Sunday, January 20, 2013 Foal Crop Continues to Plummet By Bill

Sunday, January 20, 2013
Foal Crop Continues to Plummet
By Bill Finley
Though official numbers are not yet available, the 2012
North American foal crop is likely to dip below 9,000, a new
record low for the modern era. W ith fewer horses being
bred every year, the industry needs to figure out a way to
answer a vital question-where is anyone going to find
enough horses to fill racing cards in the near future?
The USTA is still
busy compiling records
on foals born in 2012,
but based on the numbers the organization
has so far and trends
from previous years,
HRU estimates that
the foal crop will be
about 8,630. The number represents the latest chapter in a trouA standardbred foal, something
bling trend for the
we’re seeing few er and few er of all
sport. The foal crop hit
the time
a peak in 1987 with
22,911 foals. It fell to 15,062 by 1994 but remained steady
over the next 10 years. In 2004 15,256 foals were born, and
the number has been dropping ever since.
W ith 9,859 foals last year, the number dipped below
10,000 for the first time in decades. The 2012 estimated
number represents a 43 percent decrease over 10 years.
Making matters even worse, the 2012 babies were conceived at a time when no one could imagine what was to
come in Ontario. W ith the plug having been pulled on the
Slots at Racetracks Program in Ontario, the number of foals
coming out of that Province is about to fall precipitously.
On the surface, it may seem odd that so few horses are
now being produced each year because purses have never
been better. The infusion of slots revenue has created a
bonanza situation for owners who have competitive and
healthy racehorses. But breeders argue that the economics
of the sport are out of whack.
"Look at the two major sales and look how many horses
sell for very little money," said Alan Leavitt, the president
and general manager of W alnut Hall Ltd. "That's your answer. As a breeder, we're getting sliced and diced."
Leavitt argues that not enough of the slots money is going
toward top caliber horses, particularly the younger ones.
"Breeders are dependent on purses in stakes races and
those purses, if anything have gone down." Leavitt said. "All
the money that's being generated from the slots is going into
the overnights. That's why race horses are snapped up."
Leavitt said that at its peak W alnut Hall had about 140
mares and took in $4 million at the yearling sales. Today,
W alnut Hall has only 38 mares.
The situation is much the same at Perretti Farms in New
Jersey. The Perretti family had put much of its New Jersey
property up for sale, but has yet to find a buyer. In the
meantime, it is producing fewer foals than it did in years
gone by and is becoming increasingly interested in thoroughbreds.
"The purse structure is not supportive of the breeding
industry," Perretti General Manager Anthony Perretti said.
"It's supportive of the race horse and the aged horse. It's
hard for us. Our costs have tripled over the last three or
four years, so it's economically very difficult for us to keep
producing horses. The bottom line is that the economics do
not work."
Perretti agrees that purse money needs to be distributed
differently.
"W e have to give incentives to people who want to race 2
and 3-year-olds," he said. "In the thoroughbreds, you have
maiden races for $62,000 at the top level. In harness racing, the maidens go for $10,000, for $14,000. The regional
programs like they have in New York and Pennsylvania are
fine, but people have to buy for the Grand Circuit, too. You
need to have $1 million races and have people have the
(continued on next page)
HarnessRacingUpdate.com
• 1/20/13 PAGE 2 of 7
kind of hopes and dreams so that they keep moving forward.
"Before Jeff Gural bought the Meadowlands we sat down
with Dennis Robinson, who ran the Sports Authority. Bob
Marks told him, 'I know you are worried about the track's
future but if you don't increase your horse population you're
not going to have enough race horses to keep this place
going.' That was five years ago and Bob was right. I think
people are finally waking up to that fact. "
A Look at the Annual Foal Crop
Foal Year
Foals
2000 14,475
1987
22,911
2001 14,683
1988
22,183
2002 15,031
1989
20,894
2003 15,197
1990
19,858
2004 15,256
1991
18,346
2005 14,909
1992
17,001
2006 14,106
1993
16,225
2007 13,149
1994
15,062
2008 12,228
1995
14,458
2009 11,452
1997
14,249
2010 10,579
1998
14,001
2011 9,859
1999
13,717
2012 8630*
*Estimate
good turnout," said Dave Reid, the sales' general manager.
"The horses that are racing have been racing well. These
horses have been competitive and I think there is something for everybody at this sale. W hether they're racing at
Dover, in Canada, at Yonkers, the Meadows, the Meadowlands, there are horses racing at all those tracks and racing well. "
Those looking for a quick return on their investment may
want to take a look at horses like Hip 239 Sundance
Bayama, who has won two straight racing in races with
$19,000 and $20,000 purses at W oodbine. Hip 215,
Southwestern Dream has been competitive in the $35,000
Preferred events at Dover and made $138,500 last year.
Not Afraid, Hip 177, has won four straight and made
$157,284 last year.
"Year after year, the catalogue seems to have the same
quality and the same numbers," Reid said. "The only
hesitation I have is that the Canadian situation isn't resolved and I wished it were."
Reid said he thought many Canadian outfits, fearing
what's to come in Ontario, would flood this sale with horse,
but that hasn't been the case.
"W e closed the entries in December and, not that people
were optimistic, but they thought that something was going
to be resolved in Canada," Reid said. "If you talked to
those same people today I think they would be more apprehensive. Yes, I was surprised that we didn't get more
(continued on next page)
At the Meadowlands Sale, “Something For
Everyone”
By Bill Finley
The economics of harness racing are such that
the in-form, healthy and
competitive racehorse has
become a most
sought-after prize. And for
those looking for something that can quickly put
money in their pockets the
Idyllic may be the sale topper
Meadowlands will be the
M onday at the M eadow lands
place to be Monday.
The 2013 Tattersalls January Mixed Sale will kick off at
noon on Monday with more than 200 horse set to sell.
"I always look forward to the January sale and I expect a
HarnessRacingUpdate.com
• 1/20/13 PAGE 3 of 7
Canadian horses."
W hile competitive racehorses are always a hot item, the
stars of this sale are a handful of top class mares who likely
become broodmares after Monday.
The biggest name is Hip 109 Idyllic, the winner of the
2010 Jugette. The daughter of American Ideal did not race
in 2012 while dealing with injuries, but has made $1.296
million in her career. Martiniontherocks is by Conway Hall,
is a Breeders Crown winner and has made $460,082. Voelz
Hanover, Hip 130, is an iron mare who has started 128
times, won 29 races and made over $1.2 million.
"That's the market right now and the last three years have
been pretty consistent in that way," Reid said. "Mystical Diva
was our top selling horse last year and she happened to be
a race mare. Since 2008, there have been fewer marquee
male race horses coming into these sales. Harrisburg hasn't
had many either. They're just hard to come by."
Martin Scharf Presents Julia Zenker with Gallo
Blue Chip Scholarship
Saturday, January 19, 2013 - by Keith Gisser, Project Manager, Harness Horse Youth Foundation
East Rutherford, NJ --- During the Saturday, January 12
race card at The Meadowlands, Martin Scharf presented
Julia Zenker, the daughter of Deborah Lass and Drew
Zenker, with a $15,000 check as the winner of the Gallo
Blue Chip scholarship. Zenker is a graduate of New York’s
Port Jervis High School and is currently attending W agner
College in Staten Island majoring in Philosophy and Spanish, in pursuit of a law degree. She has maintained a 3.9
GPA at W agner. The scholarship is named for Scharf’s
great pacer, who retired as the richest pacer in the history of
the sport, earning over $4.25 million dollars in his career,
which lasted from 1999-2005.
For the last two years Zenker has divided her summer
days between being a full time exercise rider at the
Schnittker Stable and parade marshal at Goshen Historic
Track. She has worked with several other trainers at
Goshen since she was young. She also has a wide array of
non-equine volunteer experience, including tutoring at El
Centro del Inmigrante in Staten Island (The Immigration
Center of Staten island), She has also interned W ith the
Calro Project, been a project aide at the African Refugee
Center in Staten Island, and served as Generation Citizen
Campus Executive Director at W agner)
The HHYF has posted applications for the 2013 Gallo Blue
Chip Scholarship on the website. The Harness Horse Youth
Foundation is a charitable 501(c)3 organization dedicated to
providing young people and their families educational opportunities with harness horses, in order to foster the next
generation of participants and fans. The Foundation has
been making a difference in young people’s lives since
1976, and its programs include interactive learning experiences with these versatile animals, scholarship programs,
and creation and distribution of educational materials. For
(continued on next page)
HarnessRacingUpdate.com
• 1/20/13 PAGE 4 of 7
more information on opportunities through HHYF, or to
support its mission, go to www.hhyf.org.
Golden Receiver, Another Easy Win
Once again, there was no catching Golden Receiver last
night at the Meadowlands. The speedy 8-year-old gelding by
Village Jove led every step of the way to win the second leg
of the Presidential Series. He has now won three straight
this year, all of them carbon copies of one another: he goes
right to the front and nobody comes close to catching him.
On this night he was facing tougher foes than he
met in the first leg of the
series, but no one so
much as gave him a tussle. With Tim Tetrick driving, he set fractions of
26.2, 55.1 and 1:22.2 be“Golden” oldie, Golden
Receiver did it again last night fore stopping the clock in
at the Meadowlands (Lisa Photo) 1:48.4.
It was an uneventful race
as Modern Legend was second throughout and Malak
Uswaad N was in third the entire trip.
Golden Receiver paid $3 to win.
So far, Golden Receiver’s 2013 looks exactly like his
2012. Last year he won a prep for the Presidential and then
the first two legs of the series. He concluded the series by
winning the $110,500 final by a neck.
“I don’t know if he’s better than last year, but he’s certainly
as good,” trainer Mark Harder said. “It was a career year last
year and I thought at the beginning of the year that he was
finally physically and mentally maturing. At this time last
year he really looked like he was better than the year before.
Now, he looks the same. He’s just good.
“It’s fun for the owners and I even met a couple of people
in the grandstand tonight. There was a guy from Newfoundland who told me he came and had his picture taken with
the horse, and that was really cool. It’s great for harness
racing and, obviously, great for me. He’s creating a little
buzz.”
Tonight’s number: 4,815
(subscribers, that is.)
Harness Racing Update continues
to grow every day!
Thank you to all of our readers!
Missed an Edition of the HRU?
Check out our archive at www.harnessracingupdate.com
HRU Race Criteria
The following race results are contained in Harness Racing
Update: North American races with a purse value of $20,000
and over, and American-bred and sired winners of significant
races abroad. Stakes races with a purse value of $60,000 and
over are previewed in HRU.
HarnessRacingUpdate.com
• 1/20/13 PAGE 5 of 7
In Ontario a Horse Racing Lottery Can Work, If
it's Done Right
In October the OMAFRA panel in Ontario released its list
of recommendations for horse racing in the Province of
Ontario. One of its wish list items was creating a horse
racing related lottery in the Province, which would hopefully
raise up to $50 million a year for horse racing. With $345
million taken out of the industry as a result of quashing the
slots at racetracks program, that money would be sorely
needed.
Can a horse racing lottery work in Ontario?
When we think of horse racing lotteries it begins and ends
with the V75 in Sweden. The V75 is a pick 7 which runs
each Saturday, with a ten cent minimum play. The bets are
sold in convenience stores, online, or at racetracks. When
carried-over, the pools can be greater than $30 million.
What Sweden possesses to get this type of wagering
implemented is an organization that mends pari-mutuel
horse wagering and the gambling system. All forms of
betting fall under the authority of the government's Lotteri
Inspektionen. Under this is AB Trav och Galopp (ATG)
which manages Sweden's horse racing industry and is
responsible for the Swedish Horse Racing Totalisator, along
with Svenska Spel which has control of all other sports
gambling.
Having this type of structure provides Sweden with an
edge; an edge to get things done legally and properly.
In North America we do not have this system in place,
which makes a horse racing lottery a pipe dream.
In Ontario, however, that might be changing. The OLG is
taking it on the chin of late, and so is the government. If
(and I guess it still is a big 'if') the OMAFRA panel is serious,
a structure for a horse racing lottery could be constructed
and fast tracked. This structure would probably be not
unlike the Swedish experience, where the lottery corporation
would work closely with horse racing.
That'd be good news. It's probably the only way it would
be able to work.
But, it's only half the battle. How would a horse racing
lottery have to be positioned in the market to succeed?
One would think the pools would have to be sizeable and
attractive enough to glean money and interest from two
markets: The existing lottery market and the existing horse
racing "pick x" market.
HarnessRacingUpdate.com
• 1/20/13 PAGE 6 of 7
For the existing lottery market the challenge is pretty easy.
If you have a big pool, they'll play. Although Massachusetts
lowered their hold on their lottery to some success, as a rule
things like takeout do not matter to these types of players.
They need a sizeable pool and that's all. Since (one would
expect) this bet will be sold in corner stores and lottery
kiosks the distribution channel is not an issue.
The only issue I see is that there are already lotteries that
offer a big payout. Work needs to be done in marketing the
bet, that's for certain.
For the existing player, well, they're the opposite in a lot of
ways. If the takeout is 60% like some lotteries, they won't
play in a huge way; no if's and or but's. As well, they don't
need to be marketed to like a newbie is. They'll be watching
simulcast feeds and know the when, where and how's. On
the distribution side, well that's already in place. Every track,
ADW, or international outlet should be able to bet into the
pool. After all, it's a pick x for a dime or twenty cents. It's not
reinventing the wheel.
I think the biggest stumbling block in making a bet like this
work (after it has been approved) has to do with what always plagues horse racing - too many fingers in the pie,
wanting a slice, and a lack of a long-term vision.
If, for example, a 35% takeout is approved, racing would
probably end up splitting it down the middle like they always
do: 50% for purses, 50% for racetracks. It's the path of least
resistance.
That, like the slots split, would be, in my opinion, this bets'
fatal error. The bet does not sell itself and it can't be a success if it is not marketed and pushed. And marketing and
pushing a bet costs money.
More likely a 35% takeout with a 20% signal fee for computer players to benefit, and a 20% hold for tracks and
purses with the rest reinvested would be a proper mix; in my
opinion, anyway. That way ADW's could incentivize large
players with cash back to solidify a betting base. Tracks
outside Ontario would make a worthwhile return from pushing and carrying the bet. And of course, locally in Ontario,
15% of the takeout could be used to market it (and horse
racing) to the masses - something that slots should've been
mandated to do long ago.
For a long time when horse racing was a monopoly the
industry had an "if you build it, they will come" mentality, and
that mentality has carried-over to today in many ways.
Unfortunately as we've seen the last two decades that has
not been a good strategy to follow. If we offer a bet, it doesn't mean it will be a success. A proper business plan needs
to be put in place along with it.
When it comes to the loss of slot machine revenue in
Ontario, I am not happy about it, nor do I think it was fair.
But I am not a doom and gloomer. I don't believe the world
will end just because we don't have a slice of money from a
mindless machine. Horse racing betting, if done right, can
be the greatest game in the world. It all starts with a vision
and some passion. Hopefully that begins to take hold soon
in Ontario with a lottery bet done right. With some work, it
can work and help the sport get back on its feet again.
WINNERS - WINNERS - WINNERS!
Preferred’s January Mixed Sale consignment has
all the fresh, winning racehorses you’re looking for!
See our updated racelines & sale supplement.
P.O. Box 2200 • Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510 • w w w .preferredequine.com
In Support of Brian Sears
In reading Bill Finley's article on Brian Sears' choice as to
where he would work at this time, it was disappointing to
see Jeff Gural's attitude.
Certainly he should ask the sport’s best performers to
support his business interests. And, if such support works
for both Brian's career and Jeff's business, that would be
great. However, when Brian decides that for him and his
family it is best to work elsewhere, I believe that it was
disrespectful for Jeff to say , "I guess he thinks he will
make more money ---".
I am pretty sure that " making more money" is not that
bad a concept in Jeff's life, nor in any of our lives. I am
very supportive of Jeff Gural's efforts in our business. I am
quite sure that he has made a good business decision to
bet that Atlantic City cannot survive due to the evolving
competition,
and New Jersey will grant him a full casino license. ( which
he will richly deserve due to his investment and concept).
Brian Sears is a good and honorable man. He has the
right to choose his business path, without disrespectful
comments from anyone.
Fran Azur
In Support of Jeff Gural
I think Jeff Gural should be applauded. The absolute
garbage that was going on for years was disgusting. Most
of the so called "trainers" weren't trainers they were chemists. I talked to many of my horseplaying friends and they
like the way things are going. So I tip my hat to Mr. Gural
and if anyone gets caught cheating, send them packing
like the rest of them!!! Thank You
Ed Myers
Another Gural Fan
We can only hope and pray for our industry and the sake
of these wonderful horses God has given us that all industry leaders follow Mr. Jeff Gural’s lead. What a wonderful
gift he is to us.
S. Kirk
HarnessRacingUpdate.com
• 1/20/13 PAGE 7 of 7
1, M, $22,500, Pace, A-1/A-2 Handicap Horses & Geldings
Post Positions Drawn According to Class, 26.2, 53.3, 1:21.4,
1:50.0, FT
Silent Swing (g, 11, Northern Luck--She Cantsay No, by
Die Laughing), $20,000 2003 KY, O-David E Shea, CA &
Mark S Ford. B-Robert L Maxon & Thomas M Neppell Jr.
T-Mark Ford. D-David Miller, $11,250, Lifetime Record:
238-64-35-26, $1,881,152
To view replay click here
6, M, $20,000, Pace, A-2 Horses and Geldings, 27.3, 56.3,
1:24.4, 1:52.0, FT
Dinner Guest (g, 8, No Pan Intended--Beach Guest, by
Beach Towel), $47,000 2006 SHS-HBG, O-Rene M Allard,
CA & Anatolia Racing Stb Inc. B-W alnridge Farm Inc &
Birnam W ood Farms & David A Meirs III. T-Rene Allard.
D-Simon Allard, $10,000, Lifetime Record: 129-31-16-9,
$418,510
To view replay click here
11, M, $40,000, Pace, PRESIDENTIAL Free For All 2nd
Leg, 26.2, 55.1, 1:22.2, 1:48.4, FT
1-Golden Receiver (g, 8, Village Jove--Royal Gold, by
Towner's Big Guy) O-Our Horse Cents Stables & Nina
Simmonds. B-Nina Simmonds. T-Mark Harder. D-Tim
Tetrick, $20,000, Lifetime Record: 124-52-18-23,
$1,649,758
2-Modern Legend (g, 5, Modern Art--Ruby Cam, by
Camluck) O/B-Dave Drew Associates Inc, CA. T-David
Drew. D-John Campbell, $10,000
3-Malak Uswaad N (h, 5, Bettor's Delight--Sirius Flight, by
The Big Dog) O-Peter J Tritton Inc. B-Cavalla Bloodstock
LTD, NZ. T-Peter Tritton. D-Ron Pierce, $4,800
Calls: 1H, 1H, 1Q, 2, 2H
Finish Order: Dial Or Nodial, Mr Hasani N, Second W ind N,
Versado, Fred And Ginger, Rockin The House, Meirs
Hanover, Annieswesterncard
To view replay click here
5, YR, $21,000, Pace, NON-W INNERS OF $18,000 IN
LAST 6 STARTS, 27.3, 56.2, 1:25.2, 1:54.1, FT
Jerry's Brown Gold (h, 6, Art Major--Ideal Dex, by Western Ideal), $37,000 2008 SHS-HBG, O-Fred Monteleone
Stbl LLC. B-Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc. T-Conor Flynn.
D-George Brennan, $10,500, Lifetime Record: 84-20-11-14,
$404,211
To view replay click here
6, YR, $35,000, Pace, OPEN HANDICAP POST POSITIONS 1-5 ASSIGNED POST POSITIONS 6-8 DRAWN,
27.2, 55.3, 1:23.4, 1:52.4, FT
Electrofire (h, 6, Electric Stena--Temples May Day, by
Smartest Remark), $3,300 2008 NSPE, O-W est W ins
Stable, CA & David S Miller. B-Arnold W J Fitzgerald, CA.
T-Casie Coleman. D-Brian Sears, $17,500, Lifetime Record: 90-26-13-13, $282,823
To view replay click here
7, YR, $21,000, Pace, NON-W INNERS OF $19,000 IN
LAST 6 STARTS, 27.3, 56.3, 1:24.4, 1:53.1, FT
Grams Legacy (g, 5, Rocknroll Hanover--Kikikatie, by
Real Artist) O-Todd A Rosenberg & Kathleen L Tufano.
B-Susan E Grange, CA & Lothlorien Equestrian Cent, CA.
T-Thomas Milici. D-Stephane Bouchard, $10,500, Lifetime
Record: 43-9-9-2, $155,430
To view replay click here
8, YR, $28,000, Pace, W INNERS OVER $25,000 IN LAST
6 STARTS HANDICAP POST POSITION 1 ASSIGNED
POST POSITIONS 2-5 DRAW N POST POSITIONS 6-8
DRAW N, 27.4, 56.2, 1:25.0, 1:53.1, FT
Roadway (g, 7, Blissfull Hall--Terinatross, by Albatross) O-Tina L Adamczyk & Chad Lennon. B-Dean E
Miller. T-Tina Adamczyk. D-George Brennan, $14,000,
Lifetime Record: 138-22-21-29, $413,266
To view replay click here
9, YR, $21,000, Pace, NON-W INNERS OF $18,000 IN
LAST 6 STARTS, 27.2, 56.2, 1:25.2, 1:53.2, FT
Lettucerocku A (g, 6, Aces N' Sevens--Rochelle
Hanover, by Vanston Hanover) O-Joseph V Muscara.
B-Redbank Lodge Standardbreds, AS. T-Darran Cassar.
D-Brian Sears, $10,500, Lifetime Record: 74-18-11-12,
$212,249
To view replay click here
10, YR, $21,000, Pace, NON-W INNERS OF $18,000 IN
LAST 6 STARTS, 28.2, 57.3, 1:26.0, 1:53.3, FT
Our Cullenscrown N (g, 7, Christian Cullen--Crown
Counsel, by Western Hanover) O-Muscara Racing Trust.
B-Ian & Doreen Annette Dobson, NZ. T-Darran Cassar.
D-Brian Sears, $10,500, Lifetime Record: 79-17-21-8,
$219,240
To view replay click here
11, YR, $21,000, Pace, NON-W INNERS OF $18,000 IN
LAST 6 STARTS, 28.2, 57.1, 1:25.4, 1:54.3, FT
Defiance N (g, 9, In The Pocket--Sabelle, by Tuapeka
Knight) O-Arthur Blutstein & Pace To Place Stable .Com
Inc. B-Christopher H & Mrs T J Barlow, NZ. T-Darran
Cassar. D-Brian Sears, $10,500, Lifetime Record:
126-32-19-7, $388,036
To view replay click here
12, YR, $24,000, Pace, NON-W INNERS OF $25,000 IN
LAST 6 STARTS, 27.1, 55.4, 1:24.0, 1:52.4, FT
Safe Harbor (g, 5, Village Jolt--Light Up, by Artsplace),
$25,000 2009 SHS-HBG, O-Anthony T Lake. B-Dr John M
& Judy A Egloff. T-Jason Ricco. D-George Brennan,
$12,000, Lifetime Record: 67-14-6-9, $209,110
To view replay click here