AT ODDS

"ONTARIO TRACKS WILL GO BROKE" if report implemented

Woodbine reacts to the 'SADINSKY REPORT'

Harness folks "welcome report"


Woodbine Entertainment's CEO and chair DAVID WILLMOT said the recently released report "It's All about Leadership Strategic Vision and Direction for the Ontario Horse Racing and Breeding Industry has some " interesting and thought-provoking suggestions" but that essentially the "recommendations are entirely impractical, unrealistic and unworkable from a financial perspective. Racetracks simply would not be able to internally finance their operations or obtain bank financing."

Meanwhile the ONTARIO HARNESS HORSEMEN'S ASSOCIATION said this:

"On behalf of the harness racing industry in Ontario I thank the panel's Chair, Stanley Sadinsky, and the two members, Jane Stewart and Bill McDonnell, for their efforts and expertise in producing this comprehensive report and their recommendations for creating a positive future for the horse racing sector," said OHHA president Jim Whelan.


FROM THE REPORT:

*One issue pinpointed is the recommendation that of the 20% of the slots revenue that goes right now to the track is now divided 50-50 between track and other industry initiatives:

recommended framework:

12.5% Restricted Races
12.5% Breeders, Owners Awards
10% Purse Pooling Racetrack
10% Payments (pooling)
2.1% Marketing
1.7% HO Operations
0.85% Research
0.85% Innovations


Some points on why this is needed according to the report:

*For Breeders, the anticipated ‘trickle down’ effect of the Slots at Racetracks Program has not been significant:
It was anticipated that higher purses would lead to increased purchases and prices of yearlings. In fact, the impact on breeders has been minimal, less than a $13M increase in yearling sales between 1997 and 2006.

*Only a few racetracks are holding or increasing the Ontario wagerers’ interest in the Ontario racing product

*Only half of the racetracks are holding or increasing the Ontario wagerers’ interest in their own product:

*It was anticipated that the infusion of slot revenues would allow for investments (e.g. marketing, racetrack infrastructure, purses, etc.) that would increase attendance and wagering. Of the 18 racetracks in Ontario, nine have experienced decreased wagering by Ontario

*Ontarians now wager 57% of their wagering dollars on foreign product:


From WOODBINE ENTERTAINMENT:

"The report recognized WEG's flagship role in the Ontario horse racing
industry," Willmot. "Ironically, if the recommendations were implemented, WEG would immediately lapse into a substantial loss position. As a not-for-profit company financed
entirely by debt, WEG would breach its banking covenants and would not
be able to obtain future financing. Notwithstanding that the report is
well intentioned in attempting to provide a strategic direction for the
Ontario Horse Racing and Breeding Industry, the effect of its
recommendations would devastate the second largest agricultural sector
in the Province, which generates 55,000 jobs.

WEG trusts that the Province will recognize the short-comings of the
report and looks forward to working with the Government on strategies
which will ensure the long-term viability of this significant
industry."




WOODBINE WEDNESDAY EVENING

Brave 'Skip' wins feature;

filly in last race "weaving like a broken shopping cart"

"This is the Skip we saw last season,'said Robert Krembil, owner of Chiefswood Farm, which bred SKIPPED BAIL, the dark bay Skip Away gelding won won the featured allowance event last night at 1 1/8 miles on turf.

Hairy is about the only word you could have used to describe the win by the Ontario bred out of Striking Proposal.
A small field was thought to produce a slow pace but that was not the case. Decew Falls and Cold War went 45 and change to the half mile over the very firm turf and Moonshine Hall, the 8yo classy dude and Skipped Bail were happy to trail.

Jockey Tyler Pizarro, who won 4 races at Fort Erie on Tuesday, is riding like a machine these days and it did not matter the young man as he snuck up the fence that Vorhees Ballad was pressing him into the fence on the turn.

Once he extracted himself away from that rival, he had to slip through Moonshine Hall and the rail and the latter also cramped the pair on the fence by Skip powered through for the win. His 1:45.73 for 9 furlongs just missed the course record of 1:45.20

He is a stakes placed gelding with a bright future. It was his 4th win in 19 races.




LOOK WHO GOT A HAIRCUT!

Isabelle and Angel shed their wooly coats finally (okay, they had help from our friend Peter who had a heck of a time corralling the girls to shear them)







OTHER WINNERS LAST NIGHT

RACE 1- There have been many of us who have picked JOANNIE NOT JO at least once or twice in his 4 racs this year and watched him finish 2nd and 3rd. Last night, he stretched out to 1 1/16 miles and won by almost 7 lengths for $16,000 claiming. The Ontario breed by Century City, bred by Richard Lister, is owned by G T Heat and trained by Steve Owens.

RACE 2- First quarter mile in 22 1/5, a modest pace duel between the undefeatd MIMI COOPER and MEADOW PRINCESS and loving that duel was favoured TRUE JEAN, for Rocco d'Alimonte and Frank Annecchini, who bought her as a yearling for $25,000.
Trained by Catherine Day Phillips, True Jean is by Yes It's True and was bred by Huntington Stud Farm.
The $62,500 claiming race for 3yo fillies was the first win in 4 races this year for Jean, who has now banked close to $100,000.
(There was a claim of foul in the race from the 3rd place finisher, Third Time Lucky, as she was carried out by True Jean, who was carried out badly by Mimi Cooper. Mimi's jock Jono Jones was hitting the filly left handed but she was not disqualified).

Day Phillips let on that there was a "glitch" in the current training of Grade 1 hero JAMBALAYA and that "we'll know more in a week or two".
Jambalaya has not raced since last summer.


RACE 3 - A big class drop for Stuart Hyman's LADY D'WILDCAT and a switch to grass (plus a beautiful, relaxed ride by David Clark) meant a win for the homebred Ontario gal by D'Wildcat out of Avenue's Lady.
"She never touched the grass before but we are pointing to the Passing Mood Stakes at the end of the month so it was a good place to try," said trainer Steve Roberts on THE SCORE show.
The 3yo was 7th in the Woodbine Oaks behind Ginger Brew and was dropping to Ontario sired allowance company.
It was her 3rd win in her 10th start.

RACE 5 - A packed maiden allowance for fillies & mares at 6 furlongs and what a training job by Robert Tiller to have FRANTIC CITY (Carson City) to win her debut after a litany of troubles getting her to the races.
Tiller told THE SCORE show that the filly had two tibia fractures early in her life, a shoulder problem and other stuff, thus the debut at age 4.
But the chestnut half sister to HORSE OF THE YEAR WIN CITY darted to the lead in the stretch and held off a strong rally by another 1ster, HELLO MAGGIE MAY (Lemon Drop Kid) to win in 1:10 2/5.
Frantic City (from the FLINTSTONES!) is owned and bred by Frank DiGiulo and David Clark rode.

"She made us wait, if it wasn'tone thing or another, I never thought I would see this day come that she would run," said DiGiulio on THE SCORE. "This means a lot, she worked well when she was younger but then she got hurt."

Said Tiller (whose wife GAIL celebrated her birthday last evening), "She was tied up to a stall at one point for 5 months, we thought we were going to lose her with those tibia fractures in behind. But this is a big moment for us."

RACE 6 - Gus Vlahos picked up more than $37,000 when his MR. BOWIE rallied to win the allowance race for non-winners of 1 'other than' at 7 furlongs. The grey Alphabet Soup colt was claimed by the owner and trainer David Bell last year for $50,000 and he's closing in on getting that money back. Th colt has been learning to settle down in his races.
The vastly improved Tejano Run gelding KILMOGANNY was 2nd in his first race since winning his maiden.

RACE 7 - Sam-Son Farms' droppd in the 6yo horse GO TO THE SUN for just $23,500, the fellow was not claimed and he rallied inside and outside to win at a nice 4 to 1. The Gone West guy is out of Wilderness Song, who will be inducted into the horse racing hall of the fame this summer. Go to the Sun has won 6 of 26 starts.
Old timer HIGH VOLT JOLT, who led led in his 2nd race of the year, was claimed by Ace Stable/Scott Fairlie. The gelding has been in a litany of different barns in his career.

RACE 8 - Looked like a full moon was in action here. Horses racing in bizarre fashion and many got in trouble in the maiden filly race for $12,500
. Into the turn, SIPHON'S STORM, who was dueling with GOLD SPINNER, was trying to get out badly and jockey Dean Deverell looked as if he was hanging on for dear life.

Then off the turn, GOLD SPINNER, a Macho Uno filly making her 2nd start of the year and 4th career start, bore out badly, then came came badly and then weaved in and out through the stretch on her way to a 3rd place finish. She was later disqualified and placed 5th.

Track announcer Dan Loiselle said, "Gold Spinner is weaving like a broken shopping cart:. now that's funny.

The worst trips in the race - AGREETOBEGOOD, who was also steadied into the far turn as well, and NALEE'S CROWN, who rallied like a wild horse in her 2nd career start.


COMING UP

The long, long weekend kicks off Friday - there is racing at Woodbine through until next Thursday - racing on Tuesday!

The stakes races are:

KING EDWARD GOLD CUP - Saturday, comes just one week after the Singspiel, also a marathon turf race for older horses, thus the field is small. SOCIETY'S CHAIRMAN for the Charles Fipke, Roger Attfield, Jono Jones team will be odds on.

BISON CITY - Sunday: 2nd leg of the TRIPLE TIARA, but that series can't be won as Ginger Brew went in the Plate instead. A small field is possible with AUTHENICAT the probable favourite.

MY DEAR - 2yo fillies, Monday: Should be a good race as long as some shippers come in - PRIDE (Lion Heart) would be a cool one to see. The Asmussen team has A DAY FOR DANCING, a local winner, and others.

DOMINION DAY - The showdown - TRUE METROPOLITAN and STERWINS again, the 1-2 in the Eclipse and then go a bit farther at 1 1/ 8 miles.
There are 23 noms, 5 from Stronach Stables (Jungle Fighter etc.).


ARRAVALE'S OWNER BUYS GROUP 3 WINNER

Robert Costigan, who recently retired his Horse of the Year ARRAVALE, has purchased GREAT WAR EAGLE from Europe to race in the American Derby on July 12 at Arlington.
The 3yo colt is by Storm Cat out of Breeders' Cup winner Cash Run and from the family of Foresty.
A Group 3 winner in just 5 races, Great War Eagle was owned by Michael Tabor. He will be trained in the U.S. by David Carroll.



IS THIS WHAT IS WRONG WITH RACING?

www.delawareonline.com story quotes trainer defending jockey Rose..

Rose calls whip to mare's eye a mistake
Other horse trainers defend suspended jockey's intent

By JACK IRELAND • The News Journal • June 26, 2008

Jockey Jeremy Rose said he did not intentionally hit a horse in the eye with a whip during a race at Delaware Park on Monday.

Rose, who was suspended for six months for extreme misuse of the whip by the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission, said in a statement issued Wednesday that he accidentally struck Appeal to the City in the face and eye.

"I did not mean to hit her in the face," Rose said in the statement. "As a jockey, I have the responsibility to give my best effort and use my skills to allow the horse I am riding to perform at his/her best. I also have the responsibility to protect the health and welfare of my horse. Notwithstanding, this was an accident and was unintentional. I failed to meet the standard required of me in this instance."

In addition to the suspension, Rose also was ordered to undergo anger management training and pay for Appeal to the City's medical bills.

Rose, who is represented by attorney Alan M. Foreman, will have an appeal hearing before the Delaware Racing Commission on July 22.

John Wayne, executive director of the racing association, visited the 5-year-old mare at New Bolton on Wednesday and said she seems to be recovering. Wayne said she had suffered an abrasion and hemorrhaging to the eye.

"The eye looked very good," Wayne said Wednesday. "... She was alert, bright, happy and friendly."

Appeal to the City's trainer, Howard Wolfendale, defended Rose in a statement issued Wednesday.

"I do not believe for a second that Jeremy acted intentionally or sought to hurt my filly," Wolfendale said. "I'm sure he meant to hit her on the shoulder. It was an accident and should be viewed as such."

Rose, who rode Afleet Alex to wins in the 2005 Preakness and Belmont Stakes, is known for his aggressive riding and was fined for misuse of the whip during a race at DelPark on May 12.

But trainers and other horsemen have praised Rose for the way he bonds with horses.

"I know Jeremy's love for animals and I've never, never seen him hurt a horse to try and gain a win," Delaware Park trainer Mike Petro said on Wednesday. "Jeremy worked for me about three years and it's just not in his character, and I truly mean that. I know what it looks like, but I also know Jeremy. I don't believe it was intentional. That's not Jeremy."

Rose said Appeal to the City was moving too close to the lead horse at about the 3/16 pole in Monday's race when he used the whip to keep her in position.

"I was hitting my horse left-handed and she jumped to miss clipping heels with [jockey Ramon Dominguez's] horse, but continued to lug in," Rose said in his statement. "As we were coming through the lane, I intended to hit her on the shoulder with my whip to keep her from continuing to lug in and hold my position in second. Instead, I accidentally struck her in the face."

Rose said he told Tammy Wolfendale, Howard's wife, about striking the horse immediately following the race.

"At dismount, she did not appear to be injured or in distress," said Rose.

Wayne said Appeal to the City showed obvious injuries after the race.

"When we got back to the barn shortly after the race, the mare's eye was closed shut," he said. "... When [DelPark chief veterinarian] Dr. [John] Peters and I got back to the barn that day, she was in a lot of discomfort and pain. She shied away from us. She couldn't open her eye."

Wayne said he respects Rose as a rider and a person, but questions how his actions could have been accidental.

"Hitting the horse three times, twice across the face, I find it hard to believe that was accidental," said Wayne.

Wolfendale supports Rose's version of the incident.

"The damage appears to be superficial. Her eye was not seriously injured to the point where the vision is impaired," Wolfendale said in his statement. "... Jeremy has been very apologetic and made clear to me from the onset that he accepted full responsibility for the horse's care and condition."

Rose knows an incident like this can damage his riding career.

"At the end of the day, the most important thing to me is my honesty, integrity and sportsmanship," said Rose. "I will not seek to ride at least until I have the opportunity to appear before the Delaware Racing Commission on July 22 to explain what happened and restore my good name and reputation. "


you can visit this site and send your comments:

http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080626/SPORTS09
/806260322/1002/SPORTS


OR IS THIS WHAT IS WRONG WITH RACING?


SIGNATURE SUNDAY (Sunday Silence) died on a Sunday.

The 8-year-old horse, making his FIRST START IN A YEAR, his 3RD start since late 2006 and only 25th of his career than began in 2003, was at Philadelphia Park on Sunday for a starter allowance:

From Equibase/DRF:

" SIGNATURE SUNDAY trailed past eighth pole then broke down, humanely destroyed"

An Australian-bred, SIGNATURE SUNDAY raced at Woodbine for his former owner William Schettine and trainer Josie Carroll three times, won his maiden an allowance race at Fair Grounds for that team in 2005.

In November 2006, he was dropped in for $5,000 claiming and was eased.

He had 2 races in 2007 and was well beaten.

When he appeared on Sunday in a 5 furlong turf race for Carlos Soto, owned/trainer, he was 32 to 1.