The Lock Haven Legend

           Recently, we wrote about a racetrack in New Jersey that has faded into the mists of time – little-known Guttenberg, which was located in urban North Bergen, in Hudson County.

         See the blog post here: http://www.pathoroughbred.blogspot.com/2012/11/remembering-gut.html

          Today, we’ll take a look at a track in Pennsylvania that is as equally as obscure as Guttenberg. It’s the long-gone harness oval Lock Haven, which vanished off the map in 1919, nearly 100 years ago.           
           The city of Lock Haven is located on the banks of the Susquehanna River, in largely rural Clinton County. It was originally known for its thriving lumber industry.  
            It was around 1900 that the Lock Haven Race Track was built near the Susquehanna, and was immediately popular. According to the article, “Tracking history: When horse racing came to the Haven,” published in The Express newspaper on December 4, 2010, “hundreds flocked to the location on a regular basis to watch, cheer and bet on their favorite steeds in the days when horse racing had a home in Lock Haven.”
           “Everything in the shape of a fine looking horse, sporty looking men, men who like sports and a goodly number of ladies wended their way to the driving park Saturday to witness the initial races of the season,” reported the Clinton County Times in its May 8, 1903 issue. “The interest centered on Orange Chief and Joe Wilkes who were matched for a purse of $175.”
           “Horsemen tell us that Lock Haven now has more good races than any town in the state of Pennsylvania,” the Clinton County Times reported in October of 1903. “Some of these horses have won national fame during the season, while others have won first and second money at every entrance.”
           At a time when horse racing was being shut down in many parts of the country due to gambling and corruption concerns, the sport continued to flourish at Lock Haven. In 1911, The Express reported that more than 500 people attended the races on a June day of that year, where the top event involved George Harvey’s “Wahee Boy” and John Pfenninger's “Bud O’Real.”
           But all good things eventually come to an end, and the demise of Lock Haven came at the end of World War I. The land upon which it stood was owned by the Pennsylvania Railroad, which sold it to a silk manufacturer in 1919. The Madison Textile Company erected a silk mill on the site, and then in 1936 it was sold to the Piper Aircraft Corporation, which became a major employer in Lock Haven with its production of small planes.
           Today, the William T. Piper Memorial Airport occupies the land, as well as the Piper Aviation Museum. The sound of plane engines now drowns out those long-ago echoes of hoofbeats and the roar of the crowd.

 

 

The William T. Piper Memorial Airport, formerly the site of the Lock Haven Race Track. The large structure in the lower right hand corner of frame is the old Piper factory, converted from a silk mill that already existed on the site, and thought to be where the grandstand once stood. 

 

 

 

 

Remembering "The Gut"

            This past year, I decided to tackle a project that I’d put on the backburner for quite some time – researching my family tree. Since my ancestors on both my maternal and paternal sides immigrated from Poland to Bayonne, N. J. around 1900, I hit the proverbial brick wall when I attempted to uncover more information before that date, due to the way surnames were misspelled upon their arrival at Ellis Island.

            To help me in my research, I became a member of the Hudson County Genealogical & Historical Society, which contains a treasure trove of information. Imagine my surprise when I opened up my first issue of its newsletter, Hudson Roots, and saw this headline: “…And they’re off!”
            Yes, the top story for that issue was about a racetrack – the now-defunct, and little-known, Guttenberg Race Track in North Bergen, N. J. While this blog is entitled “Pennsylvania Thoroughbred,” I have always found the history of New Jersey and its racing as equally as interesting, and so thought this was a good topic.
            According to the article, written by HCGS member Damian DeVirgilio, in August of 1885 the Hudson County Jockey Club, later to be known as the Guttenberg Race Track, opened in an area bounded by Kennedy Boulevard (then Hudson County Boulevard) and Bergenline Avenue, roughly facing the land which is now James J. Braddock Park.
            You can see the map of the area today here: http://mapq.st/Wufwjb
            Guttenberg was run by Gottfried Walbaum, also known as “Dutch Fred,” who partnered with Hudson County Clerk Dennis McLaughlin, John C. Carr and Nicholas Crusius.      
            The horses that competed there, the article states, were the “most miserable hacks ever collected in one place and the scandals connected with their performances made the track a byword. A Guttenberg ‘plug’ became the synonym for all that was wretched and ignoble in horseflesh.”

 

William Glackens’ oil painting “Outside the Guttenberg Race Track” from 1897.

 More from the Hudson Roots article:

            Despite the descent of its owners’ fortunes, the track itself had a lively existence over the next few decades as it passed amongst several owners. In 1897, artist William Glackens immortalized the track in his painting Outside the Guttenberg Race Track. A speeding trolley is seen along the left as a rustic carnival-like scene unfolds. Horse races occasionally still took place but without cash prices and never on the previous scale. With the passage of time, the track came to be used for a variety of purposes, such as baseball games and pigeon shooting contests. The advent of the twentieth century also brought early automobile races. Rumors of land development also began to surface. When the land passed into the hands of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Newark, an orphanage run by the Sisters of Peace was proposed in 1905. However, formal development was not to come for over a decade.

            The site was also used by those seeking a bit of immortality, but some were more successful than others. For instance, Maxey Long set a world record for the 440 yard sprint at 47 seconds on the track on Oct. 6, 1900, a record which stood for almost 16 years. Sadly, aspiring Belgian aviator Charles Frank Morok didn’t fare as well. “Diavolo” as he called himself, used the track to launch his attempt to be the first to fly across the icy Hudson River into Manhattan on Dec. 26, 1910. Unfortunately, moments after takeoff, his plane crashed into the second story of a house several blocks south, disturbing a young woman’s private bathroom time.

             In 1907, a large band of “gypsies” decided to camp on the track grounds, creating quite a stir among local officials and residents. The gypsies descended upon the streets of the surrounding towns, invading the stores and saloons, and driving the women and children into their homes.  Despite the uproar, it seems that the camp remained for several years, at least on a seasonal basis.

And finally:

            The track’s old grandstand burned down during January of 1910 in a blaze that could be seen all the way in Manhattan, but the track’s ultimate end came in 1919 when the land was formally divided into lots for auction. The track’s memory remains alive amongst some horse racing historians. However, the track’s tale is lost to the average local. As Hudson County continues to evolve, The Gut’s story reminds us that the community had been reshaping itself continuously, long before today’s modern development plans. The challenge will be to ensure that our roots and the complex stages of our growth do not dissolve into fading whispers.

If you’d like to read another well-researched article about the Guttenberg Racetrack, check out this one from “Colin’s Ghost,” which is written by Kevin Martin:

http://colinsghost.org/2010/01/winter-racing-at-new-jerseys-guttenberg-race-track-1885-1893.html

 

Back in the saddle ... and an eye to the sky

            It’s been a while since my last blog post, but I’ve been pretty busy tending to my husband, who has been seriously ill. He spent a lot of time at the University of Pennsylvania in Center City, Philadelphia, which most of us horse lovers know also owns and operates the New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, an excellent veterinary hospital.

            Episodes like this can really disrupt the normal flow of daily life, and I had to cancel my yearly trip to Saratoga, which I regretted deeply. Hopefully I can make the trek to the Adirondacks next season with my daughters. My betting has also been limited, generally focused on weekend action at Saratoga and the occasional wager at Monmouth Park if there’s a horse running that I like.

            But while the bulk of my time has been spent traveling back and forth to Center City, I have been keeping an eye on what’s been happening in the thoroughbred world. Here are some thoughts and observations as we lurch towards September:

            * Parx Casino saw revenues from table game play decline in July, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board said on August 17, as the Bensalem casino’s 182 table games drew in just under $7.9 million last month, down from $9.5 million from 172 tables during the same period last year. But the Gaming Board was quick to point out that this July had only four full weekends of play, the busiest days of the week, while July of 2011 had five.

            There is such an oversaturation of gaming in the Mid-Atlantic region – Atlantic City included – that I’m surprised a decline in revenue, not just limited to table games, hasn’t started sooner. Like Atlantic City, what goes up, must come down, and I predict within five years the Pennsylvania casinos won’t be the cash cows they now are. Thoroughbred racing better focus on promoting the sport and fostering new fans, or else it’s doomed.

            * Speaking of doomed, there was a very interesting interview published in today’s  Harness Racing Update with new Meadowlands Racetrack owner Jeff Gural.

            Gural was refreshingly frank and straightforward when asked whether business at the East Rutherford oval was up or down for the year, and his opinion about the state of harness racing, in general.

            “To tell you the truth, I think the industry is headed for disaster,” said Gural. “Maybe the goal is to get the most money you can before the whole things collapses and disappears. I know that I have to make changes and I have to hope that some people will be willing to help us.”

            Oh, how I wish all racetrack operators would stop speaking in forked tongues and tell the truth, as Gural did. How about the powers that be at Pennsylvania tracks coming out and saying what they really think about thoroughbred racing?

            You can read Gural’s entire interview at www.harnessracingupdate.com, which I highly recommend.

            * A life-threatening incident like that which has befallen my husband has a way of really putting things in perspective. One of my other passions, aside from thoroughbred racing, has always been birds, and bird watching. To me, there is something extremely interesting and exciting in seeing the many, many different species of birds that live year-round and pass through the Pennsylvania-New Jersey region, and unfortunately I have not always given that passion the time it deserves, for one reason or another.

            But going forward, I intend to give birding as much attention as I do racing. To that end, next Saturday I will be taking a trip to Sandy Hook in New Jersey for an early morning birding trip to see fall migrating shorebirds … and on the way home stop at nearby Monmouth Park in time to catch the bulk of the card.  Who says you can’t have your cake, and eat it, too?

           Good racing … and good birding!

All in the family

           To those involved in thoroughbred racing, whether as an owner, trainer, groom, exercise rider or hotwalker, life on the backstretch can often seem like living with one big family.
           As in any family, relationships aren’t often perfect, but they are strong and lasting, through the good times and the bad.
           I have come to realize the power of a racetrack community this past week, as my husband Dennis is facing a serious health crisis.
           A 31-year veteran of the Parx Racing backside, Dennis’s life has revolved around horses and the people that work with them, and he has never had a desire to leave the racetrack since he first arrived so long ago.
           When I first met him in 1993, he was living in a dormitory room and had a pet goat named Happy, a gargantuan animal who once suffered a broken leg after being kicked by a horse at Penn National, and was sent by Dennis to the New Bolton Center of the University of Pennsylvania for treatment. Dennis would “walk” Happy every night around the perimeter of the racetrack, and Happy would follow him like a dog.
           Although many people wondered why we were together, since I was a college graduate and he was a high school dropout doing a labor-intensive job grooming thoroughbreds, I always knew it was the strong interest we both had in the sport that brought and kept us together. We were even married by Chaplain Nicholas Salios on the Parx Racing backstretch in 1994. Nearly 20 years later, we have two daughters, ages 17 and 14, both of whom love racing.
           Now that Dennis has been hospitalized, there has been an outpouring of care and concern from his racetrack brethren, with many going to visit him or calling to see how he’s doing.
           It’s a great family to have, and we are both deeply appreciative of them all.  

Dennis, Happy the Goat, and Blazing Sally, his horse, circa 1987.

* * * *

           I have to admit that I’m feeling a little bit disappointed that Rachel Alexandra, the famous filly, didn’t pick my name out of her feedtub as the winner of the “Name Rachel’s Foal” contest held by her owner, Stonestreet Stable, on July 27.  I was one of the many people who suggested the name “Jess’s Dream” for her colt by Curlin.

           While I am a bit peeved at Rachel, I am delighted that Jess’s Dream was selected for her colt. As has been written many times, it was the dream of her late owner, Jess Jackson, that his two prize thoroughbreds, Rachel and Curlin, be mated.
           Actually, I was kind of hoping that the Stonestreet folks would’ve chosen “Wild Taco” for his name, and from whence his nickname “Taco” derived. I thought “Wild Taco” was pretty funny, and so did they. He just looks like a “Taco” to me.

A bit of Pennsylvania at the Spa

The first day of the much-anticipated Saratoga Race Course meet is in the books, and it was great to see a Pennsylvania-bred filly capture the marquee race on the opening card.

So Many Ways, bred in the Keystone State by John R. Penn and John C. Penn, rolled to 1-1/2 length victory in the Gr. 3 Schuylerville Stakes for 2-year-old fillies today, covering the six furlongs in 1:11.51 for trainer Tony Dutrow.

A daughter of young sire Sightseeing, So Many Ways broke her maiden at Parx on June 9, a race I was fortunate enough to see in person. Normally, horses that break their maidens at the Bensalem oval don't usually move onward and upward at venues like Saratoga, but So Many Ways isn't your typical Parx graduate, nor is Dutrow your typical Parx trainer.

So Many Ways is owned by Maggi Moss, and hopefully we will see her at Saratoga again before the meet ends.

* * * *

Champion Royal Delta headlines the prestigious $750,000 Delaware Handicap (Gr. 2) at Delaware Park tomorrow, and this should be an interesting renewal of the Stanton oval's keystone event. Looking to give Royal Delta a run for the money are Awesome Maria, Cash for Clunkers, and Love and Pride, as well as three others, and the 1-1/4 mile test goes off at approximately 5:45 p.m. If you're in the area, stop by the beautiful Stanton racetrack to see these fine fillies and mares.





Racing's guardian angel

            I have been extremely fortunate - no, honored - over the last two years to know a woman named Deborah Jones, although I have never met her in person.
           Jones is a selfless and tireless advocate for horses of all breeds, but thoroughbreds in particular. British-born, but California-based, Jones has an amazing reach across every state in the country, and has helped rescue hundreds, if not thousands, of horses through her network of volunteers and sources.
           Many are plucked from the clutches of kill buyers, and several have even been sent back from the slaughterhouse doorstep. Others have been saved from starvation, or from bad situations at racetracks.
           I had frequent communication with Jones while doing a story about the horrific situation at Star Barn Thoroughbreds in Grantville, Pa. She was trying to help the many broodmares, horses of racing age, yearlings and weanlings that were either being sold to kill buyers or left in poor physical condition.

One of the neglected, in-foal mares at Star Barn.

           Star Barn had advertised for mares for a “pasture breeding experiment” to be funded by an agricultural grant, but after its horse population soared and the money dried up, it started to dump horses at auction. Jones was made aware of the situation and was able to intervene and save a large amount, but for some it was too late, including the farm's teaser stallion.
            The Star Barn debacle was only one of many where Jones stepped in to protect defenseless equines. I am absolutely amazed at how she is able to do it all, and she readily admits that she often doesn’t get more than four hours of sleep each night. Suffice it to say if there’s a happy ending to be found, Jones is likely to have been involved.
            To read a link about Jones’s latest success on The Paulick Report, please click here: http://www.paulickreport.com/news/ray-s-paddock/prominent-racing-family-s-mares-rescued-from-texas-slaughter-auction/

An attitude adjustment

            Way back in the early 1990’s, I used to cover a large chunk of the Saratoga meet each season for The Trentonian newspaper in Trenton, N. J.

            I came to dread the yearly trek up to the Adirondacks. My nightly stipend for a hotel was $60, forcing me miles out of town to the dreariest of dumps. There was no “up front” expense money, so to make my meager paycheck stretch, as well as my already overburdened credit card, I was compelled to find the cheapest pizza joints for my dinner.

            Aside from the major stakes races, I had to cover the annual Fasig-Tipton select yearling sale, but under the crudest of circumstances. The motel I stayed at each year was a good fit for my pocketbook, but didn’t have a phone jack that I could plug my laptop into (remember, this was way before the wireless revolution).

            I would have to write my story and then schlep the laptop to the motel office, where the only phone jack was located. Oftentimes the connection wasn’t made, and I’d have to try again and again. This was often right up against the midnight deadline, and the editors weren’t happy about it, and neither was I.

One time, upon failure of the laptop modem to connect, I had to dictate my story to a part-timer on the sports desk, who dutifully typed it into the system, but the story went to press replete with misspelled horse names.

            In short, the “August place to be” turned into the “unhappiest place for me.”  Upon the paper pulling the plug on the Saratoga trips in 2003 because of budgetary woes, I vowed only to watch and wager on Saratoga from the comfort of my living room.

            But recently, my attitude towards Saratoga Springs has softened. Both of my daughters, who are extremely interested in the sport, asked to spend a few days there in 2010, and so off we went. We had a wonderful time, and I began to see the historic city through a tourist’s eyes, and not through the eyes of someone who was being inconvenienced.

            Last year, we went back during the week of the yearling sale, but met my friend Dawn Newman, who owns Fox Tale Stud in Coopersburg, Pa. I can honestly say that it was the best vacation I’ve ever had – a whirlwind of horses, history, handicapping and yes, meals that were much better than those cut-rate pizzas downed with second-rate beer.

            We’re meeting up again this year, and instead of reluctantly packing my bags, I’m eagerly anticipating seeing the rich and famous at the Fasig-Tipton salesgrounds, and those gorgeous, million-dollar yearlings. The best part of all is that I don’t have to bring my laptop, or write a single story.

            Saratoga, here we come!

            FINISH LINES: I didn’t remember seeing this anywhere on the web, but champion Forever Together, owned during her racing days by the Augustin Stable of George Strawbridge, Jr. and trained by Jonathan Sheppard, had her first foal, a filly by Smart Strike, this spring … Rumors are flying that there may be a change in a key official position at Parx Racing soon … The fickle nature of the racing game can often drain even the most robust of bank accounts, unless one goes into the business with the wherewithal to withstand severe downturns. Recently, we’ve learned of one stallion owner/breeder/stable owner who is experiencing such a turn of fortune, leaving a mountain of unpaid bills. We wish them – and their creditors - the best.   

Is it hot enough for you?

            A water main failure around 12:45 p.m. at the Swimming River Reservoir in Tinton Falls, N. J. on June 29 caused water outages in parts of Monmouth County, affecting up to 55,000 users in the region, including Monmouth Park.

            Trainers on the Monmouth backstretch said there was no water for the horses in this blistering heat, although the track brought in trucks with 100,000 gallons of water for drinking and to put on the main track.

            However, the live racing card of June 30 went on as scheduled despite the water issues, while neighboring Delaware Park and Parx Racing both scrapped their cards of June 30 because of the excessive heat.

            Monmouth County officials said a wooden bridge atop three pipes that lead to and from the Swimming River Reservoir collapsed, though it wasn't clear whether the pipes or bridge collapsed first.
        
            UPDATE as of 5:00 p.m. from Oceanport, N. J. mayor Joseph Irace: "NJ American Water Company is making progress on the system repair. Large diameter pipe... has been located to complete the job and is enroute from Alabama. Contractors, engineers and NJAWC crews are on site beginning critical work to install the replacement pipe once it arrives and install a temporary bypass for immediate needs.

Once the pipe arrives, NJAWC is hopeful that recovery efforts will make substantial progress by July 4th, although many variables have to go just right."

             (Photo courtesy of Little Silver-Oceanport Patch, Brigitta Graf)

* * * *

            We’d like to re-post this timely article from www.TheHorse.com about the best way to care for your horses in hot weather. With the mercury topping out at the century mark in most of Pennsylvania, it’s good information to have.

The heat can play havoc with your horse's health. It can result in dehydration, lethargy, and general malaise. Severe heat stress can result in diarrhea and even colic. Janet Johnston DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, ACVS, an emergency critical care veterinarian at University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine's New Bolton Center, suggests the following ten tips to keep your horse comfortable and safe in the summer heat.

1. Choose your turnout times. If your horse has a stall but is turned out for part of the day, provide turnout during the cooler hours. Overnight is ideal, but if that's not possible, turnout as early as possible during the day.

2. Give him shade. If he lives outdoors or must be out during the day, provide relief from the sun. A run-in shed is best. Trees are a source of shade as well, but as the sun moves so will the shade.

3. Move that air. Fans are a great way to help keep the air moving in the barn, but use them wisely. Always ensure that your horse can't get a hold of cords and plugs.

4. Mist it. If you are lucky enough to have a system to mist your horse, use it. As the moisture is absorbed from your horse's skin, it will take away some of the heat as well. Frequent misting is more effective at cooling a horse than a single dousing with the hose.

5. Lead him to water. Make sure your horse has plenty of fresh, cool water. A bucket hanging on a fence will get too warm to be appealing to your horse. Left long enough water will also become stagnant and unhealthy. If you provide clean, cool water and your horse doesn't seem to be drinking, encourage him by providing a salt block.

6. Electrolytes. If your horse is sweating a great deal, water laced with electrolytes can help keep his body in balance. Whenever you offer electrolytes, however, be sure to offer fresh water as well. Too many electrolytes and too little water can be harmful.

7. Slow down the work. Just because your horse has been working intensely in the heat of the day doesn't mean he continue when the temperature tops 90°F. If you have to work him in the heat, lighten the work or break it up into a couple of short sessions. This is especially important when the humidity is high and contributing to the poor quality of the air he is breathing.

8. Stick to a schedule. Within the parameters of keeping him cool, try to stay as close as possible to his normal schedule. Too much change at one time can be an invitation for colic to develop.

9. White out! Horses, especially white or light-colored horses, can suffer from sunburn. Even those with white socks, blazes, pink noses, or hairless patches can be prone to sunburn. Using a fly sheet can help, and applying sunblock to small, particularly vulnerable areas can also be effective. Staying out of the sun's harmful rays will, of course, be best. (Also be aware: if a horse has excessive sunburn it could indicate a rare, underlying liver disease.)

10. Clipping horses with longer hair coats is important, especially those with Cushing's disease. While some coat can provide protection from the sun and insulation, a thick coat tends to hold heat in and make it difficult for the horse to cool down.

A pair of happy endings

           Is there any other sport that treats so many of its retired athletes as badly as thoroughbred racing?
           Within the last month, two gallant geldings that had distinguished themselves on the track had to be plucked from bad situations, both found to be in terrible physical condition.
           The first victim of human neglect was Who’s Bluffing, a 12-year-old son of Pine Bluff. Who’s Bluffing served 10 years at various ovals, starting his career at Arlington Park and finishing it while based at Penn National.
           He made 110 starts, won 21 times, earned $523,401, and in 2006 set a new track record at Penn, zipping six furlongs in 01:08.77.
           I had always been a fan of Who’s Bluffing and had watched many of his races in Pennsylvania, admiring the way he always tried and seemed to stand up to the wear and tear.  
           We do not want to go into all the details as to how Who’s Bluffing ended up being rescued by Back in the Saddle Horse Adoption in Linden, Pa., headed by Joni Fink, on May 14. Suffice it to say that he had been placed in that neglectful home by a young woman who plies her trade at Penn National and in the Grantville area, acquiring free horses from owners and trainers and promising she will find them good homes. Despite her assurances, many of these horses turn up on Craigslist within a few days, advertised for a few hundred dollars.
           Read for yourself about Who’s Bluffing from Back in the Saddle’s web site (http://www.bitshorseadopt.org/):

           “We were alerted to ‘Bluff’ from a concerned friend of BITS. After speaking with the gentleman that had him and after seeing pictures of his condition, we knew he needed help and we agreed to bring him on at our facility. During our intake process, we found numerous ticks throughout his body as well as several nasty bite and kick wounds from his pasture mates. We will be taking Bluff to the vet clinic to get the lump on his face checked and we feel with as many ticks that were pulled from him, we should have him tested and possibly treated for Lyme disease. Bluff is currently in our rehabilitation program but will be available for adoption in the future.”

(photos courtesy of Back in the Saddle Horse Adoption)

           The other gelding who needed to be rescued was the stakes winner Nyuk Nyuk Nyuk. An 11-year-old son of Mutakddim, “Nyuk” made 80 starts, won 18 times, and earned over $800,000, and was also one of my favorites.

           Unfortunately, Nyuk was also found to be in terrible physical condition at a small show farm in Pennsylvania – placed there by the same woman who acquired Who’s Bluffing.  They were trying to use Nyuk as a jumper, but he had a fractured sesamoid and couldn’t perform. The farm’s solution was to just turn him out in a field and forget about him.
           Eventually, Nyuk was advertised on Craigslist, and the ad drew plenty of attention. Here it is:

11 year 16hh OTTB geld. free to a good home! (Ickesburg, Perry County)

Date: 2012-05-30, 7:14AM EDT

"Nuke" - jockey club registered as "Nyuk Nyuk Nyuk" - is a 16hh OTTB geld. 11 yrs old. He only just came off the track last year, so he did a lot of racing. He's got an issue in his right front ankle. He's fine for light rides and trails. Puppy dog personality and loves attention! This guy needs to go somewhere where he can enjoy being off the track and be spoiled rotten! He's UTD on all shots, coggins, and farrier. No vices. Will be sold with an anti-auction/slaughter contract. Free to an approved home! Please email for more info!

            A concerned group of people, including one of his former owners Jack Armstrong, came together in an effort to save him, and arranged for his transport to Beyond the Roses Equine Rescue and Retirement in Michigan.

          Currently, Nyuk is being nursed back to health. Here’s what was posted on its web site (http://www.beyondtherosesequine.org/index.html):

           “Nyuk Nyuk Nyuk has come to us with the help of his former owner Jack Armstrong, after being off the track for over one year. He was received by BTRE almost 200 pounds underweight, severe rain rot, scratches on his rear legs and an old sesamoid fracture on one of his front legs.  Nyuk started his career at Woodbine Race Track in 2003 and ran there until 2009 when he was moved to Pennsylvania and raced there until his last race 6-7-2011. Nyuk needs some time to rebuild himself with lots of groceries and TLC.” 

            This is what Nyuk looked like upon rescue:

 (photo courtesy of Beyond the Roses Equine Rescue and Retirement)

           We’d like to give a big shout-out to Jack Armstrong, a leading owner at Parx Racing, for stepping up and helping get Nyuk to Beyond the Roses. While he was not the last owner of the gelding, he felt compassion for the horse and went the extra mile to make sure he has a happy retirement.

           Although we are extremely happy that both Who’s Bluffing and Nyuk Nyuk Nyuk have had safe landings, we know of another horse - Divashight​ekkgizmo – that also fell into the hands of the same woman on the Penn National backside, but his whereabouts and physical condition are currently unknown.

Here is the Craigslist ad:

3 yr old 16'1h tb gelding - $300 (grantville )

Date: 2012-05-31, 8:22PM EDT
Gizmo is cute tb that just wasn't cut out for racing. (He doesn't realize he's a tb) he's very kind and willing. Rides nice, doesn't have a baby mind. He's utd on shots/coggins/worming. Call or email me to set up an apt to meet this sweetie. His adoption fee is $300 with a no auction slaughter /slaughter contract.

The Golden Years in Jersey

    Hearing the news that the N. J. Horsemen's Association is going to lease grand old Monmouth Park, and that there may be major changes afoot to the facility beginning next year, made me feel a little nostalgic for the good old days at the Oceanport oval.

    Those changes to the picturesque and historic Jersey Shore racetrack - that promise to transform it into a full-fledged resort destination - include a water theme park, a Boardwalk-style area near the current Picnic Grove, a miniature golf course, a year-round restaurant, and a concert venue. There's even talk of starting races at 4 p.m. and ending them just as a concert begins.

     Oh, for the days of Bob Weems as he called the action from high atop the Monmouth grandstand, the sight of long betting lines and a crowded apron, and the screams of both the winners and losers as the horses battled down the homestretch!

     We looked through some of our Monmouth memorabilia this week and found a few tidbits from the 1962 publicity brochure that showcased the track back in its heyday.

     The picture in the top left-hand corner of the above page always fascinated me ... such an immense rainstorm hit the Oceanport area on July 29, 1961 that there was 4 feet of water in the paddock area. Every time I stand in the paddock now, I think about that fellow swimming towards the grandstand.

     Here are four well-known jockeys at Monmouth in 1961, including Hall of Famers Steve Brooks, Walter Blum and Sam Boulmetis, the latter two who went on to become stewards at American racetracks. Boulmetis, who is still living, is the uncle of current jockey Tony Black, the all-time winningest rider at Philadelphia Park. Blum is also still living.

     Many champion distaffers competed at Monmouth throughout the years, and Primonetta was no exception. Here she is pictured winning the Miss Woodford Stakes on July 3, 1961. Primonetta, a daughter of Swaps, was voted champion older mare in 1962 and Broodmare of the Year in 1978. She was the dam of Cum Laud Laurie, Maud Muller, Prince Thou Art and Grenfall.

      This scan isn't the greatest due to the way the old brochure folded, but pictured above is Philip H. Iselin, the track's vice presient, sitting poolside with several jockeys as they were doing a spot for NBC-TV. The jockeys' Olympic-sized swimming pool was a unique feature of Monmouth Park, and you could also find many a turf writer sunning themselves there amongst the jockeys before covering a big race. Unfortunately, the pool was filled in and paved over prior to Monmouth hosting the 2007 Breeders' Cup Championships, due to age and disrepair.

         This New Jersey "Golden Triangle," a logo that appeared on the back of the 1962 publicity brochure, is a reminder of the good 'ole days ... when there was a full-fledged circuit between Monmouth Park, Garden State Park and Atlantic City. Much like Monmouth Park's swimming pool, Garden State has succumbed to the bulldozer, while Atlantic City is neglected and on the verge of collapse, running only 6 days per year. The Golden Triangle certainly has tarnished since 1961.

A deal in Jersey

            Many in New Jersey’s thoroughbred industry are celebrating the news that a deal was struck between the N. J. Thoroughbred Horsemens Association, which represents owners and trainers, and the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority, the quasi-governmental entity, for the lease and operation of Monmouth Park.
            But as the corks are popped and the champagne begins to flow, let’s take a close look at the nuts and bolts of the deal:

MONMOUTH PARK RACETRACK

GROUND LEASE SUMMARY

The New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority (the “NJSEA”) and New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (“NJTHA”) will enter into a ground lease (the “Ground Lease”) and related documents with respect to: (i) the leasing to NJTHA of the Monmouth Park Racetrack; (ii) the assignment to NJTHA of the right to operate five (5) off-track wagering facility licenses, including the existing Woodbridge OTW; and (iii) NJTHA’s assuming responsibility (together with the Meadowlands Racetrack operator) for the operation of the account wagering system and receiving a fifty percent (50%) share of the related net income.  These terms were signed March 1, 2012.  A closing is expected by the first week in May 2012.

 LEASE OF THE RACETRACK

The lease contains customary events of default permitting the NJSEA to retake the Monmouth Park Racetrack, including if NJTHA (a) ceases to operate the track as a thoroughbred racetrack, or (b) breaches any covenant in the other related documents.  If the NJSEA retakes the Racetrack, then it is also entitled to retake possession of the OTWs and account wagering interest.  At the conclusion of the lease, NJTHA agrees to allow the NJSEA, or its operator, to run a 71 one-day meet at purse levels that the NJTHA had run in the years that it leased the track.

The initial lease term shall terminate on December 31, 2016.  NJTHA has the right to extend the lease for up to three (3) 10-year terms. NJTHA and the Authority may jointly agree to extend the lease for a fourth 10-year term.

During the initial lease term, rental payment will be $1 per year.  During the first renewal term, annual rent will be either $250,000 or five percent (5%) of NJTHA’s net operating profits, whichever is greater.  During any subsequent renewal terms, annual rent will be either $500,000 or five percent (5%) of NJTHA’s net operating profits, whichever is greater.

 RACETRACK OPERATIONS AND EXPENSES

NJTHA is responsible for all operations at the Monmouth Park.

NJTHA is responsible for all costs of operating and managing Monmouth Park through the end of the lease.  NJSEA will advance $5.0 million of that amount on NJTHA’s behalf.  This $5.0 million is repaid as additional rent over five (5) years commencing in June 2015.  Repayment of the $5.0 million is secured by several forms of collateral including an escrow of $4 million.  As an incentive for the NJTHA to take over for the 2012 season, with expected operating losses in excess of $8 million, the NJSEA also agreed to provide a $4 million grant for the 2012 racing season.

NJSEA has also agreed to advance up to $2.0 million of operating losses for 2013 and up to $2.0 million of operating losses for 2014.  These amounts will also be repaid over five (5) years commencing in June 2016 and June 2017, respectively.  Repayment of these amounts is secured by various forms of collateral, including the OTW investments.

OTW AND ACCOUNT WAGERING

NJTHA will be granted the right to operate the off-track wagering facility in Woodbridge.  NJTHA will pay NJSEA ten percent (10%) of its net operating profits from the Woodbridge OTW commencing on the second anniversary of the Ground Lease.

NJTHA also has the right to construct and operate up to four (4) additional off-track wagering facilities.  NJTHA is required to commence construction of one new OTW facility within 12 months and a second new OTW facility within 24 months of commencement of the Ground Lease.  NJTHA will pay NJSEA ten percent (10%) of its off-track wagering net operating profits from any new OTWs.

NJTHA will receive 50% of NJSEA’s net operating profits from the account wagering operation.  Prior to NJTHA and the operator of the Meadowlands Racetrack assuming the account wagering operation (which is expected to occur after the closing of the Ground Lease), the Authority will retain 5% of the net operating profits.

Starting in 2013, the NJSEA will get 5% of the NJTHA’s share of account wagering revenue.

 ENVIRONMENTAL

Environmental remediation in areas of new construction is the NJSEA’s responsibility up to the first $2.0 million. NJTHA will be responsible for all costs associated with the removal of historic fill.  If the cost of remediation is over $2.0 million, then NJTHA will have the option of paying the excess costs.  If NJTHA fails to pay the excess remediation costs, the NJSEA has the option of paying the excess or terminating the Ground Lease.  The NJSEA agreed to increase this amount depending on the amount the NJTHA contributes to capital improvements.

 GAMING

If the laws relating to gaming change, then NJTHA has the right to conduct such gaming from the Racetrack.  If NJTHA elects not to exercise the available gaming rights, then the NJSEA has the right to conduct such gaming from the Racetrack.

* * * *

            We’ll have a fuller examination and opinion on this deal in a subsequent blog post, but suffice it to say it seems that the NJTHA, with no experience at running a racetrack, may be biting off more than they can chew unless they have a team of professionals ready to assist.

Winning memories

            Over the Christmas holidays, I finally had a chance to go through an enormous amount of old photographs that I had stored away since the death of my mother in June, 2010.
            For several days, I opened shoe boxes, albums and envelopes, discovering pieces of my family history that I never knew existed.
            Hundreds of photos, many dating from 1900, took me back through time to the place of my birth, Bayonne, New Jersey, a city just across New York Bay from Manhattan and Brooklyn. My maternal and paternal great-grandparents immigrated from Poland at the turn of the century and landed at nearby Ellis Island, before finally settling in the Bergen Point area, on the city’s southern tip.
            A blue-collar, lower middle-class town, most of Bayonne’s immigrant inhabitants worked at the nearby Standard Oil Company refinery on its east side, or at other manufacturing, distribution or maritime jobs that required manual labor. My grandfather Bill drove a truck for the J. Stanley Company, and loaded it with boxes and crates of food supplies from container ships that docked at Port Elizabeth, on Newark Bay, from around the world.
             My family ties were strong in Bayonne, with scores of aunts, uncles and cousins all living within blocks of each other. The main shopping district on Broadway was full of mom-and-pop establishments with glass fronts that displayed their wares for passersby … everything from bakeries and butchers, delis and shoe shops, groceries and newspaper stands. You could find anything you needed on Broadway.
            Does this blog post have anything to do with horse racing, you might ask? Well, yes it does, in a roundabout way. You see, as I gingerly handled the faded and brittle black-and-white photographs that chronicled my family’s past, I was reminded of the love I had for my grandfather, who, in addition to being a hard-working, dedicated breadwinner who left the house before sunrise and returned home after sunset, was a racing aficionado and instilled that love in me.
            Bill would get the New York Daily News delivered to the house about 11:30 p.m. each night and mark up the entries each morning before work, drinking his coffee at the kitchen table and putting an “X” next to a horse’s name in every race that was listed, be it from Belmont Park, Yonkers, or Monticello. The next day, he’d check to see how he’d done – a crude handicapping method, at best! And I would help him, reading the names of the horses he’d checked in the previous day’s newspaper. He’d look at the results and either say, “No good,” if the horse lost, or slyly smile and say, “I got a winner!”
            If he had a particularly good week, he’d think Lady Luck was on his side, and that meant we’d ride over to Staten Island on Saturday morning to a New York City OTB parlor on Liberty Boulevard, and he’d place a few bets. In those days, there was a half-hour television show that aired at 6 p.m. every Saturday hosted by Frank Wright and Charlsie Cantey, which showed the feature race of the day from New York and also the 9^th race, and we’d always watch it to see how he “made out.”
            Those were magical trips to Staten Island … crossing the majestic Bayonne Bridge, the fourth-longest steel arch bridge in the world. It spans the Kill Van Kull, a strip of water that separates Staten Island from Bayonne, and is an important shipping channel for seagoing vessels that are headed to Port Elizabeth. In those days, I even thought the dingy, dirty OTB parlor with its scruffy clientele was a little piece of heaven, too.
            In the summer, my grandfather and I would take a trip or two to Monmouth Park, and the excitement always proved too much for me, as I was never able to sleep the night before. A day at the track was a special event, a rite of summer, not like today’s day-in-and-day-out racing cards churned out at year-round factories like Parx Racing and Penn National. Win or lose, we always had a great time.
            My grandfather died in 1984, and never lived to see my handicapping selections get published in a newspaper, or read the articles I wrote about the stakes races at Monmouth or Garden State Park. As I looked at the photographs of him from so long ago, I realized how much I miss him, and how thankful I am that he introduced me, in just a small way, to the Sport of Kings. Perhaps one day we’ll meet again, and place some bets at that big racetrack in the sky.

My grandfather Bill and I, near the Bayonne Bridge, in 1978.