tubbertown-based handler has frequently said that he fully expects the former point-to-pointer to stay at least three miles, though he is anxious to get the next assignment out of the way before making further plans.
"The (Cheltenham) Gold Cup is the main objective," Casey admitted of his bold-jumping triple Grade One winner. "I don't know if he'll run again or go straight to Cheltenham. Since the John Durkan Memorial, there has been no bother. He will do the last of his work on Sunday at the Curragh."
Sir Des Champs, outpointed by Flemenstar on his seasonal bow at Punchestown, no longer has the option of dropping in trip for the Dial-A-Bet Chase after Willie Mullins removed him from Thursday's two-miler. Henry de Bromhead has left Sizing Europe in both, but testing ground would likely ensure his place in the shorter race.
Bog Warrior, China Rock, First Lieutenant, Pandorama and Quito De La Roque are others that might form part of the home defence in the Lexus, while Tidal Bay and Midnight Chase could travel from England. Tidal Bay's trainer Paul Nicholls is also responsible for Edgardo Sol, the only British entry among nine in the Dial-A-Bet.
Dermot Weld, meanwhile, has said Waaheb will take its chance in Thursday's Future Champions Novice Hurdle. However, he cautioned that the Fairyhouse hurdle winner is a "good ground horse who is pretty inexperienced".
Cyclone on target for Flemenstar clash - Horse Racing, Sport - Independent.ie
Hanlon is leaning towards the Leopardstown showpiece although he has also mentioned next month's Argento Chase at Cheltenham as an alernative.
It was at the Foxrock venue's Christmas fixture last year that Halon's talented seven-year-old made a successful fencing debut, before being beaten into third there behind Sir Des Champs on his only other outing last term.
Hidden Cyclone has returned this season to post two straightforward victories in testing going at Naas and Gowran Park and a preference for soft ground has prompted Hanlon to factor the Prestbury Park Grade Two on January 26 into his calculations.
"The only other race I'm thinking of running him in is the trial at Cheltenham in January," Hanlon said of his stable star, which has yet to run outside of Ireland. "But with the rain over the past couple of days, I'd say he'll definitely be going for the Lexus."
A total of eight millimetres was reported to have fallen at Leopardstown on Tuesday night, easing the going to yielding to soft, soft in places, and the forecast remains unsettled. In all, 12 were left in the showpiece three-mile Grade One, with Nicky Henderson's Hennessy Gold Cup winner Bobs Worth and Charles Byrnes' long-absent Weapons Amnesty – both dual Cheltenham Festival winners – among those scratched, though Weapons Amnesty is also in the woodiesdiy-com Christmas Hurdle.
Flemenstar, 7/4 ante-post favourite for the Lexus, reaffirmed his status as thecountry's most exciting chaser with a superb victory over two and a half miles in Punchestown's John Durkan Memorial Chase earlier this month. His Tubbertown-based handler has frequently said that he fully expects the former point-to-pointer to stay at least three miles, though he is anxious to get the next assignment out of the way before making further plans.
"The (Cheltenham) Gold Cup is the main objective," Casey admitted of his bold-jumping triple Grade One winner. "I don't know if he'll run again or go straight to Cheltenham. Since the John Durkan Memorial, there has been no bother. He will do the last of his work on Sunday at the Curragh."
Sir Des Champs, outpointed by Flemenstar on his seasonal bow at Punchestown, no longer has the option of dropping in trip for the Dial-A-Bet Chase after Willie Mullins removed him from Thursday's two-miler. Henry de Bromhead has left Sizing Europe in both, but testing ground would likely ensure his place in the shorter race.
Bog Warrior, China Rock, First Lieutenant, Pandorama and Quito De La Roque are others that might form part of the home defence in the Lexus, while Tidal Bay and Midnight Chase could travel from England. Tidal Bay's trainer Paul Nicholls is also responsible for Edgardo Sol, the only British entry among nine in the Dial-A-Bet.
Dermot Weld, meanwhile, has said Waaheb will take its chance in Thursday's Future Champions Novice Hurdle. However, he cautioned that the Fairyhouse hurdle winner is a "good ground horse who is pretty inexperienced".
Cyclone on target for Flemenstar clash - Horse Racing, Sport - Independent.ie
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Of all the jobs I do to try and make a living, commentating is the most enjoyable. At the moment, Down Royal and Limerick are the two racecourse tracks I commentate from, so that's where I will be next week – Down Royal on St Stephen's Day and Limerick for the following three days.
I love the challenge of it. A bit like a hand of poker, you don't know what way the cards are going to fall in a race. There will be times when you have your binoculars trained on exactly the right spot, and times when, no matter where they are focused, the action is somewhere else.
That means you are chasing the game a bit, but the key is to be as right as you can as often as you can. Obviously there is a degree of pressure to be accurate, so you want to be like a good referee or a goalkeeper – unnoticed, almost.
People wonder how we learn all the colours, but learning 15 sets of colours has never been a problem. I mean, I must have learned 15 essays for the Leaving Certificate!
With my Irish Point-to-Point Services company, we assess races and rate horses every week. Commentary is essentially live analysis for five or six intense minutes.
The challenge is to identify exactly what is relevant in a race and, coming from a point-to-point background, I know how important it is to relay the fate of every horse.
If a trainer is back at the boxes at a point-to-point getting another runner ready, they want to hear if the horse that they saddled fell at the first or won or finished last.
It's no different for people watching on-track or at home or listening on a phone, so I always strive to convey where every horse finishes its race. Because you can prepare in advance, it's not an overly tough day's work. Indeed, it can be a sociable day, as you're free to mingle between races. That is always a bonus, especially at a course like Limerick, where everything is so close.
There is a great atmosphere there at Christmas. My wife Jennifer will also be on duty there for each of the four days from St Stephen's Day – she is on the Turf Club panel of doctors.
We'll be up and down from our home in Naas every day, but it's only about an hour from Kildare Village, so it's no journey at all. With half a dozen point-to-pointers to be exercised as well, we'll be starting early, but that's nothing new.
'Pointing' has always been my passion, but it's my business too so I am very lucky. I rode for a brief few years a long time ago and wanted to stay involved in the industry, and the commentating and administrative services I offer allow me to do that.
Results
There has never been a better time – boom or otherwise – for buying and selling point-to-pointers, simply because the results are there.
No less than 60pc of last autumn's winning four-year-olds have since won on the track, and I've been privileged to call horses of the calibre of Flemenstar and Gold Cup heroes Best Mate and Imperial Commander winners for a first time in my role as a commentator.
I will call plenty more point-to-point winners at Limerick and Down Royal next week, though obviously not Flemenstar at Leopardstown.
There has been much talk of him staying three miles in the Lexus Chase, but people are quick to overlook pedigree. At the store horse sales, pedigree is the most important thing, yet it is ignored after a horse runs once. That makes no sense.
Flemenstar is a point-to-point winner and there is nothing in his pedigree to say he won't stay. The fact that he has so much speed just means he is classy to boot.
There's nothing like talking horses to make a living - Horse Racing, Sport - Independent.ie
I love the challenge of it. A bit like a hand of poker, you don't know what way the cards are going to fall in a race. There will be times when you have your binoculars trained on exactly the right spot, and times when, no matter where they are focused, the action is somewhere else.
That means you are chasing the game a bit, but the key is to be as right as you can as often as you can. Obviously there is a degree of pressure to be accurate, so you want to be like a good referee or a goalkeeper – unnoticed, almost.
People wonder how we learn all the colours, but learning 15 sets of colours has never been a problem. I mean, I must have learned 15 essays for the Leaving Certificate!
With my Irish Point-to-Point Services company, we assess races and rate horses every week. Commentary is essentially live analysis for five or six intense minutes.
The challenge is to identify exactly what is relevant in a race and, coming from a point-to-point background, I know how important it is to relay the fate of every horse.
If a trainer is back at the boxes at a point-to-point getting another runner ready, they want to hear if the horse that they saddled fell at the first or won or finished last.
It's no different for people watching on-track or at home or listening on a phone, so I always strive to convey where every horse finishes its race. Because you can prepare in advance, it's not an overly tough day's work. Indeed, it can be a sociable day, as you're free to mingle between races. That is always a bonus, especially at a course like Limerick, where everything is so close.
There is a great atmosphere there at Christmas. My wife Jennifer will also be on duty there for each of the four days from St Stephen's Day – she is on the Turf Club panel of doctors.
We'll be up and down from our home in Naas every day, but it's only about an hour from Kildare Village, so it's no journey at all. With half a dozen point-to-pointers to be exercised as well, we'll be starting early, but that's nothing new.
'Pointing' has always been my passion, but it's my business too so I am very lucky. I rode for a brief few years a long time ago and wanted to stay involved in the industry, and the commentating and administrative services I offer allow me to do that.
Results
There has never been a better time – boom or otherwise – for buying and selling point-to-pointers, simply because the results are there.
No less than 60pc of last autumn's winning four-year-olds have since won on the track, and I've been privileged to call horses of the calibre of Flemenstar and Gold Cup heroes Best Mate and Imperial Commander winners for a first time in my role as a commentator.
I will call plenty more point-to-point winners at Limerick and Down Royal next week, though obviously not Flemenstar at Leopardstown.
There has been much talk of him staying three miles in the Lexus Chase, but people are quick to overlook pedigree. At the store horse sales, pedigree is the most important thing, yet it is ignored after a horse runs once. That makes no sense.
Flemenstar is a point-to-point winner and there is nothing in his pedigree to say he won't stay. The fact that he has so much speed just means he is classy to boot.
There's nothing like talking horses to make a living - Horse Racing, Sport - Independent.ie
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
If evidence were needed of the relentless rise in stature of Limerick's four-day Christmas Festival, a cursory glance at the early entries would suffice.
On St Stephen's Day, Willie Mullins' 2009 Cheltenham Festival hero Mikael D'Haguenet, a three-time Grade One winner in all, is pencilled in for the featured Greenmount Park Novice Chase, in which he could be joined by Dedigout, likewise successful at the highest level for Tony Martin at Punchestown in the spring.
With other deeply promising prospects like Mount Benbulben and Lyreen Legend also engaged, the showpiece Grade Two, won last year by Mullins' chief Gold Cup fancy Sir Des Champs, promises to be a real treat once again.
The subsequent three days are no less intriguing. On Thursday, the champion trainer's leading Aintree Grand National fancy Prince De Beauchene is a notable contender.
Venture Capital, Our Vinnie and Marasonnien – another Punchestown Grade One victor – are just a few others that might turn up at the Munster venue over the course of the week.
"The quality of horse that we are attracting is fantastic," said the track's general manager Russell Ferris (pictured left).
"The ground is heavy, but trainers don't mind that, and we have had a few dry days since Tuesday, missing the worst of the rain in the east of the country. If 70pc or 80pc of the good entries that we have turn up, we will have some excellent racing."
As well as Sir Des Champs, Seabass preceded its thrilling performance to be third under Katie Walsh in the Aintree Grand National with a win in the Tim Duggan Memorial Chase on day two of the fixture last year.
ATTRACTING
In 2010, the subsequent Grade One winner Rubi Light was beaten in the same race, and Ferris stressed that attracting such smart prospects is vital.
"In a way, we are that stepping stone to bigger and better things for a lot of horses," he said. "I was talking to Ruby Walsh about this lately, and he was saying that the turf has improved so much here since we opened 11 years ago. It can take that long for ground to settle, and the support we are getting from all the top trainers now is a testament to the track.
"Hopefully, that will one day lead to us earning a Grade One race, which is very much the long-term vision. In the meantime, though, we have next week to look forward to.
"Our advance sales are up 20pc on last year and when you see the horses that are entered, you just want it to happen already. It should be a cracking week's racing."
Stellar cast of Christmas jumpers to light up Limerick - Horse Racing, Sport - Independent.ie
On St Stephen's Day, Willie Mullins' 2009 Cheltenham Festival hero Mikael D'Haguenet, a three-time Grade One winner in all, is pencilled in for the featured Greenmount Park Novice Chase, in which he could be joined by Dedigout, likewise successful at the highest level for Tony Martin at Punchestown in the spring.
With other deeply promising prospects like Mount Benbulben and Lyreen Legend also engaged, the showpiece Grade Two, won last year by Mullins' chief Gold Cup fancy Sir Des Champs, promises to be a real treat once again.
The subsequent three days are no less intriguing. On Thursday, the champion trainer's leading Aintree Grand National fancy Prince De Beauchene is a notable contender.
Venture Capital, Our Vinnie and Marasonnien – another Punchestown Grade One victor – are just a few others that might turn up at the Munster venue over the course of the week.
"The quality of horse that we are attracting is fantastic," said the track's general manager Russell Ferris (pictured left).
"The ground is heavy, but trainers don't mind that, and we have had a few dry days since Tuesday, missing the worst of the rain in the east of the country. If 70pc or 80pc of the good entries that we have turn up, we will have some excellent racing."
As well as Sir Des Champs, Seabass preceded its thrilling performance to be third under Katie Walsh in the Aintree Grand National with a win in the Tim Duggan Memorial Chase on day two of the fixture last year.
ATTRACTING
In 2010, the subsequent Grade One winner Rubi Light was beaten in the same race, and Ferris stressed that attracting such smart prospects is vital.
"In a way, we are that stepping stone to bigger and better things for a lot of horses," he said. "I was talking to Ruby Walsh about this lately, and he was saying that the turf has improved so much here since we opened 11 years ago. It can take that long for ground to settle, and the support we are getting from all the top trainers now is a testament to the track.
"Hopefully, that will one day lead to us earning a Grade One race, which is very much the long-term vision. In the meantime, though, we have next week to look forward to.
"Our advance sales are up 20pc on last year and when you see the horses that are entered, you just want it to happen already. It should be a cracking week's racing."
Stellar cast of Christmas jumpers to light up Limerick - Horse Racing, Sport - Independent.ie
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
As always, the chasing game is the main event for the festive season, writes Ian McClean
Santa Claus must be a horse racing fan because he has certainly filled our stockings with much to satisfy the desires of the racing tribe this festive season. And I'm sure when we finally get the wrapping off, we'll discover a few surprises in the mix that none of us were expecting.
The joy of Christmas of course is at least as much in the anticipation as it is in the moment itself and so we find ourselves three days before St Stephen's Day salivating at the prospect of gorging ourselves on a feast of high-class jumps action in both the UK and Ireland. And if we're talking a traditional feast then there is little doubt that the King George and Lexus are the turkey and ham on the menu. You will have your own view as to the Brussels sprouts.
Both races are made all the more fascinating for the fact that we are in a transition year for staying chasers. In the absence of five-time King George winner Kauto Star, Denman, Imperial Commander and the sad demise of Lexus and Gold Cup winner Synchronised, a vacuum has been created at the top that demands to be filled and there appears to be no end of exciting candidates pitching their case for the champion crown. The two features should help sort the Yorks from the Lancasters.
It might seem logical to conclude that, with Kauto Star removed from the picture, Long Run should be able to pick up the thread and begin his own era of dominance of Kempton's King George. After all, he would be a three-time winner at the fixture already (a Feltham and a King George) were it not for Kauto's obstinacy in insisting on a record-breaking fifth title last year. A mere three-and-a-half lengths was the separating distance last year that means Long Run is not now chasing a third victory in a row in the Sunbury showpiece.
Incredibly still just seven, it is obvious that the circuit is tailor-made to his strengths so he looks sure to have a strong say in the outcome. However, 5/2 is plenty short enough for a horse that seems to have lost its mojo since his Gold Cup victory in 2011. Since then Long Run has started favourite on all five starts but has just a single half-length victory to show for it.
A double-figure field looks set to oppose the 2010 winner this time around and it contains a host of fascinating and upwardly mobile contenders. Perhaps as many as half the field are stepping up to three miles for the first time (amongst them Cue Card, Finian's Rainbow, For Non Stop, Champion Court, Wishfull Thinking and Menorah) a feature that inevitably tempts the old chestnut about Kempton being an "easy three".
The precept is that a flat, relatively tight circuit makes it far less of a stamina test than, say, the undulations of a Gold Cup at Cheltenham. What the patrons of the Bleedin' Obvious ignore, however, is the fact that the pace of the race – for that very reason – is far less forgiving and fuel that might otherwise be conserved has long since run out by the business end.
Think back to Azertyuiop attempting the step up in trip in 2004. The Arkle winner's stamina had palpably given out by the time he entered the straight and he was beaten a very long way into third behind Kicking King. Further back, memory is drawn to Remittance Man in 1991. A brilliant two-and-a-half miler, he was unbeaten in seven chase starts before being sent off favourite in the 1991 King George. He too failed to see out the distance and finished third.
He went on to win his next six consecutive races – but he never tried three miles again. A look back through the annals of the race that began life in 1937 reveals a sorry trail of disappointment for those attempting the unknown territory of three miles for the first time.
Dunkirk fell fatally when taking on the mighty Arkle in 1965. Champions like Anaglog's Daughter, Royal Relief, Barnbrook Again, Deep Sensation, Flagship Uberalles and Voy Por Ustedes all tried to up their game when they upped their distance and all fell short. A glance at the King George roll of honour uncovers one thing very clearly – winners were well-stocked in the stamina department.
There is the odd exception. Desert Orchid was attempting the distance for the first time when he won in 1986 at 16/1. The grey legend of course went on to win the race three more times. One Man – twice a winner of the King George – afterwards unorthodoxly took a reverse step to win a two-mile Champion Chase aged 10. In summary then, if we are to learn anything from history perhaps the best chance the new challengers have of staying the trip is a tin of grey paint (Grands Crus fans take note) . . .
One crumb of comfort for those seeking the upward trajectory is to note that Pendil, Captain Christy, Silver Buck, Wayward Lad, Desert Orchid and One Man – all multiple winners – first announced their reign at the age of seven.
By contrast, the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown doesn't tend to attract the hopeful stayers and, with every drop of rain, it seems ever more likely that Sizing Europe will be sticking to the two-mile discipline of the Dial-A-Bet Chase the previous day. Whereas Long Run seems to have been around longer than Coronation Street, Flemenstar (another seven-year-old) seems to have just burst on the scene. We know the Peter Casey standard-bearer likes Leopardstown and handles heavy ground. However, his first attempt at three miles is eagerly anticipated and the outcome will set the compass for the remainder of his campaign.
However, it could easily be that yet another progressive seven-year-old – Hidden Cyclone – will be the one to provide the sternest opposition. For a horse that has won nine of his 11 starts, he seems to have curiously remained beneath the radar. A slow learner, the penny is slowly beginning to drop and his dispatch of Call The Police at Gowran last time smacked of an improver. Expect a career-best effort next Friday.
If we have much to
Santa Claus must be a horse racing fan because he has certainly filled our stockings with much to satisfy the desires of the racing tribe this festive season. And I'm sure when we finally get the wrapping off, we'll discover a few surprises in the mix that none of us were expecting.
The joy of Christmas of course is at least as much in the anticipation as it is in the moment itself and so we find ourselves three days before St Stephen's Day salivating at the prospect of gorging ourselves on a feast of high-class jumps action in both the UK and Ireland. And if we're talking a traditional feast then there is little doubt that the King George and Lexus are the turkey and ham on the menu. You will have your own view as to the Brussels sprouts.
Both races are made all the more fascinating for the fact that we are in a transition year for staying chasers. In the absence of five-time King George winner Kauto Star, Denman, Imperial Commander and the sad demise of Lexus and Gold Cup winner Synchronised, a vacuum has been created at the top that demands to be filled and there appears to be no end of exciting candidates pitching their case for the champion crown. The two features should help sort the Yorks from the Lancasters.
It might seem logical to conclude that, with Kauto Star removed from the picture, Long Run should be able to pick up the thread and begin his own era of dominance of Kempton's King George. After all, he would be a three-time winner at the fixture already (a Feltham and a King George) were it not for Kauto's obstinacy in insisting on a record-breaking fifth title last year. A mere three-and-a-half lengths was the separating distance last year that means Long Run is not now chasing a third victory in a row in the Sunbury showpiece.
Incredibly still just seven, it is obvious that the circuit is tailor-made to his strengths so he looks sure to have a strong say in the outcome. However, 5/2 is plenty short enough for a horse that seems to have lost its mojo since his Gold Cup victory in 2011. Since then Long Run has started favourite on all five starts but has just a single half-length victory to show for it.
A double-figure field looks set to oppose the 2010 winner this time around and it contains a host of fascinating and upwardly mobile contenders. Perhaps as many as half the field are stepping up to three miles for the first time (amongst them Cue Card, Finian's Rainbow, For Non Stop, Champion Court, Wishfull Thinking and Menorah) a feature that inevitably tempts the old chestnut about Kempton being an "easy three".
The precept is that a flat, relatively tight circuit makes it far less of a stamina test than, say, the undulations of a Gold Cup at Cheltenham. What the patrons of the Bleedin' Obvious ignore, however, is the fact that the pace of the race – for that very reason – is far less forgiving and fuel that might otherwise be conserved has long since run out by the business end.
Think back to Azertyuiop attempting the step up in trip in 2004. The Arkle winner's stamina had palpably given out by the time he entered the straight and he was beaten a very long way into third behind Kicking King. Further back, memory is drawn to Remittance Man in 1991. A brilliant two-and-a-half miler, he was unbeaten in seven chase starts before being sent off favourite in the 1991 King George. He too failed to see out the distance and finished third.
He went on to win his next six consecutive races – but he never tried three miles again. A look back through the annals of the race that began life in 1937 reveals a sorry trail of disappointment for those attempting the unknown territory of three miles for the first time.
Dunkirk fell fatally when taking on the mighty Arkle in 1965. Champions like Anaglog's Daughter, Royal Relief, Barnbrook Again, Deep Sensation, Flagship Uberalles and Voy Por Ustedes all tried to up their game when they upped their distance and all fell short. A glance at the King George roll of honour uncovers one thing very clearly – winners were well-stocked in the stamina department.
There is the odd exception. Desert Orchid was attempting the distance for the first time when he won in 1986 at 16/1. The grey legend of course went on to win the race three more times. One Man – twice a winner of the King George – afterwards unorthodoxly took a reverse step to win a two-mile Champion Chase aged 10. In summary then, if we are to learn anything from history perhaps the best chance the new challengers have of staying the trip is a tin of grey paint (Grands Crus fans take note) . . .
One crumb of comfort for those seeking the upward trajectory is to note that Pendil, Captain Christy, Silver Buck, Wayward Lad, Desert Orchid and One Man – all multiple winners – first announced their reign at the age of seven.
By contrast, the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown doesn't tend to attract the hopeful stayers and, with every drop of rain, it seems ever more likely that Sizing Europe will be sticking to the two-mile discipline of the Dial-A-Bet Chase the previous day. Whereas Long Run seems to have been around longer than Coronation Street, Flemenstar (another seven-year-old) seems to have just burst on the scene. We know the Peter Casey standard-bearer likes Leopardstown and handles heavy ground. However, his first attempt at three miles is eagerly anticipated and the outcome will set the compass for the remainder of his campaign.
However, it could easily be that yet another progressive seven-year-old – Hidden Cyclone – will be the one to provide the sternest opposition. For a horse that has won nine of his 11 starts, he seems to have curiously remained beneath the radar. A slow learner, the penny is slowly beginning to drop and his dispatch of Call The Police at Gowran last time smacked of an improver. Expect a career-best effort next Friday.
If we have much to
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
DESPITE disappointing in two starts since emphatically landing last year's Grade 1 Feltham Novices' Chase from subsequent Grade 1 winners Silviniaco Conti and Bobs Worth, Tom Scudamore is confident Grands Crus will be hard to beat in the King George, if returning to his best. Second to Big Buck's at both the Cheltenham and Aintree festivals as a hurdler, Grands Crus made an impressive start to his chasing career racking up three impressive victories, including the Feltham in a time 2.8sec quicker than Kauto Star clocked in the King George last year.
However it has been far from plain sailing since for David Pipe's seven-year-old who found little after travelling into contention down the hill in the RSA Chase, eventually trailing in 18 lengths down despite turning for home in contention.
Then, back at Prestbury Park, he produced his most disappointing performance to date in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, with Scudamore forced to pull up the 7-4 favourite before the second last.
"After the Feltham last year I thought he would be very tough to beat in the King George," Scudamore told the Racing Post on Sunday. "He's got to bounce back but when he's good he's very, very good.
"He's got a couple of disappointing runs to put behind him. Things haven't quite worked out since [the Feltham] but he seems back to his best at home.
"It's hard to say if that will translate to the track because he seemed in great form before the Paddy Power. He's had a breathing op since then and hopefully that'll do the trick. If the real Grands Crus turns up, he'll make them all go."
However it has been far from plain sailing since for David Pipe's seven-year-old who found little after travelling into contention down the hill in the RSA Chase, eventually trailing in 18 lengths down despite turning for home in contention.
Then, back at Prestbury Park, he produced his most disappointing performance to date in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, with Scudamore forced to pull up the 7-4 favourite before the second last.
"After the Feltham last year I thought he would be very tough to beat in the King George," Scudamore told the Racing Post on Sunday. "He's got to bounce back but when he's good he's very, very good.
"He's got a couple of disappointing runs to put behind him. Things haven't quite worked out since [the Feltham] but he seems back to his best at home.
"It's hard to say if that will translate to the track because he seemed in great form before the Paddy Power. He's had a breathing op since then and hopefully that'll do the trick. If the real Grands Crus turns up, he'll make them all go."
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Jack Klugman wasn't just known for his acting ability. He loved horses and horse racing.
His death on Monday in Northridge at the age of 90 comes after he visited the race track several months ago, according to trainer Barry Abrams, who co-owns three horses with Klugman. They are offspring of Klugman's broodmare, Sci Fi Kin, who was sold last January.
"He just loved being at the track," Abrams said. "He comes, makes bets and sits all day. That was his life -- horses and show business."
Klugman used to own a 40-acre ranch in Temecula.
In 1980, Jaklin Klugman, owned by Klugman, finished third in the Kentucky Derby behind Genuine Risk and Rumbo.
"The most wonderful time in the world," Klugman said in a 1997 ESPN.com interview.
His death on Monday in Northridge at the age of 90 comes after he visited the race track several months ago, according to trainer Barry Abrams, who co-owns three horses with Klugman. They are offspring of Klugman's broodmare, Sci Fi Kin, who was sold last January.
"He just loved being at the track," Abrams said. "He comes, makes bets and sits all day. That was his life -- horses and show business."
Klugman used to own a 40-acre ranch in Temecula.
In 1980, Jaklin Klugman, owned by Klugman, finished third in the Kentucky Derby behind Genuine Risk and Rumbo.
"The most wonderful time in the world," Klugman said in a 1997 ESPN.com interview.
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
A champion amateur jockey has started riding again after suffering serious head injuries in a racing fall more than 18 months ago.
Isabel Tompsett, from Llandeilo in Carmarthenshire, was thrown off her horse at a meeting in May 2011.
She is recovering at a rehabilitation centre for jockeys in Berkshire.
Tompsett, 30, started riding again in August, and could be fit enough to leave the centre in June, but she says she will never race again.
The vet said she was unlikely to be given insurance cover.
But she continues to make a steady recovery and following some recent physiotherapy has started running.
She now plans to compete in the London Marathon in 2014 in aid of the Injured Jockey's Fund which runs Oaksey House in Lambourn, Berkshire where she is recovering.
Continue reading the main story
“Start Quote
The marathon is just an idea at the moment, but I intend to enter the 2014 race”
Isabel Tompsett
Her entire left side was paralysed after her fall at Fakenham Racecourse in May 2011 and she only had sight in one eye but, remarkably, within six months she could walk again.
Her injuries included a broken nose and collarbone, two cracked vertebrae, and elbow and knee damage.
A letter from the Queen was among the hundreds of messages of support she received.
Tompsett targeted a return to the saddle last year and in August she achieved her ambition.
"I started riding again in late August early September," she said.
"I rode one horse at home which we'd bred.
"I wasn't at all apprehensive and once I was on the horse it was fine. It was just awkward getting on compared to how it was. I don't ride all the time, but try to once a week."
'Remarkable'
Tompsett moved to Oaksey House in January, and started running about a month ago.
"During a recent physio session I was asked why I didn't run more," she said.
"I said because the left hand side of my body had been affected and I'd lost my spring, my ability to run.
"After 10 minutes of work on my left hand side I could run.
Continue reading the main story
“Start Quote
From not being able to do anything to putting the spring back into my step - it was amazing. They'd given me back my bounce”
Isabel Tompsett
"It was remarkable, it was massive for me. From not being able to do anything to putting the spring back into my step - it was amazing. They'd given me back my bounce."
She added: "I have been making a steady recovery, but there have been times when you can't see yourself getting better, but something like this gives you hope and gives you another thing to do.
"I went from not running at all to running everyday and I picked up a bit of a knee injury in the end, but I'll be back running again soon."
UK champion
Tompsett is full of admiration for the staff at Oaksey House who have helped with her recovery and now plans to run the London Marathon to raise money for the centre.
"The marathon is just an idea at the moment, but I intend to enter the 2014 race," she said.
"I expect to be here until May or June when I'll probably have an examination and if all goes well then I'll be able to move out," Tompsett added.
She was UK amateur champion over jumps in the 2009-10 season and has ridden 23 winners.
Isabel Tompsett, from Llandeilo in Carmarthenshire, was thrown off her horse at a meeting in May 2011.
She is recovering at a rehabilitation centre for jockeys in Berkshire.
Tompsett, 30, started riding again in August, and could be fit enough to leave the centre in June, but she says she will never race again.
The vet said she was unlikely to be given insurance cover.
But she continues to make a steady recovery and following some recent physiotherapy has started running.
She now plans to compete in the London Marathon in 2014 in aid of the Injured Jockey's Fund which runs Oaksey House in Lambourn, Berkshire where she is recovering.
Continue reading the main story
“Start Quote
The marathon is just an idea at the moment, but I intend to enter the 2014 race”
Isabel Tompsett
Her entire left side was paralysed after her fall at Fakenham Racecourse in May 2011 and she only had sight in one eye but, remarkably, within six months she could walk again.
Her injuries included a broken nose and collarbone, two cracked vertebrae, and elbow and knee damage.
A letter from the Queen was among the hundreds of messages of support she received.
Tompsett targeted a return to the saddle last year and in August she achieved her ambition.
"I started riding again in late August early September," she said.
"I rode one horse at home which we'd bred.
"I wasn't at all apprehensive and once I was on the horse it was fine. It was just awkward getting on compared to how it was. I don't ride all the time, but try to once a week."
'Remarkable'
Tompsett moved to Oaksey House in January, and started running about a month ago.
"During a recent physio session I was asked why I didn't run more," she said.
"I said because the left hand side of my body had been affected and I'd lost my spring, my ability to run.
"After 10 minutes of work on my left hand side I could run.
Continue reading the main story
“Start Quote
From not being able to do anything to putting the spring back into my step - it was amazing. They'd given me back my bounce”
Isabel Tompsett
"It was remarkable, it was massive for me. From not being able to do anything to putting the spring back into my step - it was amazing. They'd given me back my bounce."
She added: "I have been making a steady recovery, but there have been times when you can't see yourself getting better, but something like this gives you hope and gives you another thing to do.
"I went from not running at all to running everyday and I picked up a bit of a knee injury in the end, but I'll be back running again soon."
UK champion
Tompsett is full of admiration for the staff at Oaksey House who have helped with her recovery and now plans to run the London Marathon to raise money for the centre.
"The marathon is just an idea at the moment, but I intend to enter the 2014 race," she said.
"I expect to be here until May or June when I'll probably have an examination and if all goes well then I'll be able to move out," Tompsett added.
She was UK amateur champion over jumps in the 2009-10 season and has ridden 23 winners.
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
THE Organising Committee of the 13th Horse Racing Meeting for Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa Trophy has stepped up preparations for the prestigious event, to be held on February 18, next year.
The event will also feature races for the disabled, and is due to take place at Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club in Sakhir.
As a build-up to the races, the organising committee will hold a meeting on Sunday at the Grand Elite Hotel in Seef District.
At the meeting, the organising committee is expected to review latest developments pertaining to the work of the organising committee and proceed with preparations for the Championship, which is scheduled to be held for the second time in the kingdom.
This meeting is in line with the directives of Supreme Council for Youth and Sports first vice-chairman and Bahrain Royal Equestrians and Endurance Federation president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa to meet with all participating governmental ministries and institutions.
Shaikh Khalid urged the organising committee to hold the event in the best possible manner and to highlight the kingdom's focus on sports, including events for the disabled.
The event will also feature races for the disabled, and is due to take place at Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club in Sakhir.
As a build-up to the races, the organising committee will hold a meeting on Sunday at the Grand Elite Hotel in Seef District.
At the meeting, the organising committee is expected to review latest developments pertaining to the work of the organising committee and proceed with preparations for the Championship, which is scheduled to be held for the second time in the kingdom.
This meeting is in line with the directives of Supreme Council for Youth and Sports first vice-chairman and Bahrain Royal Equestrians and Endurance Federation president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa to meet with all participating governmental ministries and institutions.
Shaikh Khalid urged the organising committee to hold the event in the best possible manner and to highlight the kingdom's focus on sports, including events for the disabled.
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
A young horse racing star has died after receiving serious head injuries in a fall from her horse yesterday during a race in Kurow, North Otago.
Ashlee Mundy, an ex-pat Cantabrian, was in New Zealand for Christmas and had left Queensland, Australia, to race New Zealand’s summer circuit until Feburary.
Her mount, Elleaye, had clipped heels during a race yesterday, sending the 26-year-old crashing to the ground with 600 metres to run. She was flown to Dunedin Hospital by helicopter, but died this morning after her life support was turned off.
"Ashlee's a bubbly personality, she got on extremely well with all the owners and in particular a group of owners that I'm involved with, they think the world of her," GallopSouth general manager Malcolm Little told Newstalk ZB.
In an interview with Fairfax on Boxing Day, the young star said she was delighted to spend Christmas in New Zealand with her parents.
“It’s the first Christmas I’ve had with them in 10 years,” she said.
Her funeral will be held on Friday in Westport.
Death hits NZ racing industry
Trainer Lisa Rae says New Zealand racing has been hit hard by the death of the Gold Coast-based New Zealand jockey after her fall at yesterday's Kurow races.
A freelance jockey, former Cantabrian Mundy returned from Queensland in mid-December to ride the South Island's summer circuit.
She had been working at Rae and husband Kenny's Riccarton stable in Christchurch during her stay, and planned to return to Australia in February.
But her mount Elleaye fell with 600m to run in the seventh race at Kurow in North Otago.
Nigel McIntyre of the New Zealand Racing Integrity Unit (RUI) said it appeared Elleaye had clipped heels with another horse.
Mundy, 26, was flown to Dunedin Hospital in a critical condition with serious head injuries, and a hospital spokeswoman confirmed she died this morning.
Rae says Mundy had returned from Australia to contest the southern holiday circuit for the last couple of years.
She spent Christmas with her parents in Westport, then had six races at Wingatui on December 28, including a win on Fintorro for the Raes.
"She's the wrong person - she's been taken too soon.
"She'd rock up every morning ready to ride - she was just one of those people who have a natural way with animals," Rae said.
"Our owners are broken, they're distraught. Ashlee was just lovely, she's touched so many people's lives."
McIntyre says the RUI will conduct a full investigation into the incident, including talking to riders and viewing the race video, and will be working in conjunction with the police, who will prepare their own report.
Deaths at New Zealand race meetings were rare, McIntyre said. The last one was in 2005 at Riverton when 16-year-old jockey Sam McRae died after his foot became entangled in his horse's riding iron and he was dragged for 900 metres.
Read more: Jockey dies after fall in Kurow horse race - Story - NZ News - 3 News
Ashlee Mundy, an ex-pat Cantabrian, was in New Zealand for Christmas and had left Queensland, Australia, to race New Zealand’s summer circuit until Feburary.
Her mount, Elleaye, had clipped heels during a race yesterday, sending the 26-year-old crashing to the ground with 600 metres to run. She was flown to Dunedin Hospital by helicopter, but died this morning after her life support was turned off.
"Ashlee's a bubbly personality, she got on extremely well with all the owners and in particular a group of owners that I'm involved with, they think the world of her," GallopSouth general manager Malcolm Little told Newstalk ZB.
In an interview with Fairfax on Boxing Day, the young star said she was delighted to spend Christmas in New Zealand with her parents.
“It’s the first Christmas I’ve had with them in 10 years,” she said.
Her funeral will be held on Friday in Westport.
Death hits NZ racing industry
Trainer Lisa Rae says New Zealand racing has been hit hard by the death of the Gold Coast-based New Zealand jockey after her fall at yesterday's Kurow races.
A freelance jockey, former Cantabrian Mundy returned from Queensland in mid-December to ride the South Island's summer circuit.
She had been working at Rae and husband Kenny's Riccarton stable in Christchurch during her stay, and planned to return to Australia in February.
But her mount Elleaye fell with 600m to run in the seventh race at Kurow in North Otago.
Nigel McIntyre of the New Zealand Racing Integrity Unit (RUI) said it appeared Elleaye had clipped heels with another horse.
Mundy, 26, was flown to Dunedin Hospital in a critical condition with serious head injuries, and a hospital spokeswoman confirmed she died this morning.
Rae says Mundy had returned from Australia to contest the southern holiday circuit for the last couple of years.
She spent Christmas with her parents in Westport, then had six races at Wingatui on December 28, including a win on Fintorro for the Raes.
"She's the wrong person - she's been taken too soon.
"She'd rock up every morning ready to ride - she was just one of those people who have a natural way with animals," Rae said.
"Our owners are broken, they're distraught. Ashlee was just lovely, she's touched so many people's lives."
McIntyre says the RUI will conduct a full investigation into the incident, including talking to riders and viewing the race video, and will be working in conjunction with the police, who will prepare their own report.
Deaths at New Zealand race meetings were rare, McIntyre said. The last one was in 2005 at Riverton when 16-year-old jockey Sam McRae died after his foot became entangled in his horse's riding iron and he was dragged for 900 metres.
Read more: Jockey dies after fall in Kurow horse race - Story - NZ News - 3 News
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Sports fans are busy looking forward to year of sports ahead and making predictions about who will win what and who will lose. The bookies have of course got in on the action and Ladbrokes has opened a betting market on what will happen first next year.
According to Ladbrokes, with odds of 5/2, the most likely thing to happen first is for Andy Murray to win a Major.
Murray is ranked as the world number 3 and last year won the US Open as well as Olympic Gold by defeating Roger Federer in straight sets. If Murray doesn’t win, then Ladbrokes have odds of 9/2 that an Irish trained horse will win the Grand National.
Not far behind at 5/1 is for Rory McIlroy, the world’s number one golf player, to win a Major. Considering McIlroy’s record over the past year a Major win looks extremely likely, but will he manage it first?
Strangely enough included in the sporting predictions are odds of 6/1 that Kate and Prince William will have a baby boy.
There has been no announcement regarding the sex of the baby nor has there been a due date revealed so punters don’t really have much information to go on.
First Major Sporting Event of the Year - Online Casino Archives
According to Ladbrokes, with odds of 5/2, the most likely thing to happen first is for Andy Murray to win a Major.
Murray is ranked as the world number 3 and last year won the US Open as well as Olympic Gold by defeating Roger Federer in straight sets. If Murray doesn’t win, then Ladbrokes have odds of 9/2 that an Irish trained horse will win the Grand National.
Not far behind at 5/1 is for Rory McIlroy, the world’s number one golf player, to win a Major. Considering McIlroy’s record over the past year a Major win looks extremely likely, but will he manage it first?
Strangely enough included in the sporting predictions are odds of 6/1 that Kate and Prince William will have a baby boy.
There has been no announcement regarding the sex of the baby nor has there been a due date revealed so punters don’t really have much information to go on.
First Major Sporting Event of the Year - Online Casino Archives
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
The latest in our series of in-depth pieces from James Baggley covers the rich history of horse racing in Lincoln, charting the city's rise as a regular venue for the sport before post-war decline and eventual course closure. If you were to leave the city of Lincoln along the Carholme Road you would come to a grandstand overlooking the West Common. If you were to look carefully across the road at the common you would see the remnants of racing rails. But why are they there?
Organised horseracing meetings were held on this site in Lincoln from 1773. Previously, race meetings had been held to the south of the city, on the common between Harmston and Waddington, but once that area of land was enclosed and was then developed, another home for the Lincoln meet had to be found.
The Lincoln Corporation therefore offered the use of the West Common for the purpose of flat race meetings.
The meetings at Lincoln were very popular events, attracting both riders and spectators from miles around. Entry to the racetrack was free, as it was situated on common land and one could pick a spot from which to get the best view of proceedings.
Such a gathering often attracted an undesirable element and pickpockets would frequently go around the crowd, stealing any valuables they might have on them. Some of the bookmakers were unsavoury characters and some of the more respectable spectators would prefer not to rub shoulders with them. As a result a grandstand was erected in the 1820s at the south east corner of the racetrack, on the further side of the Carholme/Saxilby Road.
Entrance to the grandstand cost a guinea and would afford its patrons not only a better view of the racing but also some exclusivity and protection from the undesirable elements in the crowd. It also offered the chance to socialise with friends and make acquaintance with others of the middle and upper classes. Just as with some sporting events today (such as Royal Ascot or Henley Royal Regatta) the sport itself would often be considered by some to be secondary to the social occasion of attending.
By the middle of the 19th century there were several race meetings a year at Lincoln racecourse, the most important races being the Lincolnshire Handicap and the Brocklesby Stakes. The Lincolnshire Handicap was established in 1849 and originally took place in August over a distance of 2 miles.
In the spring of 1853 a new meeting was established and a race, called the Lincoln Spring Handicap, was introduced at this meeting. This race was run over a mile-and-a-half in the first year but was then changed in 1854 to a mile in length. In 1857 the August meeting was stopped and the spring fixture became the main meeting at Lincoln, with the Lincoln Spring Handicap being renamed the Lincolnshire Handicap. The race was open to thoroughbred horses aged 4 and over.
The Brocklesby Stakes was originally a race one-and-a-half miles long for all ages of horse. However, in 1875 it was reorganised as a five furlong race for two-year-olds.
By the end of the 19th century there were three meetings held a year at Lincoln. The largest took place in March and the others in June and November. The old grandstand was no longer considered fit for purpose and so it was rebuilt in 1896, giving us the building we see today.
In 1903 F.H. Bayles published The Race Courses Atlas of Great Britain and Ireland, and had this to say about the course at Lincoln: "...it is advisable for jockeys to avoid taking a line too close to the rails, because the ground runs in hollows, and is much better going three or four feet from the rails. A very sharp active animal is most at home over this course, which is certainly not adapted to very high courage and excitable horses, whose temperaments are often upset by close crowds".
The popularity of the March meeting increased in the early years of the 20th century and ticket sales increased considerably during this period. An area near the finish line had by now been enclosed and members of the public were charged two shillings for admittance to this area. This, together with the money charged for admittance to the new grandstand, helped the race committee and the city council to pay for the maintenance of the course and to police race meetings.
By the late 1950s meetings were being televised on programmes such as the BBCs Grandstand. The programme's producers used to like coming to film the racing here, as the layout of the course, with the Saxilby Road running parallel to the final straight, meant they could drive their outside broadcast cameras with ease along the road on the roof of their vehicles, capturing all the action close up.
Racing was suspended for the duration of the world wars.
However, when racing resumed after the Second World War the fortunes of the racetrack were in serious decline, having never recovered properly from the depression of the 1930s.
The costs involved in maintaining a racecourse which only had three meetings in a year were becoming untenable and in 1964 the city council announced that it was to cease further funding with immediate effect.
The council had been concerned to learn from the Home Secretary that the government, through the Horserace Betting Levy Board, was to terminate its financial assistance to the racecourse in 1966. The decision to stop council funding was also influenced by the Jockey Club's intention not to grant any fixtures at Lincoln after 1965.
While the city council was reluctant to pull the plug on a sporting event which helped put the city on the map, it felt it simply had no choice in the matter. The grandstand, stable block, the runners' board and some railings to show the outline of the course still remain. The grandstand is now used as a community centre.
As for the Lincolnshire Handicap race, this is still run each year, only now it takes place at Doncaster Racecourse, some 40 miles from Lincoln.
[url=www-thisislinc
Organised horseracing meetings were held on this site in Lincoln from 1773. Previously, race meetings had been held to the south of the city, on the common between Harmston and Waddington, but once that area of land was enclosed and was then developed, another home for the Lincoln meet had to be found.
The Lincoln Corporation therefore offered the use of the West Common for the purpose of flat race meetings.
The meetings at Lincoln were very popular events, attracting both riders and spectators from miles around. Entry to the racetrack was free, as it was situated on common land and one could pick a spot from which to get the best view of proceedings.
Such a gathering often attracted an undesirable element and pickpockets would frequently go around the crowd, stealing any valuables they might have on them. Some of the bookmakers were unsavoury characters and some of the more respectable spectators would prefer not to rub shoulders with them. As a result a grandstand was erected in the 1820s at the south east corner of the racetrack, on the further side of the Carholme/Saxilby Road.
Entrance to the grandstand cost a guinea and would afford its patrons not only a better view of the racing but also some exclusivity and protection from the undesirable elements in the crowd. It also offered the chance to socialise with friends and make acquaintance with others of the middle and upper classes. Just as with some sporting events today (such as Royal Ascot or Henley Royal Regatta) the sport itself would often be considered by some to be secondary to the social occasion of attending.
By the middle of the 19th century there were several race meetings a year at Lincoln racecourse, the most important races being the Lincolnshire Handicap and the Brocklesby Stakes. The Lincolnshire Handicap was established in 1849 and originally took place in August over a distance of 2 miles.
In the spring of 1853 a new meeting was established and a race, called the Lincoln Spring Handicap, was introduced at this meeting. This race was run over a mile-and-a-half in the first year but was then changed in 1854 to a mile in length. In 1857 the August meeting was stopped and the spring fixture became the main meeting at Lincoln, with the Lincoln Spring Handicap being renamed the Lincolnshire Handicap. The race was open to thoroughbred horses aged 4 and over.
The Brocklesby Stakes was originally a race one-and-a-half miles long for all ages of horse. However, in 1875 it was reorganised as a five furlong race for two-year-olds.
By the end of the 19th century there were three meetings held a year at Lincoln. The largest took place in March and the others in June and November. The old grandstand was no longer considered fit for purpose and so it was rebuilt in 1896, giving us the building we see today.
In 1903 F.H. Bayles published The Race Courses Atlas of Great Britain and Ireland, and had this to say about the course at Lincoln: "...it is advisable for jockeys to avoid taking a line too close to the rails, because the ground runs in hollows, and is much better going three or four feet from the rails. A very sharp active animal is most at home over this course, which is certainly not adapted to very high courage and excitable horses, whose temperaments are often upset by close crowds".
The popularity of the March meeting increased in the early years of the 20th century and ticket sales increased considerably during this period. An area near the finish line had by now been enclosed and members of the public were charged two shillings for admittance to this area. This, together with the money charged for admittance to the new grandstand, helped the race committee and the city council to pay for the maintenance of the course and to police race meetings.
By the late 1950s meetings were being televised on programmes such as the BBCs Grandstand. The programme's producers used to like coming to film the racing here, as the layout of the course, with the Saxilby Road running parallel to the final straight, meant they could drive their outside broadcast cameras with ease along the road on the roof of their vehicles, capturing all the action close up.
Racing was suspended for the duration of the world wars.
However, when racing resumed after the Second World War the fortunes of the racetrack were in serious decline, having never recovered properly from the depression of the 1930s.
The costs involved in maintaining a racecourse which only had three meetings in a year were becoming untenable and in 1964 the city council announced that it was to cease further funding with immediate effect.
The council had been concerned to learn from the Home Secretary that the government, through the Horserace Betting Levy Board, was to terminate its financial assistance to the racecourse in 1966. The decision to stop council funding was also influenced by the Jockey Club's intention not to grant any fixtures at Lincoln after 1965.
While the city council was reluctant to pull the plug on a sporting event which helped put the city on the map, it felt it simply had no choice in the matter. The grandstand, stable block, the runners' board and some railings to show the outline of the course still remain. The grandstand is now used as a community centre.
As for the Lincolnshire Handicap race, this is still run each year, only now it takes place at Doncaster Racecourse, some 40 miles from Lincoln.
[url=www-thisislinc
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
People have been betting on horse racing ever since the equine creatures were first trained to compete against each other on the track.
Online betting on horse races has become big business, but with the horses having to compete with the likes of other forms of sports betting plus online casinos and online poker - there is still plenty of room for growth.
Natural Advantage
Horse racing has a natural advantage over the competition in the United States, as it represents the only legal means of Internet betting across the country. While poker and other forms of gambling are still struggling to receive recognition, Americans are free to place a bet down at the racetrack or through a range of traditional betting sites.
Yet in many ways the industry has failed to take advantage of legal horse racing. Websites offer the same guides and odds that have been offered on the Triple Crown and other races for more than a century. While that's great for the committed fan, it doesn't appeal to the huge chunk of the public who are looking for a simple, slot-like version of the races.
Innovation in Horse Racing
Enter online services like Derby Jackpot, which allows players to wager on the outcome of real horse races, but without providing any information about the competitors other than their names and odds. And even these details, are presented in a colorful, appealing way, with terminology like win and show bets changed to "The Monkey" and "The Granny."
Online gambling is a big deal, but social gambling has become even bigger, and the horse racing community will have to catch on that fact in the same way as the casino and games community has. Derby Jackpot is possibly just the beginning, if gaming operators realize the potential horse race betting has.
Bet the Traditional Way
Of course, horse racing still has its traditional following, and two of the most popular online bookmakers that offer betting are William Hill and bet365. Both offer their services to the UK and Europe, providing odds betting on all the major horse races and racing carnivals from around the world.
For these two bookmakers horse racing truly is big business, as shown by promos like "Best Odds Guaranteed" and their commitment to providing multimedia previews of each day's racing.
Online Horse Racing Next Big Thing? - Opinions - Onlinecasinoreports-com
Online betting on horse races has become big business, but with the horses having to compete with the likes of other forms of sports betting plus online casinos and online poker - there is still plenty of room for growth.
Natural Advantage
Horse racing has a natural advantage over the competition in the United States, as it represents the only legal means of Internet betting across the country. While poker and other forms of gambling are still struggling to receive recognition, Americans are free to place a bet down at the racetrack or through a range of traditional betting sites.
Yet in many ways the industry has failed to take advantage of legal horse racing. Websites offer the same guides and odds that have been offered on the Triple Crown and other races for more than a century. While that's great for the committed fan, it doesn't appeal to the huge chunk of the public who are looking for a simple, slot-like version of the races.
Innovation in Horse Racing
Enter online services like Derby Jackpot, which allows players to wager on the outcome of real horse races, but without providing any information about the competitors other than their names and odds. And even these details, are presented in a colorful, appealing way, with terminology like win and show bets changed to "The Monkey" and "The Granny."
Online gambling is a big deal, but social gambling has become even bigger, and the horse racing community will have to catch on that fact in the same way as the casino and games community has. Derby Jackpot is possibly just the beginning, if gaming operators realize the potential horse race betting has.
Bet the Traditional Way
Of course, horse racing still has its traditional following, and two of the most popular online bookmakers that offer betting are William Hill and bet365. Both offer their services to the UK and Europe, providing odds betting on all the major horse races and racing carnivals from around the world.
For these two bookmakers horse racing truly is big business, as shown by promos like "Best Odds Guaranteed" and their commitment to providing multimedia previews of each day's racing.
Online Horse Racing Next Big Thing? - Opinions - Onlinecasinoreports-com
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Confusion reigned in all the off-track betting stations while the horseowners, the major investors in the local horseracing industry, expressed apprehensions on the future of their earnings as the new schedule of races was implemented late last week.
The new scheduling of races, which was approved by the Philippine Racing Commission, also marred the mass resignation of betting machine tellers employed by both clubs.
With the two racetracks – San Lazaro Leisure and Business Park of the Manila Jockey Club and the Santa Ana Park of Philippine Racing Club – hosting simultaneous races starting last Thursday, the bettors in the various OTBs got caught in the mad confusion as two sets of night races were held one after the other. The same simultaneous races were repeated over the weekend.
The new schedules were approved with the entry of a new racetrack in the country – the Metro Manila Turf Club in Malvar, Batangas.
The bettors had to scramble in choosing their respective bets since instead of the former interval of 30 minutes per race, they were pruned down to 15 minutes.
“We were really caught unaware of this thing. This is very confusing to ordinary racing aficionados, who wanted to enjoy the races leisurely. You have to get two sets of racing program and had to carefully study your choices before you place your bets. Baka doon ka sa kabilang karerahan mataya. Magulo ‘yan, nakakahilo! ” said one racing fan in one OTB.
Another veteran racing aficionado said the new scheduling of the races should undergo an intensive study first in order to see how it shall affect the industry. “The Philracom should have spearheaded a study on how this simultaneous racing will affect the local horseracing industry. With the confusion in various OTBs recently, it only goes to show that the racingfans were not properly informed.”
Many OTBs were also seriously affected after more than 180 employed tellers resigned from their respective clubs, leaving many betting machines without any teller last Thursday.
Also, many OTBs, which only have one telephone connection for their betting machine, have to choose only one racing club to service their clients, leaving the other club out for the rest of the day.
What made matter worst was the halving of the gross sales in both racing clubs. Last Thursday’s sales at PRCI reached only P10.2 million, while MJCI posted only P9.5-million, a far cry from their usual P21 million average per night racing day.
A continued decline on their respectively gross sales will surely affect their company’s coffer since they would continue to spend the same amount of expenses every day that they host races.
Although winning horses have guaranteed prizes for that particular week, many horseowners are already raising howl with the way that drop in sales in one particular racetrack would affect the prizes for those horses coming in from second to fourth places.
Since prizes from second to fourth placers are not guaranteed, the drop in sales late last week and in the future, if the new scheduling of races continues, will drastically affect the horseowners’ take if their horses would come in for the money.
“We hope the authorities would come to their senses. The way they implemented this simultaneous races it will certainly do more harm than good for the local horseracing industry. The addition of a new racetrack in the country is a very welcome news for us. We need more new racing facilities for our growing industry. But the way the new scheduling of races is done, it would surely kill the industry,” said one horseowner, who asked for anonymity.
New schedule of horse races leads to confusion at betting stations - Manila Standard Today
The new scheduling of races, which was approved by the Philippine Racing Commission, also marred the mass resignation of betting machine tellers employed by both clubs.
With the two racetracks – San Lazaro Leisure and Business Park of the Manila Jockey Club and the Santa Ana Park of Philippine Racing Club – hosting simultaneous races starting last Thursday, the bettors in the various OTBs got caught in the mad confusion as two sets of night races were held one after the other. The same simultaneous races were repeated over the weekend.
The new schedules were approved with the entry of a new racetrack in the country – the Metro Manila Turf Club in Malvar, Batangas.
The bettors had to scramble in choosing their respective bets since instead of the former interval of 30 minutes per race, they were pruned down to 15 minutes.
“We were really caught unaware of this thing. This is very confusing to ordinary racing aficionados, who wanted to enjoy the races leisurely. You have to get two sets of racing program and had to carefully study your choices before you place your bets. Baka doon ka sa kabilang karerahan mataya. Magulo ‘yan, nakakahilo! ” said one racing fan in one OTB.
Another veteran racing aficionado said the new scheduling of the races should undergo an intensive study first in order to see how it shall affect the industry. “The Philracom should have spearheaded a study on how this simultaneous racing will affect the local horseracing industry. With the confusion in various OTBs recently, it only goes to show that the racingfans were not properly informed.”
Many OTBs were also seriously affected after more than 180 employed tellers resigned from their respective clubs, leaving many betting machines without any teller last Thursday.
Also, many OTBs, which only have one telephone connection for their betting machine, have to choose only one racing club to service their clients, leaving the other club out for the rest of the day.
What made matter worst was the halving of the gross sales in both racing clubs. Last Thursday’s sales at PRCI reached only P10.2 million, while MJCI posted only P9.5-million, a far cry from their usual P21 million average per night racing day.
A continued decline on their respectively gross sales will surely affect their company’s coffer since they would continue to spend the same amount of expenses every day that they host races.
Although winning horses have guaranteed prizes for that particular week, many horseowners are already raising howl with the way that drop in sales in one particular racetrack would affect the prizes for those horses coming in from second to fourth places.
Since prizes from second to fourth placers are not guaranteed, the drop in sales late last week and in the future, if the new scheduling of races continues, will drastically affect the horseowners’ take if their horses would come in for the money.
“We hope the authorities would come to their senses. The way they implemented this simultaneous races it will certainly do more harm than good for the local horseracing industry. The addition of a new racetrack in the country is a very welcome news for us. We need more new racing facilities for our growing industry. But the way the new scheduling of races is done, it would surely kill the industry,” said one horseowner, who asked for anonymity.
New schedule of horse races leads to confusion at betting stations - Manila Standard Today
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
RUBY Walsh enjoyed a short-priced double at Taunton, but it was another Irish jockey who stole the headlines. Cork native Aidan Coleman has been having a terrific season with the help of his retained stable of Venetia Williams and it continued at the Somerset track.
Coleman and Williams heaped the pain on the bookmakers by providing three of the seven winning favourites. There was an element of fortune for Coleman about their first winner as Emperor's Choice (6/4 favourite) edged out Shuil Royale and Guess Again after a three-way photo-finish to the staying novice chase.
"When I jumped the second-last I thought I'd win, but I got my reins in a muddle. Fair play to the horse, he got the job done," said Coleman, who was given a two-day ban for over-use of the whip.
Wide-margin scorers were the order of the day and second for the team was Bennys Mist as the 5/4 favourite easily took the staying handicap chase despite clambering over the final fence.
BETTER
"That's our 50th winner," Williams said. "I ended in the 50s last season, but we got there this fast a couple of seasons some time ago. "We've got a large pool of novice chasers this year, and a lot of them have proved better chasers than hurdlers."
The treble was completed by 4/6 market leader Jupiter Rex in the closing handicap hurdle. Walsh inflicted further damage, dropping in to test two young hopefuls from the Paul Nicholls academy, which both won.
Sound Investment (5/6) was first to make his mark, going a little way towards living up to his name with a 12-length victory in the opening maiden hurdle.
Saphir Du Rheu was arguably even more impressive than his stablemate, despite his winning margin being a length shorter in the novices' hurdle.
Tony McCoy was also on the mark for JP McManus as Cantlow justified odds of 4/9 with a 14-length success in the two-mile, three furlong novice chase.
The pattern of favourites winning by double-figure margins was completed by 3/1 shot Extremely So, ridden by James Davies and trained by Chris Down.
Coleman and Williams hit bookies hard - Horse Racing, Sport - Independent.ie
Coleman and Williams heaped the pain on the bookmakers by providing three of the seven winning favourites. There was an element of fortune for Coleman about their first winner as Emperor's Choice (6/4 favourite) edged out Shuil Royale and Guess Again after a three-way photo-finish to the staying novice chase.
"When I jumped the second-last I thought I'd win, but I got my reins in a muddle. Fair play to the horse, he got the job done," said Coleman, who was given a two-day ban for over-use of the whip.
Wide-margin scorers were the order of the day and second for the team was Bennys Mist as the 5/4 favourite easily took the staying handicap chase despite clambering over the final fence.
BETTER
"That's our 50th winner," Williams said. "I ended in the 50s last season, but we got there this fast a couple of seasons some time ago. "We've got a large pool of novice chasers this year, and a lot of them have proved better chasers than hurdlers."
The treble was completed by 4/6 market leader Jupiter Rex in the closing handicap hurdle. Walsh inflicted further damage, dropping in to test two young hopefuls from the Paul Nicholls academy, which both won.
Sound Investment (5/6) was first to make his mark, going a little way towards living up to his name with a 12-length victory in the opening maiden hurdle.
Saphir Du Rheu was arguably even more impressive than his stablemate, despite his winning margin being a length shorter in the novices' hurdle.
Tony McCoy was also on the mark for JP McManus as Cantlow justified odds of 4/9 with a 14-length success in the two-mile, three furlong novice chase.
The pattern of favourites winning by double-figure margins was completed by 3/1 shot Extremely So, ridden by James Davies and trained by Chris Down.
Coleman and Williams hit bookies hard - Horse Racing, Sport - Independent.ie
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
TONY MARTIN will prepare runaway Cork bumper victor Golantilla for the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham after Cork-based handler Sean O'Brien agreed a lucrative deal to sell the highly regarded five-year-old to Barry Connell.
The sale, understood to be worth in excess of €350,000, is subject to the son of Golan passing a routine veterinary check this morning and represents a real fairytale for the trainer based in Kilworth in north Cork.
Should Golantilla come through that, the transaction will amount to a resounding vindication of O'Brien's decision to turn down a bid of what he calls "a genuine £180,000" at last month's Brightwells Sale in Cheltenham after the horse had hacked up on its Avaune point-to-point debut.
O'Brien, who, along with his mother Eileen, bred Golantilla, described the exciting youngster as an "absolute machine" after it stormed 13 lengths clear on its track debut under Ciaran Fennessy on Saturday.
At the time, he also nominated the March Grade One, for which Golantilla is now as low as 10/1 co-favourite, as the horse's primary objective this season.
"He is going to Tony Martin's and, as I understand it, will still be trained for the Cheltenham bumper," said O'Brien.
"Barry Connell is a good racing man, so I'm delighted that it is him getting the horse."
Based in the hurling-mad village of Kilworth, O'Brien has long been recognised as one of the shrewdest judges of a horse in an area that is renowned as a point-to-point stronghold.
The trainer – who learned his trade with Aidan O'Brien when the Ballydoyle maestro was based in Piltown, Co Kilkenny – has made no secret of his high regard for Golantilla in recent weeks, and, having held firm in his avowal not to sell for less than £200,000 in England, he took a similarly firm line in the aftermath of Saturday's deeply impressive triumph.
"A lot of the usual clients were interested," he admitted, "but we had no interest in a bidding war.
"We had a price in mind and, without being stupid about it, if we didn't get what we wanted, we were happy to keep him.
"I asked in the region of €400,000, and, while we had to give a little, we weren't disappointed with what we got. At the end of the day, everything has a value.
"Tony had asked me before the race on Saturday if what he had been hearing about the horse was true and I told him I couldn't see him coming off the bridle. That was the first time I spoke to him about the horse and it was all sorted very quickly on Sunday morning."
O'Brien's father John, who passed away in October, purchased Golantilla's dam for just IR£600.
Asked about the implicit gamble of a modest stable, which relies heavily on turning over horses, not accepting the sizeable sterling bid that was offered in December, O'Brien says he never doubted the horse would justify his judgment. "The way I looked at it, we are only a small set-up, but we weren't going hungry before Cheltenham and we weren't going to go hungry if I kept him.
Pressure
"I felt if he won a bumper he would be easier to sell. Obviously, there was that bit of pressure since we brought him back, but I never doubted the horse."
Connell – a 53-year-old Carrickmines-based stockbroker and fund manager, is a popular figure on Irish racetracks – having started out riding many of his own horses in bumpers 10 years ago.
Since hanging up his boots in 2010, he has concentrated on increasing the quality of his string. While his operation is still some way behind those of JP McManus and Michael O'Leary in terms of depth of quality, purchases like this confirm his intent.
This is the second time in the space of 12 months that he has spent big on established talent, having last year paid £300,000 for 'point' winner Old Kilcash, which finished third in a recent Leopardstown bumper on its debut for John 'Shark' Hanlon.
Meanwhile, Graham Wylie, owner of the Willie Mullins-trained Back In Focus – successful in the three-mile Grade One novice chase at the Christmas Festival in Foxrock – has stated that the mud-loving stayer might not go to Cheltenham if the ground doesn't come up sufficiently soft.
Last Instalment, one of last season's leading novices before picking up a serious tendon injury, has been ruled for the remainder of the season after Philip Fenton revealed that he has picked up a similar injury again.
Golantilla gamble pays off for O'Brien - Horse Racing, Sport - Independent.ie
The sale, understood to be worth in excess of €350,000, is subject to the son of Golan passing a routine veterinary check this morning and represents a real fairytale for the trainer based in Kilworth in north Cork.
Should Golantilla come through that, the transaction will amount to a resounding vindication of O'Brien's decision to turn down a bid of what he calls "a genuine £180,000" at last month's Brightwells Sale in Cheltenham after the horse had hacked up on its Avaune point-to-point debut.
O'Brien, who, along with his mother Eileen, bred Golantilla, described the exciting youngster as an "absolute machine" after it stormed 13 lengths clear on its track debut under Ciaran Fennessy on Saturday.
At the time, he also nominated the March Grade One, for which Golantilla is now as low as 10/1 co-favourite, as the horse's primary objective this season.
"He is going to Tony Martin's and, as I understand it, will still be trained for the Cheltenham bumper," said O'Brien.
"Barry Connell is a good racing man, so I'm delighted that it is him getting the horse."
Based in the hurling-mad village of Kilworth, O'Brien has long been recognised as one of the shrewdest judges of a horse in an area that is renowned as a point-to-point stronghold.
The trainer – who learned his trade with Aidan O'Brien when the Ballydoyle maestro was based in Piltown, Co Kilkenny – has made no secret of his high regard for Golantilla in recent weeks, and, having held firm in his avowal not to sell for less than £200,000 in England, he took a similarly firm line in the aftermath of Saturday's deeply impressive triumph.
"A lot of the usual clients were interested," he admitted, "but we had no interest in a bidding war.
"We had a price in mind and, without being stupid about it, if we didn't get what we wanted, we were happy to keep him.
"I asked in the region of €400,000, and, while we had to give a little, we weren't disappointed with what we got. At the end of the day, everything has a value.
"Tony had asked me before the race on Saturday if what he had been hearing about the horse was true and I told him I couldn't see him coming off the bridle. That was the first time I spoke to him about the horse and it was all sorted very quickly on Sunday morning."
O'Brien's father John, who passed away in October, purchased Golantilla's dam for just IR£600.
Asked about the implicit gamble of a modest stable, which relies heavily on turning over horses, not accepting the sizeable sterling bid that was offered in December, O'Brien says he never doubted the horse would justify his judgment. "The way I looked at it, we are only a small set-up, but we weren't going hungry before Cheltenham and we weren't going to go hungry if I kept him.
Pressure
"I felt if he won a bumper he would be easier to sell. Obviously, there was that bit of pressure since we brought him back, but I never doubted the horse."
Connell – a 53-year-old Carrickmines-based stockbroker and fund manager, is a popular figure on Irish racetracks – having started out riding many of his own horses in bumpers 10 years ago.
Since hanging up his boots in 2010, he has concentrated on increasing the quality of his string. While his operation is still some way behind those of JP McManus and Michael O'Leary in terms of depth of quality, purchases like this confirm his intent.
This is the second time in the space of 12 months that he has spent big on established talent, having last year paid £300,000 for 'point' winner Old Kilcash, which finished third in a recent Leopardstown bumper on its debut for John 'Shark' Hanlon.
Meanwhile, Graham Wylie, owner of the Willie Mullins-trained Back In Focus – successful in the three-mile Grade One novice chase at the Christmas Festival in Foxrock – has stated that the mud-loving stayer might not go to Cheltenham if the ground doesn't come up sufficiently soft.
Last Instalment, one of last season's leading novices before picking up a serious tendon injury, has been ruled for the remainder of the season after Philip Fenton revealed that he has picked up a similar injury again.
Golantilla gamble pays off for O'Brien - Horse Racing, Sport - Independent.ie
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
New York’s top court refused Tuesday to hear another appeal by a Kentucky Derby-winning trainer on his 10-year ban from the sport for drug violations.
The Court of Appeals, without comment, denied Rick Dutrow Jr.’s request that the judges consider another appeal of the state Racing and Wagering Board’s 2011 decision to ban him.
Tuesday’s decision appears to end the state appeals process for Dutrow. His ban from New York’s thoroughbred tracks had been stayed pending appeals. Dutrow recently tied for the training title with 110 victories at Aqueduct, his fourth title at the track where his stable is based. It was the ninth time in the last 10 years he was the leading or second-leading trainer.
Board Chairman John Sabini said the penalties against Dutrow will take effect when the court order is served on him.
“The court’s action confirms that cheaters who repeatedly violate the rules have no place in New York racing,” he said.
Dutrow’s attorney, Michael Koenig, told the magazine The Blood-Horse he was disheartened and they were considering options.
In October, the same court rejected his constitutional appeal claiming his rights to a fair proceeding were violated by the appearance of bias by Sabini. He is also an officer of the Association of Racing Commissioners International, which advocated revoking Dutrow’s license.
Dutrow trained Big Brown to Derby and Preakness wins in 2008.
In October 2011, the three-member racing board cited infractions including syringes containing a painkiller and a sedative found in Dutrow’s desk, and the painkiller butorphanol — an opioid analgesic — found in the urine of his horse Fastus Cactus in 2010 after it won at Aqueduct Racetrack. The board also fined him $50,000.
Dutrow had told a hearing officer that he didn’t know how the syringes got into his desk. A blood test of Fastus Cactus didn’t show any butorphanol, and Dutrow’s expert witness theorized that the urine test might have been contaminated. He faced brief New York suspensions for drug violations in 2003, 2004 and 2008.
His 10-year ban is among the board’s harshest penalties, second only to the lifetime ban in 2009 of breeder Ernie Paragallo after malnourished horses were found at his Hudson Valley farm.
www-nytimes-com/2013/01/09/sports/dutrow-loses-appeal-on-10-year-horse-racing-ban-html
The Court of Appeals, without comment, denied Rick Dutrow Jr.’s request that the judges consider another appeal of the state Racing and Wagering Board’s 2011 decision to ban him.
Tuesday’s decision appears to end the state appeals process for Dutrow. His ban from New York’s thoroughbred tracks had been stayed pending appeals. Dutrow recently tied for the training title with 110 victories at Aqueduct, his fourth title at the track where his stable is based. It was the ninth time in the last 10 years he was the leading or second-leading trainer.
Board Chairman John Sabini said the penalties against Dutrow will take effect when the court order is served on him.
“The court’s action confirms that cheaters who repeatedly violate the rules have no place in New York racing,” he said.
Dutrow’s attorney, Michael Koenig, told the magazine The Blood-Horse he was disheartened and they were considering options.
In October, the same court rejected his constitutional appeal claiming his rights to a fair proceeding were violated by the appearance of bias by Sabini. He is also an officer of the Association of Racing Commissioners International, which advocated revoking Dutrow’s license.
Dutrow trained Big Brown to Derby and Preakness wins in 2008.
In October 2011, the three-member racing board cited infractions including syringes containing a painkiller and a sedative found in Dutrow’s desk, and the painkiller butorphanol — an opioid analgesic — found in the urine of his horse Fastus Cactus in 2010 after it won at Aqueduct Racetrack. The board also fined him $50,000.
Dutrow had told a hearing officer that he didn’t know how the syringes got into his desk. A blood test of Fastus Cactus didn’t show any butorphanol, and Dutrow’s expert witness theorized that the urine test might have been contaminated. He faced brief New York suspensions for drug violations in 2003, 2004 and 2008.
His 10-year ban is among the board’s harshest penalties, second only to the lifetime ban in 2009 of breeder Ernie Paragallo after malnourished horses were found at his Hudson Valley farm.
www-nytimes-com/2013/01/09/sports/dutrow-loses-appeal-on-10-year-horse-racing-ban-html
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Inclement winter weather around Montana has prompted cancellation of a Montana Board of Horse Racing meeting scheduled for Saturday at the state Capitol in Helena.
The meeting was to be the first under new executive secretary Tom Tucker of Stevensville. The agenda included allocation of race dates for 2013 to five venues, including Missoula and Kalispell. Also on tap were financial reviews and updates on simulcasting, advance deposit wagering and fantasy sports, as well as cost breakdowns for race meet managers.
“After the weekend, we will review availability of meeting rooms in Helena and try to schedule another meeting as soon as we can,” board chairman Dale Mahlum of Missoula said in an email Thursday afternoon to his board and racing supporters. “We apologize for any inconvenience, but traveling safety is a major concern.”
The meeting was to be the first under new executive secretary Tom Tucker of Stevensville. The agenda included allocation of race dates for 2013 to five venues, including Missoula and Kalispell. Also on tap were financial reviews and updates on simulcasting, advance deposit wagering and fantasy sports, as well as cost breakdowns for race meet managers.
“After the weekend, we will review availability of meeting rooms in Helena and try to schedule another meeting as soon as we can,” board chairman Dale Mahlum of Missoula said in an email Thursday afternoon to his board and racing supporters. “We apologize for any inconvenience, but traveling safety is a major concern.”
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
FIRST run in 2002, the Leamington Novices Hurdle (3.0 Warwick) is now over a decade old, but there's actually been just eight renewals of the Grade Two contest as poor weather conditions called a halt to proceedings in 2003, 2009, and 2010.
Those of us who write about horse racing get a bit of stick if we tip too many favourites – and so we should because any Joe Soap can open a newspaper and circle the jolly.
But from the small amount of data we have from this race so far, opposing the favourite here could be a costly exercise, with six of the last eight market leaders all going on to win.
I hope readers will forgive me, then, for siding with The New One at 5/4, which is one of the more exciting horses to come out of Nigel Twiston-Davies' yard of late.
Other than Inglis Drever, there are no real superstars in the list of previous winners, so I won't be getting over-excited about whichever horse goes on to win today – although it must be noted that bookmakers have seen some ante-post interest in The New One for the Neptune Novices Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and he now trades as low as 12/1 for that race.
He comes here with a decent enough CV and was one of last season's better bumper horses, with his only defeat in four of those races coming in the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival. He made a winning start over timber when taking a decent novice hurdle at Newton Abbott on the first day of October and followed up that victory with another win later in the month at Cheltenham.
While he remained in control in both of those races, he didn't always jump fluently, which is a minor cause for concern, although I'm told that Twiston-Davies has been doing plenty of schooling to get his jumping right.
The one most likely to follow him home is Dursey Sound, which should go off around 9/4. He won a bumper at Galway for Charlie Swan before being sold to go hurdling across the water and he duly obliged with victory in his first two races over obstacles at Uttoxeter and Wetherby. He lost little in defeat to Easter Day in a novice hurdle at Ascot last time and he's one to stick in the notebook for the future.
For something priced a little higher, consider Dark Lane at Lingfield (1.25), priced around 7/1. The seven-year-old won a claimer at Kempton on Sunday, but the handicapper hasn't had a chance to reassess his mark yet, so he comes here with an automatic 6lb penalty.
Whether or not that is enough to hold him back remains to be seen, but connections have booked Philip Prince to ride and his 7lb claim as an apprentice might just be the difference between winning and losing.
EACH-WAY outsider
BOTH Bear's Affair and Black Thunder should prove popular in the betting for this afternoon's Lanzarote Hurdle (2.40 Kempton) but, as the top two in the weights, they may find themselves struggling at the business end of the race.
Instead, a chance is taken on the Warren Greatrex trained Oscar Prairie, which trades at 16/1 and higher in the early markets. He was pulled up a number of times in some handicaps at the start of the season, but finally bounced back to form when runner-up at 66/1 at Wincanton last week.
TODAY'S SELECTIONS
11.45 Lingfield – Ajeeb
1.25 Lingfield – Dark Lane
1.50 Warwick – Highland Lodge
2.40 Kempton – Oscar Prairie (e/w)
3.00 Warwick – The New One
Those of us who write about horse racing get a bit of stick if we tip too many favourites – and so we should because any Joe Soap can open a newspaper and circle the jolly.
But from the small amount of data we have from this race so far, opposing the favourite here could be a costly exercise, with six of the last eight market leaders all going on to win.
I hope readers will forgive me, then, for siding with The New One at 5/4, which is one of the more exciting horses to come out of Nigel Twiston-Davies' yard of late.
Other than Inglis Drever, there are no real superstars in the list of previous winners, so I won't be getting over-excited about whichever horse goes on to win today – although it must be noted that bookmakers have seen some ante-post interest in The New One for the Neptune Novices Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and he now trades as low as 12/1 for that race.
He comes here with a decent enough CV and was one of last season's better bumper horses, with his only defeat in four of those races coming in the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival. He made a winning start over timber when taking a decent novice hurdle at Newton Abbott on the first day of October and followed up that victory with another win later in the month at Cheltenham.
While he remained in control in both of those races, he didn't always jump fluently, which is a minor cause for concern, although I'm told that Twiston-Davies has been doing plenty of schooling to get his jumping right.
The one most likely to follow him home is Dursey Sound, which should go off around 9/4. He won a bumper at Galway for Charlie Swan before being sold to go hurdling across the water and he duly obliged with victory in his first two races over obstacles at Uttoxeter and Wetherby. He lost little in defeat to Easter Day in a novice hurdle at Ascot last time and he's one to stick in the notebook for the future.
For something priced a little higher, consider Dark Lane at Lingfield (1.25), priced around 7/1. The seven-year-old won a claimer at Kempton on Sunday, but the handicapper hasn't had a chance to reassess his mark yet, so he comes here with an automatic 6lb penalty.
Whether or not that is enough to hold him back remains to be seen, but connections have booked Philip Prince to ride and his 7lb claim as an apprentice might just be the difference between winning and losing.
EACH-WAY outsider
BOTH Bear's Affair and Black Thunder should prove popular in the betting for this afternoon's Lanzarote Hurdle (2.40 Kempton) but, as the top two in the weights, they may find themselves struggling at the business end of the race.
Instead, a chance is taken on the Warren Greatrex trained Oscar Prairie, which trades at 16/1 and higher in the early markets. He was pulled up a number of times in some handicaps at the start of the season, but finally bounced back to form when runner-up at 66/1 at Wincanton last week.
TODAY'S SELECTIONS
11.45 Lingfield – Ajeeb
1.25 Lingfield – Dark Lane
1.50 Warwick – Highland Lodge
2.40 Kempton – Oscar Prairie (e/w)
3.00 Warwick – The New One
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
Color the comeback of Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens complete.
The winner of three Kentucky Derbies and eight Breeders' Cup races emerged from a seven-year hiatus to win Saturday's first race at Santa Anita aboard the Tom Proctor-conditioned filly, Branding, by 2 lengths while covering seven furlongs in 1:23.94.
"You can consider me a full-time rider," said the Caldwell, Idaho, native who has been doubling as an analyst on HRTV and will turn 50 on March 6. "They were getting with it the first quarter of a mile and I thought they might come back to me. My filly was traveling real well around the turn. She didn't really accelerate coming into the stretch but they stopped pretty good.
"I worked out quite a few horses this morning and the track because of the wind that we had and the real dry conditions was perfect for snow, but not exactly a racetrack. It was a little on the cuppy side and tiring."
Branding, a 3-year-old Kentucky-bred filly by Street Sense, was Stevens' third mount in a comeback that began Jan. 6 at Santa Anita. Owned by Leonard Lavin's Glen Hill Farm, Branding had been idle since her debut on June 28 at Betfair Hollywood Park, a race in which she broke slowly and was beaten by 15 lengths by eventual multiple stakes winning filly Executive Privilege.
As 9-5 favorite Tizmetizyou and 14-1 long shot Rhinestone Diva, ridden by Jose Valdivia and Julien Leparoux respectively, battled it out through fractions of 22.47 and 45.55, Stevens allowed his filly to gather herself and by the time the field reached the far turn, it was apparent Branding was on the move and would make her presence felt.
Tizmetizyou stopped the six furlong timer in 1:10.72, but the result was a fait accompli at that point as Stevens and Branding sailed by approaching the sixteenth pole to win clear.
Branding, off at 5-1, paid $13.20, $6.80 and $3.80. With the winner's share of $33,600, she ran her earnings to $33,950.
With Saturday's win, Stevens now has 4,889 in a remarkable career that also has included a record nine Santa Anita Derby wins, two wins in the Preakness, three Belmonts and, at the time of his retirement in November, 2005, $221,212,704 in purse money won.
Stevens will ride four horses today at Santa Anita, including Tale of a Champion, who is scheduled to run in the Grade II, $150,000 San Gabriel Stakes for older horses at 1 1/8 miles on turf. The San Gabriel has been carded as the eighth on a nine-race card and Tale of a Champion is 8-1 on the morning line. First post time is 12:30 p.m. today.
Fed Biz, Smith triumph
Fed Biz, considered by many to be Bob Baffert's top 3-year-old a year ago, made amends for a disappointing run in the opening day Malibu with a gate-to-wire win in Saturday's Grade II San Fernando Stakes.
Fed Biz won by a head under Mike Smith and ran the 1 1/16-mile in 1:42.34. The win was Baffert's record fifth in the prestigious middle leg of Santa Anita's Strub series for newly turned four-year-olds.
"I expect so much from this horse. When he loses, it's very disappointing," Baffert said. "He's a very talented horse and he was good today going to the gate and he ran well. In the Malibu, he went to the gate and he tried to sit down in there so it was a tough go." Fed Biz, sent from the gate by Smith, who broke from post position eighth in a nine-horse field, set fractions of 23.59, 47.28, 1:11.41 and 1:36.08 while being closely pursued by Tritap, with Corey Nakatani, and Handsome Mike with Mario Gutierrez.
"I really liked him when I breezed him before the race on opening day and for some reason he got really hot," Smith said. "I hadn't taken two steps inside the gate and he was over (and he) threw me out the back, and he just wasn't right after that."
Smith, asked about the San Fernando stretch duel with Tritap, acknowledged Fed Biz is maturing in all aspects.
"Early on, he used to be a little stubborn about switching to his right (lead)," Smith said. "Once I got him over there, he's game, he wouldn't let somebody by him unless they surprised him."
As for what might be next for the 4-year-old son of Giant's Causeway, Baffert indicated the Grade II Strub Stakes on Feb. 2 could be a bit too soon, which makes the Grade I Santa Anita Handicap on March 2 a more likely destination.
"I ran him back too quick after we beat Jimmy Creed (in the El Cajon Stakes on Aug. 31) at Del Mar," Baffert said. "I don't want to do that again."
Fed Biz, the morning line favorite at 7-2, was a post time overlay of 9-2 and paid $11.20, $6.20 and $4.40.
With the winner's share of $90,000 Fed Biz, who is owned by Kaleem Shah, Inc., increased his bankroll to $274,456 from an overall mark of 8-4-0-1.
Tritap, who broke from the far outside under Nakatani, showed good speed while going four-wide into the Club House turn. He engaged the winner around the far turn, battled head to head with him to the wire and finished a half-length clear of Guilt Force and Joe Talamo.
Tritap, trained by Steve Asmussen and off at 9-1, paid $9.80 and $6.40.
Guilt Trip, one of three Baffert trainees, came with a big run from off the pace and finished 2 3/4 lengths in front of Battle Force and Garrett Gomez.
"Looking back, I wish I had just circled the field," Talamo said. "I think if I'd have gone five-wide, I don't know if he'd have won, but he came flying. He's a nice horse."
Guilt Trip, off at 7-1, paid $5.60 to show. Baffert's third runner, Mile High Magic, was off as the 4-1 favorite and was eased under Martin Garcia after breaking in the air and slowly.
With 28-1 shot Chasing the Heat taking the ninth and final race on Saturday, there is a two-day pick-six carryover into Sunday of $231,345. The pick six will cover races four through nine. The total pool could reach $1 million by fourth race post time.
www-dailybulletin-com/ci_22364082/horse-racing-gary-stevens-wins-first-race-since
The winner of three Kentucky Derbies and eight Breeders' Cup races emerged from a seven-year hiatus to win Saturday's first race at Santa Anita aboard the Tom Proctor-conditioned filly, Branding, by 2 lengths while covering seven furlongs in 1:23.94.
"You can consider me a full-time rider," said the Caldwell, Idaho, native who has been doubling as an analyst on HRTV and will turn 50 on March 6. "They were getting with it the first quarter of a mile and I thought they might come back to me. My filly was traveling real well around the turn. She didn't really accelerate coming into the stretch but they stopped pretty good.
"I worked out quite a few horses this morning and the track because of the wind that we had and the real dry conditions was perfect for snow, but not exactly a racetrack. It was a little on the cuppy side and tiring."
Branding, a 3-year-old Kentucky-bred filly by Street Sense, was Stevens' third mount in a comeback that began Jan. 6 at Santa Anita. Owned by Leonard Lavin's Glen Hill Farm, Branding had been idle since her debut on June 28 at Betfair Hollywood Park, a race in which she broke slowly and was beaten by 15 lengths by eventual multiple stakes winning filly Executive Privilege.
As 9-5 favorite Tizmetizyou and 14-1 long shot Rhinestone Diva, ridden by Jose Valdivia and Julien Leparoux respectively, battled it out through fractions of 22.47 and 45.55, Stevens allowed his filly to gather herself and by the time the field reached the far turn, it was apparent Branding was on the move and would make her presence felt.
Tizmetizyou stopped the six furlong timer in 1:10.72, but the result was a fait accompli at that point as Stevens and Branding sailed by approaching the sixteenth pole to win clear.
Branding, off at 5-1, paid $13.20, $6.80 and $3.80. With the winner's share of $33,600, she ran her earnings to $33,950.
With Saturday's win, Stevens now has 4,889 in a remarkable career that also has included a record nine Santa Anita Derby wins, two wins in the Preakness, three Belmonts and, at the time of his retirement in November, 2005, $221,212,704 in purse money won.
Stevens will ride four horses today at Santa Anita, including Tale of a Champion, who is scheduled to run in the Grade II, $150,000 San Gabriel Stakes for older horses at 1 1/8 miles on turf. The San Gabriel has been carded as the eighth on a nine-race card and Tale of a Champion is 8-1 on the morning line. First post time is 12:30 p.m. today.
Fed Biz, Smith triumph
Fed Biz, considered by many to be Bob Baffert's top 3-year-old a year ago, made amends for a disappointing run in the opening day Malibu with a gate-to-wire win in Saturday's Grade II San Fernando Stakes.
Fed Biz won by a head under Mike Smith and ran the 1 1/16-mile in 1:42.34. The win was Baffert's record fifth in the prestigious middle leg of Santa Anita's Strub series for newly turned four-year-olds.
"I expect so much from this horse. When he loses, it's very disappointing," Baffert said. "He's a very talented horse and he was good today going to the gate and he ran well. In the Malibu, he went to the gate and he tried to sit down in there so it was a tough go." Fed Biz, sent from the gate by Smith, who broke from post position eighth in a nine-horse field, set fractions of 23.59, 47.28, 1:11.41 and 1:36.08 while being closely pursued by Tritap, with Corey Nakatani, and Handsome Mike with Mario Gutierrez.
"I really liked him when I breezed him before the race on opening day and for some reason he got really hot," Smith said. "I hadn't taken two steps inside the gate and he was over (and he) threw me out the back, and he just wasn't right after that."
Smith, asked about the San Fernando stretch duel with Tritap, acknowledged Fed Biz is maturing in all aspects.
"Early on, he used to be a little stubborn about switching to his right (lead)," Smith said. "Once I got him over there, he's game, he wouldn't let somebody by him unless they surprised him."
As for what might be next for the 4-year-old son of Giant's Causeway, Baffert indicated the Grade II Strub Stakes on Feb. 2 could be a bit too soon, which makes the Grade I Santa Anita Handicap on March 2 a more likely destination.
"I ran him back too quick after we beat Jimmy Creed (in the El Cajon Stakes on Aug. 31) at Del Mar," Baffert said. "I don't want to do that again."
Fed Biz, the morning line favorite at 7-2, was a post time overlay of 9-2 and paid $11.20, $6.20 and $4.40.
With the winner's share of $90,000 Fed Biz, who is owned by Kaleem Shah, Inc., increased his bankroll to $274,456 from an overall mark of 8-4-0-1.
Tritap, who broke from the far outside under Nakatani, showed good speed while going four-wide into the Club House turn. He engaged the winner around the far turn, battled head to head with him to the wire and finished a half-length clear of Guilt Force and Joe Talamo.
Tritap, trained by Steve Asmussen and off at 9-1, paid $9.80 and $6.40.
Guilt Trip, one of three Baffert trainees, came with a big run from off the pace and finished 2 3/4 lengths in front of Battle Force and Garrett Gomez.
"Looking back, I wish I had just circled the field," Talamo said. "I think if I'd have gone five-wide, I don't know if he'd have won, but he came flying. He's a nice horse."
Guilt Trip, off at 7-1, paid $5.60 to show. Baffert's third runner, Mile High Magic, was off as the 4-1 favorite and was eased under Martin Garcia after breaking in the air and slowly.
With 28-1 shot Chasing the Heat taking the ninth and final race on Saturday, there is a two-day pick-six carryover into Sunday of $231,345. The pick six will cover races four through nine. The total pool could reach $1 million by fourth race post time.
www-dailybulletin-com/ci_22364082/horse-racing-gary-stevens-wins-first-race-since
Join:
2006/12/07
Messages:
29893
.jpg?v=1.014689139)
.png?v=1.014689139)
"I'm pretty pissed off," Boyle said on Tuesday night. "That allegation was never put to me, or I would have robustly defended myself against it. I've spent the last 20 months defending myself against a serious allegation, which was completely ludicrous. There have been serious flaws in the BHA investigation but they've moved the goalposts. The panel has given the BHA a get-out and that is not their role."
Milkshaking refers to the practice of administering a blend of substances, including bicarbonate of soda, to a horse with the aim of reducing fatigue and enhancing performance. Although rare in Britain, the trainer Matt Gingell was banned in 2009 after admitting the practice and the BHA accused Boyle after finding raised CO2 levels in his New Den before it was due to race at Lingfield in April 2011.
The BHA argued that milkshaking could have been the only explanation for those raised CO2 levels but the panel was concerned that the horse also returned a high reading two days after the race, from which he had been withdrawn. Further, they noted that the surrounding circumstances made milkshaking unlikely in this case, noting in particular that New Den, who never won in 18 starts, was about to be retired and that there was no pressure from the owners for him to do well.
But the panel nevertheless punished Boyle for the administering to the horse of "tie-up" powders, a drug provided by his vet to help horses recover from the effects of exercise, some of which was given to New Den on the morning of the race. Boyle said that this was done without his knowledge by a member of staff who did not know the horse was due to race; the panel did not believe this.
Boyle has not been banned from the sport, can continue to train and charge training fees but cannot race his horses for the next two months. "January and February are a very strong time for me, normally. They're taking away a serious chunk of my business," he said, adding that the pending case had prevented him from investing in new horses this year in the way he normally would.
"I've spent £40,000 defending myself, I've borrowed up to my eyeballs. My first reaction is that I want to appeal but I'm told it would cost another £10,000 to £20,000 that I do not have. I've been bled dry by the BHA, which has the money and legal talent to take this as far as they want."
Responding to Boyle, the BHA's Robin Mounsey said: "The disciplinary panel found Jim Boyle to be in breach of the main charge brought against him, in that Boyle intended to run a horse who had been administered with prohibited substances on race-day in the knowledge that the performance of the horse could be affected by such administration. This was alongside three further serious breaches of the rules of racing."
Mounsey would not address the limited punishment, pending publication of the panel's reasons for same. Privately, BHA insiders are likely to feel Boyle was lucky to escape with his licence, as the entry point for the main offence proved is a one-year ban.
A crowd of 2,493 attended Folkestone's final fixture on Tuesday. The course's owners, Arc, say there is no prospect of it being viable, now the local council has ruled out the building of homes on part of the site.
Suspended trainer Jim Boyle rages at British Horseracing Authority | Sport | The Guardian