Churchill riding colony

[Valuist]

According to the DRF, both Gary Stevens and Mike Smith will stay for the entire meet. Stevens supposedly is planning on moving permanently to Kentucky (although with him one must take the word "permanent" with a grain of salt). Bejarano and Albarado will also be back and Pat Day is expected back in mid-May.

[garyoz]

Demonstrates the sorry state of racing in SoCal. Interesting news on Berajano. I thought he was going to make NYRA his more or less permanent circuit.

[delayjf]

Demonstrates the sorry state of racing in SoCal

I will admit Socal racing has it's problems, but the purses and hense the riding fees derived from those purses are higher than in Kentucky. From a riders perspective, how bad can it be.

[GMB@BP]

Originally Posted by delayjf

I will admit Socal racing has it's problems, but the purses and hense the riding fees derived from those purses are higher than in Kentucky. From a riders perspective, how bad can it be.

you cant get a riding fee if you are not in the race. Socal is a complete joke at this point.

[bdhsheets]

How much higher is the cost of living in SoCal vs Louisville/Kentucky? Don't forget Holly will be gone after the '06 season. Time to make new connections.

[DJofSD]

Maybe Gary just doesn't want to rdie against PVal

DJofSD

[delayjf]

Socal is a complete joke at this point.

Hense the mystery, why do people continue to wager so much money on SoCal racing?

It's not uncommon for SoCal riders to take off the Hol meet and ride else where. Stevens himself has riden in France, Hong Kong during Hol. So has Desormeaux (Hong Kong). I'm sure the Stevens at least already owns a home in Cal so I doubt that's an issue. Smith on the other hand, I think he might be a bit disillustioned that he hasn't gotten better mounts here. Maybe they just wanted a change of scenery.

[cj]

Let's be a little fair to SoCal, Aqueduct has been even worse the past few weeks. Churchill is looking pretty good so far.

[bettheoverlay]

I heard on the KLAV radio show today that Steven's home in California is up for sale. Still can't see Stevens riding at Ellis and Turfway. Saratoga for the summer seems more likely.

[garyoz]

On TVG Stevens said the move is permanent and that he will return to SoCal for big races and to ride Rock Hard Ten. I think he indicated he'll retire if he's not getting good mounts and enjoying himself. Made some reference to anyone who follows racing knows the problems in California.

Also is it official that Holly would close after '06? I though employees were only told for sure that they would have their jobs through this meet. The sale by Churchill of Hollywood Park is a no-brainer. I heard the president of Turfway Park say that the track would probably be sold if not granted a casino license. Turfway (aka Latonia) is also next to an airport, CVG. Of course, racinos in KY look like a lock at this point. Kentucky racing will be more formibable in the future, but you'll never see Gary Stevens move his tack to Ellis, definitely Saratoga or retirement.

[toetoe]

We fans of racing know the problems in Stevens! He's an Idaho cowboy family man .. NO! He's an actor! No! He's a full-time jockey, just one of the boys! No, wait! He's a guy that unwillingly must give up riding because the jockeys in Southern California are teasing him about being a heartthrob actor! Oh, what's a multitalented, good-looking actor/horseman to do? A couple of wives later, he'll finally settle on something, but it won't be training --- that's too much like real work. Maybe GM of Santa Anita? How about a steward? Just please believe he's totally dedicated to the horse he's riding, the one that you bet on. I'm .. pretty sure.

[GMB@BP]

Originally Posted by delayjf

Hense the mystery, why do people continue to wager so much money on SoCal racing?

It's not uncommon for SoCal riders to take off the Hol meet and ride else where. Stevens himself has riden in France, Hong Kong during Hol. So has Desormeaux (Hong Kong). I'm sure the Stevens at least already owns a home in Cal so I doubt that's an issue. Smith on the other hand, I think he might be a bit disillustioned that he hasn't gotten better mounts here. Maybe they just wanted a change of scenery.

Jockeys are so overrated so I dont want to get into a jock discussion, but if Smith felt disillusioned before the move, just think how he feels now. 8 wins since he move three weeks ago and he has 3 $20+ wins and a $40+ win.

In socal if you aint riding for Oneill or Mitchell you are winning at a very average %. I mean Dougless was 15%, Ezpinosa was 15%, Baze 16%. So its not like Smith did not fit in with that crew at 15%, he just was riding crap and not very much crap as its hard unless you really love the mdn claimers.

As far as why people wager on socal. Its a good question, I guess if you narrow your plays to Alw, Stakes and Mdn races you can find three a day and its not so bad. Myself, 3 and 4 mdn claimers a day, 2 10k claimers, just aint going to get it done.

[Valuist]

Garyoz-

Don't they already have riverboats down there? Maybe that's considered Indiana where the boats are but Lawrenceburg can't be more than 10-15 miles from Turfway. Purses really skyrocketed at TP in the early and mid 90s but I guess they've been pretty stagnant the past 10 years. If they close, would anything fill the void or would KY be dark from December thru March?

[toetoe]

Disclaimer:
Today is Tuesday, the worst day of the Churchill week.
That said, check out the 10(!)-race card @ CD today:

1)$10,000 4^ ... claimers

[toetoe]

Sorry.

2) MCl. $30,000
3)Opt.Cl.$80,000/NW3x (very nice, possible stakes types)
4)M.Cl.$15,000
5)$20,000NW2L ... claiming
6)M.Cl.$15,000
7)$20,000 ... claiming
8)$10,000 ... claiming fillies
9)NW1X ... soph fillies allowance
10)$10,000NW2L ... claiming fillies