Eyebrow Raisers

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Since I last checked in I've come across a couple eyebrow raisers that have peaked my interest.

The first one is a link from, of all places, a Buffalo Business First article that one of my tax partners forwarded me about a Toronto restaurant serving horsemeat and duck confit and calling it...wait for it....Quack 'n' Track. Really? I mean they can serve whatever they want, but it seems that the title of the dish is a bit over the top, no?

Here's a link to the Buffalo story and the Toronto Star article, complete with a picture. Man, I'm still scratching my head on the name of that dish. Do people have no sensabilities about them?

Next up is something that the Saratoga Resident passed my way about Governor Cuomo's proposed budget item that merges the NYS Lottery Division with the NYS Racing & Wagering Board (RWB). They do occupy the same building in Schenectady, so the consolidation of offices shouldn't be a big deal and I'm sure there is some duplication of work that can be eliminated.  I interviewed the RWB's Chairman Sabini last summer at Saratoga for The News, and I'm not sure he saw this one coming.

Here's the excerpt from the Governor's proposed budget:

"Merge the Division of the Lottery and the Racing and Wagering Board to provide a single entity for the overall coordination of gaming policy and regulation in New York State. The gaming industries constitute a vital sector of New York State’s overall economy, and their continued growth will contribute to economic development and job creation in this State. Gaming options both in and out of New York have expanded exponentially, but regulation of this sector remains mired in the 1960s."

The Assemblyman in charge of the State's racing committee tells the Saratogian that he supports the merger which would potentially create three separate divisions within the new agency. As the regulator for racing in NYS, you wonder if the larger money generating divisions will place racing further behind on the priority scale than they already are. It'll be interesting to see where this goes.

Space Tidbits

As far as what's been going on in my world, I'm an active pollster in the 3rd annual Wireplayers Derby Dozen poll which was released on Wednesday. I'm always happy when the proprietors use my commentary and I scored a couple comments in this year's initial poll. I was very excited to be invited back to contribute this year. The polls will be released every three weeks leading up to the Derby.

I had an article published in The News last weekend on the start of the Derby trail with some facts and figures on some of the key Derby preps...check it out here.

This Friday's online Post Time column was focused on the Grade 3 Withers at Aqueduct and Grade 2 Lewis at Santa Anita, both of which should generate some solid Derby contenders by the end of today.

Rooting for the Giants in the big game this weekend, the numbers 8 and 4 (if you know what I mean), and Andre Reed getting into the HOF. Really rooting for the numbers, though.  Have a Super weekend.

Wrist Slap

Tweet The New York State Racing and Wagering Board obviously didn't take any lessons from the nuns from my St. Rose of Lima (see knuckle scars). They handed out a measly seven day suspension to trainer Jeff Mullins in addition to a $2,500 fine. This is basically a slap on the wrist "as a result of his administering the medication Air Power to Gato Go Win prior that colt's scheduled start in the Grade 3 Bay Shore Stakes at Aqueduct on April 4." Sounds like they took a page out from the NCAA Sanctioning Committee on this one. Right when the industry can take a stand, and NTRA CEO bantering around about his Safety & INTEGRITY Alliance, this is the penalty that is doled out? Chicken change for a high powered trainer. Reduced from 15 days because of Mullins waived his right of appeal, it will be served starting the first Sunday in May, and will not deter a whole helluva lot from any of his training time of potential Derby favorite I Want Revenge. Basically it's like suspending a pitcher for a game when he's not pitching. Whatever. It's par for the course.

I watched the stakes races from Charles Town last night on my TwinSpires TV account and there were some great races to watch. I started with the sixth, as Western NY-based Bella Cavello Stables (and EquiSpace favorite) La Chica Rica was racing in a $55K Opequan Handicap and she fared very well finishing second behind Savethebestforlass with Gerald Almodovar riding his fourth winner of the night. It was nice seeing the big name jockeys like Prado, Johnny V, Castellano and Julien Leparoux showing up to ride for some big stakes money. Commentator petered out going around 3 turns in the Classic, which was won by my DRF Public Handicapper choice Researcher (and track record holder) who held off 27-1 Ea (dumbest name in racing) in the stretch to capture $600K. It was a fun watching the night races on the short track and seeing the big names at CT. No Big Chuck sightings, however.

Looks like Pletcher found his last place finisher yesterday in the Lexington, ironically, last year's Mr. Irrelevant, Monba, runs today at Keeneland in the Ben Ali Stakes. Nice call by Hank, by the way. (hey, I give props when props are deserved)

Gomez picks PoTN over Dunkirk. I think it's a big mistake. Speadsheet to follow.

With all the pirate stuff going on, I've been unusually quiet (as you all know my love of the pirate), but Space Gal informs me that the 2009 Northern California Pirate Festival is on tap in Vallejo, California in June, sounds like a hoot. If you're a twitterer, good laughs daily at Somali_Pirate. Know why the pirate couldn't get into the movie? Answer here.

Hammer Time

Tweet Last night’s article by Joe Drape in the NY Times on NY thoroughbred owner Ernie Paragallo, whose troubles have been well documented in the Paulick Report and throughout the blogosphere over the past week, mentioned something very interesting to me. The paragraphs that caught my eye follow:
“John D. Sabini, the chairman of the [New York] Racing and Wagering Board, also urged the state Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund, which distributes incentive awards to thoroughbred breeders and owners, not to issue any checks to Center Brook Farm, Paraneck Stable or Paragallo. Sabini is also on the board that directs the development fund.

As New York’s racing regulator, the board ensures that its licensees are of fit character.”
The New York State Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund mission according to its website is “to promote and encourage the breeding, raising and racing of quality thoroughbred horses in New York for the purpose of protecting and preserving New York's green belt sector and rich agricultural heritage.” The Fund, established as a public benefit corporation, receives its revenues from a percentage of on and off-track handle, as well as from some VLT monies. It disburses approximately $13 to $14 million (according to their 2007 audit report) as breeder awards and purses as follows: (a) to breeders of NY-breds finishing first, second, or third in races; (b) as awards to owners of NY-breds finishing first, second, or third in open races; (c) as awards to stallion owners, whose NY stallions have sired NY-breds finishing first second, or third in races; and (d) provide purse moneys for races exclusively for NY-breds. The remainder of the revenue is disbursed aside from the administration to advance and promote breeding and raising of thoroughbreds in New York and for the promotion of equine research.

What’s interesting about this whole thing is that the regulator (Sabini and the NYRWB) may not empowered to do anything and instead has taken a route through the NYSTDF to “punish” Paragallo for his “mistreatment” of NY-breds (of which Sabini is a Board member). Not a bad thing in my opinion and hopefully they’ll put any awards going to Paragallo in escrow until the NYRWB’s investigation is concluded. The reason they may not be empowered however is that he [Paragallo] may only be “deemed” a breeder or agent and thus not subject to licensure rules, since his daughter technically owns the stable. Of course, that doesn’t mean that another branch of the State (Vets?), the State Police or the SPCA can’t get involved. This brings to light that maybe the breeders should fall under some kind of scrutiny/licensure (not just trainers and owners) to give some recourse to the regulator to punish bad behavior. Heck, when explaining the situation to my pal Puma, he asked me “NYS requires a license to fish, but no license to breed a thoroughbred?” The fact that the tracks are now owned by the State evokes even more complexity into the regulating of situations such as this.

Thoroughbred Brief discusses the matter on her blog today also and points us to some precedence where regulators took swift, precise action in reprimanding owners for cruelty to animals.

Right on queue, the NTRA issued this statement, basically telling the authorities to take action, since they can’t. Too bad all they can do is make a statement. Might put the accreditation process for the Big A somewhat at risk, dontcha think?

More importantly than the NTRA statement, was a press release today by The Jockey Club, wherein Ogden Phipps, Chairman is quoted as saying the following:

“The Jockey Club fully supports and assists law enforcement agencies, the courts and racing regulatory authorities in the investigation of matters involving animal cruelty.

Furthermore, pursuant to Section V, Rule 19A (4) of the Principal Rules and Requirements of The American Stud Book, The Jockey Club reserves the right to deny any or all of the privileges of The American Stud Book to any person or entity when there is a final determination by a court, an official tribunal or an official racing body that such person has killed, abandoned, mistreated, neglected or abused, or otherwise committed an act of cruelty to a horse.

The Jockey Club has invoked this rule in the past and will not hesitate to do so again when appropriate. The Jockey Club maintains a long-held conviction that owners are responsible and should be held accountable for the care, well-being and humane treatment of their Thoroughbred horses.”

Golf Claps

Tweet I was having a bad day yesterday, so what do I usually do in this situation? Attend a mindless movie that will make me laugh at anything. So I convinced the Space Gal that we should go see Paul Blart - Mall Cop. If Kevin James (see dance move #1) can't pick up my mood, who can? Was pretty funny at spots, but at the end of the picture (and the house was packed) it received a rousing round of applause. Now, mind you, this movie has absolutely no potential to receive an Oscar or a Nickelodeon Kids Choice Award, for that matter, but the spontaneous show of hands started my wheels turning. Me, I couldn't even get myself to give it a golf clap. At least it took me to a better place than I was. Which brings us to today's topic: the golf clap. Is it the sarcastic applause as defined at Wikipedia, or the gentle applause (non-rousing version) in the first paragraph. I tend to use the golf clap more in the "way to go" positive mindset and not in the sarcastic sense. If I don't like something, I just don't clap. There you have it. So today, we'll give out a few golf claps and a few rousing applauses.

Golf Clap: For my college English professors Dr. Peter Schwartz and Dr. Gary LaPointe, both engaging academians, for teaching me creative writing and providing me with a waiver from having to take Handride's upcoming online video tutorial on basic feature-writing and opinion-writing methods. (ok sometimes I use the sarcastic version..tongue in cheek)

Rousing Applause: For Sully and his awesome piloting skills. Space Gal told me over coffee this morning, "if I ever hear "brace for impact," I sure hope Sully is at the helm."

Golf Clap: For The Lost in the Fog movie. I watched it (well, most of it, as there were some technical difficulties around the sixty minute mark) and really enjoyed the documentary chronicling this horse's incredible win streak ending on 2005 Breeders Cup Day at Belmont. I was at his King's Bishop victory at the Spa on that glorious Travers Day, and loved the fact that this horse won at multiple tracks away from his home base in NoCal. The passion shown in this film by the Fog's late owner was something to behold. I was moved at how they didn't rush this horse into the Derby and took the horse's interests to heart before entering him. Great race footage and personalities in abundance throughout the film.

Rousing Applause: For Valerie at Foolish Pleasure, who's hit the Top 60 in the DRF Winter of our Discontent Handicapping Contest. Go Val. Keep it up.

Golf Clap: For the New York State Racing & Wagering Board (don't worry I'm not going soft) for getting all of the industry stakeholders together on Thursday to discuss enforcement and implementation of the new Tote Standards Rule discussed in my post earlier in the week. It is my understanding that all three tote companies (United Tote, Amtote and Scientific Games), a majority of the state's thoroughbred and harness track operators, the various OTB factions and three monitoring companies met to discuss how this rule will be implemented. The rule went into effect on January 1. The regulators in this scenario have the horseplayers best interests at heart by protecting their wagers through a thorough monitoring process. Think of it this way, in the Casino business there are all kinds of cameras protecting the house from any misappopriations or illegal activity. This type of oversight that the NYSRWB is attempting to enforce is only protecting the integrity of the paramutuel pools and in turn, the horseplayer's money. For that, they get a golf clap from this side of the state.

Rousing Applause: For the 150-200 brave souls who turned out in subzero temperatures to the Save Fort Erie Racetrack Rally, unfortunately no word yet on the fate of the track. CanGamble writes a nice recap on the rally here. Buffalo News coverage of the event: zip, zero, zilch (in that order).

In closing, I made a solid attempt this week to turn the Saratoga Resident into the Buffalo Resident (again), to no avail, I guess Buffalo Resident just doesn't have the same ring to it...

Somebody's Watching Me...

Tweet I ranted back around New Year's Day about the new 10 day cashing rule in New York State, that started to affect horseplayers effective Sunday (the 11th) regarding presentation of various forms of identification now necessary to cash said ticket. On Friday, Nick Kling wrote about it again in the Troy Record stating that "According to NYSRWB spokesman Joe Mahoney, this rule has been in the pipeline for a couple of years. It is the product of a lengthy process during which time interested parties had an opportunity to comment, he said. The kernel of the idea for the measure germinated after the ‘Fix Six’ scandal at the 2002 Breeders Cup. You may recall that a trio of conspirators were able to access the pari-mutuel tote system and create a winning Pick Six ticket. The scheme was uncovered when longshot Volponi won the Breeders' Cup Classic, leaving the thieves with a bizarrely constructed wager which immediately set off alarm bells. cash such tickets. During the subsequent investigation into their activities, it was learned that the crooks practiced their craft by ‘harvesting’ winning tickets not cashed within a reasonable amount of time. "

However, what really caught my eye in the article was this snippet: "He also said the tote companies which handle the bets have been under “extreme pressure” to comply. They will be required to have an independant monitor in place to watch over wagers. The part of the ruling which applies to the tote vendors is on hold until a Jan.15 hearing with the NYSRWB takes place..." So I did a little digging into the Tote Standards Rule Part 5100 (which is quite lengthy by the way) at the New York State Racing and Wagering Board website and found out what the tote companies are all up in arms about (even though I'm told they informed about the rule change in May 2008). I think this section is the real meat of the rule, not the 10 day issue.

Part 5100.24 (l) reads as follows:

Independent Monitoring System.

The totalisator company shall utilize an independent real time transaction monitoring system approved by the Board. This system is to provide information in a read only format. At a minimum the system shall:

- Verify all transactions performed by the totalisator;
- Provide access to the Board and the authorized pari-mutuel wagering entity for monitoring activity;
- Notify the authorized pari-mutuel wagering entity’s mutuel manager or duly appointed representative when the system detects a discrepancy in the totalisator operation and/or with the independent monitoring system automatically. The mutuel manager shall determine the cause of the error and make any necessary repairs or adjustments pursuant to the rules and notify the Board immediately after each occurrence; and
- Perform other requirements deemed appropriate by the Board.

From my understanding only the Texas Racing Commission currently utilizes an independent monitoring system for its totalisator. The focus has been on the 10 day rule, but I think more important than that is this section of the standard. If implemented the following should be achieved:

- Preventative controls to ensure the integrity of the tote system.
- Reduce the probablilities of past posting.
- Keep the tote companies honest with keeping their systems up to date.

I'm sure the other issue for the tote companies, is that this new requirement puts additional cost on them (as independent monitoring software will have to be procured). Just who will they try and pass this cost onto? The track? The bettor? Monitoring comes with a cost, whose gonna buck up?

I did some further research into who actually sells this type of service. Wah-lah, ESI Integrity Services, Inc., who partnered with RCI (Racing Commissioners International) back in 2005 "to provide a national monitoring service and database for pari-mutuel wagering." With the meeting scheduled for Thursday, it should be interesting to see if this section is further delayed, what the tote companies' gripes are and who is going to pay for the software. Stay tuned.

I'm just an average man with an average life
I work from nine to five, hey hell I pay the price
All I want is to be left alone in my average home
But why do I always feel like I'm in the Twilight Zone. And...

I always feel that somebody's watchin' me...

~Rockwell

Television Games

Tweet My battle cry back in September was "I want my HRTV," and now it looks like I'll need to take Power Cap's comment to heart and look into the DishTV option. Why, you ask? Well, as reported in the At The Races blog, the NYRA signal is currently being withheld from our boys over at TVG (sponsor of our Sprint division). WTF. I am relegated to Tampa, Delta Downs, Mountaineer and some quarter horse races? I'm not a harness player, so those races (which I will occasionally watch and enjoy) don't interest me as much as the NYRA races, that I maintain most of my investments. So, it looks like TwinSpires TV on my laptop is in my future this weekend. At least I won't have to switch back and forth between the NFL playoff games. Chucky, NYRA prez, issued a statment that said "blah blah working diligently blah blah regret the inconvenience blah blah blah" Nothing reported at the NYRA website, of course. Hey, thanks for all the positive vibes and screwing all those folks who bet on NYRA tracks on TVG. So much for my resolving for being nicer in the New Year, lasted a whole 34 hours. Oh well.

While I'm at it, the New York Racing & Wagering Board (RWB) is also making waves with horseplayers, as reported just after the New Year by the Cristblog (he must have been bored posting at 12.15am) and by Moran, implementing a new rule regarding uncashed tickets over $300 within ten days, require more identification than someone trying to obtain a passport or admission to an R rated movie. The new rule, timed coincidently, to the political hiring of the new Executive Director, Ronald Ochrym, a former lobbyist who used to serve under the pork king, Michael Bragman from Syracuse. Of course they replaced a perfectly competent attorney in doing this, nice going RWB, I'm sure this lobbyist knows exactly what's he's doing as the chief regulator in New York. Pure political BS. As reported both at Crist and Moran's respective blogs, Chucky also opposed this new rule and continued by saying "blah blah further inconveniencing the customer blah blah no other state in the country punishes its customers blah blah." F'd again.

Ok, I'm done ranting. Happy New Year.

NYS Takes Over NYCOTB

Tweet In a press conference this afternoon, NY Governor David A. Paterson announced an agreement regarding the future of off-track betting in New York City. The agreement, reached by the Executive and legislative leaders, calls for a state takeover of the New York City OTB through the creation of legislation to create a new State public benefit corporation – the Empire State Off-Track Betting Corporation. Governor Paterson also today announced his intention to nominate State Senator John Sabini to the Racing and Wagering Board and to designate him as Chair of that board. The appointment requires Senate confirmation and upon confirmation Senator Sabini would step down from his seat. Daniel Hogan is the current RWB chair.

The State will try and substantially improve the profitability of OTB including eliminating numerous duplicative functions between the NYCOTB, NYRA and the other five branches around the state. A relocation of headquarters from Times Square to Aqueduct will reportedly save $5M in annual rent. The agreement also preserved 1,500 jobs that Mayor Bloomberg who was planning on shutting down the parlors if no deal was made.

Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno said:

"We are pleased to have played a key role in partnering with Governor Paterson, Mayor Bloomberg and the Assembly to craft a solution that keeps New York City OTB open and viable, and protects the jobs and quality-of-life of 1,500 employees and their families. NYC OTB is an important revenue generator for the State and the racing industry, and today's agreement is a victory for all parties involved."

The RWB job for Sabini appears to be a soft landing, as he faced a potential difficult primary against Hiram Monserrate in the 14th Senate District. He is currently the ranking Democratic member on the Senate Racing and Wagering Committee. The Queens County Democrat now doesn't have to suffer through a primary he stood a good chance of losing. As chair of the Racing and Wagering Board, he will receive a salary of $120,800 per annum for a six year term.

In more somber news, native Buffalonian (and huge Bills fan) Tim Russert passed away today at the age of 58. Russert was recording voiceovers for Sunday’s “Meet the Press” broadcast when he collapsed. It is ironic that he died on Father's Day weekend, he wrote a book about his Western New York childhood and tremendous relationship with his father entitled "Big Russ and Me." He will be missed.

PETA Asks NY Racing Board to Examine Big Brown

Tweet PETA is sticking it's nose in the regulatory business once again. In a press release located at the PETA website, they sent a letter to the New York State Racing and Wagering Board "asking for an independent panel of veterinarians to examine the horse to determine if he is fit to run in the upcoming Belmont Stakes."


PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk was quoted in the release that "Trainers and owners have already proved that they care more about prestige and money than they do about horses' safety. The New York Racing and Wagering Board is obligated to make sure that Big Brown doesn't meet the same fate as Eight Belles." Sorry Ingrid, no they don't.


NYRWB's response was a letter back to PETA telling them that it is up to the track vet and the racing stewards to make sure EACH AND EVERY horse that takes the track is sound to race, based on a State law already in place. The track vet has a responsibility to notify the racing stewards of an infirmary and it would then be the steward's ultimate responsibility to prohibit a horse from taking the track due to physical soundness.


I would think this would apply whether a horse was running at Finger Lakes in a $5K claimer or in the Belmont Stakes. It just goes to show they keep showing their ignorance by issuing these types of moronic requests without any knowledge of the law or industry practice. The fact that they talk about that his hoof "could take months to heal" shows even more their lack of knowledge when it comes to equine care.