NTRA highlight: NTRA President and CEO, Alex Waldrop, who penned guest columns in our March/April and November/December '08 issues, has a blog for racing fans at www.ntra.com.
"EMIRATES AIRLINE SUMMER RACING PRESENTED BY THE NTRA" TO AIR ON ESPN NETWORKS BEGINNING JULY 25
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) announced today the broadcast schedule for "Emirates Airline Summer Racing Presented by the NTRA" to air on the ESPN networks beginning Saturday, July 25. The series will provide comprehensive, live coverage of Grade I summer racing fixtures from three of America's most loved racing venues.
Beginning with the Grade I, $350,000 Eddie Read Stakes on the turf from Del Mar, "Emirates Airline Summer Racing Presented by the NTRA" will take viewers from coast to coast as it showcases some of racing's biggest stars-many of whom will go on to compete in the November 6-7 Breeders' Cup World Championships.
On August 8, the scene shifts to Arlington Park outside Chicago for the Grade I Arlington Million, which annually attracts top grass runners from around the world for its seven-figure purse. The Arlington Million also serves as a Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" event for the Breeders' Cup Turf.
The series concludes on August 29 with the $1 million Shadwell Travers Stakes from Saratoga. Known as the "Mid-Summer Derby", the 2009 Travers could bring together all three winners from this year's Triple Crown events-Derby winner Mine That Bird, Preakness heroine Rachel Alexandra and Belmont Stakes victor Summer Bird.
"We are very pleased to once again partner with ESPN in bringing racing fans key summer contests from three of the sport's showpiece racetracks," said Alex Waldrop, President and CEO of the NTRA.
The following is the schedule for "Emirates Airline Summer Racing Presented by the NTRA" (subject to change):
Date Network Time (ET) Race/Event Track
July 25 ESPN2 8:00-9:00 p.m. Eddie Read Stakes Del Mar
August 8 ESPN 4:30-6:00 p.m. Arlington Million Arlington Park
August 29 ESPN 4:30-6:00 p.m. Shadwell Travers Stakes Saratoga
AP highlight: The penultimate race is a mile and one sixteenth on a card that is distinctively a sprinting festival. Friday First Post of 4:00 pm CDT. Closing Day is September 27th.
AP takeout: WPS: 15% EX: 17.5% TRI: 23%
Try HorsePlayer's new Hiatus Report to follow hot and cold trainers on the Chicago circuit. This report will show you how long it has been since a trainer won on the Arlington-Hawthorne thoroughbred circuit.
BEL highlight: Half of Friday's 10-race card is scheduled for the turf courses including the Caress Stakes. First Post is 1:00 pm EDT. Closing Day is July 26th.
BEL takeout: WPS: 16% EX: 18.5% TRI: 26%
Try HorsePlayer's new Hiatus Report to follow hot and cold trainers on the NYRA circuit. This report will show you how long it has been since a trainer won on the Aqueduct-Belmont-Saratoga thoroughbred circuit.
CRC highlight: A trio of events highlight the foals of 2007. First Post is 12:40 pm EDT. The Calder meet continues October 19th. Then the Tropcial meet begins on October 20th and runs through January 2, 2010.
HOL highlight:47 of tonight's runners can be acquired for the price of $25,000 or more. First Post is 7:05 pm PDT. Closing Day is July 19th.
HOL takeout: WPS: 15.4% EX: 20.7% TRI: 20.7%
Try HorsePlayer's new Hiatus Report to follow hot and cold trainers on the SoCal circuit. This report will show you how long it has been since a trainer won on the Del Mar-Fairplex-Hollywood-Santa Anita thoroughbred circuit.
PEN highlight: The early double is over timber. ***New PEN policy -- all tote pools close when the first horse enters the gate.*** 6:45 pm EDT First Post.
2006 DRF/NTRA NHC Champ Ron Rippey provides FREE daily selections for Belmont & Monmouth!
TOURNAMENT SPOTLIGHT:
CONGRATULATIONS TO DENNIS DECAUWER, PROFILED IN OUR MAR/APR '09 ISSUE, ON HIS VICTORY IN THE LAS VEGAS HILTON PICK THE PONIES HANDICAPPING TOURNAMENT THAT CONCLUDED FRIDAY, MAY 1ST.
In order to prevent spam tweets, the @bridgejumper account is protected. Y'all will have to request of approval to follow @bridgejumper. At least once a day, Stu will check the queue of approvals and will approve every request. Spam tweets and/or tweets unrelated bridgejumping alerts will recieve a warning message. Accounts will receive 2 warnings and be blocked on the third offense.
The @bridgejumper Twitter account has been configured as a group tweet. Members who are following @bridgejumper can broadcast a message to the whole group by sending a direct message to the group's Twitter account.
For this to work well to compete against the bridgejumpers, followers will have to be active - the price of being free. If the followers are passive, this will not work. The philosophy will be like a 'neighborhood watch.'
Bridgejumper Alert Process:
1. Identify a bridgejumper opportunity 2. Login to Twitter 3. Send a Direct message to @bridgejumper
HORSEPLAYER SELECTIONS: Daily Simulcast Selections By HorsePlayer's Staff
The HorsePlayer Magazine, has rolled out a new selection product, HorsePlayer Simulcast Card, designed to assist the busy handicapper identify 'bettable' races. The Simulcast Card will identify 14 races per day that the HorsePlayer staff believe have vulnerable favorites. In addition, the Simulcast Card recommends a horse with which to beat the favorite. Each suggested horse will be greater than 7-to-2 on the track's morning line.
4 Winners From 14 Runners (for a flat bet profit) on Thursday, May 21st. 3 Winners From 12 Runners (w/ 2 Scratches for a flat bet profit) on Monday, May 25th. 4 Winners From 13 Runners (w/ a Scratch for a flat bet profit) on Friday, May 29th. 4 Winners From 13 Runners (w/ a Scratch for a flat bet profit) on Monday, June 1st. 4 Winners From 11 Runners (w/ 3 Scratches for a flat bet profit) on Tuesday, June 2nd.
That Saturday's Simulcast Card is representative of the product. 14 selections scratched to 13 runners. 8 selections finished in the money -- 3 won, 4 placed, and 1 showed. The winning prices were $14.40, $17.20, and $19.20. The totals exhibited a flat-bet win profit.
The racing industry's leading fan-based publication, focusing exclusively on the people, skills and news surrounding what it takes to pick your next winner. January 1st marked the start of our 16th year!
