THE WEEK THAT WAS: AUG. 3-9
By Ray Paulick
It was a week of good news all around: Big Brown comes back from his Belmont debacle with a victory in the Haskell, Curlin plots his next move (in the Woodward), the select yearling sales at Saratoga held their own, and the movement to ban steroids gained momentum thanks to the Breeders’ Cup and Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association’s graded stakes committee.
It was a week of good news all around: Big Brown comes back from his Belmont debacle with a victory in the Haskell, Curlin plots his next move (in the Woodward), the select yearling sales at Saratoga held their own, and the movement to ban steroids gained momentum thanks to the Breeders’ Cup and Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association’s graded stakes committee.
Big Brown’s win wasn’t visually as impressive as his early-season triumphs leading up to the Triple Crown, but it was good enough for his connections to keep moving forward toward the Breeders’ Cup Classic, said to be his ultimate goal this year. Next up, however, will be as close to a “gimme” race as his owners and trainer can find. What’s being discussed is a specially created turf race at Belmont Park in mid-September.
So the New York Racing Association will now have two opportunities to promote the best older horse and best 3-year-old in America. Its new marketing wizard, Gavin “It’s Non-Negotiable” Landry, decided at the 11th hour before Curlin’s Man o’ War attempt to admit fans for free to Belmont Park, but the move was made so late that word didn’t get out until the morning of the race. That promotion didn’t impress John Sabini, the new chairman of the New York State Racing and Wagering Board, who chided the association for its efforts and reminded them that NYRA is not a “private club” doing things for the benefit “of their own board.”
NYRA has several weeks to promote the Woodward and over a month to promote whatever they’re going the Big Brown prep.
WHERE CURLIN GOES AFTER THE WOODWARD is still anyone’s guess. Majority owner Jess Jackson doesn’t seem interested in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, in part because he already won that race last year and seems bent on an international mission but, more importantly, because of the questions over the new synthetic surface being installed at Santa Anita Park, which will host this year’s Breeders’ Cup. That new surface, installed by the Australian company Pro-Ride, could help attract more international horses this year but almost might limit participation by American “dirt” runners, some of whose owners and trainers remain leery of synthetics.
HALSEY MINOR’S LOVE AFFAIR WITH HIALEAH PARK took on a new dimension when the Internet entrepreneur visited the track and met with owner John Brunetti on Aug. 6. Minor said he is optimistic that Brunetti wants to see the track reopen and many people believe that will never occur under the current owner.
Tempering the good news was Magna Entertainment’s latest financial confession that showed looming debt payments could force Frank Stronach’s company to sell all or part of some of its major tracks, including Santa Anita Park near Los Angeles. That’s a scary thought in a state that is already losing Bay Meadows in the north and is likely to see Hollywood Park closed within the next two to three years.
Maybe Halsey Minor will pay a visit to Santa Anita and save that track as well.
Copyright © 2008, The Paulick Report
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Tags: Big Brown, Breeders' Cup, Curlin, Frank Stronach, gavin landry, Halsey Minor, haskell, Hialeah Park, jess jackson, john brunetti, Magna Entertainment, New York Racing Association, nyra, Paulick Report, Ray Paulick, santa anita park, steroids, Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, woodward
August 11th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Has it occurred to anyone that Big Brown is still a young horse? In the Haskell, he wanted to get out in front and run but he has learned to listen to Kent Desormeaux and waited. Even though he increased his speed, I didn’t see that tremendous “turn of foot” he as shown in the past.
August 11th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
About Curlin, have his connections considered Arlington? I have been watching the racing on HRTV and the track plays fair and the racing looks really great.