What’s going on at Charles Town?

[takeout]

Does management and track maintenance just watch it snow and then decide to wait for the spring thaw? Four, count ‘em, FOUR DAYS they are closed because of that little piddling snow they just had. Boggles the mind.

[hurrikane]

They don't care about the racing. They need it for the casinos. If it stayed covered in snow all winter they would be happy

[Harmonicaslim]

I worked at CT '97-99. Hurrikane has it exactly right.

[BillW]

They don't care about the racing. They need it for the casinos. If it stayed covered in snow all winter they would be happy

I would think this would be true at any racino. Any responsible business manager (even some who work in the racing industry :eek: ) is interested in maximizing profit.

[takeout]

They don't care about the racing. They need it for the casinos. If it stayed covered in snow all winter they would be happy
I agree. I think I’ve probably been wrong in blaming the jocks as much as I have. This looks more like management cheaping out and/or inept track maintenance. I guess the two would probably go hand in hand.

BillW,

I agree that it's probably true at any racino but I think CT takes it too far. All of those millions and they can't keep a 6f track in racing shape. I can’t help but wonder how bad it will get at some of the major tracks once they finally get slots established.

[Tom Barrister]

It would help if they bought a new tractor. The 1948 model they have isn't as fast as it used to be.

[jotb]

It would help if they bought a new tractor. The 1948 model they have isn't as fast as it used to be.

The maintaince crew is not the problem. They have the equipment and have winterized the track. You can't have racing here if you don't work the track. That track was not opened for training from the time the bad weather arrived. Those tracktors should have been working round the clock if they wanted to run at night. On Sat. they left the decision up to the riders which was absurd. The riders walked the track and found ice patches all around the track. Once the riders made that decision racing was cancelled for Sunday as well. They finally harrowed the track on Sunday and the track was opened for Monday to train on but was in bad shape. Today it was in decent shape. It's obvious by now they could care less about racing here but you would think the horseman would fight back by pulling those machines out of the casino.

Joe

[takeout]

You can't have racing here if you don't work the track. That track was not opened for training from the time the bad weather arrived. Those tracktors should have been working round the clock if they wanted to run at night.
So do you think that the bottom line is that the track doesn’t want to pay for the extra hours that it takes for the tractors to stay on top of things? That’s what it’s looking like to me.

[jotb]

So do you think that the bottom line is that the track doesn’t want to pay for the extra hours that it takes for the tractors to stay on top of things? That’s what it’s looking like to me.

Hello Takeout:

It's not about the money. It's Penn Gaming. They don't care if there is "live racing". As long as, the machines are up and running they are happy. When the horsemen went along with this casino stuff they must have left out many things pertaining to the contract. All the horsemen were in favor of the slots because of purse distribution but the contract should have read if racing is cancelled then the plug is pulled on the machines.

I can't see where the horsemen are looked after. We have another training facility across the street from CT and there are probably about 1,500 horses there. They have been planing to move all of these people to Charlestown by Feb. but now have shut this training facility this week and now all these horsemen will have to train at CT. In order to get to the CT track to work in the morning the riders must cross the street which is extremly dangerous for rider, horse and pedestrians. It takes about 45 min for the work to be accomplished. Why do they shut this facility down now? Why not wait until everyone is stabled at CT? On top of it they built a 3/8ths track to train at this training facility but that track is used only to gallop and pony. It's just a matter of time before someone gets hurt on this small track. That training track should not have been built in the first place. Once everyone is over at CT work in the morning is going to be another dangerous situation because the traffic on the track will be just too much with the addition of 1,500 horses coming from this facility. As you can see, many things just don't make sense at this place.

Most of the trainers here at CT, either don't have a clue or just have owners that put too much pressure on them. You will see many horses stepping up in class and I would believe that many handicappers would think this is a postitive move but these trainers here just want to enter and run. Many are just happy to pick up a small check rather then putting the horse where they belong.

[takeout]

but the contract should have read if racing is cancelled then the plug is pulled on the machines.

I’ve said the same thing in the past. There would be very few cancellations (if any) if that were the case. If that were the case I’m sure that they would MAKE it work even if they had to dome and heat the track.

Sure sounds like there are a lot of things up there working against each other. Rumor has it that management and horsemen are bickering over the winter schedule. Do you know if anything has been decided yet?

[jotb]

I’ve said the same thing in the past. There would be very few cancellations (if any) if that were the case. If that were the case I’m sure that they would MAKE it work even if they had to dome and heat the track.

Sure sounds like there are a lot of things up there working against each other. Rumor has it that management and horsemen are bickering over the winter schedule. Do you know if anything has been decided yet?

Hello Takeout:

We will have racing the months of Jan. and Feb. providng the weather is ok. We will be running 3 days a week from Fri thru Sun with two of these days holding a 12 race card. Instead of the customary 50 races per week we now will have 34 races. We will go back to 5 days in March. I still think we will lose days because of the weather and believe it or not, racing could be cancelled once again tonight. The track is not in the best of shape right now and riders are concerned. It's like running on concrete and as you know that takes toll on the racehorse causing breakdowns which everyone is not i favor of. I would think times would be faster tonight providing we get through the first couple of races.

Best regards,
Joe

[takeout]

jotb,

Thanks for the rundown on the schedule.

Some of the workout times this morning do look pretty fast. One of them is from the gate in 45:80. (!) If that’s not a mistake I see what you mean about it being like running on concrete.

[takeout]

They did it again last night, cancelled right before the races started. MANY horses worked out that morning and they ran the night before.

[shoelessjoe]

According to the CT website the racing schedule will be Thur thru Sat.I cant understand why they would cut out Sunday.Shoeless

[takeout]

Given CT’s ability to actually get a card run, the whole schedule thing may be a big waste of time.

[jotb]

They did it again last night, cancelled right before the races started. MANY horses worked out that morning and they ran the night before.

They messed with the track right after training (adding salt) and clogs developed around the whole track. The riders felt it was too dangerous to ride and they cancelled. You don't want to get hit with those because they can do some damage to the rider. Thursday night riders were getting hit in the face and many goggles were broken. Once again this maintaince crew just can't get this track right. I can tell you this much, in the next two months if the good weather does not happen, I'm sure we will lose additional days. We will have racing 3 days a week for the months of Jan and Feb (Thur, Fri, and Sat.).

Joe

[Tom]

Racing Thurs-Fri-Sat only?

Look at the bright side - they will only be cancelling three cards a week from now on! :D

[shoelessjoe]

JOTB,I might have missed this somewhere but I would be interested knowing what connection you have to CT.I have been a devoted player there for the last 35 years.Shoeless

[jotb]

JOTB,I might have missed this somewhere but I would be interested knowing what connection you have to CT.I have been a devoted player there for the last 35 years.Shoeless

Hello:

I hustle book for a couple of riders.

Joe

[NoDayJob]

It would help if they bought a new tractor. The 1948 model they have isn't as fast as it used to be.

:D I thought steam powered tractors when out in the early 20th century? :D

[shoelessjoe]

I hope you have some of the better ones out there.If Im betting on a speed horse I think there is no one better from the gate than Flores.Shoeless

[jotb]

I hope you have some of the better ones out there.If Im betting on a speed horse I think there is no one better from the gate than Flores.Shoeless

Hello Shoelessjob:

I hold my own here. I have one of the top 10 riders and the other has only been here since Sept but will fit well in the upcoming year. Oscar Flores is certainly one of the best from the gate but you must take into consideration that most of his horses that have speed are bullring types that like all that rushing from the gate. Horses that ship in here that have early lick have a diffcult time when they are rushed and never get a chance to settle in. Some horses just don't like that. They need to be gathered up some. In those 4.5F races horses go as fast as they can as far as they can go and when you ride for Amy Albright exclusively her horses types fit that profile well. Anyway, good luck to you handicapping at CT.

Best regards,
Joe

[takeout]

I’m wondering if Albright is still using Flores after his ride on “Not for Sam” in race 4 on 12/11? Flores probably had no control over whatever happened at the gate but why didn’t he finish the race?

[shoelessjoe]

Joe,Good luck to you as well and the riders that you book for.I bet those jocks are happy that those slots came in.I remember going up there just before the slots came in and the best purse they had was for 2800.I bet Phil Grove and Wm R Lewis Jr wished they were riding now.I guess Im really showing my age going back to when those guys were dominant.Shoeless

[jotb]

I’m wondering if Albright is still using Flores after his ride on “Not for Sam” in race 4 on 12/11? Flores probably had no control over whatever happened at the gate but why didn’t he finish the race?

Hello Takeout:

He will not be riding for Amy in the near future. The owner was certainly not happy with the ride but I'm sure they will have a change of heart down the road. Sometimes owners react to quickly and don't understand why certain things do happen in a race. You can win X amount of races for someone and the one time, things don't materialize the right way, the rider pays the price. Many handicappers are the same way. They love the rider as long as they cash and the one time the rider does not win the handicapper is quick with the tongue.

Best regards,
Joe

[TonyK@HSH]

Hello:

I hustle book for a couple of riders.

Joe

Joe,

Did you yourself ride in the late 70's early 80's by any chance? If so, hello. This is Tony (snappers owner). Glad to see things are going well for you.

tony

[jotb]

Joe,Good luck to you as well and the riders that you book for.I bet those jocks are happy that those slots came in.I remember going up there just before the slots came in and the best purse they had was for 2800.I bet Phil Grove and Wm R Lewis Jr wished they were riding now.I guess Im really showing my age going back to when those guys were dominant.Shoeless

Hello Shoelessjoe:

Thank you. I don't remember this rider Grove but Lewis still rides every once and awhile. Lewis also gallops in the morning. Yes, this is a place where you can earn a living since the slots have been incorporated. This jockey colony was quite weak when I first arrived here (late 2004) but I think it has been much stronger of late. There is a large colony of riders here (roughly 45) and the competition for mounts can be tough but if your riders have good work ethics and communicates well with trainers a rider can survive here. The loyalty from trainers is there as long as you are willing to come by in the morning and gallop their horse. They will ride you in the evening. There are maybe 1 or 2 riders here that can get away without morning work. It's like that at many small racetracks across the country. I've been fortunate because my riders are willing to get on as many as 10 a day. All I have to do is make sure I stay on top of the horses they are getting by booking the mount and try and run a straight up business with trainers. If they give me the call, I will honor it. I try my best to not get caught in a switch. If the agent does their homework things like that will not happen. What I love mostly about this is, I get the opportunity to handicap each day by chasing horses that I feel are sitting on top of a win. I know every horse on the grounds (that's my job) and try to grab the good horses and keep my riders off the bad ones. There are many nights I can't wait to the races are over because this is a dangerous place given the fact that it's a bullring so, I'm just happy that all the riders get home safely, so we can do it all over again the next day.

Best regards,
Joe

[shoelessjoe]

Joe,I guess Grove was a little before your time but he was one of the top riders up there for years back in the 60's and 70's.You are right about it being dangerous to ride up there I have seen far too many jocks there either getting killed or seriously injured.Shoeless

[takeout]

Grove is now a Steward in MD.