Horse Racing: Arkansas Derby day recap: $41,000,000 bet, Nadal and Charlatan win Ky. Derby preps

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Awful lot of gamblers are going to need to get their fix somewhere.

Another version to digest... Of course, Saturdays are different as a weekend/off day for many people who work midweek.

Sportsbooks and coronavirus cancellations: It’s gonna be ugly

The main video wall in the sportsbook at Rivers Casino on Delaware Avenue had seven TVs going on Thursday afternoon.

Two had European soccer games on. One showed the Nets-Lakers game from two nights earlier. Another had the PGA’s Players Championship. There was a tennis match from 2019 being shown on one lower screen and the MLB Network breaking in with news about the cancellation of spring training on another.

The sportsbook was deserted. There were more TVs than people. And the people were more interesting.

“I wish they would just send me home,” said one bored waitress.

Rivers spent $15 million rebranding itself from SugarHouse, put $5 million alone into constructing a pretty impressive sportsbook. Never mind that most sports betting is done online these days. Sports books in March were the place to be.

But not this year.​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

TELEVISION on MARCH 14: Fox Sports 2 will broadcast racing during a 3:00-7:00 pm ET window. Races from Oaklawn (Arkansas), Turfway (Kentucky) and Aqueduct (New York) will be aired. MSG and MSG+ will show live racing from Aqueduct from 5:30 pm-7:00 pm ET. TVG will conduct live racing as the norm.

TAMPA BAY: Tampa Bay Downs will allow spectators this weekend. Following that, fans will not be allowed until further notice. This is one of the few tracks to allow fans this weekend.

LOUISIANA: Fair Grounds is running business as usual. No ban to spectators. UPDATE: Spectator-free at Fair Grounds until the meet's closing date on March 29.

FLORIDA DERBY and DUBAI WORLD CUP on MARCH 28: The Florida Derby (Gulfstream Park; Florida, USA) and Dubai World Cup (Meydan Racecourse, UAE) will both be run without spectators. The latter is the world's second richest race with a $12,000,000 (U.S.) purse. The Florida Derby is an important stepping stone for the Kentucky Derby.

PHILADELPHIA: Parx (Philadelphia area) has suspended live racing for at least two weeks. This is the first track to my knowledge that is pausing operations.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

A couple of cards for Saturday. Green = Kentucky Derby preps.

OAKLAWN (Arkansas)
Race #	Purse	Race Type	Distance	Surface	Starters	Est. Post (ET)
Race 1	$32,000	Maiden Claiming	6 Furlongs	Dirt	13	12:35 PM
Race 2	$90,000	Allowance	1 Mile	Dirt	9	1:06 PM
Race 3	$90,000	Allowance	6 Furlongs	Dirt	14	1:37 PM
Race 4	$31,000	Starter Allowance	1 Mile	Dirt	10	2:08 PM
Race 5	$87,000	Maiden Special Weight	1 1/16 Miles	Dirt	10	2:40 PM
Race 6	$90,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	1 1/16 Miles	Dirt	8	3:12 PM
Race 7	$92,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	6 Furlongs	Dirt	11	3:44 PM
Race 8	$350,000	Essex H.	1 1/16 Miles	Dirt	7	4:17 PM
Race 9	$350,000	Azeri S.	1 1/16 Miles	Dirt	7	4:50 PM
Race 10	$1,000,000	Rebel S.	1 1/16 Miles	Dirt	8	5:23 PM
Race 11	$87,000	Maiden Special Weight	6 Furlongs	Dirt	12	5:55 PM

[TBODY] [/TBODY]
[TBODY] [/TBODY]

TURFWAY (Kentucky)
Race #	Purse	Race Type	Distance	Surface	Starters	Est. Post (ET)
Race 1	$46,000	Maiden Special Weight	6 Furlongs	All Weather Track	9	1:12 PM
Race 2	$46,000	Maiden Special Weight	1 Mile	All Weather Track	10	1:40 PM
Race 3	$48,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	1 Mile	All Weather Track	14	2:09 PM
Race 4	$46,000	Maiden Special Weight	6 Furlongs	All Weather Track	14	2:44 PM
Race 5	$48,000	Allowance Optional Claiming	1 Mile	All Weather Track	14	3:13 PM
Race 6	$75,000	Mayers Electric Company Animal Kingdom S.	6 1/2 Furlongs	All Weather Track	9	3:42 PM
Race 7	$100,000	Latonia S.	1 Mile	All Weather Track	12	4:14 PM
Race 8	$100,000	Rushaway S.	1 1/16 Miles	All Weather Track	8	4:45 PM
Race 9	$150,000	TwinSpires Kentucky Cup Classic S.	1 1/8 Miles	All Weather Track	14	5:17 PM
Race 10	$150,000	Maxim Crane Works Bourbonette Oaks	1 Mile	All Weather Track	13	5:55 PM
Race 11	$250,000	Jeff Ruby Steaks	1 1/8 Miles	All Weather Track	12	6:42 PM
Race 12	$46,000	Maiden Special Weight	1 Mile	All Weather Track	14	7:15 PM

[TBODY] [/TBODY]
[TBODY] [/TBODY]

 

[Cyclones Rock]

The indictments issued today by the feds is obviously significant. The people charged are in serious trouble. Jason Servis will forever be known as a fraud -- or worse -- if this works against him. Jorge Navarro has had a shoddy reputation for a while and the video of his mocking such reputation from a couple of years ago will be etched into his persona. This is troubling for the sport and the vultures will prey. Once again the actions of the damned overpower the many splendors of the good. Other trainers like Mark Casse, Graham Motion and Tim Glyshaw, the latter perhaps who had the strongest words I saw, have gone public with criticisms of their cohorts. While Kiaran McLaughlin and Gary Contessa, two trainers with seemingly sturdy reputations, quit their passion within the past week over finances, wages, insurance compensation, etc., one wonders if they also got tired of the alleged shenanigans of competitors now made public. A major step backward today but hopefully a lesson in the right direction eventually.

I would expect immediate scratches of Navarro and Servis trained horses drawn for Wednesday at Gulfstream.

Unrelated, Jose Ortiz is expected to return to riding later this week as his wrist injury healed quicker than expected.

Per usual, MSE provides a wealth of information. This info is quite troubling.

About the only positive that I can draw from it is that the DQ of Maximum Security-which I didn't feel was necessary based on the race running-can now be viewed as poetic justice.

When something appears to be too good to be true (Servis' and Navarro's win percentages over the past several years) it usually isn't.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Friday, March 13, 2020

Aqueduct (New York):

• Junior Alvarado won twice. One of the wins was for Steve Asmussen. I don't recall him riding for Asmussen too often. His 22% winning clip this meet is among the best and rivals the winningest riders at the meet.
• Romero Maragh, the youngster (teenager still, I believe) who moved his tack here from south Florida recently, won twice today. He is having a decent meet.
• Manny Franco, Eric Cancel and Jose Lezcano are the three leading riders at the meet and within five victories of each other.

Laurel (Maryland):

• Sheldon Russell and Brittany Russell teamed to go a perfect 2-for-2 including a $45 winner. Good stuff. The married couple have solid numbers when paired.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Todd Pletcher leads all trainers with 40 wins this meet.
• Jose Ortiz returns tomorrow (Saturday) from his wrist injury.
• Race 10: Yolanda's Pride (John Velazquez/Steve Klesaris) won for the second time in 8 lifetime starts and paid $14.80. One of my favorite angles is when a Hall of Fame rider sticks around for the last race of the day for a rather obscure trainer or for someone with whom the rider has little previous connection. It doesn't always work but throw away the program. Klesaris has been around since the 1970s and if I recall he began at fair tracks in Massachusetts. Tracks that are now euphemistically tumbleweeds.
• Luis Saez had three wins on four mounts. He is among the top five winningest riders in North America this year.

Oaklawn (Arkansas):

• Jareth Loveberry has three wins with the card ongoing. The Michigan native has ridden in Minnesota, Ohio, West Virginia and Oklahoma among other places including his home state when Great Lakes Downs conducted racing.
• Jareth Loveberry-Frederico Villafranco teamed twice and won both times.
• Race 8: Sky Promise (Orlando Mojica/Robertino Diodoro) won the $125,0900 feature race at the very long 1 1/2 mile distance (same as the Belmont Stakes). Diodoro has the third most wins among all trainers in North America this year. The sound is something so rare, almost like training in the early morning. No fans make its eerie but offers a unique quality that only few can relate:

​

• Race 1: The longest shot on the board won the opener at 21-to-1. Winning rider Charles Roberts, from what I can tell, rode outside of the state of Louisiana for the first time in his 2-year career and won.

Fonner Park (Nebraska):

​

Golden Gate (California):

• Juan Hernandez rode four winners. He is second in victories this year in North America.

Santa Anita (California):

• Canceled: Due to inclement weather in the area. The cancellation was announced earlier this week.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Per usual, MSE provides a wealth of information. This info is quite troubling.

About the only positive that I can draw from it is that the DQ of Maximum Security-which I didn't feel was necessary based on the race running-can now be viewed as poetic justice.

When something appears to be too good to be true (Servis' and Navarro's win percentages over the past several years) it usually isn't.

The damaging implications aside and stated earlier in this thread, his brother John and Smarty Jones in 2004 was one of the sport's greatest stories of the past 20 years. To this day it is impossible not to say "Smarty Jones" without following it with "He should have won the Triple Crown." I have yet to see his brother quoted in regards to this matter and perhaps John will give the brotherly support publicly but your words have been stated by plenty in the past few days.

 

[Cyclones Rock]

The damaging implications aside and stated earlier in this thread, his brother John and Smarty Jones in 2004 was one of the sport's greatest stories of the past 20 years. To this day it is impossible not to say "Smarty Jones" without following it with "He should have won the Triple Crown." I have yet to see his brother quoted in regards to this matter and perhaps John will give the brotherly support publicly but your words have been stated by plenty in the past few days.

I'm betting Oaklawn today and I usually think about Smarty Jones whenever I see Steward Elliot riding-which he is today. That Belmont ride

I had forgotten about the Servis connection. I hope Smarty wasn't juiced.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

@Preds Partisan

An addendum to our conversation yesterday, Gulfstream handled about $6.8 million today with some spectators though I would say attendance took a hit. IIRC, they handled slightly over $10 million last Friday. Tomorrow will be a more telling day with no spectators. Last Saturday the track exceeded $16 million.

New York did about $4.6 million in business which is in the ballpark of a normal Friday for this time of year, maybe a little low.

If the figure for Oaklawn is accurate -- $92,000 bet on track, then that is dramatically lower than the nearly half a million bet last Friday. However, all-sources handle was more today by about $600,000 ($3.9 million total).

More info from New York...

 

[Cyclones Rock]

I would think that this would be a great opportunity for racing to gain some more fans. Most betting services offer sign up bonuses and I'd think that this would be a great time to bust open the advertising budget pushing these bonuses.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

^

On track handle will be paltry as witnessed by Oaklawn yesterday. But hopefully as you and others stated, accounts and online betting will see a kick.

I could be wrong but I have a hazy memory of reading that only Canterbury in Minnesota does more handle on track than through all sources. They have an unappealing graphic simulcast feed (too busy) and I say this with Mac Robertson one of my favorite trainers.

 

[Cyclones Rock]

^

On track handle will be paltry as witnessed by Oaklawn yesterday. But hopefully as you and others stated, accounts and online betting will see a kick.

I could be wrong but I have a hazy memory of reading that only Canterbury in Minnesota does more handle on track than through all sources. They have an unappealing graphic simulcast feed (too busy) and I say this with Mac Robertson one of my favorite trainers.

I've always enjoyed the race calls of Paul Allen:

 

[Cyclones Rock]

Churchill Downs: Kentucky Derby 2020 could be postponed, decision to come later

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Louisville-based Churchill Downs Inc. said Thursday it will make a decision later on whether to postpone the 2020 Kentucky Derby in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
As of today, preparations for the world's biggest horse race on May 2 continue, the company said.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Saturday, March 14, 2020

• Steve Asmussen sent out 29 horses spanning six tracks but walked into the proverbial winners circles just three times. He was 0-for-11 at Oaklawn. Asmussen's 97 wins tops all trainers in North America this year and his closest challenger is 20 behind.
• Chris Landeros has lost all 75 rides in 2020 and by my count 112 in a row dating back to December 1. When will it end?! He is a competent rider not getting the best of mounts but this is a staggering skid.
• Irad Ortiz, Jr., Ricardo Santana, Jr., Tyler Gaffalione and Joel Rosario are the only four riders to have earned purses in excess of $3,000,000 in North America so far in 2020.

Aqueduct (New York):

• Handle: More than $6,000,000 bet.
• Race 3: Conquistador (Dylan Davis/Mark Casse) broke his maiden in his 9th try. What stands out is his $2.5 million purchase price in 2017. Needless to say but not exactly one of Gary Barber's best purchases.
• Race 4: Now they know how many holes it takes to fill the... I couldn't resist... Royal Albert Hall (Junior Alvarado/Rob Atras) won at 9-to-1 in a typical move by the rider: from the back and outside.
• Race 6: The longest shot on the board won at 31-to-1.

Parx (Pennsylvania):

• Canceled: A minimum two weeks due to coronavirus.

Laurel (Maryland):

• Card: A strong card with four $100,000 races. The competitive element was in full force. Five of the nine races were decided by a length or less including one each officially listed by a nose, neck or head.
• Handle: More than $3.4 million was bet.
• Pre-race feature: Brittany Russell was shown in an interview discussing in part her $45 winner with husband Sheldon riding. She seems authentic, down to Earth and the type of person the industry should be pushing to advance its image. Even though she is small-time by comparison to larger figures, the element of pleasantness and dedication should resonate to others.

Tampa Bay (Florida):

• Attendance and handle: One of the few sporting events in the nation with spectators. Over 3,000 people in attendance and $3.6 million bet from all-sources.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Handle: $12.7 million bet without spectators. Last Saturday's card handled over $16,000,000. Not bad considering.
• Race 1: A 36-to-1 bomber opened the day.
• Race 11: Sally's Curlin (Edgar Prado/Dale Romans) won the Grade 3 $150,000 Hurricane Bertie. The trainer has won with 9 of his past 36 starters (25%). All of a sudden his doldrums from earlier in the year have become exasperated.
• Edgar Prado won for the 7,055th time just two behind Angel Cordero and 8th place all-time in North America.
• Jose Ortiz rode for the first time since an injury on February 22 and won with his first mount.

Mahoning Valley (Ohio):

• Canceled: Today's card was canceled and racing indefinitely suspended. The meet was scheduled to end April 18. Thistledown (Cleveland area; April 29 – October 22) and Belterra Park (Cincinnati area; April 24 - Friday, September 25, 2020. ) were scheduled to open in April.

Turfway (Kentucky):

• Card: Five races with purses $100,000 or more.
• Race 7: Rogue Too won for the 10th time in 28 starts but is a remarkable 8 7-0-0 on the Turfway track.
• Race 10: Irad Ortiz, Jr./Michael Maker won the first of three consecutive victories. The last time I recall that happening at any track was in September as part of Ricardo Santana-Steve Asmussen's seven wins apiece evening at Remington. Ortiz rode eight times, all for Maker.
• Race 11: Field Pass (Irad Ortiz, Jr./Michael Maker) won the $250,000 Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks which is a Kentucky Derby prep race. The winner receives 20 points towards entry into the Derby but was not previously nominated and as such the owners can still make him eligible if they meet a deadline later this month. The Maryland-bred is 8 3-2-0 lifetime. The trainer won this race for the sixth time, only one other conditioner has won more (Smiley Adams, 7). The track has a synthetic surface. The $.20 Pick 6 was hit for over $63,000.

​

• Race 12: The winning jockey/trainer from the prior two races repeated. A rare natural hat trick for a rider-trainer combo.

Oaklawn (Arkansas):

• Handle: Boo yeah! Over $10,000,000 bet at this wonderful track. Roughly twice what they handled last Saturday. Anyone not catching excitement from this track needs a transfusion.
• Card: Nine races with purses $87,000 or more. Two races were held at $350,000 and one was worth $1,000,000. Build purses and they will come.
• Conditions: Muddy and/or sloppy throughout the race day.
• Joe Talamo, with over 2,000 lifetime wins, won four times for four different trainers.
• Race 8: Night Ops (Joe Talamo/Brad Cox) won the $350,000 Essex Handicap.
• Race 9: Serengeti Empress (Joe Talamo/Thomas Amoss) won the $350,000 Grade 2 Azeri. The 4-year-old filly was a finalist for 3-year-old Filly of the Year. She has a 14 6-3-1 record and over $1.7 million earned.
• Race 10: Nadal (Joel Rosario/Bob Baffert) won the $1,000,000 Rebel Stakes and with it earned an important 50 points toward entry into the Kentucky Derby. The massive horse is 3 3-0-0 lifetime and handled the slop well. He was challenged but fended off challenger Excession (Tyler Baze/Steve Asmussen) at 82-to-1. It appeared the runner up would pull the shocker of the young racing year but couldn't quite muster enough energy to overthrow Nadal who was purchased for $700,000 last year. Baffert won the race for a record seventh time, all coming in the past 11 years. A stunning run.

​

• Steve Asmussen sent out 11 horses without a winner though he finished second and third in the all-important Rebel Stakes which provides both horses with points towards the Kentucky Derby.

Fair Grounds (Louisiana):

• Brian Hernandez, Jr. had a splendid day going 5 4-0-0. He has the best winning percentage among the top five leading riders at the meet.
• James Graham leads all riders with 62 victories this meet.

Fonner Park (Nebraska):

• Canceled: Due to snow.

Turf Paradise (Arizona):

• Canceled: Due to coronavirus, the track announced that it will end its meet immediately. It was scheduled to close in early May.

Golden Gate (California):

• Juan Hernandez, second in wins in 2020 across North America, added three to his total and now has 10 victories the last three racing days.

Santa Anita (California):

• Handle: More than $5,000,000 bet on the card.
• Race 6: Charlatan (Drayden Van Dyke/Bob Baffert) obliterated the field in an $80,000 optional claiming. This horse is following a similar path to the Kentucky Derby as Justify. The win was by more than 10 lengths. Baffert could have four or five horses in the Kentucky Derby.
• Race 7: Ce Ce (Victor Espinoza/Michael McCarthy) won the $400,000 Grade I Beholder Mile.

​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

More from the race mentioned above in which Charlatan was the victor.







Bob Baffert says he's hearing Kentucky Derby could move to 'maybe June or September'

On the same day Churchill Downs announced it’s considering “the timing of the 146th Kentucky Derby this year” given the coronavirus pandemic, five-time winner Bob Baffert said he’s hearing the Run for the Roses could be moved to the summer or fall.

“Nobody’s really sure when anything is going to happen,” the trainer said Saturday at Santa Anita Park, according to a release from the park. “Churchill is saying they’re not going to run the Derby without the people there, so I’m hearing maybe June or in September.”

Baffert’s comments came after his Charlatan won an allowance race by 10 ¼ lengths at Santa Anita, putting himself in contention for the Kentucky Derby.

Churchill announced Saturday it has “been working carefully and diligently with relevant health experts and authorities to ensure we make the most responsible decision” regarding this year’s Derby, which is scheduled for May 2.​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

The Kentucky Derby leader board is listed below. The top 20 point recipients are invited to the Derby.

A late bloomer such as Charlatan will be pointed to the 100 point Santa Anita Derby which would vault him from non-existent on the list below.

Kentucky Derby current leader board through Saturday's races: Derby Full Leaderboard

April has the Wood Memorial, Blue Grass and Santa Anita Derby among other preps but this is the schedule for the rest of March assuming there are no cancellations:

Louisiana Derby	Fair Grounds	Mar 21, 2020	100-40-20-10
Sunland Derby	Sunland Park	Mar 22, 2020	50-20-10-5
UAE Derby	Meydan Racecourse	Mar 28, 2020	100-40-20-10
Florida Derby	Gulfstream Park	Mar 28, 2020	100-40-20-10
Fukuryu	Nakayama	Mar 28, 2020	40-16-8-4

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

If anyone is looking for direct feeds to various tracks in addition to what TVG offers, try these. Not all tracks offer free live streaming but some do and the attention to detail is incomparable:

FREE LIVE STREAMING:

Laurel (Maryland): Streaming Video | Laurel Park
Gulfstream (Florida): Live Stream | World-Class Thoroughbred Horse Racing | Gulfstream Park
Aqueduct (New York): Race Day Live​

ADDITIONAL (streaming may/may not be available):

Oaklawn (Arkansas): Racing
Fair Grounds (Louisiana): Fair Grounds | New Orleans Race Course & Slots
Tampa Bay (Florida): Racing
Santa Anita (California): Thoroughbred Horse Racing | Santa Anita Park
​

ENTRIES FOR EACH TRACK:

Daily Racing Form | Horse Racing Entries | Live Odds & Scratches​

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

Sunday, March 15, 2020

Aqueduct (New York):

• Manny Franco rode three winners and has the most victories this meet.
• Race 2: Junior Alvarado seems to be forming a team with Steve Asmussen. They won the second race.
• Race 8: Dream Bigger (Junior Alvarado/Rudy Rodriguez) won the $100,000 feature.
• Television on Fox Sports 1:
  

  Friday, March 20	FS1 - 1:30-6:30 pm
  Saturday, March 21	FS1 - 1:30-6:30 pm
  Sunday, March 22	FS1 - 1:30-6:30 pm

  [TBODY] [/TBODY]

Laurel (Maryland):

• Race 2: Da Winner Is (Charlie Marquez/Abel Castellano) won in an amusing race call. A 9-year-old ridden by a 16-year-old. Is that the closest age for a jockey and horse in history? Jokes aside, that small gap is phenomenal.
• Charlie Marquez won three times.
• Closed: After today, Laurel will be dark indefinitely due to the coronavirus.

Tampa Bay Downs (Florida):

• Samy Camacho rode three winners. He is second in the rider standings this meet.
• Handle: One of the few places to have spectators, the track did $127,000+ live and over $3 million through all-sources.

Gulfstream (Florida):

• Handle: Over $11,000,000 bet at Gulf today. Exceeded comparable date to last year. No on-track handle today.
• Race 4: Chris Landeros placed with the longest shot on the board in his lone ride. He is now 0-for-76 in 2020 and by my count has lost 113 in a row dating back to December 1.
• Card replay:

​

Oaklawn (Arkansas):

• Joe Talamo won three times. That makes seven wins for six different trainers in two days.
• Orlando Mojica-Robertino Diodoro have combined to win three times. Diodoro is the leading trainer at the meet in wins.

Fonner Park (Nebraska):

• Spectators: One of the few venues in sport to have spectators.
• Race 6: Tara Hynes entered the day 1-for-94 lifetime but the jockey won here with the second longest shot on the board at 20-to-1. She is a native of New Jersey and was riding in her home state, Pennsylvania and West Virginia for the most part. She is also a licensed harness trainer.

Sunland Park (New Mexico):

• Closed: The track is closed for at least two weeks. The meet is scheduled to close April 21. The status of the Sunland Derby, a Kentucky Derby prep race, is listed as unknown. This "was" to be the field:

​

Golden Gate (California):

• Juan Hernandez rode the card and finished 9 3-6-1. In the money for all nine starts. He was sent off the favorite five times and finished 5 2-3-0 in those starts. This is an example why horse racing stats can be tricky. He is second in North America in victories this year, however.

Santa Anita (California):

• Race 8: Someone nailed the $.20 Pick 6 for over $420,000. The $,50 Pick 5 paid over $24,000. The $2 double was $610 with two bombers winning the last two races.

 

[GKJ]

I don't think I'm being naive when I say this but I don't know it's necessary to postpone the Derby just yet. A lot of things are still possible, as grim as things look now. They definitely have to scale back and not let 100,000 people in, but wait and see before postponing the race. They're still running races right now

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

I don't think I'm being naive when I say this but I don't know it's necessary to postpone the Derby just yet. A lot of things are still possible, as grim as things look now. They definitely have to scale back and not let 100,000 people in, but wait and see before postponing the race. They're still running races right now

New Mexico is on hold as as of a few minutes ago. Sunland awards 50 points to the winner of the track's Derby towards entry into the Kentucky Derby.

One online DRF writer cited a hotel(s) in Louisville going for $1800 a night in September. That could be the brand expecting a change or maybe just anticipating.

 

[Preds Partisan]

I say as long as the money is being wagered the horses keep running. Most of those people would be at the track anyway. However, I am wondering at what point jocks and trainers may not be willing to travel for stakes races. The meat and potatoes non-feature races can proceed as normal. What, maybe +80% of horses and trainers are the same at tracks for the duration of a meet, especially the lower tier tracks.

Not sure why the three tracks mentioned have decided otherwise.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

I say as long as the money is being wagered the horses keep running. Most of those people would be at the track anyway. However, I am wondering at what point jocks and trainers may not be willing to travel for stakes races. The meat and potatoes non-feature races can proceed as normal. What, maybe +80% of horses and trainers are the same at tracks for the duration of a meet, especially the lower tier tracks.

Not sure why the three tracks mentioned have decided otherwise.

Different states different rules. From what was just mentioned, the Governor of Maryland issued a statement with the word "criminal" if tracks, casinos, OTB and other public gatherings spots did not follow suit. From what I understand, there was uncertainty at Laurel whether the edict began today or not but races were held after clarification.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

I say as long as the money is being wagered the horses keep running. Most of those people would be at the track anyway. However, I am wondering at what point jocks and trainers may not be willing to travel for stakes races. The meat and potatoes non-feature races can proceed as normal. What, maybe +80% of horses and trainers are the same at tracks for the duration of a meet, especially the lower tier tracks.

Not sure why the three tracks mentioned have decided otherwise.

And we are talking Keeneland here... Keeneland! The idyllic race track...

 

[Preds Partisan]

Different states different rules. From what was just mentioned, the Governor of Maryland issued a statement with the word "criminal" if tracks, casinos, OTB and other public gatherings spots did not follow suit. From what I understand, there was uncertainty at Laurel whether the edict began today or not but traces were held.

I meant spectator free. Maybe I misunderstood and they were trying to keep the racebook and stands full. In that case, they should get shut down.

My comments only apply to tracks willing to run without the public.

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

I meant spectator free. Maybe I misunderstood and they were trying to keep the racebook and stands full. In that case, they should get shut down.

My comments only apply to tracks willing to run without the public.

Yes, it is a confusing time and the situations are fluid. We can all get caught up in the fluidity of the changes. Tampa Bay to my knowledge, was the only track in the nation with spectators permitted today. Florida prides itself on having different laws by county when it comes to gambling. That isn't for here-nor- there but it will eventually play into sports betting and could determine the future of that. Very complicated and an unintended swing for today's discussion.

Some places, such as Philly, the casino is the race track. Same with Oaklawn and Arkansas which is why racing is booming there (and they have sports betting).

Now some states are declaring restaurants to be closed to take out only? Again, this is all ongoing.

 

[Preds Partisan]

Last thing, CDC just issued an advisory (or whatever they call it), restricting crowds of 50 or more for 8 weeks. Casinos will be closed. Yeah, if you're a gaming interest that has any connection to horse racing they're going to use every ounce of leverage they have to keep 'em running. Otherwise you'll be cooked.