In the May 11th issue of Macleans' Magazine it's reporting that according to budget projections the Alberta government will generate $1.5 billion from gambling; mainly the VLTs, slots and the racetrack. On the other hand royalties from the oil sands will generate about $1 billion. According to the magazine, Alberta makes more per capita from gambling than any other province. (Posted May 7, 2009)
According to a recent posting on the Daily Racing Form, Churchill Downs will be asking the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission on Tuesday to allow the current spring meet to be reduced from five days to four. This is due to short fields resulting from insufficient entries. If approved the reduction in race days could be in place as early as May 20. (Posted May 11, 2009)
Update: The request from Churchill Downs was approved by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission. Seven days of racing will be dropped from the spring meet; six Wednesdays and one Thursday. (Posted May 13, 2009)
Max Gibb, the CEO of the United Horsemen of Alberta is putting on a presentation on Thursday May 21, 2009 at 5:30 PM in the Northlands Sky Paddock at Northlands Park to discuss the Race Track and Racing Entertainment Centre at CrossIron Mills in Balzac, Alberta. Thoroughbred horsemen had asked last month for informatino to be provided from UHA regarding the status of the in limbo Balzac racetrack. There has been very limited information available over the past couple of years as to progress on the much anticipated facility. Hopefully, the meeting on May 21 will provide many answers to the questions horsepeople have about the future of the new Alberta track. (Posted May 12, 2009)
Update: For information regarding yesterday's presentation please check www.thehorses.com (Posted May 22, 2009)
The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission reported on May 11 that testing associated with this year's Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks has been completed and there were no medication violations. According to a news release from the regulatory body, tests were conducted by the University of Florida Racing Laboratory on the first four finishers in each race. The samples were tested to Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association North American Graded Stakes Committee specifications, commonly referred to as a 'super test'. The contract between the KHRC adn the University of Florida Racing laboratory requires super-testing to be performed on all Kentucky post-race samples and is not limited to graded stakes participants, according to the release. KHRC also reported the contents of syringes used to administer approved race day anti-bleeder medications were also analyzed and determined to be free of violations. All Derby and Oaks horses were sampled and tested for TC02; all test results were within normal physiologic limits. Since the 2008 Kentucky Oaks and Derby, the KHRC has instituted a number of safety initiatives that ban the use of anabolic steriods, toe grabs and the type of riding crops allowed. (Posted May 12, 2009)
The Preakness is shaping up to be an interesting race this Saturday. The post positions are out and Mine That Bird will be in the number two position with Rachel Alexandra in the thirteenth. In the 133 runnings of the Preakness no horse in the thirteenth post position has ever won however it should be noted that there has also only been fourteen times when the field has had thirteen or more horses running. As of today, Rachel Alexandra's odds are 8-5 and Mine That Bird are 6-1. (Posted May 14, 2009)
Re-printed from the BloodHorse.com blog stable - "Isn't it ironic? The sale Fasig-Tipton officials thought about ending - the Kentucky fall yearling auction - has been the source of the two most recent Kentucky Derby winners. Mine That Bird and Big Brown both were sold there. Does that mean we should all go looking there for a Derby horse? Probably not. But this development does show that good, useful horses can be found just about anywhere if you look hard enough and that buyers can get some really good deals while there is an oversupply of Thoroughbreds and the economy is being pummeled by a global financial crisis. The oversupply afctor certainly already was in play when Mine That Bird and Big Brown were sold. It's also heartening to know that you don't have to spend millions of dollars to buy a horse that can win racing's biggest events!" Posted May 19, 2009
Saturday, May 23rd is the 6th Running of the Four Year Olds and Up Sales Stakes. The Fillies and Mares Sales Stakes has a field of six with R Lucinda and Minimus matched up with Bears Artiste, Ubettorubet, Spicy Candy and Desperate Dancer. The Colts and Geldings Sales Stakes has nine horses entered with the 2008 Horse of the Year and 2008 Alberta-Bred, Teagues Fight taking part in the action. It should be an interesting race with last year's Three Year Old Sales Stakes winner Smile N Wave entered along with Slews the Standard, Bold Rosetti, Brazen Son, Diamond Doc, Hurricane Tiki, Wood B Nice and Garys Buddy. (Posted May 22, 2009)
The Game has merged with the Canadian Thoroughbred Magazine! The last issue of The Game will be published in June and Stacie Roberts will be the new Managing Editor of the Canadian Thoroughbred magazine. The first combined issue will be out in July. (Posted May 28, 2009)
