Dimes in New York!

This Sunday at Belmont brings us the arrival of Curlin, Lawyer Ron, Ginger Punch, Discreet Cat and DIME SUPERFECTAS!!!!!

"10-cent superfectas will be available on-track, through NYRA Rewards Telebet and to the NYRA Simulcast Network. The wager will be available for both live and simulcast races (if offered by the host track). At this time, fans on-track will be able to place 10-cent superfectas at self service terminals only. NYRA Rewards internet wagering on the 10-cent superfecta will be available online as soon as the internet wagering software is successfully updated."(Bloodhorse)

I'm not sure what "as soon as internet wagering software is successfully updated" means, but I'm assuming that it means "Not on Sunday". That's OK, I'll be at the track.

The Slot Proposal Has Been Made

Well......Governor Martin O'Malley has official released his slot proposal to the citizens of Maryland.

O'Malley said his plan calls for up to 9,500 state-owned and operated machines at several locations throughout the state, including racetracks and what O'Malley referred to as "destinations". When the plan is fully implemented after four years, O'Malley said slots would pump as much as $550 million annually into the state.

An additional $100 million would subsidize Maryland's horse racing industry, he said.

The subsidy to horse racing is great. The breeders, owners, trainers and so on must be thrilled. What do the fine people at Magna think about state owned machines? They just purchased the remaining 49% of the Maryland Jockey Club yesterday, and they will never see a dime of the slot money. The purses will be increased at Laurel and Pimlico, but will that increase attendance at the tracks? If the state plans on putting these state owned and operated machines at race tracks, will they track owner get to charge an arm and a leg for rent? I hope someone can give me some clarifications on this, and an economics lesson?????

Magna exercises option

Magna Entertainment Corp. is exercising an option to buy out the minority owners of the Maryland Jockey Club for $18.3-million.

The transaction “was specifically contemplated in our recently announced debt elimination plan, and reflects our intent to focus the business on our core strategic racetracks,” Magna Entertainment chairman Frank Stronach stated Monday. The five-year option arrangement with Joseph De Francis and Karin De Francis was set to expire in November.

“From the time we acquired control of MJC in 2002, we have intended to acquire the balance of the shares in the company,” Mr. Stronach said.

“MJC is a core asset of MEC, and while thoroughbred racing in Maryland is currently facing many difficult obstacles, we remain optimistic that with the assistance of other stakeholders horse racing in the state can have a bright future.”

Joseph De Francis, who has continued as CEO of the Maryland Jockey Club, and Karin De Francis, who has focused on the Preakness, “will be leaving MJC in the near future,” Monday's statement said, although Mr. De Francis remains a director of Magna Entertainment.

The changes are coming. De Francis out, slots coming in. It should be a fun ride!

Maryland Update 9/19

The Maryland Racing Commission was informed yesterday that the Maryland Jockey Club is working on a proposal for a new simulcast betting facility in Solomons (Calvert County). This would be the fifth OTB in Maryland.

The commission also heard a presentation from Tom Perez, secretary of the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, on his report to Gov. Martin O'Malley on slot machines and the racing industry.

Perez said the purpose of his report was to determine whether Maryland horse racing should be saved. The answer, he said, "Is a resounding yes." He said his report also examined the impact of slots on communities.

"There are those who have strong objections to them," he said. "And that's fine. We welcome their opinions. That's what democracy is about. Everyone is allowed an opinion, but there is only one set of facts ... that's the information we're trying to get out."


On the slots issue, Perez said during his presentation that his report analyzed how much money is generated by slots in surrounding states. He said that while he has been told slots don't always generate the large sums of money people anticipate, he said the first six months the machines operated in Pennsylvania this year $5 billion was bet.

Perez also said he examined whether slots contribute to increased crime.

"There are those who argue that slots are a regressive tax on the poor and that crime will increase," Perez said. "Either of those arguments would be powerful -- if they were true. But we've found absolutely no connection. In fact in the towns that have added slot machines crime has gone down, primarily because people have jobs."

Well, we now know that the Governors slot proposal will benefit the horse racing industry. We now have to wait to see how much!

No Official Word Yet

According to the front page article in todays Baltimore Sun, the Governor has not tipped us off as to how horse racing will benefit from his slots plan. All we know is that the Governors plan will be a compromise between the House and Senate plans that passed each house two years ago. Stay tuned. It should be an exciting day!

This just in......

I just heard on the radio that Governor O'malley will be calling a special session of the General Assembly to pass a tax and slots bill. Will that slots bill include benefits for the states horse racing industry......Stay tuned.

Sunday Morning Links

- The Baltimore Sun has an article about horse racing on the front page of the Sunday paper, above the fold. It must be a slow news day. It is not a feel good article, but it is press for the industry.

- Asbury Park Press has an article about New Jersey racing that kinda resembles the Sun article about Maryland racing.......Hmmmmmm

- While we are talking about problems with racing......Magna announced that it will sell off the property adjacent to Laurel Park. I guess the plans for the movie theater, restaurant village, new grandstands, hotel, new road, etc. was just a joke!

The Green Disappointment

I couldn't miss the opportunity to see the debut of The Green Monkey at Belmont today. My wife volunteered to take our son to soccer so I could head out to the track. I met up with Patrick from Handride and we enjoyed the most hyped maiden race that anyone remembered. Unfortunately, the guest of honor failed to impress and was defeated by a horse that previously had a record of 5-0-1-1 and earnings barely exceeding 15 grand.

He did, however, look great in the paddock for the fans and his owners (click to enlarge):


Here he is crossing the finish line (behind Roi Maudit and Sixthirteen):


Due to the compromise of family, I couldn't stick around for the great races today including Rags to Riches. I wish the Coolmore folks better luck with her.

I'm Back

It has been a few weeks since the last time I posted. A vacation and the demands of life have kept me away from the important things, like blogging.

- Mark Fisher of the Washington Post offers up a good point in the article: Slots Can't Rekindle Romance of Horse Racing. I agree with Mark, but increased purses that lead to better quality racing can, will create a new romance for some younger fans.

- If Maryland approves slot machines during the next legislative session, is it possible that horse racing will get shut out of the benefit? Some people are already fighting to put the slots at golf resorts, and vaction destinations.

2 Geldings and a Sire

- Our old favorite Spooky Mulder was back in the winners circle with a 3 3/4 length win in an Allowance Optional Claiming event at Delaware Park on Sunday. It's great to see the 9 year old guy show his stuff again. He now has 30 wins from 75 starts and earnings of over $850,000.

- Declan's Moon is scheduled to run on Wednesday in the Pirate's Bounty Handicap at Del Mar. This is a huge drop in class for him after running 6th in the G1 Bing Crosby last time out. He has been working well, but if things don't go well here, the Jay Em Ess stables people should give a call over to the Sackatoga Stables people to see how to deal with a gelding past his prime.

- Declan's sire Malibu Moon is on fire with his 2-year-old crop. This is his first crop of runners since moving to Kentucky. He previously stood in Maryland. He currently stands at #10 on the list of sires of 2-year-olds with 10 winners from 35 starters. On Wednesday at Del Mar, his promising youngster Kanan Dume runs in the G1 Del Mar Futurity so more cash may be accumulating. He also stands at #26 on the general North American Sire Earnings List with 8 stakes winners this year.

In addition to Kanan Dume, keep an eye out for 2-year-olds By The Light who won a stakes at Finger Lakes on Monday, Moon De French that won at first asking for Bill Mott at Saratoga on Saturday, and Always A Believer that won first time out for Mott at Belmont in July.

- Did you know? A horse standing at stud is referred to as a SIRE only after one of his progeny wins a race. Prior to that win, he is merely a Stallion. I just read that and thought it was a subtlety that most people don't realize.

Ocean City, MD

The Bugboys (along with bugwives, bugkids and bugparents) had a family vacation in Ocean City, Maryland last week. Unfortunately, we missed the last day at Ocean Downs, but there were a few horse-related things that we came across.

First, we have been supporters of VLTs in Maryland for a while. Sure, they are not the ultimate solution, but they would provide a more level playing field for Maryland when competing with its surrounding states. Aside from some politicians and holy rollers, we haven't really come across any anti-slots people. But then we saw signs like these outside many of the hotels in Ocean City:

Aaaah. Now I get it. The resort areas that will lose visitors to the potential new casinos are funding the opposition. These displays were prominent up and down the Coastal Highway. I haven't researched the cash flow, but I'm sure that the politicians leading the anti-slots movement are receiving copious donations from the hospitality industry along the coasts.

On a more positive note, horse lovers have to see the wild horses of Assateague Island. For over 300 years, these horses have lived and thrived on the barrier island and visitors can travel around the island and see them up close.

Assateugue is a National Park and offers camping, hiking and water activities, but the big draws are the wild horses roaming around. It was interesting to see equines in a more natural environment than the race track.