Suffolk Downs Blog

Learn things about Suffolk Downs that you won't read anywhere else. Various racing personalities, including jockeys, trainers, track handicappers and others contribute on a regular basis.

May 10, 2008

Jessica Paquette, racing analyst

There are small things about the racetrack that make me really happy. Little things that go unnoticed to the casual observer but give me those "I can't believe I get paid to be here" moments.

I was sitting by the paddock, watching the horses come in for an early race on the card when I looked over to see a groom having a full-blown conversation with his horse. He was clearly giving his charge a pep talk and I overheard things along the lines of "You can do it today!" I smiled to myself at the small gesture that spoke volumes. After the race, the horse didn't run very well but on the walk back, I saw that same groom affectionately patting his neck. It isn't always about winning.

The horses are the stars of the show here. Flirt for Fame, a Massachusetts-bred, rolled home impressively today against a tough field of fillies and mares. She looked amazing in the post parade and seems to have really grown into herself. Speaking of Mass-breds, I saw New England superstar Ask Queenie work out the other morning and can't wait to see these two ladies meet up again soon.

May 4, 2008

Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst

After a long winter, Opening Day is finally here! It is so exciting to see so many familiar faces and quite a few new ones, as well.

Despite the less than ideal weather, the entire racetrack was abuzz with excitement by the time the first post drew near. Finally, the 2008 racing season was about to begin!

There were several horses on the Suffolk card I was excited to see, some I had followed for a while and some were new faces in town.

The first horse to catch my eye on the day was a first-time starter named Boken Lady. This filly stumbled at the start and took a few moments to really get her legs under her again. Then, showing class and professionalism one would not always expect from a first-time starter, she made a big run to finish second. This is a filly that I intend to keep an eye on throughout the meet and am interested in how she develops.

The next horse on the day was Watchtower. This horse has arguably the best pedigree on the grounds, being by the brilliant Dubai Millennium out of a Group I winning mare. I am, admittedly, a pedigree junkie and have logged an alarming amount of hours researching lineage. Anyhow, Watchtower showed his class yet again and rolled home much the best.

The best thing about racing at Suffolk Downs is that it allows someone like me, a racing fan, to get attached to these horses and follow them. The big Grade I kind of horses are great but all too often are retired much too soon. How many times have we seen a talented three-year old retired that would have been even better at four?

Electric Mountain, in the ninth race, showed exactly why sometimes, good things happen when a horse gets some time to mature. Electric Mountain, a handsome son of Mt. Livermore bred by Mr. & Mrs. Roy Jackson of Barbaro fame, showed flashes of potential throughout the meet last year. Something, however, just wasn't "clicking" with the colt. His four-year old season at Suffolk Downs started with a bang on Saturday. Looking physically even better than the year before, Electric Mountain ran like a complete professional and has stamped himself as a force to be reckoned with this summer.

There are plenty of things to be excited about this year at Suffolk Downs. With purse increases and an expanded stakes program, the racing looks to get even better as the meet goes on.

We have it pretty good here in Boston right now. We have the Celtics to be excited about, the Red Sox to be excited about and, most importantly, we have Suffolk Downs to be excited about.

November 8, 2007

Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst

As the meet winds to a close, I have found myself getting a bit nostalgic and reminiscing about some of the highlights of the meet. Of course, when I sat down to write about them, I wound up overwhelmed as 2007 was quite a year.

Here they are, in no particular order:

1. OPENING DAY

Opening day, and the Kentucky Derby, fell a day before one of the biggest days of the year for me - the 2007 NPC New Englands Bodybuilding competition. I was touched by how supportive everyone from the gang in the press box to the horsemen and jockeys were about my upcoming competition. The blur of excitement of both opening day and the Derby helped keep the nerves about the following day at bay. The mood at Suffolk Downs on Opening Day was incredible, as well. Big changes and big things were going to happen this year and everyone could feel it.

2. TURF WRITERS AWARDS DINNER

In July, the New England Turf Writers Association holds a dinner and awards ceremony for the previous year's award winners. This year's ceremony was a special one for me because it was the first year I had had a say in the voting. My job of the evening was to essentially be the New England racing equivalent of Vanna White and hand out the awards and it was great to be able to honor some New England racing legends, including trainer Bill Perry, who received the Sam McCracken Award for lifetime achievement.

3. HANDICAPPING TOURNAMENTS

I love these days. We held our annual DRF/NTRA Handicapping Tournaments this year on August 4th and October 20th and both days were a great time for all involved. I like to think I'm a reasonably astute handicapper and am absolutely blown away by how well a handful of regulars do at these contests. I think these tournaments are a really fun day because they give me a chance to chat horses and spend some time with a knowledgeable group of horseplayers. October 20th's tournament was particularly special for me because one of my best friends and another former Kids to the Cup member, Jackie, was visiting me for the weekend from Pennsylvania.

4. THE HORSES

I am a sentimental fool and will be the first to admit it. I got into this sport because I love horses and that hasn't changed one bit. When handicapping, I try to remain as objective as possible, but there are certain horses that I have absolutely fallen in love with over the past couple of years. This year in particular, there have been a few loves both old and new that have made this season so memorable. I'll just list the top four to spare the readers because I could go on and on and on and on for pages.

1. Storm of the Year - my "big hoss" here in East Boston. I followed this little guy since he was foaled as I was a huge Event of the Year fan and followed his entire first crop. I've gotten to watch Storm run for quite a few years here at Suffolk and am thrilled to report his racing career has ended and he is now living happily on a farm in New Hampshire thanks to the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation. It makes me very happy to see a horse like this get a happy ending.

2. Let Me Be Frank - How could he not grow on you? This game gelding is a throwback to racehorses of a different era. He ran 22 times throughout the meet and though he did not win every start, he showed up and ran his race almost every time. He really earned my respect and admiration throughout the meet. I get frustrated when the top horses retire after a handful of starts and horses like 'Frank' really let me enjoy being a racing fan.

3. What a Trippi - I remember watching his career debut on a rainy, nondescript afternoon and being extremely impressed by his presence in the paddock. Sometimes horses just have that intangible something extra and he has it. It was quite a ride watching him throughout the meet as he rose through the ranks and established himself as one of the meet's top three-year olds.

4. Christmas Away - I have been widely teased in the press box for being a sucker for the old class horses and this was the guy that started that teasing. Christmas Away is a horse I've followed since he was a stakes horse in New York as a two-year-old and throughout the years, I've become quite a fan.

5. FRED FOLEY

Fred Foley is hands down one of the greatest people I have ever met. He works as the clerk of scales and also works with trainer Paul Thornton. One of the best things about Fred is how obvious it is how much he loves the horses - his eyes light up when he talks about this filly that he's worked with or that colt that he rode. Last year, he was injured pretty badly while exercise riding. This year, against the odds and with unfailing good spirits, he worked his way back to riding horses again. He is an absolute inspiration.

6. THE MASSCAP

No list could be complete without the big day on it. The day itself and the entire week leading up to it was like nothing I've ever experienced. I felt like I was a part of something BIG. Suffolk Downs and all involved stepped up to the plate and really made the revival of the MassCap one for the ages. The excitement in the air as I made my way around the track was electric - you could visibly see how happy everyone was to have the big race back.

The 2007 live racing season was a memorable one for everyone here in East Boston. I hope you all enjoyed the meet as much as I did. See you next year!

September 25, 2007

Christina Olivares, TVG Host/Reporter

Well, I just got back from Boston. What a city! We had a great time covering the Mass Cap. I've always heard that Boston is a true sports town but to see it first hand made me a believer. They are passionate about the racing at Suffolk and it was wonderful to be in an environment where the crowd cheered as the horses came on to the track, and there was a genuine roar from the crowd when the gates sprung open for the big race.

Brass Hat was a very deserving winner of the Mass Cap. And after meeting the Bradley family, I couldn't be happier for them. Owner Fred Bradley is a true southern gentleman...a horseman from Alabama who's passion for this sport began years ago. Son William "Buff" Bradley proved that he knows his horse and can train with the best of them. Brass Hat was entering the Mass Capp off two terrible efforts in the Woodward and the Whitney. Buff Bradley was widely quoted as saying that the horse didn't like the Saratoga track. A possibility. BUT, could he also have been feeling the effects of the trip overseas to Dubai AND the monster race he ran at Churchill when breaking a track record??? More likely. There were many questions as he went into the gate. But Brass Hat redeemed himself with his winning performance, and vindicated the words of his trainer. It was an emotional winners circle because the Bradley's knew that their horse was back. This was the real Brass Hat. The Brass Hat that they bred, foaled, and who had taken them all over the world.

An interesting story: I asked Fred Bradley how William got the nickname "Buff." He said that young William was galloping racehorses in Alabama by the age of 9. William was naturally shortened to Bill and when he began riding the tougher horses it evolved to "Buffalo Bill." The next step was just "Buff" and it stuck. Buff Bradley...he just sounds like a horse trainer.

Congratulations Bradley Family!

September 25, 2007

Buff Bradley, Trainer of Brass Hat

Coming to Suffolk Downs was a great experience for both my father and myself. We arrived on Thursday early afternoon and went to the track to see how Brass Hat had shipped in, then back to our room to check in. That evening, Sam Elliott (a steward) and his wife Judy, along with stakes coordinator Tom Creel picked us up and toured us through Boston. We ended up at a nice Italian restaurant called Lucia, where we met up with COO of Suffolk Downs Chip Tuttle, Racing Secretary Jimmy Pambianchi, Track Announcer Larry Collmus, and VP of Marketing and Communications Christian Teja. We had a great meal and the stuffed lobster was outstanding. We had a fun time that night swapping stories as we got to know these fine people.

The next morning, we went to the track to watch Brass Hat train and met quite a few of local trainers and press. That evening we were picked up at the hotel by a trolley and taken down to State Street where we went to a high rise overlooking the city for the BIG MassCap Party and it was grand. All the lobster, crab claws and shrimp you could eat were on the table when we got there, so when dinner came around later, I was full and realized I had only eaten appetizers! The party was amazing! We caught a ride home by another fine person in Paul Halloran, a local writer.

On Saturday, MassCap Day, we went to the track early to see Brass Hat and help give him a bath and a walk. That morning we met Susan Walsh, another steward of Suffolk Downs, who loved Brass Hat and offered a home after his racing career. At that point, I informed her that he was never leaving the farm he was born on. However, it is nice to have those kind of people in the business that want to see retired racehorses (and not just speaking of Brass Hat) get a good home after they retire from their racing careers. That afternoon speaks for itself, as the crowd was magnificent in support of such a great event. Brass Hat went on to win the MassCap and showed that he is still a top handicap horse. The crowd cheered loudly as he was brought back to the winner's circle and then again while being led back to the barn area. That night, we went back to Lucia for a celebration meal with Chip, Sam, Christian, Larry, Pat Lamberty and Rowland Hoyt. Another story-swapping event with a few drinks.

Instead of flying back home the next morning to Kentucky where I live, my father and I got to go the Patriots game, as Suffolk Downs was able to come up with some tickets. I am a Patriots fan and have Brady, Moss and Welker on my fantasy team. Needless to say, I am doing well in fantasy football this year. It was a nice day and we enjoyed the company of Tom and Michelle Creel and a few others from the racing office. One thing is for sure, we sure met some wonderful people and I hope that we are able to come back next year. My father and I (along with Brass Hat, groom Willie Woods, and driver Jim Doss) are very sincere in saying that we enjoyed the trip and all the people we met along the way.

Saturday, September 22, 2007

Richard Fields, Largest shareholder of Suffolk Downs

Today's historic return of the MassCap marks a new chapter for thoroughbred racing at Suffolk Downs. In addition to hosting over 19,000 guests to view the Sport of Kings, today included a landmark performance by Brass Hat, and a significant victory for jockey Willie Martinez, trainer Buff Bradley, and owner Fred Bradley.

At Suffolk Downs, we are fortunate to be in one of the greatest sports markets in the world, and the return of the MassCap signals our intention to continue bringing both existing and new fans to enjoy a world-class entertainment experience in thoroughbred racing.

As I have said before, this race is just the beginning of our team's commitment to thoroughbred racing in Massachusetts. I'd like to thank the employees, trainers, jockeys, owners, and guests who made this day such a success, and look forward to seeing everyone again soon here at Suffolk Downs.

Friday, September 21, 2007

Christian Teja, V.P. of Marketing and Communications

The excitement continues to build as the MassCap horses have begun to arrive.

Brass Hat arrived from Kentucky on Wednesday, while Dr. Pleasure and Palladio got to Boston on Thursday.

They are all being stabled in our newly renovated barn, which has drawn many compliments from our out-of-town guests.

I went to the backstretch this morning to see Brass Hat gallop. He went on the track at around 8:40, right after the renovation break. Local trainer Brenda McCarthy had the opportunity to ride him. Needless to say, she was very excited about it.

Brass Hat's owner Fred Bradley and his son William "Buff" Bradley, Brass Hat's trainer, seem to be enjoying themselves in Boston, having visited the North End for dinner on Thursday night with friend Jim Doss, who drove the trailer from Kentucky to Boston.

Morning-line favorite Fairbanks and veteran Evening Attire are both due in this afternoon.

September 20, 2007

Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst

After all of the planning and anticipation, MassCap week is finally here. This is the first time I have been involved with a race of this magnitude in this capacity and it has been an amazing experience.

The horses have started arriving, as Grade I winner Brass Hat is already on the grounds, resting comfortably in our newly renovated stakes barn. I understand Dr. Pleasure is on his way.

Yesterday was the post position draw and I was happy with the quality field we attracted. The big race is shaping up to be extremely competitive and the entire card is just extraordinary. I sat up last night going through the card race by race and was impressed by the depth of all the races. As both a racing fan and handicapper, I'm very excited for Saturday.

The All-Stakes Pick 4 starts in the seventh race with the $45,000 Collegian Stakes and one of my favorite local horses, What a Trippi, looks poised for a big effort. This son of Trippi has yet to be worse than second from six starts and this is a horse that has gotten better and matured with each start. This bay gelding also has a tendency to get a little hot and worked up after a race, so I hope the ocean breeze keeps the temperature comfortable.

The big race, the $500,000 Mass Cap, is the tenth race of the card and features a competitive field of eight. As a press box staffer, I know you're supposed to remain neutral, but it's tough not to root for the gallant gelding, nine-year-old Evening Attire.

Seven years ago, I remember standing by the rail at Saratoga in the rain and watching a two-year old break his maiden by a bare nose after an eventful start. I was fifteen years old and that horse was Evening Attire. I vividly remember watching him walk back after the race and he was so obviously pleased with himself for figuring out what that whole racing thing was about. And figure it out he certainly did - his career has covered eight years and includes numerous triumphs. Though he may not have an actual Eclipse Award to his credit, he is a champion in every sense of the word.

September 14, 2007

Larry Collmus, Track Announcer

Now that the Monmouth racing season is over, it's nice to be back in Boston and calling at Suffolk Downs again. Of course, with that said, I'm writing this from my place in Monmouth Beach, NJ.

The next couple of months will be kind of crazy for me, but also a lot of fun. For the most part, my schedule is calling the races at Suffolk on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Then hopping in the car and driving down to New Jersey to call the races at the Meadowlands on Thursday night. It's about a 3 1/2 hour ride. I'll then stay at my place near Monmouth (about 50 minutes from the Meadowlands) and drive back to the Meadowlands for Friday night's action.

On Saturday afternoon, after my workout at the gym, I'll head back to Boston to my place in the North End. Sunday will be the day to relax and watch the Pats and the Red Sox.

I guess I could try to take a plane or train, but I'm used to doing the drive and it's the most convenient option.

This week will be different because it's MassCap time and I'll be in Boston all week long.

Unfortunately I have jury duty in Boston on Monday, so I'll miss Monday's card. Luckily, my man T.D. Thornton has things covered. He's the only "backup" announcer who calls more than the "regular" announcer does. Hopefully I'll only miss the one day.

Wednesday I'm hosting the Press Conference for the MassCap Post Position Draw. We do it up in the Topsider Room and after we assign the post positions, I'll interview the trainers that have horses in the MassCap.

I think we're going to get a deep competitive field this year. I'm excited about it. Suffolk has been playing a commercial showing some of the previous MassCaps and it brings back great memories. After a couple of years without the race, it's a thrill to have it back.

I'm also looking forward to the Breeders' Cup at Monmouth Park on Oct 26 and 27. People ask me this all the time, so here's how it works: Trevor Denman will call the three Breeders' Cup races on Friday and the seven BC races on Saturday and I'll do the undercard. It will be the first time I've worked with Trevor since I was the announcer at Golden Gate Fields in the late 80's.

Even though I won't be calling the Breeders' Cup, I'll still be involved and will have a great view of the races.

That's all for now. It's time to get back in the car and head up to the Meadowlands for tonight's card. See you at the MassCap!

August 30, 2007

Pat Lamberty, Racing Analyst

I am a lucky guy. My summers are spent between Boston and Saratoga.

While in Saratoga, the local racing scene is still very much on my mind.

Here are a few observations from the season and how they relate to the local racing scene.

August 3 - Trainer Ambrose Pascucci ships Suffolk-based Kick Up Your Heels to Saratoga for a victory over maiden special weight competition, returning $27.40 for the victory. This horse raced in the colors of prominent owner Flying Zee Stables. It is nice to see such a respected owner support New England racing.

August 26 - One of the sharpest turf trainers in New England lit up the toteboard at Saratoga when Dr. Rico paid $65 to win on the grass for Tom McCooey and owner Joe DiRico.

New England grass horses are starting to get recognized as live longshots in Saratoga. Watching the handicapping shows on the OTB channel, the analysts are mentioning how the days of live New England shippers are back.

August 27 - My first stop on the computer in the morning: Daily Racing Form. The recap story on Street Sense's victory in the Travers had positive information on the possibility of him running in the MassCap.

The following was taken directly from DRF...

Nafzger mentioned five possible races for Street Sense's next start, though during his explanation of what kind of race he was looking for, he seemed to narrow it down to two. Nafzger mentioned the Super Derby and Massachusetts Handicap, both Sept. 22; the Kentucky Cup Classic and Hawthorne Gold Cup, both on Sept. 29; and the Jockey Club Gold Cup. He also said there is a small chance Street Sense could simply train up to the BC Classic.

Nafzger said he would prefer to run Street Sense next against older horses and at 1 1/8 miles, meaning the Massachusetts Handicap or the Kentucky Cup Classic are the logical choices. The Massachusetts Handicap is appealing because under the conditions of the race Street Sense is eligible for a $200,000 bonus in addition to the $300,000 first-place prize.

Great news that we're in the mix! Could the best horse in America win the MassCap again? Suffolk Downs was blessed to have Cigar and Skip Away do just that not too long ago. For now, we'll have to wait and see.

Stay tuned for more updates. I will be reporting on any developments over the next week.

Wednesday, August 22

Jessica Paquette, Racing Analyst

Preparing for a day of paddock previews begins the night before, usually at my gym. Tuesday night I brought the past performance sheets for Wednesday with me to the gym, scattering them about on the treadmill. I'm an avid fitness enthusiast so any opportunity to mix my two loves is welcome. Once the cardio is done, I feel like I have a pretty good idea about the day's card.

Wednesday morning begins bright and early. I'm up around the same time as the sun and back at the gym, past performances in tow. I leave the gym with definitive picks for the day.

After I make the commute to East Boston, it's back to studying and preparing for our pre-race show, Suffolk Downs Today, with our fellow handicapper, Tim. Tim and I have a very similar sense of humor (though we rarely agree on horses) and get along well off camera, so I always enjoy doing the show with him.

Once the pre-race show is wrapped, it's time for me to make my way downstairs to do the paddock previews all day. It never ceases to amaze me how fortunate I am to be paid to do something I love. There is nothing like standing by the rail and watching a field of horses gallop by- it doesn't matter if they are bottom level claimers or grade one caliber animals. I think they're all magnificent.

Proving that there is never a dull day at the racetrack, even on a nondescript Wednesday afternoon, Angel Vasquez Jr. pilots home Diablo Reigns in the second race, returning $95.40. Angel is one of my favorite jockeys here and I was thrilled to interview him after the race, though my interviewing skills are a work in progress.

As hard as I try not to, I will admit I do get pretty attached to a lot of these horses. When you see the same horses run on a regular basis, I really think it's impossible not to develop a little fondness for them. I feel like if I ever stop falling in love with these animals, it's time for me to look for a different line of work. In the sixth race, I was really happy to see Wynn's Whim run a big race. Her last outing was really troublesome. Physically she looked great but she behaved uncharacteristically poor in the paddock and at the gate. She wanted nothing to do with racing that day and it worried me to see a horse I liked act that way. Well, the real Wynn's Whim showed up today and she showed up in a big way, drawing off by six and a half lengths to prove that even horses have inexplicable bad days.

Between races, I like to sit in the scale house and chat with the various cast of characters that come in and out throughout the day. It is a little family down there and that is one of the things I value most about working at a smaller racetrack. Everyone knows everyone and there is a great sense of camaraderie and a great deal of horsing around, as well. I came back into the room after the seventh race to find my cell phone missing in action. I scoured the room, finding nothing but smirks from my coworkers. Eventually, the red face and snickering gave the culprit away and I found my phone after much laughter.

That reminds me of another amusing scale house story, actually. Last summer during my first few weeks doing the paddock show, I decided to step on the jockey's scale between races and see what I was weighing in at. If you look up gullible in the dictionary, you may find my picture. As I stepped on it, unbeknownst to me, resident prankster Chris stepped on it behind me and my weight shot up a solid 40 lbs. They still laugh about the horrified expression on my face to this day.

In our feature, Thatsthe Fact Jack ran a huge race, notching his fourth win at Suffolk for the season. This is a horse that has really blossomed since coming to Suffolk and obviously loved this track. I know the feeling.

Tuesday, August 7
Mark Johnson, regular visiting British Announcer, is on the last leg of a whistle-stop racing tour.

"Have binoculars, will travel"...that's always been my creed, but these past two weeks have been hectic even by British track announcer standards.

Over the pond it's not unusual for track announcers (we're called "racecourse commentators" in Britain) to travel upwards of a 1,000 miles a week as our turf-only tracks tend to race, on average, just a single day or two at a time. The longest continual meets we have are only five days - Royal Ascot being one of those rarities. So we drive, or sometimes fly, hundreds of miles a day often just to call 6 or 7 races.

The last two weeks have not been typical - but wow - what a blast!

Saturday 28th July - In the morning, leave my home in South West London, and drive to the ancient English city of Salisbury to call a six race evening card. Salisbury is a beautiful city (tiny even by British standards) with one of the most historic cathedrals in the country. However it isn't too pretty today as there is rain in air and low cloud swirling - it’s even difficult to pick out the spire of the cathedral through the gloom.

The track at Salisbury is "different" to say the least. Five of the six races are sprints over a virtually straight track, however one race - the fifth - is a long distance race run over 1m6f. They can't use a starting gate for this race as the horses start right on the winning line and there is no way to get any starting gates on or off the track - so the race starts by an elastic tape being released across the track. The runners then proceed the wrong way up the home stretch before turning left off the home stretch at the 3/8th pole and then race around a loop before rejoining the long home stretch with about 6 furlongs to run.

After the last race, at about 9:00pm in the evening, it's an hour drive to Southampton on the South coast of England to stay in a hotel.

Sunday 29th July - An early start to catch the 8:00am plane from Southampton to the island of Jersey. Jersey is the biggest of the British Channel Islands. The Channel Islands are about 100 miles South of England where the Atlantic Ocean becomes the English Channel and, although they are part of the United Kingdom, they are actually much nearer to France.

Jersey is only about 20 miles long by 10 miles wide but does have a racetrack - called Les Landes (pronounced "Lay Lond") in the Northwestern most corner of the island. It is a mile round and hosts 9 racing days each year. All single day meets which comprise of five races. Each day of racing starts with a hurdle race and then is followed by 4 flat races.

Amazingly there are about ten trainers based on the island each year, training from just one horse up to about 16 horses for the leading barn and the racing is competitive, if low grade.

Once again there are no starting gates - all the races are started by tape - which can lead to some interesting starts for the 5 1/2 furlongs sprints - the shortest trip run at Les Landes.

There is no announcer's booth as such at present as a new grandstand is currently being built. So it was a case of standing on the earth mound, with a wooded lectern in front, and (at least of the first two races) in full golfing waterproofs, calling them home.

This was Jersey Derby Day and the big race - the most important race of the Jersey season - drew a field of six. It is a Derby run at 1 1/2m for 3yrs and upward (not just 3 year-olds) and the field featured two dual winners of the event. It was a great race with 5 of the field in line at the 3/16ths but eventually a 7/1 shot (Carr Hall was his name) beat the favourites.

Monday 30th July - "R & R" on Jersey followed by dinner with some good racing friends.

Tuesday 31st July - Fly back to Southampton and then drive back to London. Return home to find my cable TV box has "expired".

Wednesday 1st August - Domestic jobs and plenty of American racing "homework".

Thursday 2nd August - Another early start as I'm on an early flight from London Heathrow to Miami International. It's a 9 hour flight (watch "300" and "A Night in the Museum" as well as doing some racing home work). Land at about 2:30pm (Eastern). Once checked into my hotel (right on the 3/8th pole of Calder Racecourse) it's time to walk round to the Grandstand, even though it's a dark day at the track, and say hi to everyone in the Press box.

As resident Calder announcer Bobby Neuman is having a week's vacation, I've been invited to call the live Calder racing weekend - Friday, Saturday & Sunday. After two Sam Adams back at the hotel, I'm asleep!

Friday 3rd August - As American "Eastern Time" is 5 hours behind the time currently in Britain I awake at 4am (9am therefore for my body clock). It's time to start coloring in my jockey silks colors on my race sheets - I have a little rubber stamp in the outline of a jockey which I put next to the name/number of each horse to help me learn the names/colors of each horse in each race.

I'm at the track by 9:45am and getting the announcer's booth set up and making sure I have all the information I need before the live action starts. Once the National Anthem has been played and you've announced the scratches and changes for the day, there is little time to do much else but learn the colors and call the races.

I feel nervous and a little extra pressure than usual as post time for the first race approaches...although I've called about hundred races in America before (as well as five Epsom Derbys and the Grand National in England) this will be my first full card announcing in America - indeed it's the first time a British announcer will have ever called a full card in America. Hey, I'm carrying the standard for my country!

By the way Trvor Denman is South African and Mike Wrona is Australian if you were wondering! They are not British.

Saturday 4th August - 10 races down on Friday and now a 13 race card on Saturday - the most races I have ever called live in one day. Because of the extreme heat over the weekend (about 95 degrees) the post parades are shortened which makes the announcer's job harder as you only get a few minutes to look at the horses live and learn the colors.

Sunday 5th August - 11 more races today and I get a real lump in my throat as Calder's All Star Bugler Wally McMurray plays "Rule Brittania" as part of the final call to post of the day. 34 race calls in 3 days - luckily I think they went ok without a major hitch and after another couple of beers I'm asleep by 8:30pm!

Monday 6th August - Another early start as this time I'm flying from Fort Lauderdale to Boston. I couldn't make a stateside trip without coming up to see all my friends here in Boston and in particular at Suffolk Downs. Once landed and checked into my hotel I quite literally jog around Orients Heights and down to Suffolk Downs so I can be here for the last 3 races. Luckily it stopped raining for my mad sprint!

Tuesday 7th August - A trip to visit announcer T D Thornton "off duty."

Wednesday 8th August - Back to the track to guest with Jessica on the pre-racing show and some of the paddock previews and then up to the announcer's booth to call a couple of races. The flight back to London leaves tonight...I will sleep on the plane.

Friday night I'm back presenting the evening racing show on Racing UK...don't ask me where I am after that...I'll take one week at a time.

Wednesday, August 1

Suffolk Downs Handicapping Tournament
By Paul Weizer, former Suffolk Downs qualifier and 3-time qualifier overall for DRF/NTRA National Handicapping Championship

Handicapping tournaments are the best bet in racing. These contests provide an answer to the biggest obstacle to making money at the races: overcoming the takeout. In fact, many tournaments, including the one at Suffolk Downs this Saturday, return 100% of all entry fees to the contest players. Factor in the free gifts and lunch and you have a game with a positive payback for players.

Further, many contests offer very large prizes. Realistically, most horseplayers can't go to the track and expect to leave with a four, five, or even six figure profit for the day. However, in handicapping contests, someone always does. The Suffolk Downs contest is limited to 300 players (although will not likely reach that number). Based on 300 entries, prize money is paid to the top 10 people with the winner's share being $9,000. Not a bad day at the races. Even more importantly, the top two players will join me (I qualified in an online contest in April) at the National Handicapping Championship at the Red Rock Casino and Spa in Las Vegas this January for a chance at the estimated $500,000 top prize.

While not the most challenging format out there, the Suffolk Downs contest is always on my calendar based on its simplicity and value. For people new to handicapping contests, this is a perfect format to give things a try. In the Suffolk Downs contest, players are required to make mythical $2 Win/Place wagers on one horse in each of fifteen pre-selected races from around the country. The winner is the player who amasses the largest mythical bankroll based on their 15 wagers. All selections must be turned in prior to the first race of the tournament. This means that players cannot know the odds of the horses they will play and will not know much about how the tracks are playing that day. Accordingly, the strategy for this format is much different from that of other tournaments. This tournament doesn’t require any money management or tournament savvy. Just handicap fifteen races and make as much money as possible.

The key to doing well in this type of contest is to understand your ultimate goal. This is not a contest to see who has the most winners at the end of the day. It is a contest to see who has the highest bankroll. Just like a real day betting the races, the idea is to make money. The added challenge to this format is that players need to make more money than approximately 200 others without knowing the true odds of any horse in any race. Basic strategy in this type of contest format is to go for long shots in any race where a case can be made for one. In recent years, it has taken a final bankroll ranging from a low of $103 to a high score of $115 to win this contest. To get to that number, it is much easier to hit one or two long price horses than it is to hit eight or ten short price ones. Keep in mind that one 20-1 winner returns the same amount of money as ten 2-1 shots. Ask yourself, which is easier to do? Further, it is key to find horses that will separate your entry from the pack. It is far more important to find the long shot that few players will have than to hit the low priced obvious contender that most will play. Sometimes this type of horse will come in. More often they will not (they call them long shots for a reason). However, if they do come in for you on Saturday, you will be handsomely rewarded.

Having qualified for the National Handicapping Championship three times, I can tell you that there is no more exciting event in the world. Having qualified at three different venues, I can tell you that no one treats their players better than the people at Suffolk Downs. What other form of entertainment allows you to put up $60 for a chance to win up to $9000 and an all expense paid trip to Las Vegas for the chance at half a million dollars? After this contest, we know for sure that for two lucky players, Saturday night this dream will be a reality.

Wednesday, July 25 - A Day Calling the Races

Pat Lamberty, Suffolk Downs Racing Anaylyst

Yesterday I changed duties for the day from being the racing analyst to track announcer while T.D. Thornton was off signing copies of his book in Saratoga.

I approached the day with both excitement and a slight sense of nervousness. I have called a few races at Suffolk, but certainly don't feel 100% comfortable being up on the roof.

As post time approached for the first race, I was having trouble remembering some of the names. I found that the short-term memory needed for the job does improve as the day progresses. Larry Collmus has an amazing ability to memorize names in a short period of time, but if you ask him later that night who won the say the fifth race it doesn’t come out as quickly as one would think. I found this to be the case as well when my friend Rob called later in the night asking about a race and I could not remember who won for about two minutes.

The first and second races were the most difficult. In the booth, there are two buttons: one for the national anthem, the other for the bugle when the horses come onto the racetrack.

When leading the horses onto the track for the first race, I hit the wrong button and had to wait for the national anthem to play through the song's entirety. It was quite funny, but also embarrassing. The three minutes I had to wait for the music to stop seemed like an eternity. What to say? I went with...

America salutes the horses on the track for the first race...now five minutes to post.

There was some malfunction before the first race and the race was hand-timed. As I was looking for the fractions on the tote board and they were not there it does mess with the subconscious and you find yourself calling the race, but wondering if you should address there are no fractions. After the race, there was a stewards' inquiry as well, thankfully the numbers didn't changes because I was washed out at this point.

The second race was for two-year-olds going four-furlongs. This was somewhat tricky because there are probably no more than five races all year run at that distance, so knowing where the fractions would be recorded was a little tricky.

I got through the double and relaxed on the microphone a little bit. Jockey Clifford Dooley came up to have a laugh for a couple of races later in the day and it made me feel more at ease to have someone else there to pass the idle time.

I can see why he is a jockey and I am not. He had a chicken caesar salad for lunch and I had a steak and cheese and fries.

Interestingly, it was a mixed day for Dooley. He is just about to finish a five-day suspension for a riding infringement and was in the booth when Arrested Gatorgirl came rolling late for an upset win. Dooley would have been aboard, and while I am sure he was happy for the horse it must be tough to be at the track and see a horse you have a relationship win.

The remainder of the races went quickly and I found my short-term memory getting better as the day went on.

I was especially pleased with my call of Theatrical Talent's victory in the eighth race. He was passed by a 2-5 shot Elninodemisijos and looked beaten in the final 30 yards, but I could tell Elninodemisijos was idling on the lead and that Pedro Gonzalez and Theatrical Talent were going to come back and make it real close.

I was happy that I had been descriptive with the action as it unfolded and got a very close finish correct.

All said though, the best part of the day for me came just after the last race. I went down to the jockey's room to catch up with the boys and all the riders and valets serenaded me with the national anthem. Luis Garcia seemed especially delighted with my mixup. He has a great laugh and sense of humor. It would not be nearly as fun without Garcia in the room.

For those that have not been to the jockey's room, it is lots of laughs and enjoyment, but not a place for those with thin skin. Think about it, in no other sport do the competing teams return to the same locker room, but in racing, it happens throughout the country with riders.

At that point, my day came full circle. I did not have to be on camera for the day so I passed on the shirt and tie in favor or shorts and an Arsenal soccer jersey. It all came full circle after the boys sang for me. I got to applaud them as well, just like a footballer would in Europe at the end of the match.

July 22, 2007

Jessica Paquette, Suffolk Downs racing analyst

Every now and then a horse will pop onto the scene and really surprise me, not only by his talent but by his tenacity as well. What a Trippi, George Saccardo's promising three year old, has done just that.

I remember his East Boston debut vividly. When I had been handicapping the night before, I was impressed by his worktab and his sire, Trippi, had always been a horse I had liked in his racing days so I made a note to check him out the following day. The day did not turn out nearly as nice as I had hoped weatherwise - it was rainy, windy and overall a pretty miserable day. He was very overlooked at the betting windows and I remember being perplexed by that watching him in the paddock. He looked like a racehorse, through and through. He also strongly resembled his sire.

Trippi was a horse I had the pleasure of spending some time with during his racing career. During his three-year-old campaign I was a frequent haunt in Todd Pletcher's barn. As often as I could, I'd drive down to Belmont and pay the barn a visit, mostly to see the equine love of my life, Graeme Hall. When visiting Graeme Hall, Todd also would let me meander around the shedrow and visit his other stars, including, at the time, Trippi. Trippi was a little horse with a ton of personality. I remember him being extremely playful and would stick out his tongue for whomever was around to play with.

Anyhow, enough wandering down memory lane - back to What a Trippi. The sloppy going did little to deter him and he made a very sharp rally to finish second behind another talented colt, Electric Mountain. I was impressed and looked forward to his next trip to the races. He did not disappoint and won easily, solidifying my opinion about him. He turned the tables on Electric Mountain in their next race, showing a professionalism and maturity beyond his three lifetime starts. His first attempt around two turns did not wind up a winning one, but sometimes a young horse learns as much from defeat as from victory.

When I saw him entered for Saturday, I was excited. He had done nothing to disappoint in his previous four starts and I expected a big effort from him. One of the things I like most about Suffolk Downs is our group of "regulars" that have been racing here for years. That being said, it is also refreshing to see a young horse burst onto the local scene with a world of potential like What a Trippi has. On Saturday, he came flying through on the rail to just make it in time at the wire. He is a just such a fun horse to watch run - he obviously enjoys being a racehorse and, even more, enjoys winning.