It's a Racing Festivus 2011!

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It's that time of year where we dance around the Festivus Pole and discuss Racing’s 2011 Feats of Strength and Airing of Grievances. If you remember we had our initial Festivus post in 2009, and came right back in 2010. We're all about tradition here at Space Central.

After downing a delicious Festivus dinner and a few Festivus ales we're ready to unveil our 2011 Racing Festivus for the rest of us...

"Feats of Strength"

-          Rapid Redux’s Streak. Was there any question that the little starter allowance engine that could, would crack our Festivus Feats of Strength list after winning 21 straight, 19 in 2011?

-          Resorts World Casino Construction Workers. The Aqueduct racino project that was completed, pretty much on time, in New York, nonetheless?

-          Shackleford’s Preakness. The horse that shouldn’t run more than a mile, turned back a late game effort by Derby champ Animal Kingdom to take the second jewel in Baltimore in May. It was a yeoman effort by the big guy, so he makes our “feats of strength section.”

-          Pletcher’s Saratoga Meeting. The Toddster just blew them away at the summer place to be. His 38 training wins was unprecedented and his nearest challenger, Mechanicville native Chad Brown, had 22 wins.

-          First Female Jock to Win Big Cap. She had to sweat out a ten minute inquiry, but Canadian jock Chantal Sutherland became the first female to ride the Grade 1 Big Cap winner Game On Dude at Santa Anita Park in March.

Ok, so here’s what you’re really looking to get after, my annual airing of grievances…also known as “I’ve got a lot of problems with you people!”

“Airing of Grievances”

-          ESPN anchor Stan Verritt. Courier-Journal vet Jennie Rees took him to the woodshed for his asinine comments about Rapid Redux. Good thing they don’t cover horse racing….uh wait…oh. She’d like to send a big Animal House float over to Bristol, care of Mr. Verritt.

-          Maryland’s cluster___. Frank from That’s Amore Stable has his annual grievance airing on the state of Maryland racing, some things never change.

-          NYRA $0.50 Pick-3 wager. C’mon man, you gave us the $0.50 Pick-4, cough up the Pick-3, you can do it. I won’t even ask for the 50 cent tri this year (but if you give me the P3 this year, I’ll be sure to ask next year).

-          TwinSpiresTV working on my iPad. I’m not a real big fan of the mobile TwinSpires on the iPad, but I dig the PC version where you can bet right on the screen instead of having to go back and forth. (See last year’s Apple v. Adobe – “what are we in fourth grade?” grievance.)

-          Secretariat’s Belmont Scene. Really Disney, you filmed it at Keeneland? The biggest and most historic scene in the movie and it was filmed on polycrap?

If you have any of your own grievances to air, feel free to air away in the comments, tiz the season, you know.  Merry Festivus, one and all!

It's a Racing Festivus 2010!

Tweet It's that time of year where we dance around the Festivus Pole and discuss 2010 Racing's Feats of Strength and Airing of Grievances. If you remember we had our initial Festivus post in 2009, and we're all about tradition here in the Space Lab.

After downing a nice ham and a nice Pepperidge Farm cake adorned with M&M's for dessert (the Festivus dinner) we're ready to unveil our 2010 Festivus for the rest of us.....here on Festivus Eve.

"Feats of Strength"

- Calvin Borel's forehead vein. The Bo-Rail forehead vein was a-poppin' in the Breeders' Cup Marathon post-race festivities. Eyes buggin', fists swingin'....that dude was showin' some real strength (for a short guy) who was ready to wrestle Javier Castellano to the death. Borel also won his 3rd Derby in the last 4 years (a record) which gives him the leg up on our Feats of Strength list.

- Cliff Berry's 7 win night. Jockey Cliff Berry reeled off seven wins on Friday December 10th at Remington Park in Oklahoma City. This coming on the heels of a five win card on the day before.

- The Toddster Captures 3 Breeders' Cup Races. Pletcher, who prior to 2010, has struggled in Breeders' Cup races won three races over the two-day event, all with 2-year olds. The Pletcher machine rolls forward towards the 2010 Derby once again.

- Steven Slater. Legend has it that Jet Blue flight attendant lost his cool with a passenger at JFK, grabbed a beer, popped the emergency chute and slid off the plane, caught a cab to Aqueduct and made a significant wager. Well played, sir.

Ok, so those are the 2010 feats of strength.....but I'm sure this is what you can't wait for...

"The Airing of Grievances"

- NYCOTB's shuttered? I need my fix to make a bet in Manhattan and they want me to take a bus to the Big A?? C'mon Man.

- CHRB Takeout Increase. Horseplayers be damned. C'mon Man.

- No $0.50 P3, P4 or Trifecta Wagers at NYRA Tracks. Take a chapter from the Keeneland and Churchill folks.

- No National Pick 4. I know I've been beating this drum hard lately...but c'mon NTRA, this was a good gig when you were rocking it in 2005 and 2006.

- Adobe v. Apple. What are we in fourth grade?

- Maryland Racing, dead? Say it ain't so.

If you have any of your own grievances to air or feats of strength to mention, giddy up and leave them in the comments.

It's a Racing Festivus!

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Since it's December 23rd, what could be a better way to celebrate this year's racing calendar, but with a touch of Festivus. As you know, Festivus comes but once a year and features such things as "Feats of Strength" and the "Airing of Grievances." I couldn't think of a better year to highlight some Festivus memories and thoughts when it comes to Racing 2009.

"Feats of Strength"

- The Ladies Raise the Roof. Can you think of two races wherein the roofs came off their respective homes, than Rachel Alexandra's Woodward at the Old Spa or Zenyatta's magnificent stretch run in becoming the first equine female to win the Breeders' Cup Classic? Nope, neither can I.

- Bird is the Word. Any other year and Summer Bird is being mentioned in Horse of the Year. Winning the Belmont, Travers and Jockey Club Gold Cup were truly feats of strength. And let's not forget the little engine that could. "Who is that horse coming up the rail?" was heard in more than one living room on the First Saturday in May.

- Wood-tastic. I Want Revenge's performance in the Wood Memorial at the Big A in April was truly a feat of strength. After overcoming an awful gate stumble, IWR made up some serious lost ground with a furious close. One of the year's better races.

- Four in a Row. If winning four (count 'em) straight Grade I turf races isn't a feat of strength, than I'm Kobe Bryant (news flash: I'm not.) Gio Ponti served notice on the racing public that he is for reals after his fourth consecutive win in the Arlington Million in August.

Ok, so those are my feats of strength.....but I'm sure this is what you can't wait for...

"The Airing of Grievances"

- Jerry Hollendorfer. One of my brethren (blogger and beancounter) lights up the Tote Board on J-Holl. This one is simply: Game. Set. Match. Speaking of tote boards.....

- NYRA. Let's hope Santa brings some light bulbs to NYRA on Friday, as well as a copy of the American Racing Manual, so we can get Go For Wand's name right on the 2010 banner....

- Transparency in the Stewards' Booth. Yeah, you've heard me beat this drum before. I'm not stoppin any time soon. Take a page from our counterparts overseas and publish the stewards' reports and announce to the fans the results of inquiries.

- HANA Pool Party. Did they let the water out of the pool? Show us some results from the reverse-boycott. Did it work? I jumped in the pools and posted on my sidebar....but what say you, masters of the low takeout?

- NTRA blog comments. Welcome to the 21st century, it should take only a few minutes to moderate blog comments and have them show up. This turns off readers and bloggers alike. It's not that difficult (this grievance was brought to you by a non-techy).

- Aqueduct VLT contract. I Heart NY.

If you have any of your own grievances to air, today is the day, so giddy up and leave them in the comments. Thank goodness, that Santa Anita opens on Saturday so I can finally get my fix and wager on horse racing from the Great Race Place as my post-Festivus celebration continues.