“Sport is Going to Die” - Casinos Not Among Mourners
HorseTalk
by
Hal Hennessey
Jeff Gural owns 2 racetracks in NY, Vernon Downs and Tioga Downs, as
well as a Standardbred breeding farm. This past week, he shocked the annual
International Simulcast Conference at Saratoga with some pretty outrageous
statements. In his opening remarks for a panel discussion titled ‘Change —
You Can Run But You Can’t Hide’ he stated bluntly, “ It’s so logical that the
sport is going to die.” In the points Gural made, one will be all too familiar
to our readers. It was his contention that once Racino/Casino operators use
horse racing to get their licenses, they lobby government to help them get rid
of the sport. Do I need to mention the words ‘Red Shores Fiasco’ in this
context? Gural basically said that Racino/Casino operators look at the
horses as losers. They ride on their backs to get a license, then they lobby
government to eliminate live racing in favour of simulcasting and standalone Casinos. Gural’s absolutely correct and there’s lots of evidence of it on
PEI .
-------------------------Consider this, when the CDP had it’s grand re-opening in 2005, the Atlantic
Lotto had invested $25 million dollars in the facilities. This was to be
recouped by profits from the new Racino at the track. The scheme was
made palatable to the public by claims it would revive the Island’s Harness
Racing industry. I was one of those who wrote many articles recommending
this course of action. However, I also said a company with experience in the
gambling industry, should run the project. That didn’t happen - instead ALC
was chosen as the operator. Results at the Racino, now called a Casino, have
been underwhelming to date and deficits the norm. Media sources say that a
loss of $900,000 in 2008 was even considered an improvement. However
there’s also the cost of that famous new outdoor patio, constructed this past
Spring and the $100 K in freebies handed out during the 08-09 fiscal year to
their big players. To be fair - some claim the casino actually made a profit
of $900K last year. Question is who can tell, absent any financial
statements? At any rate, with the red ink flowing, these guys should have
plenty to worry about right? Apparently not as ALC, with the government’s
acquiescence, found the time and the money to try and re-brand the facilities
at SRW and the CDP this year - and to reduce Harness Racing’s visibility in
the process. That’s only the tip of the iceberg! Since ALC came to town,
racing has been a second class citizen at the CDP and in fact, doesn’t even
have an office there. Jeff Gural was blunt, but he’s not wrong. It’s
happening, mark my words.
---------------------------------King’s Co. Winners & Owners
Wed - CDP
T And G Roadtrip, 2:04.2, Aubrey Webster
Moldaus Drop, 2:03.1, Joan Hume
Sat - CDP
Broadway Bill, 2:05, Walter Cheverie
Camco No Tell, 2:07, Kenny Mac Donald
Unfluffnbelievable, 2:03.1, Jennifer Doyle
Sunday – SRW
Woodmere Real Drop, 2:01.3, Jennifer Doyle
Xexy, 2:03.4, Peter E Lanigan
MARITIME BREEDERS ELIMINATION
3 YEAR OLD TROT (CDP)
Maple Leaf Quix, 2:07, Ralph Annear
--------------------------------------As promised a closer look at recent horse sales:
King’s Co. buyers at the Classic included the Whites(Blayne, Sandra, Kuri)
from Pinette, who took home 3 yearlings. A pacing colt by Benvolio
Hanover (#12), and 2 trotting fillies. One by PJs Nabby (#36) and the other
by Red Flamethrower (# 102), all were bought for the sale minimum of
$1,000.
Montague’s Wade Sorrie signed for 2. No. 19, a Largo filly went for $5200,
while a Western Success filly (# 48) was a $2600 purchase.
Dan Ross was involved in 4 purchases in total. 2 were solo deals which saw
him buy a Western Paradise colt (# 31) for $10 K, while a PJs Nabby filly (#
91) went for 7 grand. The Belfast resident’s partners on 2 others were Boyd
MacDonald and Charlie Seymour. No. 61 was a Western Success colt
bought for $12 K and a Largo filly (# 90) priced at $10,500.
Cardigan’s Norman Myers took 2 yearlings home, a Full Scholarship colt (#
60) at $1600 and a NY bred Artiscape filly (# 84) for $5,000.
Single purchase were made by: Kim Hicken, Montague, Divot Hanover,
filly (# 89) $3K.
Gerald Morrissey, Orwell, trotting filly, Nikes Image (# 94), $2200.
Rob MacDonald, Jamie Whelan, Trevor MacDonald, Marc Campbell, colt,
Fit For Life (# 95), $4600.
Kyle Gardiner, Cardigan, colt, Quick Comeback, (# 115) $2300.
And finally, KD GO ONN (#32) a Full Scholarship pacing filly was
purchased by Ralph Annear and grandson Jack Panting for $6,000.
Someone asked me if I thought Ralph would pay Jack’s share, seeing as how
it was the young fellow’s birthday that week-end. I said not a shot –
everyone knows Ralph still has the first nickel he ever earned. Ol’ Jack
would have had to use his chicken rancher profits.
----------------------------------Harness Racing in Atlantic Canada took another hit this week when one of
its legends passed away. Carl MacKenzie, who was the guiding light of
Truro Raceway from the 40s into the 80s, died at age 91. It was under his
regime that night racing and many other modifications came to NS. A
sponsor of the MacKenzie Stake for 3 YO pacers in Truro, he was honoured
with the Glenn Kennedy Memorial Award by the Maritime Breeders in
1991. We extend our condolences to his family, friends and all of the NS
racing community.
Our thoughts are also with Kevin Bailey, son Greg, family and friends, on
the passing of Lucy Bailey. Long mainstays of Cape Breton Harness Racing
they lost their wife and mother October 13th. Our sympathies to all.
-----------------------------------------------------Speaking of Sales – Doc Moore paid $42 K for the Rocknroll Hanover colt
Rockabillie at the Lexington Sale. Walter Cheverie was active there as well,
bidding $21,000 for a Western Ideal colt named Prince Andrew, as agent for
Reg MacPherson. Cheverie also gave $10,000 for the Cambest colt
Phantom Prey. We noted as well that Cornwall’s Errol Taylor took home a
Windsongs Legacy filly from the Kentucky Sale - paid $4,000 for her. Brent
MacGrath of Somebeachsomewhere fame was in the hunt at the Red Mile.
He was the successful bidder at $65,000 on a Bettors Delight colt called
Weigh The Odds. ‘Tis said MacGrath also went to $130 K on SBSW’s half
sister Someheartsomewhere before he stopped. No word if the bids were for
his own account or the Schooner Stable’s.
----------------------------------Final notes: Far be it for me to complain about the racing commission doing
its job – But – with all these guys imported from Ontario and the money
spent ABC weekend, was this really about enforcement or PR?
Also, I keep hearing that somebody messed up with the paperwork, so there
were no other official applicants for the Atlantic Breeders Crown 2010
except Truro. Is that possible? If so, that wouldn’t make the Atlantic Classic
sales folks happy, or Ch’town’s hotels, bars etc, not to mention the ALC
casino folks. LOL.
-----------------------------------That’s it, that’s all, - good luck and good racing
Questions/Comments? hal.al@sympatico.ca