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."