Tail wags dog

Wednesday must have been the windiest day ever in Ozone Park, where the gusts off Jamaica Bay can be a test. Even though the average departure and arrival delays at Kennedy International were a mere 15 minutes, which is probably less than normal, and skies were clear and blue, the proof that confirms Wednesday as the windiest day ever is this: The Aqueduct card was called off after the third race after the jockeys decided that it was too windy to ride.

A weather-related cancellation is not unusual at Aqueduct, but though the wind has often blown at near gale force during the afternoon, the only question usually concerns the direction – Frontrunner’s wind? Closer’s wind? Cancellation wind? Don’t recall seeing one of those before. So, Wednesday must have been the windiest day ever at Aqueduct.

The trouble with jockeys is that if they refuse to ride, there’s not much you can do. It is difficult on the spur of the moment to find a bunch of 112-pound replacements with the proper license When they walked into the paddock for the third race at three minutes before post, it was obvious that a meeting had been in progress and jockeys only have meetings when they are considering taking the rest f the day off. Best guess is that the jocks wanted out after the second race but agreed to ride the third to appease the management but probably had no intention of riding the fourth race.

Horses are not the only ones at the track less tough than they used to be and when a group of rider, most of whom will be at elsewhere at income tax deadline, decides not to ride when cancellation is absolutely unnecessary, they do so at the expense not only of the association, but of owners and trainers who have brought horses to Aqueduct for the purpose of running and earning money. They, however, seldom if ever come up during those between-race conferences that seem only to end in one way.


Another voice:

While the rumor mill surrounding negotiations in Albany has been eerily silent of late, the New York racing franchise dialogue continues and a variety of opinions, primarily those of concerned participants in the industry, too often lacks a forum.

The author is president of International Racing Management, Ltd.

January 30, 2008

VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL

The Honorable Elliot Spitzer, Governor of the State of New York
Executive Chamber, Albany, New York

Re: “Open Letter from Owners-Trainers-Breeders-Agents-Farmers & Fans of NY Racing”

Honorable Governor:

As the new Governor you deserved to have your people involved in choosing a franchisee to run NY Racing; but reasonable folks would also agree that it is incumbent upon you to be mindful of how difficult and discouraging it has been for those who love and whose livelihoods depend on racing, to watch the racing train wreck. Horsemen everywhere are appalled with your proposal to install VLTS at historic Belmont Park – site of the final leg of the Triple Crown and more Grade I Races than any track in the world. Your statement [Newsday (01/22/08) “Spitzer backs VLTS] shows a dearth of appreciation for Belmont Park as a revered national treasure; and NO REGARD for COMMUNITY EFFORTS (Elmont / Floral Park) to preserve and beautify it.

The Albany culture speaks about racing as if it were a proposal to improve a landfill or a state park! WHAT WILL IT TAKE to impress upon you that we have a responsibility to preserve Racing’s history, quality and tradition? We need to GROW Racing; not kill it with the SLOTS!

Governor, we APPEAL to you to seize the moment: KEEP THE TRACKS PRIVATE: We ask you to Re-open MOU talks with NYRA, thereby freeing it to negotiate a merger with Capital Play - the only entity that has the financial wherewithal and comprehensive plan to allow the new entity to begin immediate negotiations with the State and NYSRWB Re: 1) Getting Aqueduct’s VLT Engine up and running. (CP has a brilliant plan to turn “A” into "JFK’s waiting room”). 2) Rolling OTB's and Racing into one operation. 3) Solving Horsemen’s VLT & Simulcast Revenues.

Sincerely,

Pamela Stokes Donehower


Aqueduct: Jan. 31

The ledger for the first month of 2008 closes with two potential plays.

Race 7: Mr. Nobody
Race 8: Dill or No Dill