Anatomy of Racing Headlines on Derby Week
Astar Thoroughbreds
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3y ago
​My Old Man Ponderings are often fun and I hope humorous. This one, and a series that will follow, will be a little different. You see, it’s Derby week and the media will deluge all of us with romantic racing stories and contrived drama. Then there’s me and I have been pondering my future involvement in racing, after 100 or so wins as an owner, a breeder and stallion owner. Why? Because the ever-declining sport I once so dearly loved just continues on a delusional path I have slowly been coming to regret.   This epiphany jumped into my consciousness a few weeks ago. I was reading h ..read more
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The Last Minnesota Bred
Astar Thoroughbreds
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3y ago
Well our last Minnesota bred horse horse runs his last race down South today before coming back up North with trainer Gary Scherer. Caramel Angel, a 4 year old gelding, has now won near $60,000 and knocked off quite a few open company horses (those bred in states other than Minnesota) by winning in both Illinois and Louisiana.  Now after losing most of his conditions, (he can no longer run in races for maidens, non-winners of 2 races or non-winners of 3 races), he is way up in class and running in a $56,000 allowance race today. Gary (Big G), has done a marvelous job with this hig ..read more
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Minnesota?
Astar Thoroughbreds
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4y ago
A few folks asked me about my general post yesterday associated with racing, and how the virus will likely impact racing operations. Minnesota questions were raised since we have many friends still involved there. I don't have a crystal ball so I can only be led by the data, and yesterday's US virus deaths were very sadly just under 1000. I hope Minnesota racing can open soon but I also just noticed the racetrack has furloughed over 800 people because they have been completely shut down. Minnesota also has an underlying issue with field size since the 2019 numbers were the lowest in the last ..read more
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How Much Trouble is American Racing in Now?
Astar Thoroughbreds
by
4y ago
​Across the country people have rightfully made the decision that lives are more important than livelihood. This reality has always been understood but, the pandemic we currently face has deepened that understanding. Some industries that have been growing like crazy during good economic times will have no problem weathering the storm. Some companies are actually expanding, like Amazon and Walmart, to serve consumers in a new social distancing or stay at home consumer environment. Unfortunately, the American racing industry is another story. With only a handful of American racetracks now re ..read more
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Tapeta Synthetic Surfaces
Astar Thoroughbreds
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4y ago
Both Turfway and Laurel are installing new synthetic surfaces. Interesting that just 2 days ago in this blog I listed the installation of synthetics as the first and most important change American Racing must make if it wants to slow the decline of American Racing. Here's the article: ​https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/horses/horse-racing/2020/02/17/churchill-leading-way-synthetics-horse-safety-takes-forefront/4771359002/?fbclid=IwAR39RrRDAU2MbvxFRrhFkvnmA8Y6yR7-JcPC7Tw8BaW_7Glh9J3MQXNRN8M ..read more
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The Accelerating Decline of American Racing
Astar Thoroughbreds
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4y ago
​I was recently asked why so many people in the American Racing industry are so critical of the industry they participate in. I was also asked why we critics don’t spend our time offering suggestions for fixing racing. The folks who asked me these questions are members of a large community in racing that think public criticism can only do further damage to the American Racing industry. Both issues, criticisms and solutions, are inextricably linked.   Many strong American Racing critics have spent years suggesting and recommending changes to racing executives, association representatives and r ..read more
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Horse Racing 2019? It's Just Business As Usual!
Astar Thoroughbreds
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4y ago
​In early 2019 there was a massive outcry regarding American racehorse safety. Behind all the posturing and patronizing what has the American racehorse industry actually done? The answer, is next to nothing my friends.   While focused on Santa Anita, the entire American Thoroughbred race horse industry experienced a full-frontal safety assault from their own fans, the public, politicians, PETA, HBO and the rest of the media. Today, a simple search of “2019 horse racing deaths” produces over 17,000,000 results! Despite the apparent crisis, American horse racing has addressed this 2019 dilemma ..read more
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Sports Betting Now Happening in Iowa
Astar Thoroughbreds
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4y ago
Sports betting just kicked off in Iowa today. Minnesotans are now traveling to Iowa to make sports wagers, and their money is contributing to the Iowa economy and horse racing industry! Good for Iowa but bad from Minnesota. There is little doubt that Iowa's racing product and purses will substantially benefit from the additional revenue.  Minnesota Thoroughbred breeding has suffered substantially over the last decade. According to the Jockey Club, Minnesota has seen a 78.1% decline in mares actually bred in the state. That means that for every 100 mares bred in Minnesota back in 2008, only ..read more
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The Truth About American Racing Equine Safety
Astar Thoroughbreds
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4y ago
After making many mistakes in my life, I finally achieved some success by learning to go to where the data took me. As a statistical quality student and teacher, I have been both satisfied and shocked by “discovered” truths that emerge from a properly conducted analysis. I’ve been satisfied because sometimes the results match my internal biases, opinions and beliefs. I have also been shocked because the results often shake me to my core, differing from those same biases, opinions and beliefs. There are very few things I enjoy more than seeing people or systems improve once discovered truth i ..read more
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IT's Coming ..... Yearling Auction Season!
Astar Thoroughbreds
by
4y ago
This year the yearling auctions readers of this blog seem to care about, are all together on the calendar. Iowa is having their sale September 5th, Minnesota's is September 8th, Keeneland's sale begins September 9th and the Canadian Yearling sales for Divisions are August 26th and September 10th. Those buyers interested in gobbling up some  state or Canadian Bred yearlings may have to make some choices about where they want to go. With questions starting to ramp up, as they do every year, new owners often look for educational resources. Good ones are very hard to find. State Associations t ..read more
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