Churchill to request Wednesday cancellations

Alan07 · #1 05-10-2009, 04:17 PM

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Churchill Downs officials intend to ask the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission on Tuesday to allow the track to reduce the racing schedule at its current spring meet from five to four days per week as a result of chronic short fields resulting from an insufficient number of entries.

Churchill will ask the commission at its regularly scheduled meeting in Lexington for permission to cancel Wednesdays from the schedule, leaving a Thursday-through-Sunday race week through the end of the meet, July 5. The change could become effective as early as May 20.
http://drf.com/news/article/103663.html

Linny · #2 05-10-2009, 05:02 PM

They were whining about losing one race yet last Sat they ran 13 and they day after the 8 race card, they carded 10.
I think the racing office has some issues. They lost 1/2 a card on Fri and those races should "re-fill" if re-written.

Surely some of the KY horsemen here can shed some light on this issue. If I am wrong and the racing office is not making some errors please explain. Is the horse population down? Are shippers from (say) Ohio and Indiana going elsewhere (Presque Isle? Penn?) and if so, are they looking at overflow cards? Is Arlington opening a problem? They have not changed dates but maybe some of the horsemen want Poly?

I've been following this issue as I 'cap KY most days when CD or KEE are running. I am curious about the souse of the problem.

Left Bank · #3 05-10-2009, 05:52 PM

It's their own fault anyway.All they give a **** about is their twinspires site and getting their slots parlors up and running elsewhere.This will give them something to bitch to Breshear about now.

Danzig · #4 05-10-2009, 05:57 PM

where are all the horses? cali having short fields...but the horses are out there, oaklawn had big fields all spring. what's going on?

#5 05-10-2009, 06:16 PM

Indiana Downs.

philcski · #6 05-10-2009, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coach Pants

Indiana Downs.

yup... 10-12 in every field

robfla · #7 05-10-2009, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danzig

where are all the horses? cali having short fields...but the horses are out there, oaklawn had big fields all spring. what's going on?

Unless it's a "boutique" meet....They are wherever the slots are. Better purses for cheaper horses.

Bigsmc · #8 05-10-2009, 06:55 PM

It's also fallout from their battles with the horsemen and the subsequent purse cuts.

Pedigree Ann · #9 05-11-2009, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danzig

where are all the horses? cali having short fields...but the horses are out there, oaklawn had big fields all spring. what's going on?

State gov has its collective heads in the sand. Horse racing and breeding is a major industry in the state, yet they are willing to see it wither on the vine rather than take any action. The governor wants to get in slots to counter the competition, but the legislature is afraid to offend the preachers out in the counties who condemn casino-style gambling. The legislature has been willing to forgive millions in taxes for Fruit-of-the-Loom to relocate in the state for a few years, only to see it move out to Mexico, yet it won't help a homegrown industry stay competitive, with tax relief or authorizing slots. Welcome to the Bluegrass State.