Texas Thoroughbred Forum

[Roger]

Hi,

I hope you all dont mind me throwing my 2 cents into the mix here. Im fom NJ but I own shares in a stallion that stands in Decatur. So, in a way I have a stake in what happens in Tx.

Anyway, what it seems to me that Texas horsemen could use is someone with balls (excuse my language) in your statehouse. If there is going to be such resistance to slots, maybe your representatives - especially the ones who have racetracks and farms in their constituencies - should drop the "slots or nothing" stance and adopt the one we have taken in NJ - "slots or subsidies". In short, if you can't get what you want, maybe you can get what you need - money for purses.

In NJ, we have a few very strong and relentless legislators on our side, most notably the state senator from Monmouth County, where both Monmouth Park and Freehold Raceway are located as well as numerous breeding farms and training centers. We also are lucky to have the senate president, Dick Codey, on our side. The results have been that we have been getting subisidies for our purses in return for NOT pursuing slots at the tracks. Eventually we will have to either get slots or die (we are surrounded by states that have racinos, much like Texas), but in the interim we have been able to survive.

The stance that must be taken, and is most effective, is the negative effect on the economy and loss of jobs and farms if racing is allowed to fail.

Try to get your legislators to siphon $30 million a year or so from that budget surplus. If nothing else, it will stir some serious debate and maybe eventually lead to slots rather than subsidies.

Just my 2 cents.

Thanks! When we had our old forum, I read where you guys had pulled off this help from the state budget to help an ailing industry. I mentioned it, but no one took me seriously. I liked it because it gave the legislature another choice. Our biggest problem is few people know the full economic impact of horse racing in Texas and we still have a large part of our population that wishes horse racing and all gambling would go away and to a large extent those people control Austin. Logic means nothing to them.

[Bedouwia]

Barn 31-Tbreds, you make a very good point. In the past, Tinner's Way has given an excellent presentation that demonstrates just how badly we are hurting here in Texas. As he pointed out in a previous post, we need a plan B. If they will not let us "play to pay," why not a subsidy?

However, the Texas racing leadership (which has the dream of slots and all the revenue they might generate) seems to be united on that singular mission. I would love to see it, but don't expect it will pass the legislature this session. This is despite the best organized effort that has ever been made. There is a new expanded HORSE coalition, which is a big step forward, because how at least different horse groups are not all coming with competing plans.

The most recent TTA post suggests that they will try to gain support from the Texas Farm Bureau, who really are powerful in Texas. Their argument will be that it is not a moral issue, but an economic issue for Texas agriculture. If the Farm Bureau will come on board, and support us, then my expectations would go up considerably.

Our legislature only meets every two years, so if we do not get some relief this session, it is going to be hard to keep going for the next two years for a lot of us.

Bedouwia

[Barn 31 T-breds]

Here is a recent article that outlines the strategy of horsemen in NJ:
'
http://www.njbreds.com/news-tbanj.shtml

[Bedouwia]

Very interesting article about the N.J. horsemen. Of course, you have one great advantage in that at least you have some casinos in your state. We have none, so Texans fill up the parking lots in the neighboring states.

We have a great state, and can produce both horses and horsemen (and women) but are struggling without a level playing field. Still, some of us refuse to give up.

On an optimistic note, I went to visit my horses today. The mares have big bellies, and the yearlings look great. I took a short detour to visit Key Ranch and see the new stallion. He is True Cause, a Darley bred son of Storm Cat. He has a very impressive pedigree, and is a handsome chestnut with a white star and sock. True Cause is definitely a nice new addition to the stallion line up there. I guess that is going to mean more things to think about in the new year.

Bedouwia

[Roger]

I just got back from Lone Star working Pepper. Its kind of empty right now and all the riders work for the stables there. If you want a rider you have to wait until they are through with their morning work for their boss. The gates will not be up until Jan, but if you want an official work you can get one by calling in ahead of time so that they can get a clocker to time you. Its a great time to take babies, there are only four or five horses on track at one time.

[Bedouwia]

Roger, are you going to race or breed Pepper next year?

What do you think of the new Manor schedule? I hope you will be there again. I want to finally get to Retama after the college closes next week. I wish I could make it today for all the stakes races. I saw that DBailey's colt came in second last night. Have you seen him lately?

Good news that the Farm Bureau committee came out in favor of our proposal. Now if the membership will agree, that could be a huge help with the legislature. That support and an ever tightening budget could give us our best chance ever.

Bedouwia

[Roger]

I'm not sure what we are going to do with Pepper next year. Our plans are to race her through Manor at least and then breed her maybe. I'm going to try and run her Friday next week. Her work Tues. was very good. There is no clocker on duty at LS yet, but I caught her in 43.2 going a half. I may have been a little slow starting the clock and a little slow at the end of the work due to the toteboard, but I was not off that much.
I like Phil's True Cause, he is a 3/4 to Giants Causeway. Storm Cat out of a Rahy mare. Do you know what Rahy means?
Manor is such a mixed bag for TB's. They don't want us there and they cater to QH's. We will not know how many races we will get until its over. They would rather card 4 days of QH trial races than give us an extra race. We will just have to make due, I guess. We really don't need to overlap with the SH dates being cut so bad. Take care.

[tinners way]

Hello Roger,

I cannot take credit for True Cause being here- but glad that he is, he is a nice addition to and fits well with roster.

Breeding season is shaping up well for all the stallions.

[toadie]

Is anyone going to the FT sale this weekend? I hesitate to post this, lest I be taken for a flake.....buuuuuuuuuttttttttttttttt. There's a mare in the sale that I want based on her breeding. If her conformation is good, then I'm really in trouble because I'll have to get her Anyway, she's in foal to a stallion who's breeding I have absolutely no interest in (Storm Cat son). Would anyone be interested in boarding the mare for me in exchange for the baby? Of course you'll want to know who it is, etc,etc, but p m me if you want to know more. The last time I posted on a forum about a horse I was interested in buying, I got blind sided. Someone offered to go look at the horse (he was out of state) and get back to me, but instead they bought him on the spot! Guess I should look at that in a positive manner.....that I have good taste I'm banking that since she's an older broodmare, instead of a riding horse, that that probably won't happen this time?????????

[Bedouwia]

Toadie, good luck at the sale. I am afraid to go, because I REALLY don't need any more horses. I think that there are some good entries, and that it will be a great opportunity for buyers.

GOOD NEWS: The Texas Farm Bureau is going to support our legislative effort. That can only help.

ELECTION: The TTA website is holding its election for the Claiming Horse of the year. I have been a supporter of these horses and this award in the past and cast my vote today. I encourage all of you to take a moment to support these horses who are the bread and sometimes even the butter of our industry. VOTE

Bedouwia

[Roger]

Thanks for the information on Claimer of the Year. Its really funny in that I got to meet Retas Runner last night. The guy next to me claimed him. He is certainly a perky little toot, I feel sorry for one when they change barns like this. The change has to effect them, He is perfectly sound it looked like so I'm guessing it was $3,500 well spent.

[toadie]

Toadie, good luck at the sale. I am afraid to go, because I REALLY don't need any more horses. I think that there are some good entries, and that it will be a great opportunity for buyers.

GOOD NEWS: The Texas Farm Bureau is going to support our legislative effort. That can only help.

ELECTION: The TTA website is holding its election for the Claiming Horse of the year. I have been a supporter of these horses and this award in the past and cast my vote today. I encourage all of you to take a moment to support these horses who are the bread and sometimes even the butter of our industry. VOTE

Bedouwia

Fortunately (hopefully not unfortunately for her) I didn't like the mare's conformation. She looked miserable because she's due in Jan., but she DID look well taken care of. In fact the majority of the mares were fat and very well groomed. A few weren't so well groomed, but none like I've seen in past sales when I wondered why someone would pay those kind of fees and bring something that looked like a refugee (putting it mildly).

Speaking of claimers, I have another reason to be super critical looking at the sale horses. I got a ph. call and 3 emails in the last 2 days about my ex-racer that was claimed from us last yr. She's now at Beulah Park (certainly not the most desirable place) and I've been encouraged to get serious if I want her back. The trainer hasn't accepted my offer yet, and the little turd had the nerve to come in 2nd yesterday in a 4k claiming race. I was sure hoping she's canter in last. Anyway, I have a little money put aside if he will come to his senses, but am still trying to scrape together some for shipping. With the drop in fuel prices I can go get her myself if they'll let me off work

[Bedouwia]

I watched much of the sale via computer. It was painful to watch. There were some very nice mares, all apparently in good condition, and most not sold. Somebody bought a 2001 Pulpit mare, who won over $ 57K in foal for $1,100. Unbelieveable. Thank goodness that is the last sale of the year. It was a blood bath.

Bedouwia

[toadie]

Yes the sale was sad. One friend bought 2 mares. One thru the ring for 1k and one back at the barn for 500. Another friend was selling 5. 2 sold thru the ring, 1 mare and 1 weanling, for 1k each. She sold 2 at the barn for 500 ea, and the 5th she took home. The one I think would have been the high seller(?) was not sold @33k. Gorgeous Royal Academy mare IFT Mutakddim.

[Bedouwia]

I got my TTA magazine today.... they keep getting smaller, another sign of the times. There is a very nice article about Lights on Broadway in this issue. It made me feel good all over again to read it.

It seems like everyone is losing money one way or another. The news about the most recent crook, who stold $ 50 billion from investors is just the most recent example. I have decided that I am much happier losing my money on my horses than in the crooked markets. At least I can have a little fun, and actually see where my money is going. Much better than having it disappear in a virtual world of incomprehensibe risk.

Bedouwia