As of late, I have been reading more and more about not paying attention to the customer. I have always been a big supporter of treating the guest fairly, but there are some groups growing in size that use their name as a bully pulpit.

Mostly the groups that want to interact with tracks, will show their strength by asking in a blast email and advertising to bet into a particular pool or race to show their influence.

This is wrong… Tracks and O.T.B’s will listen and react to customer forums. There is plenty to be gained by having a focus group that includes all types of players. Not just the “million dollar men” who make the pools dip or raise. I want to hear from players from all levels. The ‘whales” are few, and the “average players” are many. They have kept the lights on for years. They have paid salaries long before a whale was just the biggest mammal in the ocean.

I have been hearing in blogs and articles that many are mad that tracks do not march to the tune of this group, or that membership. If that is to be the case, why doesn’t present management just pack up and leave to allow these groups to take over. But, the process starts over again with another group taking the place of the new managers.

This process is asinine. Please try and use your suggestions in a constructive way. All tracks cannot become Royal Ascot at your asking, but many will respond in a positive way. What happened to the old days? You know, when the tracks ran the show and listened to feedback. I said, listened to feedback and not ran from suggestions that may “black-ball” the track itself.

When you gather powerful players together to push their weight around, there can be dangerous changes. Changes that are made out of fear rather than what is good for the business. They should be heard. But do not abuse your power. I believe your collective voice would be better served by sending out a suggestion list to each particular track. Each list could c0ntain the names and info of the major players that need to be identified be each individual track. This would be more effective, and the tracks could better serve the players with suggestions about a particular circuit, instead of a blanket grocery list to be put in effect. I like the idea of pulling together, but use your power in a positive and constructive way.

The answer, besides a car that is stuck on the tracks, is weight. That is, unless your name is Zenyatta…

Today you got to see the best two gals in our sport. There are no real scary three-year-old colts, and these gals have caught national attention.

Zenyatta ran in the Vanity at Hollywood Park. Maybe someday when Hollywood goes the way of a strip mall and housing development, they will name a road after her. It could be located behind Bed Bath and Beyond, and next to Starbucks….

She packed 129 pounds today, and she did her usual dance. She came rolling like a train, and at the top of the lane made Mike Smith go to the whip. I think she does this just to see if he is awake… It looks like she is running downhill against the competition. Impressive to say the least. Where will she go from here? I guess they will weigh her down with a V.W. and see if she can close like the wind. My bet is that somehow she will find a way.

On the East coast, there was a three horse race called the Mother Goose. Rachel Alexandra was going against her own sex, and did so quite impressively. She split the speedsters like the Red Sea and opened up under wraps. She cruised home the last sixteenth of the race, with Calvin happy to see her back. All the while, she broke the stakes record after being eased up. What would have happened if he would have given her a vigorous hand ride? The margin of victory looked like the Kentucky Oaks again..

OK, then why won’t this gal go run on the plastic? She has won before, and looks like a hurricane. She is fit and ready, and the competition is looking hard to find. There is one reason she won’t go to Santa Anita: Zenyatta…. She is perfect in record, and can carry a load. She is special, and you won’t get to see her do it many more times. Rachel’s owners know what they are facing. It all came pretty clear today. You don’t need to go to the plastic. It is her turf, and she rules. It will look like a scene from West Side Story, and she will be the one taking the long walk home.

Don’t get me wrong, Rachel is a star. But beating two runners of suspect quality can be a good reason to stay East. I love her, and I don’t want to see her face the boys. I would love to see the battle. But until that day comes, we will just sit around the stove and talk about what could have been…

On Saturday, you will get to see two of the best gals the game has to offer. They will not face each other just yet, but it is like a championship fight. It is only a matter of time before it happens.

Until that time, you need to dial up WinningPonies.com and hook up with New York and California.

In New York, you have a shot at a guaranteed Pick-4 for $350,000. The best part is that this can be a P-3. Rachel Alexandra is running in the $300,000 Mother Goose, and it looks like as close to a lock as you can get. Things do happen, but with a little racing luck, this gal should roll with ease. To me, she looks unbeatable on this day. She is also the top tier selection, and sports a 54 speed rating with a 60 rating for her last three. The 1 1/8th distance looks to fit her much better.

Lets go West…. It is Zenyatta that will hook ‘em and cook ‘em in the G-1 Vanity. Mike Smith is the rider for John Sheriffs, and she is looking to go 11/11 in her career. I think you should also focus on the multi-race gimmicks to make this a smaller stretch for the money.

So there you have it. Plenty of great racing, and it is not even Breeders’ Cup Day. Be sure to be loaded before you pull the trigger, and WinningPonies is ready and waiting.

I had a day off from work… Well, I had a bit of money to my name, and I didn’t want to cut the grass on this red-hot day. So, I headed to the O.T.B…..

Before I left, I downloaded two tracks that I enjoy playing. They are Belmont and Monmouth. I knew that I was going to make some plays, and not try to take down the entire card at two tracks. I made four wagers, and I cashed in on three. Not bad for a day off, and a good day from WinningPonies.com.

In Race #3 at Belmont, I snagged the Trifecta 3-5-1 for a sweet little pearl of money – $120 with Quisom on top, paying $11.00 on the front end.  I even made a $10 win bet for an additional $55.00.

For Race 7, I had my eye on a runner by the name of Crazy Thing. I made a nice $20 win bet on him for $72.00, and I caught the Trifecta with a $12 part wheel for $141.50.

I really only liked one race at Monmouth today. It was Race #5. The lead pony for me was #1 Posse in Effect. I had a $10 win bet on him for $37.00, and I took down the Superfecta for $125.20, for a $1 part wheel in the 5th race.

So, back to work I go on Thursday. I can’t wait for the weekend, but today wasn’t bad at all. I had a little time and things went well with WinningPonies for me…  Maybe this is the earliest start to the weekend I have had in a while.

As a horse player, we need very little to keep our smiles flowing. That is of course, if you have the winner of the fifth race.

As business gets tough, we need to stop crying. Things will get better, and if they don’t, what difference does it make to go the extra mile?

I applaud Churchill Downs for the lights. But, all new things take time to grow roots. OK, it was blow-up for night one. Let’s wait and see what they have up their sleeve this time. My bet is that they will be prepared, and the idea of lights will come into play for the future. Think about it… Churchill being the night signal.. It would kill off all of the others that attempt a twilight or night card. Good move, make it more accessible for the people.

Give the fans easy access to handicapping information.  Allow the tracks to have tip sheets, websites to use, and all of the other information services. The tracks can work out a deal with these entities and find a suitable price for players. The tracks can split the cost, and keep it only on track so the players have to be there to get the deal. Everybody wins..

I think you should only charge admission on the Triple Crown events, and the Breeders’ Cup. Why charge people to gamble? Are you crazy? That idea died in the 70’s. Give away parking, and have a modest priced valet. That way everyone is a VIP. Treat them as your business depends on it, because it really does.

Have fun days. I know, how corny does it have to be? The idea of the NTRA was to bring together tracks and form an alliance. They have plenty of bright minds. Give them a hat on a day, allow them to win tickets to another track in the VIP room. Hell, make them feel good and appreciated. They are paying our salaries.. I greet every person the same at the track where I work. I even have interns who ask me why I treat people so nicely… I simply inform them that they are preparing for the future. I don’t know of many baseball players who hit homers the first time at bat with no practice. No matter what field they choose, treating customers with respect, and doing it cheerfully, will go a long way.

Recognize players who hit big with a “wall of fame.” That is, if they agree to be honored. Some just want to be left alone. I don’t think we can thank the people who wager enough. If it were not for them, the horses would be running for blue ribbons. Honor and recognize your stars.

Here is an idea that may have some impact for new players. Just last week, I took a family up to the press box and let them watch a great race call, meet the stewards, and get the best seat in the house for a race. Guess what? They wanted to know what time post time is next Saturday. I think we may have created some new players.

There are no left fielders in racing. That means, we don’t just have a special department that handles guests. We are all employed in this area. From the parking lot boy to the president of the track, take the time and treat people right. Just act as if your job depends on it…..

Everyone is focused on Kentucky’s failure to pass VLT legislation in the Senate. This was the furthest the bill ever got in the history of the idea. I liken it to a champion boxer. They may have wobbled by a shot to the chin, but they are already coming back with another plan.

The VLT movement was rolling. It looked good. I love the idea of keeping the game alive and well. It is our duty to pass the torch to the next generation and allow them to see the beauty.

With increased competition, all tracks need to have the tools to survive. This week, Sen. Damon Thayer spoke with Gov. Steve Beshear about an alternative idea brought up, about using funds from the existing lottery taxes to supplement purses.

Like him or not, I have worked with Damon Thayer many moons ago. This is a young man who will make a difference, if he can. I think we need to focus on the horsemen and the survival of the game before we worry about the coffers of the tracks. If he can find a way to keep the game afloat while discussions for the future are discussed, I think we should back and support that idea. The solution will be examined and tweaked, and in the end, Kentucky will have a life jacket to hold them up until a later date.

Now, if you give me the idea of surviving until a later date, I would buy that idea rather than go to your corner and be counted out. There are many good people employed in the industry. We need the big picture, and not the short term solution.

Everyone remembers the Preakness. The way we saw the filly dismantle the boys at her will.. The way she dug in and held her ground. Well, you may not get to see her on the biggest stage of racing.

I know, it is our loss. Racing’s loss.. History’s loss… Hell, I don’t know of any winners. When you keep Rachel Alexandra out of the Breeders’ Cup, you are holding back one of the bright stars of the game.

If you make the move and decide not to run her on the “plastic” as Jess Jackson puts it, you will draw many people to scratch their heads about this move.

She will reappear at Belmont this Saturday in the Mother Goose. That is the good news. Jackson, who in all accounts is a man of the game, wants to run her against the males possibly in the Haskell and the Travers later this summer. But this weekend will be dedicated to raising awareness for Susan G. Komen for breast cancer, by giving away 10,000 bracelets.

As a fan, I would love to see her hook up on B/C Day and do battle. She is truly a sight to behold, and we are keeping her from the public. The Jacksons regret running Curlin on the synthetic. But, maybe she will take differently to the surface.  After all, she is 1 for 1 on synthetic surfaces (she won a race at Keeneland last year).  Just give it a chance. Try her out for a few works, and we will be satisfied.

I would love to see Rachel and Zenyatta put on the gloves and do battle.  This would be a race to be remembered. I sure hope they hook up, and do battle. If not on B/C Day, then on a national stage. Racing needs our grand gals, and to keep them apart will only keep us guessing.

I sure hope he reconsiders. Santa Anita is a fine oval. Plenty of runners have made the transition. Just think it over, and don’t wait too long.. The race will be here before you know it.

In a time when racing needs all the help it can get, Kentucky was dealt a blow today that does not allow for the senate to vote on VLT legislation.

I have talked to ten friends that work in racing; they have never been so scared.

The writing is on the wall, and the leaders that pleaded the case could not have done a better job. I guess all the talk in the world will not be heard by deaf ears. The team that was brought together to pass on the message and educate the people are presidents, chairmen of boards, and leaders that wanted to keep the sport alive.

Kentucky has been dealt a heavy blow today. In my opinion, the elected leaders let the pe0ple down. I guess you can only play Switzerland for so long. You cannot straddle both sides of the fence to ensure a long political career. No matter what decision, they would have lost support. That is the nature of their game. They chose, and after election time this year, maybe they will join the unemployment ranks of those they squashed today.

The game of racing is down, but not out by a long call. You can bet after going home to a sleepless night, these leaders of the Bluegrass will be looking at another round to fight. This is the nature of their game. You can also bet on that.

This has been a sorry day. But tough times, and tough men/women, will hold their ground. You can bet they will be back. But in the meantime, for the uninformed and non-believers, you will see what toll the decision of the day has taken.

In the times of VLT’s and slot machines, many states have tossed their hat into the ring. It seems where there once was none, could possibly be two new locations.

The states in question would be Kentucky, and now Ohio. I know, you probably are saying what does this have to do with me? How does it hurt or help my cause?

Well, if there is no change in gaming, both states will lose racing. In Kentucky, you can bet that Ellis Park, The Red Mile, and then Turfway Park will fall. The land will be sold off, and we as players will lose more tracks to wager. Many will lose jobs, farms will lose employees and stallions, and the beat goes on. If you do not believe me, just watch this Monday as the Senate in Kentucky is preparing to talk the issue. It can make or break racing in the Bluegrass state. Can you believe that? Only Keeneland and Churchill will remain. Bet your bottom dollar that Churchill will reduce the days as well.

In Ohio…the toll will be a bit heavier. They will ALL disappear. One by one, and you can take that to the bank. Thistledown in Cleveland came to a last minute $36,000 close call from closing. But, Governor Strickland has now backed VLT legislation. That gives a breath of hope to Ohio, the budget, and the over 100,000 employees that could face the pink slip for good.

No matter what happens, the state of racing will never be the same. If passed, it will grow and change into a new animal. If it fails, racing will disappear like a mid-morning fog burned off by the sun.

Help if you can, call if you will, and hope like you never have before. Our sport has been given the standing eight count, and they are wobbling against the ropes. The game is hurting, and must be given the tools to compete. It is not asking for a bailout, just a chance to play fair. So keep your eyes on the news. This will be a big month for both.

The turf course may be very soft this weekend at New York. This little tidbit may be just what the doctor ordered for a sweet victory. Last week, we caught a 3-4 shot sleeping at the wheel over the soft going. Let’s go for two-in-a row.

Go to Race #9 at Belmont on Saturday. It is the G-2 New York Stakes, and it offers a bit of value to be had.

#3 Criticism is the 5-2 favorite. This mare has lost some of her races when the green gets wet. After watching the races yesterday, it is hard to believe that the turf course will be dry without a magic wand.

With that being said, you may want to take a look at a couple of runners that may offer a run for your money. Go to #5 Backseat Rhythm. If you look at her PP’s, she has run very well over yielding and good courses. She is 3/4 at Belmont ITM, and is cutting back in distance which is always a good thing.

How about #6 Dynaforce? She is 2/2 ITM at Belmont, and her dam has dropped 10 turf winners from 12 starters. Now, that is good shootin’. Second time off of a layoff is a nice angle, and made a middle move as a beaten favorite last out. Add all of this up, and she is a player.

I would advise downloading the entire card to max out your gimmicks. WinningPonies has been on fire, and the trend should continue. Just take a look at the predictions, and remember that you can update the turf rating, if the card has a new track condition.