go for 2: Portland Meadows jocks to compete

[The_Knight_Sky]

Portland Meadows has just announced the 2nd Annual $20,000 XpressBet Jockey Challenge, slated to be held on Monday, November 29.

http://blog.oregonlive.com/horseracing/2010/11/portland_meadows_to_host_2nd_a.html

On January 7, 2009, Team Portland Meadows bested Team Golden Gate Fields in the Inaugural XpressBet Jockey Challenge. Hall of Famer Russell Baze headlined that team and even scored a victory in the final race of the challenge. He was quoted after the win as "this being the first time in over 20 years I’ve been in this Winner’s Circle."

Representing Team Southern California will be Joel Rosario, Joe Talamo, David Flores, and Martin Pedroza. They will be matched up against the current top four riders in the Portland Meadows jockey standings: Joe Crispin, Javier Matias, Mark Anderson, and Troy Stillwell. There will be four designated races contested, all of which will consist of a field of eight runners.

"This will be such a great event," said Director of Racing Jerry Kohls. "To have riders of this caliber coming to ride and compete against our best jockeys, it will truly be a great competition. We look for this event to rank right up there with our new signature event, the $80,000 Portland Meadows Oaks". The PM Oaks will be held on Saturday, January 29, and is part of the new Black-Eyed Susan 2.2.

[jballscalls]

gonna be a fun event for sure! HRTV is also sending up northwest native Gary Stevens and Richard Migliore along with Peter Lurie to cover the event live.

i'm most excited for a steak dinner the night before with Mig and Stevens at El Gaucho!!

[jballscalls]

Also, the 4 challenge races will feature a $25,000 guaranteed pick 4, out our normal pick 4 takeout rate of 14%

[JohnGalt1]

Play the Portland pick 4 through Twin Spires and if you win it, they rebate the take out. So the take out is 0%.

[jballscalls]

Play the Portland pick 4 through Twin Spires and if you win it, they rebate the take out. So the take out is 0%.

Our pick 4 hasn't really picked up any steam based on the lowered takeout rate, but the TWinspires promotion has been amazing on our end, and we've had numerous players hit the wager through TS and get the rebate!!

[picojim]

has been canceled
http://www.drf.com/news/southern-california-riders-withdraw-portland-jockey-challenge

[jballscalls]

Yeah we're pretty bummed about their decision. according to most it was their agents that told them not to come up.

we had a record cold snap last week (sub 20 degree temps) so we had to cancel the races tuesday and wednesday. to the agents, this meant the track wasn't safe. But it's now up in the 40's, a massive amount of horses worked and worked safely yesterday, but the agents told the riders it's in their best interests not to come.

we're all pretty bummed, but what can ya do.

[andymays]

Yeah we're pretty bummed about their decision. according to most it was their agents that told them not to come up.

we had a record cold snap last week (sub 20 degree temps) so we had to cancel the races tuesday and wednesday. to the agents, this meant the track wasn't safe. But it's now up in the 40's, a massive amount of horses worked and worked safely yesterday, but the agents told the riders it's in their best interests not to come.

we're all pretty bummed, but what can ya do.

Tough break but you guys have done a heck of a job promoting your racing this year. :ThmbUp:

[johnhannibalsmith]

The crew at Portland Meadows should get an award for effort. Maybe, maybe, maybe then someone will notice the example being set for others.

[jballscalls]

The crew at Portland Meadows should get an award for effort. Maybe, maybe, maybe then someone will notice the example being set for others.

we do get an award, our handle keeps going up each year and we get to keep our jobs :)

[johnhannibalsmith]

...our handle keeps going up each year and we get to keep our jobs :)

Nobody around the industry seems to really be paying too much attention... unfortunately... but, hey, throw an award in the middle of a subject and well, you know... :ThmbUp: :ThmbUp:

[cj]

Yeah we're pretty bummed about their decision. according to most it was their agents that told them not to come up.



I thought agents worked for riders, not the other way around.

[andymays]

http://www.drf.com/news/southern-california-riders-withdraw-portland-jockey-challenge

Excerpt:

Portland Meadows plans to run its full 10-race card on Monday. The four races scheduled for the Jockey Challenge (four through seven) will be redrawn with substitute jockeys named. Horses that had been on the also-eligible list will be allowed to run, according to Portland Meadows spokesman Jason Beem.

[rwwupl]

http://www.drf.com/news/southern-california-riders-withdraw-portland-jockey-challenge

Excerpt:

Portland Meadows plans to run its full 10-race card on Monday. The four races scheduled for the Jockey Challenge (four through seven) will be redrawn with substitute jockeys named. Horses that had been on the also-eligible list will be allowed to run, according to Portland Meadows spokesman Jason Beem.

What a public relations bummer. The jocks must have agreed to compete and then changed their minds using the "safety issue" as an excuse.

No race or rider would compete if the track was not safe, including the local boys.

Portland Meadows and their fans were slighted, after the work,expense and promotion were spent, and that I say with regret. It was to be a ranking, annual, signature event for Portland Meadows.

In my opinion,the CHRB stewards should call the riders and their agents in to explain why they determined the track was unsafe from hundreds of miles away and the local riders(at Portland Meadows) and stewards had no problem with the safety issue. If warranted, the riders should be cited for not keeping a commitment, and send an official apology to Portland Meadows.

rw

[johnhannibalsmith]

It won't be long before a couple of those hotshots are probably Portland mainstays. Then maybe they will appreciate their action. Did Darrell come to Portland on behalf of the native endangered riders after the superior quartet informed him of their "concerns"?

[atonymania]

The guaranteed pick four is $250,000.

[jballscalls]

The guaranteed pick four is $250,000.

that was a misprint from DRF. it was 25k, but now that the jock's challenge is cancelled, obviously so is the pick 4

[owlet]

why should Rosario risk his neck on a 3200 claimer? having said that, it's more b.s. from CA--you don't agree to ride in North Portland in late November and then say "gee it's raining."