December 2009

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Offtheturf Thursday

11:00 am: There's a $169k double-carryover at Belmont today, and the four scheduled turf races in the sequence have been moved to the main track after overnight rain. Scratches aren't up yet, which makes it impossible to handicap the card yet, but I would have been getting a late start even if they'd been up sooner: I turned on TVG a little after 10 a.m. and saw Summing getting that dream trip on the rail in 1981.

The network was showing memorable Belmonts from the last 30 years back to back: Conquistador Cielo running away from the field....Caveat bounding off the rail...Swale galloping them into submission...Risen Star blowing past Winning Colors...New York's Easy Goer... How did Real Quiet get caught?...Birdstone nailing Smarty Jones...Rags to Riches and Curlin down the stretch. I am now officially in the mood for the 141st Belmont.

I wasn't in the mood for yesterday's one-day carryover after the NYRA signal was pulled from the Nassau OTB channel due to an ongoing dispute between the track and its local OTB corporation. Since the OTB's can't televise out-of-state races while NYRA is running, there was a black screen up all day long, and this was a bit of a flashback too, to the bad old days in the 1990's when NYRA was pulling the plug on New York City OTB over some other dispute.

I understand everyone's frustration at the adversarial relationship between NYRA and the OTB's, but the problem with plug-pulling is that it really punishes only the customers who can't see the races. And perhaps someone could explain why we even have a state Racing and Wagering Board if it can't adjudicate these matters and protect the public.

Here come the scratches: 21 of them in the four off-the-grass races. And here's that black screen again on the Nassau OTB channel. Instead of yesterday's replays, just the message "Channel 25 'BELMONT' needs authorization key."

Oh wait, the screen just turned blue and there's a new message going up. A peace treaty? Nah:

"Due to a dispute between OTB and NYRA the video from Belmont race track is not currently available. We hope that the matter is resolved quickly and the video is restored."

Back later after digesting those scratches. What started as a 10x9x11x11x8x15 sequence is down to a 6x8x7x6x7x7.

2:00 pm: It's worth playing. There are a few races where one or two horses appear to tower over the field, and the potential's there for a skimpy payoff, but maybe a multi-ticket approach with lots of wacky backups can yield a five-logicals/one-goofy result that makes it worthwhile.

A couple of press releases showed up in the inbox while I was handicapping:

--Equibase announced the following national wagering totals for May:

Half-empty: Business continues to decline, and further cutbacks in racing dates at Churchill, Hollywood and Del Mar won't make June and July look very pretty.

Half-full: The casino industry would give its eyeteeth to be down roughly 10 percent year over year. Racing is outperforming other forms of gambling.

--Also, the Breeders' Cup announced reduced ticket prices for this year's encore at Oak Tree. General admission will be $10, down from $20 last year, and the cheapest seats are $55 instead of $200.

The BC release also said that ticketbuyers will have the "option" of making a donation to The V Foundation for Cancer Research, which it describes as "the Breeders' Cup primary non-profit beneficiary for the 2009 World Championships." It's a worthy enough cause, but a disappointing choice: Shouldn't racing be soliciting donations for cash-strapped racing-related causes such as animal-welfare or disabled-jockeys groups instead of putting a few more drops in the well-financed bucket of a nationally-prominent research foundation?

Okay, time to make the tickets.

3:15 pm: Two and done. Didn't like Jaystone at 5-2 in the second leg, where I virtually singled Captain Sword. I thought there was a ton of one-way speed that would set things up for the Cap'n, but Jaystone shook off a lone early challenger, opened up, and easily lasted over the late-running 2-1 favorite.

Reminder: NYRA will offer dime supers on Belmont Day but not with live tellers. Supers are available on all "qualifying" races (fields of seven in stakes, eight in other races) at self-service terminals and via phone and Internet.

7:00 pm: Congrats to those who hooked things up correctly for a $23k payoff that was nearly triple the $8,324 parlay. No tough beats in the finale, as Have You Ever ($16.40) scored by 16 1/2 lengths. Even though the winner was the fifth choice in a field of seven, he didn't really blow up the payoff, which would have been $9k or $11k with the two favorites.

Four stakes including the G2 Brooklyn on tomorrow's Belmont Eve card, but you might want to wait until morning before putting much time into the five grass races on the card: More rain is forecast for overnight and for Friday afternoon, but at least Belmont Day is still looking good -- the forecast is for sunny skies and temperatures in the low 70's.

Joe Hirsch, the Daily Racing Form columnist who died Jan. 9 after more than 50 years in which he was considered the dean of American turf writers, will be remembered by friends, fans and horsemen Friday morning at Belmont Park. The memorial service, open to the public, will begin at 10:30 a.m. on the fourth floor of the track clubhouse.

Posted by Steven Crist Jun 4, 2009 11:51:00 AM | Permalink

Keywords:

Comments

tmaz says:

I totally agree that running 2 year-olds builds a foundation that can positively carry over into their later years.

If you thumb through the book CHAMPIONS by the DRF Press you'll notice pre-1960 all the great champions had about 9 races as a 2 year old and almost none ran more than 6.5 furlongs. Also they normally came back in March which be perfect timing to begin a campaign for the Breeder's Cup.

Post 1960 when looking at 2 year-olds you see far fewer starts, more starts at longer distances, the introduction of L or Lasix and obviously more human related vet tampering.

Rid the L, nobody has proven lasix to be beneficial. Shorten 2 year old races, but race'em often and watch'em run as 3 and 4 year olds.

How hard would it be to compile that data in Excel and prove it right? It would have to be cheaper than some of the vet bills and potential harm from anti-race goers.

It worked then, it can work again.

Posted by TMaz Jun 22, 2009 12:12:56 PM

bestrades says:

Been a while since I checked in and now I remember why I have loved your colums since I was 13 . Thank you for being a "righter" of all the injustices of our world and a hell of a capper. Burning the oil...but not too late as you say as Mother Nature will dictate much...I might take a HUGE runner-up flyer in Hardys horse..have a wonderful day...wish I were there....

Posted by bestrades Jun 6, 2009 1:57:55 AM

yuwipi says:

bochalis:

Marshall Cassidy called the NYRA races before Tom Durkin. He was a meticulous announcer and rarely became overly excited. If you heard the call that includes "New York's Easy Goer" that was him. Most of the videos played have the Dave Johnson ABC network call on them.

Mr. Cassidy is retired and lives in the Saratoga Springs area. NYRA has had him back for a guest call during the Spa meet for the last several years.
I think his call of last years NYSB Loudenville Stake is on Youtube. Not knocking Tom Durkin, who's a treasure, but I miss Marshall a lot.

Posted by yuwipi Jun 5, 2009 5:45:46 PM

larry_thiel says:

Great column from Andy Beyer on the speed figures.
I wish that kind of explanation from him was a more regular feature.
Especially when we know Beyers have been adjusted.

Posted by Larry Thiel Jun 5, 2009 5:10:29 PM

burt_ says:

I think TVG gets a bad rap. Iff you ignore the comedy and focus on some pre-race paddock interview you can find some good plays. Steve Klesarais interview gave you the 1x horse today

Posted by Burt Jun 5, 2009 4:38:27 PM

medi_in_ny says:

Mr. Crist...
Steve,
I have to agree with you on your comment about the "Breeders Cup" charity donations.
I am in the battle of the beast -but donating to yet another organization when the horseracing industry is in desperate need for support doesn't make sense-
For horseplayers who truly love the sport...we can fund equine research, injured jockeys, injured horses, track chaplains....
Most of the money donated to "cancer" research doesn't reach us suffering day to day.

Posted by Medi in NY Jun 5, 2009 2:40:39 PM

davey700 says:

Does anyone know where Benny the Bull is running tomorrow? I see him listed for the first race of the pic 6 at Belmont and a $70,000 stakes at Monmouth. Help!!!

Posted by Davey700 Jun 5, 2009 1:02:56 PM

bochalls says:

Hey Evan G--if I remember correctly (it's been some time) but last time I rode the trans Siberian express I seem to recall a small newsstand just outside the train depot in Irkutsk (got that name from playing 'RISK' as a kid)..believe they have the Form you're looking for. Call ahead and reserve though, as they sell quickly!... Steve, I also enjoyed the Belmont replays on TVG. Who was the NYRA caller before Durkin? He's great...its Easy Goer, EEEEASY Goer!...minor humble picks for today at Belmont: Smokin Sarah in R3-she's the fastest!...A Zero Trap in R6- good figs and back to NY breds...Sales Tax in R8-swangin for it here, but she'll get her pace and may be the one late...Elmfield Boy in R9-looks a lil overmatched but likes soft turf and I trust owner Earle Mack to put em where they belong...go for it.

Posted by bochalls Jun 5, 2009 10:18:46 AM

john_l says:

Some thoughts on yesterday at Beautiful Belmont.

I was forced to watch the races on TVG because I was too lazy to drive over to Elmont. If I had to watch that channel every day I would take up golf.

The pick six was a $23k gift yesterday I still think Chavez is the best on a wet track.

Channing Hills agent is the same guy that told Mclean Stevenson that he should leave M*A*S*H for a movie career.

Posted by John_L Jun 5, 2009 8:25:45 AM

larry_g says:

ESPN: They did the full day at the Kentuckey Derby I guess because it's the Derby.

They did nothing on Preakness day.

Now they are doing the full day at The Belmont Stakes. Only logical reason is, that ABC does the Belmont. ABC-ESPN all Disney. So as long as the equippment and announcers are on sight, why not give ESPN a day of cheap programming.

Posted by Larry G Jun 4, 2009 11:08:38 PM

evan_gewirtz says:

Steve,

Well, it is day 2 of the NYRA/Nassau OTB fued over streaming video and they are still punishing their customers who feed them.

After reading a quote from a NYRA official yesterday that predicted that the Suffolk Cablevision NYRA signal would be restored by the first race on Thursday, I started formulating a strategy to view the NYRA races in my Nassau County office.

I am a Cablevision subscriber for my house in Suffolk County (NYRA races were supposed to be available) and a Cablevision subscriber at my office in Nassau County (NYRA races were expected to be blocked out.)

I thought I had them outsmarted. I am a Slingbox subscriber. Therefore, I downloaded Slingbox to my office computer so I could watch "streaming video" of the NYRA races in my Nassau County office based on the Slingbox I have set up in my house in Suffolk County.

Of course, my brilliant idea was foiled because NYRA did not come through on their prediction that the Suffolk signal would be restored.

Nevertheless, I can watch "streaming video" of NYRA races via my Slingbox, assuming I have a wired or wireless internet connection, anywhere in the world. However, as a Cablevision Subscriber, I can't watch the NYRA signal on my Nassau office TV or on anyone's home TV in Nassau County.

Just for kicks, and to prove my point, if NYRA does indeed succeed in restoring the NYRA signal on Friday, I am headed to Siberia to watch "streaming video" of Wednesdays card at Belmont and wager through a Nassau OTB account that I will have to open between now and Wednesday.

There is one small problem, however. Call me a sucker, but even though I am an online DRF subscriber and got a great deal on many racing cards and the Formulator, I still buy a newspaper copy of the DRF on NYRA race days.

Any of you fellow blogees know of a newspaper stand in Siberia that sells the Eastern edition of the Northern Hemisphere DRF?

Posted by Evan Gewirtz Jun 4, 2009 9:21:37 PM

don_reed says:

The Triple Crown races haven't even ended - ! - & the original owner of I Want Revenge, Dave Lanzman, is suing his newly-found IWR financial partner, Mike Iavarone & IEAH.

I don't know how Lanzman's breach of contract suit will play out. But he undoubtedly could obtain a judgement for millions - if he were to sue himself for breach of common sense (having anything to do with IEAH to begin with).

Maybe the judge will scratch the suit on the morning of the opening arguments.

Nice seminar at Gallagher's on Tuesday, with Karen Johnson opening the event.

A nice reminder that a mere $10 to win on Volponi (trained by her father, Phil Johnson) in the BC Classic years ago had erased the embarrassing losses racked up in the previous seven races.

Her endorsement of Nick Zito's horses in the Belmont Stakes rings true.

Also nice to see that the editor of Johnson's complimentary "The Training Game" is Robin Foster (who, had she been hired, could have rescued Martin Gilbert's The First World War).

The best surprise was the check - $4.17 (for a $77 meal). Maybe I should go to these things more often.

Unitas: It was a bizarre career move. I also don't know. Channing might have accepted the worst advice ever given by a jockey's agent - relocate in a state where the racing has collapsing on almost a daily basis since last fall.

Bay Meadows kaput; Magna bankrupt; fewer owners, mounts, & racing dates; & the CA state fire sales of whatever assets could be desperately auctioned off to bail out a bankrupt state government. Were these the only two people in racing who didn't know what was going on?

Well, back to trying to figure out why, since June 1st, the New Jersey Account Wagering System's videos - when the attempt is made to activate them - results in the site evaporating (crashing).

One can still bet. But without the video & the informative announcements, it doesn't make sense.

Comcast's able & articulate tech support staffer tried his best, but no luck. Anyone else having this problem?

Posted by Don Reed Jun 4, 2009 8:46:31 PM

the_knight_sky_racing_blog says:

rawlawltd wrote:

F Troop has nothing on these guys!!!

______________________

Look Sarge!
Smoke signals from the Heckowies !!

Better tell Captain Parmenter that two racinos within 20 minutes of each other would be a counterproductive business plan.

Even Vanderbilt could have come up with a better plan than that!

Posted by The_Knight_Sky racing blog Jun 4, 2009 8:30:00 PM

walt says:

Steve:

If you have Dish Network, in the fall they are supposed to from my understanding have a new package where you can get the track feeds for up to 80 tracks for $49 a month. That might be what you are looking for.

At least a large chunk of Saturday's card (Races 2-9) is on ESPN from Noon-5:00 PM ET, so that helps those in the affected area who won't be at Belmont. I'll be able to see much of it anyway via the wagering platform I use.

NYRA of course goes and cards SIX turf races for Saturday, and I suspect two of them (Races 4-5) will come off the turf for sure (The Just A Game and Manhattan will stay on the turf unless it gets real bad, and since the weather should be good, I suspect they'll keep the two post-Belmont stakes races on the turf). Amazed they had to go to a NW2L $25,000 claimer to fill out the 13 race card, no wonder NYRA finally wised up and decided not to race the day after. As suggested previously, what NYRA should do is next year not race both the Wednesday preceeding Memorial Day and Wednesday preceeding the Belmont (as next year Memorial Day and The Belmont Stakes are on the same calendar week) as well as the day after the Belmont, and then starting in 2011 there is on a permanent basis racing only Thursday, Friday and Saturday on Belmont Stakes week (Thursday 10 races, 2:30 first post, Friday 12 races, 12:30 first post, Saturday 15 races, 11:00 AM first post).

Posted by Walt Jun 4, 2009 8:27:38 PM

williamd4 says:

If there is no 15% takeout today for each winner (& each win price pays 15% more), then a "no-vig" Pick6 would pay roughly double the 6-horse parlay of $8,324 or $16,283. So roughly any Pick6 that pays double it's 6-horse parlay odds is a "fair" bet and any Pick6 (like today) that pays triple it's parlay odds is a "great" bet.

Posted by williamd4 Jun 4, 2009 7:51:10 PM

yawni says:

Does nyra still require no coupled entries for supers?

Posted by yawni Jun 4, 2009 5:09:30 PM

ccpdpio says:

Steve, re: your ongoing signal issues -- have you considered signing up at twinspires.com? I've been with them for a month now and it's like having a private OTB in your home. Live feeds from every track, great interface, easy deposit/withdrawal system, no wagering fees, instant credit on winners, and a $100 sign-up bonus. Only negative for you might be lack of an overly generous rebate plan. Another benefit is if you watch races on the TS feed, you don't have to endure those annoying TVG hosts.

Posted by ccpdpio Jun 4, 2009 5:01:51 PM

ray_flack says:

George Quinn, On an earlier thread you asked Steve if he ever bet on "gut." He explains how to do "fun" bets on exactas in his book "Exotic Betting." Don't think it will fit in with the Belmont this year though.

Posted by ray flack Jun 4, 2009 3:13:59 PM

a_campobasso says:

Here's my lets get lucky Pic six ticket 7/6/6/11/3/10. Can't get out to bet it so it will probably hit. I'm really looking foward to Sat. I think the pick 4 and 6 could pay quite nicely.

Posted by A Campobasso Jun 4, 2009 2:49:16 PM

el_angelo says:

Is the BC still doing the "Ladies Day" thing? That would keep me from buying tickets if I lived in California.

Posted by El Angelo Jun 4, 2009 2:38:39 PM

mark_c says:

No signal on the nassau otb channel.....no signal from ANY track on the station...why????
The powers that be in the racing game cry that their business is down. They blame everyone and everything EXCEPT themselves. Please,Obama,bail out the horseracing industry, even YOU could do a better job!

Posted by mark C Jun 4, 2009 2:06:27 PM

ryan says:

Unitas - I believe C Hill was 1-for-a whole lot in Cali.

Posted by Ryan Jun 4, 2009 2:05:46 PM

rawlawltd says:

The Knight Sky:

The Racing & Wagering Board can't move to Belmont unless they clear things with the Chief of ShinnecockNation which looks to have first dibs. If that happens, maybe we can convince Chief Wild Eagle of the Heckowees to finally get Aqueduct up & running. F Troop has nothing on these guys!!! On that note, does anyone have an idea of what the state truly wants to do with the Big A, now that they've extorted the deeds from NYRA???

Posted by rawlawltd Jun 4, 2009 1:55:01 PM

unitas says:

Does anybody know the reason why Channing Hill is back riding on the east coast? Wasn't too long ago that he moved his tack to the So. Cal. circuit, and now he's been riding @ Monmouth the last few days. Was his business very slow? A fall out between himself & his agent? Homesick? I hope the graded stakes committee doesn't take a good look at tomorrow's GR.2 Brooklyn Handicap for future graded race status...Besides the "graded" stakes wins by Alcomo and Don Misil(accomplished in Brazil & Argentina, respectively), there is one graded stakes winner in this field(Delosvientos, who won this race in '08). This field has a number of Aqueduct inner dirt track specialists, which in a graded stakes is a little disturbing.

Posted by Unitas Jun 4, 2009 1:33:53 PM

bombsawaybob_grant says:

This blackout of signal relates to OTB showing races online from Jan.29th to April 15th.Six weeks after the issue, NYRA pulls the plug. I'm sure trying to fill seats Saturday has NOTHING to do with the timing of this!
One other thing.. NYRA should be PAYING any internet sight that want to broadcast it's Quality Big-A product at that time of year! Puleeeze!

Posted by BombsawayBob Grant Jun 4, 2009 1:28:16 PM

the_knight_sky_racing_blog says:

Steven Crist wrote "And perhaps someone could explain why we even have a state Racing and Wagering Board if it can't adjudicate these matters and protect the public."
_____

Perhaps they can relocate their Albany offices into the cavernous grandstands downstate. They'd surely get a lot of work done amidst the tranquility in Elmont. ;-)

Posted by The_Knight_Sky Racing blog Jun 4, 2009 12:52:08 PM

paul_leahy says:

Re:NYRA signal,you could sneek a Canadian Bell dish across the border and catch the races on Horseplayer Interactive.

Posted by Paul Leahy Jun 4, 2009 12:16:45 PM

Comments to this entry are closed.

About

Steven Crist has been the Publisher and a columnist for Daily Racing Form since 1998. Previously, he covered racing for The New York Times from 1981-1990; was founding editor-in-chief of The Racing Times in 1991-92; and a vice-president of the New York Racing Association from 1994-97. He recently released an instructional DVD titled "Exotic Tickets," and is the author of several books including "Betting on Myself" and "Exotic Betting."

December 2009

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