After having some time to think it through I have decided that Kennedy's Corridor has reached it's end. It was just over three years ago, in October of 2006, that I decided to start writing here. Racing was preparing for the Breeders' Cup just as it is today. I was eager to share my thoughts in a space dedicated to them. For the last three years I have sought to bring you informative and original content on this great sport of horse racing.
So why am I choosing to end things now right before the biggest day of the year? Basically I have decided that I no longer want a space dedicated to my opinion. In the beginning, despite the illusion of humility, I think I really wanted a chance to make a name for myself. I wanted to share ideas I had like the Thoroughbred Championship Rankings and the 20/20 systems. Things that were a bit different from what you could get at the mainstream sites.
After three years I think there are a few people in the niche community of online horse racing fans that recognize my name but I no longer consider that an achievement of any sort. I don't want to be a face or name in horse racing. I'm fully content to just be a fan of horse racing. It seems pointless to continue with something that is not directed towards a goal I consider to be valuable.
This doesn't mean I no longer like racing. I will still follow racing as a fan as I have always done. The Breeders' Cup is like a family holiday in my house but I will enjoy it no less because I don't have a blog. I fully enjoyed every Breeders' Cup prior to 2006 and I will continue to do so this year and for many more.
What of my standings? I created them with the intention of proving that it's possible for standings to be accurate and relevant in the sport of horse racing. I imagine that I'll continue to calculate them for my own benefit. It helps me follow racing as a fan.
I'm sure some people will wonder if I'm having some crisis of confidence or bout of depression. Nothing sinister is brewing below the surface. I simply had a revelation that in order to do this blog well (and I have always striven to do this well) I need to dedicate a lot of time to it and I don't think it's a beneficial use of my time. In the world away from this keyboard I have many things that keep me busy but all of them are geared towards more beneficial goals.
I have never been one for dramatic exits but I thought an explanation was due to those who visit this space on a regular basis. In the grand scheme of things our lives will be no worse off for the discontinuance of this space. I want more time to spend on the things that do count in the grand scheme.
Thanks for enjoying the sport along side me these past few years. It's been fun.
Showing posts with label Random. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Random. Show all posts
Friday, October 23, 2009
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Time To Give Thanks
For anyone wondering why this space is not featuring anything new for the next week. I am headed out of town for yet another vacation. This is my third vacation of the year and when Christmas rolls around I'll enjoy number four. I should probably do some work one of these days!
I'm disappointed to miss many of the nice races that are going to be happening over the next week but the wonderful thing about the internet is that I can simply watch them all when I get back.
Happy Thanksgiving to all on my side of the border. To those who don't celebrate this holiday in October you can be thankful anyway for all the great races and exciting match-ups you'll see.
I'm disappointed to miss many of the nice races that are going to be happening over the next week but the wonderful thing about the internet is that I can simply watch them all when I get back.
Happy Thanksgiving to all on my side of the border. To those who don't celebrate this holiday in October you can be thankful anyway for all the great races and exciting match-ups you'll see.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Vacation
I case you're wondering where on earth I've been I've headed back to Toronto for a vacation and family wedding. Unfortunately it makes serious handicapping and updating this blog far more challenging. I'll continue to try and update my Saratoga Selections on the sidebar but other wise all the other normal features of this blog will resume next Thursday.
Enjoy Travers week everyone. I'll be enjoying the Travers from the Woodbine grandstand!
Enjoy Travers week everyone. I'll be enjoying the Travers from the Woodbine grandstand!
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Crash
It seems as though my primary computer has decided to crash. Thankfully I keep backups but it may take a day or two to sort things out enough to make a coherent contribution here. At least it waited until after Preakness weekend!
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Sayonara
My wife and I are off to enjoy some Caribbean Sun, or more accurately for me, some Caribbean shade. Kennedy's Corridor won't be updated until Tuesday March 24th. At which time we'll try to get a current Derby Top 10 list as well as a feel for everything that will have transpired during my absence.
Enjoy the races everyone.
Enjoy the races everyone.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Getting With The Times
Kennedy's Corridor may look a little different for the next little while as I've finally decided to upgrade my blog to the new layout format. Believe it or not I've been operating all this time with the old HTML Templates .
So here's to a smooth transition!
So here's to a smooth transition!
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Summer Vacation
I'm going to be out of town at another family wedding for the next week and a half so this space will be somewhat dormant until Friday July 11th when I'm scheduled to return.
So Happy Canada Day to some and Happy Independence Day to others. May all your bets be winning ones!
So Happy Canada Day to some and Happy Independence Day to others. May all your bets be winning ones!
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Road To The Breeders' Cup Tips
For those of you who aren't aware the same people who host the popular Road to the Roses Fantasy Game are also hosting a brand new Road to the Breeders' Cup game.
I personally am a big fan of Fantasy Games. I think they improve a sports popularity immensely. They generate a rooting interest where there otherwise may not have been one. I do my best to support contests like the Road to the Roses, TVG Fantasy and Godolphin's Seven Stars. This new Breeders' Cup game is definitely worth playing even if the total prize list has not been created yet. We do know two things, the game will be loads of fun and you'll get a $100 win wager at the Breeders' Cup for leading the weekly standings. That's enough incentive for me.
There is of course a Pay to Play option that allows you to compete for the pool of money donated by all the other players who selected that option.
Since the game is new there is an opportunity for the select few who get the strategy correct right from the start. I've been looking over the game timeline and rules looking for ways to get an edge. Here are a few things I've come up with.
Overview - The game requires you to start out with 12 horses. 3 from each division, Classic, Turf, Mile, Ladies Classic (Distaff). There is one supplemental draft period during the middle point of the game and then one more right before the Breeders' Cup. You also get to select jockey's and trainers for the BC.
Be Patient and Consistent - This is the first key to any fantasy games. Learn the deadlines and wait until those deadlines before making your moves. Also be consistent in not missing activation or supplemental windows. The first scoring race is June 14, entries open June 9th. There is no reason to make an entry until June 13th. With the supplemental draft always wait until the last day of the window. No sense bearing the risk of injury during that period if you don't have to.
Notice the specific races on the eligible list - You only get points for your horses performances in these specific races. Make sure you pay close attention to the list because it's not as straightforward as it seems. There are slightly more Turf races than there are dirt races, there are 4 races run in Europe, and there is a shocking lack of Californian races through the summer. No Hollywood Gold Cup, Clement Hirsch or Vanity.
Glean through the news everyday - It's usually very tough to find stated campaign's for older horses. It's not like the Triple Crown where trainers set a path and generally follow it. Older horses generally take it one start at a time and you have to be sharp to catch the intentions of the connections.
Find horses who can win preps - The way the points are structure it is more beneficial to win a G-3 than it is to finish second in a G-1. Look for standouts in smaller races if you have to. It might be better than taking good horses in tough G-1's. Also since one supplemental draft happens after all the preps are run it means you don't need to worry as much about a horse that would win the BC race itself. You want them to get points all summer and fall.
Shy away from Californians in your initial selection - I don't hate west coasters, in fact I think they'll dominate the BC itself but I noted above that many key Californian races were missing. During the initial phase of the game there are just 4 races run in California and none in the Ladies Classic Division. You may want to avoid Californians altogether in the Turf division as just the Sunset and Del Mar Handicap are included. There are more Turf stakes restricted to 3yo's than there are Californian turf stakes.
Watch the timing of the supplemental window - And don't take horses who aren't supposed to run prior to it. Ideally you could find some horses who will get two starts in the first window. There won't be many but there should be a few.
Now down to the specific tips for the first phase in each division.
Classic
Choose 'em
Curlin is a must use, he runs on the opening weekend of the contest in a G-1 and may run in the Whitney as well. Forget that he might not run in the Classic. You can two or three G-1's out him beforehand. Colonel John should run in the Swaps and right now he might be one of the few Classic horses you can count on aside from Curlin.
Don't use 'em
Big Brown is not scheduled to run again until the Travers that's in the second window. Heatseeker and Tiago are not likely to contest the San Diego Handicap but both may be aimed at the Pacific Classic. You may have to take one early in order to have them both in the second phase. Or you could choose to go against one of them.
Turf
Choose 'em
Meal Penalty has little to no chance in the Breeders' Cup Turf as it looks now but he might be the best Turf 3yo at Arlington and that could see him rack up some points. Watch the Coronation Cup this weekend very closely. If Getaway wins like he should and his connection target the King George he is a must use.
Don't use 'em
Champs Elysees is a suckers horse and he runs this weekend in the Whittingham. You may see him come east for the United Nations or Man O'War but he's a bet against for me.
Mile
Choose 'em
Cosmonaut may not be the first horse on everyones list but I suspect he'll get a full campaign. You might even get 3 or 4 races out of him before the Breeders' Cup.
Don't use 'em
Kip Deville is the current favorite for the race but is not supposed to run until the Woodbine Mile in Sept. Daytona is a tough call, he wins virtually everywhere he goes but he'll have to leave his home state to get in any eligible races in the first phase.
Ladies Classic
Choose 'em
Ginger Punch is likely to contest either the Ogden Phipps or the Fleur de Lis on opening weekend. She is also likely to wheel back in a race like the Go For Wand. Spring Waltz was a revelation at Gulfstream early in the year. Don't be surprised to see her running in the races that Ginger Punch doesn't common ownership will likely keep them apart. Can anyone beat Proud Spell at a distance? It's likely worth betting they can't in the CCA Oaks.
Don't use 'em
Zenyatta may be the best older female in the nation but she's a poor bet here unless you think she's going to ship to New York. I tend to think she won't.
I personally am a big fan of Fantasy Games. I think they improve a sports popularity immensely. They generate a rooting interest where there otherwise may not have been one. I do my best to support contests like the Road to the Roses, TVG Fantasy and Godolphin's Seven Stars. This new Breeders' Cup game is definitely worth playing even if the total prize list has not been created yet. We do know two things, the game will be loads of fun and you'll get a $100 win wager at the Breeders' Cup for leading the weekly standings. That's enough incentive for me.
There is of course a Pay to Play option that allows you to compete for the pool of money donated by all the other players who selected that option.
Since the game is new there is an opportunity for the select few who get the strategy correct right from the start. I've been looking over the game timeline and rules looking for ways to get an edge. Here are a few things I've come up with.
Overview - The game requires you to start out with 12 horses. 3 from each division, Classic, Turf, Mile, Ladies Classic (Distaff). There is one supplemental draft period during the middle point of the game and then one more right before the Breeders' Cup. You also get to select jockey's and trainers for the BC.
Be Patient and Consistent - This is the first key to any fantasy games. Learn the deadlines and wait until those deadlines before making your moves. Also be consistent in not missing activation or supplemental windows. The first scoring race is June 14, entries open June 9th. There is no reason to make an entry until June 13th. With the supplemental draft always wait until the last day of the window. No sense bearing the risk of injury during that period if you don't have to.
Notice the specific races on the eligible list - You only get points for your horses performances in these specific races. Make sure you pay close attention to the list because it's not as straightforward as it seems. There are slightly more Turf races than there are dirt races, there are 4 races run in Europe, and there is a shocking lack of Californian races through the summer. No Hollywood Gold Cup, Clement Hirsch or Vanity.
Glean through the news everyday - It's usually very tough to find stated campaign's for older horses. It's not like the Triple Crown where trainers set a path and generally follow it. Older horses generally take it one start at a time and you have to be sharp to catch the intentions of the connections.
Find horses who can win preps - The way the points are structure it is more beneficial to win a G-3 than it is to finish second in a G-1. Look for standouts in smaller races if you have to. It might be better than taking good horses in tough G-1's. Also since one supplemental draft happens after all the preps are run it means you don't need to worry as much about a horse that would win the BC race itself. You want them to get points all summer and fall.
Shy away from Californians in your initial selection - I don't hate west coasters, in fact I think they'll dominate the BC itself but I noted above that many key Californian races were missing. During the initial phase of the game there are just 4 races run in California and none in the Ladies Classic Division. You may want to avoid Californians altogether in the Turf division as just the Sunset and Del Mar Handicap are included. There are more Turf stakes restricted to 3yo's than there are Californian turf stakes.
Watch the timing of the supplemental window - And don't take horses who aren't supposed to run prior to it. Ideally you could find some horses who will get two starts in the first window. There won't be many but there should be a few.
Now down to the specific tips for the first phase in each division.
Classic
Choose 'em
Curlin is a must use, he runs on the opening weekend of the contest in a G-1 and may run in the Whitney as well. Forget that he might not run in the Classic. You can two or three G-1's out him beforehand. Colonel John should run in the Swaps and right now he might be one of the few Classic horses you can count on aside from Curlin.
Don't use 'em
Big Brown is not scheduled to run again until the Travers that's in the second window. Heatseeker and Tiago are not likely to contest the San Diego Handicap but both may be aimed at the Pacific Classic. You may have to take one early in order to have them both in the second phase. Or you could choose to go against one of them.
Turf
Choose 'em
Meal Penalty has little to no chance in the Breeders' Cup Turf as it looks now but he might be the best Turf 3yo at Arlington and that could see him rack up some points. Watch the Coronation Cup this weekend very closely. If Getaway wins like he should and his connection target the King George he is a must use.
Don't use 'em
Champs Elysees is a suckers horse and he runs this weekend in the Whittingham. You may see him come east for the United Nations or Man O'War but he's a bet against for me.
Mile
Choose 'em
Cosmonaut may not be the first horse on everyones list but I suspect he'll get a full campaign. You might even get 3 or 4 races out of him before the Breeders' Cup.
Don't use 'em
Kip Deville is the current favorite for the race but is not supposed to run until the Woodbine Mile in Sept. Daytona is a tough call, he wins virtually everywhere he goes but he'll have to leave his home state to get in any eligible races in the first phase.
Ladies Classic
Choose 'em
Ginger Punch is likely to contest either the Ogden Phipps or the Fleur de Lis on opening weekend. She is also likely to wheel back in a race like the Go For Wand. Spring Waltz was a revelation at Gulfstream early in the year. Don't be surprised to see her running in the races that Ginger Punch doesn't common ownership will likely keep them apart. Can anyone beat Proud Spell at a distance? It's likely worth betting they can't in the CCA Oaks.
Don't use 'em
Zenyatta may be the best older female in the nation but she's a poor bet here unless you think she's going to ship to New York. I tend to think she won't.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Back To Normal Soon
I have been away on vacation for a family wedding for the past week. Things will hopefully return to normal by Thursday when I've made my way back home. Until then I'll probably only get the chance to post bits and peices.
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Road To The Roses Tips
Possibly the most popular North American horse racing competition on the internet. If you haven't signed up yet just visit this link and get started. Just about everyone looks forward to this competition and there is a lot of chatter going around about who is running where and who you should pick in your stable.
I have played this game for many years and I've come up with a few strategic tips that they don't necessarily cover in the Playing Tips section of the RTTR website.
#1. Have patience - So many people have already signed up their stables despite the fact that the first scoring races aren't until Saturday and you can wait right up to 11:59 eastern on Saturday to pick your stable. I see no reason to lock in a stable now when you could wait for this weekend's entries. This applies to the supplemental stages as well. You don't get bonus points for switching things around before they're due. Also give consideration to the strategy of not signing up yet. You may miss out on a few points this weekend but strategically it could help you to win a weekly prize or even a stage prize if you hold off for a bit. Consider this coming weekend as an example. Almost everyone will take Pyro, however if he happens to perform badly or God forbid gets injured you'd be ahead of the curve by holding off and not taking him.
#2 Keep good records of horses intended schedules - I do this with the aid of a spreadsheet. Every morning as I read the news I just keep it handy so I can jot down any news blip on the contenders. Things still change of course but it gives you a good picture of who is likely. Here is a sample of my spreadsheet to date. More names will get filled in as things become clearer.
#3 Try to get horses on every circuit - There are so many different paths horses can take, between SA, TB, NY, GP, OP and TP you've got a ton of bases to cover. All of those tracks offer multiple preps and you'll usually find horses just following the sequence. Since you can only have 5 runners active at one time try to make sure you've diversified so you'll have a horse in nearly every race and on different weekends.
#4 Try to stay with horses who are going to run in the first stage - In your original 10 there is very little reason to take horses who will not be running in a stakes race until March 15th or later. The only one I can think of is if there are more than 3 horses who fit that description who you just have to take. Otherwise there is no reason to jump on board so quickly. As far as I'm aware War Pass, El Gato Malo, Cowboy Cal and Majestic Warrior are not running in eligible stakes races until at least stage 2 of this competition. Why bear the burden of risk for that long when you can simply add them at the supplemental stage.
#5 Ignore Sprinters - For the first year ever the RTTR game has revised the eligible race schedule and has eliminated all but one sprint race, the San Vincente, which is the current target for Into Mischief. In past years it was a good play to take a horse that might run in the Swale, Bay Shore and Lafayette but that angle is gone.
#6 Don't limit your focus to just the Grand Prize - There are some very nice prizes available for winning the individual stages and even a nice weekly prize. It wouldn't be a terrible idea to try and target one of those. By stacking your stable for a certain week you could do very well. If you are entered in the pay to play option you may want to consider only aiming one stable at the grand prize and staggering the other two stables to target stage and weekly prizes. Entering late on weeks where there are very few races is a good way to try and win a weekly prize.
#7 Identify trainers and jockeys that will WIN races - Remember you only get trainer and jockey points if they win the race so although Zito and Mott have loaded stables they may not necessarily be the best trainers to take. Sometimes the big fish in a small pond angle is the a real point machine. If a certain trainer has a hotshot who he plans to campaign exclusively in Northern California or maybe Oaklawn Park it might be worth taking them. If that horse can run the table your trainer could make a bundle.
#8 Forget winning the Derby, focus on winning the preps - Although this game is about the Derby you need to dominate the prep races in order to be in contention once the Derby comes around. You'll have plenty of time to add the horses you think will win the Derby at the last supplemental stage. In the meantime go for the horses that you see winning preps right now. Horses like High Fly, Scat Daddy and Balto Star were viewed with a skeptical eye in regards to the Derby but they were RTTR studs. Even Cowtown Cat was a very solid play last year. He outperformed Any Given Saturday, Dominican and Tiago as well many others.
#9 Don't be afraid to take a shot - There are upsets every single year on the Triple Crown trail and some of them are huge upsets. It happens because horses are improving and we don't know how good they'll eventually be but also some are more prepared for certain spots than others might be. For a small time trainer the Rebel and Louisiana Derby are the main targets of the year. For War Pass and Court Vision races like that are just preps and connections are sometimes less concerned with winning them. Just be sure that the shot you're taking is on a horse who is definitely destined for stakes company.
I have played this game for many years and I've come up with a few strategic tips that they don't necessarily cover in the Playing Tips section of the RTTR website.
#1. Have patience - So many people have already signed up their stables despite the fact that the first scoring races aren't until Saturday and you can wait right up to 11:59 eastern on Saturday to pick your stable. I see no reason to lock in a stable now when you could wait for this weekend's entries. This applies to the supplemental stages as well. You don't get bonus points for switching things around before they're due. Also give consideration to the strategy of not signing up yet. You may miss out on a few points this weekend but strategically it could help you to win a weekly prize or even a stage prize if you hold off for a bit. Consider this coming weekend as an example. Almost everyone will take Pyro, however if he happens to perform badly or God forbid gets injured you'd be ahead of the curve by holding off and not taking him.
#2 Keep good records of horses intended schedules - I do this with the aid of a spreadsheet. Every morning as I read the news I just keep it handy so I can jot down any news blip on the contenders. Things still change of course but it gives you a good picture of who is likely. Here is a sample of my spreadsheet to date. More names will get filled in as things become clearer.
#3 Try to get horses on every circuit - There are so many different paths horses can take, between SA, TB, NY, GP, OP and TP you've got a ton of bases to cover. All of those tracks offer multiple preps and you'll usually find horses just following the sequence. Since you can only have 5 runners active at one time try to make sure you've diversified so you'll have a horse in nearly every race and on different weekends.
#4 Try to stay with horses who are going to run in the first stage - In your original 10 there is very little reason to take horses who will not be running in a stakes race until March 15th or later. The only one I can think of is if there are more than 3 horses who fit that description who you just have to take. Otherwise there is no reason to jump on board so quickly. As far as I'm aware War Pass, El Gato Malo, Cowboy Cal and Majestic Warrior are not running in eligible stakes races until at least stage 2 of this competition. Why bear the burden of risk for that long when you can simply add them at the supplemental stage.
#5 Ignore Sprinters - For the first year ever the RTTR game has revised the eligible race schedule and has eliminated all but one sprint race, the San Vincente, which is the current target for Into Mischief. In past years it was a good play to take a horse that might run in the Swale, Bay Shore and Lafayette but that angle is gone.
#6 Don't limit your focus to just the Grand Prize - There are some very nice prizes available for winning the individual stages and even a nice weekly prize. It wouldn't be a terrible idea to try and target one of those. By stacking your stable for a certain week you could do very well. If you are entered in the pay to play option you may want to consider only aiming one stable at the grand prize and staggering the other two stables to target stage and weekly prizes. Entering late on weeks where there are very few races is a good way to try and win a weekly prize.
#7 Identify trainers and jockeys that will WIN races - Remember you only get trainer and jockey points if they win the race so although Zito and Mott have loaded stables they may not necessarily be the best trainers to take. Sometimes the big fish in a small pond angle is the a real point machine. If a certain trainer has a hotshot who he plans to campaign exclusively in Northern California or maybe Oaklawn Park it might be worth taking them. If that horse can run the table your trainer could make a bundle.
#8 Forget winning the Derby, focus on winning the preps - Although this game is about the Derby you need to dominate the prep races in order to be in contention once the Derby comes around. You'll have plenty of time to add the horses you think will win the Derby at the last supplemental stage. In the meantime go for the horses that you see winning preps right now. Horses like High Fly, Scat Daddy and Balto Star were viewed with a skeptical eye in regards to the Derby but they were RTTR studs. Even Cowtown Cat was a very solid play last year. He outperformed Any Given Saturday, Dominican and Tiago as well many others.
#9 Don't be afraid to take a shot - There are upsets every single year on the Triple Crown trail and some of them are huge upsets. It happens because horses are improving and we don't know how good they'll eventually be but also some are more prepared for certain spots than others might be. For a small time trainer the Rebel and Louisiana Derby are the main targets of the year. For War Pass and Court Vision races like that are just preps and connections are sometimes less concerned with winning them. Just be sure that the shot you're taking is on a horse who is definitely destined for stakes company.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Russian Vignette
I was recently encouraged to write a little more, since this is a slow time for my horse racing inspiration I thought I'd do the odd story of life, anecdote of human incompetence and dramatic retelling of mundane events. As the muse descends of course . The burgeoning demand for my meagre literary prowess demonstrates one fundamental fact of life. There is no accounting for taste.
As there have been few truly inspiring recent events I'll pull one from the archives, this particular tale still stands as the most harrowing experience of my life.
The adventure began as we set off to St. Petersberg on the overnight train. The ride was quite comfortable and I was looking forward to spending the day touring one of the worlds most beautiful and stories cities. In nearly every respect St. Petersberg lived up to it's billing. The eye could hardly take in the grandeur of the scenery. Even the train station we pulled into would put many mansions to shame.
As you all know I have always have a dreadful aversion to all things off colour. Whether it be the public washrooms at Dickson Hill school, the ramshackle outhouse affectionately known as the "Lloyd" or my father's own particular brand of humour. Such things have always haunted my sense of decency. Little did I know that amidst the splendor of that fair city I would be subjected to the most repellent of all circumstances I've had to endure.
The overnight train did not have a privy on board that I was aware of. To be truthful I never looked, I wouldn't have availed myself of it anyway. But after a long night the inevitability's of nature take hold and relief must be sought. I was a little irked from the outset that this train station didn't have free washrooms. Profiting from this circumstance seems morally questionable at best. 10 rubles bought you a place in line and 3 meagre sheets of transparent toilet paper. They only let in a set amount of people at a time it seemed. I shuddered as I wondered what one did if 3 sheets didn't complete the task. The march back to the counter for reinforcements would have been most unpleasant, not to mention having to line up again.
As I rounded the corner into the washroom I surveyed the scene. On one side there were several large stalls on the other was obviously what passed for a urinal in St. Petersberg. We would have likely identified it as an eaves trough bolted to a wall. That was fine though, it's not as if I ever plan on using a urinal. I entered the first roomy stall and was taken aback. The stall was completely empty! There was no fixture of any kind. I assumed the whole place was under construction, that would explain the concrete floors and walls and maybe even why they had to charge money to use it. No matter, I'd simply wait my turn to use the neighboring stall.
A chap eventually emerged looking well relieved with a newspaper underarm, it was a promising sign. However I skipped into his stall to find that it looked exactly like the last stall I observed. I poked my head back into the first stall and this time noted two features of the cubicle that had escaped my initial inspection. It had a floor that was slightly slanted towards the centre and a hole the size of a twonie (Canadian Two Dollar Coin) in the middle. I'm not sure if it's possible to convey the horror I felt at that very moment. Thankfully the human body is wired in such a way that the sudden onset of fear either accelerates bodily functions or stops the process entirely. It is to the latter group that my body belongs, God be praised. Had I spoken Russian I may have tried to warn those standing in line that this particular commode hardly offered value for money. Instead I beat a hasty retreat and steeled myself for a day of discomfort.
As it turns out a proper restroom was eventually found and the city of St Petersburg as well as the Winter Palace did their best to blot out the day's unfortunate prelude.
But still........I have always wondered what use the fella in front of me got out of that newspaper. It haunts me to this day.
As there have been few truly inspiring recent events I'll pull one from the archives, this particular tale still stands as the most harrowing experience of my life.
The adventure began as we set off to St. Petersberg on the overnight train. The ride was quite comfortable and I was looking forward to spending the day touring one of the worlds most beautiful and stories cities. In nearly every respect St. Petersberg lived up to it's billing. The eye could hardly take in the grandeur of the scenery. Even the train station we pulled into would put many mansions to shame.
As you all know I have always have a dreadful aversion to all things off colour. Whether it be the public washrooms at Dickson Hill school, the ramshackle outhouse affectionately known as the "Lloyd" or my father's own particular brand of humour. Such things have always haunted my sense of decency. Little did I know that amidst the splendor of that fair city I would be subjected to the most repellent of all circumstances I've had to endure.
The overnight train did not have a privy on board that I was aware of. To be truthful I never looked, I wouldn't have availed myself of it anyway. But after a long night the inevitability's of nature take hold and relief must be sought. I was a little irked from the outset that this train station didn't have free washrooms. Profiting from this circumstance seems morally questionable at best. 10 rubles bought you a place in line and 3 meagre sheets of transparent toilet paper. They only let in a set amount of people at a time it seemed. I shuddered as I wondered what one did if 3 sheets didn't complete the task. The march back to the counter for reinforcements would have been most unpleasant, not to mention having to line up again.
As I rounded the corner into the washroom I surveyed the scene. On one side there were several large stalls on the other was obviously what passed for a urinal in St. Petersberg. We would have likely identified it as an eaves trough bolted to a wall. That was fine though, it's not as if I ever plan on using a urinal. I entered the first roomy stall and was taken aback. The stall was completely empty! There was no fixture of any kind. I assumed the whole place was under construction, that would explain the concrete floors and walls and maybe even why they had to charge money to use it. No matter, I'd simply wait my turn to use the neighboring stall.
A chap eventually emerged looking well relieved with a newspaper underarm, it was a promising sign. However I skipped into his stall to find that it looked exactly like the last stall I observed. I poked my head back into the first stall and this time noted two features of the cubicle that had escaped my initial inspection. It had a floor that was slightly slanted towards the centre and a hole the size of a twonie (Canadian Two Dollar Coin) in the middle. I'm not sure if it's possible to convey the horror I felt at that very moment. Thankfully the human body is wired in such a way that the sudden onset of fear either accelerates bodily functions or stops the process entirely. It is to the latter group that my body belongs, God be praised. Had I spoken Russian I may have tried to warn those standing in line that this particular commode hardly offered value for money. Instead I beat a hasty retreat and steeled myself for a day of discomfort.
As it turns out a proper restroom was eventually found and the city of St Petersburg as well as the Winter Palace did their best to blot out the day's unfortunate prelude.
But still........I have always wondered what use the fella in front of me got out of that newspaper. It haunts me to this day.
Monday, September 03, 2007
TVG Fantasy Ire
I love fantasy games, I'm really into Fantasy Football (Futbol, or soccer) and have been known to try my hand at hockey and baseball. But horse racing is really my #1 passion so it's only natural that I'd be into Horse Racing fantasy games as well. The trouble is they are hard to come by and really the best online alternative is the TVG Fantasy game. It's not without its flaws but it's fun and I applaud TVG for running it.
This isn't a post to complain about the game itself but rather my last few weeks in the game.
You only get a limited number of trades for the whole season and I've tried to stay conservative with my trades. I've just been using one a week for the most part. And up until Travers weekend the plan was working beautifully. I moved into 11th place and had more trades left than any player above me. Then I completely forgot to add Street Sense to my stable, he was easy points and everyone and their mother had him. So I plummeted down the standings.
Now this week I decided to press my bets a little. I was going to play 2 G-1's and the Hopeful looked like a sitter with an expected short field. That left the Woodward and the Forego. Anyone who read my blog entry from Friday had to come away with the impression that I loved Midnight Lute in the Forego. He seemed like the safest best and yet for some reason I decided to outsmart everyone and take Wanderin Boy in the Woodward. Needless to say it was hardly a stroke of brilliance and I'm now languishing in 58th. I still have my trade advantage since the overall leader has just 1 trade left but they also have a 300 point advantage.
I've got to be choosy and accurate with my last few trades. The Street Sense and Midnight Lute gaffs have left me with a mountain to climb. Had I just done the obvious thing and taken them both I'd be in 18th.
Anyone else playing this game? Got any hard luck stories or better yet a legitimate chance to win it all?
This isn't a post to complain about the game itself but rather my last few weeks in the game.
You only get a limited number of trades for the whole season and I've tried to stay conservative with my trades. I've just been using one a week for the most part. And up until Travers weekend the plan was working beautifully. I moved into 11th place and had more trades left than any player above me. Then I completely forgot to add Street Sense to my stable, he was easy points and everyone and their mother had him. So I plummeted down the standings.
Now this week I decided to press my bets a little. I was going to play 2 G-1's and the Hopeful looked like a sitter with an expected short field. That left the Woodward and the Forego. Anyone who read my blog entry from Friday had to come away with the impression that I loved Midnight Lute in the Forego. He seemed like the safest best and yet for some reason I decided to outsmart everyone and take Wanderin Boy in the Woodward. Needless to say it was hardly a stroke of brilliance and I'm now languishing in 58th. I still have my trade advantage since the overall leader has just 1 trade left but they also have a 300 point advantage.
I've got to be choosy and accurate with my last few trades. The Street Sense and Midnight Lute gaffs have left me with a mountain to climb. Had I just done the obvious thing and taken them both I'd be in 18th.
Anyone else playing this game? Got any hard luck stories or better yet a legitimate chance to win it all?
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Out of Service
My computer has crashed this Sunday afternoon so the rest of the Derby 20-20 profile may be slow in coming.
Sorry for the inconvinience. I hope to be back and posting regularily as soon as possible.
Take care out there.
Sorry for the inconvinience. I hope to be back and posting regularily as soon as possible.
Take care out there.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
7 Stars
One of the regular features of Kennedy's Corridor, which is of admittedly dubious value, is tips and advice for playing racing fantasy games. We have already covered the TVG Fantasy and Road to the Roses games. I trust everyone out there is having success with those.
Now it is time to turn our attention to the grand master of all contests: The Godolphin 7 Stars competition. It may not be the most inventive or difficult game out there but the prizes are second to none. A total of $150,000 USD will be given away as well as all expenses paid trips to the 2008 Dubai World Cup.
The premise of the game is simple. Select 7 horses from the Godolphin stable and watch them accumulate points throughout the year. But selecting the right horses is easier said than done. There are 138 horses that are eligible for selection in this contest and if history is any judge only about 60 of them will have campaigns this year and probably half that number will have full campaigns. Godolphin races all but their top horses very sparingly.
There is a new format for the competition this year which might change the strategies quite a bit. Here are a few things to remember.
#1 Have Patience - I give this advice for every competition and it is no less true in this case. It is wise to wait until near the deadline (Mar 30th) before entering. I know the tie-breaking procedure gives the advantage to early entries but key information concerning the Godolphin runners is released just days before the World Cup. On Wednesday just before the World Cup Godolphin will host a media open house where about 50 of their most promising charges will workout and the connections will comment on them. I urge you not to select a stable before reading those reviews.
#2 Check all the form available - Godolphin offers Timeform summaries for all their horses who have previously run. Go over those with a fine tooth comb and identify the runners you'd like to have in your stable. I have personally gone through all the form and information available and have compiled my results in a spreadsheet. The horses are sorted into the 7 stables that you will have to choose from in the contest. You can view that spreadsheet here: 7 Stars Remember all those recommendations were given prior to the media open house so plans and opinions will change.
#3 Understand the Godolphin modus operandi - Godolphin's season follows a very predictable pattern. They have all their horses at their Al Quoz training centre right now. After the World Cup they will conduct a series of private trials. Especially for the 3yo's. The horses who perform the best in those trials will be the candidates for the stables first races in Europe. In late April about 40-50 horses will be shipped to Moulton Paddocks in England while another 15-20 will be sent to Belmont Park. The European runners will tend to be closer to race fitness while the American runners will more than likely be aimed at second half campaigns. In late fall Godolphin will assemble a team of stayers and send them to Australia where they will stay until the Melbourne Cup. The European season ends in late Oct and Godolphin will typically not have any runners between the Breeders Cup and the Hong Kong International meeting in late December, aside from the Australian contingent that is. For every selection you must determine which slot they are likely to fit into and what kind of campaign you envision them having.
#4 Select horses with opposing schedules - This year Godolphin has added a twist to their normal lottery ticket type format. Now you can select two horses from each stable, only one can be active at a time and you will have 3 chances to switch the status of your selections. Given the fact that the World Cup runners and Guineas hopefuls will be only notable horses running between now and the first substitution period it makes sense to have those horses in your stable and active to start. You may consider getting American horses as the substitutes since they most likely will not be running until the mid-summer. Also note that typically stayers are not given very many starts but many of those starts come later in the year. They may be the perfect way to balance a stable with a horse who prefers shorter distances and is fit right now.
Hopefully this information will help in some small way to land the big prize. It would be quite incredible if someone who read this ended up taking home a prize.
Best of luck to everyone!
Now it is time to turn our attention to the grand master of all contests: The Godolphin 7 Stars competition. It may not be the most inventive or difficult game out there but the prizes are second to none. A total of $150,000 USD will be given away as well as all expenses paid trips to the 2008 Dubai World Cup.
The premise of the game is simple. Select 7 horses from the Godolphin stable and watch them accumulate points throughout the year. But selecting the right horses is easier said than done. There are 138 horses that are eligible for selection in this contest and if history is any judge only about 60 of them will have campaigns this year and probably half that number will have full campaigns. Godolphin races all but their top horses very sparingly.
There is a new format for the competition this year which might change the strategies quite a bit. Here are a few things to remember.
#1 Have Patience - I give this advice for every competition and it is no less true in this case. It is wise to wait until near the deadline (Mar 30th) before entering. I know the tie-breaking procedure gives the advantage to early entries but key information concerning the Godolphin runners is released just days before the World Cup. On Wednesday just before the World Cup Godolphin will host a media open house where about 50 of their most promising charges will workout and the connections will comment on them. I urge you not to select a stable before reading those reviews.
#2 Check all the form available - Godolphin offers Timeform summaries for all their horses who have previously run. Go over those with a fine tooth comb and identify the runners you'd like to have in your stable. I have personally gone through all the form and information available and have compiled my results in a spreadsheet. The horses are sorted into the 7 stables that you will have to choose from in the contest. You can view that spreadsheet here: 7 Stars Remember all those recommendations were given prior to the media open house so plans and opinions will change.
#3 Understand the Godolphin modus operandi - Godolphin's season follows a very predictable pattern. They have all their horses at their Al Quoz training centre right now. After the World Cup they will conduct a series of private trials. Especially for the 3yo's. The horses who perform the best in those trials will be the candidates for the stables first races in Europe. In late April about 40-50 horses will be shipped to Moulton Paddocks in England while another 15-20 will be sent to Belmont Park. The European runners will tend to be closer to race fitness while the American runners will more than likely be aimed at second half campaigns. In late fall Godolphin will assemble a team of stayers and send them to Australia where they will stay until the Melbourne Cup. The European season ends in late Oct and Godolphin will typically not have any runners between the Breeders Cup and the Hong Kong International meeting in late December, aside from the Australian contingent that is. For every selection you must determine which slot they are likely to fit into and what kind of campaign you envision them having.
#4 Select horses with opposing schedules - This year Godolphin has added a twist to their normal lottery ticket type format. Now you can select two horses from each stable, only one can be active at a time and you will have 3 chances to switch the status of your selections. Given the fact that the World Cup runners and Guineas hopefuls will be only notable horses running between now and the first substitution period it makes sense to have those horses in your stable and active to start. You may consider getting American horses as the substitutes since they most likely will not be running until the mid-summer. Also note that typically stayers are not given very many starts but many of those starts come later in the year. They may be the perfect way to balance a stable with a horse who prefers shorter distances and is fit right now.
Hopefully this information will help in some small way to land the big prize. It would be quite incredible if someone who read this ended up taking home a prize.
Best of luck to everyone!
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Life changing innovation
I'm going to go off topic today. The racing info has been coming thick and fast and I could use a day to just sit back. While sitting back, I was reminded of one of my pet peeves. Remote controls. Now whoever came up with the universal remote was a godsend. I don't have a universal currently because my television is such an obscure brand that the signals couldn't be read by a universal remote. If you like convenience and consolidation don't get a Misakai, it was also bloody heavy.
One of the recurring problems that households worldwide have is that the remote gets misplaced. If you have several remotes then usually only the one you need right now is lost. Instead of getting up and manually selecting channels like in the old days most of us would rather scour the house. After wasting 10 minutes and finding a good many items that you imagined you no longer possessed you give up and flop on the couch only to find that you were sitting on it all along.
All of this turmoil could be avoided with a simple invention. A beeper in the remote and a button on the television that you could press (yes manually) that would cause the remote to ring until you find it. We already have the technology. Most cordless phones have a similar feature on the base so you can locate it. I have no idea why television companies haven't already done this.
One of the recurring problems that households worldwide have is that the remote gets misplaced. If you have several remotes then usually only the one you need right now is lost. Instead of getting up and manually selecting channels like in the old days most of us would rather scour the house. After wasting 10 minutes and finding a good many items that you imagined you no longer possessed you give up and flop on the couch only to find that you were sitting on it all along.
All of this turmoil could be avoided with a simple invention. A beeper in the remote and a button on the television that you could press (yes manually) that would cause the remote to ring until you find it. We already have the technology. Most cordless phones have a similar feature on the base so you can locate it. I have no idea why television companies haven't already done this.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Road to the Roses Tips
Possibly the most popular North American horse racing competition on the internet. If you havent signed up yet just visit this link and get started. Just about everyone looks forward to this competition and there is a lot of chatter going around about who is running where and who you should pick in your stable.
I have played this game for many years and I've come up with a few strategical tips that they dont necessarily cover in the Playing Tips section of the RTTR website.
#1. Have patience - So many people have already signed up their stables despite the fact that the first scoring races arent until Saturday and you can wait right up to 11:59 eastern on Saturday to pick your stable. I see no reason to lock in a stable now when you could wait for this weekend's entries. This applies to the supplemental stages as well. You dont get bonus points for switching things around before they're due.
#2 Keep good records of horses intended schedules - I do this with the aid of a spreadsheet. Every morning as I read the news I just keep it handy so I can jot down any news blip on the contenders. Things still change of course but it gives you a good picture of who is likely. Here is a sample of my spreadsheet to date. More names will get filled in as things become clearer.
#3 Try to get horses on every circuit - There is the SA, TB, NY, GP, OP and TP streams. All of those tracks offer multiple preps and you'll usually find horses just following the sequence. Since you can only have 5 runners active at one time try to make sure you've diversified so you'll have a horse in nearly every race and on different weekends.
#4 Do not undervalue sprinters - I know this is the road to the Derby but not every horse in your stable needs to be able to win the Derby, they just need to win preps. There are 5 eligable prep races that are run at less than 8f. If oyu can find a sprinter who will do well in a few of those he could be very valuable. Last year Too Much Bling earned a lot of points for those who took him.
#5 Don't limit your focus to just the Grand Prize - There are some very nice prizes available for winning the individual stages and even a nice weekly prize. It wouldnt be a terrible idea to try and target one of those. By stacking your stable for a certain week you could do very well.
#6 Identify trainers and jockeys that will WIN races - Remember you only get trainer and jockey points if they win the race so although O'Neill and Pletcher have loaded stables they may not be the best trainers to take. If you're high on a horse like Hard Spun then maybe keying in on Larry Jones would be a good idea. It isnt very hard to imagine Hard Spun winning all his prep races. That could get you more points than 5 Pletcher horses running second and third.
#7 Don't be afraid to take a shot - There are upsets every single year on the Triple Crown trail and some of them are huge upsets. Because horses are improving but also some are more prepared for certain spots than others might be. For instance we know a horse like Street Sense is being brought along slowly. He may very well be less than perfect in his first start and he may be facing horses that are wound tight for the race, but his reputation as the 2yo champ will see lots of money on him.
I have played this game for many years and I've come up with a few strategical tips that they dont necessarily cover in the Playing Tips section of the RTTR website.
#1. Have patience - So many people have already signed up their stables despite the fact that the first scoring races arent until Saturday and you can wait right up to 11:59 eastern on Saturday to pick your stable. I see no reason to lock in a stable now when you could wait for this weekend's entries. This applies to the supplemental stages as well. You dont get bonus points for switching things around before they're due.
#2 Keep good records of horses intended schedules - I do this with the aid of a spreadsheet. Every morning as I read the news I just keep it handy so I can jot down any news blip on the contenders. Things still change of course but it gives you a good picture of who is likely. Here is a sample of my spreadsheet to date. More names will get filled in as things become clearer.
#3 Try to get horses on every circuit - There is the SA, TB, NY, GP, OP and TP streams. All of those tracks offer multiple preps and you'll usually find horses just following the sequence. Since you can only have 5 runners active at one time try to make sure you've diversified so you'll have a horse in nearly every race and on different weekends.
#4 Do not undervalue sprinters - I know this is the road to the Derby but not every horse in your stable needs to be able to win the Derby, they just need to win preps. There are 5 eligable prep races that are run at less than 8f. If oyu can find a sprinter who will do well in a few of those he could be very valuable. Last year Too Much Bling earned a lot of points for those who took him.
#5 Don't limit your focus to just the Grand Prize - There are some very nice prizes available for winning the individual stages and even a nice weekly prize. It wouldnt be a terrible idea to try and target one of those. By stacking your stable for a certain week you could do very well.
#6 Identify trainers and jockeys that will WIN races - Remember you only get trainer and jockey points if they win the race so although O'Neill and Pletcher have loaded stables they may not be the best trainers to take. If you're high on a horse like Hard Spun then maybe keying in on Larry Jones would be a good idea. It isnt very hard to imagine Hard Spun winning all his prep races. That could get you more points than 5 Pletcher horses running second and third.
#7 Don't be afraid to take a shot - There are upsets every single year on the Triple Crown trail and some of them are huge upsets. Because horses are improving but also some are more prepared for certain spots than others might be. For instance we know a horse like Street Sense is being brought along slowly. He may very well be less than perfect in his first start and he may be facing horses that are wound tight for the race, but his reputation as the 2yo champ will see lots of money on him.
Thursday, January 04, 2007
TVG Fantasy Tips
Here are some tips which you may find useful for playing the TVG fantasy game. I had intended to write a few tips in January for the readers here but I didnt know that I would be first overall in this competition at the time. I'd love to win this contest but I do not expect to remain in first beyond this weekend. If I cant win I think it would be awesome for someone who reads this to win.
Make use of all your trades - You dont get points for loyalty. Make sure that every horse in your stable is expected to run during that month.
Pay special attention to the races run during the Add/Drop period - A quirk in the rules allows you to take full advantage of races run on the 2nd or 3rd of every month. You are allowed to fill your stable on say Jan 1st then replace them after they have run, as long as you do it before the deadline on Jan 5th. But be careful not to get caught. You cannot pick up the horses too late, nor can you drop them too early. You cannot get points for a horse unless you have owned them for a full day prior to thier race. In other words if your horse runs on Jan 1st you must own him on Dec 31st in order to score points. Also in order to keep the points a horse earns you must keep them for 2 days after thier race. So if a horse were to run on Jan 4th you cannot drop him on Jan 5th. So essentially what I'm saying is this.
Look at the stakes races run on the 2nd and 3rd of every month and fill your stable with those horses on the 1st of that month. Then drop them all and get horses for the rest of the month on the 5th. This way you will maximize your point earning potential.
Have patience - In order to maximize your potential, trades have to be made at the right time. Wait for that time. Also every stable is transparent in this game. If you want to keep your strategy as hidden as possible dont make your trades until near the deadlines.
Do not spend too much time on trainers and jockeys - This game will be won or lost by the horses. The way I figure if you get 5 stakes wins from 2 trainers in a month you're going to be doing excellent. But that only equals 10 points, or the same as finishing 3rd in an E class race (Non-graded $75k+).
With your #1 trainer take a big stable who runs on a circuit with a lot of stakes race and with at least one star who is scheduled to run that month. With your second pick simply take any trainer who has a heavy fave in any stakes race. Remember for trainers and jockey's a listed race is worth the same as a G-1.
Do not understate the risk of time - This is horse racing, stars come and go like the weather. Always prefer a horse who is racing this week as opposed to a horse racing next week
Keep good records - A key to success in this game is knowing who is going to run in what races. When you read the DRF, Bloodhorse or a message board have a notepad or Excel sheet handy. Jot down horses who are mentioned and the races they are being pointed to.
Watch the entries and nominations - This is part of having patience but during the add/drop period wait as long as you can to see entries. This month the deadline is friday so you should be able to see exactly which horses are entered for many of the weekend stakes races. For races run later in the month you can often get the nominations. Go to the track's website and look them up. That will give you a better idea of who is running where.
Have more horses in G-1 stakes - This seems pretty obvious but a G-1 race offers 145 points. Finishing 4th in the race is better than winning an F class race. Make sure you spread the entries well for those races.
Best of luck to everyone, and remember if you havent already voted for the TCR awards visit this link!
Make use of all your trades - You dont get points for loyalty. Make sure that every horse in your stable is expected to run during that month.
Pay special attention to the races run during the Add/Drop period - A quirk in the rules allows you to take full advantage of races run on the 2nd or 3rd of every month. You are allowed to fill your stable on say Jan 1st then replace them after they have run, as long as you do it before the deadline on Jan 5th. But be careful not to get caught. You cannot pick up the horses too late, nor can you drop them too early. You cannot get points for a horse unless you have owned them for a full day prior to thier race. In other words if your horse runs on Jan 1st you must own him on Dec 31st in order to score points. Also in order to keep the points a horse earns you must keep them for 2 days after thier race. So if a horse were to run on Jan 4th you cannot drop him on Jan 5th. So essentially what I'm saying is this.
Look at the stakes races run on the 2nd and 3rd of every month and fill your stable with those horses on the 1st of that month. Then drop them all and get horses for the rest of the month on the 5th. This way you will maximize your point earning potential.
Have patience - In order to maximize your potential, trades have to be made at the right time. Wait for that time. Also every stable is transparent in this game. If you want to keep your strategy as hidden as possible dont make your trades until near the deadlines.
Do not spend too much time on trainers and jockeys - This game will be won or lost by the horses. The way I figure if you get 5 stakes wins from 2 trainers in a month you're going to be doing excellent. But that only equals 10 points, or the same as finishing 3rd in an E class race (Non-graded $75k+).
With your #1 trainer take a big stable who runs on a circuit with a lot of stakes race and with at least one star who is scheduled to run that month. With your second pick simply take any trainer who has a heavy fave in any stakes race. Remember for trainers and jockey's a listed race is worth the same as a G-1.
Do not understate the risk of time - This is horse racing, stars come and go like the weather. Always prefer a horse who is racing this week as opposed to a horse racing next week
Keep good records - A key to success in this game is knowing who is going to run in what races. When you read the DRF, Bloodhorse or a message board have a notepad or Excel sheet handy. Jot down horses who are mentioned and the races they are being pointed to.
Watch the entries and nominations - This is part of having patience but during the add/drop period wait as long as you can to see entries. This month the deadline is friday so you should be able to see exactly which horses are entered for many of the weekend stakes races. For races run later in the month you can often get the nominations. Go to the track's website and look them up. That will give you a better idea of who is running where.
Have more horses in G-1 stakes - This seems pretty obvious but a G-1 race offers 145 points. Finishing 4th in the race is better than winning an F class race. Make sure you spread the entries well for those races.
Best of luck to everyone, and remember if you havent already voted for the TCR awards visit this link!
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Good To Be Back
....But perhaps better to be away!
Thanks to Equidaily for linking my article on Eclipse Award reform. Because of that I actually got 2 comments. That has to be some sort of record for this spot :)
However vacation also brought me good fortune in the TVG fantasy game. At the time of writing I actually have the top ranked public stable. The dream wont last forever but I'm glad I got back from Canada's frozen north in time to witness my name atop the lists.
January should be an exciting month, we have the TCR awards and much much more. The standings listed on the right side will show the TCR award finalists until voting is closed on Jan 22nd.
Thanks to Equidaily for linking my article on Eclipse Award reform. Because of that I actually got 2 comments. That has to be some sort of record for this spot :)
However vacation also brought me good fortune in the TVG fantasy game. At the time of writing I actually have the top ranked public stable. The dream wont last forever but I'm glad I got back from Canada's frozen north in time to witness my name atop the lists.
January should be an exciting month, we have the TCR awards and much much more. The standings listed on the right side will show the TCR award finalists until voting is closed on Jan 22nd.
Friday, December 22, 2006
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
This will be the last post in this blog until I return from Christmas Holidays on Jan 3rd. So I'd like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
There will be a lot of exciting things coming up for January in Kennedy's Corridor including TVG Fantasy strategies, weekly updated Derby and Oaks top 10's as well as the first annual TCR awards where fans will be able to vote on thier top choices.
Peace
There will be a lot of exciting things coming up for January in Kennedy's Corridor including TVG Fantasy strategies, weekly updated Derby and Oaks top 10's as well as the first annual TCR awards where fans will be able to vote on thier top choices.
Peace
Thursday, December 21, 2006
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
I find myself perched at the computer feverishly updating the Santa Anita website hoping that the stakes nominations (due today) will be posted. This is what it has come to, Christmas is a great holiday but it sure is a poor time of the year for racing fans. We could talk about the Eclipse Awards but those in my opinion only heat up once racing itself has concluded for the year. We could talk about the Jockey's suspensions in Florida but really I dont know more than anyone else and I'm really not interested. The real heartbeat of this sport for me is live racing. It keeps the wheels spinning, every day brings different results and things to ponder.
So before this space signs off for Christmas Holidays I hope the fields for the Malibu are drawn and maybe Santa Anita will even post those nominations they promised.
So before this space signs off for Christmas Holidays I hope the fields for the Malibu are drawn and maybe Santa Anita will even post those nominations they promised.
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