Churchill Downs: Downs After Dark faces competition from football

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – For the first time since Churchill Downs began hosting night racing, a Downs After Dark program will directly conflict with a University of Louisville football home game at nearby Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium on Saturday, calling into question whether track attendance might be adversely affected.

Clearly, it wasn’t planned that way. A 7 p.m. Eastern kickoff for the Houston-Louisville game Saturday was not announced until Nov. 4, while Churchill long ago scheduled a 4:30 p.m. start for the only night card of its fall meet.

It is the first Saturday night home game for Louisville since the 2009 season.

“We knew all along that game time for Nov. 16 would not be decided until a week or two out,” Churchill spokesman Darren Rogers said. “That’s the way it usually works with college football and television. We were thinking the game would probably go at noon or 3:30, the way Saturday games have been the last few years for U of L, so what were the chances of this? It did take us a little bit by surprise.”

Ontrack attendance has been very steady for the once-a-meet night-racing fall cards since it first was held three years ago: 15,583 in 2010; 15,719 in 2011; and 15,926 in 2012. Churchill has been advertising Downs After Dark heavily in the local market, and Rogers said officials are hoping for similar numbers Saturday.

“We always have competition, but we think we offer something of value to a variety of customers, whether it’s our core players, casual fans, or entertainment seekers,” Rogers said. “How this situation affects us won’t be known until after completion of the night.”

Meanwhile, oversubscribed fields were drawn Wednesday for the two turf stakes for 3-yar-olds that will anchor the 10-race Saturday card. I’m Already Sexy, Nellie Cashman, and Praia are among the top names for the Grade 2, $175,000 Mrs. Revere (race 9), while Frac Daddy, Golden Sabre, and River Seven figure among the favorites for the Grade 3, $100,000 Commonwealth Turf (race 7). Both races go at 1 1/16 miles.

Neck ’n Neck iffy for Clark

In a perfect world, Ian Wilkes would have gotten a second prep race into Neck ’n Neck before running the 4-year-old colt in the Grade 1 Clark Handicap on Nov. 29 at Churchill.

But that hasn’t worked out. There are no races for Neck ’n Neck this weekend, and time is running short.

Wilkes said Wednesday: “I don’t know what I’m going to do. None of his races have [filled], at least not suitable ones. I’ve got him nominated to a race at Delta Downs,” he said, referring to the $150,000 Delta Mile on Nov. 23, “but that might be a bit of a stretch.”

Neck ’n Neck, a winner of three graded races last year, closed stoutly to be a close third in the Schaefer Mile on the Oct. 5 Indiana Derby undercard at Indiana Downs in his first start in 11 months after being sidelined by injury. The Clark has been the long-term goal for Wilkes and owner-breeder A. Stevens Miles Jr. for months, but Wilkes said he doesn’t know whether or not he will go in the Clark after just one prep.

“Things usually work out,” Wilkes said. “We’ll just play things by ear.”

The $500,000 Clark is shaping up with the potential of being a sensational race, with both Game On Dude and Will Take Charge under serious consideration out of the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Maker eyes Claiming Crown with Major Marvel

Neck ’n Neck was entered as main track only in a turf allowance last Saturday at Churchill but was scratched amid perfect weather. The race was won in impressive fashion by Major Marvel, who will make his next start in the $125,000 Claiming Crown Emerald on Dec. 7 on the Gulfstream Park turf, according to trainer Mike Maker.

Major Marvel, claimed for $10,000 on April 12 by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, had three graded winners among his four opponents when earning a career-high 98 Beyer Speed Figure on Saturday: Cyber Secret, Guys Reward, and Regally Ready. A 7-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding by Bernstein, Major Marvel has won his last six races and 21 of 51 overall, with career earnings of nearly $625,000.

“What a monster he’s become,” Maker said. “He just keeps getting better with age.”

Fans cool to new exotic bet

Some wagers really catch the fancy of horseplayers, and some don’t. The new single-six jackpot at Churchill falls into the latter category.

A 50-cent wager held daily on races 3 through 8, the single-six is supposed to build into a crescendo as has happened at Gulfstream and other tracks, but the handle has been so small that few players are investing in it. Average handle last week (five days) was barely more than $3,000 per day, with the one-winner-only jackpot being a mere $5,332 when this race week began Wednesday.

At this rate, it’s very possible the only time the single-six will get widespread attention is closing day, Nov. 30, when a mandatory payout will be in effect.