HOY (Horse of the Year)

After watching the Classic yesterday and the performance put in by Zenyatta, all one could hear was with that win should give her the Horse of the Year honors.

I have to disagree with all who think similarly. First off, Zenyatta had a decided home field advantage. As anyone who has flown across the country can tell you of jet lag, any horse that ships from their home to Southern California must first get acclimated to the time difference and recover from the problems of the trip.

Secondly, one must be able to breathe the air of LA. My friend Bill moved from SW Pa to LA Ca some years ago. He ran 5 miles per day back east but was hard pressed to run one half mile in LA and he was very winded.

Zenyatta has raced her whole life against Southern California females for all her 13 races coming into the classic. She is a freak of nature in that she is huge, 17.5 hands high. In the Classic, she let all the other horses expend their energy for most of the mile before she made her move with ½ mile remaining. Like my friend Bill, those who raced early were winded and were tiring. Only one horse, Gio Ponti, was able to close inside like Zenyatta. Gio Ponti is not a horse for the artificial surface but rather the best turf horse running today in the states.

If Zenyatta met Gio Ponti on the turf, Gio Ponti would clean her clock. If this race were held outside of California, Gio Ponti would clean her clock. It is only the home field advantage and the acclimation to the stale LA air that permitted Zenyatta to succeed. It is this author’s opinion, that Zenyatta deserves not the HOY award.

Who would I vote for? Probably Gio Ponti as he raced against his preferred surface and against the stale air of Southern California. I know in my heart, that Gio Ponti did something that I know Zenyatta could not of done and that is to finish 2nd to Gio Ponti on the grass.
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Just received a post from one of my online groups and had to add to this post.

Message: 15
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 2009 05:39:00 -0800 (PST)
From: Jason
To: derby@derbylist.com
Subject: [Derby] Rachel Clearly HOtY
Message-ID: <755608.20796.qm@web52909.mail.re2.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

I hope the voters do the right thing and give the award to Rachel.

This is nothing against the amazing Zenyatta who goes down as one of the all time greats. Unfortunately her owners, while giving us a major thrill this past weekend, didn't do enough.

Ultimately, their decision to scratch Zenyatta on a sloppy Oaks day track in Kentucky this spring probably costs their mare HOY.

As a result, Zenyatta has exactly one smashing victory to her credit and never raced outside the beautiful but screwed up state of California.

Hey, it's not her fault. She already proved she can run on dirt. Unfortunately that was in 2008. Her smashing Oaklawn win over a good G1 horse in Ginger Punch doesn't matter now because it's 2009.

Rachel had FIVE smashing wins in 2009. The three against colts and her 19+ lengths triumphs against the girls.

Five > One.

Just one man's opinion.
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Pa and its horse tracks are NOT fan friendly

The Pennsylvania racetracks and the laws pertaining to the wagering upon these races are NOT fan friendly.

In the early 90’s, the Pa state legislature and the PA Racing Commission changed the accounting methods of tracks retention rates on wagering on their racing product. Up till the change implemented, the procedure would calculate the odds based on subtracting the winning wagers from the total pool leaving the net pool to be multiplied by the retention rate and that money (goes to the track, state and horsemen) to be deducted from the net pool leaving the rest to be returned to the winning wagers.

Best example I can give you is a total pool of 10,000.00. $4,000 was wagered on the winning horse and the given is the retention rate of 20%. The net pool before retention would be $6,000. Applying the retention rate of 20%, would give you $1,200 to be deducted to go to the state, track and horsemen. The balance of $4,800 would be returned to the winning tickets (in this case 2,000 tickets.) The payoff would be $8,800.00 paid out to the public that translates into a $4.40 Win Ticket for those who bet correctly.

After the change of rules, they have since then to this very day take the retention rate on the total pool prior to deducting the winning tickets. In the example above, $10,000 was the total pool, now the retention rate is deducted which is $2,000.00 leaving the $8,000 balance to be distributed. Since there was $4,000 bet on the winner, would mean the $2 payout would now be $4.00. In essence, instead of winning $2.40 on your winning wager, you now would only win $4.00, a decrease of 16.67% of your winnings. This is what the state and racing commission put in place in the early 90’s.

If anyone thinks this is fan friendly, wait till you see the next example. The above retention of 20% seems high to the slot players, as their retention rate statewide is approximately 8.774% so far in 2009. The tracks highest retention rates tend to be in the trifecta pools. The Meadows is listed at 29%, Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs is 35%, Philly Park 30%, Penn National at 31% and Harrah’s Chester Downs is listed at 30%. I can honestly tell you all that nowhere in North America are the retention rates listed as high as in Pennsylvania.

A decade so or longer ago, the state also gave the horsemen a break by removing the state sales tax on the sale of the horses. No matter if the horse was claimed in a claiming race or a private sale, the state no longer took out the 6% sales tax.

So far, the state has done nothing for the consumer. Sure I got my first tax relief from the slot money last year with a deduction of $99 on my school taxes. I expected more this year as the state revenue from slots increased 30 percent but I only got the same deduction ($99) as last year but my school board rose my taxes both years which negated my so called tax relief. Seems to me the promise of the slots to give the homeowners tax relief was overstated; in that, the extent of the promise has not yet to be fulfilled.

The purse structure today is unreal. Some tracks have Maiden races worth $80k (maiden is a race where the entrants have yet won their first race). Lost in all this legislation is the common fan and homeowner. Seems to me there needs to be a revisiting of the slot bill by the legislature to design something to benefit those who have supported the community and racing in this state for decades.

First suggestion is to reinstate the sales tax on the sale of horses. The state is always increasing the tax on cigarettes and alcohol but who is most able to pay taxes are those who benefited from the Slot Legislation. Secondly I would suggest to change the method of calculating the winning wagers back to the prior system, in that, the tracks should not be permitted in taking a cut off of a winning wager but only take their percentage off of the losing wagers. That would increase the winning wagers by 16.67%. While we are on retention rates, I would suggest that all the rates in the state be reduced to a level where the state is the lowest in North America. You will see all the money pouring in from across the continent once they public is notified of the best return available for their wagering dollar is in PA. 35% of a total pool retention rate is highway robbery. Slot players get a rate of 8.774% and we are taxed 4 times as high.

In the event that the state keeps the present status quo, I suggest that every fan of horse racing in Pennsylvania refuse to attend, wager online, or even refuse to use your bookie for racing at a PA track. Our money can be wagered anywhere in the USA and this state and this racing industry have ignored their fans and tax payers long enough. It is time for the silent majority to be heard. Call your representative, your track operator and let them know that you do not want to be ripped off any more.

Editorial

Below appears a copy of my most recent editorial.

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ADIOS
October 09, 2009

October 8th was the last day of operation for my site. It has been over 6 years since I started this project that came out of my love for horse racing, music and computers.

Bobby Z’s Picks at the Races started out as just my picks for the Meadows. Back then in August of 2003, I was just a little over one year from my Bone Marrow Transplant (stem cell) for my CML (Leukemia).

Since then, I added on friends and people from my online groups who shared a similar interest in horse racing. We eventually added flat racing from time to time. It can be tough job working and updating the site 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year. The site is still a viable option for my hobby still to this day but financial concerns have forced my hand. Many of my friends and some who are also race analysts on the site offered to kick in to defray the costs of the site but I declined. Hopefully someday, things will be different and I can resume my activities for the site.

For those that are disappointed in our departure I can only say I am truly sorry. I prefer not to make it a pay site and all that it entails so I just will fade away. Someone mentioned that maybe I could accept donations but that would also lead into other problems that I have not foreseen at this juncture.

I will still keep a keen eye on horse racing whether it be harness or thoroughbred and if I connect on a large enough score, look for me to come back with a vengeance! Although I have been a free site, I still consider all the viewers as my customers. Some, who have contacted me via email, have become online friends. I wish the best for all my patrons over the years and extend a warm thank you for your participation in my hobby. God Bless you all.

Adios

Everything has its season in this world. So too has my site. Due to circumstances beyond my control, I am forced to close up shop at my site. The last day of selections to be provided will be October 08, 2009.

I must say it has been both interesting and a valuable learning experience. I hope you had some fun along the way as I.

I will continue to post to this blog from time to time but the subject matter may or may not involve horse racing.

Thank you for being part of my life. I will leave you with a phrase that I heard an elderly gentlemen say while leaving Mountaineer Racetrack some years ago. "My worst day at the track is head and heels over my best day at work!".

Adios

Pompano Park Sep 19th

The following text was emailed to me by a friend in South Florida, long time harness race fan and owner. These accounts have not been edited. It is this writer's belief that the Isle Of Capris thinks not highly of the horseracing end of the business in their attempt to gain the gambling dollar. Thank you for submitting this to me.
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The Opening was NOT good in so much as the Track was Terrible. They had a Huge Crowd which we were happy to see, but then learned, that the Grandstand was the ONLY Floor Open. (They closed everything upstairs) And it was BLAZING HOT there, and No AC and a lot of the Fans were not even on.


When you came in they had a table way off to the left with 2 women who were giving out T-Shirts and or Key Chains. NO SIGN nothing to let people know. This should have been set up where people entered the track. And what I was NOT happy about was that the T-Shirts they were giving away (which was never advertised) said ISLE OF CAPRI CASINO....  Nothing about the Track or the Horses. Sad.


NEITHER of the Bathrooms were open at that end either.


The most horrendous part was at the far end of the Grandstand they had 4 BETTING WINDOWS open and like 8 BETTING MACHINES. The lines were so backed up and so long and MANY people got shut out. Besides the Tellers didn't know what the heck they were doing. All the other windows were CLOSED. So anyone at the other end had to come way down the other side to bet. (which they couldn't get in most of the time).
This is sad. A BIG CROWD and MANY YOUNG people (which we were happy to see) and the presentation and facilities were awful. Does not make for a good showing. And I wonder how many of the young people will return.


They had a Band set up way down the walk by the Casino, which was a nice thing, but only could hear it at the track, could not see them. Then I heard they were having Fireworks after the races. Needless to say NO WHERE did I see this in a newspaper or circular to know about the T-Shirts, Band or Fireworks.


By the 7th Race many people left, One probably because the heat (it was terrible) secondly could not get a bet in and the lines at the 2 Stands for food were long.
Not impressive and it could have been such a good thing had they put any time or consideration into these events. And thought about the comfort of the Fans.


I was told however that during the time they were closed they did resurface the track, which was a plus. But as I had told you previously the Barn area, is still in bad condition and the roads still have pot holes. Which is so dangerous for the horses.


All in all, time will tell how many people will return. It is quite obvious they are only concerned for their Casino, and that is where they want the Fans to be, but Horsemen and True Fans do want to be able to see the races and this will not happen in the Casino. If everyone just wanted to watch races on the TV they can do that at home W/Live racing from the tracks. You wonder why they lose Fans!!!


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I again have to thank my friend in South Florida for sharing the experience of the opening day of Pompano Park's 2009-2010 race meet.


If you are from the area or just care about horse racing at Pompano Park, you can email your thoughts to the following people with Isle of Capris:
John Yinger at John.Yinger@islecorp.com
Michael Bloom at Michael.Bloom@islecorp.com
Bob Strom at Bob.Strom@islecorp.com
Shane R. Gray at Shane.Gray@islecorp.com
Jim White at Jim.White@islecorp.com


Let them know that there are people out there that care about racing in Southern Florida.

Caveat Emptor Déjà vu

It has been brought to my attention that another program error occurred in the past performances supplied by Trackmaster for the Mohegan Sun Pocono Downs racing on September 12th, 2009.

Look at the program for Race 4 and notice the name of the horse listed as Number 8.


You can plainly see that Wambam Sam was listed as Number 8 in the race.

Pay attention to the results of Race 4 listed below:


Yes, Rusty's All in ran as the horse number 8. In both cases, the wagering public was mislead. The responsibility of the Trackmaster, USTA and Mohegan Sun Pocono Downs to provide accurate information to protect the public from these blind switches. In both cases, the Judges should of permitted both #8 in the 4th and #4 in the 14th to race as NON WAGERING ENTITIES (barred from wagering) but permitted to run for purse money only.

This should never happen if the state paid judges did their job. The USTA. Trackmaster and Pocono all made money on this venture and none are claiming responsibility. They are all considered to be part of the problem. Each in their own right have within their control a way to rectify this. They all desire not to and we; the wagering public are at risk every time we wager using their products.

Caveat Emptor
Let the Buyer Beware

Caveat Emptor

The United States Trotting Association sells the rights for the past performances to a company named Trackmaster. The wagering public then purchases the past performances. We expect that the information purchased to be true to form and to be protected by unlisted horses being run in the races that we wager upon.

September 12, 2009 in Race 14 at Pocono Downs, Trackmaster's PP's lists the horses entered as the following:

Unknown to those who used the above page is the fact that Clear Vision (the horse that finished 2nd in the Cane Pace to Vintage Master) was actually wearing head number 4. Those that thought Rusty's All In was # 4 were mislead. Who is responsible to making sure the product we purchased is not defective?

The judges at Pocono Downs should of scratched #4 Clear Vision as a wagering entity but permitted him to run for purse only. The betting public would of been protected. It makes this author think about quitting harness racing all together seeing how we are at risk every time we spend our money betting or buying race past performances.