Midsummer musings

Unlike Kentucky, California and Florida, there are only a handful of stallions in Pennsylvania whose first crops hit the races in any given year.  That's because, traditionally, most of the Keystone State's stallion roster is comprised of horses that have stood in other states - usually Kentucky or Florida - and were moved in order to breathe new life and generate renewed interest in often-faltering stud careers.

But once the Pennsylvania Breeding Fund began soaring to astronomical heights thanks to slot machine revenue, stallions owners began eyeballing Pennsylvania as a desirable and lucrative destination, not as a last resort.  Consider this: In 2003, the year before slots legislation was passed by state legislators, the total money in the Breeding Fund was $8,489,644.  In 2008, three years after the legislation was passed, the Breeding Fund had risen to $21,702,888.  Last year, due to cash-strapped state coffers, the Breeding Fund was raided by budget-balancers in Harrisburg, and it topped out at $16,429,679, where it is again projected to be in 2010.

In the last three years, the parade of new stallions to Pennsylvania began like never before.  Among them was Grade 2 winner Fairbanks, who retired to new Northview-Pa in Peach Bottom in 2009 for a stud fee of $7,500, a record for a freshman sire. In 2010, Jump Start and Honour and Glory, two former Kentucky sires, came to Ghost Ridge Farms with stud fees of $10,000 and $6,500, respectively.  Castleton-Lyons, a well-respected Kentucky farm, sent four stallions to Gayle Gerth's Dana Point Farm in Lenhartsville in 2009-10, including millionaire Sir Shackleton, whose first foals are 2-year-olds of 2010, and third-crop sire Toccet.  Other sires to begin their stud careers in Pennsylvania within the last two years include millionaire Buzzards Bay, who stands at Timber Ridge Farm in Felton, and Talent Search, who retired to Diamond B Farm in Mohrsville. 

In just a few weeks the announcements will begin as to what stallions will be calling Pennsylvania their home for 2011, as well as who among the current corps will be leaving.  It's always an exciting time of year, but we have a feeling that there may be a bombshell announcement or two that will have breeders buzzing.  Stay tuned right here for the latest as we hear it.

* * * *

At least five times over the summer, parents left their kids unattended in the Parx Casino parking lot, and the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board is none too happy about it.

The Gaming Board said on Thursday that Parx officials and Bensalem police are not doing enough to stop this potentially deadly act from occurring.  Apparently the urge to gamble is so strong that the lives of children are being put at risk. 

"The Board stressed to Parx that this is really a life-or-death issue and we want it taken seriously," said Gaming Board spokesman Doug Harbach.

Training at Philadelphia Park Racetrack, tucked in behind the massive Parx Casino, is set to resume this weekend after three weeks hiatus for track maintenance.  Live racing will return on August 29, with the renovated grandstand taking center stage.