NEWS AND NOTES FOR MARCH 28, 2014

NEWS AND NOTES FOR MARCH 28, 2014

FASIG-TIPTON TEXAS SALE ADDS SIX ENTRIES
Tim Boyce, sales director for Fasig-Tipton’s Texas division at Lone Star Park, was keen to point out the company’s upcoming under tack show and sale, set respectively for Sunday, March 30 at 11:00 a.m. and Tuesday, April 1st at noon.

“The forecast calls for a very pretty day for the under tack show,” Boyce noted from his Grand Prairie office, “and it will stay pleasant and mild for the sale. “And we have added six more entries to the catalogue – 3 two-year-olds in training and 3 horses of racing age, the addendum for which will be available on the sales grounds.”

Fasig-Tipton Texas has catalogued 138 entries for the single session auction, a slight increase from numbers catalogued last year. The majority of the 130-plus two-year-olds qualify for competitive local purses and stakes programs in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana.

For further information, contact Tim Boyce at (972) 262-0000.

JUVENILE SALES OFFER BETTER RETURN FOR BUYERS
A recent Blood-Horse article pointed out that buyers at 2-year-olds in training sales have at least one distinct advantage over yearling buyers: they get to see the horses perform. As a result, 2-year-olds are typically sold at prices that more realistically reflect their potential racetrack performance (measured by earnings). Meanwhile, yearling prices can be inflated due to the premium placed on pedigree (bloodstock value).

From the 2005-07 foal crops at the major North American sales, 17,069 horses were sold as yearlings and 5,360 as 2-year-olds. Excluding unraced horses, each group had comparable average earnings: $66,926/starter for yearlings vs. $64,476/starter for 2-year-olds, a gap of only 3.7%. But there was a greater disparity in average sales price—yearlings averaged $80,663, 29% more than the 2-year-old average of $60,313.

The rate of return (ROR) for each group suggests that 2-year-old buyers are more accurate in determining racetrack value. The ROR for sold 37% better than the yearlings.

ACCREDITED TEXAS-BRED FIFTYSHADESOFGOLD TO RUN IN FAIR GROUND OAKS
Fiftyshadesofgold, bred and owned by the late Clarence Scharbauer Jr will take on four foes in Saturday’s $400,000 G2 Fair Ground Oaks.

The filly was undefeated as a juvenile until victimized by a rough trip in the Adirondack Stakes (gr. II) at Saratoga, where she was advanced from fourth to third through a disqualification.

Fiftyshadesofgold returned as a winner this season in the restricted Two Altazano Stakes Feb. 15 at Sam Houston Race Park, scoring by 2 1/2 lengths while less than fully extended.

The daughter of My Golden Song, out of the Hadif mare Hadif Cat is trained by Bret Calhoun and will break from post position 3 at odds of 3/1.

Morning line favorite and Rachel Alexandra Stakes (gr. III) winner Untapable headlines the race as the sole graded stakes winner. But she will likely face some tough competition from her other rivals, all consistent winners in their young careers.

A Winchell Thoroughbreds homebred, Untapable most recently rolled to an exciting 9 1/2-length victory over Got Lucky in the Feb. 22 Rachel Alexandra. Trained by Steve Asmussen, she broke her maiden on her first try at 2 at Churchill Downs, and then came right back to capture the Pocahontas Stakes (gr. II) at the Louisville track.

Rounding out the field are Unbridled Forever at 9/5; Kentucky –bred Mary Rita and Louisiana-bred Artist Cry, both at 20-1.

Five of the last nine Fair Grounds Oaks winners have gone on to victory in the Kentucky Oaks. Slated as the seventh race on the Fair Grounds card, the 1 1/16-mile event for 3-year-old fillies has a post time of 3:39 p.m. CDT.

TRC RULES COMMITTEE ACTION
The Texas Racing Commission Rules Committee met in Austin this week to consider six agenda items, including a proposal to amend Rule 313.110 concerning coupled entries.

The rule proposal, brought forth by the TTA and TQHA was approved to proceed to the agenda of the next regular TRC meeting.  The proposed language states:

(a)  Not more than two horses that have common interests through ownership, training, or lease may be entered in an overnight race, unless the race is divided.

(b)  Except as provided by subsection (c), if [If] two horses entered in a race are owned in whole or in part by the same individual or entity, the entry shall be coupled as a single wagering interest.

(c)  In stakes races with a purse of at least $50,000, the stewards may allow two or more horses owned in whole or in part by the same individual or entity to race as separate wagering interests.

A controversial proposal submitted by the Texas Thoroughbred HBPA to amend Rules 321.505 and 321.509 to modify the breed split rule for purse revenue generated by simulcasting and for funds in the escrow horse purse account was discussed at length, with opportunity for public testimony on the subject.  The Committee determined that the proposal was not ready to move forward to the agenda of the next regular TRC meeting.  Proponents will have the opportunity for a revised proposal to be presented before the Rules Committee at a future meeting.

FEDERAL BILL WOULD BAN INTERNET GAMBLING
Two Republican members of Congress have introduced legislation that would ban Internet gambling by restoring the original interpretation of the federal Wire Act.

Sens. Lindsay Graham of South Carolina and Jason Chaffetz of Utah sponsored the bill, which would not impact online pari-mutuel wagering. The industry’s activities are legal under the Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978 and were reinforced under the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006.

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association said its lobbying team was successful in securing inclusion of the pari-mutuel horse racing language in the latest bill.

The measure has bipartisan support in Congress. It targets an interpretation by the United States Department of Justice that allowed Internet gambling to expand. A few states have legalized online casino gambling in attempt to generate revenue; some lawmakers oppose the measure because of states’ rights issues.

The bill was pushed by casino operator Sheldon Adelson, who opposes an expansion of casino gambling through the Internet.

“The (Department of Justice) opened the door for massive change in policy without significant public input,” Chaffetz said in a release. “These fundamental changes need to go through Congress. By restoring the original interpretation of the Wire Act, we are putting the genie back in the bottle and allowing for an open debate to take place.”

NOTES: Did you know that 1946 Texas-bred Triple Crown winner Assault loved chocolate cake? He would get a slice every time he won a race… Make plans now to join us at Lone Star Park for Opening Weekend, April 10-12… TOBA will conduct a Thoroughbred Ownership Seminar at Keeneland on April 18; the seminar will also be offered as a live webcast at BloodHorse.com…The 50-1 movie tour will be in Houston today at the Cinemark 18 Webster Theatre to meet fans, photo ops, poster giveaways and signings from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm and then at Sam Houston Race Park arriving at 6:00 pm to meet fans with photo ops from 7 pm to 9 pm…Remember to vote for the 2013 Texas Champion Claimer at  http://bit.ly/1q5YwRW… Texas stallion Dynameaux has been relocated to stand the 2014 breeding season at Seguin Horse Center where he will stand for a $1,500 fee as property of Don H. Ford Jr… Congrats to Texas breeders and TTA Lifetime members Craig Upham and his wife Sue Dowling of Stoneview Farm whose homebred colt Preach the Word, by Pulpit out of the graded stakes-producing Hennessy mare Word o’ Wisdom, and who was originally sold by them for $155k at the Keeneland September Sale, recently sold for $300K at the Fasig-Tipton Florida Sale.