And now the outtakes from Jockey Style — the Gangnam Style imitation

First there was the "Jockey Style" video that was viewed over 600,000 times. Then there were the interviews. It was filmed by Luke Harvey. The song was written and sung by Kevin Tobin. The jockeys are: David Crosse, Gerard Tumelty, Sam Jones and Charlie Huxley. They go "Jockey Style."

And now we may be nearing the end. Here are the outtakes.



Here's the video — one last time.

San Pablo enters Aqueduct's $75,000 Queens County as heavy favorite on Saturday

San Pablo enters Saturday's $75,000 Queens County at Aqueduct as the 3-5 favorite. The race is a 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds and up. San Pablo is 3-2-0 at Aqueduct. The last time San Pablo raced at Aqueduct was in March in the Excelsior Stakes (Grade 3), finishing second behind Marilyn's Guy in the six-horse field. San Pablo's last race was Nov. 21 in the Swatara Stakes at Penn National, where the four-year-old placed first, beating Norman Asbjornson in the four-horse field. Also in that race was Isn't He Perfect, who enters the Queens County at 5-1. Isn't He Perfect ran in the 2011 Preakness (9th) and Belmont (12th).

The second favorite is Gallant Fields (4-1). Gallant Fields has just one first-place finish in the past 12 races. In his last race, the Bold Ruler Handicap (Grade 3) at Belmont Park, Gallant Fields (ridden by Joel Rosario) finished sixth, a length ahead of heavy favorite, Caixa Eletronica.

The 2011 Queens County winner was Ron The Greek, beating Inherit The Gold.

PP Horse, Jockey, Weight,Trainer, Odds
1 Indy Scent, A. Smith, 117, L Gyarmati                  15-1
2 Arch Traveler, E. Castro, 117, J A Jerkens             12-1
3 Tonto Fontenot, J. Navarro, 117, D Kobiskie          6-1
4 Gallant Fields, J. Alvarado, 117, R E Dutrow, Jr.      4-1
5 San Pablo, C. P. DeCarlo, 123, T A Pletcher          3-5
6 Isn't He Perfect, M. J. Luzzi, 117, D Shivmangal       5-1

Jockey Style revisited ... for better or worse. Kevin Tobin admits he wrote Jockey Style — a Gangnam Style imitation

Former English jockey Kevin Tobin admitted he was the wordsmith behind "Jockey Style," the semi-popular musical hit in the horse racing industry. (The definition of "semi-popular hit" can be debated by future generations, but it has nearly 600,000 views on YouTube.)

So what follows is horse racing's version of VH-1's semi-popular hit Behind The Music. The 90-second Gangnam Style imitation leads the video below, followed by an interview with Tobin, where he admits to writing the song. "I want to say I put a little bit of an effort into this, so I'd say it was upwards of 10 to 12 minutes," he joked. Tobin does credit fellow former jockey Luke Harvey for producing the video.

During the phone interview, Tobin, who currently resides in Baltimore, is goaded into singing the song with no musical accompaniment. And then, after about 10 seconds of a capella singing, he is told by the host: "Shut up. I can't stand anymore."

If you wish to just watch the "Jockey Style" music video, click here. Otherwise, watch video below, which leads with the 90-second music video, followed by the interview with Tobin.



OTHER INTERESTING NEWS:

Oh, Dear: Three deer hold up racing at the Meadows Racecourse. Announcers yuk it up: "And it's Bambi in the lead, with Rudolph making a move."

Jockeys go Gangnam Style, er, Jockey Style. Unfortunately these horse racing jockeys are singing, too.

Obama tweeting like the rest of us. "My Tweet has been posted. That's what I'm talking about."

Here's a short video of President Barack Obama tweeting on Twitter like the rest of us.

He types up one tweet. Clicks. Then says: "My Tweet has been posted. That's what I'm talking about."

Never got a chance to ask him who he likes in the fifth at Aqueduct. Oh well.

Oh, Dear: Three deer hold up racing at the Meadows Racecourse. Announcers yuk it up: "And it's Bambi in the lead, with Rudolph making a move."

Three deer broke onto the Meadows Racecourse on Wednesday. Announcers Roger Huston and Jeff Zidek decided to have some fun. "And it's Bambi in the lead, with Rudolph making a move," said Mr Huston. The race was delayed and no one was harm — drivers, horses, deer.

Associated Press: Deer get onto racetrack, announcer plays along

It's out with the old (Rafael Bejarano) and in with the new (Mike Smith) for Game On Dude in the Native Diver

Trainer Bob Baffert gets another chance to hit the re-set button on Game On Dude. After using jockey Rafael Bejarano aboard Game On Dude in the Breeders' Cup Classic (placing a disappointing seventh), Baffert switches to famed jockey Mike Smith. The switch makes one wonder whether the recently retired Chantal Sutherland was the best jockey for Game On Dude afterall.

The Native Diver Handicap is a Grade 3 race for three-year-olds and up. The purse is $250,000. The race is slated for 5:01 p.m. EST, Saturday, December 1, at Betfair Hollywood Park.

With the Native Diver slated as the fourth race, that leaves it out of the Pick Six on the Hollywood 10-race card. Smart move with Dude On Dude as the heavy favorite in just the five-horse field.

PP Horse, A/S, Jockey, weight, Trainer, ML
1 Game On Dude, 5/G, M E Smith, 124, B Baffert 3-5
2 Richard's Kid, 7/H, R Bejarano, 119, D F O'Neill 3-1
3 Make Music for Me, 5/H, T Baze, 117, A Barba 15-1
4 Nonios, 3/C, M A Pedroza, 119, J Hollendorfer 5-1
5 Kettle Corn, 5/H G K Gomez, 119, J W Sadler 5-1

Headlines:
Brisnet: Game on Dude looks tough to catch in Native Diver
DRF: Nonios faces tough task in Native Diver
isportsweb.com: 2012 Native Diver Handicap Preview
Bloodhorse: Game On Dude Draws Rail for Native Diver
TrackSideView: Game On Dude will try again in Native Diver

Here's the 2011 Native Diver Handicap. Spoiler alert: Race won by Kettle Corn.

Sappy, but worth watching people complimenting each other. You probably say, "Ahhhh." You might even tear up.

If you teared up watching commercials, this three-minute video is for you. If friends laugh at you because you cry at the drop of a hat, this three-minute video is for you. If you just wanna cry, this three-minute video is for you.

SoulPancake hit the streets seeking one thing -- compliments. SoulPancake asks people to compliment each other. Nothing complicated. Just a compliment. Here is the result.

Jockey DeShawn Parker returns to horse racing action December 5, 2012, at Tampa Bay Downs.

For those wondering where jockey DeShawn Parker has been, he will return to action Tuesday, December 5, 2012, at Tampa Bay Downs. As many of you know, Parker competes mostly at Mountaineer Park. For 2012, Parker has 1,273 starts (303-223-189). He will ride in four claiming races in his return.

On Tuesday, Parker will ride Robin des Concorde (Race 3), Slam Runner (Race 5), Big Gavel (Race 7) and Alex's Vision (Race 10).

Despite not racing since Nov. 13, Parker is ranked 59th in earnings — $3,751,497. Of those ranked in the top 100, only Ramon A. Dominguez (1,363), Javier Castellano (1,367) and Leandro R. Goncalves (1,329) have more mounts this year. (Stats are as of the morning of Nov. 30.)

Tampa Bay opens Saturday. Tampa Bay is off the next three days before returning to action Wednesday, which is part of its 91-day meet, ending May 5, 2013.

Nonios and Paynter get schooled in the paddock earlier this year. A chance to get them familiar with the paddock.

Nonios and Paynter are schooled in the Monmouth paddock earlier this year during Haskell week at Monmouth.

Christina Jelm, assistant to trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, explains Nonios' schooling session, while Jim Barnes, assistant to Bob Baffert, shares his thoughts about Paynter's session.

Betting on horse racing online is legal, so gamblers who love Zynga Poker and Angry Birds may have hit Derby Jackpot. The next new thing that may save horse racing?

If horse racing is ever to increase its popularity with the younger crowd, Derby Jackpot may be the way. But as always, we shall see. Derby Jackpot could be horse racing's first real step into social media that could have a true impact. Yes, race tracks, handicappers, trainers, jockeys, owners are on Twitter and Facebook. Yes, there are apps to follow and bet on horse racing. But, now comes the important question: Is Derby Jackpot different?

Again, we shall see.

In describing Derby Jackpot, The Verge reports:

There is no information about the jockey, for example, or the horse's history, or even its age — just the horse’s name and its odds. Bets are as low as $2 and can pay out as much as $2,000. Once the results come in, the site encourages players to tweet their winnings.

Derby Jackpot may have as much to do with horse racing as FarmVille has to do with agriculture, but casual fans are exactly what the horse racing industry needs. Horse racing is going the way of Latin — to put it bluntly, it appeals mostly to old white aristocrats. The average age of a horse racing fan is 51, expected to increase to 57 by 2020, according to a comprehensive industry report released in 2011. And with recent crackdowns on many of the major poker websites, there is a hole in the market for a new breed of online gambling.

The company was founded by brothers Tom, Walter and Bill Hessert, as well as CTO Eric Gay, after a trip to Preakness Stakes. One of Derby Jackpot's advisers is economist and Freakonomics co-auther Steven Levitt.

Here's a video on the topic:

A walking tour of 2012 Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita with actor John Ortiz, previously known as Turo Escalante

Here's a walking tour of 2012 Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita with actor John Ortiz, previously known as Turo Escalante on HBO's short-lived series Luck. It's in three parts, but, unfortunately, there are only two parts of the tour to be found.

Part I


Part III


And as many know, HBO's Luck had one of the best musical openings — by Splitting Atoms. Only True Blood and Sopranos were better.

La Prevoyante Handicap set at Calder. In 1972, 2-year-old La Prevoyante was the Queen of horse racing while Secretariat was the King

The La Prevoyante Handicap is a $100,000 Grade 3 race for fillies and mares at Calder Race Course at 3:05 p.m., Friday, November 30. The distance is 1 1/2 Mile on turf.

PP   Horse:  Jockey,  Trainer,  ML
1    My Pal Chrisy: Luca Panici, Lutchman Padarath   15-1
2    Ciao Bella: John R. Velazquez, Todd Pletcher   5-2
3    Closing Range: Elvis Trujillo, Philip Oliver  12-1
4    Clarinet: Joe Bravo, Josie Carroll  4-1
5    Centring: Luis Saez, Thomas Albertrani   6-1
6    Peekablue Sue: Luca Panici, William A. Kaplan   20-1
7    Thislilsoulofmine: Paco Lopez, Roger Attfield   8-1
8    Havant (GB): Jose Lezcano, Christophe Clement   9-5


Other La Prevoyante Handicap headlines:
Brisnet: Tropical Turf, La Prevoyante highlight Calder closing day.
DRF: Havant gives Clement good shot at fifth La Prevoyante victory
Sun-Sentinel:Calder ends season with a pair of graded turf stakes
Bloodhorse.com: Ciao Bella Could Make La Prevoyante Impact

The history of La Prevoyante?
A horse by the name of Secretariat was King of the two-year-old males in 1972, but it was La Prevoyante who was Queen of the two-year-olds. In fact, it was Secretariat who nipped La Prevoyante for Eclipse Award's Horse of the Year in 1972. While Secretariat went on to bigger and greater things, La Prevoyante was no slouch.

La Prevoyante won her first 12 races as a two-year-old. In her three-year-old season, she placed second in the Kentucky Oaks to Bag of Tunes. La Prevoyante, who won 25 of her 39 races, was inducted into the United States National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1995. On December 28, 1974 — the day of her final race in the Miss Florida Handicap at Calder — La Prevoyante collapsed and later died after rupturing her left lung.

Here is the 2011 Handicap. Spoiler alert: Won by Casablanca Smile, who when wire-to-wire.

"You're taking one step at a time, and you are in your zone."

Aerial Video Systems (AVS) supplies a different look (via video) at 2012 Breeders' Cup — including aerials and in-field camera car

Aerial Video Systems (AVS) just posted video of the company's video work at the 2012 Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita.

Here's the YouTube description of this video: A short montage of AVS' involvement in the 2012 Breeder's Cup. AVS provided the wireless HD links, wireless P1 Steadicam camera package, in-field camera car with Cineflex V14-HD, audio, comms, P/L and aerials



Here is other work done by AVS:
AVS Aerial Demo 2011 —  YouTube
Aerial Video System - Providing the Aerials for Deadliest Catch —  YouTube
Other AVS YouTube videos.

Mizdirection owner, guy called Jim Rome, lands sports talk show on Showtime.

Mizdirection owner, Jim Rome (whose filly won the 2012 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita), says his new Showtime talk show will be "a more elevated conversation about sports."

Rome's favorite spectator sport? Horse racing? Nah ... hockey.

Here's some free advertising for Rome's new show. The short video is a Q&A.

Race horse has uglier Christmas sweater than you, your sister, your wife, your mother, and your ex-girlfriend.

And you thought your wife or sister or mother had the worse Christmas sweater/sweatshirt. Think again. Check out this poor horse's Christmas sweater on the cover of today's Racing Post.

OK, it's not a real sweater. It's a water-based painted on sweater, reports The Sun. The horse wearing the paint is Dr. Livingstone, while the jockey is the famous Tony "AP" McCoy. The short video shows it being painted on the horse.

Horse racing journalist, historian Joseph B. Kelly dies at 94. Kelly's first wager was on Whirlaway, favorite horse was Citation.

Legendary horse racing journalist and historian Joseph B. Kelly said the first race horse he ever bet on was Whirlaway, who won the Triple Crown in 1941 with Eddie Arcaro aboard. Kelly, who wrote for the Baltimore Sun and the Washington Star, passed away at 94, on Monday, November 26.

Here's an interview with Kelly where he talks about Whirlaway, ABC-TV broadcaster Jim McKay (who he knew when McKay was James McManus) and the early days of broadcasting from the race track. The video is listed as Part I of an interview with Kelly, but there isn't a Part II or III to be found, unfortunately.



Here are comments about about Kelly:

From Brisnet:
Pimlico and Laurel announcer Dave Rodman: "He was eager to share stories about Maryland racing, especially the Preakness. Nobody loved Pimlico more than Mr. Kelly, who continued to drive to the track almost every day. Coming to the races kept him very sharp. He loved to talk about the horses and handicap the races."

From Courier-Journal:
Former Pimlico and Laurel Park owner Karin De Francis: "He truly was racing’s man for the ages and a real gentleman in the mold that exists no more.”

From Baltimore Sun:
Ross Peddicord, former Baltimore Sun racing writer who is executive director of the Maryland Horse Industry Board: "Joe was a walking encyclopedia on the history of the Maryland horse racing industry. He was the embodiment of the Selima Room, the Woodward Collection and the Bel Air Museum and Stable all wrapped up into one."

Kelly on his favorite horse: "Citation was such a versatile horse that could overcome muddy tracks or fast tracks, short races or long races. He could adapt to any and all circumstances."

By the way, Citation won the Triple Crown in 1948.

Kelly's funeral will be held at St. Ignatius Roman Catholic Church in Baltimore at 11 a.m. EST Nov. 30 with a visitation period beginning at 9:30 a.m.

If you are interested, below is Whirlaway's Kentucky Derby win in 1941. Whirlaway is he No. 4 horse.



Below is Citation's Kentucky Derby win in 1948. Citation is the No. 1 horse.

Horse racing resolutions a month early: 1). Don't bet what TV pickers like; 2). Don't bet anything for value; 3). ...

ESPN's Jay Cronley shares his December horse racing resolutions. Apparently, Cronley must not think much of New Year's resolutions because these are December resolutions.

Cronley resolves not to "bet anything for value." I can sort of agree with that, but I am in love, for better or worse, with value. He also resolves not to:

"Keep private too many great secrets, like the way Beyer speed figures are overrated as lone indicators for win bets and are inflated by such things as short fields, off track conditions, and surfaces other than dirt."

Note Cronley, I am a Beyer guy. Oh well, we have five weeks to get our resolutions in order. For now, check out Cronley's.

A look back at the Remsen, Cigar, Clark and Fall Highweight, which equals a thankful Mike Repole

Evan Hammonds of Bloodhorse.com revisits the Thanksgiving holiday weekend races - Remsen (Overanalyze), Cigar Mile (Stay Thirsty), Clark (Shackleford), and Fall Highweight Handicap (Caixa Eletronica). And not to overanalyze these results, but the Remsen, Cigar and Fall Highweight were all won by Mike Repole owned-horses.

Hit It Rich eyes one last Long Island Handicap

The $150,000 Long Island Handicap is a 1 1/2-mile turf race for fillies and mares at Aqueduct Racetrack today. The race is slated for 3:43 p.m. EST.

Last year's winner, Hit It Rich is back as the 5-2 favorite. Other contenders include: Mystical Star at 3-1, Kissable at 4-1 and Starformer at 8-1.

After weather cancelled Wednesday and Thursday's racing at Aqueduct, Friday's turf racing also fell victim to the weather.

Here's the field:
1. Starformer (KY) 8/1
2. Hit It Rich (KY) 5/2
3. Tannery (IRE) 8/1
4. Kissable (IRE) 4/1
5. Mystical Star (KY) 3/1
6. Aigue Marine (GB) 6/1
7. The West Rim (KY) 30/1
8. Senada (KY) 20/1
9. Clarinet (KY) 15/1
Also Eligibles:
10. Centring (KY) (MTO) 3/1

Here's last year's Long Island Handicap victory by Hit It Rich.

Jockeys go Gangnam Style, er, Jockey Style. Unfortunately these horse racing jockeys are singing, too

A few English jockeys go Gangnam Style. Brace yourself, folks, because the jockeys are doing the singing. The jockeys are: David Crosse, Gerard Tumelty, Sam Jones and Charlie Huxley. They go "Jockey Style."

Please note: No jockeys or horses were injured in the making of this video -- we think and hope. We cannot account for your ears, though.

New Preakness logo for 2013 unveiled

The Maryland Jockey Club unveiled its 2013 Preakness Stakes logo today. The logo was created by the Leffler Agency, a Baltimore-based company. The Leffler Agency has been creating the Preakness logos for the past 14 years.

According to the Baltimore Sun, Bob Leffler, the president and owner of the Leffler Agency, said: "We at Leffler and brandNU take pride in the diverse styles and practicality that the logos have achieved over the years. They must be bold enough to translate on television, simple enough to serve on credentials and badges and have the dynamism to sell as a feature of apparel.”

The Preakness is set for May 18, 2013.

It ain't horse racing, but pig racing ain't that bad

Three little pigs race.

Dullahan's Breeders' Cup fate in Tammy Fox's hands – Turf or Dirt?

Dullahan will either run in the $3 million Turf at 1 ½ miles or the $5 million Classic at 1 ¼ miles on dirt.

Romans’ assistant of 21 years, Tammy Fox, a former jockey, said Dullahan will work on the Santa Anita turf on Saturday. The three-year-old will then follow that with a dirt workout the following Saturday. And then it's in Fox's hands.

"Whichever one I decide that he likes the best, that’s the one we’re going to go with, so I hope I pick the right one,” Fox said.

Both races are Nov. 3.

Dullahan, who was third in the Kentucky Derby and recently won the Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar, arrived at Santa Anita earlier in the week, along with another four of Romans' horses: Little Mike (Mile); Moon Walk (Juvenile Fillies Turf); Shackleford (Dirt Mile); and Sustained (Juvenile Fillies Turf).

Cuomo adds Bobby Flay to NYRA pressure cooker; Cornell University President David Skorton named NYRA chair

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced David Skorton, President of Cornell University, as chair of the New York Racing Association Reorganization Board on Thursday. Cuomo also announced his eight selections to the NYRA Reorganization Board, which consists of 17 directors.

Among Cuomo's eight was celebrity chef and race horse owner Bobby Flay. Also joining Flay will be Leonard Riggio (Barnes & Nobles chairman) and Jane Rosenthal (co-founder of the Tribeca Film Festival).

Here's are all of Cuomo's selections along with brief bios from Cuomo's news release:

David Skorton, President, Cornell University – Chair

David J. Skorton, Cornell University's 12th president, is a cardiologist, professor of biomedical engineering, and professor in the Departments of Medicine and Pediatrics at Weill Cornell Medical College. He is past chair of the Business-Higher Education Forum, an independent, nonprofit organization of industry CEOs, leaders of colleges and universities, and foundation executives; life member of the Council on Foreign Relations; and member of the board of directors of the Association of American Medical Colleges. He has been elected to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies and is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. President Skorton has long been active in regional and state economic development. During 2009 he chaired a gubernatorial Task Force on Diversifying the New York State Economy through Industry-Higher Education Partnerships. Cornell University is home to the Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine, which includes the Cornell Equine Hospital.

Dr. Skorton will resign his position as co-chair of the Southern Tier Regional Economic Development Council in order to devote time to the NYRA Board. The Governor's appointment of President Skorton as chair is subject to approval by the new NYRA Board.

Dr. Skorton said, "Horse racing is an integral part of our state's culture and economy, and I am honored to be joining the talented members of the New York Racing Association Reorganization Board to improve the industry for the horses, jockeys, back stretch workers, horse owners, bettors and all who enjoy racing and make it happen. With the collective strengths and abilities of my fellow board members, I know we can expand New York State's global leadership in thoroughbred racing, and I look forward to helping achieve this important goal."

Bobby Flay, Chef and Thoroughbred Owner
Mr. Flay is an award winning chef and restauranteur with a strong interest in thoroughbred racing. Mr. Flay opened Mesa Grill, his first restaurant in 1991 for which he earned the "Best Restaurant 1992" by New York Magazine's Gael Greene. He opened Bolo Restaurant & Bar opened in November 1993 in the Flatiron district. That same year, Flay was voted the James Beard Foundation's Rising Star Chef of the Year 1993, an award that honors the country's most accomplished chef under the age of 30. In April 2005, Flay opened Bar Americain, featuring regional American cuisine. In June 2006, Flay opened his first steakhouse, Bobby Flay Steak, at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City. In addition to his restaurants, Flay shares his knowledge and enthusiasm for food through his cookbooks and his many national cooking shows on the Food Network, Cooking Channel and NBC. Mr. Flay is also a horse owner and racing enthusiast. One of his horses, More Than Real, won the 2010 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Mr. Flay said, "As a native New Yorker, business proprietor and thoroughbred owner I am thrilled to be added to the board at NYRA by Governor Cuomo. My overall goal is to be part of the team that helps racing in New York become the sport and entertainment venue it deserves to be."

Jane Rosenthal, Producer, Co-Founder, Tribeca Film Festival, and CEO, Tribeca Enterprises
Jane Rosenthal is an acclaimed producer and the co-founder of the Tribeca Film Festival. She has distinguished herself as a leading film producer with a roster of both critically and commercially acclaimed films. Ms. Rosenthal has been featured numerous times in Variety’s Women in Showbiz, The Hollywood Reporter’s Women in Entertainment and Crain's New York Business “100 Most Influential Women in NYC Business” issues. Ms. Rosenthal has produced one of the highest grossing comedy franchises of all times, Meet The Parents (2000) and its sequels Meet The Fockers (2004) and Little Fockers (2010); the box office sensation Analyze This (1999) and its sequelAnalyze That (2002); the Academy Award©-nominated Wag the Dog (1997); and critically acclaimed films Marvin’s Room(1996) and About a Boy (2002). She has produced over 20 major films including The Good Shepherd, Rent and A Bronx Tale. In 1989, Ms. Rosenthal co-founded Tribeca Production and the Tribeca Film Center in the lower Manhattan neighborhood of TriBeCa with actor Robert De Niro. In 2002, Ms. Rosenthal organized the first annual Tribeca Film Festival, which has grown into a major international cultural event.

Leonard Riggio, Chairman, Barnes & Noble, Inc.
Leonard Riggio is the Chairman of Barnes & Noble, Inc., a Fortune 500 company, which is the world’s largest bookseller. Beginning with a single college bookstore in 1965, Mr. Riggio built one of the largest enterprises in the history of American retail, now employing over 50,000 booksellers. He is widely known as a visionary in the bookselling industry, and a brilliant marketer and entrepreneur. Mr. Riggio is also the founder of GameStop (NYSE: GME), the largest multi-channel video game retailer, which operates 7,000 stores worldwide. Mr. Riggio devotes himself to many philanthropic initiatives, including building and donating homes to families who lost theirs in Hurricane Katrina. Since 2005, he and his wife, Louise, have built and donated 101 homes to New Orleans families with another 100 homes slated for construction. Mr. Riggio is the owner of My Meadowview LLC, a thoroughbred racing and breeding business.

Anthony Bonomo, CEO, Administrators for the Professions, Inc.
Anthony Bonomo, Esq. is CEO of Administrators for the Professions, Inc. and Board Member of Physicians' Reciprocal Insurers. Mr. Bonomo has been with AFP since 1985. Prior to that time, Mr. Bonomo served as a litigator on medical malpractice and tort claims. In 2005, he founded Brooklyn Boyz Stables.

Vincent Tese, Executive Chairman, Bond Street Holdings, LLC.
Mr. Tese is a lawyer, investment advisor and cable television executive, and is currently the Executive Chairman of Bond Street Holdings, LLC as well as the Executive Chairman of it’s subsidiary, Florida Community Bank. He is also a director of several corporations, including Cablevision Systems Corporation, ICE Clear Credit LLC, Intercontinental Exchange, Inc., Mack-Cali Realty Corporation and Madison Square Garden. In addition, he is Trustee of New York University School of Law and New York Presbyterian Hospital. Mr. Tese has served in state government in a number of positions. He served as State Superintendent of Banks from 1981 to 1983, in March 1985 was named Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Urban Development Corporation, and in 1987, was named Director of Economic Development for New York State, which added to his portfolio the titles of Commissioner of the Department of Economic Development and Chairman of both the Science and Technology Foundation and the Job Development Authority. He was appointed a Commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in 1991 and elected its vice chairman in 1992. Mr. Tese also chaired the New York State Advisory Commission on Racing in the 21st Century.

Joseph Spinelli, Managing Director, Navigant
Joseph Spinelli serves as Global Leader of the Anti-Bribery & Corruption Practice at Navigant Consulting. Appointed in 1986, he spent eight years as New York State's first ever Inspector General, leading fraud, abuse, waste and corruption investigations for all New York State agencies and authorities. Prior to his appointment as Inspector General, Mr. Spinelli served as a Special Agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation in both the New York and New Haven field offices. Mr. Spinelli also served as an Independent Fiscal Monitor during the post-Sept. 11 recovery effort at the World Trade Center, with investigative, compliance and monitoring responsibilities. In 2004, Mr. Spinelli was elected to the Board of Regents of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, an international professional association with 40,000 members. In February 2010, Mr. Spinelli was appointed to the New York State Commission on Public Integrity.

Robert Megna, New York State Budget Director
Robert Megna is the New York State Budget Director, having served in the capacity since 2009. He is responsible for the overall development and management of the State’s fiscal policy, including overseeing the preparation of budget recommendations for all State agencies and programs, economic and revenue forecasting, tax policy, fiscal planning, capital financing and management of the State’s debt portfolio, as well as pensions and employee benefits. Mr. Megna previously served as the Commissioner of the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, responsible for overseeing the collection and accounting of more $90 billion in State and local taxes, the administration of State and local taxes, including New York City and City of Yonkers income taxes and the processing of tax returns, registrations and associated documents. Mr. Megna will be replaced as chairman of the Franchise Oversight Board by Robert Williams, Interim Director of the Division of the Lottery. Mr. Megna will act as a financial watchdog on the NYRA board.

John Hendrickson, Special Advisor for Saratoga
John Hendrickson is a Saratoga Springs resident and philanthropist. He serves as the Breeding and Racing Manager for Mary Lou Whitney Stables. He is also a former aide to Governor Walter Joseph Hickel of Alaska. Mr. Hendrickson and his wife, Mary Lou Whitney, have initiated the Backstretch Appreciation program to benefit backstretch workers while working at Saratoga Race Course providing meals and activities for the nearly 2,000 backstretch workers. He will serve as the Governor's representative to the NYRA Board on issues involving the Saratoga Race Course and community.

John Hendrickson said, "Governor Cuomo's quality appointments demonstrate his seriousness in reforming NYRA the right way."

The Senate's appointees are as follows:

Michael Dubb, Principal and Founder, Beechwood Organization
Michael Dubb is the Principal and Founder of the Beechwood Organization, the 58th largest homebuilder in the United States according to Professional builder magazine in 2011. Michael Dubb built and donated a 7,500 square-foot day care center, Anna House, for the children of the Belmont Racetrack workers. Mr. Dubb is a two time past President of the Long Island Builder's Institute, having participated in LBI Helps projects, has been a Board Member of the Long Island Housing Partnership and is currently an Associate Trustee of the North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset. An avid horseman, Michael was appointed a member of the New York Racing Association Board of Directors in 2008. In 2011 he was the leading thoroughbred owner in New York State.

Earle Mack, Senior Partner, Mack Company
Earle Mack is a Senior Partner at the Mack Company. He is a former member of the Board of Directors for Mack-Cali Realty Corp. Mack served as United States Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Finland from May 2004 until November 2005. He is a former member of the NYRA Board of Directors and served as Chairman of the New York State Racing Commission from 1983 to 1989, during which time he was also a member of the NYS Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund.

The Assembly's appointees are as follows:

Michael J. Del Giudice, Chairman, Rockland Capital Energy Investments, LLC.
Mr. Del Giudice has experience in private equity, with a focus on the power and energy infrastructure market, as well as experience in government service. Mr. Del Giudice has been the Senior Managing Director at Millennium Credit Markets LLC, New York, NY, an investment banking firm, since 1996, and Chairman and Senior Managing Director of Rockland Capital, LLC, New York, NY, a private equity company focusing on power and energy infrastructure markets, since 2003. Mr. Del Giudice is Lead Independent Director of Consolidated Edison Inc., since 2008. Previously, Mr. Del Giudice was a General Partner at the investment bank of Lazard Freres & Co. LLC, and served as Secretary to the New York State Governor and Chief of Staff to the New York State Assembly Speaker. Mr. Del Giudice was appointed to the NYRA board in 2003 and promoted to Vice Chairman in 2005.

Rick Cotton, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, NBCUniversal
Rick Cotton was named Executive Vice President and General Counsel of NBCUniversal in August 2004. He supervises the NBCUniversal Law Department, which provides legal advice to all NBCUniversal business units. In addition, he oversees NBCUniversal's global regulatory and legislative policy agenda, including the company’s worldwide anti-piracy efforts. From 2000 to 2004, Cotton served as president and managing director of London-based CNBC Europe and has been at NBC since 1989. From 1991 to 2000, he served as Chair of the Board of the public-private New York Primary Care Development Corporation. He was appointed the deputy executive secretary of the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare under Secretary Joseph A. Califano in 1977 and was named the executive secretary in 1978. In 1980 he became the special counsel to Deputy Secretary John Sawhill of the U.S. Department of Energy.

Breezing with Just Your Shadow, Cruel Spirits, High Test, Humming Beethoven, Unseen Visitor (at Hollywood Park)

Horse racing workout videos from October 18, 2012:

Just Your Shadow and Cruel Spirits, both two-year olds, at Hollywood Park. VIDEO

High Test, a four-year-old with one win in nine starts. VIDEO

Unseen Visitor and Humming Beethoven, both two-year-old. VIDEO

HRRN analyst Jude Feld offers Pick Four handicapping advice. Pick longshots in early races

While at Keeneland, HRRN analyst Jude Feld shared his thoughts on putting together a Pick Four. He caps his price at $144 but often goes cheaper. Feld said, "If I can give anyone any advice, I wouldn't start with a favorite. A lot of times people start with a favorite and then try to end big. But the best Pick Fours pay when the longshot hits the first leg and wipes a lot of people out."

Feld joined HRRN as a paddock reporter and analyst in 2007. Before HRRN, he trained 23 stakes-winning horses.

Kindergarden Kid charges late in thrilling Sycamore win at Keeneland

With the favorite Ioya Bigtime leading near the wire in the Sycamore Stakes at Keeneland, Kindergarden Kid charged past the field to win Thursday. Not bad for a horse that was claimed for $50,000 on Aug. 2 at Saratoga. In the seven-horse field, Kindergarden Kid – ridden by Julien Leparoux, trained by Mike Maker and owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey – returned $8.00, $3.80 and $2.80. The race was 1 1/2 mile turf contest.

BLOODHORSE.COM: Kindergarden Kid schools Sycamore rivals
DRF: Ex-claimer Kindergarden Kid takes Grade 3 Sycamore
LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER: Ken Ramsey's Kindergarden Kid wins Sycamore, but owner stuck in board meeting and out of winner's circle at Keeneland
VIDEO of the 2012 Sycamore Stakes (G3)
RESULTS1. Kindergarden Kid; 2. Ioya Bigtime; 3. Miami Deco; 4. Rahystrada. Order: 2-3-7-1

Keeneland's Sycamore Stakes is final race for Musketier

The Sycamore Stakes (Grade III) is set for 4:49 p.m. today at Keeneland -- Race No. 8. The race is for three year-olds and up. Ioya Bigtime is the morning line favorite in the mile and a half turf race, but Musketier may be the star. It may be the final race for the 10-year-old gray horse. It will be Musketier's seventh at Keeneland.

Sue Lorimar, an assistant to Musketier trainer Roger Attfield, said: "He likes to travel, and he does like Keeneland. A lot of horses really like Keeneland. It's a little more laid back, a more country atmosphere. When they look out, they see green instead of cars and highways."

The field includes:
1. Rahystrada (KY), Lanerie 5/2
2. Kindergarden Kid (KY), Leparoux 3/1
3. Ioya Bigtime (IL), J. Sanchez 2/1
4. Seton Hall (KY), Borel 20/1
5. Canaveral (GB), Bridgmohan 30/1
6. Musketier (GER), J R Velazquez 5/2
7. Miami Deco (ON), Trujillo 15/1

Tyson Gay will not be racing any horses soon; Sprinter honored at Keeneland

Sprinter Tyson Gay — a Lexington, Kentucky, native — was honored at Keeneland Sunday, October 14, 2012. Gay, the second fastest human, said he could not compete with a race horse -- a la Chad Johnson. He does think he would do better than Johnson, who was given a head start and defeated the horse.

Gay was asked: Do you think you could do better than Chad Johnson if racing a horse?

Gay's answer: "Probably a little better. It’s a little different between track speed and football speed. At the same time, I don’t think anyone is going to beat a horse, not any of these horses."



Gay said it was nice to be back in his hometown: "It means a lot to meet my hometown fans. I don’t get to get home a lot. Track and field is sort of at the bottom of the totem pole with the other sports in the United States. But for people to recognize and respect what I do means a lot. So if I can give back to my fans, I’d do it a million times."

Here is Gay's race in 2009 where he becomes the second fastest human. The race starts at about the 45 second mark. Race ends 9.69 seconds later.

Dayatthespa goes gate to wire in 2012 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland

Dayatthespa won the $400,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland on Saturday (October 13, 2012). It was her first Grade I win and her firth straight victory.
According to BloodHorse.com, trainer Chad Brown is not sure Dayatthespa will compete in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. "I'll talk it over with all the partners," said Brown, according to BloodHorse.com. "Right now, that's not the way we were thinking going into the race. You never know. She may go a little bit further than this, but we'll just enjoy this and plan out the rest of her year from here."



Dayatthespa jockey Javier Castellano on his winning ride: “I handicapped the race, and I didn’t see a lot of speed in the race. Only one horse had speed. I thought the pace was going to be moderate today, and I took advantage. My filly, she’s really quick out of the gate. On the turn for home at the quarter pole, I asked her a little bit and she responded. When she took off, I just let her go – hand ride.”

Jockey John Velazquez, who was aboard favorite Stephanie’s Kitten -- last year's winner who finished sixth Saturday: “I had a perfect trip. It was a slow pace and I was right where I wanted to be. It is a big disappointment that she really didn’t try very much today. I was right behind the winner. I had all the shot that I wanted. She just didn’t have it today.”

Wayne Catalano, trainer of Stephanie’s Kitten: “It’s a surprising race for us. We’ve never had one run like that. I don’t know if she liked the turf course or not with the speed on there.”

The biggest news may have been Catalano's Breeders' Cup comment. Of Stephanie’s Kitten chances of running at Santa Anita event, he said: “Probably not. You’d hate to go to the Breeders’ Cup off a race like that.”

Check out this video of her workout two days (October 11, 2012) before her Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup victory at Keeneland.

Dayatthespa paid 8.60, 4.40, 3.60

Wise Dan trainer Charlie Lopresti talks about Breeders' Cup

Trainer Charlie Lopresti said he expects Wise Dan to run in the Breeders' Cup Turf Mile, according to BloodHorse.com. Lopresti doesn't want to face Game on Dude for a number of reasons.

Madame Giry wins Buffalo Trace Franklin County Stakes (2012) at Keeneland (VIDEO)

Madame Giry won the 2012 Buffalo Trace Franklin County Stakes at Keeneland Friday, October 12, 2012. The winning horse was trained Cam Gambolati, who trained 1985 Kentucky Derby winner Spend a Buck. Gambolati said Madame Giry was purchased for $2,000. Since the purchase, it's won five straight races.

DRF's Mike Watchmaker breaks down Queen Elizabeth II at Keeneland (as well as other races)

Daily Racing Form's ace handicapper Mike Watchmaker breaks down October 13-14, 2012, races.

How to mount a horse -- and then say OUCH!!!

Do not try this at home or on the road, folks.

Dayatthespa preparing for the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland

Dayatthespa getting ready for the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup, which is slated for Saturday (October 13, 2012) at Keeneland. The video appears to have been shot October 11, 2012.
The video appears to have been shot October 11, 2012.

Here is a link to Dayatthespa schooling at Keeneland. Again, it appears to have been shot October 11, 2012.
The field includes:
1 Better Lucky (KY) Shaun Bridgmohan
2 Tannery (IRE) -- Elvis Trujillo
3 Treasured Up (KY) -- Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.
4 Centre Court (KY) -- Julien R. Leparoux
5 Stephanie's Kitten (KY) -- John R. Velazquez
6 Somali Lemonade (KY) -- Joseph Rocco, Jr.
7 Samitar (GB) -- Ramon A. Dominguez
8 Dayatthespa (NY) -- Javier Castellano

Jockeys Ramon Vazquez and Calvin Borel in the spotlight: Today's Horse Racing Headlines

• Here's a Q&A with jockey Ramon Vazquez, who arrived in the U.S. in recent years following success in his native Puerto Rico.
  
• Jockey Calvin Borel plays himself, Calvin Borel, in the movie “50 to 1,” which is about Mine That Bird's inprobable victory in the 2009 Kentucky Derby. Of anyone possibly playing him, Borel said: “I don’t know if they could act like me."
  
• BloodHorse.com video interview (2 minutes) with trainer Graham Motion, regarding 2011 Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom future, below:

Woman jumps fence and takes race horse for a spin

A woman and her two friends jumped a fence at a horse track and then the excitement starts. She jumps on the winning horse and takes it for a spin at Bellewstown Racecourse in dear old Ireland. Of course, it happens on Ladies Day.


Okay, you should be able to tell it was fake, but those watching the scene didn't appear to know. Or maybe they did. Didn't seem like they were actors. It was done to promote a TV series, Jockey Eile.

Here's a recent promote for the TV show where 20 men and women with dreams of being a jockey take three months worth of intense training:

TVG interview with Trainer Michael Matz

Here is an interview with Trainer Michael Matz (from October 10, 2012). Matz chats with TVG's Christina Blacker about Somali Lemonade, who will run in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup, a Grade I race for three-year old fillies, at Keeneland. Many remember Matz as the trainer of 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, but he also trained 2012 Belmont Stakes winner Union Rags. The QEII is a 1 1/8 Mile Turf race on the Saturday (October 13, 2012) Keeneland card.


The field includes:
1 Better Lucky (KY) Shaun Bridgmohan
2 Tannery (IRE) -- Elvis Trujillo
3 Treasured Up (KY) -- Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.
4 Centre Court (KY) -- Julien R. Leparoux
5 Stephanie's Kitten (KY) -- John R. Velazquez
6 Somali Lemonade (KY) -- Joseph Rocco, Jr.
7 Samitar (GB) -- Ramon A. Dominguez
8 Dayatthespa (NY) -- Javier Castellano

Here is the 2011 running of the Queen Elizabeth II at Keeneland.

A Day at Belmont Park 2012

Here's a video by myblocknyc.com featuring (among others) trainer Christophe Lorieul and NYRA handicapping expert Andy Serling. Here's one pearl of wisdom from Serling: "Handicapping is looking at a race and trying to figure out who is going to win the race. Or sometimes, it's more important to figure out who is going to lose the race. It's easier to narrow them down."