I admit I'm not a very well educated person, but, even I can see that harness racing needs to market itself better! I was flipping around on the sports headlines on Foxsports.com and went into the horse racing section. Apparently, the only horses that race are thoroughbreds! There are 10 pages of racing headlines and I only saw one that related to harness racing. That was about Jeff Gural making a deal to keep the Hambletonian at the Meadowlands; and that was a few months ago. From being around this business almost my entire life I know we are not that boring!
Yonkers just finished with the Levy series and the Blue Chip Matchmaker featuring See You At Peelers; The Meadowlands is just starting their championship meet and the open pacers and trotters are absolutely phenomenal! We have sire stakes action beginning in most of the states in the northeast this week as well as some minor stakes at The Meadowlands and the only people who know about this stuff are the people that are already involved in racing. The Hambletonian, our sports pinnacle event, won't even be on TV this year!
There are hundreds of great stories within the sport and nobody knows. I don't think you can say nobody cares, they just are not made aware that we even exist! Whether you like or dislike the Burke Stable you have to admit that their achievements over the past decade have been mind boggling! They have won more races per year, and more purse money than the leading driver in the past 2 years at least...and nobody outside our sport knows! Dave Palone is about to become the winningest driver in our sports history(over 15,000 wins)...and nobody knows! John Campbell continues to bounce back and compete at the highest level even as he ages...and outside our small world, nobody knows! I could go on and on, but, you get the idea. We have tons of stories to tell and I believe people would like to hear about them if we marketed ourselves properly.
Here is the thing. We are dying a slow death and nobody is doing anything about getting the word out that we exist. If what's happening in Canada and Pennsylvania with regard to the slot money being taken away doesn't open our eyes what will?? At any racino we are looked upon as a necessary evil and that's the ugly truth! We have to get people talking about harness racing and getting excited about what this sport has to offer, or we can all look at the backup plan a few years down the road....McDonalds is always hiring!!
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Current Stable News
As the weeks and months go by this spring anticipation is getting to a fever pitch in the barn. The 3 year olds are all training and qualifying very well, and, the 2 year olds are adapting well to their new farm in NJ. here is an alphabetical list of the horses in the barn and my take on them so far. It'll be interesting to review this at years end to see how close my gut feelings are:
Aldebaron Malibu-This is an extremely fast 3 year old filly. She will make her qualifying debut this weekend and judging by her recent training I would expect her to make a great showing for herself. She only has to overcome her over aggressive nature to become a top horse.
Autumn Escapade-Really good mare who races in the open ranks. We just picked her up at the qualifiers last week, and she goes back this Saturday. She may be a while getting up to speed, but, the sky is the limit for her!
Blue Yonder-This is another very fast 3 year old filly who will race at the Meadows in a PA sires next week. She has 2 qualifiers under her belt and seems well on her way to a very strong season. She never loses a training trip, so, if that translates to racetrack success watch out!
Deja Vu Too-Two year old from the first crop of Deweycheatemandhowe. I like her attitude and ability. She's very smart and sensible which is a good trait for a baby to have. We'll see what happens in a month or so to see where she lands.
Dirtballer-Two year old colt with a beautiful stride! He seems like a kid in his terrible twos, but as he matures I expect him to be a lot of fun to race.
Donate-Gorgeous colt by Donato Hanover. He's big and growthy and never gets tired! I like his chances as long as he doesn't get rushed. He will get better and better as time goes by.
D'Orsay- I love this little 3 year old filly! She's temperamental and fast, just my type. She's not convinced yet who the boss is around here, and it may just be her! She will race a week from Friday in a NJSS. She should be tight enough after qualifying 3 times!
Dualottacheatin-Another "Dewey" filly. She is actually just like Deja Vu Too! She's a racehorse for sure, you just never know how good until they get there.
Exercise To Go-This 3 year old filly won a qualifier in 56 2/5 at the Meadowlands. She tries very hard and does nothing wrong...ever! We are shooting for the NJSS next Friday with her as well.
Fancy-Really classy NY bred 3 year old. She's prepped and ready for a big year in my opinion. She goes to Saratoga next Wednesday for a NYSS. She's a doll to train and be around!
Holier Than Thou-3 year old filly with a world of ability. She won in 55 2/5 as a two year old in Kentucky. If I owned her I would aim only at big races and keep her on a thoroughbred schedule...she's that good!
Hotshot Blue Chip-He's six now and getting ready to have a career year I think. He goes for $210,000 this weekend at The Meadowlands. I believe if things go his way this summer he could trot in the 1:50 range. Scary fast!!
Lauderdale-2 year old colt that does everything that's asked of him.He likes the front..he likes to pass...basically he loves his job! I really like his chances, but, as with all babies you have to take a wait and see approach.
Lightning Storm-3 year old Donato Hanover colt. He's the stables Hambo hopeful this year and at this point in time I wouldn't trade him for any horse in training anywhere in North America! He's qualifying Saturday for the first time after training like a beast last Saturday. We have to hope the racing gods are on our side!
Ma Chere Hall-Very nice "Dewey" filly. Another that's intelligent and has lots of speed..time will tell!
Maven-She won a qualifier at Gaitway in 56 and change on a blustery day. She has speed and class, the only problem she has is a filly named Check Me Out who's also PA sired. She will make her seasonal debut at The Meadows on Tuesday in a PASS.
Mistery Woman-Really nice 2 year old filly. You'd think she was an aged horse the way she trains. Keeping our fingers crossed that she stays on the path she's on!
Muchness-Big, tall, growthy, and shows plenty of speed and smarts for a 2 year old filly! I know I sound redundant, but, she has as good a chance as anyone if the cards go her way in the next couple months.
Pantholops-4 year old with a win and a third so far this year. She has extreme high speed and just needs the right trip to go with the top mares I think.
Quiche Lorraine-3 year old filly has been a bit of a project so far, but, she qualified great last week trotting in 57 4/5. She's Swedish bred, so has to race in the Grand circuit events. She has wicked high speed, but, needs to learn to relax. If she does that she'll be fine.
Quarantine-Another Swedish 3 year old who just floats over the ground and does everything asked of her. She's the right size and has a great attitude, so hopefully she will get better and better with racing.
Raring To Go-2 year old Swedish bred with tons of talent. same as the other babies...time will tell!
Richesse Oblige-Another Swedish bred 2 year old filly. She has speed, but, seems a little immature so far. With patience she should be a racehorse.
Scarlet Spurs-This is an Ohio bred 4 year old that Jonas and Christine own. She seems like she has the talent and attitude to become a really nice raceway mare. So far she has a 2nd and a 3rd for the season.
Shared Past-Very nice 2 yr old filly. She is very smart and slick going. We'll have to wait and see where she lands when she starts racing.
Star Of Thunder-Very good looking 2 year old gelding. The gelding part should help him pay attention better...he has all the tools.
Stirling Bonzai-NY bred 2 year old filly with loads of ability. Plenty of speed, so we'll have to see what happens in a month or so.
Thistle Dhu-Possibly our fastest 2 year old filly. Kind of a younger version of Malibu. Patience is a virtue, she should be worth waiting for!
Too Busy To Care-Sweetheart of a trotting mare. She's 4 now and almost ready to qualify. She had some soundness issues last year. If she stays together she should do very well!
Victory Dancer-Big growthy trotting 2 year old filly. She has to catch up to her body, but, has as much talent as anyone!
That is a quick overview of the stable. With some luck from the racing gods I truly believe we could have a banner season here at Team JC. Lets keep our fingers crossed!!
Aldebaron Malibu-This is an extremely fast 3 year old filly. She will make her qualifying debut this weekend and judging by her recent training I would expect her to make a great showing for herself. She only has to overcome her over aggressive nature to become a top horse.
Autumn Escapade-Really good mare who races in the open ranks. We just picked her up at the qualifiers last week, and she goes back this Saturday. She may be a while getting up to speed, but, the sky is the limit for her!
Blue Yonder-This is another very fast 3 year old filly who will race at the Meadows in a PA sires next week. She has 2 qualifiers under her belt and seems well on her way to a very strong season. She never loses a training trip, so, if that translates to racetrack success watch out!
Deja Vu Too-Two year old from the first crop of Deweycheatemandhowe. I like her attitude and ability. She's very smart and sensible which is a good trait for a baby to have. We'll see what happens in a month or so to see where she lands.
Dirtballer-Two year old colt with a beautiful stride! He seems like a kid in his terrible twos, but as he matures I expect him to be a lot of fun to race.
Donate-Gorgeous colt by Donato Hanover. He's big and growthy and never gets tired! I like his chances as long as he doesn't get rushed. He will get better and better as time goes by.
D'Orsay- I love this little 3 year old filly! She's temperamental and fast, just my type. She's not convinced yet who the boss is around here, and it may just be her! She will race a week from Friday in a NJSS. She should be tight enough after qualifying 3 times!
Dualottacheatin-Another "Dewey" filly. She is actually just like Deja Vu Too! She's a racehorse for sure, you just never know how good until they get there.
Exercise To Go-This 3 year old filly won a qualifier in 56 2/5 at the Meadowlands. She tries very hard and does nothing wrong...ever! We are shooting for the NJSS next Friday with her as well.
Fancy-Really classy NY bred 3 year old. She's prepped and ready for a big year in my opinion. She goes to Saratoga next Wednesday for a NYSS. She's a doll to train and be around!
Holier Than Thou-3 year old filly with a world of ability. She won in 55 2/5 as a two year old in Kentucky. If I owned her I would aim only at big races and keep her on a thoroughbred schedule...she's that good!
Hotshot Blue Chip-He's six now and getting ready to have a career year I think. He goes for $210,000 this weekend at The Meadowlands. I believe if things go his way this summer he could trot in the 1:50 range. Scary fast!!
Lauderdale-2 year old colt that does everything that's asked of him.He likes the front..he likes to pass...basically he loves his job! I really like his chances, but, as with all babies you have to take a wait and see approach.
Lightning Storm-3 year old Donato Hanover colt. He's the stables Hambo hopeful this year and at this point in time I wouldn't trade him for any horse in training anywhere in North America! He's qualifying Saturday for the first time after training like a beast last Saturday. We have to hope the racing gods are on our side!
Ma Chere Hall-Very nice "Dewey" filly. Another that's intelligent and has lots of speed..time will tell!
Maven-She won a qualifier at Gaitway in 56 and change on a blustery day. She has speed and class, the only problem she has is a filly named Check Me Out who's also PA sired. She will make her seasonal debut at The Meadows on Tuesday in a PASS.
Mistery Woman-Really nice 2 year old filly. You'd think she was an aged horse the way she trains. Keeping our fingers crossed that she stays on the path she's on!
Muchness-Big, tall, growthy, and shows plenty of speed and smarts for a 2 year old filly! I know I sound redundant, but, she has as good a chance as anyone if the cards go her way in the next couple months.
Pantholops-4 year old with a win and a third so far this year. She has extreme high speed and just needs the right trip to go with the top mares I think.
Quiche Lorraine-3 year old filly has been a bit of a project so far, but, she qualified great last week trotting in 57 4/5. She's Swedish bred, so has to race in the Grand circuit events. She has wicked high speed, but, needs to learn to relax. If she does that she'll be fine.
Quarantine-Another Swedish 3 year old who just floats over the ground and does everything asked of her. She's the right size and has a great attitude, so hopefully she will get better and better with racing.
Raring To Go-2 year old Swedish bred with tons of talent. same as the other babies...time will tell!
Richesse Oblige-Another Swedish bred 2 year old filly. She has speed, but, seems a little immature so far. With patience she should be a racehorse.
Scarlet Spurs-This is an Ohio bred 4 year old that Jonas and Christine own. She seems like she has the talent and attitude to become a really nice raceway mare. So far she has a 2nd and a 3rd for the season.
Shared Past-Very nice 2 yr old filly. She is very smart and slick going. We'll have to wait and see where she lands when she starts racing.
Star Of Thunder-Very good looking 2 year old gelding. The gelding part should help him pay attention better...he has all the tools.
Stirling Bonzai-NY bred 2 year old filly with loads of ability. Plenty of speed, so we'll have to see what happens in a month or so.
Thistle Dhu-Possibly our fastest 2 year old filly. Kind of a younger version of Malibu. Patience is a virtue, she should be worth waiting for!
Too Busy To Care-Sweetheart of a trotting mare. She's 4 now and almost ready to qualify. She had some soundness issues last year. If she stays together she should do very well!
Victory Dancer-Big growthy trotting 2 year old filly. She has to catch up to her body, but, has as much talent as anyone!
That is a quick overview of the stable. With some luck from the racing gods I truly believe we could have a banner season here at Team JC. Lets keep our fingers crossed!!
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