Reacting to Mine That Bird's Derby win: "This was one of the biggest upsets in the history of American racing. In my four decades of covering the sport, it ranks as one of the two most mystifying results in a major stakes race, along with Canonero II's victory in the 1971 Derby."

From Sports Business Journal: "NBC and Churchill Downs are repositioning the Kentucky Derby as a 'lifestyle' brand in hopes of drawing higher television ratings for this Saturday’s 135th Run for the Roses.... 'If we can get people to watch the spectacle and stay for the race, it’ll be a success,' said CD CMO Dave Tompkins." [Since many connections seem to consider the Derby a peak "lifestyle" experience, why not viewers at home? Related: Andrew Beyer on CDI (WashPost, 4/27/09). What effect does this big event/lifestyle marketing have on the industry overall?]

Recklessness, defined: "New York stewards scratched Gato Go Win from the Bay Shore Stakes (G3) on Saturday at Aqueduct after security personnel said they saw trainer Jeff Mullins attempting to administer a substance to the colt before the race."

NYT turf writer Joe Drape suggests drug-free Kempton Kentucky Derby Challenge winner Mafaaz might be the horse to shame the American racing industry into banning race-day medications and improving horse safety. Published under the "Analysis" rubric, but more properly considered opinion for its agenda-driven conclusions ("Nothing has changed"), shaky connections (that slippery "It" at the start of paragraph seven, the correlation of racing's popularity in Europe and Asia to medication policies with no mention of cultural and structural factors), and lack of balance.

Or, as NTRA CEO Alex Waldrop put it: "Joe Drape's commentary on the current state of safety and integrity reforms ... contained errors and exaggerations and ignored irrefutable facts that did not support his premise." [Note the defensive tone that creeps into the accompanying Letter to the Editor. For the flaws in Drape's piece, he is correct more change must come to industry. I suspect Waldrop knows that too, even as he rightly defends what has been accomplished.]

Bill Finley, following up on Drape's story, writes trainer John Gosden is spot-on that healthy horses should be able race without drugs, but that he's also not above taking the medical edge. "Gosden seems to be as big a fan of drugs as any American trainer. According to Bloodstock Research Information Systems records, Gosden has started seven different horses in North America since 2007 and all seven ran on one legal drug or another." If Mafaaz runs in the US, it'll probably be on race-day meds.

Alex Waldrop feels misunderstood, discusses possibility of multi-state compact

Sid Gustafson on (legal) drugs in racing

Interesting comments re: tote system and wagering integrity

On raising $100M -- "I can raise that in a week," Iavarone said.

Andrew Beyer on IEAH

Bloomberg News look at IEAH and their business plan

Congratulations to TD Thornton on winning the Castleton Lyons-TT award

"If God walked in right now and told us casinos would be beneficial, he would be accused of being on the payroll of Suffolk Downs."

How to turn $4300 into $3.1 million at the racetrack

Documentary, now in production, about women jockeys

Self-published book of Street Sense photographs

Items lost at Roosevelt Raceway, 1977-1981

Crist on Pyro's Risen Star stretch run

Under-the-radar debut sires