Rillito Success!

[MonmouthParkJoe]

Opening day today. Place was rocking for sure, packed in fact. Place really had the feel of a country fair atmosphere and it was a pleasure to be working there. In addition to being the CFO, I also do the handicapping prior to the races and race by race selection from the paddock. I make the morning lines with my co-worker.

Great experience and I do believe it has its place. Judging by the crowd today they felt so too.

Yes, the quality could be better and the larger fields will materialize. Had to make do with what we had with a virus hitting the area taking away from our horse pop, Turf not allowing Rillito shippers back, and bush races up in Phoenix.

If you take it for what it is, local racing/fair/carnival, its great. It will never be Saratoga, but it doesnt try to. Fun day for sure.

[Dave Schwartz]

Glad to hear that.

These tiny tracks have all been around so long. Not like new ones pop up to replace them.

Good luck there, Joe.

[Mandrake]

What was the handle?

[NorCalGreg]

Opening day today. Place was rocking for sure, packed in fact. Place really had the feel of a country fair atmosphere and it was a pleasure to be working there. In addition to being the CFO, I also do the handicapping prior to the races and race by race selection from the paddock. I make the morning lines with my co-worker.

Great experience and I do believe it has its place. Judging by the crowd today they felt so too.

Yes, the quality could be better and the larger fields will materialize. Had to make do with what we had with a virus hitting the area taking away from our horse pop, Turf not allowing Rillito shippers back, and bush races up in Phoenix.

If you take it for what it is, local racing/fair/carnival, its great. It will never be Saratoga, but it doesnt try to. Fun day for sure.

Sounds great----I used to drive a hundred miles to attend the races at the Santa Rosa Fair, here in Northern Cal. It was a lot like the Riilito you describe. I'm assuming you're the big guy in the blue shirt?

[bello]

Great News....I made it to the Sonoita Races races the last two years and go right by Rillito. Of course the meet closes just before Sonoita opens

I know getting a satellite for simulcast transmission may be costly, but if I could see the races I would play them. I love c track racing and would love to watch them simulcast live.

[Milkshaker]

What are the "bush races up in Phoenix"?

Never heard of them--thanks!

[thespaah]

Opening day today. Place was rocking for sure, packed in fact. Place really had the feel of a country fair atmosphere and it was a pleasure to be working there. In addition to being the CFO, I also do the handicapping prior to the races and race by race selection from the paddock. I make the morning lines with my co-worker.

Great experience and I do believe it has its place. Judging by the crowd today they felt so too.

Yes, the quality could be better and the larger fields will materialize. Had to make do with what we had with a virus hitting the area taking away from our horse pop, Turf not allowing Rillito shippers back, and bush races up in Phoenix.

If you take it for what it is, local racing/fair/carnival, its great. It will never be Saratoga, but it doesnt try to. Fun day for sure.Wow.You certainly wear plenty of hats.....Good luck and much success.
I wish I lived closer so i could go...

[MonmouthParkJoe]

No I'm the guy on the right with the tie.

They handled about $10,000 per race. Average field size of 4.2 horses

Yea I do wear a lot of hats but the good thing is you get to see and do a lot.

The bush races are illegal races they have in the area. We had to offer a jockey bonus for mounts on both days to ensure we had enough jocks

[MonmouthParkJoe]

We are working on exporting the signal. As you would imagine our budget is tight but there is a very good possibility it will happen. We only have one mic for the show we do :)

I will be checking out the other fairs too. I was hanging with the director of the racing commission for Arizona and he said he loves them too. Hopefully I will be at NYRA for the summer, both belmont and saratoga, before wrapping up my masters here in 2017. If NYRA doesnt work, Arlington will be my home. Should provide some contrast to here :p

[HorsemenHeist]

Are the charts from yesterday available? Can't seem to find them on Equibase or DRF

[johnhannibalsmith]

Keep up the good work Joe. There are very few places left that offer what Rillito offers. Those that can't appreciate what it is are the same people that would bitch about the acoustics at an outdoor amphitheater concert. It's more than just the betting opportunities or quality of races - which may be hard for some people to fathom - but it is a rocking good time just to be at a place with people that still go just to be at the races.

Going to Rillito to run a horse, in particular, is such a throwback sort of fun time. Leaving the barn and walking the track in front of all the fans lined up to get to the paddock, entering the tunnel with throngs of people ten deep hooting and hollering, and finally packing into the little paddock with people everywhere you look encircling everyone. It makes you enjoy running a horse. It's actually depressing to lead one up at Turf Paradise the next day after going down there for the day.

I need to get off my ass and get down there again this year. Hopefully when the quarantine is lifted TuP will change its tune so I can find an excuse to send one down for an enjoyable day at the races.

[MonmouthParkJoe]

If you make it down let me know I can at least get you free admission :)

[Southbaygent]

Congrats, and continued good luck, Joe!

[Track Collector]

While not a lot, I actually wagered about $50 on Rillito thru one of my ADWs.

Was hoping to watch a live signal on RTN, which showed Rillito on their menu for a brief time before removing it. It still shows the name Rillito Park on channel 9728, but then just displays the menu.

Nice to see that Safford and Douglas (fairs) are planning on running 1 weekend each this year after a lapse of about 5 years. Maybe this will encourage even more of the fairs to try to have racing again.

I've never been to Kingman, where I think the track may now be gone, and I need to add Globe to my visit list if they ever get back with racings.

In any event, good news for Rillito. Now let's hope Mike Weiss and company can negotiate for more racing beyond the current 2-year agreement!

[ultracapper]

Just the excitement in your post makes it all good news.

Best of luck there.

[Redbullsnation]

Anywhere to get the race relays??

[wisconsin]

Are the charts from yesterday available? Can't seem to find them on Equibase or DRF


Here: http://www.racewithtrs.com/results/ril-results-01.pdf

[alhattab]

Joe I saw on Americas Best Racing or some such source that you had the CFO, etc role at Rillito. That is fantastic news. All the best to you.

By the way, either the guy in the blue shirt is really big, the picture is odd or you lost A LOT of weight!

Things are pretty much same-old-same old around here. Will be interesting to see what happens with the sports betting hearing this week.

Take care

[bello]

Joe, I never understood the wisdom of Quinella and Exactas at low handle tracks.

Can you elaborate? Not picking on it, just questioning why dilute pools even more

[bello]

I checked in yesterday and the feed was on Twinspires....Just printed out a program. Hopefully it will be there today!

[Track Collector]

Just finished watching on RTN. I put about $80 in the pools today, but was not as successful as last week. Having lots of fun though!!

[johnhannibalsmith]

I checked in yesterday and the feed was on Twinspires....Just printed out a program. Hopefully it will be there today!

Wow! Thanks for mentioning this! Watching replays from yesterday now and wishing like hell I had known they were streaming it.

[MonmouthParkJoe]

Joe I saw on Americas Best Racing or some such source that you had the CFO, etc role at Rillito. That is fantastic news. All the best to you.

By the way, either the guy in the blue shirt is really big, the picture is odd or you lost A LOT of weight!

Things are pretty much same-old-same old around here. Will be interesting to see what happens with the sports betting hearing this week.

Take care

Hey Andy!

Yea man since ive been out here I got back into power lifting and eating right. No drinking either, literally drank two nights since August. Down to 221, getting to 200lbs to do a power lifting meet back home in May.

Been doing alot since I have been here. Won a bunch of awards, was on the NHC/NTRA social media team back in January in Vegas. Working with the HBPA too. At Rillito I am the CFO, morning lines odds maker and do a handicapping show and live show from the paddock for each race. Really enjoying it. Most likely will be in NY for summer at Belmont and Saratoga, but will definitely be back for at least two weekends at Monmouth before I go. So I will see you and the crew before you know it.

[MonmouthParkJoe]

Joe, I never understood the wisdom of Quinella and Exactas at low handle tracks.

Can you elaborate? Not picking on it, just questioning why dilute pools even more

Couldnt tell you why. What boggles my mind is having the pick three the last three races of the day when we have been having match races in the finales. I am going to see if we can change that.

We handled about $121k over the first weekend and I am waiting for numbers from this weekend to see how we did. Despite the small fields, the exacta and tris have paid well. Per cap per race is literally $2, the crowds here dont bet but spend ALOT on concessions. More or less just something to offer the customers.

[MonmouthParkJoe]

I checked in yesterday and the feed was on Twinspires....Just printed out a program. Hopefully it will be there today!

Yea we were able to get video with the signal this past weekend. Last year it was just audio. Trying to get a live feed on the website too, something that should be simple to do, hopefully.

Bit of an angle for those that are playing, alot of these first time starters that are taking money arent TRUE firsters. I have been getting the impression that they have been racing in the "bush" here. Hard to assign a first time starter with no published works a morning line, esp 7YO firster. but if they are taking money they are live.

[bello]

Fascinating comment....Let's get DRF charting the bush races.

Nice crowd yesterday. Good Clydesdale promotion and lots of happy folks in the winners circle.

Love seeing jocks come back with the biggest smiles as if the just won the derby, not a 2k race.

Keep up the great work. Always root for the tracks without the casinos. Need to be creative.

[johnhannibalsmith]

Guessing that he means the quarter horse first timers that have been match racing. You won't be getting any charts for those. :)