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Left at the Gate

  • No Silver Rush

    “We have five months to collect that $200 million,” says Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver in the NY Times article which appears in the print edition today (and which was leaked online yesterday). Not the first time I've heard Silver make the point that the decision as to who exactly' [...]
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    Posted: November 24, 2009, 7:54am EST

  • Capital At Risk

    A couple of huge favorites in the middle of Sunday's card at the Big A. And though they were both easily victorious, to me they still beg the question of who exactly bets on horses like these at such prohibitive odds? And who exactly are "they" in these cases? Is [...]
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    Posted: November 24, 2009, 12:02am EST

  • Swift Defense, Bad Memories

    The testimony phase of the Bruno trial fizzled to an anticlimax on Friday with the announcement that the former Senate Majority Leader will not take the stand in his own defense. “I’m satisfied that all that has been said, has been said." “We did what we were supposed to" [...]
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    Posted: November 22, 2009, 11:22am EST

  • Nothing to Remember

    I wrote the other day about the sharp memory that the prosecution witnesses in the Joe Bruno trial seem to have. And on Wednesday, Wayne Barr, a former NYRA board member and business partner of Jared Abbruzzese (and of Bruno in a breeding partnership), testified that he clearly remembered that [...]
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    Posted: November 19, 2009, 2:30pm EST

  • Aqueduct Notes

    Mike Hushion has won six races in a row at the Big A - and seven overall when you add Saratoga Russell, who won at Penn National last week. And there he is, right on top of Thursday's card, with the one horse in the first. Bohemia Street (4-1) moves [...]
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    Posted: November 19, 2009, 7:35am EST

  • Trial and Tribulations

    - Reader jk mentioned Monday's developments at Joe Bruno's trial, which is entering its third week. The Albany Times-Union has a dedicated site, a blog I suppose, set up to cover the trial, and it's an excellent resource with which to follow it if you are so inclined. [...]
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    Posted: November 17, 2009, 12:33pm EST

  • A Decision By Horseplayers

    Here's a great post on Pull the Pocket about Bill Belichick's ultimately ill-fated decision to go for it on a 4th down deep in the Pats' own territory last night, comparing it to a "horseplayer decision." Fortunately, we can mess around and check the numbers, like a bettor' [...]
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    Posted: November 16, 2009, 8:06pm EST

  • Aqueduct Notes

    Been a good week for Pletcher with five winners at the Big A, including Irving Rules ($8.30) in the 7th on Saturday. I think I've mentioned that the Toddster fares pretty well with maiden claimers, a category one might not associate him with - he's 28% (28 for 100) over [...]
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    Posted: November 15, 2009, 10:30am EST

  • Consequences

    Just want to clarify pursuant to a comment on the last post, that I've never backed AEG's bid on this blog. In fact, I've never endorsed any particular bid, partly because of the lack of transparency which has denied us all the opportunity to fully evaluate them for ourselves; and' [...]
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    Posted: November 14, 2009, 11:31am EST

  • Two Down To Three? (Updated)

    Governor Paterson is slated to meet in private with Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate Majority Leader John Sampson in Manhattan at 2:30 today to discuss the Aqueduct bidding....and Tom Precious reports on Bloodhorse.com that we're down to three - AEG, SL Green, and Delaware North. Or maybe I should' [...]
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    Posted: November 13, 2009, 1:39pm EST

  • Coda (Adagio)

    Rap Tale was sold at Fasig Tipton on Tuesday night for $135,000. Claimed for $25,000 from Edward P. Evans, Rap Tale earned some $200,000 on the racetrack for Kasey K Racing Stable. Not too shabby I'd say. Especially considering that she wasn't that fast. In fact, as several haters were [...]
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    Posted: November 13, 2009, 6:34am EST

  • Jokes

    - Zensational, appropriately out of the dam Joke, has been retired. At least Ahmed Zayat is being honest about it. "Having already won three Grade 1 races, we feel that he will be more valuable at stud." [DRF]

    And there you go, in 17 brief words, just [...]
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    Posted: November 12, 2009, 6:17pm EST

  • Aqueduct Notes

    I don't know about that DQ in the second at the Big A on Wednesday. Sure, Run to Grand Ave., who had a nightmare trip from the start, lugged in and brushed Stormin Bud, but the contact didn't seen that severe; in fact, I didn't detect anything amiss watching the' [...]
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    Posted: November 11, 2009, 10:05pm EST

  • The People First

    Crain's New York Business reported on Monday that the Big A sweepstakes is now a 2-horse race between Penn National and SL Green; that according to a "source close to the process." Not sure how any such conclusions can be drawn at this particular time considering that the bidders' [...]
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    Posted: November 10, 2009, 7:40am EST

  • Smooch!

    Joe Drape's account of the Classic in the Times on Sunday was a delightful read. Seems a shame he's spent the last couple of years highlighting the negative aspect of the sport when he can be so breezy when writing about something good.....extraordinary in this case. He relates how [...]
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    Posted: November 09, 2009, 10:56pm EST

  • "This is Unbelievable!"

    A couple of weeks ago, I wrote that I had tired of the Zenyatta team's hesitation in committing to the Classic, as they seemed to be surveying the potential competition to make sure it did not come up too tough. I then opined that the waffling had diminished her rightful' [...]
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    Posted: November 09, 2009, 1:00am EST

  • Rachel Who?

    [...]
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    Posted: November 08, 2009, 10:21am EST

  • You Go Girl!

    I wrote before that I was standing against Zenyatta in the Classic - that was based on price and certainly nothing to do with sentiment. And since I just can't come up with any other particular horse that I like, how about I just root for her? After all, as' [...]
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    Posted: November 07, 2009, 11:39am EST

  • Breeders Cup Picks

    - OK, finally got to do some handicapping, and here's a few ideas for your consideration. In the Juvenile Turf, not much to dislike about Viscount Nelson (6-1), shipping in from the UK for Aidan O'Brian and the Coolmore team. Two wins in four starts, most recently a close second [...]
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    Posted: November 06, 2009, 11:48pm EST

  • Credit Where Due (Or Not)

    I've been quick to blast the New York Times for their lack of racing coverage and the highly negative perspective of Joe Drape in his continuing Happy Series on the sport. So, to be fair, I wanted to mention the fact that on Wednesday, right there on the front sports' [...]
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    Posted: November 05, 2009, 7:15am EST

  • Wynn Loses

    Steve Wynn is out of the Aqueduct sweepstakes. Officials close to Wynn declined to say why the casino executive dropped out.

    “We are confident that the state of New York will find a qualified operator to meet its needs at Aqueduct," a Wynn spokesman said. “We would like" [...]
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    Posted: November 04, 2009, 1:37pm EST

  • The Breeders' Cup Post

    If you've arrived here looking for some really detailed and perceptive Breeders Cup discussion or analysis, there ain't none here. I'm kinda torn between wanting to apologize or say "too bad," though I'm leaning towards the former since I do truly appreciate you dropping by. This is not to say [...]
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    Posted: November 04, 2009, 7:33am EST

  • Let's Try This Again (Again)

    Governor Paterson has issued yet another request for "final" offers from the six bidders for the Aqueduct racino, with a deadline of Nov 6; this came to me from a person with knowledge of the deliberations, and was then confirmed in a report by Tom Precious on Bloodhorse.com. Here, [...]
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    Posted: November 02, 2009, 2:25pm EST

  • Sunday Morning Notes

    Made it to Aqueduct for a few races on Halloween. Absolutely nothing there has changed, not that I should be surprised given NYRA's financial situation and the endless deadlock over the slots parlor there. I've read some of the "Aqueduct ain't so bad" posts that popped up this week,' [...]
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    Posted: November 01, 2009, 9:01am EST

  • Breeders' Cup Time(s)

    How badly does the Breeders' Cup want to move past this year's disaster of tired synthetic track controversy, major defections, and too many races? Yesterday, they unveiled their logo for next year's event, on good old dirt, at Churchill.

    (Of course, the last time they ran it on' [...]
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    Posted: October 30, 2009, 2:11pm EDT

  • Eight Is Enough

    Governor Paterson and legislative leaders met behind closed doors in Manhattan on Thursday in an attempt to resolve the selection of an operator for the long-stalled Aqueduct casino project; this according to Tom Precious, reporting for Bloodhorse.com. (Not surprisingly, the topic did not come up during a public session [...]
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    Posted: October 30, 2009, 12:53am EDT

  • Familiar Refrain

    The Times reported on Tuesday: Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary, said the decision “could come at any moment” but then added that it could still be weeks away. Sounds familiar, don't it? “There is no timetable or deadline for the decision, but as the governor indicated last' [...]
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    Posted: October 28, 2009, 12:01am EDT

  • Showing Spirit

    Zenyatta's connections are still uncertain about the Classic, and as far as I'm concerned, she's therefore no longer eligible for Horse of the Year consideration even if she runs in the Classic and wins. This waiting is just weak, and not very champion-like. I still believe however, that Summer' [...]
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    Posted: October 27, 2009, 8:25am EDT

  • Notes - Oct 23

    Two more winners for Levine on Thursday, he's 11 for 39 at the meeting. He won the 4th with bombshell The Mailet ($88), and it occurred to me that you don't often see this barn win at prices like that. So, since I have nothing better to do, I checked [...]
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    Posted: October 23, 2009, 2:22pm EDT

  • Off the Record

    Got an email from NYRA about the two track records that were tied or broken on Wednesday, and I don't know if that's something they really want to publicize considering the ordinary animals who are now written into the record books. Seems a little silly, really, and nothing more [...]
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    Posted: October 22, 2009, 9:02am EDT

  • Odds and Ends

    - Clicked on to the Daily Politics blog today, and whaddya know, two banner ads from the SL Green/Hard Rock group. Here's their website. Seriously, would they really build that giant guitar? Could run afoul of FAA regulations, someone might bring a small plane down on the main track' [...]
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    Posted: October 21, 2009, 12:22am EDT

  • Fresh Face

    I'm told by a person with knowledge of the Aqueduct deliberations that the process is now being handled by Tim Gilchrist, described as an experienced, well-regarded, and "apolitical" (if there's such a thing in Albany) program and policy guy. Previously, the matter was being dealt with by Budget Director [...]
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    Posted: October 20, 2009, 3:02pm EDT

  • Monday Morning Notes

    I don't know if the weather was quite the deluge that NYRA was anticipating when it postponed two grass stakes until later this week; but there was more than enough precipitation to justify its move, with all of the grass races taken off on both days. NYRA might have' [...]
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    Posted: October 19, 2009, 7:45am EDT

  • Of Budgets, Circumstances, and Trash

    After unsuccessfully trying to prod legislators into making the first move, Governor Paterson proposed spending cuts aimed at closing the latest deficit being projected for this year, estimates of which range from around $3 billion to $4.1 billion.

    The plan also includes some one-time revenue shots, [...]
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    Posted: October 17, 2009, 9:42am EDT

  • Sea the Back of Racing

    DiscreetPicks sent along an excerpt from a story about some proposition bets being offered in the UK. Paddy Power, who are refunding all losing ante-post bets placed on Sea The Stars for the Classic, offer an interesting market.

    The Irish layers are also offering odds of 25/1 [...]
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    Posted: October 15, 2009, 7:04am EDT

  • Still Dickering

    There hasn't been any real news about Aqueduct since the news a week ago about Steve Wynn making peace with the hotel union; and the last we heard, Governor Paterson was still undecided. I guess an extra week hasn't helped him make up his mind. Not that it matters [...]
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    Posted: October 14, 2009, 7:03am EDT

  • Tough Call

    With the retirement of Sea the Stars, I'd imagine that Jerry Moss' decision as to whether to run Zenyatta in the Classic or the Ladies Classic just got a bit easier. I do agree with the commenters who criticized him for waffling on the decision, which we're told won't [...]
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    Posted: October 13, 2009, 2:15pm EDT

  • Sunday Morning Notes

    Hank Goldberg touted the Jets on ESPN....make that on ESPN Classic (where they may want to consider consigning him permanently)....while picking Justenuffhumor in the Shadwell Turf Mile. Oh man. If he's equally accurate about the game as he was about the horse, the Dolphins will return the opening kickoff for [...]
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    Posted: October 11, 2009, 11:10am EDT

  • Seeing Stars

    The inimitable Chris McGrath, writing in the UK's Guardian, provides an excellent summary of the debate overseas about the Breeders Cup status of the sensational Arc winner Sea the Stars; especially handy for those of us, including admittedly myself, who haven't been paying proper attention to the runup to' [...]
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    Posted: October 10, 2009, 12:27pm EDT

  • More For Some, Less For Others

    I was really surprised at the announcement that the Saratoga meet will be extended by four days to an even 40. I hadn't heard any clamoring for expansion, and besides, the meet already seemed a week too long to me for sure. NYRA President/CEO Charlie Hayward said: "Going into this'" [...]
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    Posted: October 09, 2009, 12:17am EDT

  • Paterson Still Undecided

    I'm told by a person who is familiar with the deliberations that, despite the urging of his senior staff members to come to a decision this week, Governor Paterson has not yet decided amongst the Big A bidders...and that the governor "intensely dislikes" being pressured on the matter.

    Hmmm,' [...]
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    Posted: October 07, 2009, 7:25am EDT

  • Not So Fast (没有这么快)

    We've all been on pins and needles awaiting what we've been told is an imminent announcement on the Big A. But State Senator Joseph Addabbo, who represents the district, told the Times Union's Jim Odato that he was he was unsure if a deal will be announced any time [...]
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    Posted: October 06, 2009, 8:57am EDT

  • Belmont Bog

    Man, what a rotten day on Saturday, another tough weather break for NYRA. Despite the fact that the heaviest rain didn't start until midway through the card, it was a crummy day to start with. Though they would have done well to crack five figures on a sunny day in' [...]
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    Posted: October 04, 2009, 11:11pm EDT

  • Exclusively Unpaid

    I wrote a post on the Vosburgh for the NTRA site as part of the TBA's Breeders' Cup blog section, and I intended to post it here too. But then I was informed that the posts are "exclusive" to NTRA, and I'm like, huh?? Say what?? I mean, it's not [...]
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    Posted: October 03, 2009, 12:08pm EDT

  • Double Your Fun

    Trainer Pat Kelly hadn't won a race since May 23, when he won twice; that was some 70 races ago. So, when he finally broke through with first-timer Shrewd One ($50.50) in the 4th on Thursday, one might (or might not) have deduced that he would do it again, with' [...]
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    Posted: October 02, 2009, 7:09am EDT

  • Penn National: Don't Count Us Out

    Tom Precious is reporting on Bloodhorse.com that Penn National feels that it is still in the running at the Big A by virtue of its offer of $250 million in a non-contingency, upfront payment. “There are no strings attached to the $250 million," said Christopher McErlean, vice president of" [...]
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    Posted: October 01, 2009, 8:04am EDT

  • Belmont Notes

    In the third at Belmont on Wednesday, the seven horses finished in the exact order of their odds (pdf), favorite to the longest shot in the field.

    Two winners for Mott, including Changing Skies ($4.50), a group stakes-placed Irish import who was well-supported in her first North [...]
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    Posted: September 30, 2009, 11:42pm EDT

  • Go David Go

    WOO-HOO. “I think I can beat Mayor Giuliani,” Governor Paterson said on Wednesday. That might seem like Rap Tale saying she could beat Rachel Alexandra (though Paterson actually "only" trailed the slimy former mayor of NYC by a margin of 52-35 in the latest Siena poll).

    You gotta [...]
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    Posted: September 30, 2009, 9:47pm EDT

  • Yeah Yeah Yeah

    The NY Post reported on the report that showed gambling revenues declining nationwide, as did Jim Odato the other day. They both missed the point though, at least the one for our purposes, that Paul Post made; in this case, the racing guy out-trumped the political guys. Racino [...]
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    Posted: September 29, 2009, 7:33pm EDT

  • Two Have Inside Track

    Tom Precious was the first to report, on Bloodhorse.com, that the Aqueduct bidding has tightened, and that a final decision could "come as early as the week of Sept. 28." This came a day after Paul Post suggested in a piece on the Thoroughbred Times site that the [...]
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    Posted: September 28, 2009, 9:31pm EDT

  • Sunday Pre-Game Post

    I don't even have to look at NYRA's Turf Update section to know that they're sloppy and off the turf today; man, it's been absolutely pouring here since the wee hours of the morning. But racing goes on....as will the Jets-Titans game, though the latter will remain on the turf.
    [...]
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    Posted: September 27, 2009, 9:46am EDT

  • SuperOops

    Following is the time-stamped sequence of events:


    5:18:40 p.m. – Race 9 Post Time

    5:22:13 p.m. – Incorrect Superfecta order (8-14-5-10) posted and made official

    5:22:17 p.m. – Tote system enabled cashing of incorrect Superfecta

    5:25:06 p.m. – Tote system suspended payment on [...]
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    Posted: September 24, 2009, 8:13pm EDT

  • Gov, Big A Not Signed Up

    “I did not sign up for this,” Governor Paterson said in an appearance in Syracuse on Wednesday. “I wanted to be lieutenant governor. I had this grand plan that Hillary Clinton was going to become president. Maybe the governor would appoint me to the Senate.” [NY Times] I don't' [...]
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    Posted: September 24, 2009, 5:26am EDT

  • News and Notes (Off topic)

    Amidst a continuing downpour of gloomy news - down to an unbelievable 18%(!) approval rating in the latest Siena poll and more grim news on the budget deficit, it was a rare moment of triumph for Governor David Paterson when the state's highest court surprisingly upheld his [...]
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    Posted: September 23, 2009, 11:59am EDT

  • Make Art, Not Tout

    Reader McCarron recently wrote: I will never understand paid tout sites. Isn't the fun, skill, and ultimate aim of the game to pick your own winners/have your own opinion? Why pay someone else to tell you what to think?

    I wholeheartedly agree with the notion that, at least at' [...]
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    Posted: September 22, 2009, 8:30pm EDT

  • Racino - and Governor - on By and Bye

    Two weeks past Labor Day, and we're still waiting for the Aqueduct decision. Halloween would be a fitting next target date.

    I imagine that the Governor Paterson no doubt has his mind elsewhere at this time anyway, given the astounding revelation that President Obama personally signed off on a' [...]
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    Posted: September 22, 2009, 7:45am EDT

  • Sunday Notes

    In the 10th, Paniolo (12-1) makes his second start, for trainer Tom Bush, and I figure you could do much worse than have this horse at those odds. The streaky Bush has two winners and two very close seconds out of seven starters at Belmont, including Imperial River ($32.40), who [...]
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    Posted: September 20, 2009, 8:44am EDT

  • Belmont Notes

    - Linda Rice, this year's Saratoga training champion, is for 10 at Belmont, and winless with her last 26 starters overall; all but three of those went off at odds of 8-1 or lower. And only three have finished as well as third.

    - In the second on' [...]
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    Posted: September 19, 2009, 7:05am EDT

  • Wonk Attack

    I was on the NTRA site, checking out the Breeders Cup posts by fellow members of the Thoroughbred Bloggers Alliance (I'm doing the Sprint, but can't yet think of anything to say), and I stumbled upon a post by Jeremy Plonk, who I seem be seeing more and [...]
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    Posted: September 17, 2009, 10:01pm EDT

  • Moron

    Yeah, well, I'm a FREAKING moron, I write a post to mention two trainers, both of them win the next day, and did I have either one of them? For heaven's sake. Granted, it takes a lot to get me to bet on a workday. But it surely wouldn't [...]
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    Posted: September 17, 2009, 7:53pm EDT

  • Belmont Notes

    Wins at Belmont on Wednesday for a couple of trainers who seem to be coming alive after enduring some rough stretches upstate. Khancord Kid ($10) graduated in the third, on the grass, for Kimmel. This barn was 1-for-32 at the Spa - with most of those at single digit odds [...]
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    Posted: September 17, 2009, 7:18am EDT

  • More Crap

    Of course I'm not suggesting that there's any logical reason that ESPN should televise Breeders Cup prep races instead of college football. Why would they? But the thing is that the empty VP suit who I quoted in the last post is the same one who said when ESPN first' [...]
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    Posted: September 16, 2009, 8:32am EDT

  • Football Crap

    On several occasions have I written in favor of the idea of having a major horse race televised in conjunction with a football game; in particular, when an idea was floated a few years ago to have one at halftime of Monday Night Football (or, as is the case tonight, [...]
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    Posted: September 14, 2009, 10:38pm EDT

  • Odds On the Big A

    Even as Governor Paterson reportedly has his recommendation on the Aqueduct racino in hand (this reader says that he actually has two to consider), at least one of the bidders is still taking its case to the local community around the track. The Queens Chronicle reported last week [...]
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    Posted: September 14, 2009, 12:18am EDT

  • Sunday Morning Notes and Nuts

    Oh yeah, they're back at Belmont, first two days in the books, two days of awful weather, sloppy tracks, off-the-turfers, and around 7,200 people in attendance, combined. Welcome to what NYRA still bills as the Fall Championship Meet ("you lie!"). At least the weather is beautiful here on Sunday morning;' [...]
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    Posted: September 13, 2009, 11:39am EDT

  • Final Stretch

    Here's some sights and sounds from Saratoga on Saturday night, the first of two nights of the Final Stretch Music Festival; eight bands did their thing in various nooks and crannies around downtown. In the past, the music wrapped up by 9:30 or so, but it' [...]
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    Posted: September 10, 2009, 12:04am EDT

  • Odds and Ends

    I got a little beat up over comparing the fractions of the Woodward to the Haskell on the grounds that Monmouth is a faster track, and that's a fair point. Still, while we can quibble over a few tenths of a second, the Haskell was fast too; so was the [...]
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    Posted: September 08, 2009, 11:47pm EDT

  • Feeling Macho

    Enclosure: [download]
    I've personally witnessed many dramatic finishes in stakes races in my day. However, those instances in which those final desperate lunges were of true historical significance are singular moments that are few and far between. The Belmont Stakes of 1978, 1998 and 2007 come to mind; Forego's championship-clinching rally to [...]
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    Posted: September 08, 2009, 8:18am EDT

  • The Late, Late, Late Pick Three

    Drove back home after the races yesterday, though not before stopping at Saratoga Springs State Park for one last BBQ. Lots to say about the Woodward and the rest of the weekend, but there's just one last chance to get even, so let's get to it.

    [Well, I spent [...]
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    Posted: September 07, 2009, 11:02am EDT

  • Here I Come, Boys!



    Rachel Alexandra, with her game face on, heading to the paddock yesterday with assistant trainer Scott Blasi. [...]
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    Posted: September 06, 2009, 9:49am EDT

  • Saratoga Notes

    The weather is just Del Mar-spectacular up here....better even, as you don't get the morning cloud layer that you do out there. Blue skies, no humidity, and perfect temperature; NYRA couldn't ask for better. Now, if the people will only show up today. Honestly, it seems rather quiet around here [...]
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    Posted: September 05, 2009, 9:19am EDT

  • Who's Number 768?

    We were driving up the Taconic on Thursday, and happened upon WPDH, 101.5-FM in Poughkeepsie. And like many classic rock stations like to do on Labor Day weekend, they were counting down the greatest songs of all time; in this case starting at #1015 in honor of its frequency. I [...]
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    Posted: September 04, 2009, 9:12am EDT

  • Not As Easy As It Looked?

    Pursuant to the last post, I just want to make clear that I hope I'm wrong about the crowd. NYRA's marketing department is doing everything they can, and deserve a break after a tough one with the weather last week. And, I'll put my money where my mouth is, and [...]
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    Posted: September 03, 2009, 5:05am EDT

  • I'll Take The Under

    I'm told by a reliable source up in Saratoga that the over/under on the attendance for Rachel Alexandra's appearance in the Woodward on Saturday is 35,000. I think that's high; 30,000 seems more like it to me. Last year, NYRA was able to attract only 22,572 for Curlin's appearance in' [...]
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    Posted: September 02, 2009, 2:31pm EDT

  • As Easy As Bank-Rupt-Cy

    I'm reading about this bankruptcy deal for New York City OTB.... The move will allow OTB officials to sharply reduce staffing at the money-losing bookmaker and break at least some of the leases now in place for the operation of underused OTB parlors, according to the sources.

    The' [...]
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    Posted: September 02, 2009, 5:49am EDT

  • Haves and Have-Nots

    The only complaints I've read from Florida parimutuels about the new compact agreed to by Governor Charlie Crist (capping a busy few days for the Senate-minded chief executive) and the Seminole tribe (subject to approval by the legislature) are from the ones outside of Broward and Miami-Dade' [...]
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    Posted: September 01, 2009, 11:28pm EDT

  • LATG is Old

    Hi, Patrick again (handride) just posting a message while the boss ain't lookin. I finally got Alan on feedburner, I think he's had about 4 other feedburner addresses, but like his car keys he can't find them. The new address is here: Why switch? What's good about this address [...]
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    Posted: September 01, 2009, 12:03pm EDT

  • Lousy Race on a Crummy Day

    Number of comments: 22
    Thanks to NYRA and Hank Goldberg for saving me some money on Saturday. NYRA's internet wagering was down for at least the 10th and 11th races; an inopportune time for such a failure to be sure. For NYRA anyway, but not for me as it turned out in this case.' [...]
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    Posted: August 31, 2009, 7:32am EDT
    by alan

  • Short and Sweet

    Number of comments: 6
    I think it took me around 20 minutes on the subway to plan my strategy for that big late Pick Four at Saratoga today. I'm not bragging; just that the races aren't that complicated, and many of the horses are familiar. Besides, as I once read in a handicapping book, [...]
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    Posted: August 29, 2009, 8:06am EDT
    by alan

  • Saratoga Notes

    Number of comments: 5
    In the second at Saratoga on Friday, She's a Ketch (8-1) makes her debut, on the grass, for trainer Chad Brown. This barn sent out Zodiac Girl ($16) to win her debut on the lawn on Wednesday (a 75K maiden claimer). Brown has sent out two other debut runners on' [...]
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    Posted: August 27, 2009, 10:32pm EDT
    by alan

  • Your Weather

    Number of comments: 6
    Weather will remain the same
    - Your Weather - Dinosaur Jr.

    Weather has always been a major bugaboo to conducting a race meeting amongst the mountains in upstate New York in August....and the forecast frankly sucks for the Travers on Saturday. Not too many years that you don't' [...]
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    Posted: August 27, 2009, 12:41pm EDT
    by alan

  • No Lobbyist, No Problem (?)

    Number of comments: 10
    As a reader pointed out, Jim Odato wrote on the Capitol Confidential blog of a fundraiser for Governor Paterson scheduled for Friday which will be hosted by the Albany lobbying/law firm of Featherstonhaugh, Wiley and Clyne. Featherstonhaugh is an owner of Saratoga Racing and Gaming, the nearby harness track [...]
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    Posted: August 26, 2009, 5:39am EDT
    by alan

  • No Filly, No Problem

    Number of comments: 2
    I'm hoping that, perhaps by the time you're reading this, Mine That Bird has been declared into the Travers after his five furlong work on Tuesday. [UPDATE: Damn.] I'm sure that NYRA officials are watching nervously, because it's a pretty big deal I think when the Derby winner runs [...]
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    Posted: August 25, 2009, 10:21pm EDT
    by alan

  • All Wynn All Of The Time

    Number of comments: 4
    Aqueduct Gaming, the Delaware North-led group bidding for the racino, announced the addition of Harrah's to its team. Besides adding an established name in the casino industry, it comes with a built-in marketing angle. With the agreement, Harrah's Total Rewards(R) player loyalty program will be available to customers [...]
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    Posted: August 24, 2009, 11:57pm EDT
    by alan

  • Nice Day for a Drive

    Number of comments: 18
    In the weeks leading up to Saratoga, I warned on at least a couple of occasions that the quality of the cards would drop off precipitously come the third and 4th weeks. I think I've been pretty wrong about that, at least to this point. Sure, there's been a fair [...]
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    Posted: August 24, 2009, 9:15am EDT
    by alan

  • Saratoga Briefly

    Number of comments: 0
    Three winners for trainer George Weaver at Saratoga on Thursday; I knew he had it in him! He's now on a Kimmel-ish streak of four in a row, and seven for 30 over all (and he has a first-time starter running for a 20K tag in today's second). One of [...]
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    Posted: August 21, 2009, 7:12am EDT
    by alan

  • Selection Process Labors Along

    Number of comments: 3
    A lobbyist for Steve Wynn told the local Queens Tribune that the decision on the Aqueduct racino is expected to come around Labor Day weekend. But don't expect an award ceremony between races on NYRA's Saturday telecast. A spokeswoman for the Governor's office was unable to confirm or deny' [...]
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    Posted: August 21, 2009, 5:10am EDT
    by alan

  • Back in the Game

    Number of comments: 10
    Several of the Aqueduct bidders have significantly raised the cash portion of their bids; that according to Jim Odato's article in the Times Union on Tuesday. As you may recall, the competition howled in protest when Steve Wynn was reported to have raised his offer during a meeting with' [...]
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    Posted: August 20, 2009, 9:01am EDT
    by alan

  • Flawed System, Flawed Report

    Number of comments: 5
    So I've finished reading State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli's audit report on New York City OTB. Old news, you might say, but....well? You can read the more timely articles in the trades which merely summarize what was written, or you can wait a few days and get my own unique, [...]
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    Posted: August 19, 2009, 8:41am EDT
    by alan

  • Saratoga Notes

    Number of comments: 0
    Since I posted this horror list of McLaughlin's recent two-year old first-time starters, he did score a winner on Saturday, for Darley, with Liston (Storm Cat), a Stonerside homebred who won by a length with a 77 Beyer. Little surprise given the connections and breeding (a half brother to' [...]
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    Posted: August 18, 2009, 8:31pm EDT
    by alan

  • Grapes and Greens

    Number of comments: 0
    Grapes and Greens is the Head Chef's new blog, and here's a somewhat relevant excerpt: This weekend was our family's annual trip to Saratoga Springs, NY [ed note. - how's that for putting a wholesome spin on things] and their farmers' market is undoubtedly the highlight of my summer.' [...]
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    Posted: August 18, 2009, 11:04am EDT
    by alan

  • Dead Heat

    Number of comments: 6
    I think I'm gonna pack some heat the next time I go to the track. Or at least the first time after a obtain a license for a handgun. Too bad that, in New York, I can't sling some serious weaponry over my shoulder like this [...]
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    Posted: August 17, 2009, 11:51pm EDT
    by alan

  • The $64,000 Question

    Number of comments: 6
    Saturday's late Pick Four at Saratoga paid over $64,000; and that with favored Cops Fever winning the finale. I can imagine that, on some day, under a certain circumstance, in a particular frame of mind (or state of consciousness), amongst a singular mix of horseplayers (or by myself), with a' [...]
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    Posted: August 16, 2009, 12:23pm EDT
    by alan

  • Too Important To Fail?

    Number of comments: 4
    New York's Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli has released his audit of NYC OTB, the findings of which were leaked by the Post last month....and which you could probably figure out anyway. "The industry is too important to fail," DiNapoli writes in a press release. Sounds like it could be' [...]
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    Posted: August 14, 2009, 2:48pm EDT
    by alan

  • Not So Hot

    Number of comments: 9
    First-time starter Aspire ($8.90) won the second on Wednesday as favorite Grand Strategy (3-2) was seven lengths back making his debut for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. His is a solid first-out barn, especially with two-year olds - nine for 37 (24%) over the last year; 18 for 72 (an even 25%) [...]
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    Posted: August 13, 2009, 12:22am EDT
    by alan

  • Deck Chairs on the Titanic

    Number of comments: 19
    The Breeders' Cup has announced saddle cloths will now be the same color as the ones regular horse players are used to. "We appreciate the input from so many passionate horseplayers on this topic, and believe the new saddle towels will provide a more fan friendly'" [...]
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    Posted: August 12, 2009, 7:10am EDT
    by alan

  • Saratoga Notes

    Number of comments: 1
    Oh man, had to be an agonizing beat for anyone who had Zaskar on top in the Signature Stallion Stakes at Saratoga on Monday. The longest shot in the field of six at 10.60 to 1, this four-year old daughter of Anabaa (Danzig) took the lead from the start, and [...]
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    Posted: August 11, 2009, 10:59pm EDT
    by alan

  • Little Creatures

    Number of comments: 5
    What's important
    In this world?
    A little boy
    A little girl

    - The Pretenders - Thumbelina

    The yearling sales got under way at Saratoga last evening, and, with the Sheikh of Dubai in town, did you really think that it would be anything but successful? Probably' [...]
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    Posted: August 11, 2009, 2:12pm EDT
    by alan

  • Stop Sobbing Now

    Number of comments: 2
    Got back last night from a brief trip up to Saratoga for the weekend's races, and back at work But gotta stop sobbing now.... After all, it was a lot of Saratoga packed into two days. On Saturday alone, we went to the Farmers' Market in the morning, took a [...]
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    Posted: August 10, 2009, 10:34am EDT
    by alan

  • Kind of a Drag

    Number of comments: 4
    Three horses did not finish their races at Saratoga on Thursday, though they are all OK. In the 4th, 5-2 favorite Pluto, a $1 million Tabor/Smith bust dropping in for a 35K tag for Pletcher, was pulled up on the backstretch and vanned off with a strained left front [...]
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    Posted: August 07, 2009, 9:17am EDT
    by alan
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