Rosie In Florida

Laurel Parks leading rider (and a favorite of the Bug Boys), Rosie Naprvnik scored on her first opportunity to ride at Gulfstream Park. Napravnik took "Live by Request" to victory for trainer Peter Walder in Monday's third race. Agent Bob Klesaris and Rosie were down in Florida meeting some of the Florida trainers that ship up to Delaware Park for the summer. Napravnik will be moving her tack (again) to Delaware Park when it opens next month for the spring meet. We will miss her here in Maryland, and hope she remains healthy in 2008. Good Luck Rosie!

In and Out of the Shed

- Songster is heading back to training due to "unspecified infertility issues". Bloodhorse reports that none of the approximately 60 mares he bred are in foal. O-fer 2008. Bummer. I hope he comes back to New York because I was a fan and enjoyed being at Belmont to see him race several times. Here's a photo I took of Songster in 2006:

- Daaher has been retired and is heading to Shadwell to stand for $30,000. Now this just reeks of getting him off the track before he does any more damage to his reputation. He's done nothing since winning the 2007 Cigar Mile and one may think that the Grade 1 win was a fluke. So, the fine folks at Nashwan will print up all of their "Milers are the Best Sires" material, boast about the Northern Dancer lineage and the success of his full sister, Spun Sugar. Hmmm. I almost convinced myself that 30 grand is a bargain. But really, I was never a fan and in my opinion, Daaher is just not as good as everyone thought he was.

- Kingmambo is returning to duty after his latest recovery from his chronic injuries. It seems to me that he doesn't receive his share of credit as a top sire. Perhaps it is because many of his most successful runners are overseas. His book is limited to 60 mares this year at $250,000 per cover. He is a $15 million business by himself. That's what 72 stakes winners and impeccable breeding get you.

- It's early in the season, but the top of the General Sires list is interesting to me. Has the torch been passed to the next generation? Top two stallions Giant's Causeway and Pulpit are sons of perennial leaders Storm Cat and A.P. Indy, respectively. And Indian Charlie continues to throw winners while bringing a different bloodline to the top of the charts.

Teachers Love Slots!

Well at least in Maryland, "Teachers Love Slots". The Maryland State Teachers Association (largest teachers union in the state) voted Friday night to back the November referendum for slots. This is a HUGE step in getting slots approved in the state. I guess the standard threat of cuts to education worked this time. Hopefully the smaller unions will follow suit.

SLOTS=BETTER SCHOOLS
SLOTS=LOWER TAXES
SLOTS=BETTER HORSE RACING IN MARYLAND.

This all makes sense to me!

VOTE YES TO SLOTS IN MARYLAND!!!!

The Keeper of the Silks

NYRA is reporting the passing of Louis Olah, the "Keeper of the Silks" of the NYRA tracks for more than 40 years. I had the opportunity to meet Mr. Olah last year and I am grateful for the experience. In a brief 10 minute encounter, he shared with me many stories of his riding career, his position on the franchise uncertainty at the time, and the myriad of jockeys that he clothed.

Lou was one of the old guard at NYRA. One of the good guys. He cared about the sport and about the people. You don't work at 79 unless you really love what you are doing. He will be missed.

As I look at the photo us above, I can't help but think that he intentionally hung on long enough to make sure that NYRA would retain the franchise. That's the kind of guy he was. RIP Louis Olah.

"I have acted in a way that violates my obligations to my family"

Well, now we know what Governor Spitzer was doing while time was ticking on the New York State racing franchise. Apparently, he was spending quality time with high-priced whores as we raced to a December 31st deadline with no franchise awarded and no plans for improving the OTB situation.

As this is a horse racing blog, I won't even begin going into the cuts in social services this menace has implemented, nor the way he sold us on the B.S. of transparency and then went on to make more back room deals than anyone.

How freakin' arrogant do you have to be to think this would never get out? Did you see what happened to President Clinton? How about Jim McGreevey? How dare you attack Senator Bruno about using State helicopters for his trips while you were bringing prostitutes on yours.

I had such hope for this guy. I bought into everything that he was selling on his campaign. It was all crap. You are a disgrace, Eliot.

Real Quiet - Stallion Ad

Above is a legitimate advertisement for the services of Real Quiet.  I am glad to see that the folks at Penn Ridge Farm have a sense of humor.  I would much rather see a cartoon ad than a bad photo of a poor layout.   **Note to other farms** - ads like this are more memorable than a photo and mediocre stats.

Let the games begin!

It was only a matter of time before the propaganda war of (pro/anti) slots. In eight months, the citizens of the great state of Maryland will cast a vote for or against slot machine gambling in our state. The radio spots have started, the billboards are popping up, and I am waiting for Magna to roll out the big guns. According to todays Baltimore Sun, we will have no big guns. Actually, they say that Magna will pay for no guns at all, not big, not small. The article also said that William Rickman, owner of Ocean Downs (who would profit big time) is not going to do any heavy lobbying. Is all this true, or is this part of the game?

DRF Wireless (Again)

DRF does it again! The newest release of "DRF Wireless" is available for almost all platforms, and runs even better than the last time I posted about it. They also added a "Blog" tab, so you can read the formBlog while waiting for the train, or waiting for the next race. Once again, great work DRF!!!!!

Just some local news

We have not posted much lately, Sorry! Here are a few links to reports with a taste of Maryland horse racing.

Miracle Wood Stakes at Laurel Today. 7 furlongs for 3 year old colts. GREAT RACE!

Mid Atlantic Jocks calling New York home for the winter.

Joe De Francis says he will resign Monday from the board of Magna Entertainment. No surprise!!