Friday, March 12, 2010

“Horse racing's 2 leading ladies make season debuts Saturday ahead of anticipated showdown (The Canadian Press via Yahoo! Canada Sports)” plus 3 more

“Horse racing's 2 leading ladies make season debuts Saturday ahead of anticipated showdown (The Canadian Press via Yahoo! Canada Sports)” plus 3 more

Horse racing's 2 leading ladies make season debuts Saturday ahead of anticipated showdown (The Canadian Press via Yahoo! Canada Sports)

Posted: 12 Mar 2010 05:03 PM PST

The two leading ladies of American racing return to action Saturday, with 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra making her season debut in New Orleans and undefeated Zenyatta revisiting the scene of her Breeders' Cup triumph in California.

If all goes well, the filly and the mare are scheduled to face each other for the first time on April 9 in the US$5 million Apple Blossom Invitational at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas.

But first they'll have to contend with members of their own gender. Rachel Alexandra takes on four rivals in the $200,000 New Orleans Ladies' Stakes over 1 1-16 miles on the dirt at the Fair Grounds. She'll carry 123 pounds - two to six more than the others in the race that goes off at 6:15 p.m. ET.

About 25 minutes later, Zenyatta faces eight fillies and mares in the $250,000 Santa Margarita Handicap over 1 1-8 miles on Santa Anita's synthetic surface.

"I know it sounds funny," her Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith said, "but I really think she's getting better."

Zenyatta, who beat the boys in the $5 million BC Classic in November on the same track, will carry high weight of 127 pounds - 12 to 19 more than her rivals.

That's because the race conditions call for the weights to be based on age and past performances. The six-year-old mare is undefeated in 14 career starts, easily making her the class of the field and the 1-9 morning-line favourite.

The weights were assigned by Santa Anita racing secretary Rick Hammerle to level the playing field, entice some competition for Zenyatta, and make it an attractive betting proposition.

"The better horses carry more weight and the least accomplished carry less," Hammerle said. "Obviously, Zenyatta is the best horse to come along in a long, long time, so she's carrying more weight."

He compared Zenyatta's weight impost to handicapping Kobe Bryant in a game of one-on-one, with Bryant needing to score 20 points and his competitor getting 15 from the start.

"If I only have to score five and he has to score 20, I've got a shot," Hammerle said, adding that such a setup would attract bettors. "All of a sudden you say, 'This guy played a little in high school, he's getting 15 points. Maybe I'll put $5 on him."'

Zenyatta has carried 123 pounds in her last three starts. The most weight she ever ran under was 129 pounds in last year's Vanity Handicap at Hollywood Park, where she won by 2½ lengths.

"She's a big mare," Smith said. "She carries the weight very well, so hopefully it won't bother her too much."

Zenyatta is the only winner of a Grade 1 race - the sport's highest level of competition - in the Santa Margarita. The more realistic goal for everyone else would seemingly be to place in a Grade 1 and earn runner-up money of $50,000. The winner gets $150,000. Four of her competitors are listed at 50-1.

"There can't be anyone going in there thinking they can beat Zenyatta," said Ben Cecil, who trains 12-1 shot Gripsholm Castle. "The spread has given us all an outside chance. Zenyatta's not getting away with it easy, but having said that, she's pretty good."

In New Orleans, jockey Calvin Borel figures to have Rachel Alexandra racing near the front, while Zenyatta and Smith will sit at the back of their field waiting to unleash her trademark run.

"It's just incredible what she can do," Smith said. "When she turns it on, whether you go slow, moderate or quick, she's got such a turn of foot, she covers so much ground when she does it. She seems to make up a couple lengths in a jump or two."

Zenyatta comes in off a four-month layoff, having rallied from 13 lengths back to win the 1 1/4-mile Classic by a length against a deep field of males in her last start.

"She's a little heavier now, maybe 20 to 25 pounds heavier, than she was for the Breeders' Cup here," trainer John Shirreffs said. "You'd expect that, because she hasn't run since then. She looks like she's on top of her game right now."

Now a four-year-old filly, Rachel Alexandra hasn't run in six months, having capped her 8-0 campaign last year with a victory against older males in the Woodward Stakes on Sept. 5. She also beat the boys in the Preakness and Haskell Invitational.

Smith hopes he can watch Rachel Alexandra's race before he heads out to ride Zenyatta.

"I'm a big fan of hers, too. I hope she runs well and we do meet in Arkansas," he said. "It's going to be one of the most watched races in history if we're both lucky enough to get there."

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Bill seeks to bolster Ky. horse racing industry (AP via Yahoo! Finance)

Posted: 12 Mar 2010 06:13 AM PST

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) -- Lawmakers worried about preserving Kentucky's horse capital status presented a plan that offers a cash infusion to bolster the state's racing industry by taxing Internet betting and allowing a new form of gambling on old horse races.

The measure cleared the Senate State and Local Government Committee on an 11-1 vote Thursday, signaling bipartisan backing to boost a signature Kentucky industry, which some fear is falling behind as tracks elsewhere have sweetened purses by offering casino-style gaming.

The proposal offered by Sen. Damon Thayer would open Kentucky race tracks to Instant Racing, a pari-mutuel-style game in which gamblers bet on past races without knowing the names of the horses.

Money generated from a 1.5 percent fee on Instant Racing wagers would flow into a fund meant to supplement race purses at Kentucky tracks for Kentucky-bred horses.

Another key feature would impose a 1.5 percent tax on Internet wagering of Kentucky horse races. The proposal seeks a share of the money from the growing popularity of online and phone betting. That revenue also would be directed to boost live racing in Kentucky.

Thayer, R-Georgetown, said the proposal was a way to offer broad support for the industry -- from the tracks to the horse owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys.

The measure also would do away with the state's two-tiered pari-mutuel taxing system for wagering at the tracks. Instead, it would set a flat rate of 1.5 percent.

Sen. Julian Carroll, D-Frankfort, said the proposal would help the industry, which he said has been hurt by "ridiculously low" race purses. But he expressed doubts that it was enough.

"We're throwing them a life preserver, but I want to tell you I don't think we're bringing them out of the water," Carroll said during the committee hearing.

Thayer said he hoped the proposal could double the amount of money flowing into the funds meant to help supplement purses for Kentucky races.

Sen. Mike Reynolds, D-Bowling Green, cast the lone vote in committee against the bill.

When asked afterward why he opposed the measure, he replied: "I ran on the idea of no expanded gambling, and I vote that way."

Thayer said he considers Instant Racing another form of wagering on horse racing.

Machines used for Instant Racing resemble video lottery terminals, he said, but it's a pari-mutuel-based game. Betters can scrutinize information about each horse's past performance, without knowing its name, he said. Wagerers can place their bets based on that information, or they can use other hunches.

"If you like the gray horse and the jockey has UK (University of Kentucky) blue silks on, you can bet for that reason, too," Thayer said.

Thayer said Instant Racing has been a big success at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas, where track officials credit the game with helping generate millions in extra purse money for live racing.

Racing interests in Kentucky have been pushing for casino-style games at horse tracks.

Last year, a measure to allow video gambling machines at the tracks passed the House during a special session but died in the Senate.

This year, expanded gambling has been a nonstarter, though Gov. Steve Beshear included $780 million in his budget proposal that was dependent upon legalizing video slot machines at race tracks.

The measure now heads to the full Senate. If it passes there, it will return to the House, which will consider the changes made by the Senate.

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Bill seeks to bolster horse racing industry (WHAS TV11 Louisville)

Posted: 12 Mar 2010 12:53 PM PST

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) -- Lawmakers worried about preserving Kentucky's horse capital status presented a plan Thursday that offers a cash infusion to bolster the state's racing industry by taxing Internet betting and allowing a new form of gambling on old horse races.
   The measure cleared the Senate State and Local Government Committee on an 11-1 vote, signaling bipartisan backing to boost a signature Kentucky industry, which some fear is falling behind as tracks elsewhere have sweetened purses by offering casino-style gaming.
   The proposal offered by Sen. Damon Thayer would open Kentucky race tracks to Instant Racing, a pari-mutuel-style game in which gamblers bet on past races without knowing the names of the horses.
   Money generated from a 1.5 percent fee on Instant Racing wagers would flow into a fund meant to supplement race purses at Kentucky tracks for Kentucky-bred horses.
   Another key feature would impose a 1.5 percent tax on Internet wagering of Kentucky horse races. The proposal seeks a share of the money from the growing popularity of online and phone betting. That revenue also would be directed to boost live racing in Kentucky.
   Thayer, R-Georgetown, said the proposal was a way to offer broad support for the industry -- from the tracks to the horse owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys.
   The measure also would do away with the state's two-tiered pari-mutuel taxing system for wagering at the tracks. Instead, it would set a flat rate of 1.5 percent.
   Sen. Julian Carroll, D-Frankfort, said the proposal would help the industry, which he said has been hurt by "ridiculously low" race purses. But he expressed doubts that it was enough.
   "We're throwing them a life preserver, but I want to tell you I don't think we're bringing them out of the water," Carroll said during the committee hearing.
   Thayer said he hoped the proposal could double the amount of money flowing into the funds meant to help supplement purses for Kentucky races.
   Sen. Mike Reynolds, D-Bowling Green, cast the lone vote in committee against the bill.
   When asked afterward why he opposed the measure, he replied: "I ran on the idea of no expanded gambling, and I vote that way."
   Thayer said he considers Instant Racing another form of wagering on horse racing.
   Machines used for Instant Racing resemble video lottery terminals, he said, but it's a pari-mutuel-based game. Betters can scrutinize information about each horse's past performance, without knowing its name, he said. Wagerers can place their bets based on that information, or they can use other hunches.
   "If you like the gray horse and the jockey has UK (University of Kentucky) blue silks on, you can bet for that reason, too," Thayer said.
   Thayer said Instant Racing has been a big success at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas, where track officials credit the game with helping generate millions in extra purse money for live racing.
   Racing interests in Kentucky have been pushing for casino-style games at horse tracks.
   Last year, a measure to allow video gambling machines at the tracks passed the House during a special session but died in the Senate.
   This year, expanded gambling has been a nonstarter, though Gov. Steve Beshear included $780 million in his budget proposal that was dependent upon legalizing video slot machines at race tracks.
   The measure now heads to the full Senate. If it passes there, it will return to the House, which will consider the changes made by the Senate.
   ------
   The legislation is House Bill 368.
   (Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

 

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Bill seeks to bolster horse racing industry (WKYT Lexington)

Posted: 12 Mar 2010 05:46 AM PST

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - Lawmakers worried about preserving
Kentucky's horse capital status presented a plan Thursday that
offers a cash infusion to bolster the state's racing industry by
taxing Internet betting and allowing a new form of gambling on old
horse races.

The measure cleared the Senate State and Local Government
Committee on an 11-1 vote, signaling bipartisan backing to boost a
signature Kentucky industry, which some fear is falling behind as
tracks elsewhere have sweetened purses by offering casino-style
gaming.

The proposal offered by Sen. Damon Thayer would open Kentucky
race tracks to Instant Racing, a pari-mutuel-style game in which
gamblers bet on past races without knowing the names of the horses.

Money generated from a 1.5 percent fee on Instant Racing wagers
would flow into a fund meant to supplement race purses at Kentucky
tracks for Kentucky-bred horses.

Another key feature would impose a 1.5 percent tax on Internet
wagering of Kentucky horse races. The proposal seeks a share of the
money from the growing popularity of online and phone betting. That
revenue also would be directed to boost live racing in Kentucky.

Thayer, R-Georgetown, said the proposal was a way to offer broad
support for the industry - from the tracks to the horse owners,
breeders, trainers and jockeys.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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