Tomcito Watch Part III

Tomcito worked out as part of his preparation for the $1 million grade I Florida Derby. He worked handily five furlongs in 58 4/5ths, a bullet move. A promising workout was over the Gulfstream dirt course where he will race. The Florida Derby looms on the 29th of March.

Frank Is Using Sex To Lure The Young Bucks To Gulfstream

Frank Stronach has set up a new area dubbed Frank's Energy Beach at Gulfstream to lure the younger crowd to the track. Right on the apron of the track a DJ spins dual technics 1200's pumping out house music on the sand dance floor. Stronach is alone among racetrack owners in that he attempts to use sex to sell racing. Can sex sell something like racing? Currently with its geriatric fans and complex intricacies racing does not appeal to the younger instant gratification crowd. There are more race fans that use jazzy scooters to get around the house than go out to nightspots to dance to jazz infused acid house music.


Usually the only skin seen at the local NYC tracks or OTB's is an unwanted plumbers crack when the stoopers bend over during their discarded ticket harvesting operations. Bikini clad 18 year old party girls sipping Mojtios by the faux-beach is a violent departure from what racing fans are used too. Could anybody really be sure about what will happen when these two far removed groups are juxtaposed in the same location? Maybe it will be like the subway and the two groups will just look at the floor and avoid eye contact when they pass each other.


Can Franks Energy Beach grow the racing fan base? Could there actually be a crossover from the Energy Beach to the wagering pools? What will be the reaction of the Energy Beach patrons when they encounter a enthusiastic race fan beating their thigh with the racing form and shouting profanities while rooting their trifecta key home? At the very least I think Frank is planting the seeds of future fans and getting young foot traffic into the door. Perhaps a few of the Energy Beach patrons who would never in their wildest dreams step foot into a racetrack will make a token bet. Perhaps a few will have a thrilling experience watching their horse cross the line first and develop the horse racing obsession that many thoroughbred fans have.

Las Vegas has pulled off the "lets have in nightclub to lure the younger crowd" move in the past. Vegas did not have the modern nightclubs of New York, Ibiza and London during the early 1990's. The entertainment in early 1990's Vegas consisted of lounge acts singing cover songs in places like the Dunes and The Sands. The dance scene was far away at New York's Palladium, The Tunnel or Limelight nightclubs. Now Las Vegas has tapped into the nightlife pulse and almost every casino has a nightclub with house or Hip Hop music geared towards 20 somethings. The very successful and trendy Palms Casino has consistently used sex to sell its casino and almost every ad features a scantily clad young women squeezing some part of her anatomy. It is late to the game but here in 2008 racing tries to combine ecstasy and exactas. Will it work?

Ladies Day Idea Originated On-Line with a TBA Member

Reading through some of the comments on "Complain Overkill" post I noticed that a commenter or two disagreed that it is okay to celebrate the differences between the sexes. Ladies rooms are okay, Ladies Day at Ascot is okay but no further or new reference to Ladies is allowed. While I agree somewhat that the Ladies Classic is a unique name for the race previously known as the Distaff, however it is not without precedent as there is a Ladies Handicap at Aqueduct or a Ladies championship at Wimbledon. While the only thing offensive about a Ladies rooms is hopefully flushed down the toilets, it is political correctness run amok when people are offended by "Ladies" being used to name a race. A mis-named race perhaps, offensive it is not. What is so offensive about Ladies having their own day. Are Ladies Offended by Mothers Day? Most Ladies I know relish having a day where they are the focus of attention, what kind of twisted rhetoric has caused people to be offended by this?

Piqued by curiosity I initiated a search of what others have commented on their pages about Ladies day. The most amazing find was that the Superfecter blog had suggested that the Breeders Cup stage a Ladies Day way back in Feb 2007. Perhaps the brain trust at the Breeders Cup reads these blogs and they were inspired by this well presented post. Some of these pages are maintained by well educated fans, the creme de la creme of race fans. It is very shrewd of Breeders Cup to skim the top of the barrel when looking for inspiration.

Here is quote from the post that initiated the idea;

4) Create something akin to Ladies' Day at Ascot -- don't leave the pomp up to d-list celebrities at the Derby. If the Breeders' Cup is going to continue to add races, why not make it an occasion? I would gladly take a Friday off work and would even invest in a hat for that purpose.

However the same person that may have been the inspiration for Ladies day commented on the "Complain Overkill" post that they do not like the breeders cup staging a Ladies day. A total one hundred eighty degree reverse of opinion while not acknowledging their own creativity!

I think you missed those of us who are simply annoyed that they've moved a great race to day no one will watch or attend -- as a working mom, I certainly cannot just take a Friday off and fly across the country for a few races.

The conclusion I draw from this is that even the most educated, resourceful fans can have a knack for the negative. They come up with an idea, a real idea with limitless potentional and when it is implemented they still complain. Rather than giving the fans instant validation for their confused concerns with Ladies Day I think breeders cup should run with the Ladies days for two years and see how it works. The people complaining may feel a sense of initial rejection that their petition was a failure but perhaps after the knee-jerk offensive feelings subside Ladies day may end up becoming a rousing success. A celebration of the beauty and grace of the feminine form and the generosity of the female racehorse. Do we really want to celebrate juvenile horses? Everyday is kids day, but a whole day dedicated to the Ladies is so much better. Maybe in the future if Ladies day succeeds, ESPN could secure a Sunday slot. One has to realize that replacing NFL football coverage with horse racing is not going to be a something that could happen at this point in time. That is the reason Ladies day is on Friday this year. This is not marginalizing the woman it is validating the Women with an entire day devoted to her, where she can be the headliner. It is day to celebrate the beauty in the difference of the sexes that makes life so sweet.

If Spitzer Played Horses He Still Would Be In Office

Obnoxious people not only make bad friends, but they can be a danger to their friends and family. These people need to bring humility and modesty into their lives. Can one think of an activity that has more humbling effects than wagering on horse races? Those with obnoxious, egotistical personalities should be prescribed a steady diet of playing the ponies. Then after a few treatments of lost photo finishes, stewards DQ's and complete non-efforts of odds on picks, the ego-maniac will be a changed person. These self centered people under the horseplayer treatment will slowly mature into more caring friends, awash in post wager despair they will become comforters who can empathize with the troubles of others while thinking beyond the me, myself and I. Racing is a game where self centered over-confidence is quickly dealt with. Do you know someone that thinks they are gods gift to the rest of us? Make a date with them to spend an afternoon at your local OTB or racetrack. Watch their picks run up the track and their bloated egos get stomped like a cockroach caught wandering on the stage of a live performance of riverdance. It could be the best thing you ever did for them.



How about those confident players that wagered hundreds of thousands of dollars that War pass would run third today in the Tampa Bay Derby? Some fool blogger even proclaimed that the Tampa Bay Derby would be a walkover and perhaps Zito should seek out a stiffer test for his champion charge. War Pass competing in the Tampa Bay derby was far removed from the certainty of a rocket scientist passing a 2nd grade arithmetic quiz. What these people missed was that the Tampa Bay Derby was War Pass' first race on a fast track going two turns, his first race over the deep Tampa Bay surface and that he was not feeling well this week with a cold. Not only did War Pass answer one plus one incorrectly on his 2nd grade quiz, but he managed to answer all the questions wrong while finishing last. Over-confidence was vanquished and a large mass of humbleness filled the vacuum for all those that singled him, bridge jumped him and proclaimed him a mortal lock.



How about the famous ego-maniac Spitzer. A man so full of himself that he signed strong anti prostitution legislation a few months ago while being a noted connoisseur of the oldest profession himself. A case of malignant chutzpah so acute that it brought a family, and entire state government to a screeching halt. Spitzer would have found a better fate if he had been playing the horses instead of trying to prosecute its workers. If anybody needed the therapeutic, ego reducing effects of horseplaying it was Spitzer. "Yo Silda War Pass was 2YO champ, won his last race in hand and is lone speed, watch the steam roller bet $4.3K on the nose with $80K to show". Just like that the ego-maniac governor could have been brought back to earth and all issues associated with his delusional superiority complex would have been neutralized. The sixty nine percent of New York voters that checked Spitzer would not look like complete fools and those that donated to his campaign would not be left with out a fixer. Help is available for ego-maniacs if someone will dare to care.

Tomcito watch Part II

Going to keep my eye on the Peruvian classic winner Tomcito. This colt has been working well at Palm Meadows, his last work was 1 mile in 139 4/5ths. He could be the center of an exciting story if he is successful in the states. The connections are pointing towards the Florida Derby and then the triple crown. This $7,500 purchase has group I wins at ten and twelve furlongs on his resume. However group I wins in Peru typically does not translate to American Grade I performer. This colt has plenty to prove. Perhaps if Tomcito classes up he looms as another rags to riches story from South America.

Weekend Derby Prep Action

The Tampa Bay Derby appears to be a near walkover for War Pass. Lone Speed, clear class of the race, and prime second off the layoff form. Nothing is ever easy in this game and the odds on War Pass will be shorter than a quarter horse in a three mile steeplechase. This race is clearly for viewing purposes and I will be rooting for War Pass to win by a pole and set a new track record. Maybe this undefeated champion can get some much needed positive buzz momentum rolling towards the triple crown.

The Rebel provides more intrigue. The favorite is New York Bred Z Fortune. He has the mis- z fortune of drawing the far outside post in a two turn race. Willing to take a shot against Z first time shipping into Oaklawn at a short price. The pace scenario on paper is light on speed and this favors #4 Sacred Journey. Sacred Journey seems to hold all of the trump pace cards. If he can get the distance he should get clear and wire this field. Consider that Sacred Journey is second time stretching out while second time over the surface, both favorable considerations. Sacred Journey has the speed and credentials to cross the wire first in the Rebel. Give him a look in the paddock, if Sacred Journey is composed I suggest a wager on the nose.

Websters Called

A new word was added today to the English dictionary. History is made by accident.

Camplain. to use expressions of dissatisfaction and pain to forward an organized effort. The bloggers camplained intently until the race was returned to the original name.

Websters urged me to use their products, perhaps I will oblige.

Breeders Cup Change Complain Overkill

The people that are raising this ruckus fall in two categories. The first category is the run of the mill racing fan that just about rejects any change at any time. These people bashed NYRA when they introduced the Grand Slam, hated when a non winners of three allowance race became a non winners of three optional claiming race. These people find disappointment with any change and find glee when new ideas fail. It was a given that these people would dislike the changes to the Breeders Cup as this group does not do change under any circumstances.


The other group is the type that demands sexual homogeneity and sterilization of everything. For these people it is offensive for racing to tap into tradition. Tapping into tradition reminds them of the time when women had a primarily home-centric life. Women at home? Children are so unimportant and can wreak havoc with a career! These people have mailpersons not mailmen. They would have line persons instead of linemen maintaining their electric service but so far only men have signed up for this dangerous line of work. For these people a Ladies classic means limits on the female in society. They may even lobby for the Classic and Ladies Classic having an equal purse. However they ignore the fact that a filly or mare can run for the big purse of the Classic if able. These people desire a world where almost everything is androgynous and traditional sexual roles are vanquished. The mere changing of a race name sparks an outcry complete with protests, petitions, boycotts and bra burning.