Here is the link to my new Website. Sorry about the inconvenience but I'm told this will be much better once the kinks are worked out.

http://horseracing.blogs.pressdemocrat.com

Matt Hegarty of the Daily Racing Form reports that Ron Geary, the owner of Ellis Park in western Kentucky, said that the track will close after the 2009 meet and that he will not apply for racing dates next year in light of failed legislation to legalize slot machines at Kentucky racetracks.

Geary, who purchased Ellis three years ago from Churchill Downs Inc. for an undisclosed sum that Churchill characterized as "immaterial" to its financial statements, said that the track will remain closed even if slots legislation is reintroduced next year in the Kentucky legislature. Geary cited competitive pressure from tracks in neighboring Indiana that began operating slot machines this year.

"It's going to get even worse next year," Geary said. "Even if they pass something next year, it would take 16 to 18 months to get any revenues from it."

The Republican-dominated Senate Budget Committee killed the bill Monday on a 10-5 vote that was largely along party lines. The legislation passed the Democrat-led House on Friday, but Republicans had said since the beginning of a special session that began on June 15 that they would not allow slots legislation to pass.

Geary, the chairman and former chief executive of a nursing-home company in Louisville, served in the 1980s as Kentucky's secretary of revenue under Gov. John Y. Brown, a Democrat. In some Democratic circles, Geary has been considered as a potential nominee for governor.

The Kentucky racing industry had mounted an aggressive public-relations campaign over the past three months to drum up support for the legislation, which would have given Kentucky racetracks a monopoly on slot machines in the state. Under the legislation that failed in the Senate, the racing industry would have retained 73 percent of the revenues from slot machines, the highest percentage of any state that has legalized slot machines at casinos.

Ellis was initially slated to run 48 live racing days this year, but Geary requested that 25 dates be cut from the schedule in April, citing expected competition from the Indiana tracks.

RACHEL ALEXANDRA REACHES BELMONT

Preakness-winning filly Rachel Alexandra has arrived at Belmont Park for Saturday's Grade I, $300,000 Mother Goose Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

Accompanied by assistant trainer Scott Blasi, exercise rider Dominic Terry and four other thoroughbreds, Rachel Alexandra departed Churchill Downs at noon. She arrived at trainer Steve Asmussen's barn on the Belmont Park backstretch by 4:30 p.m.

The daughter of Medaglia d'Oro was bedded down in stall No. 5 " the same stall
previously occupied by two-time Horse of the Year Curlin.

Rachel Alexandra won the Kentucky Oaks by 20 1/4 lengths on May 1, and her
Preakness win against the boys gave her a six-race winning streak. The Mother
Goose will be her first start since the Preakness.

Jennifer Torres of the Stockton Record reports that a 47-year-old man died after he was hurt while working Sunday on the San Joaquin County Fair's horse-racing track, fair and law enforcement officials confirmed Monday.

David Fowler-Wright, a Humboldt County resident, was a former jockey who was employed this year as a rake man, responsible for raking the track smooth of tire tracks that can frighten horses.

About 4 p.m. Sunday, horses had just left the starting gate for the seventh race of the day. Fowler-Wright was on top of the gate when a tractor began pulling it out of the way of oncoming horses, according to a Stockton Police Department report on the incident.

While the gate was moving, Fowler-Wright either slipped or tried to jump off it and fell. He was run over by the gate's back tires.

He was taken to San Joaquin General Hospital, where he died.

"He was my good, good friend," Kenny Olsen said as he tried to light a cigarette inside a tack room at the track on Monday. "He was an outstanding friend. ... He was an outstanding jockey."

People who knew Fowler-Wright said he originally was from England and had worked as a jockey until about two years ago.

The racetrack was dark Monday and will be today for a previously scheduled break. Racing is to resume Wednesday, the first day of the county fair, CEO Debbie Cook said.

Cook said fair officials are investigating the accident, and an employee meeting will be held Wednesday.

Marty McGee, Daily Racing Form - Churchill Downs officials are promising that the exceedingly difficult conditions that greeted the massive crowd for its historic first night-racing program last Friday will not be repeated when the track doubles its number of beverage stations and triples its staffing at those stations for the two night-racing programs that remain at the spring meet.

The attendance count released by Churchill for Friday was 28,011, many of whom endured interminably long lines for concessions amid brutal heat. Officials admitted they were badly understaffed for the occasion, but that won't be the case when night cards are run this Friday and July 2.

"Many fans were clearly unhappy with the unacceptable level of service," Bill Carstanjen, chief operating officer for Churchill Downs Inc., said in a track release. "We share their frustration, apologize for the experience, and vow it will not happen again."

Regardless of the snafus involving parking, programs, and concessions, Churchill officials were elated with the interest generated by its initial foray into night racing. Indeed, the Friday program was the talk of the town and the racing industry.

A good on-track crowd enjoyed an 11-race program as week one of horse racing concluded on Father's Day at the San Joaquin County Fair. Jockey Barrington Harvey won two races, as did trainer Steve Sherman.

Harvey scored a front-running win in the fourth on Creekin Charlie, an invader from Boise, who defeated heavily favored Lucky General. "That was a surprise for me," said the 46-year-old Jamaican-born jockey. Regarding his win aboard It'sthewinetalking in the ninth race, Harvey gave all the credit to the horse. "He came out pretty fast and finished up strong, there's not much more I can say about that," he said.

A fan favorite based on his work ethic and riding horses vigorously to the finish to ensure the best possible placing, Harvey has been riding in California for about 15 years. Previously, his base was at Philadelphia Park. Harvey rides Thoroughbreds, Quarter Horses, Arabians and Mules.

"It means a lot to win on the fairs," he said. "It's a wonderful time of year, because I usually win more races on the fair circuit."

Regarding the mules, he simply said "It's just like riding a horse".

Trainer Steve Sherman scored his first win of the day with What a Wish, who scored in a game performance after battling between runner-up Hidden Costs and Ohsokool for most of the race. His second win came with Fritz Grau, who was victorious in the 10th race. Both runners were well-backed (What a Wish was 9/5, Fritz Grau 7/5).

Jockey Frank Alvarado also visited the winner's circle twice, guiding What a Wish in the eighth and aboard heavily favored Yodelers Dream, who cruised home in the finale for trainer Terry Knight.

Another notable performance on the Sunday card came from Driving Cat, who returned from a layoff of nearly 26 months to win the sixth race for trainer Clifford Delima and GCCI. The 5-year-old gelded son of Royal Cat earned the first win of his career in his fifth start. Alfredo Miranda was aboard.

After two days off, the San Joaquin County Fair kicks off its fair week on Wednesday with nightly entertainment, a carnival, agriculture, livestock, food and exhibits.

Racing fans are reminded that wagering will be offered on Wednesday's Stockton program, as well as other simulcasts across the country, even though there is no live racing at Hollywood Park that day.

Marty McGee of the Daily Racing Form reports that night lights at Churchill Downs a huge success, betting not so much.

Julien Leparoux was walking through the paddock runway after riding in the first night race in the 134-year history of Churchill Downs and looked up at the massive crowd.

"It looks like the Dubai World Cup," said Leparoux.

Indeed, amid the almost surreal setting of artificial lighting and a festive crowd estimated at more than 30,000, the first night of racing at Churchill was a success of world-class proportions, at least in sheer volume and density. The Friday card began at 6 p.m. Eastern in brutal summer heat and wound its way through 11 races, with lines for drinks and food concessions 30- and 40-deep in many spots.

"It was a great night, but it wasn't perfect and we're working on making it right," Darren Rogers, senior director of communications, said Saturday. He added that further details are being finalized internally and could be announced as early as today.

Betting lines weren't nearly as long as at the concessions, and plunking down a wager at most mutuel windows was fairly easy.

"I see a whole lot of young people drinking beer but not going to the windows," said Pat Campbell of Louisville, who has been attending races at Churchill for more than 50 years.

Greeted with the literal red-carpet treatment at two main entrance gates, and with several bands playing various genres of music throughout the six-story clubhouse and grandstand, fans were eager to see history made on an otherwise ordinary card of racing. The first seven of 11 races were contested from daylight to twilight, but by the eighth race, when Leparoux climbed aboard Chief Waterbury, an eventual also-ran, the temporary lighting system provided by Musco Lighting of Iowa was being fully utilized. When the field of 10 broke from the gate in the six-furlong claiming race, a huge cheer erupted in apparent tribute to its historical importance, almost as if the field for the Kentucky Derby had been dispatched.

My dad was a self-proclaimed horse trader from Oklahoma, that moved to California in search of fame and fortune. Well, not really, I mean about the fame and fortune.

He learned the trade of carpentry and even built the house that I was raised in, here in Sonoma County.

But his passion was horse racing.

If you went to any race track in Northern California back in the '50, '60's and '70s, whether it was Bay Meadows, Golden Gate Fields or any of the fairs, you might have run into my dad.

He didn't go everyday, but as often as he could.

So why in the world would I suggest you might remember my dad?

I'll start here.

Back in the day, you had to go to a specific window for making a wager. There were individual windows for $2 win, $2 place and $2 show. There was even a window for a $2 combo, and so on. I mention this only to give you a reference point for how things were.

So where was my dad?

He was the guy standing over near the $50 window. There was usually only one of them, almost always located at the very end of the wagering windows, so he was easy to spot.

Dad always wore a cowboy hat that had a slight tilt to one side. When he was in his element, he sported a wry smile, accompanied by a partially closed right eye, almost like a wink, that told everyone that knew him, he was having a good time. He always donned a pair of bibbed overalls, to go with his Stetson hat, long-sleeved shirt and boots. Never did understand why they called them a pair of overalls? OK, that's another subject.

Dad wore overalls because of the convenience and security the multiple-pocket bib offered, right below his nose. He used these pockets for four things. First was his wallet, so someone couldn't pick it. Second was his glasses. Third was his pocket watch and its fob. And the remaining pockets were for betting tickets.

So now do you remember him?

Dad made it his business to know as many people that had something to do with horse racing. Before the big bettors would arrive to make their wagers at the $50 window, he would head to the paddock area and talk to trainers he knew after they saddled their horses.

I remember R.L. Martin, who still trains at Golden Gate Fields, was one of his favorites. Dad would sometimes give a trainer a pocket knife or pocket watch - things he collected and eventually sold at swap meets and gun shows - all in hopes of gaining a little edge on how that particular horse might do in the next race.

He would just saunter up to a trainer and ask him what he thought of his horse. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't.

Now do you remember him?

Then it was time to get serious, and off to the betting widows he went. First he made a wager reflecting the sound advice he gained by talking with the trainers.

But then came his speciality.

He bird-dogged the guys that bet for other people in the know. These guys would do the betting for the trainers, jockeys and owners that didn't like tipping people off if they liked their horse.

Some of the $50 windows around Northern California tracks had a wooden partition or little side wings for privacy, often looking like a voting booth. Some of the $50 windows even had a security guard standing by. That didn't seem to stop dad, and many times he would end up sitting in the guards chair just to take a load off his feet.

Dad would slip in behind his target as they moved to the betting window. He would get up as close as he could, and lean in, trying to hear ore see the number announced by the unwitting victim as he called it out to the mutual clerk behind the window. Dad would then spin out of line and head back to his spot. Then, when he had a chance, he would go and make a bet on that horse, usually at the $20 window because the lines weren't as long as they were at the $5 and $2 windows.

Now my dad's got tickets on two different horses. And he wasn't done yet. You just never knew who was going to try and slip in late with the for-sure winner.

Sometimes dad would end up with tickets on three or four horses. It would always seem like he had the winning horse, but how much he spent on getting that winning horse was anyone's guess.

Now do you remember him?

When I started attending the races at the Santa Rosa Fair meet, my dad quickly recruited me and my buddies to bird dog or place a wager for him. This allowed him to stay on watch and never have to leave his post.

He would just stand there and would kind of nod at someone, and off one of us went to get in line and see what horse the guy was betting. If we could tell dad how much the guy bet, all the better. Then after divulging the information to my dad, and with only a minute to go, my buddies and I would scatter, hoping to get in a bet for ourselves.

I remember more often than not, I would comeback and my dad would say, 'well did you get him,' meaning did I bet the winner. I would shake my head and tell him no. I bet the horse he told me to bet and it didn't win. Then he would explain how just at the last minute so-and-so came up and he bird dogged him and . . . well you know the rest, he made a killing.

I remember thinking to myself as I walked away disappointed, and usually broke, damn those long lines at the $2 windows. If I could have only stayed longer before the race started, or had more money to bet, I could have gone to the shorter lines.

My dad died in 1984 after a long battle with cancer.

Like everyone that has lost someone, I just wish he could have stuck around longer. He would have got a kick out of riding with me to the fair and actually parking, just up from the grandstand, for free. He would have loved sitting with me up in the press box while I finished my handicap for the next day's newspaper.

Now, when I'm doing my horse racing blog at home, I often look up at the numerous winning race photos I have hanging on my computer room wall and I realize how lucky I've been.

There in most of the photos are my wife, my son and my daughter. Yes, I'm a father too. And yes, my son also loves the sport. The photos include our close friends and partners and other well-wishers that wanted to get in the picture with us. But there is someone missing in every photo. Some one who would have given anything to have been there. My dad wasn't in any of them.

He would have loved to have been in the winner's circle with one of the horses I co-owned. We even won twice at Santa Rosa. He would have been so proud.

So, now do you remember him?

No, you probably don't, but I sure do.

I miss you dad, happy Father's Day

Icon Project romped in the mud, beating Criticism by 13 1/4 lengths in the $245,000 New York Stakes for fillies and mares at Belmont Park on Saturday.

The race, originally scheduled for the turf, scratched down to five runners with the surface switch.

Fourth in the early stages, Icon Project caught the front-running Criticism turning for home and glided past for her third win in nine starts.

"She was giving me a great feel all the way around there, very impressive," said jockey Jose Valdivia, Jr.

Trained by Marty Wolfson, 4-year-old ran the 1 1-8 miles in 1:49.38. She earned $150,000 for the Star Crown Stable, paying $13.20, $4.80 and $3.40. Criticism, the 7-5 favorite, returned $3.40 and $2.30. Winning Point paid $2.50 to show.

MINE THAT BIRD NOT FOR SALE

The Thoroughbred Times reports, the owners of Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird have turned down an offer to buy the gelding.

Trainer Bennie "Chip" Woolley Jr. would not identify the potential buyer or disclose the size of the offer but said on Friday that owners Mark Allen of Double Eagle Ranch and Leonard Blach, D.V.M., of Buena Suerte Equine did not want to sell the Birdstone gelding at this time.

"After considerable thought, Mark and Doc made the decision not to sell," Woolley said. "I'm happy. I spent 25 years looking for this horse and I sure didn't want to lose him."

Woolley said he received a call on Tuesday night saying Mine That Bird would be inspected on Wednesday. After Mine That Bird won the Derby on May 2, the owners received several purchase inquiries, but Wednesday's exam marked the first time he had been vetted.

Mine That Bird back-tracked once around the Churchill Downs main track under regular exercise rider Charlie Figueroa on Friday. Woolley plans to have Mine That Bird walk on Saturday and jog again today before resuming regular training on Monday to prepare for the $750,000 West Virginia Derby (G2) on August 1 at Mountaineer Race Track in Chester, West Virginia.

AROUND THE TRACK:

Ron Gierkink Daily Racing Form - Jockey Chad Beckon, who was seriously injured in a spill last Wednesday night at Woodbine, has made progress and been moved from critical care to intensive care at a Toronto hospital, according to his agent, Tony Esposito.

"He's improved 100 percent over the last 24 hours," Esposito said Saturday afternoon. "He's breathing on his own. He woke up on his own [Friday], which is very good. He's alert and awake."

Beckon's mount, Oliver's Strike, broke down in the third race, sending the rider hard to the ground. Beckon suffered cranial bleeding, a broken nose, a broken cheekbone, and two fractured vertebrae. Oliver's Strike was dead when the track veterinarian got to him.

Marty McGee of the Daily Racing From reports, fans have strolled out of Churchill Downs at night before. But that was after they had watched simulcasting from other tracks, or a private event, or a special occasion like the Rolling Stones concert in 2006 or the Police in 2007.

But when thousands of fans stream into the dark tonight, it will be after witnessing history: the first horse races conducted under lights at Churchill, where racing has been limited to daytime for 134 years.

"There's been a huge amount of anticipation and excitement," said Churchill vice president John Asher.

Churchill will stage an 11-race card beginning at 6 p.m. Eastern, meaning the last four races or so will require the temporary lighting system provided by Musco Lighting, an Iowa-based company that has constructed and operated similar systems for a variety of sporting and entertainment events.

Post time for the seventh race is 9:05 p.m., when there still is ample daylight at this time of year on the western cusp of the Eastern time zone, assuming clear weather. But after that, artificial means will be needed to illuminate the track. The eighth race is set for 9:40, the ninth at 10:12, the 10th at 10:42, and the 11th at 11:11, meaning some fans and workers will still be trickling out at the witching hour of midnight.

AROUND THE TRACK:

Bill Tallon (DRF) - Jockey Chad Beckon remained in guarded condition in Toronto's Sunnybrook Medical Centre on Thursday after suffering multiple injuries in a horrific spill here Wednesday evening.

"He has outer cranial bleeding in his brain; that's what we're most concerned about," said Anthony Espositio, who is Beckon's agent. "If the swelling goes down, they think it will be okay."

Esposito added that Beckon had suffered fractures to his cheekbone, to his nose, and to his fifth and sixth vertebrae but that there was no spinal damage.

Beckon was heavily sedated but by late Tuesday morning he was conscious and, while not speaking, was responsive to the visit of his wife, Cory Clark.

He was to undergo a Cat scan late Thursday afternoon.

Simon Husbands, who also was involved in the spill, was released from Etobicoke General Hospital on Wednesday night and was sore but seemed to be relatively unscathed on Thursday.

Beckon's mount, Oliver's Strike, broke down suddenly on the far turn in Wednesday night's third race.

The colt's trainer, Mike Keogh, said Oliver's Strike was dead by the time the track veterinarian reached him and that it is believed the gelding suffered a heart attack.

"He broke both his front legs, he went down so suddenly," said Keogh, adding that an autopsy would be performed.

Husbands, aboard Kensington Oval, also fell to the track after being unable to avoid the fallen Oliver's Strike.

Please add Beckon to your list of thoughts and prayers.

Matt Hagerty (DRF) - Legislation granting Hialeah Park in Hialeah, Fla., the right to hold live races and operate slot machines may pave the way to the track reopening for a brief Quarter Horse meet in December if the state can also reach an agreement with the Seminole tribe on a gambling compact.

The legislation, signed by Gov. Charlie Crist on Monday, would allow Hialeah Park to open a poker room immediately, and it would also grant Hialeah the right to operate slot machines after two years of live racing. The slot-machine license, however, hinges on an agreement between the state and the Seminoles that would allow the tribe to expand the gambling operations at its casinos in south Florida. The Seminoles, so far, are balking at that agreement.

Associated Press - Yeats has entered British horse racing history by winning the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot for the fourth time.

With Johnny Murtagh in the saddle, the 8-year-old was tucked in behind the early leaders before surging through to open up a commanding lead in Thursday's race. Yeats finished comfortably, three lengths ahead of Patkai, ridden by Ryan Moore. Geordieland, runner-up for the last two years, finished a distant third.

Glenye Cain Oakford (DRF) - Ron Bamberger, executor of the estate that raced and now owns a minority stake in Lawyer Ron, has dropped his lawsuit against Stonewall Farm after receiving payment for two stallion seasons to Lawyer Ron, according to Bamberger's attorney, Craig Robertson.

Bamberger had filed suit in May against Stonewall, which bought an 80-percent interest in Lawyer Ron from the James T. Hines Jr. estate in 2006 and stands him at stud. Bamberger had alleged that Stonewall did not fulfill contractual obligations to purchase two breeding nominations from the Hines estate in 2009 at the stallion's advertised fee, with payment due no later than Jan. 10.

"We dismissed the lawsuit, because they paid us the money that they owed us," Robertson said.

Laywer Ron's advertised stud fee this year is $25,000.

D'Arcy Egan, Plain Dealer - The thoroughbreds will be running at Thistledown race track today.

Thistledown received approval from parent company Magna Entertainment Corp. to pay $36,000 to complete a mandatory $1 million bond. It prevents the Ohio State Racing Commission from shutting down live thoroughbred racing and simulcast racing at the North Randall facility today, which the commission had voted, 5-0, to do at its Tuesday meeting if the payment was not made.

"In light of the way the OSRC responded to our request, it was important not to see Thistledown closed," said Magna attorney Gregg Scoggins, who attended Tuesday's OSRC meeting in Columbus. "We were disappointed they didn't grant our request, but thankfully we were able to achieve making the payment.

Stockton notes - Fans who backed the logical contenders cashed plenty of tickets on opening day of the San Joaquin Fair, as the Northern California Fair Season officially opened on Thursday afternoon.

The most impressive performance of the day came in the second race, as Babes Zell dominated a field of Arabian maidens, romping home to win by 16 lengths under jockey Chris Russell, who scored his second win of the afternoon in the eighth race aboard Keon, the highest-priced winner of the program at $23.60. Jockey Michael Martinez also scored a double, as he piloted Excessive Yodeler ($5.80), a good-looking firster to victory in the sixth, and Lady Amanda ($7.80), who won the 10th.

With the exception of the eighth race, form held up very well as the mules, arabians and thoroughbreds returned to a dirt racing surface.

The father-son combo of William J. Morey, Jr. (dad) and William E. Morey, completed a rare double and exacta combination in the third and fourth races. See Eye To Eye ($7.00), trained by the younger Morey, was a very game winner of the third race, battling back to defeat Ex Angel, who had taken the lead at the top of the stretch.

In the very next race, Morey Jr. sent out first-time starter Midnite in Kona ($9.20) to victory, while his son's horse, Minister Meeting finished second. The $1 Morey exacta returned $16.90, while the Morey $2 daily double on races three and four paid $24.20.

The Associated Press reports, two-time Kentucky Derby winning jockey Calvin Borel is urging lawmakers to legalize video gambling at horse racing tracks in the state.

Borel was among hundreds of horse industry employees and advocates who packed the state Capitol's front steps Wednesday. Borel says he's worried Kentucky's horse industry is falling behind other states.

Gov. Steve Beshear has called the legislature into special session to consider a plan allowing race tracks to operate video slot machines. Lawmakers are also considering other measures including a plan to offset an estimated $1 billion budget shortfall.

Borel rode Mine that Bird to victory in the Derby and filly Rachel Alexandra to success in the Preakness this year. He also won the 2007 Kentucky Derby atop Street Sense.

A House vote on the plan is expected to come later this week.

AROUND THE TRACK:

Associated Press - Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra is heading to Belmont Park after all.
Co-owner Jess Jackson's Stonestreet Farms announced in a news release Wednesday that his filly will return to the track June 27 in the Mother Goose Stakes, nearly three weeks after Jackson decided to rest his star rather than run her in the Belmont Stakes.

Jackson was concerned then about whether she was being overextended, but he said he put those concerns to rest after watching her spirited workout Monday morning under the newly
installed temporary lights at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

"Rachel is rested, healthy and ready to run," Jackson said. Calvin Borel, the filly's regular jockey, will ride the filly in the Mother Goose.

The sensational filly beat the boys in the Preakness for her sixth victory in a row, all with Borel aboard. The 1 1/8-mile Mother Goose for 3-year-olds will be her first race against fillies
since she dominated in the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill by 20 1/4 lengths. Rachel Alexandra is expected to arrive at Belmont on June 23.

Jackson explained last month that the filly "deserves a well-earned vacation," which is why he opted against a run in the Belmont, the third leg of the Triple Crown.

Associated Press - Barbaro's brother has another win to celebrate.

Nicanor won an allowance race on the turf at Delaware Park on Wednesday, covering 1 1-8 miles in 1 minute, 52.95 seconds. He went off as the favorite, won by 1 3/4 lengths and paid $2.80, $2.40 and $2.10.

White Holiday took second, and Stevil was third.

After losing his first three races, Nicanor has two straight wins. He broke his maiden on May 13 in a romp on the turf at Delaware Park " the same track where Barbaro won his first career race.

Nicanor's team is the same one that backed Barbaro three years ago: He is owned by Roy and Gretchen Jackson, and trained by Michael Matz.