The Lineup

Black Friday. The Day After. What's on your plate? Here's what's in my lineup today....

- Cybershop. (Already done)

- Football. ('nuf said...first game 11am)

- Leftovers. (mmm...)

- Beer. (return to football when complete and start cycle over for several hours)

- 4.29pm EST Clark Handicap (via TwinSpires TV). Leaning towards Etched, Blame and Macho Again. Nice card today at Churchill.

- 5.00pm EST Duke/UConn basketball on the WWL. Let's just say we are Duke haters here in the Space Station....My top 5 hate teams: (1) Duke (2) Duke (3) Duke (4) Patriots (5) Yankees; Honorable Mention - Duke.

- 6.55 pm EST Carrier Dome Concessions. Dome Dog #1, beer.

- 7.00 pm EST Carrier Dome, Section 114. SU-Columbia hoops. I'll be sitting next to the Gal with the Blue and Orange face paint.

- 7.40pm EST Carrier Dome Concessions. Take one guess (hint: see 6.55pm).

This is looking to be one fine day.....

Thanks for Coming!

It's the time of year to give thanks and I'll jump on the bandwagon to give thanks for a few things. It's fun to look back at last year's Thanksgiving post to see what I was up to and where I've degenerated to (mainly so I don't repeat myself)

- #1 on the list is always set aside for the Space Gal and the joy she brings me each and every day. How anyone could put up with my nonsense day in and day out is beyond me. Not to mention the wonderful gift of the Space Kid that she gave me this year. You're the best.

- The Toga Resident came through with the EquiSpace suite once again during my summering in Saratoga and makes for the best host and takes care of me every year. It is much appreciated.

- Being a member of the Thoroughbred Bloggers Alliance has been a wonderful experience, meeting great friends and sharing ideas. The opportunities this group has presented me over the past year at the Bloodhorse (latest post over there is up to 58 comments - a record for me!)and the NTRA were tremendous.

- I'm thankful that I was able to cross a few tracks off my list this year and they were both spectacular: Keeneland and Santa Anita. Our Kentucky trip was filled with great memories and meeting new friends. The Space Kid was able to knock off two great tracks (KEE and Churchill) in his first year of life. Experiencing the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita was definitely one of the year's highlights for me.

- I'm thankful I was able to visit Old Friends, and our guide Mercer, gave us a great tour of an outstanding property. We were so fortunate to be on hand to see EscapedFromNewYork (a Paragallo horse) arrive on the scene.

- I'm thankful we still have a pro football team in Buffalo (well, at least one that dresses up like one).

- I'm thankful that Fort Erie Race Track was able to stay open for quick jaunts across the bridge to get a quick fix.

- I'm thankful for $0.50 Pick-3's and Pick-4's.

- I'm thankful that I was able to meet some horsemen over the past year (the Obviously NY Stable guys and Bona Venture Stables) that have supported me and this blog.

- I'm thankful for having the opportunity to partially own a horse with Frank at That's Amore Stables, who did more than you could ever ask for as the managing partner. While it didn't end well for Higher Authority, Frank was professional and did what was best for our filly all the way through.

- I'm thankful I was able to attend my fourth consecutive Belmont Stakes (courtesy of NYRA's Media folks - thanks!) to see my favorite horse Summer Bird take the cake.

- Finally, I'm very thankful for everyone who stops by to check out this site and leave a comment every once and a while. I hope you enjoy your stay while you're here...so thanks for coming.

- I'm thankful for having a sense of humor.....even during hard times.

So off to the 'Cuse for the holiday weekend with the extended family. Happy Thanksgiving to all.

The Idea Guy

He's at it again, and I think he's on to something. Our fellow blogger and TBA founder, Handride (Handy, for short) has a post up over at Thoroughbred Times about some pretty sharp ideas for rebranding the Breeders' Cup. He writes about his system for determining who gets into the BC gate and to be frank, the actual gate to be selected via standings determined from graded stakes results. He came up with the standings idea years ago (see TBA Standings in the left margin) and now he's putting the concept to good use. The current Win & You're In system is confusing and to be honest, for the race I covered over at the NTRA (the Dirt Mile), only one of the four qualifiers even ran in the actual race. Not really a big lead in to race day.

Let's start beating the drum, folks, if Patrick can sell the editor of the TTimes, we're on our way to making some noise. A lot of my fellow bloggers have blown the "keep it simple" horn in the past and this is another avenue to simplify something that is currently a complex hot mess. All aboard?

Junior Seau, horse trainer

Longtime NFL linebacker (man, I thought he retired) Junior Seau is being featured on a new show on Versus called Sports Jobs with Junior Seau. On the show he tries out different sports related jobs. On January 20th of the new year he'll try his hand out as a horse trainer. This one should be must see TV for horse racing buffs.

Horse racing has proven to be a decent reality show venue with last year's introduction of Jockeys that has catapulted the images of racing jocks like Joe Talamo, Mike Smith and Chantal Sutherland. The fact that Versus jumps on the bandwagon can only be a good thing for our sport. Ironically, when I held a poll several months ago asking which television station would be best served to replace ESPN, this is the network that topped my unscientific poll decisively.

Seau's new show has him trying out different sports jobs such as cut man for a MMA fight, major league bat boy, stadium construction crew worker, NHL equipment manager, pit crew member (Indy Car), Sports Illustrated sportswriter, LPGA Tour caddie, a member of an arena conversion crew and a bullfighter at an event in Toronto (video).

According to Alan Pergament's article in the Buffalo News this morning, a Versus press release stated that "Seau will feed, groom, shoe, clean and care for racehorses, and then do the dirtiest job he's done yet … castrate a live horse."

Can you Say Ow?

My Dream BC Rotation

So as the anticipation builds (are you holding your breath?) for the Breeders' Cup Committee to release their rotation plan for the next few Cups (or maybe more), I am putting out there my dream rotation and in-depth reasons why. There is much debate on whether pre-setting the lineup makes sense or not. My dream plan rotates a synthetic track in every three to four years, rotates the larger venues more frequently, but adds a "boutique" track every four years also.

Of course 2010 is set in stone at Churchill Downs, so we'll start the dream rotation with 2011.

2011 - Belmont Park. It'll have been six years since the Big Sandy hosted. I remember it well being in Hilton Head on a golf trip in '05 with a few horseballs who skipped a back nine for the start of the Cup.

2012 - Del Mar. One of the "boutique" rotations, but also notching a synthetic track on the rotation. Warm weather, great facility, Southern California knows how to promote it....if they could pull this off it would be tremendous.

2013 - Churchill Downs. Why not? The facility is tremendous, they can pack 'em in and maybe the first ones under the lights? Plus it'll be the big 5-0 for me and a cool trip.

2014 - Aqueduct Racetrack. OK, stop laughing, it should take about 5 years to get the renovations done and since they'll have selected the winning bidder for the VLT's in 2012, it should be good to go in 2014. Hey, I guy can dream, no?

2015 - Keeneland. Let's give a brother a chance. Questions on the capacity and parking could be solved via temporary/infield seating and a shuttle service? It's a great facility and deserves to hold the Cup someday. Boutique/synthetic rotation works too.

2016 - Hialeah Park. Hot damn would that be great or what? Let it Ride, baby.

2017 - Belmont Park. The six year rule would kick in and bring it back to New York, New York.

2018 - Woodbine. Synthetic rotation and I'm only 90 minutes away which is why it had to make the rotation. May have to bring in some large space heaters. Back up plan: Santa Anita. 24 years is a long waiting period.

2019 - Gulfstream Park. Nice Florida weather, Halsey should have the place in ship shape and adding some additional seating on the stretch drive should do the trick. 20 year anniversary of the last GP Cup.

2020 - Santa Anita. Surreal setting, can't go longer than 10 years without a return visit. Great sightlines (20/20 get it?)

That's my ten year plan with some serious speculation regarding a couple of the venues...whaddya think?

Jauronimo!

Apologies for going a tad off topic today. Things have been a little lean around these parts since the early to mid nineties as far as our NFL franchise goes. As a season ticket holder and loyal fan for over 22 years, I think we've hit rock bottom. The past 10 years since the jaw-dropping homerun throwback in Nashville have been pure torture from a fan's perspective. We're through four coaches since then and nary a winning or playoff season. Unfortunately the town lives and dies by this team's fortunes (or should I say misfortunes) and it has been calling for Jauron to be fired since last season. Looking past a potential new coach, is the looming possibility of the team moving out of town. The current 91 year old owner (and horseman) Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. has kept his word in keeping the team in Buffalo, but once his inevitable passing occurs, his instructions to his heirs are to sell the team. My guess is that the team will end up in LA, a large television market with a new stadium that is currently in the works. A shame really, but the economics of the matter is where the end game lies, and looking in the mirror, this town can no longer support an NFL franchise. The likes of Jerry Jones have changed the landscape and face it, trying to sell luxury boxes and personal seat licenses in a blue collar town, just isn't going to cut it economically for the price that someone will have to pay ($800 mil?) to buy it from the Wilson estate. So, I guess I'll just enjoy them while they're still here and not complain about the front office or coaching staff, cuz we're lucky to have a team here when it's all said and done.

I've been reading a lot about the late Bobby Frankel (RIP) on the interwebs and it seems that most folks are on one end of the spectrum or the other (loved him or hated him). The story that he missed a race for his sick dog though tells a lot about what he must have been about. Too bad he couldn't have gone out a winner (Ventura) in the Breeders' Cup, but his last entrant at Hollywood Park actually won!

I dabbled a little on Friday night at Hollywood Park and set a personal record winning six straight bets on the first five races (including two trifectas betting less than $3 on each). That's one I'll probably never top. The streak was halted after one win at Aqueduct on Sunday afternoon (while trying to stomach the aforementioned football team) at seven. Not bad, eh?

Top Chef Final Five tonight....will my boy Eli hang on to make the Final Four in Napa and keep some bragging rights alive with the Saratoga Resident. Fingers crossed in the Space Station. Stay tuned. Check here for a preview of tonight's epi.

Sunday Sidebar

Anyone else sick of the Horse of the Year debate? Well you won't be finding any 4,500 word posts here discussing the merits of the two fine horses that completed fantastic campaigns in 2009. I almost posted a poll asking if anyone cares who wins HoTY....yes or no....but why add another poll on HoTY when there are 2,000 polls that are already out there? So here's some helpful hints to guide the voters in the soon to be historic (LOL) vote to be televised on a satellite station near you during peak racing season (January). Of course, if you want real data you can find Railbird's tale of the tape here which makes it pretty clear who the winner is, in this non-voter's eyes, which is what I based the 400 votes I have made so far on other blogs.

The chalk eating weasel will be chiming in with his pick. Looks like herring is going to go up another vote.

Don't follow horse racing? You can always vote for Pedro.

Word's out that Summer Bird is running a dirty campaign.

If you're not sure of the protocol for Horse of the Year voting, you can look it up in here.

Will there be an East Coast bias?

Or a West Coast bias?

Do not be distracted when voting because stupid is what stupid does....

When in doubt....you can never go wrong voting for Beer.