The longest journey begins with the first step -- Confucius
If thoroughbred racing is to be perpetuated, Santa Anita, in its own infinitesimal way, has given the game a leg up.
How many days leafing through the Daily Racing Form past performances did it take before realizing there really were only eight races at Santa Anita during the week?
Eight-race weekdays have become standard fare this meet, with nine races on weekends and holidays.
But it will take more than one major track in California paring its races to stop the proliferation of the sport. It will take a joining together for the common good of all the tracks and all the bean counters in Sacramento.
Eight races a day on weekdays, and 87 days of racing instead of 89 is a start, however. And it wasn't easy.
It took the cooperation of not only Santa Anita, but two integral participants, before this bird flew.
"It's been good," said Santa Anita's vice president-racing, Tom Robbins, of the horsemen's response. "We went to the Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA) and the TOC (Thoroughbred Owners of California) prior to enacting this. We presented our thoughts and our reasoning, and they said, 'We think it's a great idea. We think there's too much racing, so we're in favor of it.'
"When you run a four-month long meeting, typically, January and February include a lot of rainfall.
"Therefore, our inventory of available horses is (usually) down because of muddy tracks. In hoping to improve the quantity and quality of our programs, the idea was twofold: one, eliminate the five-day week after a six-day week, such as we experienced with the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday; that's the reason we returned Thursday (Jan. 18) after the last six-day week. We followed that with a four-day week, Thursday through Sunday, and we'll have the same format for Presidents' Week (Feb. 18),
"On rainy days, we don't get many people here, maybe 4,000 on a horribly rainy day. Of course, since we started (eight-race weekdays), we haven't had any rain (laughing). But the idea was to try to do something, albeit small, to ultimately help the program."
Just over a month into the season, it's difficult to measure any significant effect on handle.
"It's tough at any point," Robbins said, "especially this early in this meeting. It's difficult to compare at Santa Anita until you get through the first few weeks, because we always start on Dec. 26, but the 26th last year (1994) was a Monday, which was a national holiday. The 26th this year (1995) was a Tuesday, so right off the bat, we were down 15,000 people.
"Last meet, we had a lot of rain early on. This year, we haven't had the rain. We missed three days last season because of rain. So it takes a little while (for a fair evaluation)."
Another significant consideration is the importation of races from Bay Meadows and Golden Gate.
"The north-south simulcasting becomes a factor because, with the exception of Fridays, we've been giving our fans action every 15 minutes. Bay Meadows has a 6:45 p.m. post on Fridays, so obviously, we can't do it on that day. Now, all of a sudden, instead of getting 16 or 18 races, on Fridays, they see eight races. There's some concern about how that may be impacted. One Friday wasn't too bad, and another, we had a two-day (Pick Six) carryover, so the numbers jumped up. So it may be too early to tell."
Okay, so you can't compare apples and oranges. But bottom line, just how many fewer horses and races will be run?
"We're picking up 10 races on weekends starting the first week in February, through the end of the meet (April 22)," Robbins pointed out. "I think we lose 15 races overall the entire meet, by eliminating two days and having these eight-race cards. That's assuming we have our 10-race weekends and have the horses to do it.
"At this point, we plan to continue indefinitely, although I think it's premature to try and evaluate the total picture. But it's helped produce fuller fields."
Has Hollywood Park or Del Mar indicated they will follow suit?
"Not to my knowledge. Maybe everybody's going to wait and see how it goes, and then they'll make their own evaluations."
GOLDEN PICKS
NATIVE RUSSIAN -- Failed to break with the rest of his field in debut, but showed keen interest thereafter and ran winning race otherwise, beaten only 3 1/2 lengths. Should find winners' circle with clean start vs. Cal-bred maiden claimers.
SLEW O' KISSES -- Daughter of Vernon Castle ran an obscure seventh in debut and certainly was not well-regarded at 35-1. But she showed some interest leaving the half-mile pole and closed a gap discreetly. Odds should make her worth a second look vs. $32,000 Cal-bred maidens.
JACKSON CHISLER -- Ran too good to lose in first race after 16-month layoff, beaten a courageous head by win machine C.J. Maxx. Should have $20,000 claimers at his mercy next time out.
MIKE L -- Came up 5 1/2 lengths short but turned in solid third in first race back after six-month vacation. Figures much tighter now vs. low-level claiming sprinters.
POINT POSITION -- Closed gobs of ground vs. Cal-bred allowance fillies going seven furlongs, coming from dead last to finish sixth, beaten less than 3 1/2 lengths. All this from the No. 1 post position. Should find winners' circle for crafty Walter Greenman, especially with better draw.
LISA MAC -- Former faint-hearted speedster rated well despite going six-wide into the first turn and won with enough left in the tank for repeat vs. $40,000 types at a mile or just beyond.
THE HOMESTRETCH: Corey Nakatani was handed a five-day suspension Friday (Feb. 1 through Feb. 7) and a $500 fine for violation of the California Horse Racing Board's rule governing the use of whips, but the suspension is being appealed by Nakatani's attorneys, trainer Darrell Vienna and Shauna Weeks. The ruling from stewards Pete Pedersen, Tom Ward and Ingrid Fermin followed the conclusion of an administrative hearing that focused on Nakatani's actions aboard the 2-year-old colt Tillie's Joy immediately after the running of the sixth race last Dec. 29. The CHRB release news release added: "Accompanying their ruling, the stewards issued the following Statement of Facts: 1) The evidence presented during the hearing showed that jockey Corey Nakatani used his whip on the horses Tillie's Joy after the horse had achieved its maximum placing in the race, in violation of Rule 1688. 2) The weight of the evidence does not support the argument that Mr. Nakatani used the whip in accordance with Rule 1688 to help the horse maintain a straight course. 3) The weight of the evidence does not establish that Mr. Nakatani's use of the whip was the cause of the catastrophic injury to the horse Tillie's Joy (who broke down after the race and had to be destroyed). 4) The CHRB's recently published policy statement orders the stewards to "increase their vigilance" in matters involving use of the whip. The policy statement requires the stewards to take appropriate disciplinary action against all violators. Evidence was presented during the hearing indicating that Mr. Nakatani's actions represented improper and unprofessional use of the whip. Therefore, this penalty reflects the mandate of the CHRB policy." Weeks felt the incident would benefit racing only "if the whip rule were clarified, and if riders were told explicitly what they can and can't do. I think it'd be news to everyone if they're never allowed to use the whip after the wire, no matter the circumstances. It would benefit racing to clarify that, and let the riders know, and let the public know, that these are the circumstances under which a whip is appropriate to use . . . now riders use whips (after a race) all the time. That's part of the unfortunate thing about this, that people (jockeys) do it every day, and Corey Nakatani got five days for it. That doesn't make any sense, especially when there is no rule prohibiting it." Nakatani felt this episode would impair his popularity with the fans, but not his acceptance by horsemen. "I know that the horse racing people know that I had nothing to do with the horse breaking down. It's going to hurt my reputation with the public more than it's going to hurt my business on the race track . . . they (horsemen) know I didn't do anything wrong. I don't know why the penalty is so stiff . . . a lot of times, the penalties I've had in the past have been excessive. Maybe their thinking is (that) if they make a penalty of this nature, it will effect other judgments on other riders . . . I'll still go out there and do my job, do it professionally, and ride as hard as I can for the people." Nakatani told me he would have willingly paid a $2,500 fine rather than receive a five-day ban, which could cost him tens of thousands of dollars in purse earnings . . . Larry The Legend update: owner/trainer Craig Lewis is still hopeful the 1995 Santa Anita Derby winner will make it back to the races, but admits there's a long way to go. "He's coming along fine," Lewis said of his $2,500 bankruptcy sale purchase, who has twice undergone arthroscopic surgery on his left knee since winning the Santa Anita race last April 8. "We're still a few months away before we take him back to the race track (in training), and we're hopeful, but you never know. He's here at Santa Anita and he's walking daily and looks great." . . . Santa Anita, Hollywood Park and Del Mar apparently have overcome an insurance snag and will offer a $1.8 million bonus to the winner of their three big races. A press conference was scheduled Thursday. "It looks good," said Santa Anita's vice president-marketing and customer relations, Mark Stephens. Which makes sense. Would a press conference be held to announce it if it weren't happening? The tracks are hopeful the nearly $2 million incentive to the winner of the Santa Anita Handicap, the Hollywood Gold Cup and the Pacific Classic will lure 1995 Horse of the Year Cigar to the March 2 Big 'Cap, for starters . . . The CHRB has agreed that regardless of whether Oak Tree at Santa Anita or Hollywood Park is selected to host the 1997 Breeders' Cup, that facility will be awarded the racing dates required for the championship event. In a letter to the CHRB, James E. Bassett III, president of Breeders' Cup Limited, wrote: "The Nov. 8, 1997, date is contractually scheduled by NBC and is not subject to change, therefor it would be most helpful if the CHRB would officially advise the Breeders' Cup Limited which race track, Hollywood Park or Oak Tree Racing Association, would be assigned the Nov. 8 racing date in 1997." . . . Trainer W.L. (Don't Call Him Willard) Proctor looks fit despite a recent bout with pneumonia. "My doctor told me he wanted to put me in the hospital," said the tenacious Texan, who was 80 last Dec. 15, "but that's not my style. I lost 20 pounds, but I've been back for a week and I'm glad it's over." . . . Horsemen's support for jockey Goncalino Almeida has been unanimous, even unprecedented, according to long-time agent Harry (The Hat) Hacek. "He told me he never heard as many people on the backstretch feel so badly about a rider getting hurt," Almeida's agent, Vince DeGregory, said of Hacek. "So many trainers have called me -- Wally Dollase, Roger Stein, Jack Van Berg -- and owner Gary Burke, whose trainer is Mike Mitchell. They've all said they'll put Goncalino on live horses when he gets back, and that's very uplifting, knowing they're going to help." Almeida, who turned 40 on Super Bowl Sunday, suffered fractures to both legs when his mount, Rue de Fraise, broke his shoulder in the second race on Jan. 21. "I plan to bring him back to visit the track on a wheelchair as soon as he's ready," DeGregory said of Almeida. "It will help his mental outlook, and a proper mental attitude goes hand-in-hand in promoting physical healing." Almeida's popularity with trainers and fans alike is due in large part to his unruffled demeanor and his all-out riding style. DeGregory hopes Almeida can be back in the saddle as early as 10 weeks, as long as 14. Almeida has had a special bed placed in the bedroom of his Arcadia home, and will work with a physical therapist twice daily . . . A decision is expected within the next week on who will replace Trevor Denman at Hollywood Park's three-month spring/summer meet, according to word from marketing and publicity VP Rick Baedeker's office. Turf Paradise announcer Luke (No Spell check Suggestionss) Kruytbosch may have the inside track, but Chairman of the Board R.D. Hubbard, recently back from a vacation, will review the auditioners before an appointment is announced . . . Vince DeGregory, who's been an agent 40 years, gives Denman his due, but casts his vote as best all-time announcer to the late Fred (It is now post time) Capasella. "Trevor has more flair and adds more excitement," DeGregory said, "but Cappy was traditional and precise. He was the greatest in my book." . . . Owen Kirschner, who's filled in for regular horn blower Jay Cohen while he's been recovering from surgery for removal of a bone spur on his neck, reports the dedicated Cohen has been calling in daily for an update. Cohen should return to his post within two weeks . . . Gamblers' mentality: a guy ran into his friend an hour before the first race, and asked to borrow $20. "You can't be broke already, the first race hasn't even started," the friend said. "I've got money to bet," the degenerate answered. "I need money to eat."
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