Horse Player NOW Magazine - September 2014 by Horse Player NOW

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CONTENT SEPT 2014 5 From The Publisher 7 The Teaser

38 From the Office of the Czar

Nadeau outlines his 1st term policies.

Topics that titillate the racing mind.

11 Back to Night School

Small-Track Handicapping from the local experts who know. Tips From: Mark Patterson Erich Zimny Angela Hermann Gabe Prewitt Don Stevens John Hernandez

43 Spencer's Law of Racing

BWS seeks transparency, longevity.

48 Shrinkage

Plonk reports racing must get smaller, and get there fast.

55 Legends Gallery

Mizdirection through the lens of Z.

15 All American Challenge

AQHA expert Denis Blake says forget the Ky Derby when looking at the All American Futurity.

19 All American Derby/Futurity

Wagering Guide 2014 Edition

57 Stakes Schedule/Key Dates

Shottenkirk provides horse by horse analyses for the Labor Day weekend.

Also: Key WO Mile stats & trends.

34 Modern Day Super Trotter

63 Everything Is A-Twitter

Warkentin lauds the great Sebastian K, from Sweden with love.

Plonk explains why racing's new media age has highs and lows.

t-breds

under the stars

4 september

S M T W R F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

october

S M T W R F S 1 2 3 4 5 6

9 10 11

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

november Sat. 1

POST TIME 7:00 PM POST TIME 1:00 PM

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18

POST TIME 12 NOON

T H O R O U G H B R E D

HANDICAPPING CONTEST

$12,000

PRIZE POOL

$200 Total Fee ($100 to enter + $100 bankroll)

Unlimited entries per person. Walk-ups welcome 3pm - 7pm.

CHALLENGE FORMAT

• Contestants must bet a minimum of 10 races from Santa Anita, Indiana Grand, Evangeline or Monmouth Park at Meadowlands - no maximum number of races • $10 minimum bet per race; No maximum bet. • Win, Place, Show and/or WPS wagers. • Contestants keep all pari-mutuel winnings. *based on 120 entries *management reserves the right to modify/cancel promotions & racing dates

THE NEW MEADOWLANDS RACI NG & E N T E R TA I N M E N T @themeadowlands

/meadowlandsracetrack

1 RACETRACK DR | EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ | P L A Y M E A D O W L A N D S . C O M

From the Publisher A lot of us sit around and talk about what we’d do if we could run the racing game. This month we decided to put those ideas into motion, at least make them public, with our suggestions how we would improve/fix/change racing if he had the authority. Brian Nadeau, Brian W. Spencer and I took the assignment and were given no instructions or parameters. The idea was to see where we might have common ground, where we might differ and what a potential consensus might look like among different viewpoints. I think you’ll find it interesting where we stand; I know I did when reading what the other guys had to offer. September is a great month to look forward. It’s the celebration of young horses at Ruidoso in the time-honored All American Futurity. It’s the famed Keeneland sales, where every prospect could be THE next ONE. And it’s a time on the major racing calendar where come off a positive bounce, post-Del Mar - JP and Saratoga.

Editor, Publisher, Designer Jeremy Plonk Contributing Writers Jerry Shottenkirk Brian Nadeau Brian W. Spencer Ken Warkentin Denis Blake Photography Chief Enzina Mastrippolito (Photosbyz) Contributing Photographers Adam Coglianese / NYRA Michael Lisa / Meadowlands Michael Burns / Woodbine Andrea Caudill / AQHA Jim McCue / Maryland Jockey Club Special Thanks: Ruidoso Downs

THE TEASER:

From a shot of liquid courage to pinching dimes Teaser, definition: A male horse used at breeding farms to determine whether to a royal gaffe, a mare is ready to receive a stallion. Also, perhaps the eventually it will most unfulfilling occupation in the universe. all make sense. ‘Mo Must Blow! The Del Mar stewards fined Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux $1,000 for a failed Breathalyzer test in June at Santa Anita. Additionally, as part of his sentence, ‘Mo also must ‘blow’ each racing day through Nov. 3. Off to an outstanding start at Del Mar when the ruling came down, Desormeaux (pictured) has continued his winning ways and at this writing is tied with Rafael Bejarano for the top jock spot Where the Turf Meets the Surf. ‘Mo’s previous penchant for the sauce is well documented: in 2010 he failed a Breathalyzer test at

Woodbine and in 2012 he blew ‘hot’ at Belmont Park and subsequently replaced aboard his mount in the Preakness Stakes the following day. The whole thing doesn’t sound like a big deal to Teaser. Over the last couple of years, the jock has shown up for work tipsy. Who hasn’t? Guess the fact that we don’t ride 1,000pound animals going 35 mph in close quarters makes a difference. As far as Teaser’s concerned, he’d need to have a few belts before even considering straddling one of those beasts in a starting gate!

Man Bites Dog Did you hear the one about how the racetrack is hurting slot business? True story. According to an article on Bloodhorse.com, the Saratoga Casino and Raceway harness racino experienced a rare decline in business when Saratoga Race Course opened; the harness track’s net win for the week ending July 26 was $3.1 million, down from $3.3 million a year ago. Imagine that. All that fresh tourist gambling bread in town and it’s being wagered on the ponies instead of the slots. Or not. Empire State racinos statewide continue to endure slumping revenue, so the New York State Gaming Commission has approved a rule to permit the facilities to stay open until 6 a.m. The law, changed by the legislature and signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, had previously required the casinos to close daily at 4 a.m. Gary Greenberg, a minority owner of Vernon Downs in central New

York, noted that the state’s VLT business is sluggish and that the state’s nine racetrack gaming facilities have had nine months of slumping revenue, and that Genting’s Resorts World just broke six weeks of consecutive declines with a modest gain in revenue. So, the moral of the story is … ? That slots players at New York racetracks are tapped out from wagering on the ponies all afternoon? Doubt it. Instead, could it possibly be that the novelty of the electronic one-armed bandits is wearing off? Have no fear; that extra two hours from 4 a.m. to 6 a.m. will get every last nickel, dime or penny out of them. Morphine Queen When news broke in mid-summer that Estimate, owned by The Queen and trained by Sir Michael Stoute, had tested positive for morphine, Teaser knew something was amiss. There’s no way Stoute, or anyone in his yard, would light up one of the UK’s most high-profile runners. Plus, the fact that Stoute and four other trainers (Tony Carroll, Gay

Kelleway, Eve Johnson-Houghton and Charlie Hills) all had recent morphine positives screams ‘feed contamination’ rather than ‘drug bust.’ The whole deal reminds Teaser of what happened in California back in 1994 when horses belonging to five Santa Anita trainers tested positive for scopolamine—whose chief human uses are in the treatment of motion sickness and postoperative nausea and vomiting. The busted conditioners were Ron McAnally, Willard Proctor, Mark Hennig, Lewis Cenicola and Richard Mandella—not exactly the Tijuana Cartel. Everyone, except those following procedure by prosecuting the cases, knew the cause had to be feed contamination. The trainers were fined $500 each, except for Mandella, who had two

positives and was docked $750. That money ultimately was returned to the trainers, but the horses were disqualified and purse money forfeited. Additionally, the trainers delivered over 40 hours of testimony at appeal hearings that stretched over three months. No word on how much bread the defendants blew on well-dressed mouthpieces. There have been other situations where a rash of positive tests for a certain drug has surfaced and, almost always, the cause has been feed contamination. Food contamination can cause conditions and diseases in humans. Salmonella, e-coli and mad cow immediately come to mind…none of which sound like much fun. Any chance Teaser can get his paws on some of whatever The Queen’s horse was eating? - HPN

This month’s topic of review:

SMALL-TRACK HANDICAPPING 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.

“Small-Track Handicapping” may not be for everyone, but this time of year – with many of the summer’s major racing destinations closing the curtain – they become more of a lure. Are betting the small tracks for you? We gathered an expert panel last September for a live chat to help you decide. All Night School archives on any subject remain available free to read, listen and view. In this “Back to Night School” edition, we’ll sample some of the best moments from the past three seasons as we have discussed handicapping stakes races. Full archive here.

Mark Patterson - Mountaineer: lots of barns wait for date conditions (i.e. non-winners of a race since X date), in particular ... and a breakline can be excusable – and add value. …and be a good predictor of final odds. The tote is volatile at tracks our size and you must be able to predict final odds the get value. Erich Zimny – Charles Town: We also know there’s still a bit of a stigma attached to CT and it’s one that we still try and shake. How do we get people to think about Game on Dude running for $1.5 million rather than beaten $2,500 claimers running for a $4,000 pot like they were less than 2 decades ago? Guessing a lot of the "bullrings" probably have similar issues with customer perception though. It starts with the product. Despite running 235 days, we average about 8.3 horses per race. We also chopped our takeout 2 years ago to give some money back to the players. You can play the exotic bets here in some friendly denominations. Don Stevens – Delta Downs: Smaller tracks can also be a lot more approachable for fans than the bigger tracks. I take emails from fans all over the country between races and the fans love it. Angela Hermann – Canterbury: Play the pick 3s. The pools are often split among only a handful of tickets in favor of the pick 4.

Gabe Prewitt – Red Mile: Standardbreds tend to race every week, so if you pick a track or two to follow you will typically learn the horses very quickly. Learn who fits at what level. Can pick up on big overlays and underlays much quicker than t-breds IMO Prairie Meadows analyst John Hernandez’s video analysis:

COMING THIS MONTH IN NIGHT SCHOOL! TUESDAYS, 8:30 PM ET SEPT 2 TRIP HANDICAPPING

SEPT 9 SHEETS HANDICAPPING

We return to our radio simulcasts on SiriusXM for the fall semester kickoff and discuss how to watch races.

A first-time Night School topic! The leading purveyors and users of performance figures speak up. SEPT 16 PEDIGREE HANDICAPPING What’s in the genes, and how do you apply it? We explore pedigree angles you can use at the window.

SEPT 23 LAYOFFS

SEPT 30 STAKES RACES

Perhaps the biggest difference between handicapping today and yesteryear is time off. Learn why.

The biggest races in the game offer a different handicapping task. Are you up to the challenge?

CLICK FOR MORE

Visit Horseplayernow.com for the racing industry’s FREE national online fan education program.

All American Challenge

Don’t handicap the All American Futurity like you would the Kentucky Derby By Denis Blake The Grade 1, $2.6 million All American Futurity on Labor Day at Ruidoso Downs is often compared to the Kentucky Derby, and while there are similarities, the most celebrated event in American Quarter Horse racing calls for a somewhat different handicapping approach.

First, it’s important to understand how the horses got to the starting gate at the mountain track in New Mexico. In the Kentucky Derby, it’s all about earning enough points to qualify for the chance to run under the Twin Spires of Churchill Downs. For the All American, it doesn’t matter what a horse did in the past.

The 10 finalists are determined by time trials, which this year attracted 280 2-year-olds competing at 440 yards (a quartermile) in 28 heats, split over two days. The trials are all about speed, and the five fastest horses from each day move on to the final, regardless of their finish position. Unlike Thoroughbred racing, in which the horses have a short runup before the timer starts, Quarter Horses are timed from the moment the gate opens and each horse’s individual time, down to a thousandth of a second, is recorded. Over the course of a full day of racing, conditions often change, especially in the mountain climate of Ruidoso Downs. It’s not uncommon for the track condition to change several times during the trials, and wind conditions, which are a factor in Quarter Horse handicapping, can change drastically from race to race. While nine of the 10 finalists won their trial, it’s possible to get in with a close, non-winning effort, as is the case with Mad About The Moon. It might seem a bit unfair

that the luck of the draw and the track/weather conditions play a role in determining the finalists, but the drama and intrigue of those two days of trials is matched only by the approximately 21 seconds it will take to determine the winner on Labor Day. Now that you have an overview of the qualifying process, it’s time to handicap. Your task is less challenging compared to the Run for the Roses in that the All American only has 10 starters (and this year, only nine with the early scratch of Im A Fancy PYC due to injury). Of course, it’s still not an easy task, and in the past decade alone we’ve seen horses return $37.60 and $46.60 for a $2 win ticket. With that said, the results of the quarter-mile dash tend to be more predictable than the race in Louisville that is a full mile longer. Here are some factors to consider:

Post Position It’s not accurate to say post position doesn’t matter in the All American, but it is far less important than in the Kentucky Derby. In a straightaway dash down the stretch, you need not worry about pace, traffic and wide

trips. Instead, focus not as much on the number above a horse’s stall but rather the breaking tendencies of the horses to his or her inside and outside. Check the past performances and watch replays of the trials. If a horse you like has post 4, and the horse in post 3 tends to break outward and the horse in post 5 likes to break in, that could be problematic. On the flip side, a horse positioned with horses breaking away from him can find an advantageous running lane.

Fillies vs. the Boys In the Kentucky Derby, it’s a major story when a filly enters and a momentous occasion when one wins. It’s happened only three times in the 140 runnings of that event, and only a few dozen fillies have even competed in it. On the other hand, fillies have done quite well in the All American and frequently compete against and beat colts and geldings in Quarter Horse races. The first running of the All American, back in 1959, was won by the filly Galobar, and in the 54 runnings since there have been 14 more female winners, or more than 25 percent of the 55 editions.

This Fire Is Cold is the lone filly this year.

Jockeys and Trainers

This is an area where you can use the same methodology as in the Kentucky Derby. The All American is the race nearly every trainer, jockey, owner and breeder dreams of winning, and the pressure of getting a horse ready for the $2.6 million final in the two-plus weeks after the trials can be daunting. Certainly there have been new faces jump up to win the All American in their first try, just as has happened in the Kentucky Derby, but pay extra attention to horses with connections who have “been there before.” Also, give consideration to which horse a jockey ends up on if he rode multiple qualifiers. This year, all-time leading Quarter Horse jockey G.R. Carter Jr., a two-time All American winner, rode four qualifiers (although Im A Fancy PYC is scratched), and Ricky Ramirez will have two choices in his quest for his first All American win.

Trial Replays Perhaps the most important part of handicapping the All American is watching replays of the trials,

which you can do for free at www.qracingvideo.com. Watch each trial multiple times to see if a qualifier might have had a faster time with a better trip, or if his time was aided by clear sailing right out of the gate.

qualifiers advanced from those trials. Wind was not a major factor after that point, and the other 22 trials were contested over a “fast” track. Even so, wind and track condition are things to keep in mind if you are looking back at prior races. Using the information above should give you a good head start in picking the winner of this year’s All American Futurity. Good luck!

Also examine the wind and track conditions listed in the chart. In Quarter Horse racing, a tailwind can make a horse run significantly faster, while a headwind can slow one down. On the first day of trials, the track was labeled as “good” for the first six races with a moderate headwind; not surprisingly, no

Denis Blake is one of the American Quarter Horse Association’s Racing Aces and is also editor of American Racehorse and The Horsemen’s Journal magazines. He formerly worked as a handicapper for Daily Racing Form. Learn from Aces Denis Blake and Martha Claussen LIVE on-track at Ruidoso Downs during Labor Day Weekend!

2014 ALL AMERICAN FUTURITY AND DERBY WAGERING GUIDE

SUNDAY, AUGUST 31 – RUIDOSO DOWNS ALL AMERICAN DERBY Ruidoso Downs Race 11 Post: 5:12 pm MT, 7:12 pm ET

Enjoy this complimentary Wagering Guide for Sunday’s All American Derby and Monday’s All American Futurity, the most prestigious race in the sport! Stats and analysis

were compiled by Horse Player NOW’s Jeremy Plonk & Jerry Shottenkirk.

Watch the action FREE online at Qracingvideo.com & on TVG.

All American Derby Favorites 1995 Meter Me Gone 1st 1996 Winalota Cash 1st 1997 Dashing Perfection 1st 1998 The Casanova 1st 1999 Heza Bold Man 5th 2000 A Delightful Dasher 1st 2001 Feature Mr Jess 3rd 2002 TresSeis 2nd 2003 Meteoric 4th 2004 Brimmerton 9th 2005 DmShicago 1st 2006 Arealstraitheart 1st 2007 Separate Bet 2nd 2008 First Moonflash 6th 2009 Stolis Winner 8th 2010 Double Down Special 1st 2011 Cold Cash 123 7th 2012 Ochoa 1st 2013 Wicked Courage 7th

1.20 .40 .60 1.20 2.10 1.30 1.00 .70 .80 1.90 .40 1.40 .40 .40 1.10 1.10 1.20 .60 .90

2014 ALL AMERICAN FUTURITY AND DERBY WAGERING GUIDE

THE DERBY LINEUP: Big Dashing Perry Qualifying Time: 21.184 Trial #: 1 Jockey/Trainer: GR Carter Jr. / Toby Keeton

Notables: Fastest qualifier in day’s

first trial as time held up all day afterward. Carter rode 3 of the 4fastest Derby qualifiers … Stumbled at the start and made contact with another but righted the ship and won going away … Won Firecracker at Delta as 2-year-old and just missed in Sam Houston Derby after slower going early on. He lost a 3-horse photo. His trial win came after four months off, and it appears the vacation has put him atop his game for Keeton, who trains Kiss My Hocks, ranked No. 1 in the AQHA Weekly Poll for 2-year-olds… Carter’s mounts have won $65.8 million and 3,663 race – both good enough for the top of the all-time charts … 2 mph tail wind in trial. Pictured right.

Kates Dynasty Qualifying Time: 21.261 Trial #: 9 Jockey/Trainer: Larry Payne / Mike Joiner

Notables: 2013’s AQHA champion

2-year-old filly is attempting to regain the form from her outstanding season of last year. She was 0 for 3 until grinding out a trial win. She qualified for the Rainbow Derby but due to traffic wasn’t able to show her best. Won a millon-dollar race in last year’s Texas Classic Futurity, defeating Houdini and SkuzePleeze . . . Professional run right down the middle in her Derby trial and she held off fast-closing The Ultimate Eagle …Joiner trainees have won $18 million …no wind in trial.

2014 ALL AMERICAN FUTURITY AND DERBY WAGERING GUIDE

Houdini Qualifying Time: 21.263 Trial #: 8 Jockey/Trainer: Cody Jensen / Luis Villafranco

Notables: Is in a class by himself

when it comes to credentials earned this year. He’s won 3 of 4, including his last three. After a narrow loss to Regard Watah in Remington Park’s Jack Brooks Stakes, he won a trial and the final of the Rainbow Derby and coasted in for a one-length trial win for the main event … Villafranco won the Rainbow and Ruidoso Derby last year with Wicked Courage ($1,132,848) … Jensen was AQHA champion jockey last year with mount earnings of $3.1 million and has Grade 1 wins this year in the Heritage Place Futurity (Lovethewayyoulie) and the Ruidoso Futurity (Kiss My Hocks). His mounts have won $30.8 million … No. 1-ranked in AQHA Racing / HPN poll for older runners ...4 mph head wind in trial. Pictured right.

J Bar Qualifying Time: 21.309 Trial #: 4 Jockey/Trainer: Rodrigo Vallejo / Mike Joiner

Notables: Winning has been a habit

for J Bar (pictured above), who won a trial despite breaking outward. In a previous start vs. this level of company in the Rainbow Derby, he lost his chance when he hopped at the start and was a closing 5th to Houdini … Has won 5 of 8, including 3 of 4 this year … Proved he belonged at the top level with Rainbow and All American trial wins and his partial recovery in the Rainbow final is noteworthy … Joiner trainees have won more than $18 million in his career ...1 mph head wind in trial.

2014 ALL AMERICAN FUTURITY AND DERBY WAGERING GUIDE

The Ultimate Eagle Qualifying Time: 21.327 Trial #: 9 Jockey/Trainer: Jimmy Brooks / Eddie Willis

Notables: The Brooks-Willis tandem

is familiar to top-level races. They paired with Feature Hero to win the ‘13 All American Derby, which was the richest race in history ($2.8 million) … Willis is top 10 alltime on the trainers’ list with earnings of $24 million … The Ultimate Eagle finished well for 2nd in trial. Looks to snap a 3-race losing streak … Brooks is the son of the great Roy Brooks and has won 1,180 races and $15.25 million in mount earnings … no wind in trial. Down Side Magician Qualifying Time: 21.360 Trial #: 1 Jockey/Trainer: Ramon Sanchez / Sleepy Gilbreath

Notables: Gilbreath is no stranger to greatness as he’s saddled all-

time leading AQHA money winner Ochoa ($2.7 million) and the great Refrigerator ($2.1 million) … Gilbreath charges have won $27 million and he ranks 4th on the alltime list … Down Side Magician was 2nd behind Big Dashing Perry in a trial, just ahead of the talented Her O Don Won … Has only a maiden win to his credit, but has been very competitive vs. top company … 2 mph tail wind in trial. Too Flash For You Qualifying Time: 21.375 Trial #: 2 Jockey/Trainer: Larry Gamez / Wesley Giles

Notables: Lone New Mexico-bred

hope in the Derby is on a 3-race win streak at Ruidoso Downs, including a trial score and a pair of Grade 2 New Mexico-bred stakes win at Sun Ray Park and Sunland Park … Put the petal to the metal early in trial, wore down rivals and was stretching out to a threequarters of a length win …

2014 ALL AMERICAN FUTURITY AND DERBY WAGERING GUIDE

It took 5 races to break his maiden but since then he’s won 4 of 8 …Giles won the Rainbow Futurity when Trendi posted an upset over Kiss My Hocks … The Rainbow win was the 1st for rider Gamez, whose mounts have won more than $6 million …1 mph head wind trial. Potenzza Qualifying Time: 21.391 Trial #: 9 Jockey/Trainer: Eduardo Nicasio / Paul Jones

Notables: Jones, the sport’s all-

time money leading trainer with $74 million in earnings, seeks his 3rd All American Derby win after Noconi in 2008 and Inseperable in 2009 … Potenzza won the first two races of her career (Rainbow and Ruidoso Futurity trials) …Chased talented Hes Relentless and Kates Dynasty in last 2 races … Most significant effort was a 3rd to Ms First Prize Rose and Belle Helene in 2013 Rainbow Futurity … no wind in trial.

Five Bar Cartel Qualifying Time: 21.395 Trial #: 4 Jockey/Trainer: Saul Ramirez / James Gonzales II

Notables: Got off to a terrific start

to his career with 4 straight wins, including a nose score in the Ed Burke (G1) at Los Alamitos … Only start this year produced a second to J Bar in trial for this … Gonzales took over the training this year. He is a former rider and piloted By By JJ to a win in the 2003 All American Futurity … Ramirez was aboard when Five Bar Cartel won the Burke. His mounts have won $22.2 million …Was rolling at the end of his trial … 1 mph head wind in trial. AQHA is a proud title sponsor of Night School. Learn more online free Tuesdays at 8:30 pm ET at AQHAracing.com.

2014 ALL AMERICAN FUTURITY AND DERBY WAGERING GUIDE

Mon Ti Dash Qualifying Time: 21.397 Trial #: 8 Jockey/Trainer: Berkley Packer / Sleepy Gilbreath

Notables: Packer qualified this colt

for Gilbreath and keeps the mount. He was 2nd to Houdini and ahead of the talented SkuzePleeze … Only glaring blemish was in a trial for the Ruidoso Derby when he stumbled and broke out …Packer’s mounts have won $8.2 million …Gilbreath took over the training this year … 4 mph head wind in trial.

Jerry Shottenkirk’s All American Derby Selections 1st-Houdini 2nd-Big Dashing Perry 3rd-Five Bar Cartel 4th-The Ultimate Eagle

Wagering Strategy: Houdini (pictured) is the hottest and most dependable of the group. Villafranco always seems to have him ready for his best and Jensen has been aboard for 6 of his 8 wins. Should be favored, but could be more than odds-on. Worthy of a win wager at 2/1 or higher, and is a key in exactas and other exotics. Exacta box with Big Dashing Perry, and use Houdini over Five Bar Cartel and The Ultimate Eagle. In trifectas, use Houdini and Big Dashing Perry each in the first two slots and all in the third.

2014 ALL AMERICAN FUTURITY AND DERBY WAGERING GUIDE

MONDAY, SEPT 1 – RUIDOSO DOWNS ALL AMERICAN FUTURITY Ruidoso Downs Race 11 Post: 5:52 pm MT, 7:52 pm ET 2014 FIELD QUICK FACTS: Fastest Qualifier: 21.313, Exquisite Stride Unbeaten Horses: Exquisite Stride, 2-for-2 28 trials took place over two days (Aug. 14-15) for the first time with the five-fastest qualifiers each day earning a spot final.  Day 1 qualifiers came out of races 14,11,9,12,10 in order of fastest to slowest.  Day 2 qualifiers came out of races 2,10,7,13,7 in order of fastest to slowest.

Performance of Fastest Qualifiers Since 1995 Year Fastest Qualifier 2013 Wagon Tales 2012 PJ Chick In Black 2011 Ochoa 2010 JLS Mr Bigtime 2009 Love Samba 2008 Stolis Winner 2007 Heartswideopen 2006 No Secrets Here 2005 Make A Secret 2004 Mighty Invictus 2003 Latest Version 2002 AB What A Runner 2001 Grand Coeur 2000 Eyesa Special 1999 A Delightful Dasher 1998 Old Habits 1997 Memorize 1996 Blushin Bugs 1995 Winalota Cash

AA Fin. AA Odds 3rd 4.80 6th .70 (f) WON 1.60 (f) 2nd 2.00 (f) 5th 1.90 (f) WON 1.80 (f) WON .90 (f) WON 4.30 4th 1.30 (f) 5th 3.10 scr scr WON 2.10 (f) 4th 3.80 WON 2.80 WON 2.70 2nd 1.20 (f) 4th 5.50 6th 1.50 (f) WON 2.10 (f)

2014 ALL AMERICAN FUTURITY AND DERBY WAGERING GUIDE

Day-of-Race Career Records for All American Winners Year Winner Sts. 2013 Handsome Jack Flash 4 2012 One Dashing Eagle 4 2011 Ochoa 3 2010 MrPiloto 3 2009 Running Brook Gal 5 2008 Stolis Winner 7 2007 Heartswideopen 6 2006 No Secrets Here 5 2005 Teller Cartel 4 2004 DM Shicago 5 2003 By By JJ 4 2002 AB What A Runner 2 2001 Ausual Suspect 3 2000 Eyesa Special 3 1999 A Delightful Dasher 5 1998 Falling In Loveagain 7 1997 Corona Cash 8 1996 Streakin Flyer 5 1995 Winalota Cash 8

Wins 3 3 2 1 3 6 5 2 0 1 3 2 2 2 3 1 5 3 4

All American Futurity Favorites Year Favorite Finish 2013 Especially Tres 4th 2012 PJ Chick In Black 6th 2011 Ochoa 1st 2010 Miss Racy Jess 7th 2009 Love Samba 5th 2008 Stolis Winner 1st 2007 Heartswideopen 1st 2006 Gun Battle 2nd 2005 Jess a Classy Lad 8th 2004 Separate Secrets 10th 2003 Planet Holland 3rd 2002 AB What A Runner 1st 2001 SpittinAndSplittin 5th 2000 Copper Buff 5th 1999 Chicks Call Me 2nd 1998 Hes My Dasher 4th 1997 Corona Cash 1st 1996 Blushin Bugs 6th 1995 Winalota Cash 1st

2014 ALL AMERICAN FUTURITY AND DERBY WAGERING GUIDE

THE FUTURITY LINEUP: IM A FANCY PYC Qualifying Time: 21.337 Day/Trial #: 1 / 11 Jockey/Trainer: NA / Paul Jones

Notables: Scratched. Retired with suspensory injury following trials. THUNDERBALL B Qualifying Time: 21.336 Day/Trial #: 1 / 14 Jockey/Trainer: Joe Badilla Jr. / Mike Joiner

Notables: Made perhaps the top

late move of the trials as he went from 7th – 2 1/4 lengths out of it early – to a three-quarters of a length win …He had been fairly close in all three races, which were trials for the Big 3 at Ruidoso … Joiner also qualified Tempting Destiny … 2 mph tailwind in trial …

SAM CROW Qualifying Time: 21.487 Day/Trial #: 1/9 Jockey/Trainer: Ricky Ramirez / Blane Wood

Notables: Was one of the more

impressive winners of the trials as he reported home by a widening 2 1/4 lengths. Current roll started with a 2nd in Ruidoso Juvenile and continued with a pair of trial wins … Ramirez mounts have won more than $18 million and he is a regular rider for Wood … At the top of his game for this one … 3 mph headwind in trial. JM MIRACLE Qualifying Time: 21.497 Day/ Trial #: 1 / 12 Jockey/ Trainer: Ramon Sanchez / Umberto Belloc

Notables: 1 of 2 horses to qualify

for the finals of all 3 legs of Ruidoso’s 2YO Triple Crown this year (other Bodacious Eagle) … Has been a whiz at winning trials

2014 ALL AMERICAN FUTURITY AND DERBY WAGERING GUIDE

but is yet to win a final. He came close in the Ruidoso Futurity as he was 2nd to race winner Kiss My Hocks and ahead of Bodacious Eagle … Belloc also sends out This Fire Is Cold in what is just his fourth year as a trainer … 2 mph headwind in trial. TEMPTING DESTINY Qualifying Time: 21.529 Day/Trial #: 1 / 10 Jockey/Trainer: GR Carter Jr. / Mike Joiner

Notables: 10 mph headwind in

trials, strongest disadvantage faced by any qualifier both days … Was nearly a length to the good in his trial … Qualified for Ruidoso Futurity (finished 7th) after a trial win. EXQUISITE STRIDE Qualifying Time: 21.313 Day/Trial #: 2/2 Jockey/Trainer: Jimmy Brooks / Eddie Lee Willis

Notables: 5 mph tailwind in trial,

strongest advantage of any qualifier both days. Only 1 AAF winner in the past 2 decades has won the final with having only 2 prior career starts (AB What A Runner, ’02) … Won a trial but didn’t qualify for Rainbow final … Was forced in and bumped at the break and an opponent crossed in front of him in his All-American trial and he still reported home by a shade better than a length … Trainer is son of Eddie D. Willis, one of the all-time top conditioners in Quarter Horse history. APOLLITICAL BLOOD Qualifying Time: 21.388 Day/Trial #: 2 / 10 Jockey/Trainer: Raul Valenzuela / Juan Aleman

Notables: Qualified for Ed Burke

and finished mid-pack but recovered nicely with a devastating 2 1-2-length trial win for this event. … Filly has won 2 of 4 … Aleman trainees have won nearly $10

2014 ALL AMERICAN FUTURITY AND DERBY WAGERING GUIDE

million. He's quite familiar with the breeding as World Champion Apollitical Jess (sire) won the G1 Champion of Champions for him and he also trained Apollitical Time to a G1 Los Alamitos Super Derby win … Valenzuela won the Southern Cal Derby aboard Nellie Delaney and the Heritage Place Derby aboard Bon Accord …2mph crosswind in trial. THIS FIRE IS COLD Qualifying Time: 21.431 Day/Trial #: 2 / 13 Jockey/Trainer: Esgar Ramirez / Umberto Belloc

Notables: Well-bred filly put it all

together for easiest of wins in her trial, which marked her 1st career win and 3rd career start. Has been on 3 tracks in her 3 starts and her best effort prior to the trial win was a 2nd to speedy Paint Me Perry in a trial at Remington Park … Ramirez won the 2010 Futurity with MrPiloto, who was 22-1 …No wind in trial.

BODACIOUS EAGLE Qualifying Time: 21.438 Day/Trial #: 2 / 7 Jockey/Trainer: Cody Jensen / Blane Wood

Notables: 1 of 2 horses to qualify

for the finals of all 3 legs of Ruidoso’s 2YO Triple Crown this year (other JM Miracle). He was right in hunt in the Ruidoso and Rainbow. He was 1 1-2 lengths behind Kiss My Hocks in the Ruidoso and then was a head and a neck behind that one in the Rainbow …Wood won last year’s Rainbow Futurity with Ms First Prize Rose, and Wood and jockey Jensen have been a formidable pair …10 mph crosswind for trial ... pictured below.

2014 ALL AMERICAN FUTURITY AND DERBY WAGERING GUIDE

MAD ABOUT THE MOON Qualifying Time: 21.442 Day/Trial #: 2/7 Jockey/Trainer: Sergio Becerra Jr. / Gene Burden

Notables: Came within a nose of

highly regarded Bodacious Eagle in trial and prior to that was a convincing maiden winner over this strip … Burden scored his 1st graded victory with Boi George in the West Texas Futurity ….Becerra won restricted New Mexico stakes for Burden this year … Just a $5000 yearling purchase … 10 mph crosswind in trial

Jerry Shottenkirk’s All American Futurity Selections 1st-Bodacious Eagle 2nd-Apollitical Blood 3rd-JM Miracle 4th-Exquisite Stride

Wagering Strategy: Bodacious Eagle has as much ability as any in here. His timing has not been good, having wins in trials and not in finals, but there’s a good chance that will change in the All American Futurity. Win play and exactas using him with Apollitical Blood (pictured left), JM Miracle and Exquisite Stride should deliver the goods. Back up with Apollitical Blood/Bodacious Eagle exacta. - HPN

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Sebastian K â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Modern Day Super Trotter By Ken Warkentin

Sebastian K and his Swedish trainer/driver Ake Svanstedt have taken the American trotting game by storm. First, allow me to take you back to a Saturday night in July of 2008, when I had just called the great pacer Somebeachsomewhere dominating his US debut in an elimination for the Meadowlands Pace. I must have sat back in stunned silence and stared off into

the distance for a good 20 minutes before I realized he had to be the greatest pacer I had ever seen. Everything about him stood out, even after his lone career loss the following week in the world record Pace final. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the same feeling I had on May 10 this year, when Sebastian K arrived in East Rutherford, NJ. The eight-year-old barefoot wonder was making his first start

in the US, first start in 8 months, and was coming off a nondescript qualifier, in which he had finished fourth, timed in 1:56.2. Sporting a $2.3 million bankroll, this Swedish-bred son of Korean was voted Sweden’s 2012 Horse of the Year, and had won 26 of 63 career starts, while beating Europe’s best trotters. His French sire has some American influence and his dam, Gabriella K, is 100percent US blood. Sebastian K went off at 5.60-1 and very few were ready for what happened. With an awesome and effortless 1:50.1 clocking, Sebastian K equaled the mile-track world record in an elimination for the Arthur J. Cutler Memorial. Svanstedt, 55, Sweden’s five-time Trainer of the Year and three-time Driver of the Year, moved his stable to the US last Fall. Svanstedt has more than 5,000 training wins and over 6,400 as a driver. Sebastian K seldom sees a circular track in training and only to warm

up. He trains intervals on a straightaway track of deep sand and gets plenty of paddock time at Svanstedt’s Legends Farm in Wrightstown, NJ. Svanstedt believes it’s all about building up strength and the speed comes naturally. Making them strong allows them to carry their speed farther. The proof is in Svanstedt’s results with all of his horses. Sebastian K followed up his smashing American debut with a stakes record of 1:50.2 in the $175,000 Arthur J. Cutler Memorial, and another easy win in 1:50.3 a week later. No trotter in history has ever strung together such speedy miles. On June 28, under perfect conditions at Pocono Downs, Svanstedt seized the moment, actually urged on Sebastian K, and those long, beautiful, rhythmic strides yielded the fastest trotting mile in history, a dazzling 1:49. A few weeks later Sebastian K and Svanstedt took their act to Canada for the Maple Leaf Trot eliminations at Mohawk Raceway, and a 1:52.2

training mile-like preliminary ensued. If the giant has one weakness, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sloppy tracks, and in the final of the $560,790 Maple Leaf Trot, a rain-soaked Mohawk resulted in a nose loss for Sebastian K. The champion had just a week to rebound and Sebastian K was back at it with another emphatic 1:51 win in an elimination for the John Cashman, Jr. Memorial. The $300,650 Cashman Final on Hambletonian Day was his fourth consecutive week in the box, something he had never done, but Sebastian K continued to thrive on the North American-style of racing with an eye-catching romp in 1:50, equaling the mile track world record. The crowd gave him a standing ovation. It was his third worldrecord performance in this country, his seventh win in eight American starts this season, and he is a perfect five-for-five at the Meadowlands.

It since was announced Sebastian K would get a month off before returning in the Fall. Sebastian K is owned by Knutsson Trotting of Vero Beach, Florida, brothers Michael Knutson and Tristan Sjoberg, who carry on the legacy of their father, Bertil, who passed away in 2012, and got the family started in harness racing some 50 years ago. They are hoping to strike a deal where Sebastian K can combine stud duties and racing. He has already sired six yearlings. Svanstedtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stable is predominantly twoyear-olds, and he also won the major race for freshman trotters on Hambletonian Day, the $355,500 Peter Haughton Memorial with Centurion ATM in a track record of 1:53.2. So, not only will the impact and influence of Sebastian K be felt for years to come, Svanstedt can already start dreaming of the 2015 Hambletonian. - HPN

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE CZAR OF RACING 13 Neverland Place, Suite 1 Lexington, KY The Honorable Brian Nadeau

Dear Race Fans, I want to first and foremost thank you for electing me to this extremely important, newly created racing position, and believe me when I say it’s not something I take lightly. We’ve lamented for years that racing needs a unifying voice to help it reach new heights, and I’m looking forward to tweaking a few things – as well as creating some new ideas – that will further help this sport we all love thrive in the future. As an active horseplayer and handicapper, my number one goal will be to lower takeout and return more money to the most important, yet often overlooked, member of the racing fraternity — the bettor. While the safety and courage of the equine stars we’ve all come to love and respect should, undoubtedly, be at the top of anyone’s list of importance, it’s the bettor who fuels the purses. And it’s the bettor who should be getting a bigger return on their wagering dollar. So with that in mind, it’s time we lower the takeout on exotic wagering, where oftentimes a quarter of a wagering dollar is taken out up front. It’s quite simple, yet often overlooked, but the more of each wagering dollar that is returned to the gambler, the more wagering dollar that can be bet

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE CZAR OF RACING 13 Neverland Place, Suite 1 Lexington, KY The Honorable Brian Nadeau

back into the races. And as we all know, the more handle a track gets, the better the product will be. As a sport, we’re losing far too many patrons to other wagering avenues. In this day and age of internet gambling, it’s easy to bet on countless other sports, often with just a 10% takeout. Go to Las Vegas and the typical bet comes with a 10% ― vig,‖ i.e. your betting $110 to win $100 on a sports match. So why are we taking 25% on a pick 6 or a pick 4? The ― less is more‖ mantra has never applied more to this aspect of the sport. The more the bettors get back, the more they will put back through the windows, which will work wonders across the board. If a $100 exacta actually pays $75 after a 25% takeout, think about the ramifications of the $10 extra dollars if the takeout was reduced to 15% and that exacta now returned $85? Few, if any, gamblers would put the $10 into their pocket and not spend it; therefore, it would be put back through the window and handle would increase exponentially. Another area where I think handle can be built is through the admission gates. I would urge any track that charges admission to convert some, if not all, of their admission price to a voucher that fans must bet back through the windows. Tracks take for granted that people come to bet their races; so charging admission is almost brushed over. But they can’t forget

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE CZAR OF RACING 13 Neverland Place, Suite 1 Lexington, KY The Honorable Brian Nadeau

that it costs money to bet on the races, so charging admission is almost a slap in the face. To use Saratoga as an example, general admission is $5 and clubhouse admission is $8. Why not charge the same $5 and $8, but instead give fans a voucher for some, if not all, of the admission? A normal Saturday at the Spa, with 25,000 people, would now generate upwards of $100,000 of additional handle. And that’s simply if everyone bet only their voucher and stopped when it ran out. That’s not taking into account those who win their bets and put more money back in at the window, or those that had fun with the initial $5 or $8 and now want to put some more money on a new voucher. I’d also like to see racetracks work together in unity as opposed to being their own separate entities, and that’s something I’ll strive to work on as well. Quite frankly, it’s bad business when tracks run races on top of each other. There’s really no reason for Grade 1 races or major stakes to be run on top of each other, like we see far too often. It doesn’t take more than a phone call between major tracks to see when important races are being run to coordinate a better schedule. And when major races are run within minutes of each other, it also robs each race of the full attention it deserves, not to mention it also could hurt handle.

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE CZAR OF RACING 13 Neverland Place, Suite 1 Lexington, KY The Honorable Brian Nadeau

Taking it a step further, there’s really no reason why the major tracks around the country can’t get together to better space their best divisional races, so as to hopefully lure top horses to most, if not all of them, as opposed to stealing horses from one locale or another. The sport has the stars, but we need to showcase them, not dilute them across the country where they won’t shine as bright. I understand that each track has its own stakes schedule and progression to get to the major races, but it wouldn’t take much tweaking to enhance featured stakes races, as opposed to carding them so close to one another where there’s no chance to get the same horses. There’s little doubt that racing is at a bit of a crossroads as we move on in the 21st century. While the golden days of the sport may be in the past and attendance may never be what it was once, there are other ways to make our sport vibrant again. I’d like to think I’m the right man for the job as we move forward.

Brian Nadeau

IN YOU’RE THE MONEY

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. The Promotion registration period begins on or about May 28, 2014 at 12:01 a.m. ET and ends on November 1, 2014 at 8:40 p.m. ET. Promotion is open only to legal residents of the 50 United States & D.C., who are 18 years of age or older. See Official Rules at www.MillonDollarFinish.com for exact registration times for each race, additional eligibility restrictions, prize descriptions/restrictions/ARVs and complete details. Void where prohibited. PROMOTION IS DEVISED AS A NON-GAMBLING PROMOTION AND IS INTENDED SOLELY FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES. Promotion is sponsored by Breeders’ Cup Limited. Breeders’ Cup Limited is the sole sponsor of the Promotion. NBC Sports and NBCUniversal Media, LLC are not sponsors of the Promotion and are not associated with the administration of the Promotion in any way. Entrants are providing information to sponsors and not to NBC Sports and NBCUniversal Media, LLC.

SPENCER'S

RACING

HORSE By Brian W. Spencer

In physics, Newton's Third Law states that “for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” That rule makes any discussion of what we would do differently if we ran racing an interesting one, as for nearly any change that someone can come up with, there are potential consequences that could be calculated and debated.

LAWS

OF I'm looking forward to seeing the reactions, potential consequences and additional ideas generated by this month's issue. The majority of my desired changes come with the caveat that I know they would be nearly impossible to implement with a patchwork of state-by-state regulations and racing commissions that handle these issues within each jurisdiction, but hey, that's what dreaming about “If I Ran Racing” is all about, and these are the three biggest issues I would change in an instant if I could.

INTEGRITY As a horseplayer first, the most important thing to me is the integrity of my wagers, and I am frequently troubled by the sometimes inconsistent standard that seems to be used by stewards in determining whether fouls worthy of a disqualification have been committed. It isn't even so much that I am troubled by the inconsistency from track to track, as those different standards from one track to another are generally discernible over the course of playing races, but that the same infraction one day is cause for a DQ, while a week later it's “no change.” In their defense, I do believe that stewards have a tough job, in many ways very similar to a morning-line maker. On a day when the stewards don't get involved in any calls at all, nobody marches up to the them after the races and says, “hey, you all did a great job ensuring that our rules and regulations were applied correctly, and I appreciate your contribution to helping today's

races go off without a hitch.” When a morning-line is spot-on throughout a ten-race card, you'll never hear a mention of it, but look out when the same linemaker installs a horse at 15-1 that goes off at 7-2 the next day – people get apoplectic and you would never know that the same linemaker has been carefully and correctly doing his job for weeks on end without a major miss because the volume of the negative is always amplified. In that vein, I think there are ways to make the decisions when stewards do get involved quite a bit less negative. I would love to see more open discussion from the stewards about those decisions, and in that sense applaud NYRA for their “Stewards Corner” section on their respective track websites. If I ran racing, not only would every track have a similar page with detailed explanations of action or inaction on every inquiry or claim of foul, I would love to be able to watch stewards deliberate their decisions in real-time. What is the thought process? What are the arguments

being made for or against a change in decisions that are not unanimous? I believe that having more transparency, more accessibility, and more understanding of what goes into these decisions would only help racing, as it would give bettors more reason to believe that their wagering dollars are being respected to the degree that they deserve to be â&#x20AC;&#x201C; there is little, if anything, that is more important to racing's livelihood than the wagering dollar, and I'd like to see it treated that way with more transparency. With further regard to the wagering dollar, there has been much discussion in the past years about late wagers knocking down prices on horses well after the race has begun. There is nothing more disheartening than betting your horse at 7/1 at post time and watching your odds drop twice during the running of the race, eventually collecting $9 on your 7/2 winner. To that end, I would close all

pools at post time, when the clock hits zero minutes to post. At that point, there is usually another minute or so before the race in which time late bets could be cycled through and accounted for. That wouldn't necessarily make late odds changes a thing of the past after your bet had been placed, but it would sure eliminate some of the suspicious feelings that occur when those late odds drops seem to come on horses who have established perfect trips near the front of the pack. While it might be a bit conspiracy-minded, how often do the odds seem to plunge on a speed horse who stumbles at the break, gives away seven lengths and finds himself racing from last? At the very least, you would know what price you were getting when the gates opened. Don't like your 7/2 as much as your 7/1? At least you know that's what you're getting before your horse falls into a great trip. Admittedly, this idea would necessitate a change in the mind of the horseplayer, but it wouldn't

take but a few times getting shut out on a horse or Pick-4 you loved before “1 minute to post” became the new “0 minutes to post” for every player out there. STAYING POWER The last change I would immediately make is one that I have heard floated in similar ways by many people over the years. I would change the rules to make it so that only horses aged five and older could stand at stud. It wouldn't necessarily be a worldchanging move, but it would at least give many owners an incentive to bring top three-yearolds back from minor injuries instead of sometimes using those as an excuse to shuttle a horse off to stud. While it would clearly affect horses who suffered legitimate careerending injuries, it would delay their trip to the farm by just one season, and it would give fans a more competitive handicap division full of many four-year-olds who would

otherwise not be racing. How many great older horses has racing missed out on because they were shuttled off to stand stud either midway through or after their three-year-old season? The honest answer is that we'll never know, but even a delay of just one year could facilitate the creation of rivalries on the track that could generate interest from players and fans, could allow us to see the best from certain horses who had yet to reach their true potential, and could provide some additional magic in a division that has been decidedly hit or miss on a year-toyear basis for some time. There isn't one thing that is going to “fix” racing, but there are more than a few good ideas out there of ways to improve the game and increase the integrity of the sport, many of which are only dreams in the current state-by-state situation, but we can keep dreaming in the meantime.

-HPN

CLICK TO LAUGH ALONG

3 WAYS TO SAVE THE GAME By Jeremy Plonk You don‟t need to have won The Biggest Loser, or even seen George Costanza‟s famous Seinfeld tirade about “shrinkage” to understand racing‟s biggest need in 2014 and beyond. Get smaller, and fast.

 Smaller amount of race days.  Smaller number of races daily.  Smaller percentage taken out of every dollar bet.

Accomplish those three waisttrimming exercises and the sport can rid itself of its dire obesity. You see, the way to solve racing‟s business problem isn‟t to do something new. It‟s to do something less. Let‟s get one thing straight: There’s nothing wrong with horse racing on the biggest stages. Any sport outside the National Football League would die for the attendance, television viewership and general excitement created by the Triple Crown, Breeders‟ Cup and boutique meets like Keeneland, Del Mar and Saratoga.

when comparing with other major sports, because no season spans this ridiculous length. And to be honest: Horse racing is a gaming business, not a sport. You might root for your favorite horse or jockey, but none of the industry‟s funding mechanisms have pennies on the dollar to do with that fandom.

You can complain about Triple Crown ticket prices, but they sell out, and they‟re in line with any major sporting event pushing 100,000 through the turnstiles. And the Preakness Infieldfest, by comparison, has dwarfed the NFL‟s Super Bowl halftime show the past several years.

Few people will say it, but here goes – horse racing ‘fans’ who do not bet not only do not help the industry, they burden it. The amount of resources needed to make their day at the races comfortable, from parking to admissions to security, first aid, groundskeeping, housekeeping, food service, elevator and escalator service, liability insurance and more doesn‟t add up to a daily $5 admission charge plus a couple of drinks or a snack.

Horse racing does, however, have a survival problem about 300 days per year. Notice you won‟t find that

The number one priority in attracting new customers has to be to teach them to bet or

betting based on this business model. There‟s no other lifeblood. Shrink Number of Race Days it‟s a negative pursuit by definition. The amount of money spent in ABRVs, billboards, radio ads, television spots, internet campaigns and more can‟t possibly pay off if the people who come to the gaming business don‟t game. It would be akin to Barnes & Noble bragging about a packed house of people sitting on their house-kept couches, drinking from the Starbucks franchise stand inside, and never buying a book. Great couches and java, but if people don’t want to read, Barnes & Noble will be out of business.

With increased wagering competition in nearly every state in the union due to a proliferation of casino operations in the past two decades, there‟s a betting fatigue that‟s real. Look at the decimation of Atlantic City‟s boardwalk casinos in 2014 for proof of what happens when you make it just as easy to play cards and pull slots in neighboring states. Horse racing’s hold on the gambling market is as gone as the oncestark Las Vegas-to-Atlantic City vacuum.

Choose not to agree with me and continue the façade of beautiful people, big hats and social experiences to make the track goround, and your occasional big crowds of people not betting will cost the host track more and more to entertain, sucking the bottom line out of any benefit. The entertainment has to be the

We cannot overlook the hard fact that the most-attended horse racing meets are the shortest ones – Keeneland, Saratoga and Del Mar. There‟s a sense of urgency to be there, and that same sense of urgency to bet there. Miss today‟s late pick four and it might be the last one you get to play at one of those tracks for the next 6-10 months.

No racing meet should be more than 40 days annually. Think about that – it‟s five times the number of National Football League home games in any marketplace, and still akin to a fulllength National Basketball Association home schedule. Any more than 40 days of horse racing in any city is overkill on the interest level of the market, much less tracks located outside of major population areas. With at least 75 national racetracks each running 40 days per year, that‟s still 3000 live racing days on the US calendar. Love it or hate it, the reality is that about 85-90% of all betting is done away from the live racing venue, making this a national game, not a local one. With 3000 live racing days annually, a national simulcast audience would still be treated to about 10 different racetracks per day from which to sample. Think about that for a moment. How much more would your local, favorite track handle if it was one of only 10 tracks going nationally

today? Whether you‟re talking Saratoga or Canterbury, the daily national simulcast handle numbers would explode. Reducing the number of racing days also would greatly alleviate the massive overhead taken on by the racetracks. They could run with a scaled-back operation 325 days per year with national simulcasting and ramp up for 40 days per year. By going to 4-day racing weeks, that‟s 10 consecutive weeks of racing per venue in my plan. All tracks would run Saturdays so that they could attract on-track local business and spotlight themselves when fans can actually make it to the track. The 4-day weeks would either start or stop on Saturday based on the schedule. The 10 tracks could run Sat-SunMon-Tue, or Wed-Thu-Fri-Sat. Shrink Number of Daily Races The average age of a major league baseball television viewer last year

was 53 years old, according to MLB studies and the sport desperately is trying to find a younger audience. At 3 hours and 8 minutes per game, the slow pace of baseball and its cerebral nature have become a turn-off to today‟s Instagram immediacy. Baseball‟s average game was 1 hour, 58 minutes in the 1950s. Horse racing fits exactly in that mold of a great game, slow and cerebral, and failing to conform to today’s societal changes. A weekend card now easily spans 4-1/2 hours, and a showcase type card like the Triple Crown, Travers, etc., goes on a marathon 7-hour pace. No ‘everyday’ card should take more than 3 hours from start to finish. And the solution is not to condense the time between races as many suggest, but rather to condense the total number of races offered each day. I love to bet and play, but even I have no interest in playing all 10 races on a card over 4-1/2 hours most days.

Reducing the number of races offered each day would serve many positive fronts. The fans? Check. They get in, and get out, the way they want. The bettors? Check. They‟re assured to get larger field sizes per race that they crave. The track? Check. They condense payroll and man-hours greatly to help the bottom line. If you don‟t think larger field sizes mean more to bettors, explain how the 2013 Breeders‟ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf out-handled the nextrace Distaff last year by $750,000 for any reason other than a massive difference in field size. The 50-cent pick five is the most popular bet in racing these days. Imagine if it covered all five races on the five-race card and was the showcase wager folks clamored to make to sweep the card. Royal Ascot runs only six-race cards, so this isn’t bush league stuff without precedence.

Five or six races total from about 1-4 p.m. ET and then you can offer an after-race concert to keep people around and push the concession sales, or simply remain open for simulcasting and let your neighboring state‟s track run their 4-7 p.m. ET card and let those who want to gamble for 6 straight hours enjoy the comforts. How about a jockeys‟ post-game tailgate party to promote the athletes/fundraise? Shrink Takeout on Each Bet I‟ve never been a big „takeout‟ hawk when it comes to advocacy. That‟s because, while a serious horseplayer, I don‟t handle the volume necessary to really feel its effects significantly. {For newcomers, takeout is the amount taken out of every wager that is split among the house, horsemen (purses) and state (taxes). For most wagers, it varies between 15-25%, with some rare exceptions higher and lower.} If the takeout is increased 10%, that $10 winner you just hit now would pay $9. That $2 exacta paying $40 now would pay $36. It

doesn‟t seem like a whole lot when you‟re playing throughout the course of a day, but it can add up. Most horseplayers do not consider the takeout in their wagers for several reasons. One, they may not even understand the pari-mutuel system of wagering. Two, they may not bet often or heavy enough to feel the impact. Even if it’s true that a vast majority of horseplayers don’t consider takeout a big issue, and I believe it to be true, that doesn’t mean lowering the takeout is not a critical step in racing’s survival. That‟s because the most bullish of bettors, known in racing circles as „whales,‟ do recognize the impact of takeout. And because of the high volume of their bets, 5-10% here and there is the difference between staying in the game and getting out. To combat high takeout, many whales have swam online to bet,

lured by rebates offered from legal and offshore wagering outlets. No matter how great you are playing the horses, even the best whales attest to the importance of thin margins. Professional gambler Duke Matties told our Night School audience that without rebates, that 3-5% cash back on his milliondollar-plus annual handle, there‟s no way he could turn a profit. Reducing takeout also would help those horseplayers who don‟t even know it. More money back into the system never is a bad thing. But if keeping the game‟s biggest financial supporters firing has to be done in 3-5% increments through takeout reduction or rebates, then it‟s imperative that the game figures out a way to do so. An industry can‟t discourage

those customers who actually want to spend the most on its product. Final Thoughts If horsemen feel as though they are taking the worst of it in these proposed changes, it will be hard to feel sorry for those running in a $120,000 maiden special weight or a $30,000 pot for a once-$5k type. If you can win just as much purse money in fewer days with fewer horses, thus lowering overhead and the pressures associated with a dwindled foal crop, why, too, wouldn‟t you consider shrinkage as your model? This industry can‟t do its biz trying to keep unsuccessful trainers in business. - HPN

5 Left Bank (Bel), 3&up, 8F

Point Given / Photos By Z

SEPTEMBER 2014

1 All American Fut (Rui), 2yo, 440yds Hopeful (Sar), 2yo, 7F Saranac (Sar), 3yo, 9F-T Yellow Ribbon (Dmr), f/m, 8.5F-T I’m Smokin (Dmr), 2yo, 6F Oak Tree JF (Dmr), 2yof, 8F-T Smarty Jones (Prx), 3yo, 1m70yd Greenwood Cup (Prx), 3&up, 12F Turf Monster (Prx), 3&up, 5F-T Turf Amazon (Prx), f/m, 5F-T Guilliams (Elp), 3&up, 8.5F Lady’s Secret (Mth), f/m, 8.5F Rolling Green (GG), 3&up, 8.5F-T 3 Del Mar Futurity (Dmr), 2yo, 7F CERF (Dmr), f/m, 6F Oak Tree JT (Dmr), 2yo, 8F-T Pirate’s Bounty (Dmr), 3&up, 6F

6 Arl-Wash Futurity (AP), 2yo, 7F Arl-Wash Lassie (AP), 2yof, 7F Ack Ack (CD), 3&up, 8F Iroquois (CD), 2yo, 8.5F Pocahontas (CD), 2yof, 8.5F Locust Grove (CD), f/m, 8.5F-T Dueling Grds Dby (KD), 3yo, 13F-T Ky Downs Juvy (KD), 2yo, 7F-T Ky Downs JF (KD), 2yof, 7F All Brandy (Lrl), f/m, 9F Dave’s Friend (Lrl), 3&up, 6F Japan Racing (Lrl), 3&up, 8.5F-T Thirty Eight Go Go (Lrl), f/m, 8F-T Yankee Affair (Bel), 3&up, 12F Affirmed (GP), 2yo, 7F Susan’s Girl (GP), 2yof, 7F Super Derby (LaD), 3yo, 9F Happy Ticket (LaD), 2yof, 8F-T Sunday Silence (LaD), 2yo, 8F-T River Cities (LaD), 3&up, 8.5F-T Unbridled, 3&up, 8.5F NJ-bred Showcase (Mth), 4 stakes PA-bred Showcase (Prx), 5 stakes 7 Presque Isle Mile (PID), 3&up, 8F Sky Beauty (Bel), f/m, 8F Real Courage (Bel), 3&up, 8F Swynford (WO), 2yo, 7F WA-bred Showcase (Emd), 6 stks Governor’s Cup (Tdn), 3&up, 10F Premiere Cup (Zia), 3&up, 6F

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8 Prsq Isle Masters (PID), f/m, 6.5F 10 Brickyard (Ind), 3&up, 6F Merrilville (Ind), f/m, 6F

19 Te Ata (RP), 3yof, 7F Tishomingo (RP), 3yo, 7F

12 Rem Turf Sprint (RP), 3&up, 5F HPBA Sprint (Cby), 3&up, 6F 13 Kentucky Cup Turf Day (KD), 4 stks Natalma (WO), 2yof, 8F-T Summer (WO), 2yo, 8F-T Bold Venture (WO), 3&up, 6.5F DE-owned Showcase (Del), 6 stks VA-bred Showcase (Lrl), 5 stakes Open Mind (CD), f/m, 6F Pucker Up (AP), 3yof, 9F-T Sands Point (Bel), 3yof, 9F-T Noble Damsel (Bel), f/m, 8F The Vid (GP), 3&up, 8.5F Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cup (Prx), 3&up, 9F Mystic Lake Derby (Cby), 3yo, 8F-T Shakopee Juvenile (Cby), 2yo, 6F Loyalty (BTP), 2yo, 6F 14 Woodbine Mile (WO), 3&up, 8F-T Northern Dncr (WO), 3&up, 12F-T Canadian (WO), f/m, 9F-T Ashley Cole (Bel), 3&up, 9F-T Hettinger (Bel), f/m, 9F-T BC Derby (Hst), 3yo, 9F BC Oaks (Hst), 3yof, 9F

Kentucky Derby & Preakness winner California Chrome is expected to make his return to racing 9/20 at Parx in the 2014 Pennsylvania Derby. 20 PA Derby (Prx), 3yo, 9F Cotillion (Prx), 3yof, 8.5F Gallant Bob (Prx), 3yo, 6F Alphabet Soup (Prx), 3&up, 8.5F Charles Town Oaks (CT), 3yo, 7F Gallant Bloom (Bel), f/m, 6.5F Dogwood (CD), 3yof, 7F Kent (Del), 3yo, 9F-T Overskate (WO), 3&up, 7F Musical Romance (GP), f/m, 7F

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21 Ontario Derby (WO), 3yo, 9F La Lorgnette (WO), 3yof, 8.5F Bongard (Bel), 2yo, 7F Gimma (Bel) 2yof, 7F 24 Ladies Marathon (KD), f/m, 13F-T Turf Dash (KD), 3&up, 6.5F-T 25 PA-bred Showcase (PID), 3 stakes 26 Eddie D (SA), 3&up, 6.5F-T

Flower Bowl (Bel), f/m, 10F-T Vosburgh (Bel), 3&up, 6F Kelso (Bel), 3&up, 8F-T Homecoming Clssc (CD), 3&up, 9F Jefferson Cup (CD), 3&up, 9F-T Wasted Tears (GP), f/m, 8.5FT Laurel Turf Cup (Lrl), 3&up, 12F-T Jameela (Lrl), f/m, 6F Lady Baltimore (Lrl), f/m, 8.5F-T Laurel Dash (Lrl), 3&up, 6F-T Laurel Futurity (Lrl), 3yo, 5.5F Selima (Lrl), 2yof, 5.5F-T Bull Page (WO), 2yo, 6F La Prevoyante (WO), 3yof, 8F-T Jersey Juvenile (Mth), 2yo, 6F 28

27 * BC PREVIEW * Awesome Again (SA), 3&up, 9F Rodeo Drive (SA), f/m, 10F-T Zenyatta (SA), f/m, 8.5F FrontRunner (SA), 2yo, 8.5F Chandelier (SA), 2yof, 8.5F Unzip Me (SA), 3yof, 6.5F-T JC Gold Cup (Bel), 3&up, 10F Hirsh Trf Classic (Bel), 3&up, 12F-T Beldame (Bel), f/m, 9F

John Henry Turf (SA), 3&up, 10F-T Oklahoma Derby (RP), 3yo, 9F Remington Oaks (RP), 3yof, 8.5F Remington Green (RP), 3&up, 9F-T Rem Sprint Cup (RP), 3&up, 6F Kip Deville (RP), 2yo, 6F Flashy Lady (RP), f/m, 6F Ladies on Lawn (RP), f/m, 7.5F-T Classy â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;n Smart (WO), f/m, 8.5F Miss Grillo (Bel), 2yof, 8.5F-T Pilgrim (Bel), 2yo, 8.5F-T Gottstein Futurity (Emd), 2yo, 8.5F Catlaunch (Tdn), 3&up, 8.5F 29 Chaves County (Zia), f/m, 8F

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Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep

1 1 2 3 3 5 5 5 5 5 6

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Ellis Park meet ends Saratoga meet ends Online: Night School Online: Woodbine chat Del Mar meet ends Online: Remington chat Churchill meet opens Laurel meet opens (pic) Belmont meet opens Barretts/Fpx meet opens Ky Downs meet opens

Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep

6 – Zia Park meet opens 9 – Online: Night School 10 – Online: Woodbine chat 12 – Online: Remington chat 13 – Canterbury meet ends 14 – TV: FS1 Woodbine Mile 14 – Golden Gate meet ends 16 – Online: Night School 17 – Online: Woodbine chat 18 – Meadowlands meet opens 19 – Online: Remington chat 21 – La Downs meet ends 23 – Online: Night School 24 – Online: Woodbine chat 26 – Online: Remington chat 26 – Santa Anita meet opens 27 – TV: NBCSN JckyClbGldCp 28 – Online: OK Derby chat 28 – Arlington meet ends 28 – Monmouth meet ends 28 – Emerald meet ends 30 – Online: Night School

Oct 1 – Oct HPN Mag Release

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WOODBINE MILE September 14, 2014

Wise Dan has been ‘Woodbine Wow’

KEY INGREDIENTS TO THE WOODBINE MILE: While favorites went just 3-for-15 from 1997 through 2011, Wise Dan has taken care of business as the heavy chalk in the past 2 editions ... The last front-end winner in this race was Leroidesanimaux in ’05 … American-based raiders have won 5 straight and 8 of the last 10 … MOST RECENT RENEWAL: Trainer Charlie Lopresti and eventual Horse of the Year Wise Dan gave the barn its record-tying third win in this race – and jockey John Velazquez a record-padding fourth WO Mile victory. The exacta Wise Dan-Za Approval proved prophetic as it repeated in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita.

SEPTEMBER RACE OF THE MONTH

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HANDICAPPER’S AIDES: Last 10 Winners – Full History

’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04

Wise Dan Wise Dan Turallure Court Vision Ventura Rahy’s Attorney Shakespeare Becrux Leroidesanimaux Soaring Free

C. Lopresti C. Lopresti C. Lopresti R. Dutrow B. Frankel I. Black K. McLaughlin N. Drysdale B. Frankel M. Frostad

J. Velazquez J. Velazquez J. Leparoux R. Albarado G. Gomez S. Callaghan G. Gomez P. Valenzuela J. Velazquez T. Kabel

Last 10 Winners’ Preps ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04

Wise Dan Wise Dan Turallure Court Vision Ventura Rahy’s Attorney Shakespeare Becrux Leroidesanimaux Soaring Free

1st, Fourstardave (Sar) 1st, Fourstardave (Sar) 1st, Bernard Baruch (Sar) 6th, Manhattan (Bel) 2nd, Madison (Kee) 4th, Nijinsky (WO) 1st, allowance (Sar) 2nd, Play The King (WO) 1st, Fourstardave (Sar) 1st, Play The King (WO)

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Everything is a-Twitter these days. If you’re looking for quality horse racing coverage in the old fish wrap, forget it. The printed word has crawled to a stop like a cheap $5k claimer after a 44-second opening half. It’s hard to get enough Jennie Rees and Alicia Wincze-Hughes, Kentucky’s finest turf writers, even with online blogs. Television coverage is as solid as we can ask for in a niche sport with not one, but two racing channels devoted on the Dish dial – HRTV and TVG. And while one can frustrate us with dressage over Delta Downs at night & the other with yucksters on the mic who detract from the few good mouthpieces they have, we can’t really complain. Horse racing radio is as good as it’s ever been with Steve Byk leading a SiriusXM and free online streaming lineup daily. Dave Johnson’s legendary tones on the weekend airways and live racing coverage make for a wall-to-wall sound explosion. The west coast radio

shows are fixtures with Jay Privman et al. While there are areas of racing coverage making great strides in the 2010s, the most interesting of them comes on Twitter. It’s a place where anyone can become a star, no matter how useful, truthful or creative they can make 140 characters. Nearly all breaking news in racing (and beyond) now happens on Twitter. So even if you hate the feuds that pop up between selfproclaimed tout geniuses, it’s Twitter where you must go to be in the know – if you want to know NOW. I appreciate that our handle, @Horseplayernow, is used more for announcements than pronouncements, and continues to stay above the fray. - JP

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