Stockton Stewards' Highly Controversial "No Change"

You be the judge: incompetence, criminal negligence, or the right call.

In the seventh race at Stockton today (June 22nd) a horse appeared to break through the gate before the starter sent the field on its way. You can see replay at CalRacing.com with a free subscription.

On track, a number of spectators and bettors were livid at the failure to declare the 4 horse, Classic Delini, a non-starter. The pan view shows Classic Delini popped out of the gate at least a length ahead of all other starters. When this was played on the jumbo-tron in the infield the Stockton crowd groaned in disgust, as it would be improbable that a horse could be that far ahead of the rest of the field without breaking through the gate. Conspiracy theories began circulating immediately.

After watching the replay many times, while the pan view does look suspicious, the head on view is also telling. It appears that all the gates spring at the same time, and that Classic Delini was merely lunging at exactly the moment the gates opened. It does not appear that the horse forced the gate open at all, and the stewards made the right call. Nonetheless, do make your own judgement.

Da Goat Displays Bad Judgement

racing website proprietor books hapless blogger Tote Board Brad as weekly guest, bringing shame to his once proud online destination

That's right folks, Da Goat is slumming it by interviewing yours truly this week. Check out this weeks Goat, and if you can stomach it have a listen to the weekly interview found on the right hand side of the Goat homepage in which I spout off about NorCal racing, the California fair circuit, and my filly.

The Jockey's Agent

Image courtesy of Emeldi.

CDI's New CEO Contunes to Make Mark

Since taking over the Churchill Downs, Inc. helm, CEO Robert Evans has implemented a solid strategy of vertical integration. Recently CDI bought a 50% interest in HRTV from competitor Manga Entertainment, then launched their own wagering platform, twinspires.com. Now they have made perhaps the best acquisition of all, a provider of past performances data.
It was only a matter of time before the industry realized that the real money is in handle, not in selling data. As the price of data moves toward zero, handle will increase by a factor that will far outweigh the lost revenue.
How many times have you come home in the evening and wanted to play maybe one or two races for a couple of bucks, but weren't going to shell out $4.50 for a paper form, or $3.50 for online pps from drf.com? CDI appears to have seen the light and I would watch for a drastic decrease in the price of their data on their signals in the near term.

Movement 4th in Comebacker

Movement ran a credible fourth [chart - pdf warning] Thursday against solid company. Billy Mac's Forestry filly just nosed us out of third pace money, which cost me $900. This is a game of inches.

She broke sharply, then settled. In fact, she settled so much, I though she just wasn't going to pick up her feet, that she was horrible outclassed, or completely off her game. Then she came with quite a bit in the lane to make up a lot of ground. My initial reaction was that our jockey, Pedro Flores, waited too long to press the button. After watching the replay, he did get after her at the top of the stretch and rode hard through the lane. Perhaps he should have kept her slightly closer to the pace, but upon watching the race several times now, it was not the offensive ride I initially thought.

Initial reports are that she came out of the race great. The folks at the barn said she was not tired and scarcely drank any water. She was coming like a house afire at the wire, and was difficult to pull up. If the race really didn't take much out of her we might run her back sooner than we have in the past. We might even see her at Stockton.

Given the way she ran many folks at the paddock bar suggusted she may want to go long. And, she might, but she might be just as apt as a sprinter. She did everything the jock asked of her from taking back to changing leads to changing lanes in traffic to having a pretty strong answer when he finally asked the question. These are the trappings of a professional racehorse.

Today is the Day

Movement is running today at Golden gate fields against 20k claimers, and it's a tough set. She's going to have to step it up a good piece just to bring home a check much less win. If I want to be hopeful, i'd say she's coming in off a long layoff and could show marked improvement, but several of these horses stand the same chance. I'm hoping for the best, but feel free to offer your own opinion as you peruse the past performances. [her name is Movement and you can learn how to read the past performances at The Daily Racing Form.

Filly Prepares for 1st Start Off the Layoff

Last week Movement worked 6 furlongs from the gate in 1:14 and change. she came out of the gate sharply, settled, and bopped back and forth with her workmate, an older horse that was supposed to be in front at the end. She was on the inside and relaxed enough to let the other horse take as much as a 1/2 length lead at times, but then would come on again and take a head lead. They went back and forth for about half a mile before Movement took a permanant lead. Even after three quarters, she galloped out well and was tough to pull up.

This morning she posted a four furlong bullet work in 48 & 3, good for the 4th best time of 17 29 at the distance. [more works came in since i posted this. one in 48 flat and two others at 48 & 2.]

Were looking to start her in a Maiden 20 claimer on June 7th. Maiden 20 for 3 year olds should be a good sight easier than the same conditions for 2yos because all those good horses at that level have won and moved on. There can always be a big droppers or a late developing horses in the races, though, so a win is by no means assured. I think she will be competitive, though.

Filly Prepares for 1st Start Off the Layoff

Last week Movement worked 6 furlongs from the gate in 1:14 and change. she came out of the gate sharply, settled, and bopped back and forth with her workmate, an older horse that was supposed to be in front at the end. She was on the inside and relaxed enough to let the other horse take as much as a 1/2 length lead at times, but then would come on again and take a head lead. They went back and forth for about half a mile before Movement took a permanant lead. Even after three quarters, she galloped out well and was tough to pull up.

This morning she posted a four furlong bullet work in 48 & 3, good for the best time of 17 at the distance.

Were looking to start her in a Maiden 20 claimer on June 7th. Maiden 20 for 3 year olds should be a good sight easier than the same conditions for 2yos because all those good horses at that level have won and moved on. There can always be a big droppers or a late developing horses in the races, though, so a win is by no means assured. I think she will be competitive, though.

Let not life be but a walking shadow

I have one of two choices -- stay in the post office and go crazy, or stay out here ... and starve. I have decided to starve.

--Charles Bukowski upon leaving his government job
November 1969




Standby....more to come

...

Update!

I put in notice at my job to follow the ponies for a while. Look for me on the backstretch of the NorCal fair circuit tracks this summer. I may be mucking stalls, walking hots, perhaps even hustling book if I'm lucky enough. The accountant is out.

Mule Racing Season Nears

The traditional kickoff to mule racing season is the Winnemucca meet in north central Nevada and is scheduled for the first three days of June this year. Last year press from around the globe descended on Winnemucca do cover the cloned mules as they battled it out on track. This year may eve be more exciting for me, as I am a first time race mule owner. Pictured above is RTR Lost in the Fog, who's sire is suspected of siring champion mule Black Ruby. Officially Black Ruby's sire is unknown. RTR Fog has been burning up the track in qualifying heats, posting the fasted times of lot so far. In Nevada we'll see if his morning talent transfers to afternoon success.

Headlines Lacking

Panty Raid won the Black-Eyed Susan today and the headlines read a ho-hum Black-Eyed Susan Stakes belongs to Panty Raid and Panty Raid Takes Black-Eyed Susan. Given that the cheesiest of headlines employing the most lame plays on words are routinely trotted out I think we can do better than this. Shoot, every Fraternity lad in the infield came up with something worthy before plunking down their two dollars on Panty Raid's sniffer. What do you suggest?

Scoop!?!

Rumor mongers on the backstretch of questionable reliability report that Jack Liebau, President of Bay Meadows, this past week submitted to the CHRB a request for racing dates in 2008 for the "doomed" racetrack. My usual sources for everything CHRB related were unable to confirm the rumor, and others that I often rely on for such inside information were unable to confirm as well. However, one connected source did say that regardless of whether Bay Meadows has as of yet requested dates, (s)he fully expects them to make a request. Furthermore, tabbing the in the know crowd, a common theme emerges: the idea that Bay Meadows will run in 2008 is "generally accepted as fact," as one racetracker put it.

Another rumor, equally as unsubstantiated, yet strongly believed by it's espousers, is that Golden Gate Fields will not install a synthetic surfaces this summer, as reported. The conspiracy theory goes something like this: Magna is broke, doesn't really want to shell out the cash, and thus did not acquire the proper permits and line up the appropriate contractors to begin construction. Given that Bay Meadows may get their waiver, Golden Gate should get one as well.

Stay tuned. I'll see what else I can dig up this week, hopefully with a little more sourcing and a little less rumor mill.

Update: Here's a DRF article on the possible delay installing a synthetic surface at Golden Gate Fields. No further word on Bay Meadows requesting racing dates yet.

CHRB Gets Comeuppance

Citing many of the CHRB's failures, a state Senate budget sub-committee pulled their funding for the 2007-08 fiscal year this week. The senate took umbrage with CHRB chairman Richard Shapiro's failure to lead the Board to grant a waiver allowing Bay Meadows to remain open an additional two years, once before. Leland Yee then introduced a bill in the Senate calling for Shapiro's resignation. This time the Senate has a much longer list of failures they would like addressed.

Notice also mention of Freedom of Information Act violations. I can vouch for that personally.

Adam Keigwin, spokesman for Yee, insisted the Bay Meadows closure is not the sole issue. He said the commission has been responsible for lax investigation, Freedom of Information Act violations, poor staff morale resulting in numerous resignations, and even requests for taxpayer-funded limousine use. [Bloodhorse]

One item not noted is that the agency is not audited annually, while I know of no other agency that also does not get audited. This would be a fine time for the legislature to call for that,as well.

Calvin, Please Go To Hollywood - Our Sport Needs You!

After winning the Kentucky Derby, Calvin Borel is in demand--not just on track and at the Whitehouse, but in Hollywood. Unfortunately he turned down a recent request from Jay Leno to appear on the Tonight Show, favoring returning to a normal schedule of working horses and perhaps even mucking stalls for his brother Cecil.

Borel is such a wonderful asset for racing. He is incredibly likable and authentic, and his Cajun draw colored turns of phrase are always a delight to listen to. I hope he decides he can take some time to work the late night talk show circuit because it would be so good for the game. I can't imagine a better ambassador for racing.

Former MEC Parent Magna Int'l Gets Serious About Chrysler

Russian firm takes stake in Magna, Chrysler eyed

DETROIT/MOSCOW (Reuters) - Canadian auto parts supplier Magna International Inc. said on Thursday it had secured a $1.54 billion investment from a firm controlled by Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska in a move aimed first at expansion in the fast-growing Russian auto market. The cash infusion could also help Magna fund a bid to buy struggling U.S. automaker Chrysler Group from its German corporate parent, DaimlerChrysler, in ongoing talks in which Magna has been seen as front runner by many analysts.

Readings: Bukowski

Long day at the track. Drank a bottle of wine, lucked onto some poems. I'm 70 now. What a fucking farce. Death is no matter. I am ready for that fucker. Just about swept the card on Labor Day. Won $497.80. Went out today and won $44. It's not the money. The money is the indicattor.

Now we've got this checkmate war. But I still listen to Mozart. 4 walls and a good night's sleep beats getting sucked-off by any starlet.

--Charles Bukowski
September 4, 1990
Excerpt from a letter to playwright Paul Peditto

Sloppy Journalism

I didn't cash a ticket on the Derby. Beyond that, if you want insight see the selection of TBA writers that have written assessments worthy of your time in my sidebar to the right. As of this writing, Curb, Swift, Gate and Foolish have commentary up.

Now I will lambaste the media. Lets start with Reuters, above. You know, I don't believe a 2 year old has ever won the Derby before. Below is a similar error made by the Houston Chronicle. I can only imagine that when these jackass reporters that know nil about racing learned that Street Sense is the reigning 2 year old champion, they thought he was still two years old. If, like me, you cashed no tickets in this years Derby, you are entitled to be smug about such sloppy journalism.

Derby Selections

Cowtown Cat is the worst horse in the race, a despicable animal, barely a member of the horse family.

--Andy Beyer

My top pick is Cowtown Cat. I'll play a boxed exacta and trifecta with him, Tiago and Circular Quay.

This Book is a Deserving Favorite

A month ago I began reading Not by a Long Shot, author T.D. Thornton's behind the scenes account of one year at the hard scrabble New England track Suffolk Downs. Mr. Thornton, in a hat tipped to bloggers, sent advance copies to a few of us, and after plowing through the first hundred pages in furious delight, I promptly lost mine--sacrificed to a Muni bus or a BART train, most likely. I hope it finds a good home, and although I feel boneheaded for losing it, I enjoyed it so much I felt I should have paid for it anyway. My newly ordered copy should arrive any day now.

Hopefully I'll finish it before the Belmont Stakes and write a review, but in the meantime I can tell you the ultimate answer already. You should put this book on your reading list, racing fan or not. Not only do you get descriptions of the inner workings of a racetrack, but also what many of my readers come here for, which are the human interest stories that are intrinsically embedded in racing. Thornton delivers both with grit and flair. Both Mother's Day and Father's Day are coming up. Put it on your shopping list for the readers who brought you into the world.

Straight Shooter

Movement breezed a half mile in 49 flat this past Sunday, which was eleventh best of 26 at the distance. The work was the best she has put in since at least December, as she stayed straight this time. She has had a bad habit of getting out her last several works and in her last two starts. This is very promising.

Here's video of her breeze, Juan Ochoa aboard, accompanied by bluesman Lightin' Hopkins.