Horse racing

Why is Penn National looking at Lone Star?

Representatives from Penn National Gaming have been in the area this week to look at the possibility of attempting to purchase Lone Star Park.

Global Gaming Solutions, which is owned by the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma, has been indentified as having the “stalking horse,” or high, bid for Lone Star, which is being sold as part of the bankruptcy of Magna Entertainment. The Chickasaws have put $27 million on the table.

But others have until Monday to qualify to make bids.

“Penn National, I think, has a real interest,” said Grand Prairie Mayor Charles England, explaining he met with three representatives from Penn National this week. Two weeks ago, Penn National was the underbidder, after being the stalking horse, in the sale of Thistledown in Ohio. The bankruptcy court approved the sale of Thistledown to Harrah’s for $89.5 million, with much of that contingent on gaming.

Penn National Gaming operates Zia Park, Charles Town and, of course Penn National, as well as Freehold Raceway and Bangor Raceway, which are harness tracks. The company also owns and operates 11 casinos.

“They have a lot of money,” England said about Penn National. “They know something about racing, and gaming, too. They can be a player if they want to be.”

The question, of course, is how much they want to play. A Penn National representative who was in Texas Monday didn’t return numerous phone calls to answer that question, and so I’m left wondering.

Frankly, Texas is rife with gambling – but most of it, for whatever reason, is positioned so that little of its revenue ever finds its way to the state’s horse industry or racetracks. You can drive down the street from Lone Star Park and stop at any of several convenience stores or gas stations and buy lotto tickets and scratch off tickets galore. In fact, you can buy a lotto ticket at more than 2,000 locations in the state; you can bet on a horse in only a few. The state is in the gaming business and makes sure its game has a huge advantage in distribution.

A lottery ticket, of course, is nothing but a slot machine without the lights. But there are luminous slot machines, too, within a mile or two of Lone Star. They’re not technically slot machines, of course, for such sinful things aren’t legal in Texas; they’re eight liners. Eight liners look and act much like slot machines; only you can’t win money playing them (wink, wink). Anyway, they’re very common – six-figure common, based on at least one estimate.

Of course, you can drive right by the lotto and the eight liners, and when you get home you can make your investments by getting on your computer. Yes, even here in Texas, you can bet on tonight’s baseball game, on the weekend’s football games or even on the feature race at Belmont Park. Of course, betting online is illegal in Texas, but nobody seems to notice, for purposes of sanctimoniousness. Bookmakers probably don’t exist either, also for purposes of sanctimoniousness, but if your computer is down you could easily find one to call.

Most important, none of the action – from the lotto or the eight liners cum slot machines or the Internet or the friendly neighborhood bookmaker – ever gets back to the racetracks, which means the money doesn’t ever get to the horsemen. That’s why purses have been declining in Texas, why horsemen and horses have been leaving and why the state’s horse industry is moribund. That’s also the reason I would have liked to ask somebody at Penn National why the company would want to be a player in Texas.

Why at this point would anybody? It doesn’t make any sense, except as part of a long-term vision. The Chickasaws are heavily invested in the region, and so for them it could make sense, I suppose. But does it make sense for Penn National? The answer should come soon.

Looking at the Super Derby card

Despite adding $250,000 to the purse from a year ago and lifting it up to $750,000, the Super Derby didn’t attract the sport’s big names. On the other hand, how many big names are there among the 3-year-olds? And the handicap division doesn’t have a true intimidator, a formidable and consistent older horse that would send the best 3-year-olds scurrying south to Louisiana Downs. And so Saturday’s Super Derby field has only seven.

Still, this 30th edition of the track’s showcase race (the 11th race on stakes-packed card) is intriguing, largely because of the presence of Blame and Regal Ransom. Ever since I saw him up close for the first time early in the year, and this was after I had seen his maiden score at Keeneland, I’ve been hopeful, even expectant, that Blame would develop into a top horse. And he has done nothing to cause me to change my mind. Because of a bruised foot, he raced only twice as a 2-year-old, and the foot, which became problematic, delayed his return to competition until June. But since then he has stepped forward steadily, winning his last outing, the Curlin Stakes at Saratoga, by nearly a length over Gone Astray. Two facts, I think, jump out of that race and shout their importance: First, Blame ran the final three-eighths of a mile in about 36.50 seconds; Second, Gone Astray returned from that runner-up effort to win the Pennsylvania Derby by nine. Blame's connections have been pointing for this race for some time. For them, this isn’t a prep; this is the goal. And so this Super Derby could serve to announceme that Blame is developing into a big-time horse.

Regal Ransom, though, could be very formidable. A horse of obvious talent who won the UAE Derby, he’ll make his first start since finishing eighth in the Kentucky Derby. He has speed, he’s fresh, and there’s little speed in the race. Electric Alphabet, the runner-up in the Prelude, has natural speed and should be prominent from the start, but unless the pace heats up, Regal Ransom should prove tough to run down. Soul Warrior, the West Virginia Derby winner, is a known force and quite capable. He’ll make a bid, but he won’t have the kind of melt-down pace he enjoyed in West Virginia to enhance his chances. Picks: Blame, Regal Ransom, Soul Warrior.

6th race: Louisiana Downs’ six stakes, worth $1.2 million, begin here, with the Unbridled. A word of caution: Rain has been falling on Bossier City, and the weather handicappers see more rain coming Saturday afternoon. Still, I have to look at the turf races, for now, as if they’ll stay on the turf, and that means Mogumbo Cat is the one to beat. (In the spirit of full disclosure, I should also point out that Mogumbo Cat is owned by my father-in-law.) Mogumbo Cat has won four consecutive races, and he successfully has carried 124 pounds, the burden he’ll lug around today. He’s 6-5 in the morning, but his talent advantage isn’t so great that he’d be inviting at such short odds. Favorite Jazz and Que Paso are both capable, with their best efforts, and the pace could be lively here, which will only add to their chances. For a long shot, Becky’s Express, who makes his turf debut, could grab the early lead and prove dangerous. Picks: Mogumbo Cat, Favorite Jazz, Que Paso.

8th race, the Sunday Silence Stakes: Perfect Lou probably should have won the Sunny’s Halo Stakes in his last outing. Eager from the start, he was blocked behind horses down the backstretch. That wasn’t the problem, though; he needed the education, and he relaxed well enough, although at any time he appeared capable of blowing by the leaders if asked; but at the top of the lane, jockey Roberto Villafan tried to duck to the inside and send Perfect Lou through a narrow opening that, as it turned out, immediately closed, and so then Villafan snatched up the colt and tried to veer him to the outside, where he got bumped and blocked again. Still immured, and with only a few yards remaining, Perfect Lou advanced through a crack of an opening and finished fifth, about a length behind the winner. Perfect Lou, I think, can beat all the locals. That leaves William’s Kitten, who comes here after good efforts at Ellis and River Downs. He could just be better than these horses. And Fudge Truffle should rally for a share of the rewards. Picks: Perfect Lou, William’s Kitten, Fudge Truffle.

9th race, the Temperence Hill Stakes: Gold Coyote hasn’t raced since July, and he returns to find a field that’s quickness-poor. He usually saves his best efforts for Texas, but a fresh Gold Coyote should control the pace here. Ide Like A Double has won three of his four races on a wet track. He’s probably better with more distance, but he’s in good form at the moment. Ain’t He A Pistol is another who has a history of running well in the mud, having won five of his wet-track efforts, with two seconds. And he draws inside, which is often the place to be at Louisiana Downs when the track’s wet. Picks: Gold Coyote, Ide Like A Double, Ain’t He A Pistol.

10th, the Happy Ticket Stakes: Seasoned circled horses and finished strongly to win her debut on the turf in a style that suggested she’ll improve. She should again have a lively pace to set up her late charge. Rich Pearl has won consecutive races on the turf. Lemondropsmypop returns to the turf after a poor effort on the main track; she faltered late in her first try around two turns, but the daughter of Lemon Drop Kid should improve here. Picks: Seasoned, Rich Pearl, Lemondropsmypop.

12th, the River Cities Stakes: Category Seven is having a terrific year, with six wins and four seconds in 10 starts. And twice she lost in a photo. A lively pace here will only enhance her chances. Ruling Class beat Category Seven when the last met, having gotten clear with an easy early lead. But she doesn’t need the lead and can be effective stalking if Martin’s Bay, who never has won at this distance, grabs the early advantage. Vickies In Town finished two lengths behind Category Seven despite getting stopped at the top of the stretch; she could be an upset possibility. Picks: Category Seven, Ruling Class, Vickies In Town.

The Chickasaw Nation and what's best for racing

And so the Chickasaw Nation could soon own Lone Star Park. Magna Entertainment’s acceptance of a $27 million bid required six weeks of negotiations, and so I don’t expect anybody to put together a better deal in the three weeks remaining, before final bids are due and the auction takes place and, finally, the court approves the sale of Lone Star to Global Gaming Solutions, which is wholly owned by the Chickasaws.

Even if somebody ups the bid, I would expect Global Gaming to trump any new offer. Because they're deeply invested in the region, Lone Star must be more valuable to the Chickasaws than it could possibly be to anybody else. The Chickasaw Nation also owns Remington Park now, as well as WinStar, which is one of the largest casinos in the country, located just across the border from Fort Worth, and several more casinos in Oklahoma.

The Chickasaw Nation, by the way, also owns companies specializing in technology, medical services, aviation, construction, communication and innovation, and it has offices in Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Georgia, Florida and Washington D.C. It’s big, and its resources are vast.

No, the question at this point isn’t whether Lone Star will go to the Chickasaws. That’s highly probable. The question at this point is whether the Chickasaws’ owning Lone Star will be good for racing.

“I couldn’t be more pleased,” Grand Prairie Mayor Charles England said about the recent developments in the Magna bankruptcy, particularly the identification of Global Gaming as the  “stalking horse,” or high bidder, on Lone Star. “I think they know what it’s going to take to make Lone Star successful.”

It’s going to take higher purses, marketing, higher purses, more marketing, higher purses and some more marketing. Add some improvements to the stable area and the grandstand, and . . . well, you get the idea. Is Global Gaming ready for all that? Maybe.

The mayor’s endorsement is an important one. Any owner of Lone Star will be partners with the city of Grand Prairie, whose Sports Facilities Development Corp. actually owns the racetrack. Magna is selling the Lone Star lease and license. It’s a complicated arrangement.

The city would like to see Lone Star once again become, as when it first opened and as it proved most incandescently during the 2004 Breeders’ Cup, a center of activity and excitement, a magnet attracting people to the area and to quality racing. But, of course, that objective isn’t always or necessarily harmonious with corporate concerns, which tend to focus myopically on profits. But when the mayor says he couldn’t be more pleased, he’s basically saying he thinks Global Gaming could embrace the city’s hopes for Lone Star, which are inseparable from Texas’ hopes for racing.

“I think this is the best deal out there for us,” England said, referring to the probability that the Chickasaw Nation will become the owner of Lone Star. And he made that statement after having spent considerable time in meetings with John Elliott, the CEO of Global Gaming, and after having spent an entire day in Oklahoma visiting Chickasaw casinos and offices.

Will the Chickasaw Nation be good for racing? England seems to think so. One reason for his optimism, he said, is Corey Johnsen, the former president of Lone Star and general manager of Remington who has been a consultant for the Chickasaw Nation. Johnsen’s passion for racing is well known. He’s not a corporate viper. He’s not about gaming; he’s all about racing. Who knows what his role will be, but if the Chickasaw Nation went to Johnsen for advice, it was looking for a racing perspective, for racing expertise, for a vision of what Lone Star and Remington could mean to the sport and to the region. Johnsen's involvement is indeed a very positive sign.

The mayor, I suspect, is right: The Chickasaw Nation probably represents the best deal out there for racing in this region.

Lone Star has a potential buyer, names the "stalking horse"

Global Gaming, a wholly owned enterprise of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma, has been named the “stalking horse,” or high bidder, for Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie. Lone Star is being sold in the bankruptcy of Magna Entertainment.

 

Magna has entered into an agreement, announced today, for the sale of the Lone Star lease and its Class I license. The city of Grand Prairie actually owns the property. Details of the agreement were not disclosed. But the price is reportedly $27 million. Magna filed for bankruptcy in March.

 

With the naming of the “stalking horse,” the auction can be scheduled. It’s expected to take place next month in New York, where it will be conducted by Miller Buckfire & Co., Magna Entertainment’s financial advisor. Other persons or companies have until then to offer a higher bid than Global Gaming’s. Before becoming final and official, the transfer of ownership must be approved by the Texas Racing Commission. Until any sale is completed, Magna will continue to operate Lone Star under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code.

 

“With this acceptance of a stalking horse bid, we can now move on to the next step in the process,” said Lone Star Park President and General Manager Drew Shubeck in a prepared statement. “We continue to operate our Post Time Pavilion for daily simulcasting and are busy making preparations for the start of our 2009 Fall Meeting of Champions on Sept. 25.”

 

Earlier this month, Global Gaming completed its purchase, depending on commission approval, of another Magna property, Remington Park in Oklahoma City, for $80.25 million. John Elliott, the CEO of Global Gaming, said last week that he’s very aware of the potential synergy between the two racetracks.

Another Breeders' Cup souffle

At this point, it was the only thing the Breeders’ Cup could do, if it insisted on doing anything: make a gesture. And so today, the Breeders’ Cup Board of Directors authorized a $1 million increase in the winner’s share of the $5 million Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 7 if, and only if, both Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta participate.

That, of course, won’t happen. Rachel Alexandra started her campaign in February and has raced at seven different racetracks while winning eight stakes and taking on the toughest competition, accepting the stiffest challenges. Her most recent race, the Woodward, was her most stressful, and so her connections have indicated it was probably her last of the year. And her principal owner, Jess Jackson, has said repeatedly he will not race the sensational filly over “plastic,” as he disparagingly calls synthetic surfaces, such as Santa Anita’s Pro-Ride.

And so now the Breeders’ Cup offers an enticement? Or is it really just a gesture that's as puffed up and empty as a souffle?

In a prepared statement, Greg Avioli, the president of the Breeders’ Cup, said: “While we respect that the race has not been under consideration . . . we wanted to make sure the Breeders’ Cup did everything in its power to make the prospect of competing at Santa Anita in November as attractive as possible.”

That’s what this is all about: making a gesture that allows the Breeders’ Cup to appear to be doing “everything in its power” to put on an event of championship significance. But, of course, it’s too late to do anything meaningful, because beneath the appearance and beyond the gesture, there’s this: While going to Santa Anita in consecutive years and pandering to European interests, the Breeders’ Cup has been diminished and its championship significance minified.

As I’ve pointed out before, last year at Santa Anita, every winner of a traditional Breeders’ Cup dirt race had prepared for the victory by racing either on turf or on synthetics. Horses that had raced exclusively on dirt didn’t win the “dirt” races. And so this year, several trainers and owners, Jackson being most conspicuous among them, have expressed their hesitation to return to Santa Anita. And why should they race their horses on a surface that appears to put them at a disadvantage? If the Breeders’ Cup indeed had done “everything in its power” to ensure the championship validity of the event, then it wouldn’t be at Santa Anita.

I suppose it would be possible for the gracious among us to interpret today’s gesture as something of an apology, an expression of purpose coupled with an admission that more could have been done. Or maybe it's just the Breeders' Cup effort to compliment two great horses, a necessary gesture since one of them won't be there. Maybe. But on Nov. 7, when the Breeders’ Cup races look strangely like a turf festival and when many of the better dirt horses, including Rachel Alexandra, don’t participate, I suspect the directors will lean back in their chairs and say, “Well, we did everything in our power; we even offered to put up another million dollars.”

Where's Rachel among the great ones?

With all the talk of Rachel Alexandra and greatness, I started wondering what her place in history will be. What will be this legacy of hers that her connections so frequently and respectfully discuss?

Yes, she’s one of the greatest; that’s clear. Beyond that, though, it’s hard to say where her place in history might be because, well, for one thing, she’s still racing. Jess Jackson repeatedly has indicated that he hopes to race her next year. And so perhaps, at least for the moment, the relevant question is how does Rachel Alexandra look when considered alongside all the 3-year-old fillies who over the years have sparkled, dazzled, turned heads, inspired dreams and captured imaginations.

That’s the task I put to myself: ranking the campaigns of 3-year-old fillies. I considered only their 3-year-old season. Some fillies, such as Bewitch and, even more dramatically, Moccasin, were sensational as juveniles but not nearly so accomplished at 3, and some, such as Lady’s Secret, Princess Rooney, Azeri and Personal Ensign, were good or even very good at 3 but didn’t fulfill their potential until later. But I focused just on their 3-year-old campaigns.

I looked only at fillies based in North America. And so I didn’t include those Europeans who came here with spectacular results for the Breeders’ Cup, fillies such as Miesque and Goldikova, nor did I include Nelson Bunker Hunt’s Dahlia, who completed her 3-year-old campaign by traveling here from France and winning the Washington D.C. International.

For me, 3-year-old fillies define their greatness by winning the races of historical importance, by dominating their division and by stepping beyond it. And so mine is a very subjective list, as these things inevitably are, and despite my best efforts to be fair and reasonable, the process reveals my own priorities and my own experiences. I include only one horse from the 19th century, Miss Woodford, and only one sprinter, Ta Wee. Some might insist that Safely Kept belongs based on a campaign whose singular loss came in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, or maybe Gold Beauty. Many will argue that Maskette, who won five of six, belongs; others could point to Good Gamble, or Black Helen, or Artful or Nellie Morse. And some might argue that Tiffany Lass, who was unbeaten in seven races at 3, or Regret, whose two victories included the Kentucky Derby, rightfully belong. And maybe they do  -- but I'll leave that to others. My list already seems crowded:

Great 3-year-old filly campaigns
No. Horse, year: Starts-Wins-2nds-3rds

1. Busher, 1945: 13-10-2-1
Quite simply, she beat everybody – fillies, colts, older horses – on her way to being named Horse of the Year. She won the San Vicente and Hollywood Derby, beat older fillies and mares in the Vanity, won a match race with Durazna and set a track record while beating Armed in the Washington Park Handicap.

2. Rachel Alexandra, 2009: 8-8-0-0
Dominating her division, she romped in the Fantasy, Kentucky Oaks and Mother Goose. Taking on “the boys,” she won the Preakness and Haskell, and, of course, most recently she beat older horses in the Woodward, virtually clinching Horse of the Year.

3. Twilight Tear, 1944: 17-14-1-1
She won 11 consecutive races, beating colts while setting a track record in the Skokie Handicap, and concluded her Horse of the Year campaign with a victory over Devil Diver, the year’s champion handicap horse, in the Pimlico Special.

4. Beldame, 1904: 14-12-1-1
In her first start of the year, she defeated older males in the Carter Handicap. She romped in the Gazelle and Alabama and beat older males again in the Saratoga Cup.
 
5. Ruffian, 1975: 6-5-1-0
Seemingly indomitable, a real bete noir to her rivals, she led virtually from the start in all her races, sweeping New York's Filly Triple Crown, before her tragic match race with Foolish Pleasure.

6. Dance Smartly, 1991: 8-8-0-0
She swept the Canadian Triple Crown, won the Molson Million and then defeated Versailles Treaty and Queena while taking the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

7. Miss Woodford, 1883: 12-10-1-0
The first horse in America to earn $100,000, she consistently beat males at distances up to 2 1/2 miles, and as a 3-year-old she started a string of 16 consecutive victories.

8. Desert Vixen, 1973: 11-9-2-0
After a couple losses early, she won eight consecutive stakes in dominating style, setting a track record while beating older champion Susan’s Girl in the Beldame.

9. Genuine Risk, 1980: 8-4-3-1
No filly ever had more success in the famed Triple Crown series. She won the Kentucky Derby and ran second in both the Preakness and Belmont Stakes.

10. Gallant Bloom, 1969: 8-8-0-0
The great King Ranch filly defeated Shuvee in the Gazelle and the older Gamely in the Matchmaker before concluding her unbeaten campaign in the Spinster.

11. Cicada, 1962: 17-8-4-2
After losing by a nose to Ridan in the Florida Derby, she won the Kentucky Oaks, Acorn and Mother Goose and later added the Beldame while breaking Kelso’s track record.

12. Winning Colors, 1988: 10-4-3-1
Racing four times against colts, she won the Santa Anita and Kentucky Derbies; twice she faced the older Personal Ensign, finishing second in the Maskette and BCup Distaff.

13. Ta Wee, 1969: 10-8-0-1
The diminutive half-sister to Dr. Fager defeated Shuvee in the Comely, won the Fall Highweight Handicap under 130 pounds and finished the year by winning the Vosburgh.

14. Go For Wand, 1990: 9-7-1-0
After losing the Kentucky Oaks in the mud, she won five consecutive stakes, including the Beldame and the Alabama before going down tragically in the BCup Distaff.

15. Serena’s Song, 1995: 13-9-1-0
The tenacious filly beat Tejano Run in the Jim Beam, won the Mother Goose, Haskell and Gazelle, and defeated Lakeway and Heavenly Prize to win the Beldame.

16. Bold n’ Determined, 1980: 12-9-1-0
In their only meeting, Bold n’ Determined beat Genuine Risk by a nose to win the Maskette. Her victories also included the Kentucky Oaks, Fantasy and Spinster.

17. Susan’s Girl, 1972: 13-9-2-2
Back and forth from California to New York, with a stop in Kentucky to take the Oaks, she concluded her season by beating Chou Croute and Summer Guest in the Beldame.

18. Chris Evert, 1974: 8-5-1-2
She won the Mother Goose and the Coaching Club American Oaks, romped in her match race with Miss Musket and then ran third in the Travers.

19. Mom’s Command, 1985: 9-7-2-0
Ridden in most of her races by Abigail Fuller, daughter of owner-breeder Peter Fuller, the lovely chestnut swept New York’s Filly Triple Crown and won the Alabama by four.

20. Silverbulletday, 1999: 11-8-1-0
At her best while winning the Alabama by nine lengths, she also won the Fair Grounds Oaks, Kentucky Oaks, Ashland, Monmouth Oaks and Gazelle.

Looking at Remington's stakes

OKLAHOMA CITY – Racing at Remington Park has improved dramatically over the last two years as purses have risen to an average of $250,000 a day. The three stakes on today’s card emphasize the improvement.

First up is the Ricks Memorial, where Hotlantic is most proven among the nine fillies and mares. She has strung together three outstanding efforts in stakes, including a victory in the Irving Distaff at Lone Star, where she consistently turned clockers’ heads in the mornings with her scintillating moves. She’s a speedster, and she’s fresh; so she’ll probably roll early. She looks as if she could control the pace, she has won three of her five outings at this one-mile distance, and at 4-1 in the morning line she looks especially inviting. But if somebody accepts the challenge of trying her early and the pace heats up, Pleasantly Blessed could benefit. Picks: Hotlantic, Pleasantly Blessed, Skedee.

Jonesboro, a winner of $1.4 million in is career, seems to have reached the highest performance level of his career at age 7, and he’s the one to beat in the $150,000 Governor’s Cup. Since April, he has given four admirable efforts at three different racetracks, and his consistency is a compliment to trainer Randy Morse. After finishing third in the Oaklawn Handicap, he won the Texas Mile at Lone Star, ran second to It’s A Bird by a head in the Lone Star Park Handicap and then won the Cornhusker. And he should enjoy a perfect stalking trip here behind King Dan. A half-length separated them in the Texas Mile, where King Dan had some trouble in the first turn. He could upset. Going Ballistic hasn’t won in two years, but he’s an intriguing possibility here. As a 3-year-old, he won the Super Derby, as well as the Remington Park Derby. In fact, he’s unbeaten here. Picks: Jonesboro, King Dan, Going Ballistic.

Another horse who loves Remington is Red Rock Creek, who has won eight of 12 over the local turf course. He’s the 5-2 favorite in the morning line for the $150,000 Edward J. DeBartolo Memorial, but he’s an inconsistent sort coming off a poor effort as the 3-2 favorite in a stakes at Louisiana Downs. At short odds, he wouldn’t be a bargain. Although the DeBartolo has attracted a field of only six, this could be the most contentious of the three stakes. A modicum of imagination could envision any of the six winning. Almost Certain has finished behind Red Rock Creek the last five times they’ve met, but two of those were on dirt, and he probably should have beaten his rival in at least one of their meetings. In his most recent outing, he raced much too close to a rapid pace and after gaining the lead faltered in the final strides. But the pace will be cooler here, and he could enjoy a good stalking trip. If his odds drift upwards from 4-1, he could be the play.

Trainer John Good is looking for the exacta. He comes here with Tizfiz and Drivingmaxandmitzi. After being bred unsuccessfully early in the year, Tizfiz went back to the track and returned to form with a recent stakes win in West Virginia; she’ll take on males here, but she has dangerous speed and has won at this nine-furlong distance. Drivingmaxandmitzi has won six of his last seven, and although he moves into stakes company from the claiming ranks, he appears to have sufficient talent to threaten.
Picks: Almost Certain, Red Rock Creek, Drivingmaxandmitzi.

Where was the coverage?

OKLAHOMA CITY – I found nothing.

Up here to see today’s three significant stakes races at Remington Park, which, for the moment, offers the best racing in the region, I picked up a Sunday morning paper in the hope of reading about Rachel Alexandra’s victory in the Woodward. And I found nothing.

“The Oklahoman” had two sports sections, one devoted entirely to football and to public hand-wringing over Oklahoma University’s loss to Brigham Young. The other section, I assume, was intended to cover everything else. In that one, I found a story on volleyball, another on tennis, three stories on auto racing, considerable coverage of Major League Baseball and an entire page on hunting and fishing that included a story on shooting ducks. But I found nothing about Rachel Alexandra until I riffled through the section a third time, and there it was: two paragraphs (three sentences, 63 words) on the Woodward. That was it.

The most charismatic horse to come along since Smarty Jones, Rachel Alexandra nails down Horse of the Year honors, reserves a place for herself in the Hall of Fame, becomes the first 3-year-old filly since the 19th century to win a major two-turn dirt stakes race against older males in New York while also becoming the first filly ever to win the Woodward, and all she gets in Oklahoma is two paragraphs. I quickly wadded up the newspaper and stuffed it in the trash.

A few hours later, out at the track, I come upon an old friend who’s a regular at Remington. An inveterate and astute horseplayer, he has strung together countless winning seasons; he’s a keen observer of almost everything, and so I knew he had thoroughly read the morning’s newspaper. After a cursory greeting, I said, “I didn’t see anything, or hardly anything, about Rachel Alexandra in the paper this morning.”

He frowned and then sighed, as if inured to the way of the world. “Our paper,” he said, “doesn’t regard horse racing as a major sport.”

“But shooting little birds out of the sky is a major sport?” I said, not entirely pleased with the explanation, especially for a newspaper that serves an area that’s home to Remington Park. But, of course, I knew he was right. I also knew the Oklahoma City newspaper isn’t unique.

What has happened to the coverage of horse racing? It has declined shockingly in both quality and quantity in recent years. The Woodward, the most significant race since the Kentucky Derby, wasn’t available on television to most of the nation. What happened to all that coverage that was expected on ESPN?

Part of the problem is that many newspaper editors allow television to determine their budgets. Having been mesmerized by rapidly moving electrons for their entire lives, they regard television as a primary source, the arbiter elegantiarum. If it’s not on television, they think, then it must not be important. And then, of course, there’s the decline of newspapers; as they cut back on space and staff, they haven’t made horse racing a priority.

Some of the blame must also be assigned to the sport’s fans. Accustomed to neglect, they’re hesitant to complain when their newspapers virtually ignore their favorite sport. If a newspaper devotes only three sentences to a significant race, they simply sip their coffee and turn the page. But if a newspaper fails to report the score of a high school football game, 20 parents will drop their newspapers in an instant and call to complain before the day’s first sparrow chirp.

But the sport itself must shoulder much, if not most, of the blame for the troubling situation. Inconsistent rules and penalties, “no tolerance” policies that cast suspicion on some of the sport’s leading trainers, dubious regulatory decisions, catastrophic injuries, unreliable or scarce information, ersatz expertise, controversy over surfaces, misplaced emphasis, premature retirements – the list goes on and on, and the cumulative impact is the shrinking of the sport in the popular awareness.

And so in an Oklahoma newspaper, Rachel Alexandra got only 63 words. She deserved much more.