Bettors at most of the offtrack betting parlors run by Fair Grounds could not wager for more than two hours on Nov. 29 after the track lost a communication link with its betting hub in Houston.
The link went down shortly after the third race and was restored after the eighth, according to Bryan Krantz, the president of Fair Grounds. During that time, bettors at eight OTB's run by the track in the New Orleans area could not bet on the track's races or any other races around the country.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Edward Mackie has been appointed director of mutuels at Gulfstream Park, the track's president, Scott Savin, announced Wednesday. Mackie will assume similar duties at Calder Race Course next April. He succeeds Pat Mohony, recently named director of mutuels for the New York Racing Association, at both Gulfstream and Calder.
Savin also announced the appointment of Kenneth Burruss as assistant to Mackie at Gulfstream. Mackie and Burruss are veterans of the Gulfstream mutuels department.
NEW ORLEANS - The similarities go way beyond their names. Last year Lake Lady won her maiden at Churchill Downs on the final weekend in October for trainer Steve Asmussen, and she came back to crush an allowance field there near the end of the meet. This year's model is Lady Tak, an Asmussen-trained filly who debuted at Churchill Oct. 29 with an 11 3/4-length maiden win. She returned last weekend at Churchill to win a tough allowance race by 3 1/4 lengths, running six furlongs in 1:09.40.
MIAMI - Sir Bear, whose form has tailed off during the second half of this season, is not done yet.
Trainer Ralph Ziadie said Wednesday he plans to point Sir Bear to another Gulfstream Park campaign, with his major goal the $1 million Sunshine Millions Classic on Jan. 25.
Sir Bear began the year by winning Gulfstream's Grade 3 Skip Away Handicap and finishing third in the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Handicap. But he was badly outrun in three of his four subsequent starts, including his last two races at Calder, finishing far back in the My Mac and Spend a Buck handicaps.
The Sunland Park stakes schedule this weekend emphasizes 2-year-olds. Grade 1 Remington Park Futurity winner Outdashing tops the trials to the Grade 2, $152,306 Sunland Fall Futurity, and A Medley of Chicks is the horse to beat in the Grade 2, $199,380 Shue Fly Stakes.
The five trials to the Sunland Fall Futurity will be held at 400 yards on Friday afternoon. The 10 horses with the fastest times will quality for the finals on Dec. 21.
The 400-yard Shue Fly Stakes for New Mexico-bred juveniles will be held on Saturday.
HOUSTON - Industry officials will be watching carefully Saturday when the Great State Challenge makes its debut at Sam Houston Race Park. The $1.65 million series will feature stars like Take Charge Lady, Forbidden Apple, and Continental Red who will compete in six divisional races for both prize money and bragging rights among 11 states that will be represented.
If the innovative competition is to win a place on the racing calendar next year, much depends on how the program is received Saturday.
HOUSTON - The complexion of some of the fields for the inaugural Great State Challenge was changing Tuesday, one day before the six divisional races were to be drawn. The biggest surprise was the defection of Disturbingthepeace, who was the probable favorite for the $275,000 Sprint.
The Great State Challenge, which will match horses from 11 states in six races, will be run Saturday at Sam Houston Race Park.
Disturbingthepeace was withdrawn from consideration late Monday.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Speed, an affinity for the inner track, and strong connections make Pocus Hocus a logical play in Thursday's feature at Aqueduct, a second-level allowance race for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles.
It was just about this time a year ago that Pocus Hocus magically turned her career around. After getting beaten by double-digit lengths in five of her first seven starts, Pocus Hocus rolled to a 16 1/2-length maiden win when she raced on the inner track for the first time.
NEW ORLEANS - The way Sherry Spinner ran in her first two American starts, it's surprising she remains eligible for a second-level allowance race. By the time Fair Grounds's ninth race ends Thursday, that matter should be righted.
Sherry Spinner turns back in distance from routes to a turf sprint, and since her last race around one turn produced a close second-place finish to the stakes-class filly My Girl Lisa, Sherry Spinner has every right to beat a full field of 11 opponents Thursday.
MIAMI - Two Item Limit, who has traveled the country amassing earnings of more than $1 million for owner Joseph Graffeo, will finally return to her Florida roots as a surprising starter in Saturday's $100,000 My Charmer Handicap on the turf. The My Charmer is one of four $100,000 races on Saturday's Grand Slam I program at Calder.
Two Item Limit has started 26 times in her career, but has never run on grass. She trained over the turf for the first time Monday morning, working a half-mile around the dogs in 50.20 seconds under jockey Manny Aguilar.
