Hollywood Race Park

Hollywood Race Park was built in the 1930s, hot on the heels of the opening of Del Mar by Bing Crosby and company. The Hollywood Turf Club was formed with Jack Warner of the Warner Brothers as chairman, and the 600-plus shareholders included film industry greats like Al Jolson, Walt Disney, and Bing Crosby himself. From Hollywood Park’s opening day on June 10, 1938, to the present day, membership in Hollywood Turf Club was a mark of luxury, reserved for California’s racing elite.

Location

Hollywood Park is centrally located for Southern California, three miles east of Los Angeles International Airport. The track is accessible from the 105, 405, and 110 Freeways, 11 miles from downtown L.A. and a short drive from Beverly Hills.

Tracks

Hollywood boasts expansive track space, including a one and one-eight miles cushion track, a one-mile infield turf course, and a half-mile training track east of the stables. The main track features two beautiful lakes with nearly a mile of shoreline between them, dredged in 1991 as the park rejuvenated its traditional “Lakes and Flowers” branding and image.

History

The Hollywood Gold Cup, the track’s yearly signature race, was won in its inaugural 1938 running by the legendary Seabiscuit. Including Seabiscuit’s win, the Hollywood Gold Cup has been won 11 times by Thoroughbreds later named Horse of the Year, including such greats as Citation (1951), Affirmed (1979), and Skip Away (1998). Citation became the first million-dollar earner in horse racing upon winning the 1951 Gold Cup.

The track was shut down during World War II, and again in 1949 after the clubhouse and grandstand were engulfed in flames stretching a quarter mile across the park, two weeks before the summer meet. Hollywood Park’s 1949 summer meeting was conducted at Santa Anita, and the track re-opened after major repairs in 1950.

Hollywood Park has been a major player in California betting innovation. The exacta bet was pioneered at the track in 1971, and the first Sunday races were run at Hollywood after the law was changed under Ronald Reagan’s governorship in 1973. The track was so successful that a major $3 million renovation was undertaken in 1972. In 1979, Amtote’s TM 300 automated wagering system revolutionized betting systems in California and across the U.S.

Blinkers On

Blinkers On Racing Stable, a leader in thoroughbred horse racing partnerships, brings together the finest in thoroughbred horse racing expertise with the best in business know-how, and above all, a team of people you can trust, to manage your investment. We are committed to helping you experience the joys of thoroughbred horse ownership. For more information on thoroughbred partnerships visit our website or request an information package about our partnership. Keep up with horse racing in California by reading our Blog, finding us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, checking us out on LinkedIn, or visiting our YouTube Channel!

 

Golden Gate Fields – Racing at its Finest

Golden Gate Fields racing is a high-class Thoroughbred experience with a distinctly Californian personality. The Turf Club Restaurant offers spectacular views of the track and the San Francisco Bay. The track itself is located within sight of multiple national landmarks, creating a one-of-a-kind ambiance for the racing experience.

Location

Golden Gate Fields is located 11 miles from San Francisco and is a short drive from Napa Valley. Situated in the town of Albany, CA near Oakland, the track has the odd distinction of crossing city boundaries. The track actually crosses the line between Albany and Berkeley; the stable is located in Berkeley and the stands in Albany. Golden Gate Fields features fine dining, a spacious Club House, multiple simulcast rooms for viewing races at other tracks, and free seating in the general admissions areas.

History

The first meet at Golden Gate took place on February 1, 1941. Heavy rains resulted in rough track conditions and a meet that lasted only 5 days. America’s involvement in two World Wars then put racing on hold for 6 years. The track reopened to great fanfare on September 9, 1947. That year, two horses (Fair Truckle and Count Speed) caused a stir by setting world records at the track in consecutive races on the afternoon of October 4.

Since then, the track has hosted many world-class horses, trainers, and jockeys. From Citation, 1948’s Horse of the Year, to Lost in the Fog, Sprinter of 2005, Golden Gate has seen award-winners grace the track year in and year out. Jockey Bill Shoemaker, who would go on to hold the most wins of any rider worldwide, had his first career victory at Golden Gate Fields in 1949. Check out this link for the track’s full history.

Tracks

As of this posting, the main track at Golden Gate is Tapeta, a combination of sand, rubber, and fiber that does not turn to mud even under hard rains. Golden Gate was only the eighth track in the country to install an engineered surface like this one, which is gentler on the horses in all conditions. Golden Gate is also home to a secondary firm turf track.

Schedule

Races are held in May and June to take advantage of spring/early summer temperatures and breezes. A fall meet also takes place each year from October through January. Races are held on Wednesdays through Sundays and on Monday holidays during these periods. Simulcast races from other tracks are available year-round, according to the Cal Racing website.

Blinkers On

Blinkers On Racing Stable, a leader in thoroughbred horse racing partnerships, brings together the finest in thoroughbred horse racing expertise with the best in business know-how, and above all, a team of people you can trust, to manage your investment. We are committed to helping you experience the joys of thoroughbred horse ownership. For more information on thoroughbred partnerships visit our website or request an information package about our partnership. Keep up with horseracing in California by reading our Blog, finding us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, checking us out on LinkedIn, or visiting our YouTube Channel!

 

Thoroughbred Sale – Racehorse Ownership vs. Partnership

Thoroughbred sale

When considering involvement in a Thoroughbred sale, make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into. No matter how excellent the animal, no matter how good you think your odds will be, remember that you’re investing cold, hard cash and you need a team of people you can trust to manage that investment.

Going it Alone

Those who own horses alone are those who have serious disposable income to spare. The cost of a good horse alone can run many thousands of dollars. Add to that cost training, food, boarding, veterinary care, farrier’s fees, transport to race locations, and jockey fees. You’re looking at a massive cost in order to own a single animal, not to mention the daunting task of learning your way through the artistry of the racing world on your own, without a trustworthy guide. And keep in mind that, according to a Crocker Racing Stable article on horse ownership, about a third of foals bred to racing never start in a single race, and half of those that do get to start never win!

Syndicate Racing

A few lucky souls have the background and the income to make it in horse racing alone. For the rest of us, syndicate partnerships, like those offered here at Blinkers On, allow the thrill and possibility of Thoroughbred ownership for a manageable cost. According to an article by Horse Hats Racing Club, syndicate racing was pioneered back in 1969 by Dogwood Stable’s Cot Campbell. Since the first syndication, racing partnerships have made owning a piece of the Thoroughbred pie affordable and manageable for the Average Joe.

For example, right now we’re offering a share in the two year old filly, Hidinginplainsight, by Elusive Quality out of Hot Storm, starting at $5,995 with 5% interest expenses. She’s NATC Futurity, Breeders Cup, and EFB nominated, with a spotless pedigree. Hidinginplainsight is one of many examples of the quality we strive to offer our partners here at Blinkers On. And we keep a share in all of our horses, so you know we’ve put our money where our mouth is. We manage all aspects of Thoroughbred ownership and keep our partners well informed of all our decisions. With a share in a partnership, you’ll share all the costs of ownership with others and share in the thrill of race day as an insider, not just a spectator. And with Blinkers On, you’ll know you have an experienced partner guiding you through the ins and outs of a Thoroughbred sale and racing strategy.

Blinkers On

Blinkers On Racing Stable, a leader in thoroughbred horse racing partnerships, brings together the finest in thoroughbred horse racing expertise with the best in business know-how, and above all, a team of people you can trust, to manage your investment. We are committed to helping you experience the joys of thoroughbred horse ownership. For more information on thoroughbred partnerships visit our website or request an information package about our partnership. Keep up with horseracing in California by reading our Blog, finding us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, checking us out on LinkedIn, or visiting our YouTube Channel!

 

Del Mar Track Profile

The Del Mar Track is a fabled track, tied into California’s unique culture as much as to the racing world. In the 1930s, Bing Crosby and a band of his California buddies dreamed of a track that would mix laid-back, long-night California culture with the excitement of the races. They first met at Warner Brothers’ Studios and formed the Del Mar Turf Club, mixing Hollywood and horses in the dream of a track “where the turf meets the surf, down at old Del Mar.”

Location

Located in the seaside community of Del Mar, just off Interstate 5 on the bank of the San Dieguito River, the track is a sprawling playground where the taste of old Hollywood still lingers. You can follow this link for a virtual tour of Del Mar’s historic buildings and grounds.

History

Since its inaugural run in 1937, the Del Mar track has been a destination “where no one is in a hurry but the horses,” a summertime playground for racers and racing fans. The track has been updated with a new grandstand, finished in the 1990s, that stayed true to the track’s original Spanish-style charm. Over 17,000 people per day enjoy the festivities at Del Mar. The track boasts 8 restaurants and features classic signature drinks – Del Margaritas, Del Martinis, and Del Mary’s, among others. The Four O’Clock Fridays summer series offers twilight racing followed by evening concerts throughout the 43-day, high-stakes racing meet.

To this day, before the first race and after the last, the voice of Bing Crosby still sings out “where the turf meets the surf, down at old Del Mar…” Bing’s racing legacy lives on, with all the modern glitz and glamour appropriate to a modern California cultural icon.

Blinkers On

Blinkers On Racing Stable, a leader in thoroughbred horse racing partnerships, brings together the finest in thoroughbred horse racing expertise with the best in business know-how, and above all, a team of people you can trust, to manage your investment. We are committed to helping you experience the joys of thoroughbred horse ownership. For more information on thoroughbred partnerships visit our website or request an information package about our partnership. Keep up with horse racing in California by reading our Blog, finding us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, checking us out on LinkedIn, or visiting our YouTube Channel!

 

Santa Anita Race Park

Santa Anita Race Park is a truly iconic racetrack, one of the most famous in North America. The track has echoed American history from its design by Hoover Dam architect Gordon B. Kaufman, through California’s up-and-down history in World War II, and including the 1984 Equestrian Olympic Games. Each year, Santa Anita hosts the Santa Anita Derby and the Santa Anita Handicap, two of the most prestigious races in Southern California.

Location

Santa Anita Park is located 14 miles northeast of Los Angeles in Arcadia, California. Santa Anita track is 30 miles from Los Angeles International Airport, accessible from the Harbor Freeway or I-210, among other local Freeways. The Park is located just outside the San Gabriel Reservoir in a historic location, on land dedicated to California racing since 1934.

Facilities

Santa Anita’s amenities include premier dining at the classic FrontRunner restaurant and modern luxury at the new Sirona’s restaurant, featuring a 70-foot bar, 52-foot TV screens, and four massive projector screens. Regular racing fans at the Santa Anita track can become members of the Thoroughbreds club, eligible for discounted tickets, promotional offers, and free gifts, among other perks. The tracks include a new dirt track, an infield turf track, and a training track.

History

Santa Anita first opened in 1934 under architect Gordon B. Kaufman, who also orchestrated the Hoover Dam. Since those days the park has hosted such unprecedented events as Seabiscuit’s win in 1940 and the 1984 Olympics Equestrian Competition. In 1942, Santa Anita entered a darker chapter in its history. According to a 2009 article by the Los Angeles Times, Santa Anita Park served as an internment camp (the largest in the U.S.) for approximately 19,000 Japanese-Americans who were held as a threat to national security after the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. Today, a plaque near the Park’s entrance commemorates this controversial period in the track’s history.

In 2006, according to an article on eHow.com, Santa Anita became eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places due to its long-standing history, involvement with American WWII-era politics and policy, and the sweeping Art Deco facades designed by Kaufman in the early ‘30s.

Season

Santa Anita opens every year on December 26. The spring season continues into April. The fall meeting, runs from early October to early November. According to Cal Racing, live racing occurs Wednesday through Sunday and holiday Mondays during meeting seasons. Simulcast sessions are broadcast from other tracks as scheduled in the off season, and Santa Anita opens its doors to private functions, including weddings, outside the racing season.

Blinkers On

Blinkers On Racing Stable, a leader in thoroughbred horse racing partnerships, brings together the finest in thoroughbred horse racing expertise with the best in business know-how, and above all, a team of people you can trust, to manage your investment. We are committed to helping you experience the joys of thoroughbred horse ownership. For more information on thoroughbred partnerships visit our website or request an information package about our partnership. Keep up with horse racing in California by reading our Blog, finding us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, checking us out on LinkedIn, or visiting our YouTube Channel!

 

Horse Race Results – Where to Find Them and What to Look For

Race Results

If you’re not sitting in a seat at the track watching your race, you’ll want to be able to find horse race results quickly once your race is over. Unless you’ve bet on a Triple Crown race or a similarly high-profile event, the chances of watching your horse run on television are slim to none. Knowing where to find race results is an integral part of the game, whether you’re betting on a favorite or watching the results of a horse you own a share in.

Individual Outcomes

For general daily racing headlines, ESPN can be a great resource. Sites like this one will give you big news and general information in an easy-to-digest format and are perfect for the casual racing fan.

Equibase Company, the “Official Site” for Thoroughbred racing information, offers more detailed information and statistics, still in a fairly manageable format for the novice racing fan. Equibase is a good middle ground for checking headlines or searching individual race outcomes.

Daily Racing Form, arguably the most trusted name in Thoroughbred racing, offers online race results here. This site is probably the most detailed and can give you all the stats on each race that are later compiled to make up the Daily Racing Form. Their information on each race, by track, includes the distance; the type of race and age requirements or other limitations; the 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd place finishers (win, place, and show) and the amounts they paid out; the winners’ jockeys, trainers, and owners; and race times in 5ths and 100ths. The fine print lists the “also rans” and amounts paid on bets other than win/place/show.

Daily Racing Forms

The Daily Racing Form itself is a compilation of information on horses’ past performance in multiple races. The Daily Racing Form, or DRF, offers stats and information on horses’ past performance, jockeys, trainers, and recent starts. It can be difficult to get a handle on the “language” of the Daily Racing Form. To the uninitiated, a first look at the DRF yields only a tangle of unmanageable numbers. The racing form is the equivalent of all of a player’s stats in baseball or basketball, crammed onto a single page. This page is the handicapper’s Bible in Thoroughbred racing, allowing bettors to make educated guesses based on past performance (PP) rather than throwing darts in the dark.

Bets and Handicapping

Have a look at DRF Past Performance data here and DRF.com’s videos here to get a grip on the basics of the Daily Racing Form and its uses. If you want to learn the art of handicapping, or making educated guesses on race outcomes based on past performance and current conditions, the Daily Racing Form is the place to start. Using the facts of past races is the best way to predict future race outcomes. Trainers use these stats to best position their horses to win; bettors use them to handicap; and owners watch them zealously every time their horse runs to keep up to date with fresh outcomes.

Blinkers On

Blinkers On Racing Stable, a leader in thoroughbred horse racing partnerships, brings together the finest in thoroughbred horse racing expertise with the best in business know-how, and above all, a team of people you can trust, to manage your investment. We are committed to helping you experience the joys of thoroughbred horse ownership. For more information on thoroughbred partnerships visit our website or request an information package about our partnership. Keep up with horse racing in California by reading our Blog, finding us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, checking us out on LinkedIn, or visiting our YouTube Channel!

 

Racehorse Sales – Thoroughbred Racing Costs of Ownership

Racehorse Sales – What It Entails Annually

The Yearly Round

Thoroughbred racing and racehorse sales follow annual patterns of purchase, training, and racing. As horses enter their second year and become eligible to race, potential owners begin to take notice. Three and four year olds ratchet up their training and begin to really find their feet in the racing world, and older horses and their trainers engage in the yearly dance of finding the best racing conditions to maximize each horse’s strengths.

Purchase Price

The first cost you’ll need to consider is the actual price of the race horse, which can vary between a couple of thousand and seven figures. Racehorse sales are an intricate game all their own; a horse may be bought at auction, in a private sale between two or more parties, or at a claiming race. A young, untried animal, especially of questionable pedigree, may be far more affordable than a proven champion, but the investment is also much more of a gamble. That high pricetag is one of the main reasons partnership syndicates have become so popular in recent years.

Upkeep Costs

Keeping a horse can be phenomenally expensive, though monthly costs will vary as horses cycle between training at the track and resting on the farm. A horse in training will cost you between $30,000 and $50,000 per year for basic training, veterinary care, farriers fees and transportation.

Racing Costs and the Great Game

In addition to the basic costs of horse ownership, owning a working Thoroughbred entails the added expense of costs associated only with horse racing. These costs include the trainers pay, track fees, and jockey fees. Race horse sales are only the beginning – to obtain a chance at the action for yourself and your horse, you’ve got to buy in to the game. Every professional who interacts with your horse has to make a living; racing is a sophisticated system, carefully honed to be efficient and manageable, but there’s no doubt it’s expensive. Syndicate partnerships are racing’s answer to the pricetag question, bringing the high-roller game to the average dollar buy-in player.

Blinkers On

Blinkers On Racing Stable, a leader in thoroughbred horse racing partnerships, brings together the finest in thoroughbred horse racing expertise with the best in business know-how, and above all, a team of people you can trust, to manage your investment. We are committed to helping you experience the joys of thoroughbred horse ownership. For more information on thoroughbred partnerships visit our website or request an information package about our partnership. Keep up with horse racing in California by reading our Blog, finding us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, checking us out on LinkedIn, or visiting our YouTube Channel!

 

Types of Horse Races and Track Conditions

Types of horse races are run on two different tracks: turf (grass) and dirt not including the newer synthetic tracks. Each type of track is described based on the conditions of the day and the running times they produce. For example:

Dirt track conditions are usually labeled fast; wet-fast; good; slow; muddy; sloppy; heavy; or frozen, according to an article by WetCapper.com. Fast tracks are dry tracks that allow horses to run at their best, resulting in their fastest times. Wet-fast tracks have moisture on the surface, but are still firm enough to produce fast times. Good dirt surfaces are dry or drying but produce slower times than a fast track, and slow surfaces are deep, drying surfaces that still produce slow times. A muddy track is deep and wet, usually produced after a rain. A sloppy track is covered in enough standing water to create splashing when a race is run. A heavy track is very deep and wet, tiring to run on, and produces the slowest times. A frozen track contains frozen moisture and can be extra hard and thus fast, but often slippery and dangerous.

Turf track conditions are labeled firm; good; soft; yielding; or heavy. Firm courses are dry with only a slight give, and yields fast times. A good turf surface has a little more give and moisture but is still relatively firm. Soft turf courses are fairly wet with substantial give but no standing water. Yielding courses are very wet and deep, producing slow times; heavy courses are waterlogged and very deep, producing the slowest times of all.

Horses that run well under certain conditions may fare poorly in others. In general, horses do best in dry conditions, but wet or unfavorable conditions can make unlikely champions of particularly light or hardy animals. Take, for example, little Mine That Bird, who came from dead last to win the 2009 Kentucky Derby on a sloppy track.

Flat Races

Thoroughbreds can start running at two years of age as juveniles. Colts and fillies (so-called until they reach five years of age, when they become horses/geldings and mares) start in shorter flat races known as dashes and sprints; they’ll run these short courses until around late September of their two-year-old year. Two-year-old horses in these shorter races are still developing and tend to be slower, slimmer and not as strong as older horses. Young horses run as fast as they can for as long as they can and have rarely learned to conserve energy, according to a YouTube video by Today’s Racing Digest.

Longer Derby types of races (for colts and fillies) and Oaks races (for fillies) are limited to three year olds, horses who are still developing and growing quickly, and are new to longer distance racing. By the fourth year horses will spend their lives running in longer flat races, vying for position and status in the world of claiming races, allowance races, stakes races, and graded stakes races. For more information on these terms, have a look at our blog post on “Types of Horse Races – Claiming Races, Allowance Races, Stakes Races and Graded Stakes Races.”

Steeplechases

Steeplechases are longer types of horse races, open only to mature and fully-developed horses, which are run over long distances and various obstacles. These may include hedges and water jumps, and are designed to replicate older courses in which the field raced across the English countryside from one church to another, aiming for a church steeple and crossing all hurdles and obstacles in their path. Steeplechasers tend to be powerful animals, and must be talented jumpers as well as endurance runners. Some horses that do well on flat tracks won’t do well in steeplechases, and vice versa. It is the job of a good trainer to determine a horse’s talents and ensure that he is placed in racing categories that best suit his or her strengths.

Blinkers On

Blinkers On Racing Stable, a leader in thoroughbred horse racing partnerships, brings together the finest in thoroughbred horse racing expertise with the best in business know-how, and above all, a team of people you can trust, to manage your investment. We are committed to helping you experience the joys of thoroughbred horse ownership. For more information on thoroughbred partnerships visit our website or request an information package about our partnership. Keep up with horse racing in California by reading our Blog, finding us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, checking us out on LinkedIn, or visiting our YouTube Channel!

 

Jockey Silks – History and Traditions

Hallowed History

The unmistakable patterning of jockey silks, known as racing silks, is one of the oldest traditions in Thoroughbred racing. A jockey’s racing helmet and saddle blanket are often patterned in the same color and design as the silks. The tradition of using colors to distinguish contestants actually predates the Thoroughbred breed – Roman charioteers may have been the first to use hats and capes of different colors in races, according to an article on SarahMarr.com.

In Thoroughbred racing, the tradition of using silks in different colors dates to 1762, when 19 members of the English Jockey Club registered their colors at Newmarket “for the greater convenience of distinguishing the horses in running,” according to an article on the Belmont Stakes website. The patterns and colors used originally referenced the coats of arms associated with noble English houses. Today, approximately 28,000 silks are registered with the Jockey Club.

Today’s Traditions

The original purpose of jockey silks, to allow observers and judges to distinguish between racers on a far-off track. PA systems, video cameras, and blanket numbers help serve the same functions today. But the classic style of racing silks appeals to the Thoroughbred audience, and the colors of various stables and owners serve almost as a branding tool. To the initiated, the “branding” in racing silks is as obvious as corporate names plastered across the side of a race car, but rendered in a style suitable to the tradition of the Thoroughbred track.

Today’s silks are a mixture of classic style and modern function. Considering the importance of a jockey’s low weight in the racing world, it is absolutely essential that all his or her gear be ultra-lightweight and precision-engineered for racing.

Though originally silk, today the shirts are most often nylon or lycra, and “aerodynamic” racing silks are becoming the new trend as jockeys seek that tiny edge to push their horse over the top to a win. The protective caps (riding helmets) are made of space-age, lightweight protective materials with ventilated cooling technology. The signature high riding boots are classically made in high-quality leather and rubber, but designed to be sleek, lightweight, and to mold perfectly to the rider’s foot and leg. Even the knee-length jodhpur pant is high-tech, designed for the conditions of the day. Summertime pants are usually polyester and wintertime pants are insulated nylon. Riders can even buy “mud pants” designed to keep the rider warm, dry, and at the top of their game in adverse conditions.

The modern racing world is a sleek mixture of age-old tradition and modern technology, where old-school pageantry and muscle meet cutting-edge training methods and sports medicine. Jockey Silks are one of many cases in which tradition and technology merge to create a phenomenon that belongs uniquely to the 21^st Century.

Blinkers On

Blinkers On Racing Stable, a leader in thoroughbred horse racing partnerships, brings together the finest in thoroughbred horse racing expertise with the best in business know-how, and above all, a team of people you can trust, to manage your investment. We are committed to helping you experience the joys of thoroughbred horse ownership. For more information on thoroughbred partnerships visit our website or request an information package about our partnership. Keep up with horse racing in California by reading our Blog, finding us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, checking us out on LinkedIn, or visiting our YouTube Channel!