HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Good News So Far
The United States entered the process of choosing a new President with spectacular and unexpected (to the Establishment) results.
Most UK bookies finally followed Ireland's canny Paddy Power in supporting Racing UK and racing's right to own and control its own data. William Hill still procrastinates. A few smaller operations are trying to get appointments to buy racing's television network service. But, by and large, most punters can find betting shops that will show all UK races.
Racing UK and the industry have not succumbed to the threat of decreased sponsorship money from the bookmakers.
We are past all the ugly corruption trials (in racing, that is) and clarified the strict rules of racing.
We have two chasing superstars who may be good enough to enter the legendary Arkle's stratosphere.
Anticipation is so sweet. What a privilege it will be to see the elegant French pro Kauto Star (Village Star Fr) and Ireland's champion novice chaser Denman (Presenting), described by the French as "l'ogre noir", race each other! Evens.
Will they top the staying record of the US' ten-year-old McDynamo (Dynaformer USA) who just won his fifth Breeders' Cup Grand National, 15 out of 24 starts, $1.3 million, and the Eclipse award as champion steeplechaser in 2003, 2005 and 2006? Pity the US doesn't rate chasing as high as Europe does.
With the Eclipse awards (Curlin USA (Smart Strike USA), who else?) and Steeplechase out of the way, the US is entering the Derby madness-state already.
The flat racing world's first major Group 1, the Dubai World Cup, is up for grabs in March with three good candidates from connections of last year's winner, the world's top-rated horse Invasor Arg (Candy Stripes USA).
His trainer Kiaran McLaughlin blamed himself for the horse's not winning the DWC in 2006 as well.
And connections were doubly unlucky in that an old injury as a juvenile ended the formidable Invasor's career before he could repeat his Breeders Cup Classic (2006) success in 2007.
McLaughlin, who battles a serious illness every day without complaint, is high on the Cigar Mile winner Daaher Can (Awesome Again Can) who will run in the Donn Handicap, Group 1, as a stepping stone to winning the DWC.
The promising four-year-old, Daaher, has raced only four times since his first start in June, winning two at a mile and placing at 10f or a mile and a quarter.
Two South American bred horses from Daaher's owner, Shadwell Stables, will also compete: Mach Glory and Morador Llers.
McLaughlin hopes they take to dirt. His boss thinks they will and Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum generally gets it right.
And the beat goes on.
The United States entered the process of choosing a new President with spectacular and unexpected (to the Establishment) results.
Most UK bookies finally followed Ireland's canny Paddy Power in supporting Racing UK and racing's right to own and control its own data. William Hill still procrastinates. A few smaller operations are trying to get appointments to buy racing's television network service. But, by and large, most punters can find betting shops that will show all UK races.
Racing UK and the industry have not succumbed to the threat of decreased sponsorship money from the bookmakers.
We are past all the ugly corruption trials (in racing, that is) and clarified the strict rules of racing.
We have two chasing superstars who may be good enough to enter the legendary Arkle's stratosphere.
Anticipation is so sweet. What a privilege it will be to see the elegant French pro Kauto Star (Village Star Fr) and Ireland's champion novice chaser Denman (Presenting), described by the French as "l'ogre noir", race each other! Evens.
Will they top the staying record of the US' ten-year-old McDynamo (Dynaformer USA) who just won his fifth Breeders' Cup Grand National, 15 out of 24 starts, $1.3 million, and the Eclipse award as champion steeplechaser in 2003, 2005 and 2006? Pity the US doesn't rate chasing as high as Europe does.
With the Eclipse awards (Curlin USA (Smart Strike USA), who else?) and Steeplechase out of the way, the US is entering the Derby madness-state already.
The flat racing world's first major Group 1, the Dubai World Cup, is up for grabs in March with three good candidates from connections of last year's winner, the world's top-rated horse Invasor Arg (Candy Stripes USA).
His trainer Kiaran McLaughlin blamed himself for the horse's not winning the DWC in 2006 as well.
And connections were doubly unlucky in that an old injury as a juvenile ended the formidable Invasor's career before he could repeat his Breeders Cup Classic (2006) success in 2007.
McLaughlin, who battles a serious illness every day without complaint, is high on the Cigar Mile winner Daaher Can (Awesome Again Can) who will run in the Donn Handicap, Group 1, as a stepping stone to winning the DWC.
The promising four-year-old, Daaher, has raced only four times since his first start in June, winning two at a mile and placing at 10f or a mile and a quarter.
Two South American bred horses from Daaher's owner, Shadwell Stables, will also compete: Mach Glory and Morador Llers.
McLaughlin hopes they take to dirt. His boss thinks they will and Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum generally gets it right.
And the beat goes on.
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