The most significant horse race that is run outside of the United States, Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, will be televised live in this Sea-to-Shining-Sea country perhaps for the first time ever but certainly for the first time here at The Ranch. Broadcast live from Longchamp Racecourse, along the banks of the River Seine in Paris, North American coverage of the event begins at 8am Eastern and continues until Noon on a little known Qatari-owned sports network calling itself beIN sports. Check your local listings; set your DVR.
Each year the Arc, as we refer to it here, draws a large field of the best turf horses from around the globe and this year's 93rd edition is no exception. Similarly, each year a few of the horses which compete in the Arc will make the trip across the pond to race in the Breeders' Cup.
The field has not yet been set for the Arc, but in scanning the pool of horses for which various English websites are taking bets, a few entrants stand out:
The best-bred horse (sired by Galileo [IRE] and out of Ouija Board [GB]) in the field would have been the colt named Australia (GB), a horse I wrote about here previously. Australia, winner of this year's Epsom and Irish Derbies, is listed at 10-1 on a few sites but is being pointed toward running in the Champion Stakes at Ascot in mid-October. This effectively rules him out of the Arc and, most likely, this year's Breeders' Cup.
The morning line favorite, at odds of 4-1, is a 3-year old British filly name Taghrooda. The sire of Taghrooda is Sea the Stars (IRE). Sea the Stars, half-brother to Galileo, had 8 wins in 9 lifetime starts including the Arc in 2009. The dam sire of Taghrooda is Sadler's Wells, a legendary turf sire.
At morning line odds of 8-1 is a Japanese entrant, Harp Star. The sire of this 3-year old filly is Deep Impact (JPN), a winner of the Japanese triple crown in 2005. The sire of Deep Impact was the great American horse Sunday Silence. Written about here, often, in 1989 Sunday Silence won the Kentucky Derby, won the Preakness Stakes, finished second in the Belmont Stakes but then won that year's Breeders' Cup Classic. In 14 lifetime starts Sunday Silence won nine and placed in the other five; he was never worse than second. Sunday Silence was a favorite of mine, in no small part because my winning bets on him in those races led me, as a high school-aged kid, to my first highly profitable year at the race track.
Last year's winner of the Arc, the French filly Treve, is currently listed at odds of 10-1. The sire of Treve is Motivator (GB), winner of the 2005 Epsom Derby. This 4-year old filly suffered a minor setback recently, hence the longer odds on the defending champ.
The 3-year old filly Tapestry (IRE), another Galileo-sired entrant, is currently listed at 16-1 odds.
Yes, the Arc is open to both males and females - despite the impression I may have given you so far - and one for we Yankees to cheer on is a 3-year old colt named Teletext. Bred in Kentucky, the sire of Teletext is Empire Maker, winner in 2003 of; the Florida Derby, the Wood Memorial and the Belmont Stakes. As the winner of the 2003 Florida Derby, Empire Maker was my pick in that year's Kentucky Derby in which he finished second to Funny Cide. I cashed the back half of a Win-Place wager on Empire Maker and cashed a big Exacta Box on Funny Cide-Empire Maker that paid $97.00 on a $2 wager (I'll let you guess at how much I had on that Exacta). I then cashed another winning ticket on Empire Maker in the Belmont. There have been 14 American-bred winners of the Arc, most recently in 2001. You can currently get Teletext at odds of 20-1.
While my heart might pull for the Kentucky-bred Teletext, my francs and pounds sterling would be placed - in the absence of Australia - on a 4-year old colt named Ruler of the World (IRE). Sired by Galileo, who is a very busy sire indeed, the dam sire of Ruler of the World is Kingmambo. Kingmambo was bred in Kentucky, but raced in France, and his progeny are known to have tremendous stamina and to have an affinity for turf. One son of Kingmambo was Lemon Drop Kid, winner of the 1999 Belmont Stakes. Another son is Henrythenavigator, 6-2-1 in 10 lifetime starts - mostly on the turf in Ireland and England - including finishing second on the dirt in the 2008 Breeders' Cup Classic. The current odds on Ruler of the World are 14-1 and with that you also get the greatest jockey in all the world, the Italian-born Lanfranco "Frankie" Dettori, himself a three-time winner of the Arc.
Roll the credits!
September 30, 2014
September 29, 2014
Derby Futures & The Free Money Express
This, from the It's Never Too Early To Think About Wagering On The Kentucky Derby file: Wynn Las Vegas opens its 2015 Kentucky Derby future odds. By my (possibly errant) count, there are over 250 horses listed in this futures wagering pool. By my (probably less errant) estimation, maybe five will stand in the starting gate at Churchill Downs for the 141st running of the Derby on May 2, 2015.
But that won't stop people from taking a chance.
To better understand why, read "The future is a risky proposition" by Gary West for ESPN.com in which he explains it, in part, this way; Some have to climb Mount Everest, not despite its "death zone" but because of it. And some have to bet the Kentucky Derby futures, not in spite of its being the foolish thing to do but because of it. Also writing for ESPN.com, back in January, Jay Cronley offered up a similar perspective when he wrote "Owning the future" regarding the 2014 Derby future pools.
At this stage in the game - with 250+ betting interests - I'm not going to invest the time to research each of their bloodlines, connections or limited races/workouts. While I don't bet on horses for their names or colors or saddle cloth numbers, I did scan the listing for names that might stand out which could suggest particular sires that I might have an interest in betting. One name in particular stood out so clearly it nearly knocked me off the couch: Holy Boss (at 125-1 odds). Sired by Street Boss, a two-time Grade I winner, himself sired by a stallion named Street Cry (Street Cry was euthanized September 17th at the age of 16 due to a neurological condition). Other horses sired by Street Cry are 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense [who I had to WIN; he was running in 19th position down the backstretch] and the filly Zenyatta (19 wins and a second-place finish in 20 lifetime starts). The sire of Holy Boss' mother is... wait for it... Holy Bull. I've written often, here, about my undying love for Holy Bull. 'Nuff said. The knock on Holy Boss is that his bloodlines suggest he doesn't want to go the Derby distance of one and one-quarter miles. And that he might like the turf more than the dirt.
A few other names that caught my eye; Far Right and Capitalism. The horse with the most nominal appeal to me would be Entwistle. Far Right hails from the Blue Grass state, but Capitalism and Entwistle each stand an infinitesimally small chance of winning as they were both bred in Ontario, Canada. I like my power trios from Ontario, not my Derby winners. The last foreign-bred colt to win the Kentucky Derby was Tomy Lee from Great Britain in 1959. Another Brit won in 1917. Thus ends the list of foreign-bred winners of the Kentucky Derby.
As an aside, many things are up for conjecture but this is not; John Entwistle was the greatest bassist of all-time.
And because you cannot have too many asides, here is another.
You often hear about and/or read that Lexington, Kentucky is "the heart of horse country;" the more broad implication being that the Bluegrass State is, itself, horse country. Here are some thoroughbred breeding statistics that reinforce this conceptualization, courtesy of this article from The Blood-Horse:
With the 2014 foaling season essentially completed there have been, through September 9th, as reported to The Jockey Club:
1,629 live foals in California
1,585 in Florida
1,037 in Louisiana
1,025 in New York
531 in New Mexico
514 in Pennsylvania
455 in Oklahoma
454 in Ontario, Canada
440 in Texas where everything is bigger except the number of potential Kentucky Derby winners.
The number in Ohio is top secret but believed to be more than 1.
In Europe the statistics are recorded in metric form so they are indecipherable.
In 2014, Kentucky produced 11,089 live foals.
Here is another look at the most historic of all horse farms. Calumet Farm neighbors Keeneland where you will find racing as it was meant to be.
Wise Dan, aka The Free Money Express and a great-grandson of Secretariat, returns to his home turf (pun intended) at Keeneland on October 4th to run in the (Grade I) Shadwell Turf Mile. Since July 4, 2011 Wise Dan has won 18 of 21 races yet in that span he's lost two of his three runnings in the Shadwell (finishing 2nd in 2013 [when heavy rains forced stewards to switch the race to the main track and off of the turf], 1st in 2012 and 4th in 2011).
October 4th is part of a spectacular Saturday of racing for Keeneland as it opens its Fall Meet that weekend. On the card that day are five, count 'em - five, graded stakes races; the (G3) Woodford, the (G2) Thoroughbred Club of America, the (G1) First Lady, the (G1) Claiborne Breeders' Futurity and, of course, the (G1) Shadwell Turf Mile. No other day during the Fall Meet at Keeneland offers as many graded stakes races.
If you've never seen a truly great, legendary thoroughbred racehorse in person and if you've never been to Keeneland, might I suggest you take advantage of this confluence of history and pageantry to avail yourself of a rare, memorable opportunity.
If you cannot make it to scenic Keeneland on Saturday, NBCSN will broadcast the event from 4:30pm-6pm (check your local listings), and on Sunday the NBC mothership will broadcast from Keeneland two more graded stakes races between 5pm-6pm.
Steve Haskin, writing for The Blood-Horse, recently posted a column titled "A day in the life of Wise Dan" which takes you along behind the scenes at Saratoga, beginning at 4:50am, with Wise Dan on race day. There are pictures for those who just like to look at horses (you know who you are).
Roll the credits!
But that won't stop people from taking a chance.
To better understand why, read "The future is a risky proposition" by Gary West for ESPN.com in which he explains it, in part, this way; Some have to climb Mount Everest, not despite its "death zone" but because of it. And some have to bet the Kentucky Derby futures, not in spite of its being the foolish thing to do but because of it. Also writing for ESPN.com, back in January, Jay Cronley offered up a similar perspective when he wrote "Owning the future" regarding the 2014 Derby future pools.
At this stage in the game - with 250+ betting interests - I'm not going to invest the time to research each of their bloodlines, connections or limited races/workouts. While I don't bet on horses for their names or colors or saddle cloth numbers, I did scan the listing for names that might stand out which could suggest particular sires that I might have an interest in betting. One name in particular stood out so clearly it nearly knocked me off the couch: Holy Boss (at 125-1 odds). Sired by Street Boss, a two-time Grade I winner, himself sired by a stallion named Street Cry (Street Cry was euthanized September 17th at the age of 16 due to a neurological condition). Other horses sired by Street Cry are 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense [who I had to WIN; he was running in 19th position down the backstretch] and the filly Zenyatta (19 wins and a second-place finish in 20 lifetime starts). The sire of Holy Boss' mother is... wait for it... Holy Bull. I've written often, here, about my undying love for Holy Bull. 'Nuff said. The knock on Holy Boss is that his bloodlines suggest he doesn't want to go the Derby distance of one and one-quarter miles. And that he might like the turf more than the dirt.
A few other names that caught my eye; Far Right and Capitalism. The horse with the most nominal appeal to me would be Entwistle. Far Right hails from the Blue Grass state, but Capitalism and Entwistle each stand an infinitesimally small chance of winning as they were both bred in Ontario, Canada. I like my power trios from Ontario, not my Derby winners. The last foreign-bred colt to win the Kentucky Derby was Tomy Lee from Great Britain in 1959. Another Brit won in 1917. Thus ends the list of foreign-bred winners of the Kentucky Derby.
*********
As an aside, many things are up for conjecture but this is not; John Entwistle was the greatest bassist of all-time.
*********
And because you cannot have too many asides, here is another.
You often hear about and/or read that Lexington, Kentucky is "the heart of horse country;" the more broad implication being that the Bluegrass State is, itself, horse country. Here are some thoroughbred breeding statistics that reinforce this conceptualization, courtesy of this article from The Blood-Horse:
With the 2014 foaling season essentially completed there have been, through September 9th, as reported to The Jockey Club:
1,629 live foals in California
1,585 in Florida
1,037 in Louisiana
1,025 in New York
531 in New Mexico
514 in Pennsylvania
455 in Oklahoma
454 in Ontario, Canada
440 in Texas where everything is bigger except the number of potential Kentucky Derby winners.
The number in Ohio is top secret but believed to be more than 1.
In Europe the statistics are recorded in metric form so they are indecipherable.
In 2014, Kentucky produced 11,089 live foals.
Here is another look at the most historic of all horse farms. Calumet Farm neighbors Keeneland where you will find racing as it was meant to be.
*********
Wise Dan, aka The Free Money Express and a great-grandson of Secretariat, returns to his home turf (pun intended) at Keeneland on October 4th to run in the (Grade I) Shadwell Turf Mile. Since July 4, 2011 Wise Dan has won 18 of 21 races yet in that span he's lost two of his three runnings in the Shadwell (finishing 2nd in 2013 [when heavy rains forced stewards to switch the race to the main track and off of the turf], 1st in 2012 and 4th in 2011).
October 4th is part of a spectacular Saturday of racing for Keeneland as it opens its Fall Meet that weekend. On the card that day are five, count 'em - five, graded stakes races; the (G3) Woodford, the (G2) Thoroughbred Club of America, the (G1) First Lady, the (G1) Claiborne Breeders' Futurity and, of course, the (G1) Shadwell Turf Mile. No other day during the Fall Meet at Keeneland offers as many graded stakes races.
If you've never seen a truly great, legendary thoroughbred racehorse in person and if you've never been to Keeneland, might I suggest you take advantage of this confluence of history and pageantry to avail yourself of a rare, memorable opportunity.
If you cannot make it to scenic Keeneland on Saturday, NBCSN will broadcast the event from 4:30pm-6pm (check your local listings), and on Sunday the NBC mothership will broadcast from Keeneland two more graded stakes races between 5pm-6pm.
Steve Haskin, writing for The Blood-Horse, recently posted a column titled "A day in the life of Wise Dan" which takes you along behind the scenes at Saratoga, beginning at 4:50am, with Wise Dan on race day. There are pictures for those who just like to look at horses (you know who you are).
Roll the credits!
September 24, 2014
Programming Alert; Do Not Watch This!
Tomorrow night, Thursday September 25th, Derek "Mr November" Jeter plays his last home game at New Yankee Stadium. Just remember this, using a colloquialism that sycophants of the Bronx Bombers regularly employ; Jeet sux!
You don't have to take my word for it, and The Incomparable Joe Wilhelm doesn't. Give Keith Olbermann 7 minutes of your time in which he will, rather curiously, use similar metrics and make similar arguments that were made here back in February. I just didn't rely on cool graphics or cheap Jon Stewart/Daily Show imitations.
And since 97.7% of Heavy Artillery readership consists of Elizabeth Warren '16 campaign donors here is visual incentive to forgo tomorrow night's Jeet slobberfest:
Roll the credits!
You don't have to take my word for it, and The Incomparable Joe Wilhelm doesn't. Give Keith Olbermann 7 minutes of your time in which he will, rather curiously, use similar metrics and make similar arguments that were made here back in February. I just didn't rely on cool graphics or cheap Jon Stewart/Daily Show imitations.
And since 97.7% of Heavy Artillery readership consists of Elizabeth Warren '16 campaign donors here is visual incentive to forgo tomorrow night's Jeet slobberfest:
Roll the credits!
September 22, 2014
Cultural Refinement For Heavy Artillerists
On a hazy, hot and humid Sunday in August I eschewed my Reds-Braves tickets and treated My Dear Elderly Mother to an afternoon touring the "Cincinnati Silver" exhibit at the Cincinnati Art Museum. I consider it my solemn duty to share with you, here, a small selection of the photos from our visit as a means to provide you with some much-needed sophistication and refinement.
Outside the museum is a sculpture of our 44th President of the United States of America. My Dear Elderly Mother insists it's Pinocchio. I say art is open to expansive interpretation.
Speaking of expansive interpretation, the public is expressly prohibited from photographing some of the artwork/exhibits at the Cincinnati Art Museum. Other objet d'art is without similar proscription. I shall leave it to my loyal readers to determine how expansive my interpretation of these parameters may or may not have been.
Upon entering the galleries, I stumbled across this gem (below):
Vincent Van Gogh's Undergrowth with Two Figures (1890). It took My Dear Elderly Mother a mere 82 years to see a Van Gogh. And a Monet. And a Matisse. And a Picasso. None of which were captured with my Android Galaxy S9000 but which we enjoyed to greater (Monet) and lesser (Picasso) degrees.
The elevator to the second floor deposited us into an alcove which featured assorted paintings of Italia.
The oil-on-canvas portrait you see above is of a Venetian femmina adulta. The magnitude of the painting is imposing yet the subject itself is alluring. You'll have to visit the museum yourself for more specific details. Around the corner we found the reason for our own visit, the "Cincinnati Silver" exhibit:
The pieces on display were mostly of the household variety; cutlery/utensils, coffee and tea pots, service sets, cups and mugs, platters, etc. Also found in the exhibit was the occasional trophy and/or presentation piece. My favorites were the various, yet precious, sugar shovels and ice cream spoons.
It was difficult to sneak snap photos that didn't include other patrons. I've done my best, here for today's posting, to prevent your senses from being offended by their existence presence.
Having spent an hour or more with the silver exhibit, I then escorted My Dear Elderly Mother around more - but not all - of the Cincinnati Art Museum.
The crispness of detail found in the portrait at left (above) was stunning. I will leave further description as your just reward for hunting it down in the galleries.
Your 800-inch plasma-ray television has nothing on this behemoth, second from left; Jean-Baptiste-Camille-Could-This-Paragraph-Have-Any-More-Hyphens Corot's Don Quixote. Corot tossed in a figure of Sancho Panza for good measure.
Don't tell The Incomparable Joe Wilhelm, but the Cincinnati Art Museum is the place to go in order to view the most rare specimens of Rookwood Pottery.
This collection, above, spans simply the first four years of production from Rookwood. It is older and more rare than even Joe Joe himself! Elsewhere in the museum you will find a Great Wall of China Rookwood Pottery:
It took two photos in order to fully show you this display case of Rookwood Pottery. Yes, I am certain the camera for my Android Galaxy S9000 has a panoramic mode. I'll figure it out someday. Remember, I was attempting to be discreet with my photography!
Random gallery photo!
As we circulated through the museum, we soon discovered that we were following an approximately chronological progression. We very much enjoyed the older paintings; the evident skill of the artists, their unique visions, their various subject matter. I like to spend time observing the individual brush strokes and evaluating the artist's chosen color palette. These are things I have learned from the master, Bob Ross. We did not find the so-called Modern Art to our liking.
Running short of time and energy, we finished with a whirlwind tour of the furniture on exhibit; much of it seemingly from former homes of extended Longworth family.
Desk!
Bedroom suite!
The wood carving on the head- and foot board of the bed was astonishing.
All manner of antiquities (below) were on exhibit!
One thing that is certain about the antiquities, they know how to bake a scrumptious birthday cake!
The Disney XD Girls inform me that the photo below is referred to in popular culture as a "mirror selfie." Who knew?
Afterward we met up with Lou, Alison and The Disney XD Girls for a modest dinner followed by Graeter's. They were out of town and missed my birthday so this get-together served as a birthday party of sorts. Photos were taken by my youngest niece. I will probably never see those photos. I think some of them may have been hilarious.
No kidding; upon return to The Ranch at the end of the evening, I switched on my 800-inch plasma-death-ray television and this very scene unfolded before my weary eyes, BBC America having been dialed up for the preceding night's Doctor Who series 8 premiere.
Roll the credits!
Random gallery photo!
As we circulated through the museum, we soon discovered that we were following an approximately chronological progression. We very much enjoyed the older paintings; the evident skill of the artists, their unique visions, their various subject matter. I like to spend time observing the individual brush strokes and evaluating the artist's chosen color palette. These are things I have learned from the master, Bob Ross. We did not find the so-called Modern Art to our liking.
Running short of time and energy, we finished with a whirlwind tour of the furniture on exhibit; much of it seemingly from former homes of extended Longworth family.
Desk!
Bedroom suite!
The wood carving on the head- and foot board of the bed was astonishing.
All manner of antiquities (below) were on exhibit!
One thing that is certain about the antiquities, they know how to bake a scrumptious birthday cake!
The Disney XD Girls inform me that the photo below is referred to in popular culture as a "mirror selfie." Who knew?
Afterward we met up with Lou, Alison and The Disney XD Girls for a modest dinner followed by Graeter's. They were out of town and missed my birthday so this get-together served as a birthday party of sorts. Photos were taken by my youngest niece. I will probably never see those photos. I think some of them may have been hilarious.
No kidding; upon return to The Ranch at the end of the evening, I switched on my 800-inch plasma-death-ray television and this very scene unfolded before my weary eyes, BBC America having been dialed up for the preceding night's Doctor Who series 8 premiere.
Roll the credits!
September 15, 2014
Reds-Braves And A View Of Disaster From The Riverfront Club
Big Brother Lou met Mr B and me at the Great American Tilt Yard following our financially successful afternoon at Belterra Park (see previous post). An elevator whisked us to the Riverfront Club and we three were shown to a table for four overlooking the field of play.
The Reds' television broadcast's third-wheeler, Jim Day (wearing the ill-fitting suit, below), was filming from a corner of the Club a segment for that evening's telecast:
I headed for the buffet and commenced intensive carb-loading so that my suits, too, might someday be ill-fitting.
Prime rib, roasted chicken, garlic 'taters and steamed carrots. I like steamed carrots as much as the next omnivore, but Lou and I agreed that this iteration was about as unappetizing as we've ever had. Mr B disagreed. Also on that evening's buffet; pork tenderloin, sweet potato, a variety of salads, a selection of cheeses and breads, fresh strawberry's, blueberry's, grapes (both kinds). The carving station was notably absent - removed, in fact - perhaps portending diminishing future amenities in the Riverfront Club. A selection of deserts were offered. Lou and I opted for the hot fudge brownies. Mr B tackled the bread pudding. This, he did not find to his liking.
As the wheels fall off the Reds 2014 season, we were subjected to another night of minimalist offense and suspect bullpen pitching. In the photo below, the bases are full of Braves:
In the next photo, below, the bases are being cleared of Atlantans as if by William Tecumseh Sherman hizzelf:
Scoreboard watching for those who are no longer scoreboard watching but who hate to waste photography (below):
7th inning stretching led me away from the on-field carnage and to the opposite side of the Riverfront Club.
It didn't appear that a soul could be found on Cincinnati's riverfront that Thursday evening. This absence of humanity did not prevent Jim Day from mc'ing a telethon of some undetermined description.
On the drive home later that night, ruminating on the plight - and certain demise - of my 2014 Reds, the blokes from Led Zeppelin summed up my thoughts as well as my general state of Redleg despair:
The Reds' television broadcast's third-wheeler, Jim Day (wearing the ill-fitting suit, below), was filming from a corner of the Club a segment for that evening's telecast:
I headed for the buffet and commenced intensive carb-loading so that my suits, too, might someday be ill-fitting.
Prime rib, roasted chicken, garlic 'taters and steamed carrots. I like steamed carrots as much as the next omnivore, but Lou and I agreed that this iteration was about as unappetizing as we've ever had. Mr B disagreed. Also on that evening's buffet; pork tenderloin, sweet potato, a variety of salads, a selection of cheeses and breads, fresh strawberry's, blueberry's, grapes (both kinds). The carving station was notably absent - removed, in fact - perhaps portending diminishing future amenities in the Riverfront Club. A selection of deserts were offered. Lou and I opted for the hot fudge brownies. Mr B tackled the bread pudding. This, he did not find to his liking.
As the wheels fall off the Reds 2014 season, we were subjected to another night of minimalist offense and suspect bullpen pitching. In the photo below, the bases are full of Braves:
In the next photo, below, the bases are being cleared of Atlantans as if by William Tecumseh Sherman hizzelf:
Scoreboard watching for those who are no longer scoreboard watching but who hate to waste photography (below):
7th inning stretching led me away from the on-field carnage and to the opposite side of the Riverfront Club.
It didn't appear that a soul could be found on Cincinnati's riverfront that Thursday evening. This absence of humanity did not prevent Jim Day from mc'ing a telethon of some undetermined description.
On the drive home later that night, ruminating on the plight - and certain demise - of my 2014 Reds, the blokes from Led Zeppelin summed up my thoughts as well as my general state of Redleg despair:
Meanwhile, on assignment for Heavy Artillery in South America, The Paleorider submitted photos from Uruguay (as if that's a real place) in honor of my birthday:
San Miguel?! Dios Mio! Look closely and you might see Dr K's reflection in Andy's shades.
September 8, 2014
Birthday Traditions; The Me And Mr B Edition
For the past few decades Mr B and I have observed my birthday [+/-; conflicting schedules haven't always permitted getting together on the actual date] with a trip to the race track. Most often to Turfway Park, but also to (old) Lebanon Raceway, Indiana Downs and recently to Miami Valley Gaming. On some rare occasions Mr B has dragged me to a casino. Such are the sacrifices we make for family. Casino gambling is for the mathematically inclined, the zombies and above all for the unimaginative.
Back in my Junior High School days we'd sometimes visit (old) River Downs in Cincinnati for a Saturday afternoon of racing where I'd run bets for The Old Master of the Turf - the same venue a youthful Peter Edward Rose would run bets for his own father. Neither of us much cared for (old) River Downs. The grandstand was of the County Fair variety. With the obliteration of (old) River Downs, I had been eager to see its multi-million dollar state-of-the-racino-art replacement known now as Belterra Park. The Old Master of the Turf had been there once or twice before me, and while he liked generally the Belterra Park facility he thinks it's too far a drive when Miami Valley Gaming is so much closer to his top secret bunker in an undisclosed location.
During the month of August some of the better known race tracks host live racing; Gulfstream, Arlington, Del Mar. We've always preferred, and made it our annual Father-Son birthday celebration, to focus our handicapping/wagering efforts on the live racing from historic Saratoga Race Course.
We didn't arrive at Belterra Park until mid-afternoon and mere minutes before the 7th race from Saratoga. We took our seats and got down to business!
You will recall my description of the race book at Miami Valley Gaming. I find the MVG accommodations analogous to a Soviet-era gulag. Belterra Park provides their simulcast wagering patrons with a luxurious space that is both stylish and comfortable (photo, above). Well, except for - oddly - their betting machines. The interface and display functions are old school, Atari 2600-like.
Upon opening my Daily Racing Form program to Saratoga's 7th race I quickly discovered that Race 7, set to go off in less than 5 minutes, was the start of that afternoon's Pick 4. I speed-handicapped my way through the upcoming four races and made my bets as the horses were being loaded into the Saratoga starting gate, fumbling my way through the archaic mechanism of the betting terminal. Sitting down at my desk, Mr B and I compared wagers as the field charged down the backstretch; we both bet the same horse (morning line odds; 8-1). Our selection roared home first and The B Team was off to a profitable start.
My selection in Race 8 (unfortunately named Ah Gaga) finished a close second, torpedoing my live Pick 4 ticket and simultaneously making me regret not playing my horse to both Win and Place.
The multiple selections I used for the third leg (Race 9) of my Pick 4 finished 3rd, 4th and 5th.
Needing a change of luck, I employed a time-honored strategy; I took a walk.
The track itself wasn't in great condition that afternoon thanks to heavy rains earlier in the day, but the grandstand is nice, architecturally modern and the backdrop has always been the visual gem of racing along the banks of the mighty Ohio River. In the two photos above, the trees you see line the northern bank of the Ohio River, the rolling hills are the geomorphic signature of the Bluegrass State.
Returning to my desk, The Old Master of the Turf was rooting home a winner on the turf at Arlington:
Taking a cue from him, I decided to expand my wagering opportunities to a couple of other tracks. That's normally a recipe for financial disaster. However, I was just betting minimums so there wasn't a lot of harm to be done to my bankroll. While pouring over the next races from Gulfstream and Arlington, the last leg of my (now dead) Pick 4 came home a winner:
I really liked the #11 (above; and that's why I circled her program number), a filly named More Everything sired by Ghostzapper, but she was scratched when rains at Saratoga moved the 10th (and final) race off the turf and onto the dirt main track. My fall-back pick was the #10 Untiltherewasyou, sired by Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown. Mr B looked askance at my pick, dismissing my filly's chances by saying "She's breaking from far outside." I replied, "So did Big Brown in the [2008] Kentucky Derby."
I collected an invigorating $11.50 for my $4 wager.
Twelve minutes later (you can check the time stamps on my tickets for confirmation), and with no more live racing from Saratoga to wager on, I bet a filly in the 9th race at Gulfstream named Georgia. In four lifetime starts, Georgia - recently jettisoned from the barn of noted trainer Bob Baffert - made three starts on synthetic surfaces and lost them all by a combined 55 lengths (and with good jockeys, too). Yet this day's race was on the dirt and Georgia had won her only previous career start on the dirt. What clinched it for me were the two bullet workouts Georgia carried into this race.
Georgia returned to me $11.20 for my $2 Win/Place.
13 minutes later (check the time stamps) I scored another winner when, at Arlington, the #1 (part of a two-horse entry with #1a) named Badger Bay crushed his foes in the 8th race.
My straight $5 to Win on Badger Bay paid $12.
This succession marked the first time in my life that I'd hit the winner in three sequential races at three different tracks.
Initially I harbored no intention of playing races at Arlington. That was, until, I saw a live segment broadcast from the Arlington paddock from my favorite trackside filly reporter (is that sexist? I suppose if one has to ask...); Alyssa Ali. I took that as an alluring sign.
The Old Master of the Turf had been on a roll, too, and we both departed Belterra Park in good financial order.
As a perk of being a valued season ticket holder, the Reds comped me 4 tickets to the Reds-Braves game that took place later that same evening. On the drive from Belterra Park to Great American Ball Park, we both kept referring to Belterra Park as River Downs and we were in agreement that they should have retained that venerable name for the race track.
To be continued.....
Roll the credits!
Back in my Junior High School days we'd sometimes visit (old) River Downs in Cincinnati for a Saturday afternoon of racing where I'd run bets for The Old Master of the Turf - the same venue a youthful Peter Edward Rose would run bets for his own father. Neither of us much cared for (old) River Downs. The grandstand was of the County Fair variety. With the obliteration of (old) River Downs, I had been eager to see its multi-million dollar state-of-the-racino-art replacement known now as Belterra Park. The Old Master of the Turf had been there once or twice before me, and while he liked generally the Belterra Park facility he thinks it's too far a drive when Miami Valley Gaming is so much closer to his top secret bunker in an undisclosed location.
During the month of August some of the better known race tracks host live racing; Gulfstream, Arlington, Del Mar. We've always preferred, and made it our annual Father-Son birthday celebration, to focus our handicapping/wagering efforts on the live racing from historic Saratoga Race Course.
We didn't arrive at Belterra Park until mid-afternoon and mere minutes before the 7th race from Saratoga. We took our seats and got down to business!
You will recall my description of the race book at Miami Valley Gaming. I find the MVG accommodations analogous to a Soviet-era gulag. Belterra Park provides their simulcast wagering patrons with a luxurious space that is both stylish and comfortable (photo, above). Well, except for - oddly - their betting machines. The interface and display functions are old school, Atari 2600-like.
Upon opening my Daily Racing Form program to Saratoga's 7th race I quickly discovered that Race 7, set to go off in less than 5 minutes, was the start of that afternoon's Pick 4. I speed-handicapped my way through the upcoming four races and made my bets as the horses were being loaded into the Saratoga starting gate, fumbling my way through the archaic mechanism of the betting terminal. Sitting down at my desk, Mr B and I compared wagers as the field charged down the backstretch; we both bet the same horse (morning line odds; 8-1). Our selection roared home first and The B Team was off to a profitable start.
My selection in Race 8 (unfortunately named Ah Gaga) finished a close second, torpedoing my live Pick 4 ticket and simultaneously making me regret not playing my horse to both Win and Place.
The multiple selections I used for the third leg (Race 9) of my Pick 4 finished 3rd, 4th and 5th.
Needing a change of luck, I employed a time-honored strategy; I took a walk.
The track itself wasn't in great condition that afternoon thanks to heavy rains earlier in the day, but the grandstand is nice, architecturally modern and the backdrop has always been the visual gem of racing along the banks of the mighty Ohio River. In the two photos above, the trees you see line the northern bank of the Ohio River, the rolling hills are the geomorphic signature of the Bluegrass State.
Returning to my desk, The Old Master of the Turf was rooting home a winner on the turf at Arlington:
Taking a cue from him, I decided to expand my wagering opportunities to a couple of other tracks. That's normally a recipe for financial disaster. However, I was just betting minimums so there wasn't a lot of harm to be done to my bankroll. While pouring over the next races from Gulfstream and Arlington, the last leg of my (now dead) Pick 4 came home a winner:
I really liked the #11 (above; and that's why I circled her program number), a filly named More Everything sired by Ghostzapper, but she was scratched when rains at Saratoga moved the 10th (and final) race off the turf and onto the dirt main track. My fall-back pick was the #10 Untiltherewasyou, sired by Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown. Mr B looked askance at my pick, dismissing my filly's chances by saying "She's breaking from far outside." I replied, "So did Big Brown in the [2008] Kentucky Derby."
I collected an invigorating $11.50 for my $4 wager.
Twelve minutes later (you can check the time stamps on my tickets for confirmation), and with no more live racing from Saratoga to wager on, I bet a filly in the 9th race at Gulfstream named Georgia. In four lifetime starts, Georgia - recently jettisoned from the barn of noted trainer Bob Baffert - made three starts on synthetic surfaces and lost them all by a combined 55 lengths (and with good jockeys, too). Yet this day's race was on the dirt and Georgia had won her only previous career start on the dirt. What clinched it for me were the two bullet workouts Georgia carried into this race.
Georgia returned to me $11.20 for my $2 Win/Place.
13 minutes later (check the time stamps) I scored another winner when, at Arlington, the #1 (part of a two-horse entry with #1a) named Badger Bay crushed his foes in the 8th race.
My straight $5 to Win on Badger Bay paid $12.
This succession marked the first time in my life that I'd hit the winner in three sequential races at three different tracks.
Initially I harbored no intention of playing races at Arlington. That was, until, I saw a live segment broadcast from the Arlington paddock from my favorite trackside filly reporter (is that sexist? I suppose if one has to ask...); Alyssa Ali. I took that as an alluring sign.
The Old Master of the Turf had been on a roll, too, and we both departed Belterra Park in good financial order.
As a perk of being a valued season ticket holder, the Reds comped me 4 tickets to the Reds-Braves game that took place later that same evening. On the drive from Belterra Park to Great American Ball Park, we both kept referring to Belterra Park as River Downs and we were in agreement that they should have retained that venerable name for the race track.
To be continued.....
Roll the credits!
September 2, 2014
Mr B's Hometown Red Sox Invade GABP; Reds Fall Overboard Like So Much Tea Into Boston Harbor
Boston native and life-long Red Sox fan Mr B attended the Tuesday night August 12th Reds-Red Sox game at Great American Ball Park with me. Herewith are a selection of photos from said Father-Son outing.
Mr B likes to arrive early. Mr B insists on arriving early. To everything. And I mean waaaaay early. On this evening we enjoyed watching the Sox take batting practice.
In the photo above, Red Sox 1B/DH Big Papi stepped into the bating cage and laid down a few bunts. Afterward, he got to stroking!
I do believe there is a zoom function for the camera on my Android Galaxy9000 but I've yet to figure it out. Would've also come in handy for the coyote photo in the previous posting.
Mr B asked for his photo to be taken. I obliged and cropped the result.
Mr B wore nondescript red and dark blue gear which betrayed his mixed allegiances.
Earlier, the day saw bands of rain showers move through Reds Country. The mix of white and dark clouds made for a dramatic atmospheric palette upon the canvas of blue sky.
During pregame warm-ups, that night's starting pitcher Mat "Anger Management Issues" Latos stood on the right field foul line and played long toss with catcher Brayan Pena, himself standing in front of the open door to the Reds bullpen in left-center.
Again, a zoom function would've been nice. I'll figure it out. Someday.
"That Latos has a baaaaad..... [shut your mouth!]..... I'm just talkin' 'bout his temper."
After several hours at the ball orchard, it was game time! As usual, in the first inning the Reds scored all the runs they were going to that night and then had clubhouse manager emeritus Bernie Stowe put their bats away.
Billy Hamilton on first, Bruuuuuce at bat!
Billy Hamilton on third, Bruuuuuce at bat!
Billy Hamilton on third, Bruuuuuce on first, the Toddfather at bat!
OK, we can leave now. The Reds offense was finished for the night.
My Android Galaxy9000 also has a variety of nighttime settings which, as you have correctly guessed, I haven't figured out yet.
This photo (above) of the Roebling Suspension Bridge, the Christian Moerlein Lager House and the Reds FanZone didn't turn out too bad. A little gauzy, perhaps. Let's call it "artistic."
There is no salvaging this glimpse of the Cincinnati skyline. The glaring effect from the escalators' overhead lighting only further monkey wrenched a photo of poor photographic merits.
Roll the credits!
In the photo above, Red Sox 1B/DH Big Papi stepped into the bating cage and laid down a few bunts. Afterward, he got to stroking!
I do believe there is a zoom function for the camera on my Android Galaxy9000 but I've yet to figure it out. Would've also come in handy for the coyote photo in the previous posting.
Mr B asked for his photo to be taken. I obliged and cropped the result.
Mr B wore nondescript red and dark blue gear which betrayed his mixed allegiances.
Earlier, the day saw bands of rain showers move through Reds Country. The mix of white and dark clouds made for a dramatic atmospheric palette upon the canvas of blue sky.
"That Latos has a baaaaad..... [shut your mouth!]..... I'm just talkin' 'bout his temper."
After several hours at the ball orchard, it was game time! As usual, in the first inning the Reds scored all the runs they were going to that night and then had clubhouse manager emeritus Bernie Stowe put their bats away.
Billy Hamilton on first, Bruuuuuce at bat!
Billy Hamilton on third, Bruuuuuce at bat!
Billy Hamilton on third, Bruuuuuce on first, the Toddfather at bat!
OK, we can leave now. The Reds offense was finished for the night.
My Android Galaxy9000 also has a variety of nighttime settings which, as you have correctly guessed, I haven't figured out yet.
This photo (above) of the Roebling Suspension Bridge, the Christian Moerlein Lager House and the Reds FanZone didn't turn out too bad. A little gauzy, perhaps. Let's call it "artistic."
There is no salvaging this glimpse of the Cincinnati skyline. The glaring effect from the escalators' overhead lighting only further monkey wrenched a photo of poor photographic merits.
Roll the credits!
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