Remember to OPEN and FUND your Premier Turf Club account before March 13, 2010 in order to be eligible for the FULL PRIZE PAYOUTS.
---
Be sure and become familiar with the P.A. Downs contest wagering interface by participating in the "practice run" races that will be put online ALL THIS WEEK leading up to the official start of the contest on March 13. Contest races can be accessed by clicking on the P.A. Downs link in the menu bar, or by going to the P.A. Downs Forum.
The pace scenario in the grade II Rebel is neatly arranged. From seven entries, we have one with early speed, one that lags back, and five that can be expected to press or stalk. The stalker that finishes best should win.
An upstate New York harness track announced March 11 it wants to reduce pari-mutuel takeout rates to the state minimum in response to calls from horseplayers.
Forbes released its annual list of billionaires March 11, and several persons on the list of the world's wealthiest individuals are involved in the Thoroughbred industry.
According to an announcement on the Vinery Australia Web Site, the farm has "secured a significant shareholding" in Big Brown and the stallion will shuttle beginning this year.
Youbet, which is being acquired by Churchill Downs Inc., for a reported $126.8 million, announced its 2009 fourth quarter and full year earnings March 11.
Jockey Joel Rosario, second to Rafael Bejarano at Santa Anita in overall victories with 42 through March 10, fired agent Vic Stauffer and hired Ron Ebanks, who had represented cousins Tyler and Michael Baze.
Attendance has been light at this year's joint annual meeting of the Thoroughbred Racing Association and Harness Tracks of America at the Hyatt Grand Champions Resort in Indian Wells, Calif.
Location: Working on something very much like Deep Blue... but for horses.
Posts: 1,630
vCash: 92
The following was written for me by a fellow horseplayer who is a HANA supporter. I agree 100% with every word:
An Open Letter to Los Alamitos Horseplayers
Last week HANA Pres Jeff Platt spoke at a CHRB meeting in opposition to a proposed 2% takeout increase at Los Alamitos. The CHRB Board, despite the evidence presented that an increase in takeout rates would have a negative impact on handle and revenues, decided to institute the raise. They also included a review process, where by the CHRB would from time to time review Los Alamitos handle numbers between now and Sept 8th, 2010, in order to monitor the effect of this takeout increase on handle.
If the handle numbers come back weak, and show that horseplayers are reacting negatively to this takeout increase, there is a high likelihood it will be rescinded. If the handle numbers come back unchanged, there is a high likelihood the takeout increase will be made permanent. It is also likely, in our opinion, that if Los Alamitos handle is strong, that other California tracks will follow suit with takeout raises of their own. We know this would have a very negative effect on you, as a horseplayer, and in return on California Racing as a whole.
You, as a Los Alamitos bettor, have a very big say in all of this. Each dollar bet at Los Alamitos is a vote for making the takeout increase permanent, and a vote towards seeing higher takeouts across California. Each dollar withheld from Los Alamitos is a vote towards rescinding this takeout increase, and discrediting the notion that racing's revenue problems can be solved by simply raising the price of an already overpriced product. You are in the enviable position to have a direct and measurable impact on the future of California racing, and to make a statement on behalf of horseplayers everywhere.
We ask you to consider these facts, and we trust that your actions and decisions will help to bring about a better and brighter future for this game.
Please pass this message on to fellow horseplayers everywhere.
