Man o’War raced clockwise at Belmont in 1921 – greatest horse that ever lived.
Something new is a’ brewin at Woodbine, a track that has consistently been a leader through innovation throughout North America. From the early years of the Racing Channel, to HPITV and it’s impeccable betting platform, the famous E.P. Taylor turf course and the free admission and walk-up saddling and walking ring.
Next month, Woodbine will begin a schedule of what it hopes will be a fascinating and successful series of Clockwise turf races, all sprints, to use a part of the expansive grass course that rarely gets action.
Monday, May 16, there is a test race at Woodbine with cameras, stewards, etc. and there has already been training on the training track for horses to gallop clockwise.
WOODBINE’S CLOCKWISE RACES CONDITIONS
June 10 weekend
1 – Starter Allwoance, $39,500 3 and up which have started for claiming price of $25,000 or less in 2015/2016
5 furlongs turf
2 – 3 and up non-winners of 2; Claiming $40,000 Purse 39,800 5 1/2furlongs turf
June 17
3 maiden 3 and up Claiming $32,000 5 furlongs turf
4- starter allowance, fillies & mares, 3 and up which have started for $25,000 or less in 2015-2016 5 1/2 furlongs, turf
The TORONTO STAR broke the story of the new races last fall:
FROM THE TORONTO STAR FEATURE
While there are many theories about why horse racing in North America is held strictly in a counter-clockwise direction, the opposite of its European and Asian counterparts, the most likely explanation comes from Kentucky, the original home of North American racing.
In 1788, William Whitley, one of Kentucky’s early settlers and a supporter of the American Revolution and anti-British, built the first American circular racetrack in Lincoln County. His idea to race horses the opposite way of English racing and to race on a clay track rather than turf (grass) was adapted by most U.S. tracks.
Belmont Park in New York changed over to counter-clockwise in 1921, the year after the legendary Man o’ War won the Belmont Stakes by 20 lengths in a clockwise direction.
http://startouch.thestar.com/screens/305b17ff-d986-4fa0-ba69-9dd8a16e067f%7CssNwbCP93HS_.html
Here is a cool blog about clockwise races of all kinds vs counter-clockwise
http://www.german-way.com/racing-in-the-right-or-wrong-direction/
BETFAIR TO LAUNCH NEW JERSEY EXCHANGE-WAGERING SITE ON TUESDAY
Woodbine listed as available tracks
DAILY RACING FORM FEATURE
by Matt Hegarty
The first exchange-wagering site in the U.S. is expected to be launched on Tuesday as scheduled in New Jersey, though activity on the site will likely be limited in the first few days because of a paucity of live racing signals and the narrow reach of the operation.
The site, operated by Betfair, a British company that pioneered the exchange-wagering concept 15 years ago, will allow New Jersey residents to accept and make bets with other customers of the exchange at odds agreed to by the customers. In addition, the site will allow customers to trade bets on horses as the races are being run.
http://www.drf.com/news/betfair-launch-new-jersey-exchange-wagering-site-tuesday
PREAKNESS PROBABLES
With files from Louisville Courier-Journal –
Steve Landers Racing’s Dazzling Gem and Jacks or Better Farm’s Fellowship were added to the list of Preakness candidates:
Sudddenbreakingnews – Toronto Star‘s pick to win th Derby ran a great race to come from miles behind to be 5th, set of blinkers may be an interesting idea?
Brody’s Cause – the Blue Grass winner, mild rally in Derby
Awesome Speed: As a winner of Laurel Park’s Federico Tesio, he’s a lock to make the Preakness field for trainer Alan Goldberg and already a three-time stakes winner.
Cherry Wine: The Dale Romans trainee was a head away from qualifying for the Derby but instead sat that one out. He’s lightly raced and sizes up as a closer.
Collected: Bob Baffert’s new shooter enters off wins in Sunland’s Festival of Racing Stakes as well as Keeneland’s Lexington. He could be the third betting choice in this race.
Exaggerator: Beaten four times by Nyquist, his connections are hoping the Curlin colt can finally turn the tables next time out.
Fellowship: The Derby’s bubble horse elected to run instead on the undercard, finishing fourth in the Grade III Pat Day Mile. He’s a newcomer to the Mark Casse barn.
Lani: The Japanese-trained son of Tapit will move from Churchill Downs to Belmont Park, where trainer Mikio Matsunaga says then going to the Preakness remains part of connections’ plans.
Laoban: A maiden, he’ll bring early speed to the Preakness. He set the pace in the Gotham and Blue Grass Stakes before just missing the Derby on points.
Nyquist: The Derby winner will ship quickly out of Louisville, moving along to Baltimore on Monday. No workout plans have been announced – he could go without one between races – with training expected to be light.
Stradivari: The Todd Pletcher trainee won by 14 1/2 lengths in allowance company April 17 at Keeneland and worked out Derby Day at Churchill. If there’s room in the gate, he seems a go for the Preakness.
Uncle Lino: Won the April 30 California Chrome Stakes at Los Alamitos after efforts of second, third and fourth in graded stakes tries on the West Coast.
141st PREAKNESS STAKES ON NBC SPORTS, MAY 21
In two weeks, Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist will take the next step in his quest to succeed American Pharoah as a Triple Crown champion. NBC Sports Group’s coverage of The 141st Preakness Stakes from Pimlico Racecourse in Baltimore, Md., begins Friday, May 20 at 3 p.m. ET on NBCSN. NBC presents The Preakness Stakes on Saturday, May 21 at 5:00 p.m. ET, with coverage beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN.
