"It's not something as trivial as nasal strips; it's the sport’s lack of uniformity."

"The expected round of glowing encomiums upon the death last week, at age 90, of legendary racing pioneer Marjorie Everett has been tempered by the enduring memories of her multi-layered personality. On the one hand there was her unbridled passion for the sport and her abiding affection, generously expressed, for many of the game's most noteworthy players. Everett loved stars and made sure the stars loved her. She was also a demanding executive whose management style could be best described as dictatorial -- benign at times, overpowering at others. And in all regards she played hard, whether in softball games among racetrackers or when bending a racing commissioner to her will."

"Horses died while racing at Santa Anita Park at more than double the rate of horses at the state's other three major thoroughbred tracks over the last fiscal year, according to state statistics. The fatality rate at Santa Anita, in Arcadia, rose significantly after a return to a dirt running surface in 2010 after three years of using a synthetic track, the data show."

"When I was teaching Walden last month, I couldn't help but notice how incisively Thoreau diagnoses the effect of 'insolvency' on the capacity to think and live freely; the time people spend reading and thinking, he suggests, is increasingly regarded as time 'stolen' and 'borrowed' from wage-earning."

"Suspicions about illegal drugs are rampant not only in California, where the California Horse Racing Board seems to lack the spine to conduct serious and probing investigations. Realistically, such suspicions exist at every track in America and little is being done anywhere to deal with them. This, despite many forward moves against steroids and the on-going conversations about Lasix and Bute. That 'other drugs' are in play continues to make a mockery of the game. Fact is, the insidious nature of illegal drug use for racing purposes is what is negatively impacting the sport more than anything we read or write about."

"It's been an amazing ride for the last year. I've been putting my best foot forward and it has paid off."

"The first thing Patrick Valenzuela did when he left the winner’s circle Sunday after going wire-to-wire to take the 21st TVG Pacific Classic with Acclamation was pay tribute to the man who started the $1 million race for Del Mar.... The second thing Valenzuela did was thank everyone who gave him one final chance to salvage a career that was sidetracked dozens of times because of drug and alcohol abuse. He lost years off his career, serving more than a dozen suspensions or dealing with license revocations."

"This is the thing that makes the most sense. It gives the players what they have been looking for."

"Despite the infrequency of incidents that would trigger the rule, the change has ruffled the feathers of horsemen in California and put horsemen in other states on notice of changes to come. By and large, horsemen said that they do not object to the spirit of the rule. What rankles them, the horsemen said, is that the California rule contains a significant loophole and could lead to the adoption of other exceptions that would hold horsemen responsible for any injury a horse suffers in a race, chilling horsemen’s willingness to enter horses in claiming races, which comprise approximately 60 percent of all races run ... Arthur said the rule was not written as an indictment of trainers at large, but he said there were some horsemen in California who had reputations for entering unsound horses in races. The rule was approved to make those horsemen think twice."

"Some Hollywood Park racing officials, jockeys and valets had to attend a 'mandatory' sexual harassment seminar earlier this month after an incident involving jockey Chantal Sutherland, Southern California racing steward Tom Ward said."

"Another industry insider, who preferred to remain anonymous, had stronger words when asked why Santa Anita had so many fatalities earlier this year. 'Same ol' (bleepin) thing,' he said. 'Too much cortisone, too much painkiller and trainers that are too greedy and too desperate. I mean, how many of the same guys are breaking down the same horses?'"

"There it is, the 19-hand Clydesdale in the room. The issues of takeout, field size, and horsemen’s representation are all subordinate to a single, monumental reality: The sport is running short of horses."

"At this year’s Santa Anita Park winter/spring meet, purses paid totaled $29,335,718 over 65 days, up from $28,005,440 for 73 days in 2010. Average daily purses increased 17.6%, from $383,636 in 2010 to $451,319 in 2011. Field size at Santa Anita, however, went from 7.77 horses per race last year to 7.61 this year even though its synthetic surface was replaced with dirt at the urging of horsemen. Through 37 days of this year’s Hollywood Park spring/summer meet, purses paid totaled $15,080,052, up from $13,299,606 last year. Average per day increased 13.3%, from $359,449 in 2010 to $407,569 in 2011. Field size at Hollywood Park has dropped as well, from 7.81 last year to 7.64 this year."

"In addition, the racing board’s study expressed concern about the depth of the track, recommending that the cushion, or top layer, be 3.75 inches in depth. Tests conducted during the meeting pegged the depth at levels ranging from 2 to 4.25 inches. The report states that alternations were made during the winter-spring meeting to ensure the cushion was closer to the recommended 3.75 inches, which prevented horses from reaching the harder 'pad' section of the track below the cushion. The study concluded that Santa Anita’s sand-and-clay track never had the intended mix of sand, clay, and silt during the recently concluded race meeting."

"Ontrack handle had the lowest decline of 3.3%. The average this year was $976,919 this year versus $1,010,939 last year. The largest drop came from out-of-state handle, which fell 14.3% from an average of $4,533,707 last year to $3,887,198 this year. In other categories, in-state handle at other wagering outlets dropped 7.7%, and California advance deposit wagering handle was down 11.9% to $518,107 per day. ADW has been hailed by many in the industry as the primary growth channel for handle. Overall, total average daily handle for 2010-11 was $6,675,569, down 11.6% from $7,553,653."

"There had been 11 racing fatalities over the main track through Sunday, including one horse that fell over a downed horse that had clipped heels. Another seven fatalities had occurred during training hours, including one horse that died after a collision with another horse and one sudden death. 'Of course, last year they were coming off an exceptionally safe surface that really I don't think Santa Anita's ever seen before,' Arthur said. 'I think people were hoping to get closer to that number than what they're going to end up with.' There were only six fatalities -- two during racing and four in the mornings -- over Santa Anita's synthetic surface last year. There were 22 fatalities -- 12 during racing and 10 in the mornings -- when Santa Anita last raced on dirt during the 2006-07 season."

"I think the players' boycott has had a major role (on handle), and I think what's most disturbing is the TOC hasn't made any statement or responded in any way," Licht said. "Maybe they should say we support the players, we don't support the players, anything. But sticking your head in the sand is not the appropriate response. I think the game has long passed the old adage of if you don't like it, don't come. We can't use that old theory any more."

Takeout increase, small fields, return to dirt. "According to figures taken from Equibase, Santa Anita's total handle was down $77.1 million, or 17.7 percent, from a year ago heading into Wednesday's card. If the current trend continues, the track's all-sources handle could show a decline of more than $100 million for the 2010-11 meet."

"Arthur reported that through training hours of March 17, seven racing fatalities had occurred on the main track, which included a horse that fell over a downed horse that had clipped heels. Another six fatalities occurred during training, including one horse injured in a collision with another horse and one sudden death. Five racing fatalities have occurred on the turf course and no training fatalities on the training track."

"Valets (pronounced VAL-its, not va-LAYS) work the four tracks in Southern California, following the jockeys on a seasonal circuit where no task -- whether folding towels, shining boots or buying snacks -- is too small to overlook. 'We're like their butlers,' Castaneda says. The valets are on the job as many as 11 hours a day, 51 weeks a year, and the jockeys come to trust and depend on them."

"Twirling Candy caught his rival in only a few strides, cut the corner, rallied inside his workmate into the lane, and finished powerfully while drawing off by five lengths. 'Geez, what a horse,' Sadler said. No poker face. He could not wipe away his smile."

"Attendees were asked to list the issues they felt were the most important. Topping the list was the horse shortage in California, followed by the takeout rates. California increased the takeout on exotic wagers beginning in 2011 to bolster purses. Horseplayers have protested vociferously, many in the form of boycotting the current meetings at Golden Gate Fields and Santa Anita."

"Given the events of the past 10 months, it is difficult to fix the blame for the demise of the Oak Tree Racing Association as an operator of a major California Thoroughbred meet. They were getting it from all sides. After 42 years of honorable service and charitable contributions to the sport, you would think job security would have been the least of Oak Tree’s worries. But now, as a result of actions taken on Thursday by the California Horse Racing Board, there will be no Oak Tree meet in 2011."

"Pari-mutuel wagering in California declined by $501 million during fiscal year 2009-10, and betting through advance deposit, the only growth area in the state's handle for the past several years, also dipped slightly."

"It's painfully obvious something needs to be done. No one who holds a high position in the industry wants to admit it, but the horseplayers' boycott because of the increased takeout has had an effect. How much, no one knows for sure, but it's hurt business at a time when horse racing didn't need the hit. So who's fault is it? Who's to blame for the sport being in such disarray?"

"Horsemen this winter have been unusually tight-lipped regarding the new main track at Santa Anita. No one wants to knock the surface. Not publicly, at least. But behind the scenes, many are frustrated."

"The assumption was that an increase in purses would reverse a dismal decline in field sizes, which would boost handle and benefit the tracks as well as the owners, who foresaw a 25% increase in purses. In addition, optimism was high going into the Santa Anita meet with the return to a dirt main track, replacing the synthetic surface that was reviled by some handicappers. Two months into the season, though, those trends have failed to materialize. While purses are up by $1.3 million due to the increase, field size has remained static and is even down slightly. Through Jan. 31, according to figures provided by the California Horse Racing Management Systems, all-sources wagering at Santa Anita has dipped 10.81% from last year, and Golden Gate has experienced a 19.92% decline. Those figures were calculated on the basis of daily averages rather than gross handle."

"From a handicapping perspective, the quickness of the track means bettors can trust the number and be confident that races will unfold at a legitimate pace. Yes, early speed still wins. And while the blatant speed bias from the preceding weekend largely dissipated, front-runners still hold the edge on dirt. That is a good thing."

“That would have to come from the tracks themselves and from the TOC."

"Despite the drop in handle, Haines said there is no threat of a purse reduction. 'We’re where we want to be, but that’s something that’s we’re looking at every day,' he said."

"Frustrated by what he perceives as the speed-biased nature of the track’s sand-and-clay surface, Hollendorfer said he may not start Blind Luck again at the Santa Anita meet after she was second in the Grade 2 El Encino Stakes on Sunday, her first start since a second-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic at Churchill Downs in November."

"Trainer Bruce Headley, who advocated for a return to dirt almost as soon as the synthetic surfaces went in, blamed training on synthetic surfaces for any injuries suffered in the first part of the meeting. 'We’re without fear that every horse is going to pull up bad,' Headley said in support of the surface change. 'Times very are fast because horses don’t stick in it. I know there are some injuries, but it is because horses are coming off synthetic.'"

"It's all a numbers game, and Santa Anita management doesn't agree with the handle figures being floated around the Internet concerning the first 12 days of the track's winter-spring meet. While cold, hard figures show Santa Anita's overall handle was down 17 percent through Thursday, track officials contended Saturday their handle was down only 8 percent if you use 'comparable days' rather than 'calendar days.'"

"Hey, I'm not saying the owners don't risk a lot of money and I'm not blind to the fact it costs a lot of dough to keep a horse in training, but last time I checked it took two to tango, and while the sport would not exist without owners, it also wouldn't be around without the bettors, either."

"So it has gone ever since, Jamgotchian pouncing on issues big and small and turning them into a personal crusade of right against wrong. Often referred to as 'Jammer' by both friends and enemies, he has been known to extend CHRB gatherings by hours with his protestations and to fill up the e-mail inboxes of power brokers and media members with missives on his latest pet cause." (From 2009)

"What needs to happen, and quickly, is the CHRB and TOC need to quit playing games, sit down and meet with Platt and other members of the organization's board and try to find common ground for the good of an industry that is spiraling downward at an alarming rate."

A few relevant stats: "Purses averaged $424,276 at Santa Anita from Jan. 1-12 (six days of racing) versus $353,348 from Jan. 1-12, 2010 (eight days of racing). The track is racing four days a week instead of five, which it did last year. In 2010 for the first eight days of the meet, purses totaled $2,826,782. This year, for six days, $2,545,658 in purses has been paid. But with one fewer day of racing per week, field size is averaging 7.69 horses per race, down from 7.91 from the same period last year, according to TJCIS."

"Santa Anita is not the only Southern California track that has suffered a decline in average starters per race. The Hollywood Park fall meeting that ended last month had an average of 7.29 starters per race compared to 7.53 starters at the 2009 meeting. In September, Hollywood Park racing secretary Martin Panza estimated that approximately 2,850 horses were housed on backstretches at Southern California tracks but said that approximately 800 of those were not active."

“Before coming over here from Hollywood I started galloping horses on the dirt training track over there. I took my time jogging and galloping here before I started to breeze, but that didn’t seem to matter. None of the injuries have been things they can’t come back from -- mostly chips and condylar fractures -- but they’re happening to horses I thought were the soundest in the barn."

“That’s somewhat misleading,” Arthur said of last year’s fatality rate. “That was such an exceptionally safe year; everything just worked out. Richard Tedesco did a great job with that (synthetic) track, and I’m sure his guys are going to do a great job with this track, too.”

"Instead, the push continues for more casino-style gambling as a Band-Aid for an industry in crisis, and that will force horses further to the margins, although at Santa Anita, still happily free of the slots, the fans can get a taste of the sport as it was meant to be. There's no better spot than Clocker's Corner on a bright winter morning, with a dusting of snow on the San Gabriels and the horses on the gallop."

"Q: As you said, the mandate was initially put in place under the premise that the synthetic tracks would be safer. Is there a concern that fatalities will be under a microscope this meet, and how is the CHRB addressing the shift to ensure that the surface is safe? A: I think we’re doing a lot of different things. One of the things we did, part of the waiver of the mandate, was to require additional veterinarian coverage at the expense of Santa Anita, and that’s been done. So I think there’s a greater degree of pre-race inspecting we are going to do."

Bill Dwyre looks back at 2010, ahead to 2011.

"During a brief ceremony, Zenyatta was honored with a personalized Los Angeles Dodgers jersey (#10) by Lou Johnson, the former player who now serves as both the team's community relations liaison as well as a member of the speakers bureau. In addition, Anita Mannila, representing Las Profesionales, presented Zenyatta a blanket."

"Zenyatta was her usual playful, calm self, enjoying every minute of the star treatment that she truly deserves."

"So it is ahead to the past -- sealed tracks and cracked feet, burned heels and rundowns, strung-out fields shying from sandy kickback -- a past in which the inability to deal with the effects of dirt tracks inspired the desperate dive into synthetics in the first place. As usual it will be up to the horses, always the horses, to survive this latest shift in the terrain."

"Meanwhile, the foothold in the US also allows the company greater access to coding talent. The company already has development office in San Francisco and they are looking to hire about twenty more people -- particularly mobile app designers. Betfair is one of the first online betting exchanges to have an iPad and iPhone app. You can’t actually use it in this country, but you can use in the UK."

"I think we can show regulators why regulation works and why a better regulated business is better for consumers. What they need to do is put in a sensible framework and then customers will use the licensed operators and the operators will pay tax."

"The more liquidity you get, the more attractive the markets become, and you have this snowball effect," Burn said. "We can build the exchange for all of America and operate it from California."

"The more liquidity you get, the more attractive the markets become, and you have this snowball effect," Burn said. "We can build the exchange for all of America and operate it from California."

"Because most horses are making a transition from synthetic surfaces, Santa Anita officials are urging horsemen to take a slow approach to introducing their runners to the new track."

"Because most horses are making a transition from synthetic surfaces, Santa Anita officials are urging horsemen to take a slow approach to introducing their runners to the new track."

"We just started to take the synthetic material off today," Malloy said on Monday. "We've had skip loaders out on the track, piling it up and we'll start hauling it off tomorrow. We anticipate it'll take about two weeks to remove all of the synthetic material. After the rocks are completely removed, the new base material will be applied and we anticipate that will take about two weeks (October 31 through November 13). After the base is in place and compacted to proper density, we'll start to apply the cushion mix, which is what we run on."

"There was an on-track crowd of 4,279 Thursday night for the opening of the 22-day Oak Tree meeting at Hollywood Park, which is considered a disappointment in the first experiment trying night racing during autumn.... Last year, 17,239 attended Oak Tree's opening day at Santa Anita.... There also was a sizable drop in handle compared to last year. Hollywood Park's total handle was $4,524,976 compared to $7,632,645 last year at Santa Anita.

"Here I'm thinking trainer Doug O'Neill is a great guy, friendly as anyone you might meet, a soft spot for the children's hospital I know so well, but now they're telling me he's a horse murderer and cheater."

"We’ve got a facility Breeders’ Cup would love. It’s got acres and acres of skyboxes and luxury suites and a big director’s room. It would be easy to adapt this place to tents and things like that. We’ve got more hotel rooms around here than perhaps any track in the country." Also: "As long as the statistics are showing how much safer it is than dirt, we’d be foolish to move to dirt."

"Friday's announcement occurred two days after Oak Tree and Del Mar officials met to discuss a possible relocation of the Oak Tree meeting to that San Diego County track in 2011. The meeting ended with Del Mar chief executive Joe Harper saying that the two sides wanted to incorporate the horsemen and racing board in the conversations before finalizing plans."

"There's some things we have to work out down here," Harper said. "We want to do it. They want to come, but there's some issues we have to be clear on." Environmental issues, housing among the things to be worked out.

"A Magna official speaking on condition of anonymity said the California Horse Racing Board has been pushing Oak Tree to move out of Santa Anita as punishment for Magna's opposition to a bill in the state Legislature that would legalize exchange betting."

"'Dirt' was what a vocal and deeply frustrated segment of the population wanted to hear. 'Dirt' represented the comfort of the known, a familiar demon that had been wrestled in the past instead of something that emerged from a laboratory test tube. For a large portion of Stronach’s audience, 'dirt' sounded a return to motherhood, apple pie, and pitchers taking their own turn at bat."

"I’m setting the over-under at 35 percent, the number of fewer foreign entrants in the next Breeders’ Cup hosted by Santa Anita."

"... Santa Anita's move to dirt actually will take some heat off the public relations hatred toward all synthetic tracks. In smaller doses at Keeneland and Del Mar, horsemen and horseplayers will continue solid support and those meets will bounce back when the economy rebounds in general. My guess is that the public relations battle would follow similarly." I can see that.

"With a new dirt track to race over this winter at Santa Anita, it'll be put-up-or-shut-up time for horsemen and horseplayers." Related: Trainer Richard Mandella reacts: http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_15835315

"In a move heavily laden with significance for the entire US racing industry, Santa Anita is to replace its troubled all-weather strip to return to a conventional surface." See comment: "I'm disappointed because the European horses won't be as effective in the BC and I can't win as much money on backing them through the Yankie Tote."

"They're making me be a guinea pig and I'm tired of it. For me, the experiment is over. I'm tired of hearing how great these [synthetics] are." (Via @superterrific)

MID tells BH that Oak Tree can't be staged this year because the track needs a new surface. Also: "[Chillingworth] said company representatives have made it clear they would also want to take any future Breeders' Cup dates. 'We would run the [Oak Tree] meet and they would run the Breeders' Cup,' Chillingworth said."

"To stay at Santa Anita, Oak Tree was asked to loan $10 million to MID, mostly for yet another new surface, and MID wouldn't have to pay on the principal for two years. Other new wrinkles would have required Oak Tree to pay heavily for capital improvements (such as those rat-infested barns that Stronach kept promising to replace), and sacrifice revenue of approximately $1 million if it hosted the Breeders' Cup again. In other words, Stronach gave Chillingingworth an offer that he couldn't approve."

"In the desert 100 miles northeast of Los Angeles is a suburb abandoned in advance of itself—the unfinished extension of a place called California City. Visible from above now are a series of badly paved streets carved into the dust and gravel, like some peculiarly American response to the Nazca Lines (or even the labyrinth at Chartres cathedral). The uninhabited street plan has become an abstract geoglyp ..." Intriguing illustrations.