The Bensalem Blues

What if you threw a party and nobody came?

That was almost the feeling I had this weekend at Parx Racing when I ventured over to watch some live racing. 

On Saturday, attendance was decent, with a few thousand people milling around on the track apron, standing near the paddock, congregating inside watching the simulcast screens, and sitting up in the horsemen's boxes. The size of the crowd was most likely boosted by the card, which was spiced by the $75,000 Pennsylvania Nursery Stakes for 2-year-olds. Attendance has to be estimated because they are no longer released by the track, but they are still reported to the Pennsylvania Racing Commission.

But today, there were few people watching and wagering on the horses, with the largest group gathered at the sports bar watching the Eagles play the Miami Dolphins. An eight-race card was presented, with the highlight being two starter allowances with purses in excess of $32,000 each.

Unfortunately, the program was marred by a breakdown, several loose horses due to incidents at the break and during the running of races, and a few injured jockeys. Kristina McManigell was transported to local Aria Health hospital in northeast Philadelphia after her mount, Eleanor's Fuse, fell right after the wire in the 4th race, in which she finished third. After lying on the track for a few minutes, the 5-year-old mare got up and was led onto the horse ambulance, with the extent of her injuries unknown. The finale saw jockeys Tara Hemmings and Francisco Maysonett hit the ground when their mounts stumbled and swerved.

The day's on-track handle was anemic, as expected. Only $49,410 was bet on-track, an average of $6,176 per race. That hardly compared with last Wednesday, however, when on-track handle was $21,335 for the nine-race program, only $2,370 per race.

Would better marketing and advertising of horse racing by Parx result in higher attendance and healthier handle? Yes, but it's not likely to happen anytime soon, if at all, although advertising for the casino seems to be rampant in the Philadelphia region. Would running fewer days create more interesting cards with more horses per race? Yes, but such a move would be met with resistance by horsemen and jockeys, both of whom rely on a year-round racing schedule for their livelihoods.

Parx isn't alone, of course, and that's what should be of concern to anyone who loves this sport. All in all, it was a very depressing weekend of racing at the Bensalem oval.

No Shore Thing?

Will there be a Monmouth Park meet in 2012? Apparently the folks at the Jersey Shore racetrack think there will be, for today there appeared in my email in-box the announcement that the 2012 Monmouth Park season pass is now available for just $85.00, which gives the lucky recipient free grandstand or clubhouse admission as well as preferred parking. With all the turmoil in the last week concerning the transfer of the track from the State of New Jersey to Morris Bailey, kudos to the Monmouth publicity department for the optimism.

We covered Monmouth and New Jersey racing for more than a decade for a Trenton newspaper and, if history is any indication, we’ll make an educated guess that an “11^th-hour deal” will likely be brokered, just in time for the opening of the stable area this spring. Until then, get ready for more posturing from all four camps – the thoroughbred and standardbred factions, the Christie administration, and Morris Bailey’s attorney. Coming into play in this whole charade are the off-track wagering licenses and revenue, which are quite lucrative.

The Monmouth situation had us doing a little digging into the archives to refresh our memory as to when off-track wagering was legalized in New Jersey. The answer was August of 2001, more than 10 years ago. Since then, only three OTW sites have been built: in Vineland, Woodbridge and Toms River. Greenwood/Pennwood (or whatever it calls itself) has the rights to build one on the old Garden State Park property in Cherry Hill, but has made no attempt (for whatever reason) to do so, although Greenwood certainly erected its Turf Clubs in suburban Philadelphia and environs in record time. Another N. J. site is earmarked for Bayonne (my hometown) and recent eyewitness reports have stated that preliminary foundation work is going on, with workers there every day for the last 2 weeks or more. This OTW, in our opinion, would be a goldmine, as there are plenty of horseplayers in Hudson County (my grandfather and I used to have to cross the Bayonne Bridge into Staten Island to get some action at a New York City OTB). Here’s what the site looked like in March:

Speaking of the New Jersey racing crisis, what will become of the $1 million Haskell Invitational if the Monmouth meet gets deep-sixed? Would it be transferred to another racetrack? Or would it most likely be discontinued?  Across the river at Parx Racing there will be a Grade 1 event for 3-year-old fillies in 2012, the Cotillion Stakes, which was the beneficiary of the goodwill of the Graded Stakes Committee, who upgraded the 1-1/16 mile race from Grade 2 status, snubbing the prestigious Delaware Handicap once again for that lofty status.  

Speaking of Parx, some misinformation was recently disseminated concerning the Cotillion, which is going to get a purse boost to $1 million in 2012.  KYW-1060 AM in Philadelphia had an on-air item that heralded the Cotillion as the “first Grade 1 race in Pennsylvania” upon the news of its upgrading. The KYW story stated that “…this may be the shot in the arm that horse racing needs in Pennsylvania.” But a quick check of the history books tells us the Cotillion was a Grade 1 race once before, in 1973. Oops!

Giving Jack his due

In yesterday's post, we mentioned that Parx Racing had created a Hall of Fame, with the first flush of inductees honored in the winner's circle on September 24, Pennsylvania Derby Day, which included current track announcer Keith Jones.

It was unfortunate that the voice of perhaps the greatest Pennsylvania Derby of all was not among those receiving recognition - the late, great Jack Lamar, who was behind the mike for Broad Brush's thrilling victory in 1986.

Here's a link to that historic racecall: https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=2021784423765&oid=118356888221220&comments

Lamar was the race announcer when the track opened as Keystone Racetrack in 1974 and he continued through 1987.  His call could also be heard on the feature race of the day that was broadcast on radio stations in Philadelphia and South Jersey.  During his career, he also was the track announcer at Dover Downs in  Delaware, Marlboro Downs in Maryland, Hialeah Park in Florida, Garden State Park in Cherry Hill, N.J., and Atlantic City Racetrack in McKee City, N.J.

Here's a link to Lamar's life and career, courtesy of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia: http://www.broadcastpioneers.com/bp10/jacklamar.html

In February, 1987, Lamar - who was 61 at the time - was fired by Philadelphia Park track owner International Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. and replaced by Keith Jones, who was 29. According to a story in the Philadelphia Daily News of July 12, 1988:

"Jack Lamar, former track announcer at Philadelphia Park and Garden State Park, filed a claim against ITB last year with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in which he alleged age and religious discrimination. Lamar, who is Jewish, recently withdrew his claim with the EEOC and has filed suit against ITB in U.S. District Court in Camden. Lamar was fired, with minimal explanation, in February 1987."

Lamar's many accomplishments were ignored by the Parx Racing Hall of Fame committee, and here's hoping they give him his rightful due next year. Those of us who were patrons of old Keystone and the tracks in the South Jersey region remember him fondly as a straightforward, accurate announcer.  Lamar, who died in 2006, does not get even a mention in the track's current media guide.

As an aside, when yours truly researched and wrote the 1997 media guide for the track, Mr. Lamar's contributions to the early days of racing in Bensalem were included, but sadly his name has been edited out of the current online version.

Fact-checking, and K-Mart

Last Saturday was the 32nd running of the Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing, and it was a treat to see Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott win the nine furlong test with a talented 3-year-old named To Honor and Serve.

But as I gazed out at the people ringing the winner's circle, all hoping to catch a T-shirt tossed by the track's costumed mascot, Parx the Horse, I was struck by how the race has been changed from a Labor Day extravaganza with huge crowds that would jam the grandstand, Picnic Grove, and track apron to a condensed group of diehards content to see some good 3-year-olds on a Saturday afternoon in late September.  Although I never liked navigating through and around those large throngs - which often numbered more than 25,000 in the race's late 1980's heyday - I actually feel saddened at how the sport has dropped out of the public's consciousness, except at select venues like Saratoga, Del Mar, and other seasonal meets.

This year, to spice up the Pennsylvania Derby card, someone came up with the idea of creating a Parx Racing Hall of Fame, and the first class of inductees were honored in the winner's circle between races. "Special Achievement" honoree Robert W. Green, who bought the track in 1990 under the Greenwood Racing banner from Robert Brennan's International Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc., was credited with "creating telephone (and internet) wagering applications," which got me thinking how factually correct this statement was.

Sure enough, my memory served me correctly. I pulled out an old Philadelphia Park media guide from 1990 and it stated that, "... in 1985, ITB received national recognition with the advent of its Phonebet system of wagering. Phonebet is a program in which patrons unable to make it to the track can still participate by wagering legally by telephone on the races."

Greenwood may have expanded the Phonebet system after the track's purchase, but it did not create it. Guess it was just a little factual embellishment for the Hall of Fame inductions.

Speaking of Parx Racing, did you know it actually had three previous names? Originally the track was to be christened Neshaminy Race Track, but prior to its official opening on November 4, 1974 it was changed to Keystone.  In the summer of 1985, it was changed again, to Philadelphia Park, and then was slapped with the Parx moniker last year.

Here's a couple of old photos from the media guide - the first shows that there actually were fountains in the infield lake at one time, while the second shows the Keystone grandstand's distinctive "K" on its back wall.  Many oldtimers, in fact, nicknamed the track "K-Mart."

Yes, there really were infield fountains, folks. Check out the crowd in the background.

A long line of cars in the parking lot of "K-Mart." Circa 1976.

Season's greetings

            ‘Tis the season for stallion announcements … a season I look forward to every year.  I love finding out which stallions are moving where, and usually I am surprised by more than a few.

            The announcement earlier this week that Silver Train was relocating from Vinery in Kentucky to Northview-Pa was probably the worst-kept secret in the business, with the only surprise being his $7,500 stud fee for 2012, which is the same as this past breeding season.

            Although I look forward to this season of stallion “musical chairs,” I must admit I am getting a little cynical.  Nine times out of 10, horses that relocate from Kentucky to Pennsylvania are doing so because of declining popularity among mare owners, or runners not performing to expectations, or disappointing sales results, or all three.

            With the Pennsylvania breeding program offering such rich incentives to owners and breeders, one would think it would be an attractive region for graded stakes-winning, well-bred freshmen sires, much like Spendthrift Farm’s Dublin, a Grade 1-winner who will be standing his first season in New York, or stallions whose progeny have proven themselves on the racetrack, like Ghost Ridge Farm’s Jump Start.

            Northview-Pa had the right idea a few years back when it decided to stand freshman sire Fairbanks, a graded-stakes winning son of Giant’s Causeway. Not only did Fairbanks get supported by the better mares domiciled in the Keystone State, but also by Kentucky mares through his part-owner Margaux Farm in Midway. His first foals race next year.

            Speaking of Margaux Farm, we took a peek at its web site today and noticed that Petionville was suddenly missing from its stallion roster. 

Hmmm … let the musical chairs begin. And just remember, you read it here first (hint, hint).

* * * *

I recently discovered an excellent online magazine, Australian Breeding & Racing, which covers a wide variety of topics not just limited to racing “down under.” In this current issue (see link), there is an article entitled “The Great Stud Fee Debate,” as well as “Colour Blind,” in which pedigree analyst Jane Henning assesses the impact of coat color on performance.

            The e-edition contains many beautiful photographs, as well as advertisements for American stallions who shuttle. Those ads contain many new conformation photos; the one I saw for Lookin at Lucky was especially nice.

            Here’s an interesting piece about whether a thoroughbred’s conformation can predict its wet-track ability: http://www.breedingracing.com/pdfs/99/Editorial/wetTrack.pdf

            All in all, I highly recommend Australian Breeding & Racing to anyone interested in the global thoroughbred world.  The link to the current edition is: http://epublishbyus.com/ebook/ebook?id=10020910#/0

Horse Heaven

            I just returned from a wonderful four-day trip to Saratoga Springs, and I must admit it was one of the best vacations I’ve ever had. 

            Many moons ago, I was paid to cover racing at the Spa, and quite frankly had a much different opinion of the historic racecourse on Union Avenue.  My former employer only allowed a pittance per night for the hotel room, and I was forced far out of town, to musty motels where dark paneling and televisions with rabbit ears were the norm.  The days spent at the track were hot and tiring, and I didn’t partake in much Saratoga night life, nor did much sightseeing around town.

            This time around, however, I did a little bit of everything. I finally tasted the spring waters (ugh!); shopped on Broadway and beyond; spent afternoons at the Fasig-Tipton salesgrounds eyeballing fancy yearlings, and then lingered all night at the sales, my head spinning from the astronomical pricetags; toured the Oklahoma backstretch with a guide from the National Museum of Racing; inspected new stallion Dublin at D. Wayne Lukas’s barn thanks to a Spendthrift Farm representative; explored the Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame and marveled at the trophies, artwork, and artifacts, and finally got to touch, photograph and watch Preakness Stakes winner Shackleford train from Dale Romans’s barn on the Saratoga main backstretch.

Spendthrift Farm's new stallion Dublin, who retires to Keane Stud in NY for the 2012 season (photo courtesy of me).

            In short, it was truly “horse heaven” for this thoroughbred lover, and I can’t wait to go back next year.

            I left Saratoga with a new appreciation for its place in horse racing history, but I also left with a growing interest and intrigue in the New York breeding program, which is projected to grow by leaps and bounds now that the Aqueduct VLT parlor is ready to open by year’s end.

            There are two things which truly make the New York breeding program appealing – the plethora of restricted races that are carded on a daily basis at Belmont Park, Aqueduct and Saratoga, and the New York-bred sale of preferred yearlings that is held annually by Fasig-Tipton at its Saratoga salesgrounds.

            A robust restricted program is necessary to encourage breeders to drop foals in a particular state, and New York has one of the best, unlike Pennsylvania, where many are of the opinion that there should be a reduced number of restricted races, and that bettors have little or no interest in them.  A restricted program like one currently in place in New York also encourages buyers to purchase New York-bred yearlings at public auction, as was demonstrated at the recent Fasig-Tipton sale on August 13-14.

            The final figures of the New York-bred venue saw a gross of $6,725,500 for the 124 yearlings that were sold, with an average price of $54,238 and median of $35,000. Compared to last year, the number sold and gross rose 31.9 percent and 83 percent, respectively, while the average price increased 38.7 percent and the median advanced 16.7 percent.

            In response to the expected purse and breeders’ bonus boost from the Aqueduct VLTs, many Kentucky farms are sending decent stallions to the Empire State, as evidenced by Spendthrift’s decision to test the waters with freshman sire and Grade 1-winner Dublin.

            While Pennsylvania may currently give out more money, percentage-wise, to its owners and breeders, the lack of a restricted program, coupled with the lack of a first-class sale like the one Fasig-Tipton conducts, may hurt it in years to come.

            Owners and breeders from Pennsylvania and beyond may take a renewed interest in the New York program, and - much like I took a second look at Saratoga this year – may decide that they like it very much.

           

The dog days of summer!

            After a long break, it’s time to shake the cobwebs off this blog and note some interesting happenings on the Pennsylvania scene and beyond.
            In no particular order, here we go:

            Owners and trainers at Parx Racing in Bensalem will be happy to learn that the track is increasing the payouts from 5^th-place through last on unrestricted races.  Those payouts will be $500 for races with purses in the 20K range; $750 for races with purses in the 30K range, and $1,000 for races with purses in the 40K range. 

            The mandatory $120 deduction for jockey’s fees and the Turning For Home ($10) and political action committee/promote-our-sport ($10) fees will stay the same.
            All restricted Pennsylvania-bred races listed as such in the condition book will not be affected and the old system of $200 for 6th through last place will remain. 
            For those who may squabble with payouts to horses that finish out of the money, let us just gently remind them that it costs owners to put horses into the starting gate, and the small stipend received does not leave much, if anything, for profit.

* * * *

            A friend of mine is bullish on the New Jersey racing and breeding industries.  Yes, you read that right.  He believes, now that they’re under private ownership, Monmouth Park and Meadowlands will thrive, and both the standardbred and thoroughbred breeding industries will be revived.

            And he’s putting his money where his mouth is. He is moving horses from Pennsylvania to New Jersey so that he will be in a position to take advantage of the future financial benefits.
            Some may call him crazy, but it’s refreshing to see someone have a positive view of New Jersey’s future, rather than the typical doom-and-gloom scenarios spouted by so many “experts.”

* * * * 

            Buddy the Yellow Lab has been moping around the house the last two days.  When the temperature hit 100, we decided it was in his best interest to scrap his evening walk.  Hopefully the weather will break soon so he can resume his erratic behavior while on leash, which includes barking at every canine he encounters and lunging at motorcycles and scooters.  He’s a crazy, crazy Lab!