Jackson Shakes The Bank Again

Tweet The awesome group called the TBA (that I am a card carrying member of) has decided to try a new twist this Friday. I'm going to call it the Winning (hot) Topic Friday (or WTF for short). After a short vote (or dictator decision) one topic a week is the buzz every Friday. Many of the member bloggers will be discussing today's topic and you can find them here.

Today's WTF: What do you think about Jess Jackson demanding a raising of the purse in many of the races Rachel Alexandra shows up at? Is it a good move for the track to pay this fee in hopes of more handle?

My thoughts on this week's WTF.....do you remember the deep closer Better Talk Now's rabbit? The horse's name was Shake the Bank, generally ridden by second circuit rider whose name escapes me that I met at a bar outside Gulfstream a few years ago, but I digress... That's what this situation reminds me of. Jess Jackson shakes the track's bank and he noodles an additional $150 thousand clams out of them and makes them change the date to meet "Steve's" training schedule. Talk about a WTF. Now, I know all the arguments that "it's strictly business" and why wouldn't he want to get the "biggest bang for his buck", and he "holds all the cards", yada yada....but man, controlling purses and race dates? Talk about the inmates running the asylum.

Now don't get me wrong here, I say big kudos to Monmouth Park, as they had the foresight (and apparently the cash) to communicate with the Jackson camp to make it happen, but where was NYRA? Asleep at the wheel? Counting their chickens with Rachel firmly nested in one of their coops (taking up space, nonetheless)? Chucky is "puzzled" and "disappointed"? How about he just got played by Monmouth (again - See Super Saver)? It's all about communication, and apparently there was none. It's like Deal or No Deal and Monmouth had a green lined suitcase and NYRA had a paper bag. I think it was a smart play by the Jersey Boyz. Hopefully, RA shows up after shaking the bank this time (see Apple Blossom).

Shockingly (this is sarcasm), the race didn't fit into Zenyatta's schedule. Although the Big Z could be showing up in Louisville with a few more Grade 1 wins notched on her record versus a big fat goose egg on Rachel's come November. Which will probably lead the Jackson camp to enter her in the Distaff (aka Ladies Classic) instead of the big hoedown.

In other news, these parts are getting excited about the Queen's Plate and Keith from Triple Dead Heat (who came up with the WTF idea BTW), our Canadian resident TBA blogger has a post up on the Queen's Plate over at the ThoroFan Handicapper's Corner (sponsored by TBA Blogs). Make sure you check out his thoughts and selections.

Lastly, check out a new thoroughbred blog by former Buffalonian and radio and TV journalist Scott Jagow called Horsepuckey. He is making a bold move to leave the journalism area and enter into the racing industry, enrolling in the University of Louisville's one-year Equine Business program. He's someone who's willing to delve into a new field and share his path with us. Make sure you check him out.