MEDAL

 Meet some of the people who’s jobs are at risk. Interviews were conducted asking these individuals similar questions to illustrate the reality of the concerns facing this community – they are all on RACING FUTURE.COM..http://racingfuture.com/track-stories

 

Dean Adams…one of hundreds and hundreds of people who will be left with nowhere to go…

read more stories at http://racingfuture.com/track-stories

 

 

 

 

OHRIA LAYS OUT A PLAN

It’s a start, but it’s somewhat general and, well for Fort Erie and standardbred racing, scary, as their dates have been cut totally or in half.

Will the government respond at all to this? Are the former cabinet ministers  working with OMAFRA and OHRIA able to get something to the Libersal government that will make them listen?

We’re less than 6 weeks from our yearling sale, the Americans are still coming to take some horses as these ones were bred in a very strong time of our indsutry. But what about the local buyers and the ONtario sired horses? We don’t know anything – there is no hint as to what, if anything, the horrific team of McGuinty and Duncan will do to aid the industry of the slot revenue loss.

As someone said, the money was not a subsidy. The tracks put slots in to help the province and itself. And now the province is sticking it, you know where.

From OHRIA this week –

On Tuesday, the result of weeks of hard work by the OHRIA Task Force will be evident with the release of the Plan For The Future of the Ontario Horse Racing and Breeding Industry.

To prepare the Plan, OHRIA created a Task Force and retained the highly respected, Stanley Sadinsky. The attached Plan has been approved unanimously by the OHRIA Board of Directors and is in the hands of the OMAFRA Panel for review.

OHRIA asked government to work with the industry to find a sustainable solution for Ontario horse racing moving forward in 2013 with the cancellation of the Slots at Racetracks Program. The government responded with the creation of the OMAFRA panel. This panel has met with and received submissions from hundreds of individuals in the industry and is aware that, although there are many voices, we are all singing the same tune. We are all in agreement that:

Horse racing supports full-time employment for thousands of Ontarians Ontario horse breeders produce a product that has a local and international market.The horse racing industry has grown and flourished in this province and it is worth preserving.

OHRIA has taken the lead to speak with one voice on behalf of the industry, not only because this is an expectation of the government, but also because OHRIA is representative of all facets of the industry. Standardbred, Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse breeders, owners, trainers, industry employees and racetracks all have representation on OHRIA’s Board of Directors.

The OHRIA Task Force has given in-depth consideration to the needs of all stakeholders, but the Plan is not the final picture for Ontario. The Plan is the road map to how, in partnership with government, the industry will chart its own course into the future — building a strong racing product supported by a breeding industry that produces horses with world-wide appeal.

The Plan had to be based on some assumptions as the task force did not know where the OLG will land with future gaming. The Plan should be viewed as a frame work that does NOT try to decide who will participate and who will not.

The strength of OHRIA’s ability to work with government and the success of the Plan will hinge on a cohesive review process and the industry’s willingness to speak with one voice. OHRIA is the voice for the industry and welcomes your feedback on the Plan via email at ohria@ohria.com. OHRIA will continue to work on your behalf to ensure a sustainable future for horse racing in the province of Ontario.

It’s a lengthy publication but itemizes what monies will be needed to keep racing and some programs going. It has numbers that are significantly below what exists now such as :

“Based on a demand approach, a sensible number of race dates in the future for the new model would be 167 thoroughbred dates (down from 243 in 2012),600 standardbred dates (down from 1252 in 2012) and 30 quarter horse dates (down from 45 in 2012). Total race dates under the new model would be 797, down from 1,540 in 2012.

 

HORSE OWNER/PHYSICIAN WAXMAN SOUNDS OFF…hope the Liberals see this letter!

http://www.thespec.com/opinion/columns/article/764738–racing-headlong-into-obscurity

 

WOW, WABBIT WINS AT WOODBINE- Wednesday,Friday recaps

JENNA’S WABBIT is 6 for 9 in his career with $454,000 in earnings after a 3rd straight win in 2012 Wednesday night at Woodbine. He is a giant son of Old Forester won the Deputy Minister Stakes at 7 furlongs in 1:23 1/4 for Danny Lococo and Ralph Biamonte. The big 3yo did not look like his usual brilliant self but he had run hard in his 2 previous events. He earned an 83 Beyer Figure which was the best of his career anyway.

Much was made about 128 pounds that he carried but at a short distance, with a 1,000 pound animal, can that really mean anything?
The son of Old Forester is out of In the Buff, who has an unplaced 2yo filly this year in Sports Buff.

FRIDAY – long awaited rain came during the week and the turf course really needed it. The course gets a lengthy break shortly but the races came off turf on Friday.

Race 1 – In honour of PEAKS AND VALLEYS, who passed away at Gardiner Farms this past week, his son SUTTER’S FIND was a predictable winner of the maiden 2yo race for $20,000 claiming. He is owned and was bred by Richard Lister and Jim Smith trains.

Race 2 – Mike Doyle trainee AWFULLY SINFUL won by a pile of lengths for $23,500 claiming in her 4th race of the year. She had a huge Beyer Figure advantage on the field of 3yo fillies. She was bred by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms in Ontario and is owned by Doyle and Dura Racing.

Race 3- SWIMSWIMSWIM won won won, on the lead for Brenda Goodlet and trainer Tino Attard. The Whywhywhy 4yo filly won for $12,500 and she’s 3 for 14 in her career.

Race 4 – DUBAI DOT is 2 for 5 this year with her win on Friday for $15,000 claiming. She had blinkers off for the first time since last fall and her previous win came at the same class level. RMC owns and bred the daughter of E Dubai and Norm McKnight trains. 2nd win for jockey Justin Stein the day.

race 5 – TIZ RO, a half sister to millionaire JAMBALAYA and stakes winner RILEY RIPASSO stayed in the maiden allowance for 2yo fillies despite the vent coming off the grass and she won anyway. This is a Hard Spun gal out of Muskrat Suzie who was very professional for Raroma Stable and trainer Greg de Gannes. She debuted on Lasix and was a $130,000 yearling purchase at Keeneland Sept. last year. Nice outings for Ontario bred CALL ME PERSKE (Street Boss) who was 2nd and Virginia bred SHENANDOAH LADY who had a bad start (by Purim).

Race 6 – REAL HERO, a $25,000 claim last October, won for $15,000 in his 3rd race of the season for Nick DeToro. This Gone West gelding rallied from well off the pace under Davy Moran.

Race 7 – VEGAS WEEKEND -number 2 for Luis Contreras, won his 2nd race of the season (he didn’t win any at all last year), with a rallying run behind a pace duel. The race was for $19,000 claiming and he was turning back from 1 1/16 miles to 7 furlongs, a distance he loves. The BC-bred is now owned by K Force and trained by Willie Armata.

Race 8 – The day’s feature came off the grass, an allowance for non-winners of 2 and it was TOM JOY who rallied off the pace to win for owner/breeder George Bigliardi. The popular owner celebrated  the 2nd win by his Giacomo gelding this season. He not has earnings over $100,000.

race 9 – a few scratches of key horses left the door open for STRAWBERRY SCARLET win her maiden for $16,000 and it was the first win for trainer Tom Bowden in 2012. The light grey gal is the latest winner for the now-closed WINDFFIELDS FARM, as she was foaled at the famed Oshawa Farm and is by D’Wildcat from Stellar Babe. Incredible that the amazing Windfields is still producing winners despite the struggles to keep the property intact. Currently, the farm is vacant and owned by housing developers and a university. There has been a lot of work done on some barns and it appears as if the area of the gravesites of Northern Dancer and others will soon be a park and visiting area.

Race 10 – Heavily favoured  HOLD THAT ECHO rallied to win the finale on Friday for $10,00 claiming, her 3rd win of the season and 3rd win for trainer Daryl Ezra. Gary McMaster owns the mare by Hold That Tiger. Contreras bagged his 3rd on the day with the win.

 

DUCHESS STAKES SATURDAY AT WOODBINE

The 57th Duchess Stakes on Saturday at Woodbine will feature a big favourite in MAN STUFF, a Belong to Me filly who just won the Sweet Briar Too Stakes. This 3yo drops into a 3yo race but comes off a new top, earned with a front running style with slow fractions. She’s a mighty one, but ripe for the pickin-against with lots of other speed in the mix. Let’s go with a price runner for our pick – CASA LOMA,  a Cape own filly turning back from 1 1/16 miles when 3rd in the Bison City 27 days ago. This is one of the most intriguing distance changes in racing and this gal has run hard all year and could be sitting on a peak run. A well timed move will help her cause.

CASA LOMA, owned by Rolph Davis, could be queen of the castle in the Duchess on Saturday at Woodbine. Terence Dulay photo

 

 

 

HUNCH PLAY FOR BREEDERS’?
Maiden Soul of London nominated for classic

A small group of 15 has been been nominated for the Aug 5 BREEDERS’ STAKES, the 3rd jewel of the Triple Crown. The race, at 1 1/2 miles on the grass, may be simply a crowning run for STRAIT OF DOVER as the best 3yo in the land as he won the Plate and has been resting since then.

But it’s still a horse race and there are a few intriguing entrants for the $500,000 race.

Two maidens are nominated – BIG KICK , by Tiznow, and Soul of London, who may be a hunch play because of the Olympics.
The nominees are!:

ALDOUS SNOW

BIG KICK

DIXIE STRIKE

DRAGON TAIL

GOLDEN RIDGE

INCREDICAT

IRISH MISSION

PEYTON

QUAESITOR

SEEN IT ALL BEFORE

RIVER RUSH

SOUL OF LONDON

ULTIMATE DESTINY

WILCOX

 

SECOND SEASON FOR AMERICAN 3YO’S

DICK JERARDI – PHILLY.COM

WHEN THE Triple Crown season ended, the second season had much promise, even without Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner I’ll Have Another. Then, Belmont Stakes winner Union Rags got hurt. Derby and Preakness runner-up Bodemeister got sick.

So, Sunday’s $1 million Haskell Invitational will not feature Union Rags trying to run down Bodemeister. Still, 40,000 or so will appear on the North Jersey Shore at Monmouth Park because they know no other place to be on Haskell Day.

This weekend, which includes Saturday’s Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga, is the official kickoff of the second season for 3-year-olds. Without the winners of the Triple Crown races, it is nowhere close to what it might have been. The race for the 3-year-old championship is over. I’ll Have Another, unbeaten in 2012, has already clinched the title.

There is enough time for another 3-year-old star to emerge, but the reality is that the Triple Crown races have become such a focal point that nothing in the sport can really match them.

Read more: http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/horse_racing/163966526.html#ixzz21oiBVRYp

Saturday, Saratoga, post time: 5:45 p.m. EDT
JIM DANDY S.-GII, $600,000, 3yo, 1 1/8m
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY TRAINER WT

1 Alpha Bernardini Dominguez McLghin 119
2 Fast Falcon K Awesome Again Napravnik Zito 117
3 Atigun K Istan Leparoux McPeek 117
4 Neck ‘n Neck Flower Alley Goncalves Wilkes 119
5 My Adonis Pleasantly Perfect Castellano Breen 117
6 Teeth of the Dog K Bluegrass Cat Rosario Matz 121
7 Liaison K Indian Charlie Garcia Baffert 119
8 Prospective Malibu Moon Velazquez Casse 121

OCEANPORT S.-GIII, $150,000, 3yo/up, 1 1/16mT
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY TRAINER WT
1 Get Serious City Zip Fragoso Forbes 123
2 Magnifi Cat Storm Cat Bejarano Goldberg 116
3 Tune Me In Concorde’s Tune Lopez Alexander 116
4 Roman Tiger Tiger Ridge Serpa Manning 123
5 Queen’splatekitten Kitten’s Joy Castellano Pletcher 116
6 Glass Art K Hennessy Carmouche Sacco 116
7 Admiral Perry First Samurai Bravo McGaughey 116
8 Crepuscolo K Johannesburg Trujillo Serey 116

 

HORSES OF NOTE

Stakes winner LEGAL MOVE was last beaten 19 lengths in a Fort Erie allowance yesterday off a 2 year layoff. The multiple stakes winner of $881,000 was raced by Woodford Racing for a while before he was sold at a mixed sale in Kentucky. He is 10 for 41 in his career.

MICHAEL’S BAD BOY is a stakes winner for owner/breeder Joan Agro has won over $500,000 and he was recetly eased up in a Fort Erie race off the $12,500 claim.

In addition, there seems to be a renewed excitement in the late stages of races, but maybe a bit more than need be as the whipping seems to be a bit more pronounced when horses are a) – winning by lots or b)- losing by lots (see Run in Aruba in the Prince of Wales and rash of whip infactions at Woodbine and Fort Erie this summer)

On Tuesday at Ajax Downs, a horse being hammered on out of the gate suddenly started bucking and tossed his rider, nearly killed himself by jumping over railing.

It’s a long year and who knows where all the horses and poeple will end up next year, but while we are here, we should still try to take care of the animals

Other notes – HAWK OVER HEATH was reportedly put down after a race at Fort Erie this week. The Tomhawk gelding, winner of $96,000, was dropping from allowances at Woodbine to $7,500 claiming and he broke down early in the race. Overheath Stable owned the gelding and Mike DePaulo trained.

 

ASSININBOIA DOWNS – MANITOBA DERBY COMING UP AUG 6

THE MANITOBA LOTTERIES DERBY
** ENTRIES CLOSE WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1 AT 9:30 A.M. **
$75,000 Guaranteed
3-YEAR-OLDS Weights: Fillies, 121 lbs. Colts and Geldings, 126 lbs. Limited to twelve starters. Preference will be given to those horses with the highest lifetime earnings provided by the Daily
Racing Form at the close of entries. Fees: $100 to nominate – $700 to enter – $700 to start.
ONE MILE AND ONE EIGHTH
TO BE RUN MONDAY, AUGUST 6, 2012

Nominees:

AMPSTERBAND (Mosqueira, I.) dk b/.g.3 Peter Landry Tim Rycroft

BALOOGA BULL (Nolan, P.) b.g.3 Paul Brandt Ardell Sayler

CAHILL CHROME ch.g.3 Roger Hansen Roger W. Hansen

CLEAR THE RUNWAY (Walcott, R.) b.g.3 Riversedge Racing Stables, Ltd. Greg Tracy

PLEASANT CLOSING (Nelson, T.) b.c.3 Duncan, Murray and Stewart, Garylle B. Murray Duncan

RUNAWAY LION b.g.3 K 5 Stables Shelley Brown

SHE’S COPACETIC b.f.3 T G Stable Aaron Sayler

SO SHINY (Badrie, P.) ch.g.3 Melissa L. Peach Melissa L. Peach

THE GOV (Keith, L.) b.g.3 Hall, Philip and Hall, Robert W. Philip Hall

TOASTMASTER dk b/.c.3 Rake Farms LLC Bernell B. Rhone

UP JUMPS A MONSTER (Williams, S.) dk b/.g.3 Chabot, Rob, Kane, Tim and Schayer, Joshua Rob Chabot