Thanks But No Thanks; The Big Track Debuts

With the approval of Casino Gaming in New York State, eyes were on the Saratoga Springs area for a casino with Saratoga Raceway eying an expansion of the racino to include table games.  One problem is the local community is apparently not looking forward to it becoming a full casino destination.  The old excuses are being brought up, but they also fear a casino could hurt the runners at Saratoga Racetrack, a track which the whole city depends on for tourism.  While the law says a town can't stop a casino from opening, the law requires public support.  


Today is qualifying day at the Meadowlands, the first to be raced since the track configuration has been flipped.  Eight races are on tap, a number which may seem to be low, but with many horses still racing in Pennsylvania, the need for horses to get a line under them is not as great.

Perhaps the star on today's card is Arch Madness who is making his first start in the second qualifier since the Breeders Crown.  The 9yo will be competing against Mistery Woman who makes her first appearance since the Kentucky Filly Futurity.  The fourth race finds the talented 2yo colt Somestarsomewhere returning from his third place finish in the Breeders Crown final.  Another horse worth looking at in the seventh is JK Endofanera, a horse who has looked well out in the midwest and deserves a shot on the east coast.

Those who have followed this blog know I love those foreign horses making their debut in North American and today's sixth race brings us Precious Rose N, a five year old Falcon Seelster mare who shows Sokys Atom on the bottom.  The mare shows $145,098 on her dance card.  Her last start came in the Auckland Trotting Club Winter Cup, a handicap race where she finished fourth but was placed ninth.  Based on her recent races in New Zealand, it looks like she definitely benefits with the shorter distance of North American races.


Thoroughbred racing took a hit in the Washington D.C. area when a local television channel reported on a spike of fatalities at area tracks.  No specific reason given for the spike but the tracks were quick to disavow responsibility.  The fact the tracks are disavowing responsibility is nothing new, but talk about throwing trainers under the bus.  The tracks are certainly not helping themselves with the  statements they made; but it is helping racing opponents with their cause.