Movement Models Winter Coat

I'm sure I'm equally as annoying as new parents who wont stop boring you to death with stories of what their stupid kid said or did this week. Nonetheless, she does look grand in her winter coat. But as I've mentioned before, she's not just a pretty package, she's got the goods in the cargo hold:

Hi, Brad. Here are some pictures of the Exploit filly from where she is training. Bill says she has the best movement of all the horses on the farm -- so her name is very appropriate!

-- Steve & Kathy Watkins
Triad Farm

Racetracks Can Add Value - Here's How

Today, Railbird highlights two press items extolling the ascension of online account wagering. I generally agree with the columnists that the track cannot compete with the broadband equipped home computer in conjunction with TVG, HRTV and TiVo--for the pure handicapping experience, the access to data and unimpeded control of signals & wagering cannot be beat.

Yet, I have all these things and still 90% of my wagering takes place at the track. The track offers real value to me in a few ways. First, the Bay Meadows apron level clubhouse bar offers a great place to spread out my form and see all the signals in comfort.

Michelle, the outstanding mixologist, knows my name and what I drink, and most of the trainers are planted nearby or at least pass through. The banter that goes on here between the trainers is a joy in itself, and having the access to get their opinion or just gauge their frustration or elation is priceless. Not from a betting perspective, because most of what they have to say is noise in that regard, but certainly from a sporting perspective.

Also adding value to the track experience is getting to see the personalities of the connections on display--that cut-up Steve Miyadi never gives you a straight answer, but you'll usually leave either laughing or stung by sarcasm; that Bill Morey, the uber detail oriented encyclopedia of horse training, knows the precise explanation you seek, but is introverted enough that he may not want any interaction at the moment; that Armando Lage will graciously receive your friends you introduce to him, and even if he doesn't remember your name at the moment, he wont let on; and that Jamey Thomas, the consummate workman on the backstretch, is hands down the very best trainer to have a beer with in the clubhouse.

The clubhouse bar being adjacent to the apron, one has only a 7 second stroll out the door to see the live action. This spot of the Bay Meadows apron also gives you access to the jockeys as they are headed to the walking ring or back to the jocks room. I've never jeered at a jock, but have gotten a smile from Frank Alvarado after noting his academy award performance after checking unnecessarily on a tiring horse coming down the lane.

Lastly, as Beyer mentions, there is the social aspect of it all. If you are a baseball fan, you can talk baseball in most any sports bar, or even at the water cooler. If you are a horse racing fan, you have to go to the track to bounce ideas off real people, complain about bad rides, or bask in the glow of your latest betting coup without getting the hairy eyeball from whomever you're talking tack.

There's value in having these experiences and opportunities and you don't get them with a lap top and satellite dish. Nonetheless, that so many are playing from home makes it easy for me to get a seat at the Bay Meadows Clubhouse Bar.

Tote Board Flashes "Bloggers Objection"

There are some very weighty topics being discussed in the TBA these days. Alan at LATG has taken on the press and jockeys guild, and regularly offers unparalleled insight on the political soap opera that is New York Racing. Patrick at Pulling Hair recently thumbed his nose at Steven Crist's protectionist fiefdom outlook on crowning thoroughbred champions, and Ruben at Average Horseplayer yesterday offered a sound critique of the Eclipse Awards.

But today I was presented with something so scandalous I could not but speak out for what is good and right and condemn some truly irresponsible and depraved blogging.

Ms. Broux at Post Parade has sullied the reputation of bloggers as the calm, scholarly, and deliberate contributors we have come to be known. I take strenuous exception to her unqualified characterization of a martini as a cocktail made with vodka. A proper martini is made with gin. The vodka martini is an inexcusable bastardization of the fine libation that I blame on the descent of moral values and likely, the terrorists. In fact, by referring to a martini as containing vodka she essentially offers aid and comfort to the terrorists. Regardless of how the world around me may crumble, I will carry on as a true Gin Swilling American!

El Camino Real This Sunday

The El Camino Real Derby, the richest two turn race for 3 year-olds before March will be run Sunday January 29 at Bay Meadows. Per an interview with Eion Harty on HRTV this weekend, A.P. Warrior continues to be on target for the race. Alex Solis is expected to have the mount.

Acolyte, Bold Chieftain, Cause to Believe, Objective and Passive Income are also confirmed starters.

On the fence are Big Jon, Direct Connect, Point Determined, R Fat Man, Racketeer and Wanna Runner.

Unfortunately, nominees Bob and John, Hawkinsville, Mark of Success, and Wilmore have been declared from the race by their connections. Dan Hendricks had considered starting Brother Derek in the race, but ran in the San Rafael at Santa Anita instead and is now pointing toward the Santa Catalina.

Movement Moves Best

I got word over the weekend from the trainer in Kentucky, Bill at RimRoc Farm, that is breaking Movement and a few other horses that Jamey will also train. One in particular they have some hope for. I don't remember if it was the Grand Slam or the Quiet American filly, or by another stallion, but she cost considerably more than Movement and Jamey owns a piece. Bill commented how much she liked that dark bay filly--how he just loves the way she moves. Jamey asks "Oh yeah, that bay filly by whoever." "No, the dark bay," Bill said. "The little one," he continued. And I'm jumping up and down "THAT'S OURS! HE LIKES THE WAY MOVEMENT MOVES!" Owners hear what they want to hear, and it's really a good news bad news scenario, as she's still small, but it's great that Bill likes her action.

In other news, there are two new TBA members in the last week. Sue over at Post Parade and John, who puts out The Race Is Not Always To The Swift. . . Welcome folks! Good to have you.

News & Notes

I celebrated MLK Day with a special Monday card at Bay Meadows, where I had the chance to chat with Armando Lage, trainer of Leave To Appeal, about the aforementioned mugging she experienced at the hands of one Mr. Baze. Armando was, as always, unflappable and cool as a cucumber. In his-I've seen it all and I'm not shocked by any of it any more-delivery he said, with a very calming smile "That was the day Russle decided to have a bad ride, and he happened to have that awful ride on our horse. He has bad rides, too."

In the Look on the Bright Side Department, Armando said she came out of the race great and she'll be ready to go early in the Golden Gate meet which opens February 8th and offers a surface of which she's displayed a fondness.

Ruby Thomas, trainer of Idaho Gem, the Taz clone, was shuttling between the clubhouse and paddock as her husband Ray had two entries on the card. We did have time to chat about our two year old filly out of an In Excess mare, by a no name sire. We are renaming her by each submitting a name and drawing the winner from a hat. I submitted "Grand Complication" as my choice, and I've got a one in ten shot. We could see this filly and Movement compete at the fairs over the summer. The cheapest 2yo maiden claiming races they card are for $12,500, and I'd guess that's where they'll both be.

Lastly, I'm solidifying my travel plans for my two bush flavor events, both with a modicum of racing, the Red Bluff Round-Up and the Winnemucca Mule Races, Show and Draft Horse Challenge.

Atrocious Ride Costs Leave To Appeal

Initially I had titled this post Leave to Appeal Falters as Favorite but then I watched the race on Cal Racing. Russell Baze nearly tore the poor mare's head off, giving the girl the triple hammerlock while the pace setters dawdled up front. Had he not fought with her so much, wearing her out early, we would have gotten the place money, and might have won. I'm absolutely livid. Honestly, I've never been so mad at a jockey in all my life, and I've lost a lot of wagers due to decisions jockeys made that turned out to cost me. That's the difference, though. I can't blame a jock making a split second decision to duct inside to save ground and then getting bottled up, or going outside and being hung 6-wide. This is out of hand, though. Perhaps I can be a bit more objective after I cool out a bit. I need a stiff drink.

Leave to Appeal Entered Tomorrow

The race we've been pointing for finally filled and will go as the 7th on Thursday's card at Bay Meadows. With the weather we've been having, there's a good chance it will be washed off the turf. Last time that happened she romped in the slop at 8-1. That was for a tag of 16k, and this time it's an open $25k affair, though. Even so, we've got the world's winningest active jockey in the irons. That should guarantee a good ride and a short price.

Reno's Soft Underbelly, Continued

After checking in to our hotel and playing a few quick hands of blackjack, my brother Bryan and I wanted to have a drink or two at a regular bar--not in a casino. We had a cold frosty at my old standby Doc Holiday's across from Harrah's, then walked about looking for another spot. There was a decent billiards bar, a Reno chic lounge with a DJ spinning chill jams and then there was the Riviera Lounge.

Bryan saw the neon Bud sign from a block away. I discounted it, as we would be getting farther yet from the casinos and the cold was wearing on me, but Bryan wanted to check it out. As we closed in, the establishment revealed itself to be a seedy motel bar set back in a parking lot which etched images of rooms by the week or hour and their likely patrons. I was guessing this dive hotel and bar was the last step before homelessness or the first step afterward. We walked in, sat down, ordered our drinks, and looked up at the flickering screens behind the bar flashing hard core porno. And I mean hard fucking core, eager home movie stars, sloppy and rough, fingers and thumbs and tongues. Women with jailhouse tattoos and gap toothed white dudes with afros.

My gin and tonic was enroute as I took inventory: two cowboy hat wearing, leather faced baby boomers, one younger Latin cat in all black, and our very standoffish young female bartender. The place had two stripper poles and four tables which were "reserved for couples", the signage alerted us. There was also a "couples room" in the back, where another patron, a women I believe, emerged as we were leaving. We were already putting our drinks down pretty quickly when we were notified it was last call. At 11pm. They were probably just getting rid of us, but we were ready to go.

RIP - Reno Turf Club

Only the most hardened horseplayers will likely remember the Turf Club which was recently demolished to make room for the train depot and sat near the Cal-Neva. The joint was poorly run and more dilapidated than the Fairmount Park simulcast lounge, but was heavy on steel eyed characters, which was the real draw.

Again thanks to Ruben at Your Average Horseplayer, I found I'm not the only one that appreciated the soft underbelly of Reno, of which The Turf Club was a key component. The Portland band Richmond Fontaine pays homage to the bottom feeder's emporium in a couple of their songs, not to mention other low rent destinations such as The Fitzgerald, a block away, and Winner's Casino in Winnemucca, NV. I've been to all three, and I'll be staying at the Winners again in June for the Humboldt County Fair (not to be confused with the Humboldt County Fair in Ferndale, CA) which features mule racing and mixed breeds.

I own a filly in partnership with Ruby Thomas, who also trains mules. As I've mentioned before, and will continue to plug, she will have one of the Taz clones for their unveiling at the Winnemucca meet. I cannot find any web presence for the fair or the meet, but it's been going on for ages--this is some real cowboy business.

Reno In Review

I spent the weekend in Reno's fine and not-so-fine race books, most of which I had been to before, but on the advice of the most affable Dave Tuley of DRF, I made a stop at the Reno Hilton, which is my new favorite book. Also, a shout out to Birthday Boy Ruben over at Your Average Horseplayer for referring me to the fine sports scribe.

Silver Legacy's book has an outstanding atmosphere--dark stained wood, well appointed and generally classy, although a little light on the tellers, and the set up of the screens was a little better at Harrah's.

Reno Hilton was tops. I hadn't been there before, but it was worth the drive. Also, it seems they're the only book in town that has derby futures this early and they take pick six bets. All the corrals have their own monitors, as well. The only thing I would change is to separate the race book from the sports book so we can hear all the race calls over the games.

Harrah's has the best big screen set up. They have one enormous screen which shows whatever race is going off now on it, six giant screens which carry the six most popular signals, and something like 15 or more smaller screens that carry everything else and duplicates of the bigger tracks. You can see every track very well from every seat in the house. At times they needed an extra teller, and some of the tellers were not as proficient at operating the tote machine, though. Also, the atmosphere is a step below the Silver Legacy.

John Ascuaga's Nugget has a cozy, higher-end atmosphere, and is separate from the sports book. When I was there, they only had one teller most of the time, and sometimes two, which meant some people were shut out. The room really had a good feeling aesthetically, though, and that made up for a lot of the other short comings.

Cal-Neva is known for their race and sports book operation, as their book is the operational back office for many of the Reno books such as the Nugget, Boomtown and the El Dorado. Even though they may run an outstanding book, in the strictest statistical use of the term, their facility and customer service in their downtown casino is among the worst of full service books I've seen. The facility is ugly, uncomfortable, has no large screens, and some of the tellers are downright surly. At one point I placed a $10 win bet about two minutes before post. The teller printed the ticket, while my ten spot lay on the counter. I looked at the ticket and it was the wrong horse. I told him so, and asked him to void it and put it on the horse I asked for. He said NO, snatched my bill and said no refunds. I argued briefly, and pointed out that I had not left the window yet and had the right to inspect my tickets. There was maybe two other people in the book and no other tellers, so I was out of luck. Neither the horse I intended to wager on, nor my errant ticket won, but that was little consolation. I won't go back.

TBA Announces Saint Liam Horse of the Year

The Thoroughbred Bloggers Alliance has announced Saint Liam as 2005 Horse of the Year. The TBA uses an algorithm which rewards activity in concert with impressive performances in big races. I believe this method of crowning champions is better for the sport and the breed than the current prom queen voting method of turf writers.