In The Sulky Forum
General Category => General Harness Racing Discussion => Topic started by: pezz97 on November 21, 2011, 01:07:39 PM
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Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG) has announced stakes conditions for its major races will be revised to align with the stallion eligibility requirements introduced by U.S. racetrack operator Jeff Gural.
Beginning with foals born in 2014 (and therefore affecting WEG's major 2-year-old events in 2016), horses eligible to participate must be sired by stallions that raced as a 4-year-old or older.
"We were asked to consider adopting this initiative and after careful consideration have determined it's definitely worth undertaking on a trial basis," said Jamie Martin, WEG's Executive Vice President of Racing. "For all Jeff Gural has done towards saving the Meadowlands, he deserves the entire industry's support. We believe that barring certain circumstances with a horse's health, the best interests of racing are served when top horses race beyond their 3-year-old seasons."
Gural, who has strongly advocated for harness racing's star performers to continue on the track after their 3-year-old campaigns, operates the Meadowlands Racetrack in New Jersey, along with Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs in New York.
"After implementing the stallion eligibility requirement, we'll monitor its effectiveness to determine if it will be a long term policy," said Martin.
The new conditions and a list of races for future stallion eligibility at WEG will be announced in early 2012. (WEG)
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good to see somebody try something that's "different".
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I like it
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thumbsup
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I predict it won't work. thumbsdown
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I love it. Look at guys like the Burke Stable. They keep stars going year after year. It brings a good deal of interest to the sport.
Reminds me of the days Rambling Willie would fill grandstands across the country. thumbsup
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I wonder what would happen to the off springs of a 3 year old if he is retired to stud after an injury?
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I wonder what would happen to the off springs of a 3 year old if he is retired to stud after an injury?
They can race as long as they are checked out by Gural's or WEG guys and they give them the ok
I can't see this failing. The biggest races in N.A are the North America's cup, the Canadian Trotting classic, The Meadowlands Pace and the Hambo are all under these rules now. Better have a real injury .................
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Love the idea, and don't think it will work. Just think of all the handicapped parking placards are on healthy people's cars. Doctors have to sign off on those; wouldn't be any different with vets. jmo
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I love it. Look at guys like the Burke Stable. They keep stars going year after year. It brings a good deal of interest to the sport.
Aren't they mostly geldings though ?
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Buck i St Pat was a mare.
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Buck i St Pat was a mare.
Yeah that is what Ryan said.
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Yeah that is what Ryan said.
No, Ryan was logged onto my computer. ;D
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Rambling Willie was a gelding. Foiled Again is a gelding. Mares aren't exactly in the same class as stallions when it comes to breeding. If they are racing at a high level, they can make more doing that than being bred. I look at this whole affair as an attempt by Gural and his fellow socialists in Canada to foist their way on everyone. Always trying to control everything and telling others what to do with their property. thumbsdown thumbsdown
8) 8) 8)
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Rambling Willie was a gelding. Foiled Again is a gelding. Mares aren't exactly in the same class as stallions when it comes to breeding. If they are racing at a high level, they can make more doing that than being bred. I look at this whole affair as an attempt by Gural and his fellow socialists in Canada to foist their way on everyone. Always trying to control everything and telling others what to do with their property. thumbsdown thumbsdown
8) 8) 8)
They own those race tracks and they make the rules, ON THEIR PROPERTY! You wanna race 4 the 4 biggest purses in NA, then follow the rules. Easy decision.
In the mean time, you had a 4 year old HORSE make 1.2 million this year, and FA make 1.4 ( Better Sweet 800K)
The more horses that are brought back at 4, it makes for better competition , rivalries are started and fan gets more interested. Love it.
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Buck i St Pat was a mare.
Is Meirs the best of the male Burke horses that is not a gelding?
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They own those race tracks and they make the rules, ON THEIR PROPERTY! You wanna race 4 the 4 biggest purses in NA, then follow the rules. Easy decision.
In the mean time, you had a 4 year old HORSE make 1.2 million this year, and FA make 1.4 ( Better Sweet 800K)
The more horses that are brought back at 4, it makes for better competition , rivalries are started and fan gets more interested. Love it.
Will they add more stake races for 4 year olds as a result of the rule? I think that would be fair.
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FA make 1.4 ( Better Sweet 800K)
Yes and they are both geldings, that's why they are still racing. Gural's and Weg's rules would have no effect on that. Even if a stallion is brought back, often it is because their value as a race horse may be higher than that as a stud. I don't claim to be an expert on breeding, but I know that not all super race horses have the bloodlines to make them instantly valuable as a stud.
Also, don't the Hambo Society and the Breeder's Crown control their races to a great degree?
If Gural wants them, he'll have to go along or try and get them to agree with him. Not likely.
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They own those race tracks and they make the rules, ON THEIR PROPERTY! You wanna race 4 the 4 biggest purses in NA, then follow the rules. Easy decision.
In the mean time, you had a 4 year old HORSE make 1.2 million this year, and FA make 1.4 ( Better Sweet 800K)
The more horses that are brought back at 4, it makes for better competition , rivalries are started and fan gets more interested. Love it.
In a nut shell I agree completely.
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FA make 1.4 ( Better Sweet 800K)
Yes and they are both geldings, that's why they are still racing. Gural's and Weg's rules would have no effect on that. Even if a stallion is brought back, often it is because their value as a race horse may be higher than that as a stud. I don't claim to be an expert on breeding, but I know that not all super race horses have the bloodlines to make them instantly valuable as a stud.
Also, don't the Hambo Society and the Breeder's Crown control their races to a great degree?
If Gural wants them, he'll have to go along or try and get them to agree with him. Not likely.
The hambo Society is already on board, and they control the Breeders Crown too. So now all the big races will be off limits to any horse retired to stud ( Except the fake races at Chester) for big money. I am plenty sure We Will See could of made some good money in the shed after his 3 year old season, but his owner actually cares about the game and he will be back at 5 after making 1.2 million as a 4 year OLD HORSE!!!
So now what will these guys do?? They own these places and the hambo society is on board! Guess what they will race or better be really hurt! Racing after 3 is good for the sport, how awesome would it of been to see Rock N Roll hanover and Sombeachsomewhere against the top FFa'ers??? That is what this sport needs, not someone saying that a guy who saved the big m and the 2nd best circuit in NA are socialists??? Change is good for the sport cause the same old same old has run it into the ground.
Funny, people show up at balmoral 2 sat ago why? Cause the some of the stars of racing are there along with the star drivers.
People show up on Pace day and hambo day why? Cause all of the stars are racing that day. I am sure the same is for the big nights in Toronto as well ( never been so I can't say for sure) If the stars of this sport are healthy and able to race, keep racing them, and people will come out to see them. It is not that hard to understand.
As for all the 3 year olds that retired this year, not one of them has a chance in hell to make what better sweet did while in the shed. This crop was bad and they will show up that way when their yearlings show up and they are not eligible for the big races.
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How exciting it will be if some of the top horses are not elible for the Hambo or Breeder's Crown because of Gural's dictates. Plus, this hurts pacing sires much more than it hurts trotting sires.(due to strong European demand for trotters). Anyone who wants to can worship at the shrine of Gural. That is your chouice. Count me out. We will see how happy people will be when some of these stars break down at four and never make it to the breeding shed, that will be good for the sport.
As for all the 3 year olds that retired this year, not one of them has a chance in hell to make what better sweet did while in the shed.
And, of course Bettor Sweet will never make a penny in the shed. We might get to see him racing in $1,000 claimers at Northfield when he is 12 though.
As for me, I refuse to bet on any races at a track that implements such bans. It's private money and it's mine.