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Archive for the 'views & news' Category
In Maryland, one county steers 4750 slots into the Mall, not the track.
“We need this money,” council member Tricia L. Johnson (R-Davidsonville) told a packed council chamber as she urged her colleagues to pass “a proposal right in front of us.” Within a few years, the mall casino could generate more than $500 million a year, about half of which would be earmarked for state education programs, according to consultants hired by the state. The county would also get a cut of the proceeds.
Last year, a statewide ballot issue authorizing the five slots sites passed with the support of 59 percent of Anne Arundel voters. But anti-slots activists said that most people assumed at the time that slots would go to Laurel Park racetrack, not the mall. Cordish ( county ) officials have said that a casino at the mall, which draws about 14 million people a year, would be far more lucrative than one at the racetrack. “>
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Also read Andy Beyer’s comment on the Malls of Maryland
Also see this blog’s October 20th entry titled “Slot Squeeze tightens at FRD”
21
Dec
saving “keystone wallis”
A Christmas Story, cited in the Paulick Report.
“Last month, Ms. Miller saw a sale catalog that included the name of Keystone Wallis, a 23-year-old “barren mare.” Because the old mare’s racing and breeding days are over, “I knew no one would want her but the killers,” Ms. Miller said in a telephone interview. “I just had to buy her.”
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09353/1022003-62.stm#ixzz0aOWmbBJh
~ ~ ~ FRD Patrons who purchase “Second Chance” draw tickets also help to SAVE HORSES. ~ ~ ~~
FRD is dark during “The Thaw of 2009″ ( sort-of GCGC’s Xmas present to share holders ).
Meanwhile - Northfield Park, in suburban Cleveland Ohio, makes for an interesting contrast.
Five cards a week, around a highly banked - 225 foot radius - bullring. 54% of the race is on a turn.
Note the track’s “de-facto” passing lane based on the transition from last turn - to stretch run.
Purses are 40% less than FRD, handle is 600% more than FRD and NO life support SLOTS ! ! ! ! … Now, who in-the-hell is that possible ? ( nudge-nudge, wink-wink ) !
Northfield Ohio, 13 miles S. of Cleveland, Half mile track
Most entertaining is their continuing Saga of ”Second Right There” … presented under their video news section and also on YouTube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7-OIVDEDDI&feature=player_embedded#
" Now, that seems fair ! "
Racing cancelled for this weekend:
A Typical annual event after a period of below freezing temps, the track “Thaws-out” in a messy discontinuous manner. See this Blogs earlier entry about winter racing at FRD, and last season’s THAW . Racing is scheduled to resume on December 26th, “Boxing Day”, 1:15PM . See press Release.
MERRY CHRISTMAS
(Standing L. to R.) Doug Chappell, Ed (Eddie “H”) Hensley, Santa himself, Dave Hudon, Tim (DownTown) Brown, Jim (CoCo) Burke and Director of Racing Jackson ( WTF) Wittup
(Front Row L. to R.) Jim ( MarbleHead) Marino, Travis Tracey, Scott (D-White) Knight and John Abbott.
The Central Planning Committee is here to “help” you in ways you never knew you needed.
New Management Aims to Revitalize BC Horse Racing Industry.
Also See … Tom Wolski’s view in the paypah.
Also See … this blog’s earlier entry regarding “control” of BC Racing
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Meanwhile, for the rest of us simply seeking a square deal at the betting windows:
New $25 Million “Gaming Centre” planned 8 miles from FRD Racino:
Last night the local municipal council approved a $25 million plan to upgrade a dingy bingo hall into a “Gaming Centre” with > 150 slots. Proceeds to benefit widows, orphans, and the indigent. Three miles east of FRD there already exist 750 slots at Langley’s Cascades Casino.
See this blog’s earlier post about the Gov’s intention to dilute Racino’s Slot Loot.
How will this effect race purse supplementation ?
See local BC story
And similar story in Alberta
Local Bingo Hall to become "Gaming Centre".
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Parallels between BC Bingo and Quebec’s VLT’s in bars
Horse racing demise in Quebec blamed on politics of “who got slots”:
This article from CBC tells the sad story. The 2nd ”comment” ( see bottom of article ) attached to the article blames it on a political decision to deprive the tracks of slots ( VLT’s).
See CBC article: Quebec horse-racing firm goes bankrupt
Also See: It’s about time Quebec quit betting on horses.
Blue Bonnets
It’s a “man-bites-dog” story.
Lotto-loot in Indiana declines by 17% and the State’s new racinos take part of blame.
see story
And a Snake eats itself story.
Venerable turf writer describes racing’s perverse cannibalism in;
Enough Cannibals too Go Around.
And now for some the good news:
Auzzie-tBreds attracting healthy bids in Beijing.
BC Gov plans greater control of province’s racing. Eyes Slot-Loot.
This article by Tom Wolski describes their ominous “vision”.
http://www.kelowna.com/2009/09/20/together-we-stand/
also see:
http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/news/9-…
I think article is Gov double talk, and it really all boils down to two main Points.
- We ( The Gov ) will tell you ( the racing biz ) who gets what .
- Oh, the Slot Loot ! We ( the Gov) will leave you some dripskies, but for the most part, kiss it good-bye.
Dripskies for the Horsies
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In a similar political vein, see US Trotting Assoc.’s article titled “Understanding Ontario”
“… By refusing to deal with the decades-long established Ontario Harness Horsemen’s Association (OHHA), Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG), the master of its namesake racino as well as Mohawk Raceway, didn’t just shun the leadership and members of this group of 4,500 racing producers; it took dynamic steps to dismantle OHHA. Not surprisingly, it was all done under the convenient guise of the most misused word in harness racing: Integrity. “
Also read a completely different view from racing columnist Stan Bergstein. Ontario harness fight leaves leadership toppled.
Skilled teamster ED Hensley is listed to drive 14 horses this coming weekend.
Five of trainer Wayne “O.B. Wan” Isbister’s 20 entries and all four C.D. Uppal’s students.
Top competitor Serge Masse is listed to drive on 18.
Rain is in the forecast for Friday night. I expect the track crew will have preped the surface appropriately.
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On Sunday, Sept 13, Shatin Race Course had a shmashing opening day with a handle topping 107 Million $US. Their last season handled 8.6 billion . ( they would take FRD’s signal if Crystal comes back & ‘putting for dollars’ gets canned)
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BloodHorse.com published opinions about ”bleeders” (EIPH) & race day meds.
There are > 20 insightful commenst, both pro & con.
Also see two articles describing topics from the recent Jockey Club Round Table.:
Lasix debate continues
Welcome Fraser Downs Parimutuel.
Personal observations & stories
From Canada's West Coast, harness track.
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