KY Racing

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Euro,
Keeneland is 3 weeks in spring and summer not 4. Where do you get the idea that most KY trainers dont run during Keeneland? In the spring 80% of the horses are KY horses or trainer by a trainer with a division in KY. In the fall it is probably 95%.

Ernie Fletcher has done nothing for horseracing in KY but he certainly hasn't ruined it.

KY does not have a breeders program??? KTDF doesn't count?

Jones leaving was a loss for Ellis Park but he really never ran all that much anywhere else.

I would not consider Churchill's purses to be small.

I dont consider Zito, Pletcher etc etc KY trainers if they have a stable in KY. They move down here just for the meet. People like Woodard, Flint, Whiting Greenhill etc etc do not run (well if they do they will send 1 horse) at Keeneland and these are the people that are based in KY all year. Big names like Romans will run at Keeneland. The KTDF is a joke compared to New York's program. If you want to consider that a program then go for it. But it is a joke. Ernie Fletcher is about as bad as a politician as there can be. By doing nothing is for worse than actually trying to do something. The fall meet this year is only 24 days. If you dont think KY purses are small then you dont have high expectations.

Originally Posted by eurobounce

I dont consider Zito, Pletcher etc etc KY trainers if they have a stable in KY. They move down here just for the meet. People like Woodard, Flint, Whiting Greenhill etc etc do not run (well if they do they will send 1 horse) at Keeneland and these are the people that are based in KY all year. Big names like Romans will run at Keeneland. The KTDF is a joke compared to New York's program. If you want to consider that a program then go for it. But it is a joke. Ernie Fletcher is about as bad as a politician as there can be. By doing nothing is for worse than actually trying to do something. The fall meet this year is only 24 days. If you dont think KY purses are small then you dont have high expectations.

Steve and Bernie Flint ran 21 horses and had 4 winners in the spring meet.

Originally Posted by Pillow Pants

Steve and Bernie Flint ran 21 horses and had 4 winners in the spring meet.

That actually surprises me. Thanks for the info on that one.

[Cannon Shell]

Pletcher has 36 horses in KY spring through fall. If things were so bad why is HE invading?

What exactly have the governors of California and NY done for racing in those states?

Bernie Flint does not run at Keeneland?

Churchill and Keeneland's purses are higher than Belmonts for KY breds because of the KTDF.

The NY program is nice for owners but is strangling the quality of NY's racing program. Best NY breds are by KY sires.

[Cannon Shell]

Oh and I forgot what a great job Jeb Bush has done for Florida racing!!!

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Pletcher has 36 horses in KY spring through fall. If things were so bad why is HE invading?

What exactly have the governors of California and NY done for racing in those states?

Bernie Flint does not run at Keeneland?

Churchill and Keeneland's purses are higher than Belmonts for KY breds because of the KTDF.

The NY program is nice for owners but is strangling the quality of NY's racing program. Best NY breds are by KY sires.

If you consider Pletcher a KY trainer then you are right. But he has 100's of horses and only 36 of them are in KY. I will let people who know about New York and Cali racing chime in on the Govenor question. I will let Oracle chime in on the last thing you said about the New York breds. And the New York breeders program is flat out awesome. Far better than Kentuckys.

[Cannon Shell]

euro,
You can make a case that Pletcher is not based in KY but in having 36 horses based at Chuchill he has more horses than 99% of KY trainers.

You can not compare the breeding programs in NY and KY, apples and oranges.

Purses in KY 6 months are great, 6 months not so great but things are moving in the right direction. KEEP is the best horseracing
group out there, Polytrack will save Turfway, Keeneland remains strong, Churchill is focusing more on Churchill which is good plus purses there continue to rise, the new breeders rewards program is good for smaller breeders, and Slots are looming with the upcoming 2007 elimination of Mr. Fletcher. Not perfect but in the long run probably the best bet for successful racing/breeding programs.

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

euro,
You can make a case that Pletcher is not based in KY but in having 36 horses based at Chuchill he has more horses than 99% of KY trainers.

You can not compare the breeding programs in NY and KY, apples and oranges.

Purses in KY 6 months are great, 6 months not so great but things are moving in the right direction. KEEP is the best horseracing
group out there, Polytrack will save Turfway, Keeneland remains strong, Churchill is focusing more on Churchill which is good plus purses there continue to rise, the new breeders rewards program is good for smaller breeders, and Slots are looming with the upcoming 2007 elimination of Mr. Fletcher. Not perfect but in the long run probably the best bet for successful racing/breeding programs.

I think it will be years before KY gets slots. That bible thumper in Lexington will keep the vote off of the ballot.

Originally Posted by eurobounce

I think it will be years before KY gets slots. That bible thumper in Lexington will keep the vote off of the ballot.

The southern Baptists have a stranglehold on the vote in southern and eastern ky. Don't blame it on us close to the Ohio river. We don't claim 'em.

Originally Posted by Pillow Pants

The southern Baptists have a stranglehold on the vote in southern and eastern ky. Don't blame it on us close to the Ohio river. We don't claim 'em.

You boys in Kenton and Boone County know what is going on.

[Pedigree Ann]

Originally Posted by eurobounce

I think it will be years before KY gets slots. That bible thumper in Lexington will keep the vote off of the ballot.

You talking about Stan Lee? Excuse me, Representative Stan Lee?

Originally Posted by Pedigree Ann

You talking about Stan Lee? Excuse me, Representative Stan Lee?

Yes.........

The problem is with the purses at Turfway and Ellis. If the purses were 75% of Churchill and Keeneland then most trainers would stay for at least the winter meet at Turfway. Now Ellis is a different story since a few of the KY trainers like Biancone and Romans have the stock to somewhat compete* at Saratoga.

Ellis has really suffered in most part for being owned by a company that wanted to kill the product to begin with so Arlington could thrive. A freakin' Fairmount park trainer won the title this year by seven wins.

The 7th race on Mondays card summed up the meet concerning the quality of racing. If you have the time check out the replay.


*I don't know what happened to Romans this summer. He must have stepped in front of a black cat.