NEW YORK - If you've always had a hankering to operate horse racing in New York for the next 20 years, perhaps your time has come. Just follow these four easy steps:
1. Notify the Ad Hoc Committee on the Future of New York Racing by June 30 of your intention to bid for the New York Racing Association franchise, which expires in December 2007.
2. Point your Web browser to www.ny.gov/futureofracing/rfp.htm to download the 45 pages of instructions for submitting your proposal.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The 2006 Triple Crown is already ancient history, a week after the Belmont Stakes. Its impact, though, will linger through the rest of the season, with Jazil and Bernardini shaping the debate, and news of Barbaro's ongoing health dominating the Department of What Might Have Been.
TUCSON, Ariz. - Sixty years ago this summer, when it was announced I would be racing secretary as well as race caller at the next harness meeting at Sportsman's Park in Chicago, a trainer friend walked up and said, "You've lost your mind."
When asked why, he said, "You'll have 10 races a night, with 10 horses in each. You'll have 10 friends and 90 enemies after each night's card."
I recalled that conversation vividly when starting this column, but figured that if 11 readers agree and 89 think me a fool, at least I'm making progress.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - It was about this time last year that the new and improved Lava Man emerged, blinkers on and breathing fire, to win an allowance race, the Californian Stakes, and the Hollywood Gold Cup in giddy succession.
Last Saturday, Lava Man added another layer to his growing reputation by winning the Whittingham Memorial at 1 1/4 miles on Hollywood Park's firm grass course, placing himself in a category best described as "a dying breed."
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - It has been 13 years since an Eclipse Award winning 3-year-old filly bothered to include the Hollywood Oaks among her championship past performances, and 21 years since the winner of the Kentucky Oaks took the Hollywood version as well.
NEW YORK - A few thoughts on recent racing matters while listening to Tom Durkin read the 43 late scratches on a sun-splashed afternoon the day before the Belmont Stakes:
* Of course it's way too soon to start thinking about next year's 3-year-olds, but two juveniles have already made unusually fast and early fast debuts at the Belmont meeting.
ELMONT, N.Y. - I'm going to try to get alive to five horses in the last leg of the $1 million guaranteed pick four and pick six ending with the 138th Belmont Stakes. If I get that far, I'll have four of the horses coming out of the Kentucky Derby - Bluegrass Cat (2nd), Steppenwolfer (3rd), Jazil (4th), and Bob and John (17th) - but I'll be rooting for the one stranger who just might have a shot at a big price.
Before getting to him, let's rationalize not using the other seven in the race.
