Mom would say there is a place in purgatory for me for saying something like that. But, I will see you at church…. Churchill…..

Sunday opens a new meeting in Kentucky. Keeneland closes, and it is time for the Twin Spires to shine in the autumn sunlight.

I would like for you to dig in deep with WinningPonies for this meet. Last year, I did very well using the data. You will also want to keep up on charts and races, but the data is as strong as it gets.

Lets kick things off with a couple of tidbits. Here are a couple of things to keep in mind:

• Always use Dale Romans in your exotics. He smashes CD… He owns the place….
• Play runners who have run well in the past.
• Give poly track runners a race, unless they have trained well over the course or are running on the turf.
• The turf favors stalkers and closers. Throw out the outside posts, and focus on posts 3-7 to get to the winner’s circle.
• Use the track condition dropdown for weather changes, as the weather gets dicey this time of year.

With this in mind, let us give you one on the house to build around and start off the meet in fine fashion. Race #3, use #1 Stately Victor (8-5). If you get these odds, you have been leading a lucky life…

This 2-year-old exits a G-1 over the poly track.. I know, I remember… Take a look at the last four workouts. They are all bullets, and they take place in Louisville.  Albarado is in the irons for Mike Maker, and both do very well at this oval… Go back two races and you will see a handsome victory at Saratoga, as Albarado got through on the rail. I see this to be a small time win payoff, but a good opportunity to get fat on multi-race wagers…..

A horseplayer judges the season by what tracks and which meet is in session. This is a gambler’s almanac, and it never fails….

Keeneland has one more day to close out 2009… The spring brings the hope of things to come, and the fall meet allows us to see many of the best in the sport prepping for the B/C.. It couldn’t get any better than that.

Last night, Jim Goodman of Keeneland joined us for our Internet show. He is the meaning of a gentleman. Look it up in the dictionary, and you will see his picture….

He told us of the beauty and pageantry of the the number one track in the country. The poly track for Keeneland has been solid. It is always fast. In the past, the track played heavy speed. If you were on the lead, you were gone… If you had a half length lead at the top of the stretch, go to the windows. It was called the golden conveyor belt to the winner’s circle.

Well, it wouldn’t be any fun if we didn’t leave you with a walk off winner from Lexington. Hopefully, it will be a treat with no trick…

Head to the last feature of the meet which is Race #9, the G-2 Fayette. #9 Blame (9/5) looks to be coming along nicely. He exits the G-2 Super Derby, where he ran second at a heavily backed price at the windows. Jamie Theriot is in the irons, and he is trained by Al Stall.

This 3-year-old colt by Arch is 6/6 lifetime ITM. He has ran on the synthetics before. He ran at Turfway and Keeneland. The race in Lexington gave him a maiden breaker. He is lightly raced, and looks to be on the improve. The 62+ speed rating gives me confidence, and the past trip over the track shows he likes the oval. Not all take to the poly, and when you find one that does, bet early and bet often…

Another season comes to an end. It is bittersweet, and next week the best runners around will get together and give us the well awaited weekend. So, before you know it, the falling leaves will bring the holiday snow. Gulfstream will be open, and in a blink, we will be back in Lexington enjoying the beauty of the game. So, don’t miss out on your last chance to catch Keeneland as it will be gone in the blink of an eye….

Good luck!

I play Hawthorne as my plan “B” track most of the time. I spot play, and look for value. Saturday offers up a full complement, and you better dial up your data early to get ready for a great day of racing in Cicero.

I like some runners, and after looking at my W/P data, I am starting to fall in love with some sweet plays indeed…

Let me begin with Race #7, the $100,000 Buck’s Boy Handicap going 1 1/16th. The event is shaping up nicely, and is worth the look… Begin with #3 Stonehouse (2-1). He sports a 61 speed rating with a (+) symbol, and that means good things are coming. His last three efforts have yielded a 54, and he looks solid. Ran in the G-2 Hawthorne Gold Cup against open company, and the drop in class should do the trick… He worked a bullet on October 25th, and that signals ready and waiting to me…

There are six $100,000 races, and it should play out to be a solid day of Illinois racing. Pretty much the best of the best is on the shelf and waiting for the Breeders’ Cup. But, that doesn’t mean there won’t be some great action to play. This track offers some great value, and it is yours for the taking. Just get your data in hand, and be sure to utilize the track condition dropdown. There has been some storms from Chicago all the way to Alabama. So, before leaving the house or punching in your bet, look at the weather, and get ready to roll…..

Good luck!

Today, I had three calls from very good players. The odds that three called on one day is high, but the ask on their mind was not over the fence. But, I could not help anyone on this day.

The Breeders’ Cup is a powerhouse. They charge a GREAT PERCENTAGE of takeout and the tracks do no real business. It would seem that on the biggest days of the year, the powers that be would want to include all of the little tracks that follow the sport daily.

For all major events, there are tickets that are held. Do you think the Super Bowl or World Series do not have any tickets earmarked for other teams? Maybe they do not give away the house, but they should be included in all events.

How about holding 100 decent tickets for each track? How many would they be giving away? Keep it for the tracks that hold a three month or better meet. Now, you are talking 30 track? That sounds like sending 3000 of the best players from around the country to the event. Also, add in the ability to BUY upscale tickets. Don’t give away the posh seats, but allow tracks to cater to players. This allows for over 8 – 10,000 to be sold to the general public: celebs who don’t care about racing, and the connections of the racing stars.

I am a big fan of getting the best players to the event. There is still plenty of expense, and the free ticket ensures the players will be there. Funny, give away a ticket and the perceived value is huge….I love to bring in the biggies. This will help handle, and keep the stands full.. Hell, the B/C kills the tracks with the takeout, so they might as well pony up and get some big players there..

This is an event where the senators and local mayors can stay home. The action carries itself, and you can’t beat that. The players come to roost, and you might as well make hay while the sun shines. This idea can be used for the Oaks, Derby, Preakness, Belmont, and some other marquee events with a smaller allotment. Go ahead, and send the tickets to the management of tracks. It is not a perk for them, but to be used for their best players. What a way to repay our best customers…. The marketing and publicity departments would be hopping. I was there last year, and the stands were half empty on a beautiful weekend. The tickets were overpriced, and as travelers, we were killed before making bet number one. Needless to say, I will be on my couch betting early, and enjoying the action…..Too bad, I would have loved to have sent players like me to the big dance.

The NYRA is not playing around. Just ask Jeff Mullins….. I think the stance they are taking is a little strong, and maybe should be rethought.

Mullins is being barred from New York tracks for six months. He was charged for giving one of his runners an unknown substance. He was caught lying about it, and is standing in the corner.

Jeff Mullins is a very good trainer. That does not give you a “get out of jail” card. I think instead of not allowing him to race, I think it should have been tougher. Allow him to run, but make him test before and after races at his cost. Force him to be on-call to assist other trainers if needed with their runners. Have him give speaking seminars about training, and what not to do…. Get him out of the corner, and put him to work.. This would be a more suited punishment, and I guarantee he would learn a bit about the Big Apple…..

OK, he has a checkered past. Many do, and time has forgotten all.. I would have put his feet to the fire, and made him go to work for NYRA. I would use any good he could bring to the table and share it with others. Make it tough. I bet he will find a person to deal his runners. He will “sell” them, or some type of magic… He cannot transfer any of his runners, but there are ways to get around the teacher when they are not looking.

I would make him an example. Let it be known to all. The more time he is away, people forget his transgressions. Keep him visible, and make him work off his punishment. I think that would be a better suited way to deal with these problems.

The little track in Western Kentucky has closed the doors for winter. This is just a sign of things to come. With the lack of energy in the business, this may be the only way to survive.

I have heard that less is more. Kentucky has cut dates by over 25% throughout the state. This is led by Turfway Park, who has slashed the dates. This January and February, they will cut back to 3 days a week from the traditional five. They will go back to four days a week in March.

The climate has changed. Racing is on the back burner, despite efforts to revitalize and allow a fair playing field by offering alternative gaming.

Ellis Park was taken by storm when the Geary family took the reins. They committed to having a great deal of customer service, and make it a friendly destination. All of this they accomplished, and they started offering a Pick-4 wager with a very small takeout. They wanted to offer the wager at a fan-friendly takeout. After all, they are not just track owners. They love to play in handicapping contests around the nation. Believe you me, they hold their own and then some…

EP is closing the doors this winter. There will be NO simulcast wagering. They plan to take the $1 million and put it towards purses. They will re-open in April.

Geary knows that 75 people will lose their jobs for the winter. This is eating him, and he advises to draw unemployment and find part-time jobs until April. He emphasized that they are part of the Ellis family, and are integral to the success for the future.

Sometimes hard times require tough decisions. Ron Geary has made one. For the record, it will weigh on his head until the gates swing back open in April. He is a fair leader. He is a fair manager. Ron Geary loves the sport… I know, this will be a tough time. But hang in there Ellis Park. I think some changing factors may lay on the horizon, and the right man is at the wheel of the ship…..

I do have to say that I like the idea of the wager of playing which rider will ride the most winners on the B/C cards. This takes it to the player, and offers a new twist on a great weekend…

Players from around the globe will wager on this. It may take a few years to catch fire, but I bet it will do just fine. It kinda reminds of Vegas and the prop board during football season. I love to drop a few wagers, and have some fun. I think this will fit the same bill.

As Breeders’ Cup approaches, we will start narrowing the factors. Believe it or not, it is still just a bit early to make any final decisions. This wager got me thinking about that right out of the gate. We have heard about the number of horses certain stables will be bringing to the weekend. But, you have to wait until the draw before you make your final moves.

Right now, if you held me to the task, I would take $10 on: Garrett Gomez, Desormeaux, and Mike Smith…. It all depends on the Euros for me… I may find a bit of value on a European rider, if the price looks to right… But, one thing is for certain. The bet will take off…

Maybe next year, you will be able to do “Daily Doubles” with the riders. One day to the next… I guess as a player I like the idea of the new opportunity.

I was at work and came across a great article from Perth Now, which comes from the land down under. It had all of the elements that Damien Oliver felt were needed to make a complete jockey.

He came up with a few things that I really liked…. He has his game on, and one could learn a lot from his insights.  After reading, I found it difficult to add to any of this, but it hit me about a few big time notes.

He felt that:

Knowledge of horse and fellow riders were important, and the lay of the track.

Adaptability to change, as seconds mean the world.

Concentration. You cannot be distracted, or be caught up in an occasion. You must remain focused.

Patience. There is a fine line between waiting too long, and missing the boat… It is that clock in your head.

Vision. You not only need to be aware of what your mount is doing, but have that instinctual sense of what is going on around you.

Upper body. This allows you to hold a horse, and help them to relax and settle. This is the part that makes the good better, and the bad always wonder what happened.

Core strength. You need to watch what you eat, and be active. Many do squats or squat jumps to give you the needed power.

Hips. You must be able to be in the squatted position for a long time. If you come back off an injury, you need to doubly work this area.

Hands. Soft hands can be a riders greatest asset. It is transmitted through the reins. Everything you feel, they feel as well….

Aggression. It is good to have the killer instinct, but be calm and cool in your head as well…

Legs and toes. Your weight rests on your feet. the balls of your feet are most important.

Balance. Your ability to hold yourself in place. This allows the horse to find his stride…

These were all of his ideal traits of a rider. I agree, and it shows in every race. The good ones have it, and the bad ones need it. But, I came up with a couple of others that need a boost as well…

Personality – If you are a man or woman who conducts good business, then you have a better chance at succeeding. If your personality is one where people feel comfortable, then you have a great chance of making lifelong partnerships in your trade.

Workmanship – If you are the first in the barn, and always checking back about your mounts, you show professionalism. This is rare, as only the good ones have it….

Study – As in school, if you study, then you succeed; if you constantly keep up on trends or biases, the hot newcomers, and the ones on the way out. You have an edge. Be a student of the game…

Your best – If you give your word, and follow up with your personal best, nobody could ever ask more. For those that dedicate themselves fully, the game is profitable. The others that show up and ride, just make a wage. But for the few who dedicate themselves, it is like watching a well-thought out play. Just give your all. What more could you give?

It seems that every time that I speak with another racing manager, the concept of dipping handle is always at the top of the list.  So, after being so tired of hearing about this, I have decided to at least formulate a plan, and I have bounced it off of those who make decisions.

The tide has never came back according to most… I asked everyone “what are we doing to stem the flow?” “What are we doing to bring something back to the tracks?” After hearing a little customer service spiel, that everyone had a little version of, I asked them to consider this….

Each month of racing, your track that is running, will receive a day where they are the feature track of the day. All television programs focus on the track like it is Derby Day… They will be on-hand, or have on-track personalities interact with TVG or HRTV… The track will be the focal point of the day. By all means it won’t be the only track open, but it will get the most exposure. This allows for handle to grow, and better reacquaint the players with your product.

The one day of extra handle will not break the bank… But, if you run for three months, it would be like having your marquee day that many times…. Some of the bigger tracks get weekends, and the smaller circuits would get their day in the sun during the week…. It would be very interesting to see what it would do for business. For the first time, we would be marketing our sport like a “Monday Night Football” experience. All focus would be on the track, and on-air personalities would be able to talk about what is coming up and how much action they have to offer…

What do you think? Would it make any differences? What say ye?

To let you know what others have said, it has been met with mixed reactions. It seemed that the biggest problem for many would be they feared they could not get the detail work to roll. But, overall they liked the concept.

This is where we parted roads. I never stop thinking about a way to increase handle, and promote racing. When we get complacent and start looking for the “build it and they will come” attitude, we are in trouble. We need to try all ideas and bounce them around.. If we fail 99 out of 100 times, we have won. That means we would have found an answer.

In the state of Ohio, the idea of having alternative gaming is like watching the same movie over and, over, and over…..

OK, we get the people don’t want it… Then, tax the hell out of them… Oh, they don’t want that either…. What’s a person to do? Governor Strickland, you have a tough job. How can you please the bleeding hearts, the church-going folk, and the money grabbing politicians.. Did you buy into this?   If you did, you need a raise…

Here is a new twist…. if we can’t beat you, we will buy you… That is with advertising and invasive techniques that meld the truth with crapola. Gotta love it so far..

Issue 3 in Ohio is basically about having land-based free standing casinos.  They are going to let an industry that is 100 years old die on the vine. But, we will start a new industry… Does that make any sense? Kill one off and start another venture that may not hold the truth?

There has been $33 million spent to defeat the opposition. They are doing a great job, and now they have teamed up with Cleveland Cavalier owner Dan Gilbert. The big bankroll comes from MTR (Mountaineer gaming). They will bury the truth, and spread the lie… They are just protecting investments in Indiana. Not a bad business move if I say so myself… Sell an idea, and promise jobs. The people are so hungry, they will eat anything. Even if it is not the truth..

Do I oppose this? Yes… I cannot stand to see any industry die off. It is not the way business was meant to be. I thought we all needed to pull together and fix things that were broken. I have trouble swallowing the story. I have trouble swallowing the loss of heritage. I have trouble watching a few thousand people get to work, and 25,000 are put out. There seems to be no balance in this equation. Just think about it, and not from a racing point of view.. So many will fall, and there is no guarantee that any will rise… Is that what any of us would want? In the times when we needed to pull together the most, it seems live divisive tactics will rule the day.