DEEP PREAKNESS THOUGHTS BY PAULICK
One thing about horseracing, there’s no shortage of people willing to offer free advice or to share their opinion. After all, at its core, that’s what the game is all about; if you’re an owner, you’re willing to prove that your horse is faster than the next person’s, and if you’re a horseplayer you put money behind your opinions at the mutuel windows or betting account.
I’ve even got a few opinions of my own … 
– Calvin Borel has likely ridden himself into the Hall of Fame with his rides in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. What he did aboard Rachel Alexandra from the 13 post in the Preakness was every bit as ingenious as his rail-skimming trip on Mine That Bird in the Derby. If Borel doesn’t send the filly from the gate the way he did, there’s a good chance she gets hung up very wide going around Pimlico’s first turn, and we’ve got a completely different horse race with Big Drama loose on the lead.
– We’ll start hearing over the next few days about how this crop of 3-year-olds is a weak one, based on an unheralded gelding winning the Derby and a filly taking the Preakness. But let’s not forget this crop has lost some of its best and most promising members (at least temporarily), starting out with 2-year-old champion Midshipman, and the two other finalists for the Eclipse Award, Old Fashioned and Vineyard Haven; the Derby’s morning line favorite I Want Revenge; Florida Derby winner Quality Road; and West Coast speedster The Pamplemousse, the likely favorite for the Santa Anita Derby. That’s an unusually large attrition rate at the top.
– I’m not sure why there was so much criticism of Jess Jackson for buying Rachel Alexandra after her tour de force in the Kentucky Oaks, switching her to his regular trainer, Steve Asmussen, and injecting some enthusiasm into an otherwise humdrum Preakness. Does Jackson have an ego? Of course he does. Does he care about this game? I don’t think there’s any question. Was the move ultimately in the best interest of our sport? I think so. The California winemaker did right by Curlin and the sport, racing him as a 4-year-old and showcasing him before an international audience in Dubai, giving him the proper time off, and then running the son of Smart Strike in Kentucky, New York and California. There was talk of sending Curlin to the Arc de Triomphe until the colt was properly given a chance to prove himself on turf in New York, and the right decision was made not to pursue that goal. I think Jackson will similarly put the best interests of Rachel Alexandra and the sport in the forefront (in that order) when making decisions about here future.
– Sunland Park may be off the beaten path between Kentucky and New York, but the American Graded Stakes Committee has to take a more serious look at the New Mexico racetrack’s premier races when it comes to their grading process. There is a flaw in the system that discriminates against racetracks in a “circuit” that is without a graded race. That same flaw promotes self-perpetuating grades on many formerly important races. There should be an uproar if the Sunland Park Derby is not made a graded stakes for 2010 after the exploits of Mine That Bird in the 2009 Triple Crown.
– The Triple Crown needs to get back to the concept of a participation bonus and points system for the horse that has the highest finish in all three races. If Rachel Alexandra doesn’t go in the Belmont Stakes (and I don’t think she will), I’m afraid that race is goinig to be a dud. Over the past decade we’ve seen the failure of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association to create a national office, the loss of a title sponsor for the Triple Crown, and the disappearance of racing on television. Is anyone in a position of authority paying attention to these trends as we slip towards oblivion?
– Maryland Jockey Club officials deserve some sort of award (the Dumbass Decision of the Year?) for their decision to keep Preakness fans from bringing their own beer into the infield this year. The decision cost the bankrupt parent company over a million dollars in ticket sales that could only be offset if each infield patron drank 20-30 beers apiece at $3.50 a pop. Were the kids who brought in cases of beer over-the-top drunk in the past? Yes. But when I looked at the front page of the Washington Post on the morning after the Preakness, the visual was stunning: a picture of a mostly empty infield in 2009, compared with a jam-packed infield party last year. That image sent out the message that the Preakness and Maryland racing is on a fast track to oblivion. I used to think keeping patrons from bringing in their own beer was the right move, but I was convinced by people who knew better that it would kill the spirit of the Preakness and any chance to ever get young people to that rundown, crumby facility.
That’s my six-pack of thoughts after the first two legs of the Triple Crown. What do you think racing has done right and wrong this year? Use the comment section below to express your opinion.
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Tags: american graded stakes committee, belmont stakes, Calvin Borel, Curlin, Horse Racing, jess jackson, kentucky derby, Maryland Jockey Club, National Thoroughbred Racing Association, Paulick Report, preakness, Rachel Alexandra, Ray Paulick, Triple Crown
May 18th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
I totally agree with you especially your thoughts on the infield at Pimlico. If you want to stop all the drinking why not wait a couple of years until all of this mess clears up and we have some money in the till.
May 18th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
This year’s 3YO crop is abominable. Every year we have Triple Crown aspirants fall by the wayside in their quest for glory, so offering that as a reason for this year’s mediocrity explains nothing. You were pushing the Baffert charge, Pioneer of the Nile. That colt ran slow races in California and continues to be slow elsewhere. A $9K gelding and a filly (albeit a great filly) are best of the crop. Some crop.
May 18th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
The TC bonus plan was scrapped so less honorable owners and trainers would not push their horses to run in every leg if it was not in the horse’s best interest.
I take no issue with this crop given your excellent point about attrition. I hope Quality Road makes it back soon. Rachel is a godsend to the sport and true - Jackson put his ego and his cash on the line in the Preakness.
A couple of other owners made his hot air press conferences pale in comparison to their chickensh!t attempt to bar the filly. I will give them credit for handicapping the race correctly, though. Never seen so much drama in racing without an injured horse involved. And now Smith dumps the poor Derby winner, too,
May 18th, 2009 at 2:45 pm
You asked: What do you think racing has done right and wrong this year?
What they did right: I think NBC did a good job of promoting the Derby & Preakness this year, and that led to increased ratings.
What they did wrong: I think the trainers need to go back to the proven methods in prepping their horses for the Triple Crown races. For example, Friesan Fire was given an unprecedented layoff before the Derby, Dunkirk had no 2-year-old foundation, at least 3 starters had no dirt experience before the race, etc. I only found six out of the 19 Derby starters that had “tried and true” prepping. This has been going on for years now and it seems every year they take more shortcuts. I think that’s why were seeing so many disappointments anymore. It’s not that the horses are inferior, it’s that they’re ill prepared to handle the grueling Triple series.
May 18th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
I think the best of the crop made it to the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. The rest were too weak of leg/foot/constitution and were too gimpy to go.
May 18th, 2009 at 2:54 pm
Ray - agree about Jackson and most all you said save the infield drinking rule.
I think people felt badly for Hal Wiggins losing the filly more than they felt bad about her being sold to Jackson. I think Jackson is great for the sport, and if he’d surround himself with some p.r. reps who actually know how to soften his hard edged personality (a trait that no doubt made him the success he is) he would be more recognized for his passion and his very sharp ideas to improve the sport. He and Minor should get together - they could shake up the industry and get things moving in the right direction.
This is a great crop of 3-year-olds - think about it! We lost all those top tier players and still have Derby and Preakness winners who ran triple digit Beyers in both races! If that’s our second stringers - imagine when the A-listers get back into the game!
Attendance went down at the Preakness - but on track handle was up substantially. The blotto 21 yr old set in the infield were not there to watch the races in the past - they were there to get blotto and party til they passed out. They didn’t contribute anything but an attendance fee, and frankly speaking - Magna has much bigger problems than their attendance would have event dented.
The MD legislature should get the Dumb Ass award for years of piddling, twiddling and doing nothing to either assist the racing/breeding industry via slots or actively cultivating a partnership with Stronach to refit the facility. Now they are facing another “Colts out of Baltimore at midnight” scenario and they are suddenly concerned? If anything kills Maryland’s long history with racing and breeding - it will be the incredible shortsightedness of the state’s politicians who drove the stake into it.
May 18th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
Every year we hear the same thing about a weak crop, so presumably we continue to breed weak crops year after year but miraculously we have so many great older horses. It’s a mistake to make conclusions about a 3 yo crop when we are not even half way through the year. These young horses are still developing. Tiznow was not ready to win stakes at this time of year but nobody can deny that he became a great horse by the end of the year. Since 3 yo’s are competing only with each other, we lack a proper basis for comparison just yet. Nobody knows just how good any of these horses are yet. And many inexpensive purchases turned out to be very talented racehorses - Real Quiet for one, but there are too many to name. Real Quiet took seven tries to even break his maiden and was not very well respected before he ran in the Derby.
May 18th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
RE: infield and beer…
I attend the Preakness every year, in the course of my employment, and I had an interesting conversation with a group of Baltimore city police officers, as they and I were watching the few fans file into the infield this year…. they thought the ban was just silly, and when I asked about the over the top drunkenness we have witnessed in the past, they shrugged, and pointed out that maybe just some limits, like maybe a twelve pack per person, might be a reasonable alternative…. they said, heck, the kids are gonna be there for 7 or 8 hours, how much trouble can they get in with a twelve pack?? And I bet attendance wouldn’t have suffered nearly as much…Folks would probably drink their 12 beers, then even buy 4 or 5 more at $ 3.50 each… sounds like a win-win, to me….
May 18th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
cgriff
agree entirely, especially your last two points. md house leader md michael busch should take much of the credit and blame for md racing being in the state it is in. (excuse the pun, but it is a not good state for racing.) i saw him quoted the other day as saying that kentucky racing was doing well and it did not have slots. uhuh.
also, the infield changes were necessary. how long was it going to be before someone was seriously injured or worse in that drunken slugfest. remember the guy who ran onto the track and tackled artax a few years back? how many drunk drivers spilled out of the gates after every preakness? i would not want the liability for that time bomb.
i agree with ray on many points too. i think jackson is good for racing and appropriately weighs the best interests of the horse and the sport. it was a great race and that was reflected in the handle.
May 18th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
What has racing done wrong this year? For starters allowing Jeff Mullins with a rap sheet longer than a Louisvile slugger to still be allowed in the game. I hope I WANT REVENGE can find a new barn.
What did they get right? The hue and cry when Zayat and Allen colluded to block the filly from making the starting gate.
May 18th, 2009 at 3:53 pm
–Ok-I am A Cop I Police these events and attend these events. At A forum I was almost beheaded for claiming the No Alcohol policy was a BAD one-As long as there are no riots. People getting killed.
Attention-Tradition Yes even us guys with a badge enjoy our beer and crazyness sometimes.
When you fan base is Not–You have NO room to tell the Partying crowd you are not wanted-One day out of the year horse racing looked cool to the crowd who we overlook-
Someone claimed I was in favor of the old infield so my brethren could have more details. No that wasn’t it-Mr Paulick understands now what I meant before- Like I said I have seen it both ways- and More is always better- the empty picture is more damming then we know—Especially if the Belmont fires a Dud with no compelling storyline to grab Joe Q Public from his early June doings—And they decide to go with the empty Grandstand-The sagging ratings—And the man on the street gig in NY—-Sir Could you tell me just one who is running in the Belmont Stakes—? Do you know what the Belmont stakes is..? Great for radio and late night tv—-Then Hack writers pick it up-Biased and all and run with it.
May 18th, 2009 at 4:16 pm
My six pack:
1. Can’t wait to see Zenyatta versus Rachael in the Breeders Cup.
2. Hope Borel gets back on Mind That Bird. Rachael could use a freshening and Borel’s presence on Mind That Bird would give the Belmont some badly needed spark.
3. The infield situation is lawyers run amok. If you have ever seen the infielders throwing up in the gutters on Northern Blvd. it’s quite a scene.
4. The Travers will be cool with Jimmy Jerkins horse coming back.
5. NBC did a fine job of covering the bru-ha-ha over the entry system with out making too big a deal over it. I hope they change the conditions of the race to include the Oaks winner.
6. The undercard races on both days were disappointing for their lack of quality runners.
May 18th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
If letting kids drink and puke all day in the infield created racing fans, then wouldn’t MD racing be in better shape today?
I have a number of younger friends (now in their 20’s) who went to the Preakness once and plan NEVER to go again because of disgusting conditions in the infield. One guy in particular is quite the frat boy drinker himself, but the up-ended toilets, the puking, and the heaving of beer cans at passersby was too much even for him. More people might show up for the infield in the future, when word gets around that you can move without being hit by a flying object or stepping in something disgusting.
Ray usually gets it right about the racing so I guess that means no Rachel Alexandra in the Belmont, which is a terrible shame. MTB almost caught her, the “brilliant” Borel notwithstanding - at least that’s how it looked to me in the replays I’ve watched (I was too far from the finish line to see it clearly on Saturday) - so I was hoping for a re-match.
The fact that MTB was unheralded says nothing about the strength or weakness of those who made it to the track for the first 2 TC races. MTB obviously had good credentials coming from Canada and a close look back at his previous less than stellar 3 yo performances showed that he was better than his finishes in those races. Maybe he was unheralded because he wasn’t with one of the fashionable trainers and too few people are reporting on racing these days for anyone to have time to go off the beaten path for a story.
May 18th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
I’ll go ahead and say it because no one else seems to want to…
If Calvin Borel rode Mine That Bird in the Preakness, he would have won. Mike Smith rode him well but was not familiar with him. Borel also knew how to beat him.
In the Triple Crown, a winning jockey should not be able to switch to another horse and a new owner should not be able to stiff the trainer that got the horse there.
Borel’s decision was just as sleazy as his Louisiana background would suggest. He has always been known as a sleazy jockey who would do unseemly things for the right price.
He and Jess Jackson deprived the horse racing industry of a chance for a Triple Crown winner at a time it needed it the most. They should be scorned…not praised.
May 18th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
Couldn’t disagree with you more. Jackson has not bred any of his winners. For any millionaire to walk into our sport and buy champions, it proves nothing. To say he is good for the sport, I have to disagree. Once again you are drunk on the victory of a great filly that if continued at this pace will undo all she has accomplished. She will at this pace follow the great fillies Ruffian and Winning Colors. What you fail to recognize is a little gelding if not stopped at the turn would more than likely be the 1st triple crown winner in years. A triple crown winner with a great story behind him. When Jess Jackson breeds a horse that can run, I will recognize him as being good for the sport.
I only wish you could speak from the viewpoint of a horseman, breeder, and owner, and then your opinions would be more credible. The rest is just ink.
May 18th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
What’s good? The TC prep races were alot of fun. Gave us a bunch of great horses to cheer for.
What’s bad? Alot of the these same horses got hurt and had to be scratched.
What’s good? Alexandra the Great. What a Star!!
What’s bad? Trying to keep her out. What scumbags!!
What’s good? That wonderful little gelding Mine That Bird.
What’s bad? Losing his jockey TWICE.
What would be GREAT?
If Chantal would be picked to ride MTB in the Belmont and WON
May 18th, 2009 at 6:34 pm
I’ve got an idea that will make everyone happy.
Pimlico officials should pick a Saturday a week or so after the Preakness.
Charge people $20 or so to go into the infield with all the beer they can carry. Let them drink, vomit, urinate, get naked, have public sex, throw full beer cans, fight–all the things they love to do on Preakness Day.
In fact, don’t even tell them it’s not really Preakness Day. They’ll never know the difference since they could care less about horseracing.
Everyone is happy.
The kids have their public drunk—-Pimlico makes the money on admissions and concessions, and those of us who go to the Preakness for the horseracing have a civil day at the track–just as we did last Saturday.
May 18th, 2009 at 8:14 pm
I hate reposting but I will. I know I am wrong in so many levels about the infield. And on that mountain is no place to take a stand.
But seeing that they are on the edge of a collasped.. Did they pich a proper time? I dunno I do not follow–I am not a tradditionalist. I say move it to a beautiful setting that is also a great destination. IE like the Super Bowl.–
Last I apologize if I seem to have come out forkids doing what they shouldn’t be. For a Father a Police Man, a man of morals–My last post really bothered me..
Now Being Disabled-((New)) This game saved my life.. And I want nothing but the best for it.. Honestly when I hear that it- or tracks may be in trouble–I actually get sick–It bothers me that much—This is what I have now—Until they can put all my myelin back–This is it–
May 18th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
I think everybody gives Borel way too much credit. He rode MTB well, but he did what the trainer told him to do. Rachel Alexandra is a great filly, that was ridden by a jockey who doesn’t get in her way.
I thought it was wrong for him to get off of MTB, but Mike Smith rode that horse well. If he doesn’t have to check he wins the race. Anytime a horse comes from that far back he’s going to get into trouble and not win every race. Borel or no Borel.
Race fans will remember a horse named Strike the Gold, who came from way back, and he had the same problems every race.
Pimlico has been a disgrace for a long time, and Maryland(legislators,DeFrancis family, etc.) should be ashamed of what they have failed to do to make it a respectable track.
It seems to me racing gets more face time now than it ever has. I am a sports fan, so I watch Sportscenter and listen to ESPN radio and they talk about horseracing more now than they ever did before
Who cares about the infield?
I think it is an average group of 3 year olds. The attrition rate is part of the grade, because you will never see some of them race again. Some will try to return, but they will reinjure themselves.
I don’t think the horses are prepped for the races right anymore. Trainers have gone to training horses harder on a day to day basis, and racing less. I think it should be switched. Train less and race more, but with trainer stats, blah, blah. that’s not going to happen.
May 18th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
The jury is still out on Jess Jackson. Taking the filly away from Hal Wiggins and turning her over to Asmussen is what bothered most people. He did the same with Curlin…took him from his previous trainer ( a woman I think) . While Asmussen handled himself with class by giving Wiggins the credit this time he has had one too many medication violations for my taste. One thing Jackson has done right is sue his agent for ripping him off in the sales ring.
The decision to stop the uncontrolled frat party was a good one. What racing needs is not only more fans but more fans that bet on the horses. Ray, you forgot to mention that the handle was significantly higher this year. Racing needs more stories like Mine that Bird , Rachel Alexandra , General Quarters etc. A $9500 yearling who turns into a Kentucky Derby WINNER is a great story. Let’s hope he stays healthy and continues to race for a few years.
May 18th, 2009 at 9:28 pm
Ray:
Not enough said in praise of Mary Lou Whitney:
1. She spurned that ugly Allen-Zayat conspiracy though, as the breeder of Birdstone, she stood to gain by a MTB victory.
2. Acccording to reports, she is keeping Birdstone’s stud fee at $10,000 in full knowledge she could double or maybe triple the fee.
Then again, maybe he’s fully booked by.
3. Out of the whole sorry mess, which surprisingly turned out to be the best thing to happen to racing in years, she showed class among a bunch of characters she wouldn’t sit down with for tea.
Other reactions:
Jackson deserves credit for offering up Rachel for the Preakness; he really didn’t have a hellovalot to gain financially and much to lose. I can only believe he did it to pump interest in a sport slowly sinking in quick sand. Remember: he kept Curlin racing into his fourth year.
As for the Belmont, hope they give Rachel a break. Maybe just send her around the track for a spin between races to pump interest.
Off-the-wall idea for the Preakness infield: coolers okay but only lugging a child aged 12 months to 12 years with you; no admission fee for the pre-teens. It’s a non-starter but at least it’s an idea.
May 18th, 2009 at 9:37 pm
JR, are you saying that only the person who breeds and races their “champions” are truly worthy? Jackson bought Curlin off a maiden win and won 2 HOY trophies with him. He bought RA with an eye to breeding her to Curlin. Jackson is fairly new to the game and not everyone starts out by buying a breeding farm. Jackson has bought plenty at auction and padded the pockets of many breeders. Most of those breeding at the high end today are breeding for the marketplace so clearly “racing and “breeding” interests are not always the same.
I get a kick out of reading blogs and bulletin boards on racing. AFTER the Oaks, before the Derby all I read was whining about how Dolphus Morrison was a sexist pig because he believes in fillies staying with their own gender. The majority of the ranters felt that RA should have gone to the Derby. After the Derby outcome even more joined the chorus! Then, in steps Jackson who buys RA and points her for the Preakness. All I hear is that Jackson is a jerk, he stinks for taking the horse from Wiggins and that the Preakness is a BAD idea! What?
Jackson uses Asmussen as his trainer. If he buys a horse, it will go to Steve. I know that everyone likes Wiggins and he doesn’t get alot of “big horses” so I understand the sentiment. I felt the same way when Lawyer Ron went to Pletcher, except that LR wasn’t sold to a “Pletcher client.” The fact is that when a man buys a horse for $10m, he’s going to give him to the man that just trained a 2x HOY for him. Asmussen has been upfront in giving credit to Wiggins. He’s stated that she was in wonderful shape and fully prepared, all Asmussen’s barn has done is “keep her happy” by his own account.
I hope Calvin gets the mount back on MTB. He can win his own Triple Crown.
I hope that some of the fallen of this spring return. We lost an awful lot of the top horses from this crop.
May 18th, 2009 at 11:21 pm
Sysonby you live up to your beliefs as that horse was purchased by James Keene a wealthy owner that tried to cull him because of his conformation. Paulick states Jackson is good for the sport. Why, because he has the money to buy himself into the sport. That makes him good for the sport. By the way, he did purchase Curlin off a maiden win. A 12 3/4 length win at Gulfstream with a 101 Beyer figure. Jackson openly admits he has a team of buyers that review video films on all racetracks in the country on a daily basis. He doesn’t know the eating end from the other and everyone says he is great for the sport. Having a lot of money does not make anyone good for any sport. George Steinbrenner sound familiar. The real credit if you have to have some hero in the Curlin deal is Kenny Mc Peek. He bought the horse in the sale for 57k. That man is a real horseman and maybe has the best eye for talent in this country. It’s easy to buy a made horse.
I can only hope that your heroes Jackson and Asmussen can successfully campaign horses in a climate of zero tolerance as Curlin couldn’t. We are in a different situation now and only the best stallions will produce the best foals out of the best mares and for the uninformed I am not speaking of the best racehorses. I wish Jackson in his breeding endeavor with Rachael and Curlin but I have two words for that “Green Monkey”.
May 19th, 2009 at 3:36 am
“What would be GREAT?
If Chantal would be picked to ride MTB in the Belmont and WON”
Not that I think that Jackson listens - boy, I could be wrong on this, but it’s not usually a talent that is commiserate with great wealth - but let’s just say he has an off day, skims around the Paulick Report out of sheer boredom, and actually sees the wisdom in the above plea.
That - and 500,000 women showing up at the Belmont Stakes, each with about $500 & up to bet on Chantal & Rachel - might make an impression on someone who otherwise can come and go as he pleases.
Heck, Jess, down the line, some of those ladies might even buy a Curlin-Rachel baby from you, with the money they already made on the Preakness.
It’s called creating a market, and it’s what can differentiate you from the Phipps and the other inert cue balls in racing, who, I suspect, you detest.
Take a chance. Enter Rachel. Hire Chantal to ride.
Wouldn’t you like members of the media - the REAL media, not the 3rd-string, inarticulate, & condescending ESPN boobs - filming a once-in-a-lifetime bonanza, and the credit for it being appended solely to your name?
Do it.
May 19th, 2009 at 10:31 am
[...] Thoughts By Paulick One of my “first reads” each morning is Ray Paulick’s blog “The Paulick Report”. Sometimes his thoughts and opinions are provocative, but more often than not I find myself [...]
May 19th, 2009 at 1:43 pm
Oops. Cringe. Sorry! Please make that, “commensurate.”
(Like Leno says when he’s bailing out of a bomb - it sounded “right” at the gag writers conference, at 3 a.m.)
But the point is, if you get 16,000 at Remington Park for the Preakness, square that number for the Belmont Stakes with Rachel & Chantal in the gate.
And without them, never - ever - complain again that racing has become a TV studio (internet wagering) “sport,” being run at “ghost town” tracks.
May 19th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
A return of the bonus money - first underwritten by the tracks in 1986 then for 1988 by corporate sponsors (the first being ironically ‘Chrysler Motors and their “Triple Crown Challenge”) - makes sense largely for the single tv broadcast network who airs all three races.
We absolutely have to restore this to being singularly on one of the big three. NBC has promoted the heck out of this years races - even post Preakness which was most gracious as ABC now takes over. The return to NBC has been solid gains with viewership and awareness.
If for example NBC did have all three legs then why not entice GE/NBC to buy the insurance contract that covers the bonus and further reap the benefits of people tuning in? Insurance wise a $10M isn’t that much more then a $5M one yet for the broadcaster they can leverage that mighty dollar to even more must see tv.
Otherwise I don’t think - until all the title sponsorships are dead at each respective track - any one firm will step in and use the TC as a platform. For example Budwesier was almost the next TC sponsor after VISA stepped away from all three and signed on for just the Derby. However A-B didn’t like the broken tv coverage and by then Churchill inked a title sponsor deal with Yum!
May 19th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
[...] Ray Paulick also doesn’t think she will run in the Belmont, and, envisioning a lackluster race, urges a return to a bonus for the horse who has the best cumulative finish in all three Triple Crown races. [...]
May 19th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
Billy Crockett you are an idiot!
November 23rd, 2009 at 12:30 pm
I used to love Preakness Day, but the event has priced me out, and the experience has declined.
I liked to bring in my own alchohol, tip the community kids with their wagons, and just have a great time. Unfortunately, the Maryland Jockey Club has taken this away. Ticket prices have risen every year, and costs have increased, as the experience has decreased.
Bad decisions have consequences. The MJC can close their eyes all they want, and pretend that everything is better now, but I know different. I guess the only way to answer this group is to keep my $$$ in Pa. No more hotel, tolls, ticket prices, taxes, and all the beer I want at home.
Good luck Preakness, you will need it! You killed the golden goose. Congrats.
January 1st, 2010 at 10:37 am
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