Wednesday Quick Hits - Dubai, Derby Futures, and NHC XI
by Matt Gardner on Jan 27, 2010 11:22 AM EST
in Ramble On
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Print- Thursday marks the beginning of the Dubai Interantional Racing Carnival at the brand new Meydan Racecourse. The new course sports a design much more similar to courses found here in North American, as opposed to the triangular shape of the old course at Nad Al Sheba. At Meydan, however, the turf course will be outside the synthetic Tapeta surface, similar to what is done at Woodbine. It remains to be seen how the track plays but, obviously, we should expect to see differences.
This year's Dubai World Cup will be run on March 27th. British bookmakers have installed 2009 Eclipse Award winner, Gio Ponti, as the early betting favorite to win.
TwinSpires.com has announced that they will have live streaming of the event which is pretty cool, if you want to watch a bunch of guys in a casino racebook yelling at the big screens. I'm sure to many that doesn't sound like enthralling TV but I can say that if you've ever been to a handicapping contest they can be pretty interesting. I've never had the honor of competing in the big tournament in Vegas but I've played in a few of these contests at Emerald Downs and I find them to be an absolute blast.
The event has not yet announced which tracks/races will be involved in this year's event but if the past events are any indication, it will be a collection of tracks from the east, midwest, and west, with the usual assortment of maiden claimers thrown in.
I'm not interested in the political battles or the "who's to blame?" questions. No, what gets me is that yesterday we have news out of Georgia that they are attempting to legalize pari-mutuel wagering (along with the possibility of building new tracks), while in Kentucky, the Mecca of horse racing in this country, we are reading about tracks, horsemen, and owners that can't make it.
The issues are obviously complicated, and passions are high on all sides, but you've got to think that Kentucky will get this sorted out? Right? But that is certainly not a given.
When you hear of tracks like Ellis Park struggling to make it (one of most player-friendly tracks around), you desperately hope an equitable solution can be found.
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New racecourse in Dubai
looks incredible. I have a lot of issues with the country and the sheiks, but they do know how to put on a show. Looking forward to seeing some of the Carnival races and the World Cup.
I was born and bred right in the heart of the Bluegrass and this issue of alternative gaming at racetracks there is causing insanity with the horsemen, tracks, lobbyists, and politicians. The issue is actually much more complicated than having slots at some of the tracks (can only see Turfway and Ellis accepting on site slots if/when it ever happens). It’s also about over breeding, year round racing, the recession we are currently experiencing, and even how the rulers of Dubai are trying to stake their claim in the auction sales and moving big sale events to other states. Slots to me are a short term fix. I’m not anti-gambling, but slot players are rarely horse players. We are talking about two different breeds of degenerates (affectionately written) and eventually the gaming will split and the slot advocates will want a bigger piece of their share down the road (i.e. we don’t need the race tracks anymore).
Man, I can’t believe I just discovered this SB Nation site. This is my one stop place for all my fave teams on a dailly basis and now I can get my horse news here too. Thanks for the site.
I’m down in Portland. Have lived here for ten years now. Love the Pacific Northwest. Portland Meadows leaves something to be desired, but they are trying to make the place better. My daughter is two and she’s already been to the races twice (and she picked winners). Portland actually has some good racing fans. I’ve been to Emerald Downs and really like that place although most locals say it lacks the mystique of Longacres.
We have a big Derby party every year down here complete with Kentucky food, mint juleps, singing My Old Kentucky Home, in house betting and watching the race on a small movie screen with surround sound. You should join us down here if you don’t have any other big plans.
I’m a big racing fan. I’m actually more of a viewer of the sport than a bettor anymore, but do know how to handicap and partake sometimes. I’ve been to Derby quite a few times, Keeneland, regular Churchill days, Turfway, Emerald Downs, Portland Meadows, Beulah Park, Suffolk Downs, Saratoga, and the Breeders’ Cup @ Santa Anita and Churchill. Oh yeah I went to racing in England too at Newbury (was supposed to make it to Goodwood, but our car broke down on the way). English racing is amazing.
I’ll comment on things from time to time and might provide a post or shot. If ever in the Portland area head over to the Rialto downtown for OTB, pool, cheap food and drinks (Kentucky bourbon), and a great atmosphere. I’m there quite a bit in the spring for the Derby prep races.
How about getting a fantasy Road to the Roses league going for the folks who frequent the site? I run a league every year for locals and friends and family back home and can’t wait for it to start.
Thanks again for the site.
Maddie in Portland, Oregon
Welcome and thanks for the commnets
Good to hear your perspective on the issues facing the industry in Kentucky. The whole "slots as the savior" issue is something that I kind have never understood because, like you said, the slots are not bringing in horseplayers. Obviously, a pretty complicated issue all around but it’s great to hear the take of someone from the area.
I was just checking around about Road to the Roses the other day and that’s a great idea about putting together a league. Definitely something I’m going to try and do.
And, yes, many up here really miss Longacres. Emerald is a fun track and they treat their players very well (and they seem to get better every year), but Longacres had a certain charm for many that was kind of lost when it was torn down.
Again, welcome and thank you for your comments.
"A bad day at the race track is better than a good day at the office."
by Matt Gardner on Jan 27, 2010 7:06 PM EST up reply actions
haven't had a chance to read about the kentucky thing yet
but i’m sure it’s just a way to increase traffic, and maybe someone bets a horse or 2 that they wouldn’t normally bet.
increased traffic is something emerald downs desperately needs by the way, slots would be great down there
www.nwfan.com
This could be a whole other post,
and perhaps I’ll flesh this out a big more later for a nice discussion, but here’s my quick take: there are certainly valid arguments to the benefit of slots at the tracks, and there are many tracks where that has been implemented effectively, although not all. I think one of the concerns within the industry regarding slots is this: if these tracks can’t make ends meet without slots (especially in the thoroughbred capital of the US, Kentucky), what does that say about the basic structure of the industry right now, and what can be done to fix that?
One other point, I kind of feel like the slots issue is somewhat akin to the stadium issue that swept through professional sports in the last two decades. Pro sports teams across the country had to have new, luxurious stadiums in order to field competitive teams…that was the argument. Eventually, almost every team got their new or upgraded stadiums but there are teams that are still no where near competitive. I kind of wonder if every track in America were to get slots would all of these tracks become successful, or will just have been a short term band-aid that covered up a more basic problem within the industry? I honestly don’t know the answer to that.
"A bad day at the race track is better than a good day at the office."
by Matt Gardner on Jan 27, 2010 8:13 PM EST up reply actions
would definitely be an interesting discussion
www.nwfan.com
# Speaking of bookmakers and odds, Lucky’s released their latest Kentucky Derby Futures odds following the conclusion of last weekend’s two stakes races – the Holy Bull and the Lecomte. Lookin at Lucky is still the betting favorite at 10/1, while Holy Bull winner Winslow Homer saw his odds get slashed from 100/1 to 30/1. Lecomte winner, Ron the Greek, makes his debut in the futures at 85/1, the same odds currently being offered on runner-up in that race, Maximus Ruler.
Maximus Ruler was not impressive at all, I’m not sure why he’s getting any heat at all.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
I don't know that he's a Derby horse, at all.
But I do give him credit for hanging in there on the front end, especially coming off a layoff. Everybody in that race except the closers folded up the tent at the top of the stretch.
He looks to me like a colt that could be a very nice miler, but he’s likely gonna get bet hard in the Risen Star and will be a horrible play.
"A bad day at the race track is better than a good day at the office."
by Matt Gardner on Jan 27, 2010 11:37 PM EST up reply actions
I truly believe slots are a short term fix
Why? Because slots and horse racing are for all intents and purposes totally unrelated. Yeah, they are both gambling entities, but very, very different. How does horse racing fix it’s issues? By fixing IT’S issues, the real/internal issues and not looking for an outside crutch to survive. It’s actually kind of embarrassing when you think about it. ‘We need help, we’ve screwed up our own sport, and we want government/slots to give us some help to keep a bad model in place’.
Bottom line:
-Less breeding (gets better horses),
-fewer race dates with bigger fields (gets bigger crowds and more money in each race) -close winter racing in places with bad weather (it’s just kind of sad and pathetic really),
-have an actual racing season (so people look forward to horse racing-kind of like girl scout cookies),
-let all bettors in all states go to local track/OTB and be able to bet on all track across the US/world (increase handle for all),
-allow lots of great exotics at all tracks,
-then the tracks could lower take out which then leads to more gambling, which then leads to more money the horsemen and tracks.
Oh yeah and make TVG and HRTV combine for goodness sake. Two horse racing networks. Really? I love racing, but let’s be honest it’s a niche sport. It would be like having two tennis channels. We are fracturing our own small fan base and it’s laughable.
If people work on problems within themselves then things get better. When people look for a bail out things don’t get better.
Maddie in Portland, Oregon
I think all your ideas are spot on..
The three that really hit home to me (cause I’ve thought about it a lot) are regarding winter racing, lower take and fewer dates.
The winter racing in places where nobody wants to be outdoors in the winter (Chicago is one place that comes to mind) just never made any sense to me. Some winter racing is fine, but it’s amazing how many tracks are open right now…in the middle of January. That’s just not a recipe for success.
Great comment, lots of great points.
"A bad day at the race track is better than a good day at the office."
by Matt Gardner on Jan 28, 2010 5:08 PM EST up reply actions
Thanks
I get fired up about these things.
Maddie in Portland, Oregon
by kentuckybred on Jan 28, 2010 5:20 PM EST up reply actions
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