NYRA Updates: Handle, Field Size, Fan Council & More

Here are two comprehensive updates from HANA's New York State Representative, Vic, regarding both February developments, and yesterday's Fan Advisory Council Meetings.

Of note, we had arranged a short meeting with NYRA representatives beforehand, as the Fan council was more about fan issues rather than betting and betting customer issues. They were gracious enough to take time out to discuss some of your concerns as bettors, and we were pleased that a dialogue was opened. We'd like to publicly thank them for taking time out of their busy schedules.

Here we go:


The presentation was brief and was treated as an open discussion. Background on the members can be found at http://www.racing.ny...an_advisory.php. The goals of the council were stated clearly as (i) improving NY racing and (ii) improving the fan experience. As Michael Amo stated, they want to "take the fans voice and share it with the right people."

Some key things NYRA discussed for the near future:
• New website
• Installing Wi-Fi (almost) everywhere at Aqueduct
• Create a consistent look and feel throughout Aqueduct
• "I Love NY Horseracing" advertising campaign
• "Longshots" at Aqueduct, a restaurant/betting parlor targeting high-handle bettors
• "RaceQuest" both online and at tracks, designed to teach new fans about the sport

Charlie Hayward stated, "new fans are made at the track." One way to do that appears to be through "Racequest" (more detail can be found at http://racequest.net).

February Notes

Overview:

• New York Racing Association (NYRA) has only traced $500,000 of the $1.2 million it received from overcharging bettors on exotic wagers. NYRA states that it will never be able to track down all customers. It's not yet clear what will happen to the remaining $700,000 or the nearly $8 million from wagers made at other venues.
• NYRA has announced two new safety policies in an attempt to provide sounder racing conditions. The first is a new house rule that states, “The director of racing or the chief examining veterinarian has the right to refuse the entry of any horse with which they have any nature of concern.” The second is an increase to the bottom claiming level from $7,500 to $12,500 by April 27.
• Given the dissolution of New York City OTB, NYRA is seeking permission to allow self-service wagering terminals at 10 NYC bars/restaurants in the five boroughs in time for the 2012 Kentucky Derby. NYRA plans to expand this to 40 terminals within three years, which is expected to generate approximately $165 million in handle a year. Locations that install the machines would receive 1.6-1.7% of the handle they generate.
• The newly created Racing Fan Advisory Council will hold its first public meeting Saturday, March 3, at Aqueduct from 10am to noon. The council was established by the New York State Racing and Wagering Board (NYSRWB) to provide input and advise the board on horseracing and wagering matters in NY.
• NYRA plans to hire a new marketing director and boost that department's budget by 43% (to a total of $5 million) in an effort to create a new generation of fans.
• The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, sparked by a $225,000 start-up grant from the Harriet E. Pfleger Foundation, has created a new program to develop second careers for horses racing at NYRA tracks. The program will provide rehabilitation and retraining for as many as 100 horses a year. Other commitments to fund the initiative include $185,000 from NYRA and New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, $50,000 from The Jockey Club, and more than $135,000 from fundraisers and private donations.
• NY Governor Andrew Cuomo has introduced a bill that will forbid lawmakers from benefiting from the new commercial casino industry. Elected officials, government employees, and the politically connected would be barred from owning any stake in licensed gaming companies and from having more than a 10% stake in any business that sells goods or services to a gambling enterprise. The bill would also merge the state Lottery Division with NYSRWB to create a new state gaming commission.

January 2012 vs. 2011 – Meet Statistics:

• On-track handle (Aqu): ▲8.1% ($16.1M)
• Avg. daily on-track handle (Aqu): ▲2.7% ($0.8M)
• On-track handle (total): ▲1.0% ($23.4M)
• Avg. daily on-track handle (total): ▼4.0% ($1.2M)
• Total handle: ▲6.6% ($117.8M)
• Avg. daily handle: ▲1.2% ($5.9M)
• Attendance: ▼2.7% (83.4k)
• Avg. field size: ▲2.9% (7.77)
• Avg. winner payout: ▲24.0% ($12.4)

NYSRWB Monthly Meeting:

• NYSRWB approved an amendment to the minimum required betting interests in harness superfecta wagers, reducing the requirement to 7 (previously 8 with the allowance of 7 only in the instance of a late scratch).
• NYSRWB approved an amendment to the equine drug rules for both thoroughbred and harness racing, increasing the authorization of Bute administration by IV injection to 48 hours (previously 24 hours).

Weekend Handicapping: Could be Broken Dreams @GP Turf Sprint today

The Battaglia was one exciting race yesterday.  I have to give Ill Conceived credit for digging in and fighting hard against State of Play.  That is two loses at the wire now in 3YO Derby hopeful races!  I'm not sure if Ill Conceived is in the same league as Mark Valeski, but they both showed grit and toughness.  For today's Weekend Handicapping we are heading back to Gulfstream Park, for the Ladies Turf Sprint for 4YO fillies and mares, racing for a purse of $70,000.  It's over the turf course going 5 furlongs and a field of 10 have entered, so don't blink or you'll miss it.

Contenders:

#5 Suzzona ML 10/1

This 8YO mare is battle tested and knows how to win, 18 for 30 over the turf. She is coming off a long layoff, but her history shows that is a good thing (if I counted right she won four of eight after layoffs).  Her speed fig's are competitive with this group, as well as, her class.  She had won four before losing to finish out her 7YO campaign.  She has shown she can win wherever they race her, and the Feliciano/Pimental connection is a stout one. Actually, Feliciano's record is outstanding with these kind of horses, period.  I don't think we will see 10/1 when the gate opens, but anything near it makes her a solid play.

#2 Broken Dreams ML 5/2

Proctor brings her here after a rough time in the BC, and like the #5 has no problems with winning off layoffs. Her speed is the best of the bunch, won at the G3 level, and her workouts have been outstanding. They are bringing in Lezcano, who won the Big Cap yesterday at Santa Anita, that says they are ready for this one.  If I do have a concern here is that this race might be a tad too short for her running style.  She is going to have to get up there early or no chance.

#4 Indulgence ML 4/1

Whenever she has run over the turf her results have been solid, but this race will be a step up for the 5YO mare.  Her turf speed is okay, not quite fast enough to beat off the top two, but she does have the ability to surprise.  What makes her a factor is her three spins on the GP turf and finishing in the money twice. Not necessarily a horse of course, but it does make her dangerous. Wolfson keeps Elvis on board, and they are having a nice meet together.

Dark Horse:

#6 Cascadilla Falls ML 4/1

Bill Mott drops this lightly raced 4YO filly into an interesting spot. She won two of four last year over the turf and now makes her 2012 debut.  She has the front end speed to take off and go wire to wire, her Beyers are at 89 in these events, and she could improve dramatically. Her workouts have been outstanding and today Prado takes over.  Mott has excellent stakes record, and scored a big one yesterday at Santa Anita, could be a double for him this weekend. Dangerous horse with the front end style.

Bombs Away:

#8  Inspired ML 8/1

She is coming off a win at the Fair Grounds against older horses, with a 92 Beyer in the Pan Zareta ($75K).  This 5YO mare loves to get out front and will do the same today. She beat Suzzona back in the Jenny Walden ($100K) last summer, and then Suzzona turned the tables on her next time out.  You have to like Iwinski in this spot, his record shows when he puts one in like this they usually win.

Selections:

5 - 2 - 4

Weekend Handicapping: Ill Conceived to upset in Battaglia today

When I looked at the stakes races today, no doubt all the big action is at Aqueduct.  However, I happen to like the favorites in each of those races. I can't see Hansen losing, and I'm a big fan of It's Tricky and Caleb Posse, so my view would be slanted.  That leaves us with the Sam Battaglia Memorial $75,000 stakes race at Turfway Park. The track was closed yesterday due to bad weather, but as I write this the weather looks good for today, so I'm going to go ahead and analyze this event.

It's the 10th race on the card going a mile and sixteenth for 3YO.  There is a field of five entered, and while they are not the highest ranked 3YO for the Derby trail, it's still a competitive race, in fact, maybe too competitive!  When you look at it, I can see realistically four of the five winning it.  So here are my top three picks ... 

#2 Ill Conceived ML 7/2


This 3YO had a solid 2YO campaign by hitting the board five of six times with two wins.  His last outing in a stakes race at Laurel was solid and has been working well.  I like that his Beyer's have been improving over the last two outings, and looks like the added distance may help.  The angle I'm playing here is a track switch coupled with a jockey change, and toss in a stretch out in distance.

#6 Mr. Prankster ML 9/5

He will be looking for his third in a row here at Turfway, his last two stakes wins ($50K). His Beyer's bumped up dramatically from a 78 to a 88 when he stretched out to a mile. You have to like the Michael Maker/McKee connection and the added distance should work well for this 3YO.  He has shown he likes this track and has no problem going wide to win.  The pace might be a touch quicker today, and that does make him vulnerable to his racing style.

#4 State of Play ML 2/1

This 3YO is ranked #60 at Horse Racing Nation for Derby Contenders and certainly deserves the favorite slot for this race. Hard to argue against this lightly race 3YO with a G2 win under his belt at this distance over turf.  This will be his second effort over dirt, his last was at Tampa where he finished seventh in a G3 affair.  He had a nice workout and Graham Motion puts the track leader, LeBron in the irons. It will be interesting to see if he bounces back or is he a more of a turf horse. One thing for sure, the price will be miserly.

I didn't include a dark horse or Bombs Away due to the small field, it is obvious the dark horse would be the #1 Dynamical entered by Mark Casse.  Overall, I think this is going to be the best race of the day.

Selections:

2 - 6 - 4

One last note, I'm blogging Monday through Friday at the-clocker.blogspot.com/ 

The Results of the 2011 California Takeout Increase Are In

Remember the ad from the 1980's "This is your brain on drugs?".

Well, "this is your industry on raising takeouts"

The results of the takeout increase in late 2010 are in:

• California handle in 2010-2011, was down $537 million, or 15.6% from the previous year.

• Purses, if you remember, were supposed to rise with the takeout increase. They were down 5.1%

• Tracks lost more money. Revenues were down 13%

• Revenue for breeders was down 18.4%

• Internet wagering, which has been growing nationwide, was down 8%.

• Revenue for promotions, the vanning program and other items was down 11.4%

This proves without a shadow of a doubt, that when customers are leaving your building, you should probably not be looking to stick them with higher prices.

On the bright side, those numbers were so bad, they may not be hard to beat in 2012. Remember how far they've stepped backwards in 2011 when analyzing that, if so.

"Altering of Paperwork" Survey Results Are In

We'd like to thank everyone who took this poll last week.

Background:

According to a story in the Daily Racing Form:

Trainer Paul Aguirre has been fined $2,000 and suspended five days in a stipulated agreement with the California Horse Racing Board after admitting to altering the registration papers of a horse who won a race in which he was not eligible last summer.

We asked you a few questions, and about 200 of you gave us your thoughts. Here they are (you can click each to enlarge):

In addition, almost half of you left comments. Here are the first thirty or so (more to come). [We are not responsible for any comments from surveyee's, we print them as is]

We Don't Have 20 Answers Either

Some blog posts you just kind of nod. We think you'll enjoy this one.

If you have the answers, please forward them to your nearest racetrack.

Weekend Handicapping: Fountain of Youth = Union Rags

Yesterday’s Risen Star turned out to be quite a race!  Our pick Mark Valeski dueled El Padrino right down to the wire.  I admit,  I was wary of El Padrino’s last outing, but he showed he is going to be a tough customer on the road to the Derby.  At Gulfstream Park today, we could argue this is the first big Derby hopeful test,   Fountain of Youth (G2) for a purse of $400,000.   Eight starters are going to go a mile and sixteenth and on paper it looks like a two horse race, Algorithms and Union Rags.  They are the definite heavyweights here, but when you look a bit deeper there are one or two entrants that could upset today.  Let’s take a look …

Contenders:

#7 Union Rags  ML 2/1

For me he is still the one to beat. Yes, Hansen won the BC Juvenile, but Union Rags showed a determined effort finishing second.  He ran four wide at Churchill and just missed beating Hansen, and we have seen Hansen is beatable.  Three consistent Beyer numbers, Matz has him working well and look forward to him getting back on the winning track.  There isn’t a lot of front end speed so the pace suits him well.  Normally, it would bother me with a jockey change, but I see no drop off with Leparoux taking the irons.

#5 Discreet Dancer ML 3/1

Realistically Algorithms would be in this slot, but I’m going with handicapping instincts and I really like Discreet Dancer in this place.  If the odds hold, he would be my money play.  It will be his first big test, but he has shown excellent speed over his first two (98 – 96).  Pletcher is bringing him along perfectly, his workouts have been outstanding and Velazquez jumps on board.  Some might say he is the rabbit for Algorithms today, but if he gets loose there is no way he will give it up. 

#2 Algorithms  ML 8/5

He had a monster race in the Holy Bull taking down Hansen, popping a 105 Beyer.  My only issue, and fell prey to it yesterday, but his biggest race was on an off track. Prior to that his speed was improving but to jump from 88 to 105 is always suspect.  El Padrino showed me up yesterday, but overall, I will shy away from these youngsters with these big pops.  He certainly has all the ability, training and breeding to win it.  Regardless, the price will be miserly so we would layoff anyway.

No dark horse today.

Bombs Away:

#1 Neck ‘n Neck ML 15/1

It was between him and Fort Loudon and in the end will go with the #1. He has shown nice speed improvement, and ran a good race in the SF Davis at Tampa.  He raced seven wide and was closing fast.  Ian Wilkes puts blinkers on, and that is always an interesting to play, has shown he can handle the distance, and if Lezcano keeps him close he might have a shot to win it.  It’ll take a big effort, but again I stress with young 3YO’s you never know who wakes up.

Selections:

7 – 5 - 2 

Weekend Handicapping: All Larry Jones in the Risen Star at FG

Wow, what a nice race run by R Holiday Mood in the Hurricane Bertie!  It wasn’t so much of that she paid a nice mutual ($12.60), it was the fact we got a nice horse improving and coming off a win.  From a handicapping perspective it is so satisfying to find those kinds of opportunities and then see a good price.   Today, we are going back over to the Fair Grounds, and look at a race for 3YO Derby hopefuls.  It’s the Risen Star (G2) going a mile and a sixteenth for a purse of $300,000.  We have seen several of these colts before in the LeComte.  The race is fairly wide open, no overwhelming speed so the pace should be square.  It’s these kinds of races where you have lightly raced 3YO that look somewhat evenly matched where an upset occurs, I think I have one today.  So here we go …

Contenders:

#1a Mark Valeski ML 4/1

Larry Jones is positioning the lightly raced colt for the Derby.  Won last out in an Optional Claiming race here at FG, with an improving Beyer of 84.  This will be his first route, but the breeding says that it will be no problem for him, and Jones hits 25% on the sprint/route play.  Strong workouts, good racing style for this group today and Jones put’s the meets number one rider on board, Napravnik .  All things being equal, he has an excellent chance to win this race.

#1 Mr. Bowling ML 4/1

We saw him in the LeComte surprise the field with an excellent performance.  I see no reason he can’t repeat here.  Good speed, like the #1a, a good running style for this race, and has been working out well.  He has raced well everywhere he has been, and is showing himself to be a versatile 3YO. Other than Shared Property, he is the only graded winner in the race.

#7 El Padrino ML 2/1

His last outing produced an eye popping 100 Beyer at GP over this distance.  He ran well in the Remsen at Aqueduct and you can’t ignore Pletcher horses.  That being said, as the DRF noted his only wins came on off tracks.  I’m suspicious of horses, especially young ones that pop a big number.  It sets them up for a bounce and tough day.  You can’t ignore him, but I’m wary.

Dark Horse:

#8 Shared Property ML    6/1

He had a decent effort in the LeComte finishing third, had to fight his way through and came in wide.  His workouts look been solid, has the speed to go with this group and has a G3 win to his credit.  I think the key for him today is how Goncalves rides him, his past history shows he comes out wide, if Goncalves can get him into a better tracking position; he has the ability to run by them all.   He flashed a nice 87 in the Arlington Washington Futurity, and has been progressing upwards.

#5 Z Fager ML 5/1

You can’t pass on the place finisher in the Lecomte.  He was closing fast on Mr. Bowling and just missed.  Asmussen is always is dangerous in these situations and you have the crafty Shane Sellers on board.  This is the dangerous one in this race.

Bombs Away:

#9 Tizanexpense ML 10/1

This colt is going for his third in a row, and is taking a big step today.  I like that he is two for two here at the Fair Grounds, his speed is improving with each race.  The post position isn’t the best but he has won from out here before, Michael Maker (like Asmussen) is dangerous in these kinds of races.    He can go forward or come off the pace, it’ll be interesting to see how Mena races him.   Lastly, he picks up a weight break for this one

Selections:

1a – 1 – 7  

Flashback: "If I was Kentucky Racing Czar"

We read Bill Finley's article on slots today. He details the potential lost hundreds of millions of dollars of purse money in Ontario and Pennsylvania, and wonders what went wrong.

Bill also looks at the Kentucky situation and says:

"Kentucky racing interests have to learn from the mistakes made elsewhere. And so far it doesn't look like that is happening."

He goes on to say that we never wrote slots deals correctly by offering nothing to customers; we just "stuffed it all into purses" and never thought about the future.

A HANA board member wrote a post in May of 2009 here, and with Kentucky looking to perhaps finally get casino gaming and slots, we thought we'd re-run it. Now that we know now, what we know now, this article we think is was pretty darn good. Keep in mind it was written three years ago, while the ink was not even dry on other racing slot deals.

No the Kentucky slots and casino bill may not pass this month, or even this year, but keep in mind: It's never too late to plan for when it does.

May 14, 2009 HANABlog: If I Was Kentucky Racing Czar

Kentucky racing, and its problems competing with neighboring slots states is well documented. Short fields have plagued Kentucky for some time. Ellis Park may run only a short meet, Churchill cut a day a week recently, and Keeneland, despite wonderful racing and great takeouts, suffered a 20% drop in handle.

The simple fact is that we have not written slots deals correctly, and now we are paying for it. There is no one alive who believes that for racing to grow, places like Indiana and Penn National should be taking entries from the Bluegrass state. By flooding the supply of racing at places people do not watch, or bet with little demand, we are hurting racing. "If you supply it they will come" is not a policy for growth, it is a policy for self-destruction.

How do we ensure that Kentucky and its mass appeal to grow racing is protected for years to come? For that, I am a Kentucky Racing czar for a day, and I have a magic wand.

1. I get slots passed. I am fully confident this will happen. The people of Kentucky will not let racing flounder in this fine state, with its tradition for racing. Headlines across the world, as well as lobbying, is going on as we speak. It will happen.

2. I write a slot deal that makes sense; one that focuses on demand, as well as supply. Deals in Pennsylvania and elsewhere were based on a flawed business model. They increased the supply of races, and the supply of dates, watering down the product. When you increase supply and flood a market with inferior product without decreasing prices (i.e. takeouts) your business will not grow. This is ECON 101 and just because we run brown horses in a circle does not mean we are exempt from the rules of business. Why slot deals were written like this putting ALL the money into supply and expected to work is beyond me. The fact that this is the way we still write these deals is even more disconcerting.

The 'New Slots Deal For Kentucky' is a blueprint for the future. We change this up to ensure growth in 2010 and beyond.

* Instead of 10% of slots to purses and 10% of revenues for tracks like almost all jurisdictions, this split is changed. 1% of revenues are sent to a central slush fund (my Czar office) to market and grow racing in Kentucky and outside its borders. Several issues like horse safety, uniform drug policies and other racing centric, pro growth items can be led by the state, for the game overall.

* 1%-2% are sent back to the horseplayer. This is done with player rewards, rebates, giveaways and so on. We have to decrease takeout in 2009 if we expect to grow. Our game is too expensive for gamblers in the 21st century and with new revenue, it must be used to make the game more attractive to bettors. In addition, the "slots drag" has had a horrible effect on handles. Right now at Churchill there are people leaving the track after a hit, they grab a form and can't wait to bet tomorrow. With slots that same person might take those winnings and shove them in a slot machine, losing his bankroll for tomorrow. This drag must be addressed with pricing.

* 1%-2% are mandated to go to the facilities and to promoting the game on the Internet, as well. We need to ensure our customers have a wonderful place to play the races, whether at home, or at the track. What can people like Wolf Kratzenberg do with a set, expanded marketing budget at Turfway? Let's find out.

* The rest go to profits and purses, just like they should. We need to up purses, and with core business falling (remember, at EVERY jurisdiction that slots have been installed, handles suffer), profits have to be funneled back into the companies and horseman involved.

3. I resist the urge to increase racedates and work to make this a reality. Every jurisdiction who has slots has increased dates massively. This waters down the product, decreases field size, and decreases handles. We are back to square one, we have hurt racing, and we have done exactly what we said we would not do.

If we leave dates the same as they are in year one, with this new revenue the following can happen:

* Ellis Park runs a regular meet, but with a ~40%-50% bump in purses. This meet competes more favorably with nearby meets, attracting full fields.

* Kentucky Downs purses skyrocket for their short meet. With some marketing work, and with these big purses attracting solid stock, there is a chance this boutique turf meet can be a jewel in racings landscape for generations.

* Keeneland's meet grows leaps and bounds. With solid revenues, purses will attract the very best, and more quality races can be added. Because this track is a focus of TVG, we are exporting the very best of racing to the entire betting world. This grows our sport, inside Kentucky and beyond. Keeneland's brand is protected and insured.

* HRTV at Churchill is met with the same as Keeneland. Amazing racing, beamed to the world.

Increasing dates and watering down the product will not help racing in the long run. It must be resisted at all costs at the flagship tracks if we want to use slots money to grow the sport. The "B" circuit is there for these horseman with subpar stock. We have to promote and focus on the best, to be the best. Slots were never intended to be an income redistribution scheme, they were put in to grow racing.

So as Czar there is my blueprint:

* Give the demand side some of the slot money through player rebates and lower takeout
* Promote with a central organization as well as mandating the tracks use some of the money to promote
* Resist the urge to grow dates, allowing for Kentucky the potential to offer the highest purses and best racing in the country
* Kentucky becomes a leader once again, in a sport that clearly needs strong leadership.

The status quo is clearly not an option. I know some of this is considered 'pie in the sky' to racing insiders. But therein lies the problem - this ideal is common-sense to most other businesses and would have been enacted years ago. Other businesses are not wrong, we are, and we have to do something about it.

This is an opinion piece at HANAblog. We offer anyone who wants to discuss the issues to send us their thoughts. If we like them and they offer out some good discussion, we will print them. We want to hear from everyone in racing, because if we do not work together, we can not move forward. If you'd like to sign up with HANA, please do. We are but a click away.

Two Reminders!

A couple of reminders today.

One HANA Harness informs us that there is a monster carryover pool brewing at Balmoral tonight in their pick 5. Balmoral has been blowing handle right out of the water with their new low takeout bets. $100k + is expected in the pool tonight, at 15% takeout. Free PP's and information is here.

Second, if you have not, please take our poll we put up yesterday. Details here. Thanks to everyone for sharing it too!!!

Lastly, we love free PP's and Bris has got them. Press release below and web link to get them here!

Brisnet.com offers free Ultimate Past Performances Feb. 23-29

 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 22, 2012) – As a thank you to valued horse players, Brisnet, the official data source of the Kentucky Derby and TwinSpires.com is giving away FREE Ultimate Past Performances for all racetracks running Feb. 23 through Feb. 29, 2012.

 

Log on to Brisnet.com to discover why Ultimate Past Performances are the choice of many of the nation’s top handicappers, including National Handicapping Championship Tour winner Paul Shurman.

 

“Horseplayers are concerned about the rising cost of handicapping information,” Brisnet.com Director of Marketing Ed DeRosa said. “Ultimate Past Performances have offered the same great value at $3 per card for the past 10 years, and we thought the time was right to introduce Brisnet.com’s superior handicapping information to a wider audience.”

 

In addition to all the information commonly found in typical past performance products, Brisnet.com’s Ultimate Past Performances include a suite of proprietary data such as speed and class ratings, pace figures, Prime Power, exclusive pedigree information, trainer-jockey angles, and track bias statistics.

 

“One of the first things I do when I start handicapping is to make notes from every race based on Brisnet.com Ultimate Past Performances,” Shurman said.  He won $75,000 as the National Handicapping Championship Tour winner and went on to finish sixth in the National Handicapping Championship.

 

You must be a member of Brisnet.com to download free Ultimate Past Performances; registration is free. The promotion applies to all products in the Ultimate Past Performances family—including Ultimate Past Performances with Comments, Ultimate Race Summary, and Condensed Ultimate PPs—for all tracks racing Feb. 23 through Feb. 29.

 

Bloodstock Research Information Services (BRIS) provides Thoroughbred horsemen and horseplayers with a wealth of data, including bloodstock and handicapping information, through its website, www.brisnet.com, and BRIS handicapping tools are available through TwinSpires.com. Churchill Downs Incorporated ("CDI") acquired the BRIS family of account wagering and data services businesses in June 2007 in conjunction with the acquisition of the AmericaTAB account-wagering franchise. CDI consolidated the BRIS and AmericaTAB account-wagering platforms under the TwinSpires.com brand in November 2007 and continues to provide franchisee services to a number of account-wagering platforms based at racetracks not owned by CDI. 

 

- END -

Trainer Suspended for Altering Paperwork of Ineligible Winning Horse

According to a story in the Daily Racing Form:

Trainer Paul Aguirre has been fined $2,000 and suspended five days in a stipulated agreement with the California Horse Racing Board after admitting to altering the registration papers of a horse who won a race in which he was not eligible last summer.

Read more at the link.

This story is about the integrity of the game.

First we have a trainer who enters a horse into a race at Hollywood Park that the horse isn’t eligible for. To make matters worse, the horse wins that race at odds of more than 27 to 1.

But things didn’t end there. The trainer admitted to going into the racing office afterwards and altering the horse’s papers to make it look like the horse was eligible for the race in question.

The CHRB is the regulatory body in California entrusted with protecting the interests of the wagering public. The CHRB is responsible for ensuring that racing as a gambling game is conducted with honesty and integrity. The CHRB is also responsible for handing out appropriate punishment when people who break the rules are caught.

Eight months after the incident occurred: The CHRB fined the offending trainer $2000 and suspended him a grand total of 5 days.

We at HANA are left scratching our heads. Do principles such as honesty and integrity still exist in racing? (Did they ever exist at all?) Is there some hidden facet to this story that hasn’t come out yet – something that is being kept out of the press?

We at HANA invite you to take a short survey. We'd like to know what you think.

Link to survey:

Short Survey -- Click Here --

Jeff Platt

President, HANA

With High Takeout Players Clubs Are Needed: DRF

Today in the DRF Jay Bergman looks at rebating back action to on-track players.

"Through the early stages of private ownership, the New Meadowlands has emerged as a racetrack in search of ways to attract customers. While not brand new, the Big M Club continues to evolve as a means of rewarding players for their play."

Ironically, the slotless Jersey track has tried to gain more handle through rewards systems like this, but across the river, the slots track has not.

Since the fall of 2006, when slots and slot players first arrived at Yonkers, there became a two-caste system. Slot players were encouraged to sign up for membership and its rewards and horse players, well, they weren't told anything.

In the five years hence there is still no rewards system in place for horseplayers, although the Empire Club has been modified and improved.

How is it possible to provide rewards to slot players, when the essential takeout is just 8 percent, and offer nothing to horseplayers when the average takeout is well above 20 percent?
 

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Weekend Handicapping: R Holiday Mood in The Hurricane Bertie at GP

Good morning everyone! I'm experiencing computer issues today, so I apologize for this edition of Weekend Handicapping being short.  Today at Gulfstream is the 14th running of the The Hurricane Bertie (G3) for fillies and mares 4YO and upwards going 6 1/2 furlongs. We have seen several of these girls before and it should be an interesting race.

Contenders:

#3 R Holiday Mood ML 6/1

We had her in the Ocala $60K last time out and see no reason she can't repeat here. Cutting back in distance should suite her fine and see this race as a natural progression for her. It's hard to ignore a Pletcher/Velasquez combination and she gets 5 pound weight break to boot.

# 7 Her Smile ML 5/2

You can't ignore this fillies class. Having won the Prioress (G1) at Belmont and a nice showing in the Breeders Cup Sprint finishing third.  She has the speed and gets Castellano back, so she will be a tough customer. The only issue she has been off for awhile, and history shows she needs one before finding her groove.

#1 Pica Slew ML 5/1

She almost won the Sugar Swirl before a solid Pomeroy Pistol overhauled her.  Has won at this level and looks like Brian Lynch has her perfectly positioned for today.  If she can find that 3YO speed she could go wire to wire over this field. 

Selection:

3 - 7 - 1
  

Weekend Handicapping: Wide open sprint at Laurel today

Today for Weekend Handicapping, I thought we go over to Laurel Park and take a look at the The Barbara Fritchie Handicap (G2), for fillies and mares 3YO and upward.  It’s for a distance of 7 furlongs and a purse of $200,000.  We a strong field of eight and many of them recent winners, good speed and I found four contenders in this feature.  So here we go …

Contenders:

#6 Nicole H ML 6/5

She will be the favorite but not the one to wager on.  This 5YO has won at this level before, taking the Distaff at Aqueduct going 7 panels.  She has won her last two; her speed figures are the best of the field and see no reason not to repeat.  Hushion and Dominquez is a solid pair and this mare has all the ability to take this group.  However, there is some tough company in this field and she might be vulnerable.

#2 Red’s Round Table ML 5/1

This is a big step up for this 4YO but I do like that she has won her last two easily, the last here at Laurel.  In fact, she has won four of five at Laurel lifetime, one of those horses for courses angles.  Her Beyer’s have improved enough to stay with the #6, and while I don’t place a big emphasis on weight breaks, she is getting 6 pounds today.  I also like that she has won eight of ten lifetime and Timothy Keefe is solid with horses that won last time out (28% rate with a $3.53 ROI!)

#1 Aquitana ML 6/1

Here is another filly taking a step up in class today.  She has done well here at Laurel as well, winning three of her three starts.  Her Beyer’s are right up there with this group, and she fared well against Nicole H in the Interbourough at Aqueduct, coming in third.  Her works have been good and her running style fits this race.  One last note, she has done well over off surfaces, and rain is forecasted today.

#5 Lovely Lil ML 6/1

She has won at the G2 level going a mile so today is a cut back in distance play.  Her speed numbers are a bit low for this group, so it will take an all out effort to catch them.  Her running style of going forward might hurt her chances, and that is why I have her in this spot.  I’m thinking Hushion has her in here to set up the #6, so unless it all falls apart, can’t really see her winning but maybe a share.

Outside of these four, the #3 C C’s Pal is an outsider, she has won two in a row, but her speed figures are a touch in consistent.  If the pace crumbles she could squeeze by and win, but there is too much forward contention for that to happen.

Selection:

6 – 2 – 3   

A Strong Lesson Provided to Racing From Ontario

In Ontario, Canada, each year the industry receives a whopping $345M in some way, shape or form, from slot machines. This money fuels up to 60,000 jobs, and helps put on races like the Queen's Plate, Canadian International, North America Cup, and hundreds of other events. In addition, it supports up to 17 racetracks - big and small. It is one of the largest racing jurisdictions in the World.

Up until last week, things seemed to be humming along. This week, things are different. Ontario's storied horse racing history is in potential peril.

Bizarrely, Ontario currently spends up to $345-million annually to prop up a money-losing horse-racing industry. Or, more to the point, Ontarians prop it up by spending their money at slot machines that were added to racetracks in the late 1990s. At present, 20 per cent of the revenue from those machines is used to keep the horses running; Mr. Duncan strongly hinted that he intends for the province to keep it instead. 

Although we have seen the writing on the wall in states like Pennsylvania and Indiana with cuts. This makes those look like chump change. An entire industry could be on its last legs.

The way slot deals were written, and continue to be written in places like New York, were kind of like a McRib sandwich. They sounded good, but in reality were not too appetizing. Opening a cash floodgate without a plan, was, and is, a failure.

We at HANA, and in fact many other industry participants, like the Meadowlands' owner Jeff Gural, feel that slots money is a gift that should be used wisely. It's a lot of money, and putting 100% into purses, and on-site capital improvements (89% of handle comes from off-track), is not a long term sustainable business model.

We think Ontario is illustrating that reality right now.

Things like lower takeout make sense. Things like a slush fund for marketing the sport make sense. Betting exchanges to go after a new demographic make sense. Free data for new patrons makes sense. A betting czar and league office funded with slots make sense.

Cultivating customers so they will be customers for a lifetime - long after slot machines go away - makes sense.

Right now Ontario racing participants may have to fall back on the customer for their livelihood. But there are few left.

The situation is so very sad, because although we are horseplayers, we love this sport - right down to the grooms and trainers and everyone else who works with these lovely animals.

Let's hope other jurisdictions like New York and possibly Kentucky, learn something from this, and begin to build a long-term slot money plan, so it never happens again.

We wish our friends in Ontario the very best.