Wagering on Thoroughbred racing is down 11% since the Triple Crown. It has dropped a staggering $209,860,208 this year. Why?? Is it the economy?? Trouble with ADW sites?? Bad publicity overall?? Medication issues for horses?? The answer is simple. Yes…..

While the country is in a slide across the board, we are in trouble in a bad way. The answers won’t be simple, and they won’t come cheap. There can only be an answer when we will take a look at the problems. How can we expect change?? A wise man once told me: ” If you always do what you did, you’ll always get what you always got.” No truer words have been spoken.

It is easy to point fingers and have no solution, but here are a couple of ideas that may stimulate some change, or at least bring the powers that be to the table.

• We need a national governing agency. Just like all pro sports. We need a big brother with one answer and not more questions. And whatever the answer, we all have to live with the result. Lets don’t vote or wait for gents at a table to decide in ten years. Lets do it now… Is there a rule claiming we can’t change?
• Make it easy for drugs. A zero tolerance like in Europe. Give the trainers some bute and lasix to take care of the small problems with their stock, and clear the table with the rest. Everyone from the bottom claimer at Arapahoe to The Breeders’ Cup. Period.
• States seem to relish the opportunity to have expanded gaming. This is a sanitized word for slot machines and poker rooms. Lets take all of that extra income and split it amongst all tracks. Sure sounds like I’m crazy doesn’t it?? But if we don’t hang together we will all hang separately. If you start seeing the domino effect of tracks falling by the wayside, it will be a VERY short term gain for another track that will inherit the business. Do we want the 10 “Super-Track” theory to come true? Do we want to lose millions in tax revenue, the loss of countless jobs, and destroy an industry due to our petty greed and feeding shareholders pockets? Rake it all in, adopt a formula for the size of the track, and give them their share of the proceeds. Everybody wins, and the game survives until we grow from the bottom up again.
• We need a national marketing plan where we don’t need the NTRA, but getting back to the basics. Make things more convenient for the bettor. Aw, quit fooling yourself. Nobody puts on the show. They are the show. Without wagering dollars they would run for blue ribbons. Keep things simple. Free parking and admission everyday. We owe that to the customer. Why charge them to come and gamble?? Do the casinos?? Have a very reasonable rate for programs and Daily Racing Forms. I know, they will cry about being 11% down this quarter. Don’t like it? Try being put out of business… You like apples? How about them apples…. I’ll bet they will come around… Negotiate as an industry about television rights. No more one at a time. We come to the table just like football and baseball and cut a deal. Boy, would I like to be a fly on the wall for that meeting. Have a national branding radio and TV advertising plan. The Jets do not have their own, the Bills another, and the Dolphins another… One brand, and the people will know what to expect when they walk into a track in Portland, Maine to Portland, Oregon.. We are wasting dollars competing when we could draw the fans back, and help it grow with a brand new philosophy.

I know. Wishful thinking… What if we could do half of this? Would our industry live? We are on life support now, and the code blue call for all doctors is being made. Greedy owners, horsemen who think they are the show, and outside entities who are dividing us at a time when we should hold hands. I read everyday about high priced execs who do nothing but talk. Just the facts, ma’am, just the facts. We need action now, or there will not be a later. Your right, this is not your grandpa’s game anymore. He would be too ashamed to play.

I know, there are none of the big tracks racing, and you have to wait three more days until you start seeing the stakes, a couple more days until Saratoga opens, and you have that itch to get your bet on and you don’t know where to get it scratched…

Here are a few suggestions to find early week value that might begin your winning early to prepare for the weekend. The tracks that may offer value, and have some surprise runners are:

Colonial Downs - This track runs about 90% on the turf, and everyone always enjoys turf racing. You don’t have to wait until mid-week to find quality turf runners, and you get barns that ship in to steal the purses.  This makes for a little fun, and possibly a little extra cash to start the week off right.

Delaware Park -  This track is a nice little hidden goldmine. You will catch top notch owners, trainers, and riders hanging around to cash-in on slot machine purses. How does this help your cause?? I’ll bet you’ll find at least 4 playable horses to make your Tuesday sweeter. They run turf, dirt, and have allowance races.

River Downs - Ohio racing has a 7/7 card all week long, except for Tuesdays. River runs 9 live races, and are scheduled to run some turf on this day as well. You will catch drop downs, horses shipping in that have faced better company, and the turf course, according to the great Laffit Pincay, was one of the best he ever rode. This little track offers mid-level claimers which usually offer value.

Now, what to do? Check out the selections at WinningPonies.com and get in the game. They cover these tracks, and you’ll have your game plan already out there. So, call in a halfday, bet from your computer, or just make a trip to the track as Tuesdays can offer more value than you have ever known.  It is summer after all, and this is a sure fire way to cure the blahs…….

On Wednesday, for the the 140th year the racing world will open its doors that compare with your kids going to Disneyland.

This little taste of heaven on earth has the charm of a summery county fair mixed with the high society of a red carpet affair in Hollywood.  They race all the way until Labor Day, and you can catch the action everyday except Tuesday.

The Saratoga Springs were once heralded as having healing powers, and the track itself can take you back to a day when racing wasn’t facing so many negative factors; poor publicity, increased competition, and the regulation of medication for horses.  The track has survived two World Wars, good times, bad times, and everything in between. Never has racing needed the healing power of the Spa, and the process begins on Wednesday.

The track will offer a few things you may want to watch, so be sure and set your life for: The Racing Hall of Fame Ceremony, The Whitney, Breeders’ Cup Challenge, and I almost forgot the mid-summer Derby called The Travers Stakes. These events have ushered in the great ones, honored those who graced our sport, and brought us more excitement than Christmas morning as a child.

On Wednesday, the gates will swing open and the crowd will file in. They will be decked out the finery of the day, shorts and t-shirts, and this melting pot will stand side by side and enjoy one of the great highlights of the summer.  This is a time to get away from the worries of the world.  Do you know of any other place that can transform summer into a season to remember? I guess there are healing powers in the water, and the timing couldn’t be better.

Everyone wants to hit the BIG payday. We play every exotic under the sun, keep a watchful eye on the carryover pool, and rehearse our speech of telling the boss where to file our job…..

This is all good, but keeping your head with a dose of monk-like discipline will work much better than carrying your lucky rabbits foot to the track. If you want to make the next step as a player on the move, and have a great time doing so may I suggest watching for the next NTRA contest, or the Horseplayer World Series Contest.

The contests take place online, or at your local track and the top finishers get to take an all expense trip to Vegas to do battle with the best in the game. Sound like fun?? Well, it is….. And it all starts now. So put on your headgear and get your bankroll ready and get set to have the time of your life.

The NTRA Contest takes place at The Red Rock in Vegas, in January. This is a plush joint that is off the beaten path. You will hook up and do battle in a two day contest with around 250-300 of the best handicappers in the country. The pool is said to be growing near a cool million beans. They split the pot down to the top 20-30 players, and the recognition is about as close to winning the Super Bowl as you can get. My first trip was awesome, and it drives you to make the grade to return to do battle with some of the best in the land… I would at least try this 5-6 times your first year to qualify. There are plenty of qualifying rounds, and you can check them out on www.ntra.com and remember that you can’t win unless you get in….

There is another GREAT contest to seek out as well. It is The Horse player World Series. Poker has one, and so does racing. This is held at the Orleans in Vegas, and it will take place this February. There are also many qualifiers as well, and you can check them out at www.theorleans.com and look under handicapping contests. This contest has a little different twist. If you don’t qualify you can BUY your way in for a $1,000 per entry. The prize pool nears a million dollars depending on the amount of players, and is one of the best run contests I have ever seen.. This is definitely a must for players who want to chase the gold.

Here is a small blueprint that you can take with you as you attempt to etch your name in history. Keep your head, plot out your bets in advance, do your best homework, NEVER bet anything under 5-1, and don’t get caught up thinking if i pick every chalk winner out there I will be in the money. This RARELY happens, and is very difficult to pull off. Stick with price plays, stay focused, and you will meet some new friends from around the country who love the sport as much as you.  Contests are the ultimate way of gauging where you are as a player. We all have a winning day from time to time. But there is no experience like playing, qualifying, and playing with the best in the country. The chase is worth the time. You’ll never feel closer to horse racing heaven than when you walk into Vegas with your selections in your hand, and the day is about ready to begin. Go ahead, chase the gold.

Has it been ten years already? The old Detroit race course closed it seems just yesterday. In the final race, the winning rider was Lester C. Knight and he was heckled the race before for not winning. Well, it seems as luck would have it old Lester turned the tables on the Detroit crowd, and drew away by five all the while giving the number one symbol to the crowd… Ah, the old days…

Racing has returned, and in a big way. WinningPonies.com is covering Pinnacle Race Course, and this new oval will be one for fans of all walks to pay attention.  This new track located in Huron Township is starting to draw attention. The first phase was a $142 million dollar investment, and I think they are planning on keeping racing alive in the area.

Ever growing competition, the economy, and many other factors have hindered racing. But, in the state of Illinois things are beginning to flourish again. There is a state of the art facility, and a track that horsemen are raving about. The inaugural season features a $50,000 Lansing Stake. Not bad for a track just getting its legs. So how does this work in your favor? When money and plans are being made to keep the Michigan breeding and racing alive and kicking this is something you will want to pay attention to before going to the windows. Seek out professional guidance on the runners before going to the track. This is a new track, and you’ll want to arm yourself with all of the weaponry to make your day a winning one.

There are 63 days in the meet, and they run: Tuesdays, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The bugler has played, and the people are flocking to the windows, and racing is back. You’ll want to keep up with the races, but be sure to arm yourself with appropriate handicapping materials.

The Eddie Read Handicap to be run at 1 1/8th on Jimmy Durante turf course is showcasing some new blood that is attempting to move to the next level of runners to watch.

There is a field of 7 runners going to post, and maybe with the exception of one or two this is one of the most wide open affairs this race has produced in years. I love it when the races get tough. That means if you connect, you get paid. The odds are a bit sweeter, and the public should be divided equally between three contenders.

This race always has been on the Breeders’ Cup races to watch list, and this year may be a bit tougher as the past years have seen bigger standouts, and some higher quality. That being said, I still stick to my guns and say do your homework because if your rolling late in the lane you should get paid off nicely.

A couple of warriors that warrant a closer look are: Spring House. This runner exits Dubai, and runs very well off of the layoff. Julio Canani wins 19% with a runner who is freshened up 90 days or better, and this 6 yr old by Chester House should relish the cutback in distance. Add all this up and factor in Gomez in the saddle and he can be a real player who has seen some big runners.

Another runner looking for glory is Monzante. Trained by Mike Mitchell, and ridden by Rafael Bejarano can be a deadly tandem as they have won 44% , and been in the money 81% in the last 60 days. Flat out incredible… His dam Donzante has 9 starters with 7 winners, and two of those are stakes winners.  He makes his third start off layoff, and Mitchell does very well with bringing his runners along to point at a target like this.  He came running like a house on fire last out, and given the history with rider and trainer he is one you have to take seriously.

Finishing out the trio of terror is Storm Military.  Here is a Bobby Frankel trainee opening up at a nice price. He is 10 for 13 in the money on the turf, and in the last 60 days David Flores and Frankel have won 25%, and been in the money 75% of the time. Not bad numbers at all…. He has some blazing foot, and should ensure the pace is honest. Frankel wins 20% with all of his turf runners, and 54% in the money. Add in that he wins 20% with his graded stakes runners, and the picture gets tougher by the minute.

When you have an opportunity like this you should not find the hotdog stand and take a break. This is when you box em’ like you mean it, and use a few in the pick three’s and pick four’s. The tougher the field, the better the payoff. Now, that is something to sing about.

The Virginia Derby offers value that could make this a very sweet weekend for you.

The 1 1/4 distance is testing. Some of the best three year olds in the country head to New Kent to run on one of the best turf courses in the country. For my bankroll, this looks like a two horse affair that deserves a mountain moving exacta box deserving of the big bullet move to the windows.

Before you push the buttons, take a hard look at Gio Ponti. He is three for four over the green, and you can easily make a case for throwing out the Monmouth loss for Breeders’ Cup Day day one. This colt has done nothing wrong, and Garrett Gomez may be dollar for dollar the best money rider in the country. The son of Tale of the Cat can get this distance, and has been firing bullets in the morning at Belmont. Clemente trains his runners at a 22 percent winning clip, and goes to the winners circle 25 percent of the time making his second start off of a needed rest.

The other part of this mix is Court Vision. Yes, two races back he was in Louisville at the Derby. Former Derby runners have fared well in this event. Kent D is in the irons for Bill Mott and these guys team up to win 20 percent together. His last race was over a SOFT course that was canceled a few races later. Throw it out….. This son of Gulch should like the trip, and is in the hands of a rider closing in on 5,000 lifetime wins.

Here is the plan. Reach in your jeans and pull out the greens. Box them up with confidence, and make a small win wager on Gio Ponti for good measure. This should do just nicely, and you can skip the five horse feature in New York. This race has produced some Breeders’ Cup runners, and maybe, just maybe you’ll be lucky enough to have two of them in a winning ticket.

Are your ears still ringing from Richard Dutrow before the Belmont?? Mine are, and I don’t think I am alone.

Here is a great New York trainer with a great family name in racing who overcame many obstacles to reach his fifteen minutes of fame. Then, a media monster erupted predicting everything from the price of oil, and how Joe Namath would take the Jets to the Super Bowl victoriously.

Time heals all wounds. They have blamed everyone, and anyone. But that time has passed. Dutrow is quietly making his statements. Big Brown is scheduled to run in the Haskell on August 3, and the plans are now being made for the future. Dutrow claims he will be in Iavarone’s grill to race Big Brown 20 days later in the Travers. Iavarone won’t talk about this, and Dutrow is making his best move as of late. He is letting his horse do his talking on the track, and not him into a microphone. Good move, Richard. Dad would be proud of that move.

According to Dutrow, you can ask him after the Haskell what the plans will be. Only 20 days rest is a tall order, but lets not forget this guy can train lights out. Keep the media away, and keep him in the barn, and this will be what the doctor ordered. If he can pull off a victory over a kinder Monmouth surface where there should be plenty of water on the surface, he may just come back nicely. Nobody that goes to the windows can squabble with his training. The hype, the ride, the blame is over. It is time to focus, and drop the hammer. Big Brown is in the right hands. The wagering gods just didn’t smile on Belmont Day.

Fifteen minutes are up, and Dutrow is back where he does his best talking. And, if the gods are smiling it will be from the winners circle.

Usually we focus on turning the buck, R.O.I, the next race, or the weekend that sets us up for a big score. As a sports fan we can rattle off names of: Capposela, McKay, Vin Scully, Joe Buck, Phil Georgeff, and many of the announcers who sent us to bed with a radio near our ear, or made the hair stand up on the back of our neck as the ponies thundered home.

This past week we have lost one of the biggest fans of the game, who just happened to be the voice of the past ten Kentucky Derbys. His name was Luke Krytbosch, pronounced( Krite-boss). Luke was graduate of the University of Arizona Racetrack Program, and loved the sport like no other.

His deep baritone voice would have caught your ear at any O.T.B, off-site platform; or if you were lucky enough you could have heard him bring them home with a flair that appealed to the common everyday Joe to the folks in the high dollar seats. He began his career as many announcers doing the smaller circuits at tracks in Arizona. He quickly moved on to replace Trevor Denman at Hollywood Park in 1996, and took off for Kentucky to become the fifth caller under the historic Twin Spires.

Luke will be missed, that is the evident truth. The story behind the story is that he was just a simple regular fan. The day after a Kentucky Derby, he was found at River Downs outside of Cincinnati swilling beers, talking horses, and betting low level claiming horses. He was gregarious man who loved life, the sport of kings, and bringing them home in his own distinctive style. The game will go on, and if Luke were here he would have demanded nothing less……

He is just another guy that lived his dream. He loved life, loved calling them home, and his distinctive trademark calls are gone forever. The game needs all of the Luke’s it can find. Just average guys who make the music that much sweeter with a master craftsman touch. He definitely left the game a much kinder place.