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News
NYSS AT YONKERS TO BE RESCHEDULED LATHAM, N.Y.-The New York State Racing and Wagering Board on Thursday, June 16, approved a request from Yonkers Raceway to cease live harness racing after its card on June 25 to begin construction for its new VLT facility.
New York Sire Stakes races and the Night of Champions that were scheduled at Yonkers will be relocated, however, an effort will be made to keep the original dates unchanged. A new schedule for these events will be released in the coming days. Questions may be directed to the Harness Horse Breeders office at 518-785-5858.
March 17, 2005NEW YORK STATE SENATE PASSES VLT BILLS
ALBANY, NY-The New York State Senate passed two important bills on Thursday, March 17, that are intended to correct the current video lottery terminal (VLT) legislation and make installation of the machines viable at all racetracks.
The current VLT legislation was passed in 2003, but to date only four of the eight tracks permitted to run the machines have installed them: Buffalo Raceway, Finger Lakes Racetrack, Monticello Raceway and Saratoga Raceway. From the beginning, racetrack operators have voiced concerns that they could not afford to operate VLTs at the legislated revenue splits.
This prompted Jeff Gural, a breeder, track owner and Harness Horse Breeders director, to spearhead a movement to "fix" the legislation by giving racetracks a larger vendor's fee and dedicating a portion of revenue for marketing and promotion, something currently absent from the law.
Senate Bill 2594, the so-called "Gural Bill," was sponsored by Senator William Larkin, Chairman of the Racing and Wagering Committee, and passed by a 50-5 margin.
"I'm very pleased that we're finally making progress and it shows what can happen when an industry joins together and tries to get something done," said Gural. "We are hopeful that the Assembly and Governor will now follow suit."
The bill is for 15 years and allows for racetracks to receive a vendor fee of 32 percent on the first $50 million of revenue from VLTs, 29 percent on the next $100 million and 26 percent thereafter. From these percentages, tracks will contract directly with horsemen's associations and the breeders for the percentages going to track purses and the Sire Stakes program, consistent with the existing law. Racetracks will also receive an additional marketing allowance of eight percent on the first $100 million of revenue and five percent thereafter to be used for promotional purposes.
Senate Bill 2594 has the support of all track owners, all horsemen's organizations, and both the Thoroughbred and harness horse breeders organizations.
"If passed by the Assembly and signed into law, this will insure a strong breeding and racing program in New York State for many years to come," said Robert A. Brooks, Harness Horse Breeders executive director. "We are confident that should this become law, it will allow all racetracks, particularly Yonkers Raceway, to open and operate VLTs in the near future. It will also allow the New York Sire Stakes to continue as the premier program in the country."
The second bill that was passed, Senate Bill 3276, the so-called "Governor's Bill," was also introduced by Sen. Larkin and was carried by a 48-7 vote.
This alternate plan calls for the racetracks to receive a fixed vendor's fee of 20.25 percent. Tracks will also enter into a 10-year contract with the State Lottery Division, funded by an annual appropriation from the general fund, for an additional marketing and promotion allowance of up to 13.75 percent. From the marketing allowance, tracks would distribute funds to track purses and the breeders on the following schedule:
Purses years 1-3 7.5%
years 4-5 7.75%
years 6-10 10%
Breeders years 1-5 1.25%
years 6-10 1.5%
These percentages are the maximum allowed and are subject to negotiations with the racetracks. The remainder of the marketing allowance will be used for promotion, but will be capped at $3 million per track per year.
Both bills will now be forwarded to the Assembly for consideration. It is anticipated that the "Gural Bill" will be sponsored by Assemblyman J. Gary Pretlow, the new Chairman of the Assembly Committee on Racing and Wagering who also represents Yonkers Raceway.
August 16,2004
ENFLAMMATORY, ARMBRO BARRISTER WIN ZWEIG TROT DIVISIONS AT SYRACUSE MILE Photo click hereSYRACUSE, N.Y.-The return of the Dr. Harry M. Zweig Memorial Open Trot to the Syracuse Mile on Sunday, Aug. 15, was met with a large crowd at the New York State Fairgrounds and an ovation for the winners of the two $109,150 divisions. Odds-on favorite Enflammatory scored in the fastest split and longshot Armbro Barrister surprised the crowd with his victory earlier on the card.
Enflammatory and driver Brian Sears took an early seat third in the second division. Mystical Sunshine-the only filly to enter against the colts-cut out the pace with Stephane Bouchard up. But at the half, Enflammatory came first over and drew away in the stretch to a 2 3/4 length victory in 1:54.1. The public correctly installed him as the overwhelming favorite at 3-5.
A photo was needed to separate the next three finishers, with Mystical Sunshine holding on for second, Il Pirata third and Self Obsessed fourth.
"In mid-stretch he really drew off," said Ted Gewertz, who owns the winning son of Enjoy Lavec with Patricia Spinelli, Martha Frank and trainer Trond Smedshammer. "I thought maybe he could get behind the filly early, but he got out third and had to come first up. He did what was expected and it worked out well."
Enflammatory, a winner of the New Jersey Sire Stakes final earlier in the season, was not eligible to the Hambletonian-which was won by stablemate Windsong's Legacy-but is well staked for the remainder of the season, according to Gewertz.
Sears, formerly a regular driver at nearby Vernon Downs and now a leader at the Meadowlands Racetrack in New Jersey, was warmly received by the crowd on his first visit back to Syracuse in several years. Fans cheered and called out his name as he circled Enflammatory in front of the grandstand for a victory lap.
In the first Zweig Trot division, Armbro Barrister and trainer-driver Ray Schnittker peeled out of the second-over position and flew down the stretch for a 1:5.1 win at 13-1 odds. His last quarter in :28.2 helped secure a new career mark for the son of Malabar Man.
American Mike and driver Ron Pierce were 1 3/4 lengths back in second and Amebury, with Steve Smith steering, rounded out the trifecta.
"He was loaded; he just exploded down the stretch," said Schnittker after the race. "On a mile track he hasn't been that great, so I was a little surprised. The last two weeks he's finished well and that was always his week spot."
Schnittker owns the colt with Earl Scheelar, Ron Kelkenberg's Kelk's Inc., and Jack Adkins. Now with three straight victories, Schnittker believes Armbro Barrister is finally hitting his stride, midway through the stakes season.
The drivers of both horses captured their first Zweig Trot victories. Dr. Harry Zweig's widow, Anne Zweig, and son Brian were in the winner's circle to congratulate the connections of each winner.
In the Zweig Filly Division, Jeff Gregory gave Enjoy The Sun a pocket trip and charged home for an easy 1:56.4 win. Trained by Jan Johnson for Arden Homestead Stable and Adelaide Skoglund, Gregory delighted in winning for owners he had driven regularly for in the past.
"Today she had a lot of trot coming out of the last turn and she felt very strong finishing. She was great-a very nice filly," stated Gregory in the winner's circle.
In New York Sire Stakes State Fair racing on the undercard, last year's 2-year-old pacing colt champion, Uleavemebreathless, demonstrated that he is finally back after an early season injury that delayed his start as a 3-year-old.
Directed by Gregory, the colt by Sealed N Delivered took over the lead early and drew off by 7 1/4 lengths to win in 1:53.3. It was his first win of the season and a new career mark. The colt is owned by breeder Mathias Meinzinger and Thomas Haupert. He is trained by Chris Ryder.
Donna's Girl, the leading 3-year-old filly pacer so far this season, continued to exhibit her "bad habit," as driver Howard Okusko Jr. puts it, in her division. Once on the lead, the Village Jove miss tends to pull herself up turning for home.
"She pulled up at the top of the lane and let (Stephane Bouchard and L Dees Aunt Ang) go right by her and then came back," said the driver, who added that he knew all along that she would fight back to win.
Claude Incaudo owns the Howard Okusko Sr.-trained filly with Carol Okusko. "I was worried in the turn, but then I'm always worried when she races," said Incaudo. "She was tough today."
This program marked the conclusion of the three-day State Fair racing meet at the Syracuse Mile.
August 14,2004
GREGORY OPENS SYRACUSE MEET WITH FIVE WINSSYRACUSE, N.Y.--Friday the thirteenth may be unlucky for some, but not for driver Jeff Gregory. He dominated the New York Sire Stakes State Fair races contested on the opening day of the Syracuse Mile meet by winning five of the 14 events.
The forecasted rain on Friday held out at the New York State Fairgrounds until the afternoon's twelfth race, but rains the previous evening and during the morning produced a sticky racing surface that was rated good by the judges.
Gregory, who earned his first Sire Stakes driving title last year and who is well on his way to defending it this year, added another victory each in the win columns of stablemates Victory Speech, a 2-year-old trotting colt, and Chapeau, a 2-year-old pacing filly.
These Sire Stakes standouts, owned by Michael Polansky and trained by Dave Spagnola, have dominated their divisions through two legs and now the State Fair. Sir Taurus colt Victory Speech, who won in 2:02.2, now boasts a perfect three-win record. Chapeau, a daughter of Magical Mike, has won her three Sire Stakes starts by a combined 18 1/2 lengths and scored Friday in 2:02.3.
Gregory scored the fastest win of the day with 2-year-old pacing filly Pop Queen in 2:00.4. She is owned by the Fred Monteleone Stable and Sal Promuto. Trainer Jimmy Cruise Jr. just received the filly in his barn after she trained down with Anne Schlichtig.
Gregory also steered Off The Wall (2:06.4) and Ferrari Of (2:04.3) to victories.
The owners of 2-year-old pacing filly Giorgi's Bambina joked in the winner's circle that they have not been successful in the harness racing business. But Charles and Giorgan Iannazzo's long-standing commitment to the sport finally paid off when their homebred won her State Fair division.
"It's like watching a grandchild," said Charles of breeding and witnessing his filly's win. "Her mother (It's Black Magic) raced and was in a dead heat here, but didn't win. This filly is perfectly well mannered and the trainer says she does everything right."
The 2:01.3 victory was the first for the Village Jove miss who is trained by John Berger. Rod LaFramboise was driving the filly for the second time in her short three-race career.
"We left and sat in the pocket and then got out in the stretch and she worked out a pretty nice trip," said LaFramboise. "She's a very professional filly."
Homebred Minnesota Chelsea romped in the 13th race, besting her 2-year-old trotting filly foes by 10 1/2 lengths. She only needed to go in a comfortable 2:07 to win for D.R. Ackerman, in the bike for his father and owner Doug Ackerman.
The card had several longshot winners, with 76-1 Trotting Beauty producing the largest $2.00 win ticket at $154.50. Owned by Blue Chip Partners and driven by trainer John Stark Jr., the Sir Taurus filly made a late charge down the stretch to secure his first one-the-board finish all year.
Racing and pari-mutuel wagering continues at the Syracuse Mile on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 14 and 15. Saturday's card will feature State Fair races for 3-year-old colt and filly trotter and for 2-year-old colt pacers.
The Dr. Harry M. Zweig Memorial Open Trot, the highlight of the three-day meet, will be raced in two $109,150 divisions on Sunday afternoon. Two Hambletonian finalists are among the fourteen starters and leading Meadowlands driver and Hall of Fame nominee Ron Pierce will be among the drivers shipping in especially for the event. Post time is 1 p.m. Admission and parking are free.
Free buses are available from downtown Syracuse to the track each racing day. Blue Chip Transportation buses will leave from the intersection of East Washington and Salina Streets at noon on Friday and at noon and 12:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Buses will depart for the return trip from the NYS Fairgrounds 15 minutes after the last race daily.
For more information, please call the Syracuse Mile at 315-487-7711 X1390.
August 13,2004
TWO ZWEIG MEMORIAL DIVISIONS SUNDAY AT SYRACUSESYRACUSE, N.Y.-Two Hambletonian starters and one courageous filly are among the 14 horses entered in the Dr. Harry M. Zweig Memorial Open Trot, the feature event of the Syracuse Mile meet, on Sunday, Aug. 15, at the New York State Fairgrounds.
American Mike and Castle Of Fortune, both from the barn of trainer Charlie Norris, will be heading to Syracuse for the Zweig Trot following sixth and seventh-place finishes, respectively, in the Hambletonian on Aug. 7. With 14 entrants, the Zweig was split into two $109,150 divisions and Norris will have an entrant in each.
"They were all right last week, but they were never really in the hunt," said Norris of his Hambo starters. "We were hoping for a quick pace and it didn't work out that way."
Norris, a Western Pennsylvania horseman, will be visiting the Syracuse Mile for the first time in his career. Both American Mike and Castle Of Fortune are homebreds owned by Robert Key, also of Pennsylvania.
"They're feeling good and eating good this week, so I hope they will do well," said the trainer of his prospects in the Zweig.
Trainer Chris Ryder decided to try filly Mystical Sunshine against the colts. She will start in the 11th race Zweig division from post one with leading Yonkers Raceway reinsman Stephane Bouchard.
A winner of the $438,949 Elegantimage Stakes earlier in the season, Mystical Sunshine has won five races this year and earned $312,000. She scored in her elimination for the Hambletonian Oaks, but was used early in the final and finished at the back of the field. The Yankee Glide filly is owned by Alvin Jacobson and Sidney Korn.
While uncommon for a filly to race in the Open division, the most recent to try and succeed was My Starchip, who won in 2002.
Enflammatory has been installed as the 3-1 morning line favorite in the same division as Castle Of Fortune and Mystical Sunshine. Self Obsessed is the 7-2 second choice in that division.
Enflammatory will start for trainer Trond Smedshammer and is a stablemate of Hambletonian winner Windsong's Legacy. The gelding is a New Jersey Sire Stakes champion owned by Smedshammer with Patricia Spinelli, Martha Frank and Ted Gewertz. Regular driver Brian Sears will be in the bike.
Trainer-driver Ray Schnittker is confident that Self Obsessed, from post four, has a solid chance in the field.
"He seems to be turning the corner. He won the Townsend Ackerman and felt good doing it," said Schnittker.
Early-season Hambletonian buzz surrounded Self Obsessed, but after finishing a disappointing fifth in the Dexter Cup after winning his elim, he failed to fire in any of his other stakes engagements until the Ackerman, a $50,000 event at the Meadowlands on Aug. 6.
The filly division of the Zweig, carrying a $40,000 purse, is headlined by New York Sire Stakes standout Becca J and the New Jersey filly Enjoy The Sun.
Becca J is trained and driven by Saratoga Raceway's John Stark Jr. for owner Ken Jacobs of nearby Baldwinsville, N.Y. Enjoy The Sun is trained by trotting specialist Jan Johnson for Arden Homestead Stable and Adelaide Skoglund. Last weekend Johnson captured his sixth Hambletonian Oaks with another filly in his barn, Silver Springs.
The 12-race Zweig Day card also features New York Sire Stakes State Fair divisions for 3-year-old colt and filly pacers and three divisions of the C.K.G. Billings Amateur Trot.
Live harness racing and pari-mutuel wagering at the Syracuse Mile will be held Friday, Aug. 13, through Sunday, Aug. 15. Post time each day is 1:00 p.m. Admission and parking are free.
Free buses are available from downtown Syracuse to the track each racing day. Blue Chip Transportation buses will leave from the intersection of East Washington and Salina Streets at noon on Friday and at noon and 12:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Buses will depart for the return trip from the NYS Fairgrounds 15 minutes after the last race daily.
For more information, call the Syracuse Mile at 315-487-5780.
The fields for the Dr. Harry M. Zweig Memorial Trot Sunday are:
Race Eight $109,150
1. Armbro Barrister
2. Amesbury
3. Real Leader
4. Math Ace
5. Rocky Balboa
6. Uncle Vernon
7. American Mike
Race Eleven $109,150
1.. Mystical Sunshine
2.. Il Pirata
3.. Enflammatory
4.. Self Obsessed
5.. Castle Of Fortune
6.. Desert Classic
7.. Arctic Hanover
Race Seven-Filly Division $40,000
1. Wolf's Gwen (Post 1)
1A. Lisa Go Go (Post 2)
2. Malabar Melody
3. Forever Joy
4. Enjoy The Sun
5. Celebrity Demi
6. Becca J
7. Claiming The Title
MICKEYS HIT HEALTHY AND HOPING FOR FIRST WIN SYRACUSE, N.Y.-The connections of 3-year-old trotter Mickeys Hit finally believe that he is primed and ready to win his first race of the year on Saturday, Aug. 14. After overcoming several health problems, the Richard Dow-owned gelding will be competing in one of five New York Sire Stakes State Fair divisions at the Syracuse Mile.
"We're probably going to get one on Saturday," said Dow of victory eluding his horse so far this year. "He's a good solid horse and he just gives his all."
Dow, a resident of Holland Patent, N.Y., and an occasional driver at Vernon Downs, purchased Mickeys Hit as a yearling. The gelding earned almost $40,000 as a two year old and won four of his 10 starts-including a track-record setting performance at Vernon Downs.
As a three year old, however, the colt has a string of second and third-place finishes in the Sire Stakes, but has not posed for any pictures in the winner's circle yet.
"At Saratoga (his last two starts) I think we finally got him right," said Dow. "We knew something was wrong with him, but we couldn't figure it out. The end of the mile he just wasn't right. We took blood tests and nothing came back, then one said his thyroid (hormones) were a little low. We put him on thyroid medicine, but we didn't think that was the whole problem. Then we did an allergy test and found out he was allergic to alfalfa-and he was eating alfalfa cubes every day."
After changing the horse's diet and putting him on medicine, he has now put on a little weight and filled out some.
"He's finally on the right track," said Dow, who will be in attendance at the New York State Fairgrounds Saturday to watch what he hopes will be his horse's first victory in 2004 in the fourth race.
Though Mickeys Hit has been using a pocket trip nearly all summer to ride to the finish line, Dow explained that he is actually better on the front end. "When he comes to that last quarter and is on the front and a horse comes after him, he gives even more than he has."
Should he get the lead, Mickeys Hit, the 5-2 morning line favorite, will have to contend with Clint Galbraith's Latino Kash from post seven. That homebred colt is a closer and could challenge whichever horse is on top coming down the stretch.
Also featured on the 11-race card Saturday are three divisions of 3-year-old trotting fillies and three divisions of 2-year-old pacing colts. Total purses for the afternoon reach nearly $210,000.
Among the trotting fillies starting are two from the stable of Paul and Pauline Nower trained by Jody Weidman: El Paso Gal in the second race and Comeupforair in the third. Both won their last Sire Stakes leg at Monticello and look to become the standouts of the class.
The outstanding young pacing colt Pat's All Star was installed as the 8-5 morning line favorite in the race 11. Driver Jeff Gregory has been entrusted with extending the colt's career winning streak to five. Dear Old Boy in the same division with Gates Brunet will attempt to be the spoiler and score his third win of the year following a second-place finish to Pat's All Star their last time out.
Live harness racing and pari-mutuel wagering at the Syracuse Mile will be held Friday, Aug. 13, through Sunday, Aug. 15. The Dr. Harry M. Zweig Memorial Trot will be featured on Sunday, with two of the recent Hambletonian starters among the entrants. Post time each day is 1:00 p.m. Admission and parking are free.
Free buses are available from downtown Syracuse to the track each racing day. Blue Chip Transportation buses will leave from the intersection of East Washington and Salina Streets at noon on Friday and at noon and 12:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Buses will depart for the return trip from the NYS Fairgrounds 15 minutes after the last race daily.
For more information, call the Syracuse Mile at 315-487-5780.
August 6,2004
TOP TROTTING FILLIES HOLD THEIR GROUND AT SARATOGASARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.—Seven splits of New York Sire Stakes for 2-year-old trotting fillies proved to be a showcase of front-end victories at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway on Friday night, Aug. 6.
The two early season favorites in this division, Twin B Senorita and Minnesota Chelsea, continued to prove themselves with unchallenged victories. Twin B Senorita won at 1-9 odds in 2:05.1 for trainer-driver Ray
Schnittker. Blue Chip Partners and first-time harness horse owners James Burke and John Hamilton own the filly.
“I’ve usually been on the betting side of racing and now it’s a lot of fun to be on the ownership side,” revealed Hamilton. “I learn more and more every day. It’s great to have a horse like this for your first time.”
Minnesota Chelsea cut the mile and won her event in 2:06.3 for driver D.R. Ackerman. His father, Hall of Famer Doug Ackerman, bred, owns and trains the filly by Credit Winner.
“She does everything I tell her—and every time we go to the gate, I tell her to win,” joked D.R. Ackerman in the winner’s circle. Minnesota Chelsea has now won three of her four starts, including two Sire Stakes and a Hanover division at Balmoral Park in Chicago. Her career bankroll now stands at $37,000.
Only one of the events was won from off the pace when Winsmith Dawn crafted a pocketsitting 2:05.3 victory with trainer-driver Gary Messenger. The pair followed leader Ginger Girl around the oval and pulled out to roll home and win comfortably under the wire.
“She was a little sore last week, but we did some work on her and she was a lot better tonight,” said Messenger of the Credit Winner filly’s first on-the-board finish.
In her previous Sire Stakes start at Messenger’s home track of Monticello, she broke stride at the start and finished a distanced fifth. Winsmith Dawn is owned by Scott Woogen.
South Jersey Angel scored in 2:05.3 for owner-trainer Ed Hart of Middletown, N.Y. Earlier in the evening, another Hart-trained horse, Village Jolt, won the $432,000 Woodrow Wilson for 2-year-old pacers at the Meadowlands in New Jersey.
Serena Blue Chip won in 2:07.2 for the team of Frank Baldachino, Edward Pryce and Peter and Murray Goldberg. Miracle Money broke her maiden with a 2:04.3 victory for former Saratoga trainer Wayne Harrington and driver Kim Crawford. I’m A Star closed out the evening with the fastest time, 2:04, for trainer-driver John Stark Jr., who owns the Sir Taurus filly with Richard Moreland and Doug Karam.
First-crop New York sire Credit Winner sired five of the evening’s seven winners, with Sir Taurus fillies winning the other two divisions.
Sire Stakes action continues at Saratoga Saturday evening with 2-year-old pacing colts. Post time is 7:10 p.m.
FIRST AUDITION TRIES OUT FOR SIRE STAKES AGAINLATHAM, N.Y.-Bob and Linda Kinney may be from Massachusetts, but they have thoroughly invested in racing in the New York Sire Stakes program just across the border in the Empire State. One of their charges is First Audition, who will start in the first of four Sire Stakes divisions at Monticello Raceway on Sunday, Aug. 8, when more than $125,000 in purses will be distributed.
In her last Sire Stakes appearance, First Audition sabotaged her own efforts by making a head-strong break when things didn't go her way. She ended up finishing a distanced seventh with trainer-driver Don Guidette Jr. in the bike.
"We got caught in traffic going to Saratoga that day--we were at a standstill--and she threw a fit in the trailer," Bob Kinney explained. "I thought she was going to rock the trailer over. She pulled her shoe and was all worked up.
"When we finally go to the track, we put a new shoe on her and I just couldn't get her calmed down," he continued. "We warmed her up a couple of times and she was still worked up. In the race, Don had her in the back and she wanted to go that night because she was full of herself and she didn't like taking back. When she couldn't go, she had enough of it (and broke)."
The Kinney's own First Audition with William Grass, son of well-known New England breeder Dr. Albert Grass, and Guidette. She trains over Guidette's one-third mile track at his farm in Winchester, Mass., so she has a distance to travel anywhere to race. However, Kinney believes the straight highway route to Monticello will make the trip a little easier on his Movie Mogul filly.
"She's kind of high strung," explained Kinney. "I haven't seen a lot of good fillies that aren't high strung, though."
In her last start, First Audition moved first-over to score an easy victory in a New York-bred Late Closer event. Kinney said despite her success, she was a little sick that night.
"Hopefully, we'll be charging on all cylinders for Sunday," he stated. "She has a lot of ability and we haven't seen all that she has yet."
Division leader Becca J will be favored in the fourth race Sire Stakes division after winning the first two legs in impressive fashion. Trainer-driver John Stark Jr. will be up for owner Ken Jacobs.
Just Like Jack will also be looking for her third Sire Stakes win this year in the sixth race. Jeff Gregory will steer for trainer Perry Simser and owners Gary Greenhouse, Harvey Friedman and Ronald Rubinstein. The Sir Taurus filly is already a winner of $33,000 this year.
The Sire Stakes will be competed as races two, four, six and eight on the program. Post time is 1:10 p.m.
PACING COLTS PUT RECORDS ON THE LINE AT SARATOGA LATHAM, N.Y.-Several strong fields of 2-year-old pacing colts will start at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway on Saturday evening, Aug. 7, with four of the entrants looking to extend their unbeaten records.
One of the colts boasting a perfect slate so far in his young career is Eyes On Kassa, who headlines the third race division from post six for Central New York owner Ken Jacobs.
"His conformation is a strength and the maturity of the horse is very special. That's what I look for," explained Jacobs. "You can do anything with him. At Sandy Creek (a county fair), he was pretty awesome for that track. At Saratoga, I told John (trainer-driver John Stark Jr.) to put him in a hole. He sat fourth and then pulled going to the half and went to the front. So he can sit in a hole or leave. He's like an older horse"
Jacobs expects Eyes On Kassa to leave the gate for early position on Saturday, but he will contend with another leaver, Smoky Bonz from post two.
Also a Kassa Branca colt, Smoky Bonz has a 1:57.2 mark in an overnight event at Plainridge Racecourse, a five-eighths mile track in Massachusetts. He logged a :28.2 first quarter in that event, proving that he can get off the starting gate for owner and breeder Nelson Malin III.. Seasoned horseman Clint Galbraith will be directing Smoky Bonz for the first time.
Kassa Smoke on the rail has been strong on the fair circuit and will try to best his third-place finish in the last Sire Stakes round. Rustling Jeff will also be a contender after a runner-up finish in the last round.
"Other than the race with Pat's All Star, we've got the toughest division," said Jacobs. "There are a number of very good horses in there. It's a very interesting field."
As Jacobs alluded, Pat's All Star, with a perfect three-win record, starts in the ninth race with two other colts who have never tasted defeat. Braedens Drive, directed by leading Saratoga driver Dan Cappello Jr. from post two, has two victories and Gates Brunet's Dear Old Boy leaves from post six with a two-win slate.
Pat's All Star, owned by 89-year-old Pat Tarsio, has the fastest record of all the Sire Stakes starters. He earned a 1:54.2 mark in a Reynolds stake at Pocono Downs and now has nearly $25,000 on his card in just a few starts.
The Sire Stakes will be contested as races three, six, seven and nine on the fifteen-race card. Post time is 7:10 p.m.
August 4,2004
No Indian Casino for Monticello Raceway
For the third time in a decade, the Monticello Raceway casino dreams have been ruined. First with the New York Oneidas, who walked away from a casino deal, and then with the St. Regis Mohawks, who now plan a casino at Kutsher's Sports Academy. Now the Cayugas negotiations with Governor Pataki have fallen apart.
The tribe says that the state went back on a deal to pay the tribe a court-ruled settlement of $247.9 million over 14 years in exchange for the casino, claim settlement and the tribe's purchase of 10,000 acres in the land claim area.
In June Governor Pataki announced a tentative deal Could be finalized by September. Monticello Raceway hoped to start construction in the fall of a $700 million casino that included highly profitable table games. The casino would have been built on land given by the raceway to the tribe, funded by the tribe, and managed by the raceway.
TWO TRACK RECORDS FALL AT SARATOGA IN SIRE STAKESSARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.--New York Sire Stakes winners broke two track records at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway on Tuesday evening, Aug. 3, when five divisions of 2-year-old trotters went to post.
Victory Speech was an impressive victor in his division, drawing away from the field early in the mile and extending that to 20 lengths under the wire in 2:00.3. The son of Sir Taurus broke the previous record for 2-year-old trotting colt, set in 1998, by two-fifths of a second.
Owned by Michael Polansky of Loudonville, N.Y., and trained by Saratoga’s Dave Spagnola, Victory Speech seems to be breaking records where ever he goes. In his first career start, the colt set a 2:02 track record at
Monticello Raceway in another Sire Stakes event.
While driver Jeff Gregory felt Victory Speech was a little too aggressive at Monticello, he noted that the colt has matured a little since that 34-length blow-out. “He was a little more relaxed than last time,” he said in the winner’s circle. “I was able to slow the half down some today. He just very good.”
Polansky was very happy with this start and revealed, “We’re looking toward the Hambletonian with him.”Hewitt Blue Chip, directed by Ray Schnittker, set a new track record for 2-year-old gelding trotters, cutting the mile to win by 15 ¾ lengths in 2:00.3. This broke the record set just last year by 2 3/5 seconds.
Steve Demeter co-owns the Sir Taurus gelding with Schnittker and Seal Stable. “I predicted before the race that he would set new record tonight,” said Demeter. “He is a very good horse right now.”
Demeter’s other entry during the evening, Connors Blue Chip, did not fair as well. He had a tough trip and after trying for the lead, faded to finish third.
Nicky J and Gregory waited in the pocket and came on to win in 2:04.4 for Ken Jacobs. Ray VanDreason trains the Credit Winner colt.
Darsun wired his field to win in 2:01.4 for owners Ann Yurenka, Nancy Cole and Bill Bailey. The son of Sprint Victory has now scored in four of his seven career starts.
And Peppermint Devil rounded out the Sire Stakes events with a 2:02.4 win, giving Gregory his third of the evening. Locals Gary Greenhouse, Harvey Friedman and Ronald Rubenstein own the Credit Winner colt.
Sire Stakes action continues Wednesday at Saratoga with 3-year-old colt trotters.
August 2,2004
Vernon's Down - Pink slips to over 100 employees In a memo sent to all Vernon Downs "Employees, Horsemen and Backstretch Community." there will be temporary layoffs in all departments will be effective Monday August 2. The racing secretary's office will be closed, all maintenance will be curtailed unless it is essential to the safety and security of the physical plant and equipment, and horse training facilities, including use of the main track, will be cut back.
This follows last week's ending of live racing at Vernon brought on by the illegal loan taken from the horsemen's purse account by the track. It is estimated that $700,000 would be needed just to open the doors to start live racing again. The track owes bills of about $2 million, in addition to a $26 million mortgage.
Raceway Ventures, owner of 52 percent of the stock in Mid-State Raceway, the parent company of Vernon Downs, has been ordered by the state to divest its stock by Aug. 23. The three partners that make up Raceway Ventures have been denied track licenses by the state of New York.
About 400 horses remain housed at the track along with many horsemen that call the Vernon Downs backstretch their home. Some have found racing at Saratoga but for the rest, their future is uncertain. Hearings are scheduled to be held at the state Supreme court and Racing and Wagering Board this week to determine the track's future. All of the results hinge upon Vernon owns finding an owner suitable to be licensed.
July 31, 2004
DONNA'S GIRL HANGS ON AT BUFFALO HAMBURG, N.Y.--Donna's Girl faced her toughest challenge this year when the 3-year-old pacing filly pulled off her tightest victory yet in New York Sire Stakes action at Buffalo Raceway on Friday, July 30. Directed by Howard Okusko Jr., Donna's Girl set all the fractions but survived a late charge by pocketsitter Cherry Cherry by just a nose in 1:57.2.
Cherry Cherry, handled by Jamie Dunlap, turned in a :28.1 last quarter to nearly nab the current division leader. Donna's Girl, a daughter of Village Jove, is trained by Howard Okusko Sr. for his wife, Carol, and Claude Incaudo.
Okusko Jr. also turned in a 1:59.3 victory with his own Dark Surprize. That Easter Sun Hanna filly charged down the stretch to beat David's Art by 6 ¼ lengths at 28-1 odds. She is owned by Okusko's clock Farm LLC and Thomas Witt.
Miss Zinfandel, the even-money favorite in that race, broke early and finished well behind the leaders for trainer-driver John Stark Jr.
Also scoring in their divisions were Three Bee's, a daughter of Three Wizzards owned by Pamela and John Dutchick, in 1:59; and Caroles Magic Gift, a homebred Magical Mike filly for Robert Gifford, who won in 1:58.
All four Sire Stakes splits raced for purses of more than $31,000.
CLASSY CONNORS HAS TOUGH COMPETITION AT SARATOGA
LATHAM, N.Y.-The last time Connors Blue Chip raced, the gang of owners that lay claim to him donned personalized baseball caps bearing the colt's name and proudly showed off their lucky charm-mismatched shoes. Wearing one black and one brown loafer seemed to do the trick, with the son of Sir Taurus trotting home an easy 2:04 victor.
That luck will be tried again, however, when Connors Blue Chip starts in one of four $14,856 Sire Stakes divisions at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway on Tuesday, Aug. 3.
The 2 year old is trained by the Ray Schnittker Stable for East My Dust Stable (Frank Baldassare and Schnittker), Stephen Demeter, Kindergarten Stud (Bill, Lydia and Jean Brown) and Dr. Herb Burns.
"I've owned a lot of good horses, but this horse is the most fun I've ever had," revealed Baldassare after the Monticello victory.
That fun may be due to the horse, or may be due to the ownership team, all long-time friends and partners.
"His gait stood out from day one," explained Burns, who serves as the veterinarian at Blue Chip Farms, where the colt was raised and where Burns had the opportunity to care for the colt before purchasing him at auction with his partners.
Connors Blue Chip is the last foal out of Dan Gernatt's very successful broodmare Amanda T Collins. Her richest offspring was Vernon Blue Chip, a filly winner of $540,000, including victories in the Merrie Annabelle at age two and the New York Sire Stakes championship at age three.
Despite Connors' pedigree and enthusiastic ownership team, he must still conquer seven others in his field to bring home his third win in four starts. Among those that will challenge is Prime Rate, who must clean the slate after breaking stride in his Sire Stakes event at Monticello, though he did still manage to finish second. He will be directed by Meadowlands regular George Brennan. Also, Big Zach Attack, a winner of four of his five career starts with trainer-driver Scott Campbell, will try to move from the county fair winner's circle to the pari-mutuel one.
Victory Speech, the track record setter at Monticello Raceway his last time out, will likely go off as the overwhelming favorite in the seventh race. Driver Jeff Gregory, who accompanied the colt in his record-breaking 2:02 mile, will again be up.
The homebred Getthemoney will try to continue bringing home the dough for owner Peter Sienkwicz in the ninth race. Terry Finch will drive the Credit Winner colt who wired the field in his Sire Stakes at Monticello.
The Sire Stakes are carded as races three, six, seven, nine and 11 on the 15-race program. A special early 6:40 p.m. post will accommodate a non-betting Saratoga Amateur Driving Club event, with the regular card beginning at 7:10 p.m.
CHAPEAU GRABBED BY NEW CONNECTIONS
LATHAM, N.Y.-When 2-year-old pacing filly Chapeau steps out on the track at Monticello Raceway on Sunday, Aug. 1, she will be doing so for an entirely new set of connections. The daughter of Magical Mike was recently purchased by Michael Polansky from breeder Doug Ackerman, who was training and racing her.
Now starting out of the David Spagnola barn, based at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway, Chapeau will be trying for her second straight Sire Stakes victory on Sunday in one of four $27,825 splits.
"I trained her yesterday (Thursday) and she was everything Ackerman told me she was," said Spagnola. "She trained like a sports car; she was real snappy. She's kind of an impressive filly."
Chapeau comes from a well performing family. She is out of the Abercrombie mare In Fashion, who has produced a number of top New York Sire Stakes horses including the filly's full brothers Exporter, a career winner of nearly $450,000, and Star Role, a winner of $430,000. Chapeau's full older sister Donatela is currently performing well in the 3-year-old filly ranks.
Spagnola didn't change any of Chapeau's rigging when she came from Ackerman off a win at Vernon Downs on July 23. She was in the only division of horses that will race at Vernon's seven-eighths-mile track this year and her time was nearly a full second better than any of the other victors that day: 1:57.2.
"She's not a big filly, but she raced pretty well on a large track for a little horse, so she's off to a good start," said Spagnola. "Bill Bailey drove her that night and I asked him about her. He said there was a pretty good headwind that night, so that affected her first and last quarter. She left in :29 and came home in :29.1 (cutting the mile) and he said she did it pretty well. For the night, that last quarter was very good."
Also on the program, the unbeaten Pembroke Firefly will head up the seventh race Sire Stakes division from post eight. A daughter of The Firepan trained by Jack Bailey, she will be putting her four-race career winning streak on the line Sunday with Bill Bailey in the sulky. Owned by William Varney, Pembroke Firefly has already earned more than $13,000 this year.
Daunting Magic, a filly by Dauntless Bunny, will start from post three in the third race and has never finished worse than second in three career starts. She will looking for her second victory in rein to Joe Pavia Jr. Reska, starting out of the Ray Schnittker Stable, will be looking to turn her frontrunning bias into a winning strategy in the eighth race from post four.
The Sire Stakes will be carded as races three, five, seven and eight on the 13-race program Sunday. Post time is 1:10 p.m.
July 26, 2004
The following is from a press release issued late this afternoon by the Harness Horse Breeders of New York State.
Due to the unexpected suspension of racing at Vernon Downs and the delay of the racing season at Batavia Downs, all New York Sire Stakes program events previously scheduled at these tracks in 2004 have been rescheduled at either Saratoga Gaming and Raceway or Monticello Raceway as follows:
Event Old Date New Date New Location
Sire Stakes
2YOPC Aug. 7 same Saratoga
2YOTF Aug. 6 same Saratoga
2YOTC July 29 Aug. 3 Saratoga
3YOPF Aug. 26 Aug. 28 Monticello
3YOPC Sept. 4 same Monticello
3YOTF Aug. 28 same Saratoga
3YOTC Aug. 4 same Saratoga
Late Closers
2YOP Aug. 18 same Saratoga
2YOP Sept. 10 Sept. 9 Monticello
2YOT Aug. 25 same Monticello
2YOT Sept. 8 same Monticello
3YOP Aug. 7 same Monticello
3YOT Aug. 19 same Monticello
3YOT Finals Sept. 16 Sept. 15 Saratoga
County Fair Finals
2YOT Sept. 6 same Monticello
3YOP Sept. 6 same Monticello
Please update your records. We apologize for any inconvenience these changes may have caused. Questions may be directed to the Harness Horse Breeders of New York State by calling 518-785-5858 or e-mailing nysirestakes@mybizz.net.
July 22, 2004
VERNON DOWNS' LIVE RACING CANCELED BY RACING AND WAGERING BOARD
VERNON-A New York State Racing & Wagering Board ruling made late this afternoon (July 22) directed Vernon Downs to cancel Thursday night's live 10-race harness program.
The track will continue to offer afternoon and evening simulcasts until further notice.
The Racing & Wagering Board ruling also stated that Vernon Downs would not be able to race on Friday night (July 23), unless there was enough money in the track's purse account to cover seven of the 11 scheduled races, which are referred to as "overnight" events. The other four races scheduled for Friday involved a New York Sires Stakes event, which is covered by purse money from the Harness Horse Breeders of New York State, Inc.
The track later made the decision not to conduct qualifying races on Friday morning.
July 16,2004
CREDIT WINNER COLTS DEBUTLATHAM, N.Y.-When 47 two-year-old trotting colts step onto the track at Monticello Raceway on Sunday, July 18, for the first New York Sire Stakes start of their young careers, nearly a third of them will be offspring of first-crop sire Credit Winner.
Credit Winner, a Kentucky Futurity champion who earned $1.5 million during his two racing seasons, was the first of three prominent stallions Blue Chip Farms brought to Wallkill, N.Y., beginning in 2000.
Prime Rate, owned by Joseph Ricco Jr. and Ron Abbondanza, is among the 14 Credit Winner colts competing at Monticello. Timed in 2:01.1 in a qualifier at the Meadowlands and a winner of his only start, a Landmark Stakes at Historic Track in Goshen, N.Y., on July 2, he will start from post six in the sixth race.
"He's a pretty nice colt. From day one, he's done everything we've asked of him," said trainer David Dziengiel. "If he looked like he does now when I bought him as a yearling, he would have easily brought twice as much at the sale. He's still pretty small, but he was a peanut when I bought him. He grew over the winter and he's a nice looking individual, he is long-barreled and stands very good."
Prime Rate, who was bred by Marie Richardson and Leo Fallon, has qualified three times over the Meadowlands' mile track. When he starts at Monticello it will be the only half-mile oval he's trotted on other than his home track in Goshen.
"If he likes the (track) surface at Monticello, he could very likely go in 2:04 or 2:05. I like his chances," said Dziengiel.
Dziengiel trains his stable at Historic Track and was involved in a racing accident there in mid-June, fracturing his hip. Since leaving the hospital the first of July, he has been laid up at home and oversees his horses from a distance.
"I went to the track yesterday (Wednesday) to see Prime Rate train," said Dziengiel of his first visit back to the site of his collision. "It was pretty tough. But, I sat in my wheelchair and Joe (Ricco) trained him; he looked good."
Dziengiel can only move with the aid of a walker and likely will not be able to sit behind any of his horses again before October. In the meantime, fellow Goshen trainer Octavia Rappoport is aiding in the day-to-day operations of his barn.
"I get on the computer and try to keep up with the horses all over the country. I watch some races and just try to stay involved," explained Dziengiel. "I have doctor visits every other day, therapy three times a week and I'm still managing the stable, but being in one room I get awfully restless."
Top Meadowlands driver George Brennan, step-son of co-owner Ricco, will be directing Prime Rate at Monticello. Brennan is not a regular driver on the New York Sire Stakes circuit, but according to Dziengiel, he has committed to directing the colt in a number of starts this season.
Six divisions of the Sire Stakes were drawn and will go off as races two, four, five, six, eight and 10 on the 13-race card. Combined purses for the Sire Stakes events will reach nearly $115,000. Post time is 1:10 p.m.
LATHAM, N.Y.-When three New York Sire Stakes divisions for sophomore pacing colts go to post at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway on Saturday, July 17, Raining Again will attempt to keep his impressive unbeaten streak alive. Owned by Gordon Rumpel of Calgary, Alberta, Raining Again has a perfect eight-win record in 2004.
This distinction is appreciated--yet a little nerve-wracking--for trainer Howard Okusko Sr. "He's a good horse, he's done really well. But you know a time will come when he is going to get beat," said Okusko. "That's a let down. You really like to see that long line of 'ones' (on the racing program) and you hate to see anything else."
But for now, Okusko remains confident in his charge. "You really don't know how fast he is because he never goes more than he has to," explained the trainer. "If he has a horse right in front of him, he'll keep going forever. But once he passes one, he relaxes-that's why he never wins by too much."
Only two of Raining Again's victories have been by more than two lengths this season. Last year as a 2 year old he never made it to the winner's circle in five tries; his best finishes were two thirds in the Sire Stakes.
"I only had him for two races last year," explained Okusko, who sent the colt out for the third-place finishes. "Kim Crawford drove him the first time and he was all over the track, but Kim said he was a real nice horse. Then Howie (son Howard Okusko Jr.) drove him the second time and he was acting up again, but Howie said he was a good horse, too." Raining Again has finally matured enough as a racehorse to live up to those drivers' evaluations.
Rumpel also campaigned Raining Again's sire, On The Road Again, who won $2.8 million in the mid-1980s and retired to stallion duty in New York; and Matt's Scooter, a winner of $2.9 million and now a top stallion in New Jersey. Rumpel will be flying in from Canada to cheer his colt home at Saratoga on Saturday.
Raining Again will be featured from post seven in the sixth race. More top 3-year-old pacing colts will headline the other two divisions, including Michael Scores, a winner of $32,000 so far this season, in the second race and Applejack Thunder, who is trained at Saratoga by John Stark Jr., in the fifth race. Total Sire Stakes purses for the evening exceed $128,500. Post time for the program is 7:10 p.m.
The sixth race Sire Stakes will also serve as the fourth leg in the inaugural "Empire 6-Pack" wager. This new pick-six wager will be offered four consecutive Saturdays, July 17 to Aug. 7, and will involve rotating races from Yonkers Raceway, Buffalo Raceway, Saratoga and Vernon Downs.
The minimum wager is $1 and will close at approximately 8:00 p.m. All six races will be held at the various tracks within an hour. A total of 75 percent of the pool will be paid out for winning tickets and 25 percent to consolation winners; if no one picks the winner of all six races, 75 percent will be carried over to the following Saturday.
VERNON-At a special meeting of Mid-State Raceway's Board of Directors held Friday (July 16), the company's board voted to remove Steven Cohen as its chairman, and as the company's president and chief executive officer.
Vernon Downs board shake upMid-State's board elected Paul V. Noyes of Sherrill as its new chairman. It also named Dominic Giambona as its acting chief executive officer. It also named an Executive Committee consisting of Noyes, Giambona, Edward Kiley, Justice Cheney and James Klein.
In other action, Mid-State's board ended services provided by an Albany lobbying organization and a New York City public relations company. The board also renamed Jim Moran as the company's director of publicity and public relations.
"We cleaned house today," Noyes said following the meeting. He went on to explain that while the track's financial situation remains very critical, there are several groups that are very interested in buying controlling interest in the company. "We are negotiating with them as fast as possible," he concluded.
July 11, 2004
Indian gaming and VLT win in NY. Court shuts out horsemen from VLT share. Appeal forthcoming.
Three issues concerning gambling in New York State have been ruled upon by the Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court. The good news for supporters of gambling is that the Governor may enter into agreements with Native Americans that have land claims within the boundaries of the state concerning casino gambling on their lands. Video Lottery Terminals are allowed and will continue to run as planned. The bad news concerns the breeders and owners of horses in the state. Their share of the profits from the VLTs have been ruled unconstitutional.
In a 52 page ruling handed down on Wednesday, the court ruled that the class III gaming activity conducted on Native American land do not violate the state constitution ban on gambling. It was the court's contention that since these various games are allowed to be held by nonprofit organizations, although strictly regulated, they will be allowed to be conducted at Native American casinos. Native American land is not subject to state regulations if they do not violate the federal or state constitution. Governor Pataki may continue working on pacts for the remaining Native American casino applications.
Concerning the video lottery terminals, it was the court's interpretation of the constitution that although they are very similar to slot machines, they are set up as just another form of lottery. Gaming devices such as slot machines and video poker are illegal in New York but the way they are set up to pay out makes the difference. VLTs are centrally linked to a finite collection of winning combinations at the New York State Lottery. All players throughout the state have access to these electronic tickets through the individual terminals. The players choose their game just as in their choice of scratch off tickets. Slot and video poker machines have individually set payoff percentages and do not guarantee any particular number of winning prizes of selected denominations.
The third ruling handed down was a devastating blow to the horsemen in New York. It was ruled that the percentages of the net profit that was allocated to racing purses and the Breeders Association was unconstitutional. The provisions for the distribution of lottery profits are clearly laid out in the state constitution. After the lottery division and vendor gets their fee, all of the remaining net profits are to go solely to education. Since the purses and breeders funds are not part of the operational expenses of VLTs, they are not to be allocated any portion of VLT profits.
In 2001, plans were laid out for VLTs to be brought into the tracks. Lobbying efforts by the breeders and owners in New York supported VLTs if they would help support the racing industry in the state. The result of this lobbying effort created the mandated that part of the tracks VLT share go towards purses and the breeders fund. Wednesday's ruling says that this money must go into the education fund instead.
A statement issued by Harness Horse Breeders of New York State Executive Director Robert A. Brooks says,"...revenues will continue to be generated for the purse accounts and Breeding Fund, pending appeals of the court decision."
"The Harness Horse Breeders office has been assured by Senator William Larkin, Chairman of the Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee, that this issue will be addressed and necessary changes will be made to the legislation. He is committed to preserving the original intention of the law to support the harness racing industry and the Breeding Fund."
"It is anticipated that the law will be amended as needed and the VLT program at tracks will continue as planned. Both Senator Bruno and Senator Larkin are committed to supporting the growth of agriculture through the harness racing industry."
Mr. Brooks also goes on to say that all operation of VLTs at existing locations in Buffalo, Monticello, and Saratoga. He has also been assured that Robert Galterio of Yonkers Raceway will continue to move forward with plans to install VLTs and open in 2005.
July 5, 2004
Tioga Park? No, Tioga Downs.
New corp. takes over Nichols facility.
The new owners of the former quarter horse track located near Binghamton are called Southern Tier Acquisition Holding Co. The newly formed corporation is formed from a group of investors from Canada and Jeff Gural, chief executive officer of Newmark and Co. Real Estate of Manhattan, N.Y.
The former owner, James Hawkins, has transferred ownership to Southern Tier for an estimated $2.8 million and will serve as a consultant to the new owners for the next six years. When Hawkins purchased the track in 1996 the focus was to create a western themed-rodeo operation. Tioga has held occasional western events over the years but it has mostly been a horse boarding and training facility.
Mounting losses over the years have forced Tioga Park into the home of a weekend flea market.
Gural plans to resurface the 5/8 track for harness racing and construct a new grandstand from the ground up. An application to race has already been filed with the New York State Racing and Wagering Board in Albany. Discussions have already taken place with the state concerning adding video lottery terminals.
The state wants it's cut too.
New York State Sen. Thomas Libous has included Tioga County in his bill to create the Greater Binghamton Entertainment Authority without any consultation from any Tioga County legislators. Nichols village mayor Barbara Crannell, Town Supervisor James Branston, and Town of Owego Supervisor Carole Sweeney, have all expressed various concerns about belonging to such an agency. The bill is supposed to assist the counties with their nonprofit cultural and entertainment promotion. Tioga Downs would fall into the control of the Greater Binghamton Entertainment Authority. Local since it would be a venue for such activities.
The structure of such an organization could result in the exercise it's power over local municipalities. Some have noted that these large agencies are so financially inefficient that their cost overrides their purpose. So far county and town politicians will be taking a deeper look into the usefulness of the authority before committing to join.
June 23, 2004
New York Sire Stakes web site upgraded.
More changes ahead.
A newly launched web site from the Harness Horse Breeders of New York State will now provide more information covering the New York harness racing program. Going live this past week with a cleaner look and expanded coverage, the site will now provide reports on each stakes race card with brief stories and photos of the racing action.
The sleeker design will now give easier access for visitors to find information on racing, breeding, and harness racing services. More statistics will be provided to track the leading sires, breeders, and drivers during the summer stakes campaign. These additions along with the running point standings are aimed to give a more detailed picture of the action leading to the finals in September.
Representatives of the Harness Horse Breeders of New York State agreed that any expansion of the sire stakes program needed to include this upgraded web site in order to fulfill the desires of the New York harness racing community. The new site can be found at the link below.
VERNON DOWNS DRIVING CHAMPION ANGUS ALLEN DIES
Former three-time Vernon Downs driving champion Angus Allen died at his daughter Lauren's home in Delaware on June 4 at the age of 88.
A native of Halifax, N. S., Canada, Allen began his involvement in the Standardbred sport at age 14. He began his driving career at tracks in Nova Scotia. After working with such noted Canadian horsemen as Bill Cummings, John Conroy and Bill Hood, Allen began his U.S. career at Saratoga in 1955. He became a Vernon Downs favorite in the late 1950s and captured the track's race-winning driving championships from 1969 through 1971
The well-rounded horseman was a sought-after catch-driver at Vernon Downs and other upstate New York harness tracks. Known for his ability to get the most out of claiming horses, Allen also developed such proven performers as Dud Mc, Frisco Fancy, Susie Sampson, Anchor Boy, Boone And Crockett, Slapstruck and the stakes-winning trotters Donald James and Sharp Shot. One of his fastest miles was a 1:57.2 victory behind the free-for-all pacer Tarquinius at Vernon in the mid-1960s.
The former Vernon backstretch resident retired with more than 1,100 career driving victories and $1.1 million-plus in official purse earnings, although he remained active as a trainer until the age of 86. He was often called upon by such notable horsemen as Frank Ervin, Billy Haughton, Stanley Dancer and Bill Wellwood to train and drive for them. He also assisted his long-time friend Fred Bach with thoroughbred prompters that were used for time trials.
A member of the Royal Canadian Army during World War II, Allen was also an avid hockey fan and spent a great deal of time working with the Midstate Youth Hockey Association in Syracuse, where he and his late wife, Loretta, lived during Vernon's off-season. Their children include Brian Allen, who established a Downs record with seven consecutive race-winning driving titles from 1990-1996. Many other family members were involved in the standardbred sport at one time or another, including Allen's daughter Sue, a former trainer-driver who is still employed in Vernon's backstretch.
Predeceased by his beloved wife of 48 years, Loretta, Allen is survived by daughters Marilyn, Susan, Lauren and Karen and his son, Brian. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, June 9 at 3 p.m., in the Malecki Funeral Home, Vernon. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Standardbred Retirement Foundation, P.O. Box 763, Freehold, NJ 07728.
DOWNS NOTES-Larry Albano, who served as a harness racing handicapper and television color commentator/interviewer at Vernon Downs in 2003, passed away on June 5 in Florida after a long illness. He was 53. Born in Brooklyn, Albano served in similar capacities at Florida's Pompano Park, and was that harness track's statistician. He also owned and published the "Mickey's Green Sheet." tip card, was a standardbred owner and possessed a U.S. Trotting Association drivers license. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Christa House, C/O John Albano, 320 - 29th Street, Lindenhurst, NY 11757. A funeral service is set for June 8 in Lindenhurst.
Bill to Revamp New York Racing Passes Senate
by Tom Precious
The New York state Senate June 3 gave quick approval to a plan to overhaul the regulation of racing in the state, including a provision designed to get video lottery terminals installed this year at Aqueduct.
The bill denies a bid by the New York Racing Association to get its racetrack franchise, due to expire in 2007, extended until 2010, but paves the way for MGM Mirage, its VLT partner at Aqueduct, to begin the VLT program.
Approval of the measure in the Senate by a 50-9 vote came just days after the sweeping package was proposed last week by Gov. George Pataki. State officials say they need the revenues – estimated by some at $1 billion -- from the 5,000 or so machines slated for Aqueduct to help pay for a hike in education aid. Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno said the state is losing millions of dollars each week VLTs are not operating at Aqueduct. He said MGM officials have assured him they can get the VLTs operational by the end of the year if the legislation passes quickly.
The legislation has not yet been introduced in the Assembly, though racing insiders expect the Democratic-run house to approve it.
The measure ensures that any deal MGM strikes with NYRA to run VLTs will continue even if NYRA loses its franchise after 2007. MGM has said it can't finance the $140 million VLT parlor unless its VLT management contract continued for several years after 2007.
The legislation significantly alters how racing in the state is regulated by collapsing the functions of several state agencies into a single State Gaming Commission, which would be run by a panel appointed solely by the governor.
Separately, an oversight panel would be created to monitor NYRA, which was indicted and fined $3 million last year for its role in widespread financial abuses at its tracks.
Bruno said the oversight panel will be to examine what to do about the franchise to operate Aqueduct, Belmont and Saratoga. "Nobody is closer to racing or NYRA than I am...I love horses. I love racing and I love to see revenue created for the people of this state through a sport such as racing, but it needs help,'' Bruno said. He said the panel should address not just whether to extend NYRA's franchise, but whether New York should end the not-for-profit status of racing at the three tracks by awarding the franchise to a for-profit entity or creating a partnership with NYRA. He did not elaborate, but Magna Entertainment is actively pressing to get a hold of the NYRA franchise.
Bruno lamented the lack of funds that the state gets from the financially ailing racing industry. "We are receiving pretzels,'' he said.
"We do not stand as the premier racing state...and we should,'' he added.
The new state Gaming Commission would have broad powers, including the ability to step in to take control of a faltering racetrack or racino. It would also include a team of State Police investigators to monitor everything from charitable gambling ventures and racetracks to Indian casinos. Agencies eliminated under the governor's plan include the Racing and Wagering Board and the Thoroughbred Capital Investment Fund. Breeding and development funds, now autonomous, would be folded into the state agriculture department.
Critics slammed the Senate Republicans for pushing the measure through so quickly. Democratic lawmakers said the bill includes a number of problems, including no set standards for competitive bidding by the new gaming commission and no set role for the state attorney general's office in the racing industry.
"The goal of this bill is that horse racing and gaming activity in this state will be of the highest integrity, credibility, and quality and that the best interests of the public, both gaming and non-gaming, will be served,'' said a Senate Republican memo in support of the measure.
Batavia Downs 2004 racing canceled.
Reprinted from Gamblingmagazine.com
Batavia Downs, believed to be the nation's oldest nighttime Standardbred track, will not open for racing this summer because of dwindling revenue and an inability to get financing for its racino operation, track officials said.
Officials said more than 100 track jobs will be directly affected, and hundreds of others, from horsemen to farmers, will feel the pinch by the failure of the track, owned by Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp., to begin racing Aug. 1.
Western OTB lost nearly $4 million, much of it from the drain by Batavia Downs, an ailing track when the corporation purchased it nearly six years ago. Officials had been banking on video lottery terminals, but a bank, worried the loan might not be repaid, set many contingencies, including a requirement that horsemen guarantee the loan.
Track officials and horsemen blame the revenue-sharing split set by the state as inadequate. The track, located in western New York, is operated by a quasi-government agency that faces stiff competition from nearby casinos and racinos near Buffalo. The track has been trying to get $7.7 million in loans to construct a VLT parlor.
"It's really a shame," Western OTB president Martin Basinait told the Buffalo News. He said the track could still open for its five months of racing, but only if a VLT financing plan is set within the next few weeks.
"We felt it best to pull the plug and regroup and see what tomorrow brings," Basinait said. "Without knowing we could put a financial package together and without knowing we could get the VLTs installed, we didn't want to risk another expensive live meet."
A number of investors have expressed interest the track, including a Manhattan developer and Toronto businessman who are trying to bring VLTs to the long-shuttered Tioga Downs, located in the state's southern tier.
Bruce Tubin, president of the Western New York Harness Horsemen's Association, said Buffalo Raceway has agreed to offer six weekends of additional racing this summer to help the horsemen find an alternative to Batavia Downs. But he said owners of hundreds of horses due to be housed at Batavia Downs are now scrambling to find other barn space.
"It's devastating for horsemen," he said.
For Sale: One slightly used race track.
Green Mountain Race Track owner John Tietgens plans to sell the Vemont facility to his grandson Dr. Jeremy Sullivan. Dr. Sullivan and business partner plan to serve as agents to find an owner that will develop it with the community of Powell in mind. Racing has the support of Vermont's legislators but the Governor James Douglas will not support slots in his state.
Anglin Commercial Group Inc. CEO Lee H. Anglin's interest in the property is to keep it as a racing facility. Others seeking more information include real estate mogul Donald Trump and New York Yankee owner George Steinbrenner.
Since Green Mountain was purchased at auction for $250,000 it has been used for various music festivals and Shriners' bingo games. Green Mountain Race Track was built in 1963 for horse racing, then converted to greyhound racing. It closed at the end of the 1992 season. Many potential owners over the years have failed to complete their deals. Tietgens is seeking $2.5 million for the 140 acre property as is.
Hoosier basketball player driving web traffic to Offstride.
Photo from SONYA BORDEAU / Staff photographer chronicle-tribune.com
Update 7/13/14
For those who have wandered into this site looking for the September Harness adult site we offer the following information: She is using the name Teen Keira. Her site is up and running. We will provide you with no further information or links to her site. As you can tell this is a harness racing web site. To give her site location on these pages would be a great disservice to the harness racing visitors. We wish Ms Harness all of the best in her studies at Indiana University and thank her for providing us with the light hearted story below.
As a point guard for Mississinewa High School, she is one of Hoosier Basketball Magazine's Top 100 senior girls' high school basketball players for 2002-2003. The Marion Chronicle-Tribune named her player of the year 2002. Her speed and quick ball handling have had her starting as a varsity player from freshman through senior year. How has she become one of the most popular searches for us at Offstride.com?It seems that the Indiana University freshman has a new career in porn. She will be a guest of Bill O'Reilly on an upcoming broadcast of The O'Reilly Factor.
Thank you Miss Harness for introducing new members to the Offstride.com family of loyal visitors through the misguided internet searches for you. Hopefully you can successfully promote the sport that so many have failed to do for the past 30 years.
April 10, 2004
Bettors put their money on simulcasts
03/27/04
Horseplayers at Ohio's seven racetracks are turning their backs on live racing in staggering numbers.
Final 2003 wagering figures, released at the March 18 meeting of the Ohio State Racing Commission, reveal 78.6 percent of all money bet in the state last year was on full-card simulcast racing.
"Is anybody as amazed as I am?" asked commissioner member Norm Barron.
Of the $511,363,912 wagered in Ohio, only $109 million was on live racing. Bettors at Lebanon all but ignored the harness racing before them. Of the $49 million wagered at the southwestern Ohio track, only $3.2 million - 6.6 percent - was gambled on the local racing.
In northern Ohio, bettors at Thistledown placed 77.9 percent of their moneys on simulcast racing. At Northfield Park, 67.4 percent went into simulcast pools.
VETERAN OFFICIAL RALPH SWALSKY IS NEW
DIRECTOR OF RACING AT VERNON DOWNS
Veteran Standardbred official Ralph Swalsky will serve as Director of Racing/Racing Secretary during the 52nd live harness season at Vernon Downs, which will get underway on Friday night, April 23.
Swalsky, whose horseracing career dates back to 1962, began his new duties on April 6. The 63-year-old New York resident served in the same capacity at the Saratoga Equine Sports Center from April of 1987 until November of 2002.
In his current position, Swalsky will be responsible for all aspects of Vernon’s racing department, including writing condition sheets, preparing the track’s live programs, managing the track’s purse account, creating special events and coordinating the track’s involvement in the New York Sires Stakes program.
“I feel refreshed,” Swalsky said of his 16-month hiatus from the sport. “I’ve kept in close contact with harness racing and I’m familiar with most of the horsemen here, so it’s an ideal opportunity. I’m looking forward to the challenge of bringing the best harness racing possible to Vernon Downs, the type it enjoyed during its glory years.
In addition to his 16-year stay at Saratoga, Swalsky also headed up the harness racing departments at Edmonton Northlands (1982-1987), Flamboro Downs (1979-1982), and served as racing secretary for Buffalo Raceway and the Syracuse Mile (1977-1979). He also presided over facility maintenance and equipment at the Edmonton track, and has experience in preparing stakes books, creating morning line odds, producing tip cards and has handled program sales.
Swalsky was also involved in the racing operations for the Great Barrington Fair thoroughbred meet, served as Entry Clerk and Clerk of the Scales for the Tioga Park quarterhorse track, and worked in the racing and publicity/public relations departments at Monticello Raceway.
“I’m pleased that Ralph was available and wanted to return to the sport,” said Vernon’s new General Manager Dennis Dowd. “He’s got a terrific harness racing background, he knows the track’s history and its horsemen, and so it’s a perfect fit. He’s hit the ground running and has displayed great enthusiasm for his new duties.”
DOWNS DOINGS—Swalsky will be assisted in his new duties by veteran Program Director Shane Hoehn, who also serves as assistant racing secretary, and by office secretary Angie Futter…Ralph and his wife, Phyllis, make their home in Gansevoort. They are the parents of two grown sons…Swalsky replaces two-time former Vernon racing official Greg DeFrank… Vernon’s racing department is currently accepting applications for stalls…The track’s first qualifying session is set for Friday, April 16. Additional information may be obtained by calling (toll-free) 1-877-777-8559, Ext. 216 or 225.
October 31, 2003
Dover Downs to host Filion milestone
It was a disappointing two weeks of racing at Harrington Raceway for Herve Filion. Coming in with only four wins to go for his 15,000th win, Filion could only notch three wins during his ten days of racing in Harrington.
On Thursday, his fifth race victory with C B's Julius left Filion one short of the 15K milestone on Harrington's closing night. In the next race aboard the Karen Crothers trained Thepanbeforetime, Filion lead from gate to stretch only to be nosed out by Kevin Sizer with ENS Gladiator.
In race 14 another victory was snatched out from him in the stretch. This time it was Jim Morand with O S and Y catching a tiring, even money favorite Todd's Jackpot.
Opening day at Dover Downs on Saturday will have Herve Filion on the morning line favorite Anaheim N in race 4. He has 3 other drives listed on a night that features The Matron series elimination's. First race post time is 5:30.
Filion wins two to get closer to milestone
By: Matt Sparacino - Harrington Raceway
HARRINGTON, Del. – Driver Herve Filion is just two wins shy of becoming the first driver in North American history to win 15,000 races, after winning two races Tuesday at Harrington Raceway.
The 63-year-old Filion has won 14,998 lifetime races. He won the second race, a $25,000 claiming pace, with Thomas Weber’s Mr. Brooke Lyn (1:56.3) over a sloppy track, and then won the 11th race with Frank Condurso’s Golden Tan (1:59.4).
Filion, who made his return to racing at Harrington last spring after a seven year hiatus, currently has two drives on the Wednesday program, but could obtain additional mounts over the course of the program.
In the co-featured filly and mare winners-over pace, Love that Cut (1:56.3, Brad Hanners) scored a mild upset at odds of 6-1 for owners Gary and Barbara Iles.
Post time for Wednesday’s program is 5:30 p.m.
4 to go for the next Filion milestone.
Two more wins at Pocono Downs this weekend has inched Herve Filion closer to the 15,000 win mark. With Pocono closing this past weekend, the drive for 15K will continue on at Harrington Raceway beginning today. Filion's 102 wins at Pocono was sixth best this season.
Filion originally was to break the 15,000 mark in New York while driving at Yonkers Raceway some 6 years ago but unsubstantiated race fixing charges and a lengthy court battle derailed his pursuit of this goal. (More on this on opinion page)
When Herve Filion arrives at Harrington today, He will be bringing along with him a handful of horses trained by his son Brandon and cared for by son Justin.
Filion will not be a stranger to the fall Harrington meet. He has had some success this season racing on Monday afternoons at Harrington. Eddie Lohmeyer's Ruffed up and some of Chris Height's stock have kept Herve active in Delaware. This should be enough to get him the additional catch drives needed to score 15K during his first week at Harrington.
Laag Nut finally sips from the Little Grey Jug at Monticello
by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway
Monticello, NY --- If at first you don’t succeed just keep trying. That was probably the mind set of trainer Steve Reid when he again raced Laag Nut in Monticello Raceway’s 14th annual Little Grey Jug on Sunday, September 22.</