Colonial Downs and VHBPA Heading for Meditation

So has to come to this. The Virginia Racing Commission is telling (not asking) Colonial Downs and the VHBPA to submit their arguments to a professional mediator. This is the latest attempt to end the impasse on the number of racing days and amount of money to dished out each, that each side must agree to. There is no word on whether or not this mediation is binding or just another way talk things out. If it is binding, the horsemen are going to get screwed.

Here is Colonial's argument in a nutshell: we are losing too much money horsemen and we want you to pay, among other things, for cleaning up your horseshit (no, really, manure removal is one of the things they want horseman to pay for).

The argument that Colonial is losing money therefore they need to change the business model is an old, old, old sports owner's arguments. Given that Colonial is owned by a privately-held company, they do not have to open up their books to show how much money they are loosing. NFL, NHL, and Major League Baseball clubs do this all the time when negotiating collective barraging agreements with their players' union or when they claim they need a new stadium and want the public to pay for it. They whine about their loses, when in actually they are making money hand over fist. Its only when you take deprecation into account that their balance sheet looks bad.

So Colonial, in my opinion, is doing the same thing. They of course, attempted to put public pressure on the horsemen by shutting down the OTBs in the western part of the state, stating we were to blame. Now they are saying their balance sheet is worse. Why? Because of the OTBs shut down out west.

There is one thing about racing in the Mid-Atlantic that Colonial management should remember. We can take our horses elsewhere. There are six tracks within driving distance. In our case, we have decided to prepare for the worse. Marq Your Bible is currently in South Carolina training to be a steeplechase horse.

Back and Cynical As Ever: Behind the Gate Movie

I thought I didn't have time to maintain the blog. But after what I saw on You Tube today, my healthy dose of cold cynicism is necessary. Today's victim is one particular horse racing media project: Behind the Gate. (There are a lot of other things going in the industry that have brought me out blog hibernation, but one thing at a time) I just watch the trailer with "Dubstep Mix," which in itself is a knock off from the Rocky theme After some clips from interviews with some pretty big name people, there are two big tag lines "SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE SPORT" and "ITS TIME TO FIX IT." HELL YEAH!!!

But, what, huh? I'm confused. Are you trying to glorify the sport or trash it? My take away is the latter.

So whats wrong with the sport? According to this trailer two things: "We didn't take care of the customer" and "You don't fire a coach right before the Super Bowl," proceeded by "I mean look at Tiger Woods." The first comes from a guy attending Santa Anita. This is a line I have heard a lot and I still don't fully understand it. Every time I heard Andy Beyer say it, it mean that the takeout on the Pick Six was too high. That is for the state to decide, not the track.

As for the second and third lines, I don't know what the guy is talking about. I think, and I don't want to put words in his mouth, he means that the industry has this tendency to retire successful racehorses too soon, thus the public doesn't catch on. If this is what he is talking about, I agree with him. But his examples are poor.

After those choice comments, the film maker shows horses out of control at Santa Anita. The takeaway here in answer to the "WHATS WRONG THE SPORT" is "HORSES ARE DANGEROUS, MAN EATING KILLERS."

I don't know, see it for yourself industry. Is this you?

Would the Real T. Pletcher Stand Up?

Todd Pletcher is one of the great trainers in thoroughbred race horse industry.  On camera, he seems very modest about his victories and always is the best dress person at the track. So....whats up these Twitter remarks? http://www.twitter.com/notthetoddster

OK, maybe its not really Todd Pletcher writing these remarks.  Don't you think one would want to get this under control? Particularly statements like "Moving like a tremendous..." That is a sacred statement.

2013 Ok....and we're back...

We're back...and in 2013, Marq Your Bible has a new trainer.  We wish the old trainer the best of luck.  We did win an award in 2012. No, no, no, not Eclipse award.  We won this....

Marq Your Bible Race #4 @ Laurel #2

Pictures from Marcus' second race at Laurel Park in Maryland, fourth race overall.




Ever since the storm incidents at Colonial, Marcus has needed a pony horse to keep him calm during saddling. It has worked wonderfully.  I can only imagine what words pass between the two.  We have been very pleased with all of Laurel's staff, including the gate crew and pony horse riders.  They don't get paid enough for what they do.

 

No Delay (eventual winner of race) didn't delay the race this time.
 In Marcus' last race, No Delay didn't want to go in the starting gate.

His race line read "steadied at first turn." I think this is what the racing secretary meant!

Eight of ten, not good, but not bad.  He got up as close as third before better horses passed him. He finished only seven lengths back from first.  So that's encouraging.

Joe Drape-You Sir, Are A Dope

The New York Times' Joe Drape is at it again, accusing the thoroughbred industry of drowning in drugs. This time its a video presentation on the front page of nytimes.com.  (Here it is, for your viewing pleasure.)

My problem with Mr. Drape is that he (and others...hi Deadspin.com!) is speaking out of whole ignorance.  He is pushing this issue in a direction that he hope will get him a medal, not correct the problem.

Peanut Gallery:  "Excuse me, what about Doug O'Neil and his suspension?!?!?!"

The California Horse Racing Commission by its own admission, stated that Doug O'Neil's horse (that' s one horse,  not horses) was never found to have illegal substances in it.  They stated that they THINK that it had an illegal substance.

Peanut Gallery: "Fine, but, but, but...what about the 2012 Triple Crown horses...we are sure they used drugs....surely some of them got busted!"

No, not one, including Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner I'll Have Another was found to have any illegal substance in them.  Mr. Drape, of course, states only that no one was busted for frog venom.

Here are two other problems Mr. Drape's narrative:

Mr. Drape (and I assume its him narrating) states that drugs are being used to make horses go faster.  Then proceeds to talk about pain killing drugs.  Different drugs, different problem.  Steroids are used to make a horse go faster.  The pain killing drugs is a different issue.  That is just outright cruelty.

Mr. Drape starts at the video in Kentucky, so I assume he is going to focus on the thoroughbred race industry.  He then proceeds to talk about a quarterhorse...in Louisiana.....  Mr. Drape (and others), here is you racing education 101: quarterhorses and thoroughbred racing are two industries with a Grand Canyon size worth of differences.  Nit picky? Maybe.  But it would be like saying their are recruiting violations in the NFL.  I would expect someone who works for the New York Times and allegedly covers horse racing full time to point out and know the difference.

Peanut Gallery: "Umm....the NFL doesn't recruit like college football....oh that's the point.  Never mind."

Now, I always have to say this.  I abhor trainers that abuse horses with drugs.  I believe the rules should be tougher.  I believe people like Rick Dutrow should be thrown out of the sport forever.  However, that's all Mr. Drape ever writes about horse racing: drugs.  Its like we don't even run a sport.  Just a the biggest drug lab this side of the jungles of Columbia.  Is the NFL or MLB covered this way? No, of course not.  So, lets just give Mr. Drape an Eclipse Award and get it out of the way.  That's what he wants and it will make him go away.

I fully expect Sally Jekins of the Washington Post to do story on the issue this  week.

The Good Old Days of the Thoroughbred

I just read a very good blog post on Statford Hall's web page written by one of their collection's interns.  She has been investigating the horse tack in the plantation's stable.  Through her research she discovered that Stratford bred a horse named Time O' War, a grandson of the great *pause, wait for it* Man O' War.  (one must always take a deep breath before mentioning the name Man O' War.  See the orginal Seabiscut movie starring Shirely Temple for reference.)

Anyway, one thing many thoroughbreed breeders are notorious for is looking back at the way the horse racing and breeding industries were run in the days of long ago.  Here's why: Time O' War raced 225 times! TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY FIVE TIMES and was in the money 37% of the time.  All without lasix, modern supplements, or anything else.    The writer also discovered this piece of breeding wisdom from Stafford's first resident superintendent:

“The object is not to attempt breeding on a large scale, but to make horses, and good horses at that…So that a visitor to the Northern Neck may see them in the flesh and be reminded of the time when every gentleman of this section had a horse which he was willing to back for a reasonable amount against all comers.”

*sigh* the good old days.