Texas Thoroughbred Forum

adrienne · Postby **adrienne** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 4:53 pm

I am hijaking ya'lls thread again.

I did find a home for my pony mare (thanks to everyone for the help). I am looking at leaving Texas in the next 10-14 days, however I got roped into helping a friend with an emergancy situation.

I don't want to type out the entire situation here because I would like to keep them some privacy.... so try to remain judgement free for the following question.

I can't find anywhere the dates/locations for horse/tack auctions.

We are in Ranger, Texas. Looking as far as Weatherford or Abilene along I20. Sooner the better.

jellac · Postby **jellac** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 2:54 am

Adrienne - Go to NetPosse.com of Stolen Horse International online and scan their home page for a link to 'Auctions' then click on 'Texas' for an extensive list of local horse and livestock auctions. Once there compare the addresses with your roadmap and then call the ones that are on/near your route to check for tack auctions.

adrienne · Postby **adrienne** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 7:40 am

Thanks Jellac, I ended up finding what I needed on craigslist, of all places. Exactly in the timeframe I needed too.

I can't believe now that I've lived in Texas for 10 months and still haven't been to one of the racetracks... I wonder if I can hit Lone Star on the way out...

Bedouwia · Postby **Bedouwia** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 9:23 am

The latest TTA update, plus a small blurb in Bloodhorse, do not sound good for racing on schedule at Sam Houston. They are trying to get the other tracks to pick up the slack in an adjusted schedule while Sam Houston tries to repair their facility. This will be an issue for the Racing Commission, but the bad news is at this point, is that neither Retama nor Lone Star want the days without a settlement of the issue regarding payments for online betting. What a mess. It is hard enough without more set backs. Does anyone know if they are even actually negotiating over the dispute on the handle?

Bedouwia

Roger · Postby **Roger** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 2:46 pm

Rumor at LS has it that that it is a done deal, that SH dates are being split between Retama and LS. Have any of you heard anything? The problem is we will have less dates.

Bedouwia · Postby **Bedouwia** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 6:56 am

Roger,I have not heard any facts yet, but we might get an update from the TTA today? I am not sure what is a "done deal" in your post. I assume the racing dates, but that does not include the issue of ADW monies. That issue really needs to be resolved. What about more days at Manor and Gillespie?

It is sad to see the way that everything keeps going down... the report of foals for 2008 in today's Bloodhorse shows an 11% drop for Texas. These are not final numbers, but an indication of the direction that we are going.

Anybody out there with facts, let us know.

Bedouwia

Bedouwia · Postby **Bedouwia** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 2:24 pm

This is a copy of a part of the newest update from Dave Hooper, in case some of you do not get it in your inbox.

DECISION ON SAM HOUSTON MEET LOCATION TO BE MADE BY TRC ON OCTOBER 23
The Texas Racing Commission is ready to hold an emergency meeting at Sam Houston Race Park on Thursday, October 23, at 10:30am to decide whether the 2008-9 Thoroughbred meet can be run there or whether the meet will be moved in whole or in part to one or more other Texas tracks. The location of the meet remains undetermined while Hurricane Ike damage assessments continue to be made and negotiations between Sam Houston officials and insurance companies continue to move forward.

This past Tuesday, representatives of all three Class 1 tracks, Class 2 Manor Downs, the Texas Horsemen’s Partnership, Texas Quarter Horse Association, Texas Thoroughbred Association and Texas Racing Commission shared information about the damage sustained by Sam Houston Race Park and considered alternative plans that were presented. Late this afternoon, there will be a conference call meeting of the respective THP boards, Class 1 track operators and TRC staff to discuss the subject.

The TTA Executive Committee met last night via conference call and passed a resolution commending the officials of Retama Park and Lone Star Park for stepping forward with viable options to conduct racing dates if Sam Houston cannot operate a live meeting through the fall, winter and spring.

However, it is also understood that Retama and Lone Star will not enter into any agreements to run some of the Sam Houston Thoroughbred dates unless there is a settlement of the ongoing advance deposit wagering dispute that has kept Texas signals from being offered on several account wagering sites.

Maybe something will be resolved next week

Bedouwia

ageecee · Postby **ageecee** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 4:44 pm

Sam Houston is cancelled.

Guess we wait till Thursday. I say Retama gets those days.

jellac · Postby **jellac** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 7:29 am

Per this morning's Houston Chronicle Retama is picking up "some" of the relinquished Sam Houston dates, from Nov. 20th thru sometime near end of 2008. No mention of Lone Star doing the same or any mention of what's to become of the "lost" dates - presume they are simply "lost". This is just what Texas Thoroughbred racing needs at this moment - fewer dates/opportunities for those Tx-breds and other TBs owned/trained by Texas based trainers.

What I don't get is WHY - If the reason for cancellation is the amount of re-cosntruction/repairs needing to be done to the facility - there were ads for Sam Houston's Grandstand facilities in the Chronicle this past Sunday for this weekend's upcoming Breeders Cup and other weekends later in the meet advertised on their site. Either the Grandstand facility is too damaged to be ready for hosting the public - whether for live racing or not. But how can it be safe/ready for simulcasting/dining and not ready for live racing??????

ageecee · Postby **ageecee** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 1:19 pm

They cancelled for racing but not simulcasting. I would be pissed..

tinners way · Postby **tinners way** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 8:51 pm

There were a number of proposals put forward, and it sounds like Retama will pick up some dates, but their ownership is "holding up" the horsemen to pay a hefty price to run the facilities. I thought it would make sense to keep the horses at Retama for an extra month, and then open Lone Star early. It appears that because of the Fasig Tipton 2 year old in training sale that Lone Star is unwilling to open early, but would add Wednesdays for a few weeks to make up dates.

What I thought would be a good idea is to run Retama an extra month and have Lone Star start a month earlier- move the sale to Sam Houston for this year. But the boys that own the pavillion at Lone Star and Fasig Tipton do not want to alter the sale venue- which would be very helpful to the health of racing in Texas. Total lack of cooperation, and no one wanting to do what is best for racing in Texas in this difficult situation, IMO.

toadie · Postby **toadie** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 9:48 pm

From the Ft Worth Star Telegram this morning I'll just post the highlights of Gary West's opinion:

"One plan, approved Monday by a horsemen's group, calls for replacing the Sam Houston meeting with 43 days of racing at Retama Park near San Antonio. But with none at Lone Star Park. Thats right: 43 additional days at Retama: 0 at Lone Star.
Now, the history of Texas racing has been distinguished over the years by some sensational foolishness and stunning shortsightedness. And any plan for replacing the Sam Houston dates by focusing on the worst TX racing while totally ignoring the best TX racing would push for inclusion among harebrained highlights."

yeehaw

tinners way · Postby **tinners way** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 1:02 pm

Gary West should be the commissioner in Texas. He gets it and always has. There are so many simple things that could be done to improve the plight in Texas, but it is so tightly controlled by the top 5% that nothing ever gets done. There is too much worry about cutting up the pie before the event ever takes place.

If the commission would just allow some common sense and tell some of the clowns running the show that we need to work to salvage the industry-oh well, that will never happen. There is so little knowledge on the racing commission of what is actually going on.

I think the THBPA is going to acquiesce and allow Retama to blackmail them into the dates, and while it will keep Texas running, remember that it is emptying all the reserves. As Gary West pointed out, it is the worst racing in Texas, and the horsemen are going to fund it. Outrageous!

Roger · Postby **Roger** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 6:24 pm

Was there any mention of Manor picking up some TB dates out of all this? It looks from whats been posted, we're going to loose about 16 or 18 more dates.

toadie · Postby **toadie** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 7:05 pm

Roger wrote:Was there any mention of Manor picking up some TB dates out of all this? It looks from whats been posted, we're going to loose about 16 or 18 more dates.

There wasn't anything in the Star-Telegram about Manor. Sorry