Questions. Oh, so many questions. While we travel to and from Saratoga, while we amble the backstretch in the morning, while we host a podcast at Whitman, while we decompress at the office after a deadline, we ask a lot of questions, think of a lot of questions.
Here are a few…
What about Thorpedo Anna?
In a Tuesday morning conversation, I learned that three siblings (two colts and a filly) have issues negotiating small spaces. Walking into the starting gate, walking into the stall and even walking through the entrance of a round pen. They don’t want to do it and if/when they do, they blast through like they’re being chased. How is this passed on? Hereditary or learned? Does the mare pass this trait down genetically, somehow? Or does she have the issue and her foals learn it from her? We are calling the farm where they were born and raised to see if we can learn any more. What do you think?
Why do people get offended when I ask about a possible jumper? It means your horse is sound, sane, has some stamina and is trained by a trustworthy horseman.
Will people flock to the new Belmont Park? No doubt the old Belmont Park will be missed, or at least the majesty of it, but here’s hoping the new one solidifies and bolsters racing in New York.
When will the Breeders’ Cup return to Belmont Park?
Should, could, Thoroughbred racing take an all-star break? While watching Bobby Witt Jr. take down the Home Run Derby, rookie Mason Miller whipsaw a pitch 103.6 mph and Jarren Duran blast one out in the All-Star Game, I got to thinking about the idea of a mid-season break where all the focus goes to one track. A mini-summer racing festival, one that takes the sport to new venues (remember when the Breeders’ Cup went to Lone Star, Arlington, Woodbine…) and showcases jockeys, trainers and horses. The fans vote. A new track hosts the races each year.
Did you know it was Dick Knapp’s birthday? Happy Birthday to one of our favorite readers.
European racing built itself on racing festivals. Three, four, five days of anticipated racing at various venues. Cheltenham, Ascot, Goodwood, Longchamp, Galway, Chester, Punchestown… Should we be thinking about a model like this? The Belmont Racing Festival was exactly that, four days of anticipation, of urgency.
Why is there so much pavement on the backstretches of America?
Shouldn’t the biggest concern for Thoroughbred racing be that the owners of many racetracks don’t want to own racetracks? Oh, where have you gone R. Dee Hubbard, Richard Duchossois, Jim Moseley and all the other sporting giants who put on the show?
Is there a better representative in racing than jockey Brian Hernandez Jr.?
I chatted with longtime racing secretary Rick Hammerly about condition books a few weeks ago. The horsemen say they can’t find races for their horses and the racing office says it can’t fill races. There’s a problem there. My premise is that the constant demand for full fields has ultimately led to shorter fields. Do you agree? Racetracks take entries for 25-plus races and use less than half. Horses stay in perpetual training – maintenance breeze after maintenance breeze – hoping for a race. Imagine Andy Reid preparing his players for games that most likely don’t happen. The owners, who pay the bills, can’t possibly plan to see their horse run because they never know when they’re running. I say write fewer extras, let the book races go and it will correct itself. How big a problem is this? How do you fix it?
Will Thorpedo Anna run in the Travers?
Have you seen apprentice Pietro Moran ride at Woodbine? A lizard on a log.
Will a handicap ratings system work in Thoroughbred racing? It works in other countries and could offer another option to owners and trainers who don’t necessarily want to play the claiming game. It doesn’t – won’t – replace the claiming game but would it offer another avenue, another opportunity for horses stuck in the shuffle of conditioned races and claimers?
Can we get on the same page with synthetic tracks?
How about Wayne Catalano winning his 3,000th race? One of my favorite headlines in The Special was “Cat 1. Bird 0.” after the New Orleans-born trainer overcame bird flu. It nearly killed him but somehow didn’t have a chance against a racetracker lifer.
Would the Hall of Fame induction ceremonies be better on a different day?
Why didn’t NYRA buy the harness track so many years ago? Maybe it was never for sale, but imagine that? Of course, we like the trotters, too.
Is it safe that our horses go in both directions on the same racetrack? Joggers go clockwise. Gallopers go counterclockwise. And it’s a broken clock. We try to make the game safer, sometimes simply adding layers of paperwork and oversight. Would creating jogging tracks help? Jogging hours? Walking paths? Jogging paths?
How is Chuck Simon? If you’re talking to him, tell him The Special sends our love.
When Shug, Clement and Mott retire, who moves onto millionaire’s row?
Have you listened to the Saratoga Special Podcast? This week’s guest is Jeremiah Englehart. Have you joined the Reader’s Club? Why not?
Have you watched Englehart on TikTok? Wow.
How good is the Jockey Club’s digital registration system? Remember looking for papers in briefcases, glove compartments, tack trunks? Remember asking agents, gamblers and touts to drop off a set of papers? Remember having to drive to a racetrack and physically put the papers into the racing office to get a date?
Will Thorpedo Anna win the Travers?
First one to answer all of these gets a prize.
