HP NOW Mag November 2014 by Horse Player NOW

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CONTENTS NOVEMBER ‘14 5

From The Publisher

7 The Teaser

Topics that titillate the racing mind.

11 #Racing Girl

Profile of Bet America’s Molly Jo Rosen and women in racing.

17 Johnny Dial-Up

Spotlighton Xpressbet’s John DeSantis, an ADW pioneer.

22 Finding the Balance

BRIS and Twin Spires’ Ed DeRosa juggles with the best of them.

Fast Lane Less Traveled

How AQHA racing director Trey Buck moved up in the sport.

32 Big M Emcee

Profile on Meadowlands track announcer Sam McKee.

36 AQHA Handicapping

Martha Claussen previews the rich Texas Classic Futurity.

41 Harness Handicapping

Ken Warketin looks towardthe Breeders Crown later this month.

48 Back to Night School: Election Night

See the results of nearly 2 dozen polls the matter in the industry.

59 October Calendar

Stakes, key dates, Race of Month

62 Galloping Out

Jeremy Plonk explains it's always family first in your daily doubles.

From the Publisher Yes, we’re late by design. While the monthly magazine typically unveils each issue on the first of the month, there was a little thing called the Breeders’ Cup on Oct. 31-Nov. 1 in the way. As a small company that prides itself on honest and trusted information for horseplayers and fans, moving the November issue to a release on the 10th allowed us to continue our promise to you. And now we “Play It Forward” with a themed issue that tips the cap and salutes individuals who work at the companies that make HP NOW Mag capable of being delivered free to you each month. This is not my way of endorsing companies, but rather a way to pay it forward and share these individuals’ stories with you. It’s an issue about those who do good, have done good and continue to “get it” when it comes to developing horseplayers. They saw a vision in this project when it was just an idea. Now meet some of the folks behind that foresight and please share their passion forward with others. - JP

Editor, Publisher, Designer Jeremy Plonk Contributing Writers Caton Bredar Martha Claussen Jerry Shottenkirk Brian Nadeau Brian W. Spencer Ken Warkentin Photography Chief Enzina Mastrippolito (Photosbyz) Contributing Photographers Eric Kalet Louise E. Reinagel Jen Roytz AQHA Racing Journal Adam Coglianese / NYRA Michael Lisa / Meadowlands

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THE TEASER:

From a big spin of the wheel to Teaser, definition: A male The People’s Court horse used at breeding farms to determine whether to constitutionality, a mare is ready to receive a stallion. Also, perhaps the eventually it will all most unfulfilling occupation in the universe. make sense. Medication Roulette Trainer Doug O‟Neill, who rose to international prominence with Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner I‟ll Have Another, escaped serious injury after playing a dangerous game of bi-coastal Medication Roulette. O‟Neill, fined $10,000 and suspended by the New York State Gaming Commission because a horse in his stable had competed with an illegal medication, also dodged a California Horse Racing Board bullet. The New York ruling came down four months after O‟Neill had

completed a California probation period tied to a previous suspension. However, the New York incident actually occurred nine months earlier and within the probation period. Fortunately for O‟Neill, the CHRB decided to adjudicate off the March 10, 2014 date instead of June 2, 2013, the date of the actual incident. Whew! O‟Neill, who periodically sports a thick, full beard, never has had such a close shave! As it is, O‟Neill now is serving both a California-imposed 45-day suspension (for violating terms of the earlier CHRB agreement) and a New York-instituted 45-day ban (for the most recent positive)— keeping him on the sidelines until 7

December 19, 2014. He was forced to miss his charge Goldencents‟ impressive defense of his title in the Breeders‟ Cup Dirt Mile. O‟Neill initially dodged shrapnel when the New York suspension conveniently wasn‟t slated to begin until after this year‟s Breeders‟ Cup (which, ironically, was held in California again this year). However, Breeders‟ Cup officials quickly pointed to fine print in their rules and regs that prohibit any offending trainer from entering horses in BC events. O‟Neill‟s assistant trainer, Leandro Moro, saddled Goldencents.

chosen to present the Dirt Mile trophy to the connections of Goldencents. Derek‟s alleged postrace comment, “I can‟t believe you would have me present this to THESE guys,” drew the ire of Doug O‟Neill‟s brother, Dennis, and he emailed CHRB chairman Chuck Winner and Rick Baedeker, executive director of the regulatory board, to voice his displeasure. On the other hand, old timers who vividly recall Bo tormenting the late Dudley Moore on-screen saw the comment actually boost her power rating from „10‟ to ‟10.5.‟ Call ‘Em Like You See ‘Em

Here‟s hoping O‟Neill, who is becoming familiar with this game of roulette, has been sprinkling breadcrumbs along the way because he‟s not out of the woods. The trainer‟s new agreement with the CHRB means that following this suspension he must begin another 18-month probationary period and can‟t be in violation of any further Class I, II or III drug regulation or rule anywhere during that time.

Santa Anita Stewards Scott Chaney, Kim Sawyer and Tom Ward, now famous (or infamous, depending on how you view things) for a non-call in this year‟s Breeders‟ Cup Classic, recently were honored by the city of Los Angeles and invited to serve as „Judges for a Day‟ (or maybe it was a dream sequence, but why let a good story lay dormant on a pillow?) …

O‟Neill‟s suspension led to an awkward moment for Hollywood celeb and California Horse Racing Board member Bo Derek, carelessly

The citywide program invites notable Angelinos to occupy the bench and to adjudicate random trials. By easing caseloads for 8

current judges, it is hoped the city‟s severe trial backlog will be erased within a year. Judges Chaney, Sawyer and Ward caught a murder trial involving a 23-year-old Beverly Hills woman who was accused of shooting her billionaire 80-year-old husband. After reviewing all the evidence, which included damning video clearly showing the woman aiming a handgun and firing point-blank at her husband, the judges unanimously pronounced the woman „Not Guilty.‟ When asked to explain the ruling, judge Chaney spoke for the triumvirate, “We know the accused shot her husband. That‟s clear from the video. However, her action didn‟t affect the order of finish. He was going to die before her anyway.” What a Country! You gotta love the good old US of A. Everyone does. It‟s the greatest country in the world. Hands down. That‟s why our borders are under siege; everyone wants in. Our freedoms are incredible, however they come at a hefty price: sometimes the bad guys get away. You may remember reading in this space about Roberto Morales, a

Prairie Meadows jockey who was arrested and charged with three counts of prohibited acts for possessing three working and two non-working electrical devices, unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of prescription drugs. Guess what. His license has been reinstated compliments of a District Court judge who ruled the Iowa law permitting a warrantless search of his vehicle was unconstitutional. The complete story is interesting and worth examination. However, the bottom line is pretty clear: a jock apparently using or selling buzzers got away with it. Never mind the unlawful handgun or prescription drugs; they don‟t bother Teaser as much as the gizmos. Maybe they should. Anyway, here‟s hoping Roberto Morales realizes he‟s gotten a 2nd chance and takes advantage. As much as it hurts, the real winner in all of this is our country. Our constitution. Sometimes the bad guys get away, get second chances to go wrong again and again. However, they also have an opportunity to make things right. And that‟s all a person can ask for.

- HPN 9

Bet America’s Molly Jo Rosen

By Jeremy Plonk

#Racing Girl When your great-grandfather was a professional gambler hustling alongside Bugsy Siegel, it‟s safe to say your career path likely won‟t wind up in a kitchen baking soufflés.

That‟s just one of the stereotypes Molly Jo Rosen has kicked down in what many would consider an interesting profession. Rosen is the content marketing manager for BetAmerica.com, an independent online sports and advance deposit wagering (ADW) company. She‟s bringing a lady‟s touch to an industry dominated by men, but in a way men can relate. “We were looking for a „challenger‟ aspect to our marketing strategy and messaging,” Rosen flatly said when discussing Bet America‟s 11

aggressive marketing approaches that have utilized female jockeys Chantal Sutherland and Kayla Stra. “The TV commercials that feature Chantal and Kayla prove what can be achieved no matter how great the challenges are in front of you with hard work and dedication. They were hugely successful, but now we‟re looking at how we take the messaging to the next level for 2015 and beyond.”

Steiner and Edwin Maldonado joined Team Bet America this past summer at Del Mar, and hinted at two high-profile, blockbuster jockey endorsements to be announced. “We‟re the inclusive folks,” Rosen said of her team at Bet America. While much of the racing industry has alliances and conflicts, an independent ADW can take a few more fliers with its roster. The environment at the San Francisco-based company leans more to Silicon Valley than your local racetrack environment. “We have a bumper pool table and a keg at the headquarters,” Rosen laughed.

And while the ads with Sutherland and Stra have gotten the new ADW much attention, Rosen reminded us that male jockeys like Mario Gutierrez, Martin Pedroza, Joe 12

“It’s much more San Francisco, techy/start-up than anywhere I ever imagined working. I’m used to dust, boots and pulling straw out of my hair.” Rosen has been on horseback since she was 18 months old and rode showjumpers in her youth. Every birthday she can remember as a kid came at Del Mar, where her Irvine, CA-based family would take her annually to celebrate. At 14, she had an epiphany at Del Mar and decided then she wanted to pursue a job in racing. A chance meeting at Hollywood Park while cashing a ticket in 2002 found her in line next to a TVG producer, and a few weeks later she was off and running in the industry as an intern at the network. Her gambler‟s pedigree aside, Rosen chose to further her studies of horse racing at the University of Louisville, Warwickshire College in England and even the North American Racing Academy run by Hall of Fame jockey Chris McCarron. Her timeline includes stints at tracks like Churchill Downs,

working the gap in the mornings to help identify workers and log workout times. She also spent time as tour director at Three Chimneys Farm, where her arrival came just after Smarty Jones arrived at stud. “Smarty was getting 600 visits per week from prospective breeders and fans back in 2004,” she fondly recalled while rattling off the Who‟s Who, stall-by-stall, of the former Three Chimneys lineup. “Albert the Great, I can still remember him sleeping upside-down, on his back with all four feet in the air.” It‟s that very mixture of gambler and grandeur that makes horse racing a perfect cocktail for Rosen. “I encourage everyone to bet and to have skin in the game,” she said. “But, remember, at the root of all this is the horses doing what they’re bred to do. Love the sport for that and you’ll be hooked.” Rosen can be found on Twitter most all the time, representing @BetAmerica and her personal handle. It‟s part of a passion and calculated social media effort in 13

this brave, new technological world. “I looked at how all the AWDs were handling their social media – Twitter, Facebook, even some Instagram – and I didn‟t want ours to be constantly throwing promos at people. I love when folks use our promotional calendar to their advantage, don‟t get me wrong. But I want our social media presence to be social. “It‟s more fun to handicap when you‟re having a conversation. I want it to be a conversation, and for Bet America to be at the fore of that talk. We‟re independent; we don‟t have anyone to talk for us.” Rosen remains optimistic about racing‟s future and the role women will play in it.

“Racing is opening up slowly, but surely,” she said. “This generation of #racinggirls owes a lot to women like Chantal, Julie Krone, Patti Cooksey and Donna BartonBrothers, too, even though I‟m on the media and marketing side. “There are so many women breaking down borders on all sides – look at Kathy Ritvo or Linda Rice in training horses. “I remember 15 years ago when someone I greatly respected in the industry told my mother, „There‟s no place for a woman on the backstretch.‟ “Six months later, after I had made it successfully into the industry, he came up to me one morning and said, „I was wrong, wasn‟t I?‟

“I love the challenge,” Rosen admits. I‟ve heard some of the most sexist remarks you can imagine, and it‟s just like „Really?!‟ It‟s not even offensive anymore.” Rosen said programs like the one at McCarron‟s North American Racing Academy offer hope for the next generation of industry types. “They are the future of the game,” she said. “I can‟t speak highly enough how much Chris McCarron and Dixie Hayes at NARA are doing.

“Jockeys just aren’t born. There aren’t going to be 700 more Baze kids. They are building a foundation not only for riding, but nutrition, horsemanship, shoeing, business and development. “I mean, this is the coolest way to make a living. We‟re not curing cancer or world hunger. We get to watch and bet on incredible animals doing what they were bred to do. That‟s all I could ever ask - HPN for.”

FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS • FIRST POST 7:1 5

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BREEDERS CROWN FINALS

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FFA PACE & TROT FINALS

MEADOWLANDS RACI NG & E N T E R TA I N M E N T 1 RACETRACK DRIVE • E. RUTHERFORD, NJ • P L AY M E A D O W L A N D S . C O M

DeSantis has been at the fore of online wagering since its start – and he’s seen it all.

By Brian Nadeau To say John DeSantis – more widely known simply as Johnny D – has worn a few hats during his career in the horse racing industry would be like saying there was a little bit of bumping at the start of the Breeders' Cup Classic. From starting out in the publicity department at Hollywood Park to esteemed jocks' agent to pioneer in the ADW world to his current post as Xpressbet senior vice president, DeSantis has been there and done that in the racing world. DeSantis, 59, grew up in South Philadelphia but cut his racing teeth in Southern California, attending Occidental College, a liberal arts school in Eagle Rock,

California, which is just outside Los Angeles. With his dad well-versed in playing the races and Santa Anita just miles from Occidental, it was hardly a surprise that DeSantis split time between studying the books and studying the Racing Form. “My father and I would go to the California tracks and I enjoyed the handicapping challenge,” DeSantis said. “At Occidental, I would head to Santa Anita to play the double and then return in time for my 1 p.m. class.” A lifetime in racing had begun. DeSantis graduated from Occidental and immediately headed for the race track, getting his first job working for Nat Wess in the publicity department at Hollywood Park in 1979 and eventually working for Santa Anita and Del 17

Mar as well, early on in his career. After a few years wearing a shirt and tie in racing offices, a career change beckoned and DeSantis switched gears and began a long tenure as a jockey‟s agent in California. “It looked like jockey’s agents were making quite a bit of money, which was obviously appealing to me.” DeSantis said. “I had made some connections working at the track and decided it was the time to make the transition; and for the next 15-20 years, I experienced the ups-and-downs of the racing world.” DeSantis held the book for several prominent Southern California jocks, most notably Sandy Hawley, Fernando Toro, Alex Solis, Corey Black and Chris Antley. He also kept busy doing other jobs and honing his craft at the track during this time period, including the creation of the tip sheet “Winners” at Santa Anita, which is still there to this day. Always looking for a challenge, DeSantis got one in a big way in 1994 when he got wind of a new

company that was starting up, with designs on allowing bettors to watch and wager on horse racing from their computers. It may seem like second nature today, but some 20 years ago, the notion of betting on a horse race from your computer was a distant one. Sensing the revolutionary magnitude of what was being presented to him, DeSantis jumped in. “Fellow agent Jeff Franklin knew of some people who were starting up the company that would be named Youbet and I was fortunate to get in on the ground floor, so to speak.” DeSantis said. “I was the fifth person they ever hired. I saw the Internet for the first time in the Youbet offices. I remember asking them ‘This is legal?’ when they first explained the concept to me. When they told me it was, I said „Fugetaboutit.‟ I knew right there it was going to be huge. They hired me to help with product development and be their racing advisor, and I‟ve been on that side of the industry ever since.” 18

The ever-blossoming world of “I think as technology improves technology caught fire in the we‟ll be able to do things we can‟t gambling circle quickly, as ADW even imagine right now,” DeSantis (advanced-deposit wagering) sites said. “I remember when all this quickly became the rule, as first came about, you would watch opposed to on your the computer, exception. see the For the first horses break time ever, from the fans were gate, take a able to simply few strides deposit and then the money screen through their would computer freeze. Then (and later it would their mobile work and phone) to an Johnny D has been a fixture on HRTV, they would online at Gulfstream Park and as a frequent take a few account and contributor to Night School. Click the more strides wager on and freeze video for his A to Z assistance! horse racing. again. And DeSantis caught the wave early now, on a Saturday afternoon, I‟ll and rode the crest to Xpressbet, sit at home watching several where he‟s been since the different tracks and just marvel at company started some 12 years what I can do from the comfort of ago and now serves as their senior my own home.” vice president. Technology aside, racing needs to And while he‟s been an integral broaden its horizons and attract part of the ADW movement, he new fans that will fuel and better also realizes there still are plenty of the sport going forward. DeSantis unchartered waters that will yield thought back to his past to come even greater advances going up with something that could build forward. on the sport‟s future. 19

“In the late 1990s and early 2000s, executives in the industry, so it‟s I was the executive director of no surprise he has a strong opinion „Kids to the Cup,‟ which was on the direction things may take. founded by the late Trudy McCaffery and was a national “Handicapping is a personal racing fan club,” endeavor, but DeSantis said. playing the races is “We would take a social one; groups of kids, people want to talk from 8-16, to about their winners the racetrack and losers and and show them racing is missing all about the that now,” sport. We‟d give DeSantis said. “I backside tours think that we did for 30-40 some of that a few people, parents years back with included, and the Xpressbet Race Among the Kids to the Cup at CD in today a lot of Chats, which 2000, Sean Feld (now of HRRN), Katie those kids are in allowed bettors to Merritt (eventual exercise rider for the racing talk about the Street Sense/Fort Larned), and Sophia industry. races and their McKee (since of Monmouth/Emerald). wagers in real“Racing doesn‟t have that today time, but there‟s more we can build and I think it would be a great idea on. Technology is always getting to help build interest, and I‟m not better and better; I‟m excited what talking about betting. The horse is the future holds.” the world‟s greatest athlete and the most beautiful one. We need to Whether it‟s been writing press promote that more. Kids love releases, booking mounts for the horses so there‟s a natural sport‟s best jockeys or helping to connection there.” bring the racing experience to your computer or even the kids, John Of course, DeSantis has built his DeSantis has been a major player reputation as one of the pioneers in all of it. That doesn‟t figure to of the ADW movement and change any time soon. - HPN continues to be one of the leading 20

By Brian W. Spencer Shortly after Bayern won the Breeders' Cup Classic, Brisnet Director of Marketing Ed DeRosa tweeted, “Lost in the din of the inquiry was that Martin Garcia announced his retirement,” jokingly riffing off the bombshell announcement made after the previous day's feature race when Rosie Napravnik announced her retirement in the winner's circle. DeRosa later heard that a colleague in the Santa Anita press box was frantically asking other reporters for information about the retirement announcement, taking DeRosa's tweet more than a bit too literally. “I can't disagree that sometimes people take me too seriously on

Twitter,” said DeRosa, known for offering a mixed bag of serious commentary on the racing industry along with deadpan humor. “It's sort of part of the fun for me because I'm so dry.” DeRosa admits that his honesty and penchant for dry humor can make him something of a polarizing figure in social media, but he wouldn't trade the network, or his position in it, for any other. “I think Twitter is the social media network. I've hired people from Twitter and I have a lot of respect for the medium and think it's the #1 place to go to get a pulse on racing. “There are smart people on Twitter, and smart people can disagree, and being smart leads to being passionate,” DeRosa said. 22

DeRosa's passion for the racing industry is evident, a passion that was developed from an early age on the front side of Thistledown in Ohio where he would accompany his grandfather, a bookie. “I started going to the track when I was four, and I recall really consciously wanting to bet by age six. At that time, full-card simulcasting wasn't available, so if you were in Ohio and wanted to bet Saratoga, you had to go through a bookie; so I learned a lot from watching my grandfather work. In the late „80s and early „90s, it really became a serious thing for me,” DeRosa recalled. “I remember liking the thrill of watching a race and having a bet on it, but from a professional standpoint, I got interested from reading Bob Roberts in the Plain Dealer. He had a column dedicated to Thistledown, and I thought 'What a job – he gets to watch races and write about them for his work.' The idea of marrying the recreational and professional side of the races was appealing to me.”

In college, DeRosa got a job at a local paper and was able to cover the Little Brown Jug, the prestigious harness race in Ohio, and write some other harness features. That reporting gave him the foundation to land a job at Thoroughbred Times in 2002, where he stayed for nine years before moving on to his current position at Brisnet – where he uses social media along with traditional media to spread brand awareness of Brisnet products. While working at Thoroughbred Times, DeRosa met his wife of eight years, Lorrie. Her best friend worked alongside him at the Times, allowing them to meet. “Thoroughbred Times gave me a lot, including my family in an indirect way,” DeRosa said, “I have a lot of great memories from working there and I'm pretty indebted to them for that.” In 2011, the couple had their first child, E.J., who was born with a permanent disability due to a missing chromosome called 22Q Deletion Syndrome. 23

“He was in the hospital for five and a half months, had several surgeries, feeding tubes – some really serious medical issues,” he explained. “Becoming a father in the first place really changes things, you just become so immersed in that portion of your life. We always hear people talk about what a great community horse racing has, and with E.J. we experienced that firsthand. “People I had never met were so invested in what was going on with us, and he's doing great now. He's a big brother – twice – we had twins in July, and Carleigh and Dominic are now four and a half months old (pictured).” With three children and a welcomed increase in family commitments, DeRosa, as he so typically does, takes a very dry tone of voice when explaining one of the biggest changes: “Well, I can tell you one thing – my handle is down since the twins were born.

“As a marketer, it has been a good experience in really making me appreciate why racing is so attractive to an older demographic. There are two things you need to really play the races – disposable income and free time. I don't have as much of either of those anymore. The Breeders' Cup was the second Saturday I've watched races live since the twins were born,” DeRosa admitted. “But I really like the balance. I love my family and I love the work I do, and I just can't take an afternoon off away from the family and play the races the way I used to. But as a horseplayer, you're always pushing the edges anyway, and you can't miss plays you think are really live. I can't handicap every day anymore, but I keep up with horses through my stable mail, and with ADW, it's easier now to get in a play and not feel like I missed an opportunity.” 24

He adds, â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are also benefits to that kind of spot playing. If the horse doesn't run well, I'm just out the money on that one bet and wind up saving money because I am not getting drawn into betting the whole card. If you're playing less frequently, you're taking advantage of the horses you really like.â&#x20AC;? In an alwaysconnected world, the Ed gets cool with Coolmore's trainer struggle to find a Aidan O'Brien at the 2014 Breeders' Cup. reasonable work/life The racing industry benefits from balance has become increasingly the same always-connected world difficult, but DeRosa has mastered that allows DeRosa to never be the art of working hard and playing further from his next tweet than he hard, effectively honoring his is from his phone â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the only commitments to his family and to complication for readers, then, is to his work while continuing to be an determine just how seriously to authentic voice for bettors and take those next 140 characters. racing fans throughout the industry.

- HPN 25

AND SUBSCRIBE TO THE Q-RACING JOURNAL TO FOLLOW AMERICA’S FASTEST ATHLETES!

By Jerry Shottenkirk The thrills have changed for Trey Buck.

native. “I did a lot of things on my way to this job.”

Nearly 25 years ago, driving a Ferrari around the parking lot of Remington Park was a goal he achieved.

In addition to parking cars during Remington’s early years, Buck worked in the shipping and receiving department. He spent three years near the loading dock, and in the summer of 1995, he went to the marketing department.

Today, he is still interested in fastmoving vehicles – the four-legged variety – and a driving finish to the end is what he enjoys as much as anything. Buck is the executive director of racing for the American Quarter Horse Association, the governing body for the breed. The rise from parking valet to one of the most powerful names in Quarter Horse racing is something you don’t see every day. And Buck is proud of it. “I wouldn’t change the way it went for me,” said the Edmond, Okla.,

All through his Remington years, he also was working his way through college, first at Oklahoma State University and later at Oklahoma City University, where he achieved a business degree. The move to marketing was a fortuitous occupational change. Working with then-marketing director Rhonda Norby (now of Equibase), he learned to appreciate the promotion and marketing of all breeds of racing. 27

He became familiar with the Quarter Horse business through an association of tracks and managers. He was involved with the American Quarter Horse Race Track Association and found out he’d been in a pretty good place up to that point.

“I went to an association meeting with 30 or 40 people, and half of that group was people who were once at Remington – a lot of the staff Mr. (David) Vance had. It was a way for people associated with racetracks, mainly Quarter Horse tracks, to meet and trade ideas. It was back before the National Thoroughbred Racing Association. It was an AQHA campaign to market and promote your tracks.” After Buck earned his business degree, he was lured to the AQHA, mainly by former Remington marketing staffer Tom Persechino. “Tom called me in early 1999 and asked me to apply for a job in the AQHA marketing department,” Buck recalled. “At the time I worked with an ad agency in Oklahoma that had the Remington account. He said there was a job

opening.” Buck was interviewed by Keith Kleine and got the job. 28

He worked in promotions for the AQHA and got a break when executive director Dan Fick moved on, and Fick’s successor, Gary Carpenter, moved to the AQHA Foundation. After several discussions with AQHA president Bill Brewer, Buck was promoted and has been in his current position for

Buck's leadership included the creation of the All American Enforcement Team, working to develop integrity and sniff out medication misdoings in the sport. 10 years.

In the time he’s been with the AQHA, Buck has seen a lot of issues come to the fore, but one stands out more than any. “Quarter Horse racing has changed a lot with all the medication issues over the past four or five years,” he said. “It’s been the primary focus and we are building a relationship with the RMTC (Racing Medication and Testing Consortium). Some days it seems like a losing battle, but

we’ve been making great strides. It’s definitely a positive. “Our goal is to grow the game and the sport. Depending on what level of the sport you are involved in, there can be an image problem. If you work at a track or association you see or hear more, and the perception is that there’s a huge problem and we’re dealing with it. I don’t know how much is picked up about it by the casual fan.” Buck stays close to the action, mainly due to the principals. 29

“Horses are really the main reason anyone is interested in it,” he said. “Back at Remington Park, I was around Quarter Horses like SLM Big Daddy, Tailor Fit and Kool Kue Baby. Seeing them and being around them made it all worth it.” Of course, the human element also attracted Buck to the Quarter Horse game. And his relationships with the folks that put on the show have not faded. “The best part of my job is working with the horsemen,” Buck said. “Whether it’s at the races or at sales, it is great being around them. It reminds you why you go through the daily grind.” Buck’s success comes as no surprise to Vance, who was executive vice president and general manager of Remington

Park from its beginning in 1988 through 1995. “He’s a quality guy who always had a positive, can-do attitude,” Vance said. “The thing that stood out with me was his willingness to tackle whatever task was at hand. I feel certain that same attitude has allowed him to earn respect within the AQHA. He’s where he belongs and I’m delighted to see him gain respect and recognize his own leadership abilities. ”I have no doubt that Trey would be running his own (track) operation had he chosen to go in that direction,” Vance concluded.

-HPN 30

By Caton Bredar Spend a few minutes talking to Meadowlands‘ Sam McKee and you quickly hear a different voice than the one that‘s called harness races for more than three decades and is widely considered one of the best in the sport today. ―I‘m a little like a horse that gets up on the bit,‖ the Hall of Famer jokes about an enthusiasm hard to turn off, one that belies the calm, accurate, deliberate tone with which he calls races. His skill, like his passion for the game, has been a long time in the making. Starting out in the racing business virtually from his birth in 1962, McKee was carted around by his father and grandfather to county

fairs and race meets all around his native state of Michigan, a hobby for his family that would lead fairly early on to a career for a young McKee—and would supply the foundation upon which he would build his calls. ―We always had 3 or 4 horses and, in those days, did everything all by ourselves,‖ McKee explains. ―I grew up with it and was always fascinated by announcers. When I was 5 years old, I would set up mock races, run around in circles and call the action.‖ By age 10, the hobby extended to fan letter writing and a fortuitous communication with legendary announcer Roger Huston, who listened to practice tapes and took 32

McKee under his wing. By age 14, in 1976, McKee was calling qualifiers at the Meadows, county fairs and even a few days in Delaware, Ohio the week of the Little Brown Jug. ―I was pretty fortunate,‖ McKee says of those early days. ―It would be as if you were in Thoroughbred racing and, as a teenager, got to hang around with Tom Durkin.‖ For McKee ―hanging with Huston‖ led to a job in 1980 at Saginaw Valley, a ―pretty cool‖ three-year stint for McKee who says, at age 18 and doing what he always dreamed of, he felt like ―the big cheese‖. From Saginaw, he went to Raceway Park in Toledo working his way up to Assistant GM before the track was sold in 1987. Just a short time later, a track just 20 miles from where McKee grew up was in need of an announcer—only problem, it was Thoroughbreds. ―I sent a tape to Ladbroke DRC and got hired in 1989 when they couldn‘t find anyone else,‖ he says. ―I truly got the job by default, and to be honest, I was horrible. I had never called a Thoroughbred race

before, and I was just awful. It was the greatest thing that ever happened though.‖ Being exposed to a faster tempo, a different pace, ever-changing colors and the bunching up that occurs in sulky-free racing, McKee says all made him a better announcer. He was also exposed to other announcers, namely Durkin and Trevor Denman, voices that would have a profound impact on the caller as he sharpened his skills. While at DRC, McKee also broadened his responsibilities to include publicity, marketing and simulcasting at a time when simulcasting was getting started. He terms the launch of full-card simulcasting in January ‗86 one of his top five thrills in horse racing. ―It was a mind boggling project,” he explains. “We went from 25 individual races to full cards from tracks around the country. There was no blueprint, it was all new. I just started calling tracks, and it was very successful.‖ McKee‘s tenure with DRC lasted until 1998 when, while on vacation 33

with his wife and three daughters, he received word the track had been sold. Before he had time to worry about the future, though, the phone started ringing. ―Before we got home from Florida, I had seven voice mails. Two of them were from Stan Bergstein saying you have to get in touch with the Meadowlands, and one was from Mike Sheehan at the Meadowlands. The announcer at the time had laryngitis and they needed a replacement. Mike said ‗I don‘t know you, but Stan Bergstein says we have to call you.‘ I ended up calling there for two weeks.‖ It was the start of a long-lasting relationship. After working part time as Director of Operations at Northfield Park, McKee returned to the Meadowlands for a six-week stint leading to a full time job that started in 1999 and continues to this day, for McKee, in many ways a dream come true.

―It was like I was a guy from the CBA suddenly getting to join the NBA and play with Michael Jordan.‖ Now the Director of Simulcasting and Television for the Meadowlands in addition to calling races at the Big M, McKee also continues to work the Grand Circuit at the Red Mile in Lexington, Kentucky and participate in the Little Brown Jug telecast and various other sales and events. He was elected to Harness Racing‘s Living Hall of Fame in 2012. ―The cool thing about the Meadowlands,‖ he said, ―is they like their people to be involved in the high-profile events in the sport. I get the best of all worlds.‖ Today, McKee‘s three daughters are out of college and out of the house: one, a graduate of University of Kentucky living in Chicago; one, a professional photographer in NJ; and the third 34

in the health care field in Florida. He and his wife live 60 miles from the Meadowlands, in Blairstown, NJ where ―there‘s no cable TV, no fast food restaurants and a stop light at each end of the town.‖

McKee also is proud of the strides being made at the Meadowlands. He offers as much excitement for the new restaurants and new vibe as he expressed earlier in the conversation about his own life.

The couple (both horse lovers and riders) takes in boarders in their four-horse barn. McKee says he‘s still up by 5:30 every morning to take care of the horses and credits that hands-on experience and his life with horses, at least in part, for the strength of his calls.

―Trotters is really cool, Victory Sports Bar becomes a night club on the weekends, the restaurant Pink is really great,‖ he said. ―We have skyboxes, decks to watch the races from; you can see the New York skyline from the rooftop terrace. The energy is tremendous at night. And getting the new building ready and up and running, all new television equipment, it was a really big job, too.‖

―Accuracy is the main thing in a call,‖ he offers. ―I think my biggest strength, though, from all my time being around horses, having driven and trained them, I can see a race un-fold. In the early stages of the race, watching it all develop – I‘m very comfortable in that.‖ He lists Somebeachsomewhere in the 2008 Meadowlands Pace as one of many ―really cool‖ races he‘s witnessed, but with ―so many tremendous races every weekend, you almost get immune to it all and have trouble picking one moment or horse as a standout.‖

He is equally proud, perhaps most of all, about the growth in international simulcasting; the comingling of pools with France two years ago for the Hambletonian being a personal highlight. ―I like challenges,‖ McKee says. ―Co-mingling with Australia and New Zealand has also been a fun experience. When the Meadowlands succeeds, that‘s what makes me happiest.‖ - HPN 35

Texas Classic Futurity Richest Race on the Texas Racing Calendar Set for Nov. 15 at Lone Star Park By Martha Claussen Hopefully all HP NOW Magazine readers banked a bundle on their 2014 Breedersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Cup wagers at Santa Anita. So why not roll some of those winnings into one of the most exciting events in American Quarter Horse racing, the Texas Classic Futurity, which is set for Saturday, November 15? The $860,519 Texas Classic Futurity (G1), hosted by Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie, is the richest race in Texas, and has attracted an outstanding group of 2-year-olds. In the past five years, several of the winners have won at doubledigit odds and boasted a solid set of past performances with futurity competition at Remington Park and Ruidoso Downs. Tempting Dash, in

2009, was the most lightly raced in recent history with just three previous starts before capturing the Texas Classic. Trials Twelve trials were contested on Saturday, October 25, with the Oklahoma-bred filly, Cc Kachina Eagle (pictured next page) clocking 400 yards in :19.599 seconds, to top all qualifiers. She was ridden by Jorge Bourdieu and conditioned by Jill Giles, who shares training duties with her husband, Wes. It was an impressive performance, and she will likely be the morning-line choice for the final. However, handicappers can garner useful information in watching the trial race replays in assessing their 36

selections for the final. Three of the 12 trials produced multiple qualifiers, so check out the second, seventh and eighth trial of the October 25 card to see how several of the finalists fared in those "key" races. Live streaming of all the trials is available on the New Q-racing Video ($9.95 per month) at qracingvideo.com. Spotting a runner who has overcome difficulty in his or her trial is always an astute component of handicapping a big Quarter Horse futurity or derby final.

Pedigree Cc Kachina Eagle and fifth-fastest qualifier Bay Eagle Glory have a highly acclaimed father, One Famous Eagle, who remains the all-time leading first-crop American Quarter Horse sire. Second-fastest qualifier Lethal Strike's sire, Corona Cartel, is ranked as the top all-time leading living sire of money earners. Earlier in the year, handicappers had to rely on previous-standout sires from 2012 or 2013 to aid in their selections. As the last major 37

futurities (Texas Classic, Golden State and Los Al $2 million) close out the year, there are new stars for consideration.

The event has also shown the spotlight on young, talented horsemen.

The top first-crop sire is Apollitical Jess. One of his most accomplished runners is Ajs High, who took the John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship on October 18 at Prairie Meadows.

In 2010, Bodacious Dash, bred by Texans Bob and Jerry Ann Gaston and owned by Johnny Trotter, won the Texas Classic Futurity. It was the biggest win for trainer Trey Wood, who was just 22 years-old at the time.

There are no Apollitical Jess juveniles in the Texas Classic Futurity, but 9th-fastest qualifier, Moonstruck Love's sire, First Moonflash, ranks as the top second-crop sire in 2014. His offspring just clinched the $289,728 New Mexico Classic Futurity (RG2) and the $207,482 New Mexico Classic Derby (RG2) at Zia Park last month. Nationally Prominent Trainers The top two-ranked AQHA trainers in North America, Paul Jones and Eddie Willis, will saddle finalists in this year's Texas Classic Futurity. Add in quality horsemen like C. Dwayne "Sleepy" Gilbreath, who has won three editions of the prestigious All American Futurity.

"Winning the Texas Classic was the most exciting moment in my life," said Wood, who is one of the rising stars in the industry. "Unlike so many futurities, you can't supplement a horse to the Texas Classic. You have to make early payments and hope your horse will step up at the right time. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bodacious Dash performed the way we hoped. To this day, I am still thrilled when I think about the race and what it meant to my career; there really are no words to explain it." Wood completed 2013 as the sixthleading American Quarter Horse trainer in North America.

Lone Star Park Since its opening in April of 1997, Lone Star Park has hosted several prominent national racing events. The 2004 Breeders' Cup was held at Lone Star Park with over 53,000 fans in attendance. In 1998 and 2006, the Bank of America Racing Challenge Championships, the Quarter Horse version of the Breeders' Cup, was held at Lone Star Park. It was just recently announced that LS will host the Challenge once again in 2015.

features the Bar & Book, a stateof-the-art simulcast center. I will be onsite on November 15 for the entire card, which also features the $291,868 Texas Classic Derby (G1) and the $69,771 Texas Classic Futurity Consolation. My full-card analysis will posted on the Horseplayernow.com website as well as at AQHAracing.com. Wishing you all a successful November of your Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred handicapping! - HPN

Lone Star Park is a first-class facility with excellent dining and

Texas Classic Futurity Champions Year 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009

Horse/Win Payout Kates Dynasty ($19.40) Valiant Lil Lady ($6.80) Sure Shot B ($20.00) Bodacious Dash ($26.40) Tempting Dash ($2.80)

Trainer Mike Joiner Judd Kearl John Stinebaugh Trey Wood Eusevio Huitron

Jockey Salvador Martinez Cody Jensen Salvador Martinez Ricky Ramirez Julian Cantu

Martha Claussen is the coordinator of the Racing Aces Fan Education imitative of the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA). She served as publicity director at Sam Houston Race Park from 1997-2007 and continues to be active in writing, fan education and Quarter Horse racing publicity in Texas, Louisiana and other regions in North America.

Breeders Crown – A Preview of Harness Racing’s Super Bowl By Ken Warkentin The Breeders Crown brings together harness racing’s stars in 12 definitive, yearend championships with backto-back programs on November 21 and 22 at the Meadowlands Racetrack. The competition is fierce with big money on the line, along with the prestige of winning a Breeders Crown event, plus the major impact on voting for year-end honors and Horse of the Year. Once again, this year we are looking forward to several marquee match-ups and lucrative showdowns between top division rivals. Division leaders have a chance to lock down divisional honors and Horse of the Year favorites can solidify their candidacy. The Kings of the Crown will all be front and center, including Hall of Famers John Campbell and Jimmy

Takter, Brittany Farms and Hanover Shoe Farms. As always, we will see strength in numbers from such powerhouse trainers as Ron Burke, Jimmy Takter and Tony Alagna. Plus, top drivers like Yannick Gingras, Tim Tetrick, Brian Sears, Dave Miller and Ron Pierce will all be prominent. Tetrick holds the hot hand, capturing a record four Crown trophies on a single card at Woodbine in 2012 and another three at Pocono Downs in 2013. Since 2003, 65 of the 131 (49.6%) Breeders Crowns have gone to Brian Sears (24), Ron Pierce (26), Tim Tetrick (13) and Dave Miller (12). That quartet won nine of the 41

12 events in 2013. Yannick Gingras won the other three. Here’s a preview of this season’s Breeders Crown favorites: 2-Year-Old Filly Trot Mission Brief This filly is by two-time Breeders Crown champion Muscle Hill, and her dam is 2007 Breeders Crown upsetter Southwind Serena. Mission Brief equaled a world record of 1:52.2 winning the Merrie Annabelle at the Meadowlands, and also won the New Jersey Sires Stakes Final. The sport’s leading trainer Ron Burke conditions this $150,000 yearling, who trotted another world record of 1:52 winning her Peaceful Way elimination at Mohawk, but broke in that final. Her driver Yannick Gingras may finally end Tim Tetrick’s long streak as the season’s money leader and certainly hopes Mission Brief has a strong Fall and will be on her best behavior to kick off a big night for The Green Hornet. 2-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Trot Centurion ATM Centurion ATM is a son of SJ’s Caviar, who shaved a fifth off

Muscle Hill’s Meadowlands track record with a 1:53.2 romp in the Peter Haughton Memorial in only his fourth career start for trainer/driver Ake Svanstedt. The stablemate to super trotter Sebastian K took almost seven weeks off before qualifying and starting his Fall campaign in the Blue Grass on September 26 at The Red Mile. So, while Svanstedt dreams about next year’s Hambletonian, he can also look forward to his Breeders Crown debut. 2-Year-Old Filly Pace JK She’salady JK She’salady is by two-time Breeders Crown winner Art Major, a full sister to 2014 North America Cup winner JK Endofanera, and trained by Hall of Famer Jimmy Takter’s daughter Nancy Johansson. This filly was an undefeated seven-for-seven after a dominant win in the Art Official at Hoosier Park in 1:53.4 on September 20. She also scored major wins in the Eternal Camnation and She’s A Great Lady at Mohawk, romping to a world record 1:50.1 in that final. Yannick Gingras has won three Crowns in each of the last two years. 42

2-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Pace

Oaks in a world record of 1:50.4, made it five in a row in the Pennsylvania Sires Stakes Final, and her other wins include the PA Allstars, Casual Breeze, Simcoe & the Buckette, mostly with Yannick Gingras in the sulky.

Artspeak This Western Ideal colt went through the Lexington Selected Sale for $100,000, is trained by Tony Alagna, and was a perfect six-forsix through his 1:50.2 mile in the Metro at Mohawk on August 30. He also won the New Jersey Sires Stakes Final at the Meadowlands. His driver Scott Zeron (pictured) looks for his first Crown trophy and calls him “a freak of nature.” Alagna’s recently retired triple millionaire Captaintreacherous was the beaten favorite (third) in the 2012 edition, yet was still named Pacer of the Year.

Shake It Cerry Shake It Cerry was the 2013 Breeders Crown and Dan Patch Award winner, and she’s by Donato Hanover. She went wire-to-wire in the Del Miller Memorial at the Meadowlands in 1:53, won the Zweig in 1:53.4 at Vernon Downs, and romped in the Elegantimage in 1:52.1 at Mohawk, matching the Canadian record. Hall of Fame driver Ron Pierce calls her an amazing filly.

3-Year-Old Filly Trot

3-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Trot

Lifetime Pursuit This division could present our first big matchup between two Jimmy Takter-trained fillies, starting with Lifetime Pursuit, a Brittany Farms owned/bred daughter of Cantab Hall. She took the Hambletonian

Father Patrick This Cantab Hall colt heads the Jimmy Takter-trained titantic trio, which also includes the one-two finishers in the Hambletonian, Trixton and Nuncio. Trixton has since been retired due to injury. 43

Father Patrick saw his 15-race winning streak snapped with a rare break from post 10 as the Hambletonian favorite, yet the 2013 Breeders Crown champion and Dan Patch Award winner bounced back to win the Zweig at Vernon Downs, Pennsylvania Sires Stakes Final at Harrah’s Philadelphia and Canadian Trotting Classic at Mohawk. He also won the Earl Beal, Jr. Memorial in a world record of 1:50.2 at Pocono Downs and the Stanley Dancer Memorial in 1:51.3 at the Meadowlands. Yannick Gingras drives this Horse of the Year contender. 3-Year-Old Filly Pace Sandbetweenurtoes This daughter of 2008 Breeders Crown champion and Horse of the Year Somebeachsomewhere from the Remmen Stable won her first eight starts this year, including the Mistletoe Shalee in 1:49.3 at the Meadowlands after winning the elimination in 1:49.1. She faded to seventh in the Pennsylvania Sires Stakes Final and finished fourth in her Jugette elimination. Driver Brett Miller could cap off a breakout season with his first Breeders Crown.

3-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Pace Mcwicked It could all come down to the Breeders Crown in this division, and Mcwicked, a millionaire son of Mcardle trained by Casie Coleman and driven by Dave Miller, was a leading candidate heading into the Fall. He won the Pennsylvania Sires Stakes Final in 1:48.4 at Harrah’s Philadelphia, set a world record 1:47.3 in the Max Hempt at Pocono Downs, won the Adios in 1:49.1 at The Meadows, was third in his Jug heat and fifth in the final. Coleman won this in 2011 with Betterthancheddar. He’s Watching He’s Watching is a Dave Menarytrained son of American Ideal, who equaled the fastest race mile in history of 1:46.4 in the Meadowlands Pace. He also won the Empire Breeders Classic in 1:49.1 at Tioga Downs, was second to Lyonssomewhere in the Cane Pace at Tioga Downs. The $3,000 bargain yearling now with a $1 million on his card was looking to rebound after finishing sixth in his Jug heat at Delaware. Tim Tetrick won the last two in this division with Heston Blue Chip and Captaintreacherous. 44

Mare Trot Classic Martine Let’s look for another marquee matchup in this division, leading off with Classic Martine, a Classic Photo four-year-old trained by Chris Oakes. She equaled Bee A Magician’s world record of 1:51.1 in the Ima Lula Final at The Meadowlands, also trotted a world record of 1:51.2 at Pocono Downs, and went wire-to-wire in the Miss Versatility Final in 1:54.1. Tim Tetrick won this back-to-back in 2009 and 2010 with Buck I St Pat. Bee A Magician (pictured) The 2013 Horse of the Year and three-year-old Breeders Crown champion, who stands at $2.5 million, has battled sickness and bad posts this season, yet has been right there in most of her starts for Brian Sears and trainer Nifty Norman. The daughter of Kadabra trotted a world record of 1:51.1 at the Meadowlands. She was third

as the beaten favorite in her freshman Breeders Crown.

Open Trot Sebastian K The eight-year-old super trotter from Sweden, nearing the $3 million mark, trained/driven by Ake Svanstedt, might be looking to solidify Horse of the Year honors. He’s five-for-five at the Meadowlands, the fastest trotter in history with a 1:49 taken at Pocono Downs, set a stakes record of 1:50.2 in the Arthur J. Cutler Memorial, lost by a nose in the Maple Leaf Trot at Mohawk, equaled the mile track world mark of 1:50 in the John Cashman, Jr. Memorial, romped in the Crawford Farms at Vernon Downs in 1:53, and then faded to seventh in the Centaur Trotting Classic at Hoosier Park. He’s not eligible to the Breeders Crown and would have to be supplemented. 45

Mare Pace Rocklamation This competitive division never seems to disappoint and this year it could once again come down to a pair of familiar veterans. Rocklamation, a six-year-old double millionaire by Rocknroll Hanover trained by Ron Burke, may finally turn the tables on the reigning queen Anndrovette. With Yannick Gingras driving, Rocklamation won the Golden Girls in 1:48.3 and Lady Liberty in 1:49.3 at the Meadowlands, she was second in the Betsy Ross at Harrah’s Philadelphia and third in the Roses Are Red at Mohawk. Rocklamation was runner up in the 2013 Breeders Crown, and fifth and fourth in two previous Crown Finals. Anndrovette Anndrovette is one of the greatest pacing mares of all time, period. PJ Fraley trains this seven-year-old triple millionaire by Riverboat King. She’s swept the last three division titles, and won her second straight Roses Are Red Final in 1:49.1 at Mohawk with Tim Tetrick driving. The iron tough Anndrovette was third in last year’s Mare Pace, and a Crown champion in 2012 and 2011.

Open Pace Sweet Lou (pictured) The 5-year-old triple millionaire by Yankee Cruiser grew into a monster this season for trainer Ron Burke, reeling off 10 in a row, and became the first horse in history to win under 1:48 six times. His major wins came in the Roll With Joe in 1:48.3, the Ben Franklin in a world record of 1:47 at Pocono Downs, the William Haughton Memorial in 1:47.1, US Pacing Championship in 1:47.2 and Dan Patch at Hoosier in 1:47.2. Sweet Lou became the fastest 2-year-old in history in 2011 with a 1:49 romp in the freshman Breeders Crown at Woodbine. Ron Burke won this last year with Foiled Again, and back-to-back with Won The West, the fastest in Breeders Crown series history at 1:47. Ron Pierce won three Crowns in 2013 and moved past Mike Lachance into second in series wins, 29-27.

-HPN 46

This month’s topic of review:

ELECTION NIGHT

Since 2011, Night School has been teaching novice and expert handicappers alike in the finer points of playing the races. Through live chats, videos and radio simulcasts, the best in the industry have shared their expertise free with horseplayers. In each issue of Horse Player NOW Magazine, we go “Back to Night School” with a look at some of the high points of past lessons.

“Election Night” was November 4 across the country, and the first Tuesday of November annually offers you a chance to be heard in politics. This year, we took Election Night to a new level in Night School when we polled the class throughout the evening in a series of focus group questions that helped take the pulse of racing’s hot-button topics. Over the next several pages, you’ll see the poll results as they were conducted in the live class. Play along and see how you would have voted had you been in attendance!

Takeout â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the percentage of each bet kept by the racetrack operator, state and horsemenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s purse account before the remainder is returned to winning bettors. Generally between 15-30 percent depending on the wager type and state.

Javier Castellano won the 2013 Eclipse Award as the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top jockey after a record-setting season with more than $26 million.

Click to view the replay

The Breedersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Cup leaves its recent Southern California roots to make a Keeneland event debut in 2015.

Night School continues its 40-week run in Season 4 through December 2. Archives remain available free throughout the year.

21 Silver Goblin (RP), 3&up, 6.5F

22 DeD Jackpot Night (DeD), 8 stakes Cardinal (CD), f/m, 9F-T Red Carpet (Dmr), f/m, 11F-T My Charmer (GPW), f/m, 9F-T Tropical Turf (GPW), 3&up, 9F-T Glorious Song (WO), 2yof, 7F NY Stallion Series (Aqu), 2 stakes Showtime Deb (Haw), 2yof, 6F Sunpower (Haw), 2yo, 6F Point Given / Photos By Z

NOVEMBER 2014 11 Soph Sprint Champ (Mnr), 3yo, 6F 15 DeFrancis Dash Day (Lrl), 6 stakes Mrs Revere (CD), 3yof, 8.5F-T Commonwealth (CD), 3yo, 8.5F-T Bob Hope (Dmr), 2yo, 7F Red Smith (Aqu), 3&up, 11F-T Oakland (GG), 3&up, 6F South Ocean (WO), 2yof, 8.5F Kenny Noe (GPW), 3&up, 6F Buck’s Boy (Haw) 3&up, 8.5F-T Illini Princess (Haw), f/m, 8.5F-T Texas Stallion Night (Ret), 2 stakes 16 Bessarabian (WO), f/m, 7F Notebook (Aqu), 2yo, 6F Key Cents (Aqu) 2yof, 6F Desi Arnaz (Dmr), 2yof, 7F

23 Cary Grant (Dmr), 3&up, 7F Kennedy Road (WO), 3&up, 6F 26 Fabulous Strike (Pen), 3&up, 6F Swatara (Pen), 3&up, 8.5F Blue Mtn Futurity (Pen), 2yof, 6F Zia Derby Day (Zia), 5 stakes 27 – Happy Thanksgiving! Fall Highweight (Aqu), 3&up, 6F Falls City (CD), f/m, 9F Hol Turf Cup (Dmr), 3&up, 12F-T Thanksgiving (FG), 3&up, 6F 28 Clark (CD), 3&up, 9F Seabiscuit (Dmr), 3&up, 8.5F-T Go For Wand (Aqu), f/m, 8F OK Stallion (RP), 2 stakes

Learn more about handicapping every Tuesday (8:30 pm ET) in Night School!

29 Cigar Mile (Aqu), 3&up, 8F Comely (Aqu), f/m, 8F Remsen (Aqu), 2yo, 9F Demoiselle (Aqu), 2yof, 9F Ky Jockey Club (CD), 2yo, 8.5F Golden Rod (CD), 2yof, 8.5F Hollywood Derby (Dmr), 3yo, 9F-T Jimmy Durante (Dmr), 2yof, 8F-T Native Diver (Dmr), 3&up, 9F 2YO Showcase (GPW), 6 juv stakes Haw Gold Cup (Haw), 3&up, 9F Coronation Futurity (WO), 2yo, 9F GG Debutante (GG), 2yof, 6F Queen of Green (TuP), f/m, 8F-T 30 Matriarch (Dmr), f/m, 8F-T Cecil Demille (Dmr), 2yo, 8F-T Sir Barton (WO), 3&up, 8.5F Ontario Lassie (WO), 2yof, 8.5F Berkeley (GG), 3&up, 8.5F

BREEDERS CROWN NOV. 21-22 AT THE MEADLOWLANDS!

Nov Nov Nov Nov Nov Nov Nov Nov Nov Nov Nov Nov Nov Nov Nov Nov Nov Nov Nov Nov Nov

11 12 12 14 16 18 19 19 21 21 22 24 25 26 26 29 29 29 30 30 30

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Online: Night School Woodbine Chat AQHA national poll Remington chat Thistledown closing day Online: Night School Woodbine Chat AQHA national poll Fair Grounds opening day Remington chat DeD Jackpot wager guide Mahoning Valley opens Online: Night School Woodbine Chat AQHA national poll Tampa Bay opening day Mountaineer closing day Retama closing day Churchill closing day Del Mar closing day Gulf West closing day

Learn more about handicapping every Tuesday (8:30 pm ET) in Night School!

DELTA DOWNS JACKPOT November 22, 2014 NOVEMBER RACE OF THE MONTH

Goldencents hit the Jackpot in ‘12. Click the image to go back in time! KEY INGREDIENTS TO THE DED JACKPOT: Local preppers have landed 8 trifecta placings all-time, most of any circuit – Calder checks in next with 5. Of the last 4 Jean Lafitte winners to contest the Jackpot, 2 have won and 1 ran 2nd. Horses exiting the BC Juvenile are 9: 1-1-0 in the Jackpot (Z Humor ’07 won). The pick 4 pool has topped $250k in each of the past 2 years. MOST RECENT RENEWAL: Rise Up became the second horse to sweep the Jean Lafitte and Delta Downs Jackpot. From post 10 of 10, he wired by 6 lengths as the 2/1 second choice after favored Coastline stumbled at the start. It was Gerard Melancon’s 2nd Jackpot in 3 years for the home team.

CLICK FOR FREE PICKS HANDICAPPER’S AIDES: All Winners – Full History ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ‘09 ’09 ’07 ’07 ’06 ’04 ’03 ’02

Rise Up Goldencents Sabercat Gourmet Dinner Rule Big Drama Z Humor (dh) Turf War (dh) Birdbirdistheword Texcess Mr. Jester Outta Here

T. Amoss D. O’Neill S. Asmussen S. Standridge T. Pletcher D. Fawkes B. Mott M. Casse K. McPeek P. Aguirre S. Wren B. Currin

G. Melancon K. Krigger G. Melancon S. Madrid J. Velazquez E. Coa G. Gomez C. Borel R. Albarado V. Espinoza R. Chapa K. Desormeaux

All Winners’ Preps ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’07 ’06 ’04 ’03 ’02

Rise Up Goldencents Sabercat Gourmet Dinner Rule Big Drama Z Humor (dh) Turf War (dh) Birdbirdistheword Texcess Mr. Jester Outta Here

1st, Delta 2nd, Belmont 1st, Monmouth 2nd, Calder 1st, Delta Downs 1st, Calder 5th, Monmouth 6th, Woodbine 4th, Keeneland 1st, Hollywood Park 2nd, Delta Downs 3rd, Hollywood Park

Learn more about handicapping every Tuesday (8:30 pm ET) in Night School! 61

Family first.

It was impossible to watch this year’s Breeders’ Cup without feeling a sense of family. Trainer Wesley Ward had his biggest domestic weekend as a trainer, and he wasn’t there to celebrate and bask. He was attending his son’s cross-country state championship meet in Florida. Wesley’s father, Dennis, stepped in his shoes and filled them superbly. Meanwhile, jockey Rosie Napravnik won the Distaff aboard the brilliant Untapable and moments after thanking the trainer and owner, turned to her mother in the winner’s circle and announced on national TV that she and her husband, trainer Joe Sharp, were starting a family and a retirement from riding starts now. I’d tell you how heart-warming it was to see all this live, but, truth is, I didn’t see any of it as it unfolded. No travel for me to the west coast with an 8-year-old daughter; I choose to limit my travel and put parenting No. 1 on my list. While that doesn’t work for all career individuals, I’ve been

fortunate and creative enough to make it work for me. I’m blessed that I don’t miss a thing in her life. In fact, I learned about Rosie’s retirement in a text message from Brian W. Spencer while we were trick-or-treating around the neighborhood. I learned that I cashed the next day on longshot Texas Red via a congratulatory text from Jerry Shottenkirk, while we were attending an annual hayride. It’s never been better to be a racing fan, horseplayer and family person at the same time. Letters like ADW and DVR are simply amazing tools in this day and age. I found it fascinating to feel the family line run through nearly every single one of our featured industry members in this Play It Forward issue. What really is neat is that the family ties part of it all was a total coincidence. If we learned nothing else this issue: In any race, put family first. – JP 62

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