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Oh-oh! Santa's in
trouble. Don't
worry, not THAT Santa! That beloved Santa,
the one that confounds experts by squeezing his pudgy frame down narrow
chimneys, is apparently right on schedule to make his deliveries as
usual on Christmas Eve. The one
we horseplayers have to worry about is the Santa that's supposed to be
making an appearance on Boxing Day--Santa Anita race track. It's experiencing such huge problems
with its synthetic Cushion Track president Ron Charles has called it "a nightmare." More on
that polyunfortunate story below.
Speed
thrills: In other news, have you been able to
catch racing from Los Alamitos in southern California that started
up last weekend? I couldn't
believe how exhilarating it was.
All races were dashes and sprints--fast and furious--which
really raises the intensity level.
A young group of newbies in the
Clubhouse really seemed to enjoy betting the track. Los Alamitos
races every weekend night--Friday and Saturday at 9
p.m.,
Sunday at 7:30 p.m.
Okay,
now what's happening with venerable Santa Anita? Is its winter meet in jeopardy?
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Great
jockeys set to return--but will they have a track to race on?
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"CUSHION" NO COMFORT: Nightmare at Santa
It's
10 months to the biggest race day of 2008--the Breeders' Cup--and the
place where it's going to be held, Santa Anita, doesn't have a race
track that works. It boggles the
mind. And it's all because of
Cushion Track--a synthetic surface that Santa Anita was forced to
install because the California Horse Racing Board said it had to. The Daily Racing Form has given some
indication of the testiness among the various players about the
problems and one can only imagine the blue language that must be coming
from the lips of those who loved Santa Anita the way it was when the
best horses in the world flew over ordinary dirt, before the state
board said $10-million of waxed fibres,
rubber and silicon is better than dirt.
The
problem is this: Their Cushion
Track doesn't drain water. And
it's not only supposed to drain--it's supposed to drain really well.
And, contrary to the song, it DOES rain periodically in southern California--during the
winter when Santa Anita runs its showcase meet.
So,
as I'm writing this, an attempt is being made to remove the top layers
of material on the track and HAND VACUUM the
fine sand that has clogged an underlying layer of asphalt through which
the water is supposed to drain.
It ain't pretty and no one's making
any promises. I can only imagine
the lawsuits that will be flying.
I'm
wondering. Even if they get some
sort of track ready for opening day December 26 what's it going to be
like? Is this the track that the
most expensive, most talented horses in the world will want to race
over in the Breeders' Cup in 10 months? What I'm hearing from so many
players is this: If it ain't broke, don't fix it. And that's the credo the California
Horse Racing Board didn't follow when it told tracks to take out its
unbroken stuff called dirt and substitute a synthetic concoction. One thing seems certain: This story's going to have a lot of
legs.
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$1 million dead-heat at Delta
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History is made: First
Florida common-pool ticket purchased in Canada at the Downs.
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TALK of the TRACKS: $1m dead-heat; $266 show price
Delta
Downs: For only the
second time in racing history, according to Delta Down's race director Chris Warren, a $1 million race
ended in a dead-heat for win.
The race was the $1 million Delta Jackpot Friday where longshot Turf War ($28.20).deadheated with favoured Z Humor ($3.20).
Finger Lakes: Some players
continue to heap piles of money in show pools on "sure"
things, setting up whopping show prices when the bet horse doesn't
finish in the top three. Thanks
to Tannis Atras
for pointing out these prices at Finger
Lakes' Nov. 9 card, eighth race. First: #4 Saturday's Cat:
$14.40, $9.80, $112.50. Second: #6 Musketeer: $10.60, $74.50. Third: #2 Stormy End $266.50. These are the
biggest show prices in recent memory.
Calder: The beginning of common-pooling in Florida
a week ago brought out bunches of new money at Calder and Tampa Bay
Downs. One high-roller was telling me on the weekend how well he was
doing at Calder despite never having played the track before. There has been some difficulty,
however, betting their pick-3's.
Additions
to Breeders' Cup: Three new races
will be added to Breeders' Cup races Friday Oct. 25 at Santa Anita: (1)
6 1/2 furlong turf sprint--$1 million purse (2)
1-mile juvenile fillies turf--$1 million purse (3) 1 1/2 mile dirt marathon with a
$500,000 purse. Win a trip for
two to the Breeders' Cup by getting a Tour d' Champs card stamped when
you attend big races starting Jan. 26.
FLORIDA CONTEST: Earl squeezes out Grant
As
you know, common-pooling began at Florida last
Thursday, Dec. 6, after initial reports that it would begin Dec.
8. If it had started Dec. 8--as
it did at Woodbine--then local horseowner Grant Buckoski
would have won the contest to predict the opening day of Florida common-pooling;
he called that date dead-on, causing some of you to regard his
prediction suspiciously. (Grant
said he simply researched the opening day of Tampa Bay Downs which was
Dec. 8.) Good try, Grant. Assiniboia Downs, however, found out
it was able to launch Florida betting even
sooner: Dec. 6 at Calder. The contest rules said the winner
must come closest WITHOUT GOING PAST THE DAY so the
winner turned out to be Earl Stopera who
predicted Nov. 21 as the first day of common-pooling. He receives a theme night dinner for
two. Thanks to everyone who
entered! And conspiracy
theorists can now relax.
HORSEPLAY TIP OF THE WEEK:
Keep notes on bias
Regardless
what track you play, make a note of the day and whether the track is favouring leaders or closers. Even if you don't return to the races
for two or three weeks, having just that one little reference may help
you predict a race or two and get a big return. A very good angle is seeing a horse
close ground on a speed-favouring track. He'll become a very profitable bet
down the road when the track is favouring
closers.
COME FOR HAWAIIAN, STAY FOR SAM: Tonight's all you can
eat theme
nite buffet is a fan-favourite, Hawaiian cuisine, served from 5
p.m.
to 8 p.m. in the
ambiance-rich Terrace Dining Room. Great racing, both thoroughbred and
harness, is worth watching afterward: Sam Houston and the Meadowlands. Next Thursday's theme: traditional Christmas. Better reserve quickly for this--it's
very popular! Phone
885-3330. New Year's Eve: The menu itself is worth reading.
UPCOMING EVENTS: Get free Santa calendar
The
most popular yearly calendar for horseplayers--bar none--is the one
Santa Anita produces. I have
one above my computer at home; you'll find them in the Downs'
offices. And, lucky you, the Downs has
purchased 200 of the gorgeous 2008 ones to give away free to the first
arrivals at the track and at OTB locations on Boxing Day.
SATURDAY: GRAND SLAM AT CALDER: One of the bigger days in Florida racing features several stakes including the $200,000 W.L. McNight Stakes, a rematch of two spirited rivals, Soldier's Dancer and Revved Up. Common-pool, of course. Post time 11:25 a.m.
WEBSITE
UPDATES: Don't forget you can get the very
latest in racing news and events on the Downs website
which is updated daily. www.assiniboiadowns.com
"AIN'T SEEN NUTHIN YET" DEPT.:
The closer the Downs comes to its
50th anniversary, the closer are announcements about big goings
on.
Next week: Revealing
the stylish logo that will mark a half-century of racing.
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