TUCSON, Ariz. - Horse racing in North America is having a hard time keeping up with technology these days.
Racing still times in fifths in a few places, in a game where time - or at least consistency in producing it - defines ability. Tenths or hundredths are just as easily available, and obviously more precise.
DEL MAR, Calif. - It was the morning of Aug. 30, 1993, and Jimmy Croll was on the phone with the racing office at Belmont Park, trying to get a rider for the 2-year-old he had entered in a nonwinners-other-than for the Sept. 2 program. His first choice, Craig Perret, went to End Sweep for Billy Badgett and Greentree Farm. Croll and his wife, Bobbie, were open to suggestions.
"Looks like Smith is open," Croll was told.
"Mike Smith," Croll repeated. Bobbie Croll perked up.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Do you write it off to horses for courses or the difference in weight?
They are the obvious answers for Saturday's upset in the $750,000 Whitney Handicap, won by John Amerman's Chilean import, Lido Palace. Smartly ridden by Jerry Bailey, Lido Palace came off the pace to score by two decisive lengths from Albert the Great, who was favored at 4-5.
DEL MAR, Calif. - There is something special about a race named after your very own home town, unless it is the New York Handicap or the Los Angeles Handicap, neither of which puts you in particularly exclusive company.
San Diego is a serious-sized city known primarily for its weather. While this is better than making headlines because of rampant political corruption or industrial waste, a reputation based on temperature and rainfall tends to belittle the more tangible accomplishments of its citizenry.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Hall of Fame induction ceremonies on Aug. 6 will honor the great filly Maskette as the yesteryear selection. Dave Erb doesn't argue the choice. As the best 2-year-old filly of 1908 and best 3-year-old filly of 1909, Maskette has a record that speaks for itself. But Erb, one of the outstanding money riders of his day - the 1940's and 1950's - strongly endorses a favorite mount, Swoon's Son, as worthy of consideration in future elections.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - The most important thing happening at Saratoga opening week is not the Schuylerville, Sanford, Baruch, Whitney, or Test. It's not the hat contest, the breakfasts on the porch, or the news story on page 3 of Friday's local newspaper that the Oscar Meyer Wienermobile is coming to town. It's not even the indictment of the mutuel clerks or the OTB sale.
It's the takeout reduction, the boldest experiment in parimutuel economics in more than a decade.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - After his smashing victories in the Widener, Brooklyn, and Suburban Handicaps, each race a little better than the one before, there is wide agreement that Albert the Great is one of the best American horses in training.
He comes up to Saturday's $750,000 Whitney in excellent form, but trainer Nick Zito, ever the realist, sees the nine-furlong Whitney as among the most challenging assignments he has ever had.
DEL MAR, Calif. - It came as a cold shock of reality to see Christmas Boy's name in the program here last Saturday for the seventh race. The distance was right - six furlongs on the main track. But the context made no sense. These were horses running for a claiming price of $20,000, and the last time anyone saw Christmas Boy in competition, he was a long way from being mistaken for a $20,000 claimer.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - It was just another claiming race - $40,000 down to $35,000 - on Belmont's closing-day card but it was still a topic of conversation here as Saratoga got under way.
Call it symbolism, or a portent of things to come, but it seemed to mark a milestone in the riding career of John Velazquez.