Great call, Vic.

[TGJB]

Nice job.

[magicnight]

The shout out to the barn area (and all of the great horses who have been there) on the clubhouse turn was a very nice touch.

[miff]

In the end,The Evil Empire(CDI) sold out the racing game when gambling was not passed to subsidize the racing operation.Politicians also share blame for closure of one of the top venues in the game and the loss of jobs to longtime loyal workers.The closure of Holly has ominous possible implications for the racing game with more and more Governors/State Legislatures revisiting casino/slot subsidies to racing.Many Gov\'s with a view of redirecting or reducing gambling subsidies from racing to the general fund.

Evil Empire now running Calder to the ground hoping to get the best deal they can on gambling/simo reselling  before abandoning live Florida racing to Stronach Group.Talks still ongoing, Calders racing operation days numbered.

Aqueduct openly targeted for closure by Cuomo called it \"a waste\"

[Silver Charm]

Thanks for the Holiday Wishes Dr. Doom;)

This type of thing is going on all over in Sports. People are being robbed and beaten in the parking lot at Dodgers Games as often as someone steals home. Rear ends in the seats attendance is down in College Games. NFL Stadiums in lame duck playoff scenes were half filled yesterday. And a Race Track located near the City is a sitting Cemetary.....period.  Racing needs to embrace technology faster and realize the Saratoga. Delmar and Keeneland models still work and work very well.

Hope everyone is having a Happy Holiday Season!!!

[miff]

Silver,

While Rome burns, the Clueless Clowns circle jerk and debate lasix and other minutia, Brilliant!

Happy Holidays

Mike

[FrankD.]

ONLY 8 MORE DAYS OF CLUELESS CLOWNS IN 2013

[Silver Charm]

Frank on the racing calendar the new year officially begins on Dec 26th. Opening Day at Santa Anita. Keep in mind that last year on New Years Day we had a Verazanno breaking his maiden at GP and Itsmyluckyday romping in the Gulfstream Park Derby or whatever it is. All of this serves as kind of a novacaine or temporary numbing agent for the real problems.

People with vision and not their own self serving interests need to step up! Or the Sport will crumble and the animal of Thoroughbred Racing will die right in front of everyone who cares eyes......

The Fixx - Stand or Fall
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMNPMjsM_Yo

[Rick B.]

miff Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> In the end,The Evil Empire(CDI) sold out the
> racing game

> Politicians also share blame for closure of one
> of the top venues in the game and the loss of jobs

I\'m no mouthpiece for huge corporations, and I\'ll
spare all of us the vulgarities I regularly spew about
politicians, but these are cheap, easy targets IMO when
it comes to racing, and to track closures in particular.

Ron Geary saved Ellis Park from the wrecking ball (for
far less money, of course)...but with all of that money
and brainpower and deal making capability in SoCal, what,
nobody could step up and form a group to save Hollywood?

Blame CDI & the politicos? Might as well Blame Canada.

[miff]

\"...but with all of that money
and brainpower and deal making capability in SoCal, what,
nobody could step up and form a group to save Hollywood\"

Rick,

Why would any group step up to save a money losing proposition with virtually no upside? Politicans easily could have passed legislation to save Hollywood. They chose not to because there was no real potitical capital to be gained.

States run/license racing and are implicit in its demise.Agree Canada has no role.

Happy Holidays,

Mike

[Rick B.]

miff Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Rick,
>
> Why would any group step up to save a money losing
> proposition with virtually no upside?

Agreed.

> Politicans easily could have passed legislation to
> save Hollywood.

Why, if it is the dead number we think it is?

Sorry for the trap, Mike, but the idea that politicians
can (or should) save failing businesses \"with no upside\"
is an old-school idea that needs to die faster. What
taxpayer wants to back a loser? Not me. Not you.