February, 2021 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Letter to the Editor: Paul Berube

Bill Finley's report (Week In Review) in the Feb. 9 edition of TDN on NYRA's action to restrict wagering on its Pick 5 and Pick 6 wagers by computer-assisted wagering (CAW) players caught my attention, as does any article written on this form of wagering, which I call computer robotic wagering or bots for short.

My experience with the bots and their very smart and well- capitalized owner managers goes back 20 years or so. Then, as now, my opinion on wagering by the bots is that over the long haul, it is destructive to the pari-mutuel business. Bill makes the good points that the bots are pumping millions upon millions into race track pools and that this handle is coveted by tracks. Left unsaid, however, is the very real fact that wagering done via bots is totally reactive to pool money wagered by all other players, whether you call them normal, regulars, casual fans, squares or dumb money.

When the mathematical formulas used by the bots see an imbalance or value in the pools made by other players, this is when the bots craft and place bets to capture the perceived value. Naturally, the most effective time for these types of wagers to be made is as late as possible before pools close and this is why, on a daily basis, straight wagering odds and probable payoffs frequently drop sharply in the last wagering cycle. It cannot be overstated that the daily action of the bots is totally dependent on the other money coming from all other players. If these players wager less for whatever reason, the bots will also reduce proportionately . The life blood of the bots is other peoples' money and the only growth in bots wagering comes from this money.

Earlier I labeled bots wagering as destructive to pari-mutuel wagering. When the bots win their wagers, the normal or regular players experience reduced payoffs which over time means less money in their pockets and less money to churn. When bots win, that normal churn factor is lost, because again, the bots only wager in proportion to the “other” money in the pools. When they hit in the big Pick 5/6 pools, their winnings or profits likely go into lifestyle purchases or other investments and thus lost for good insofar as pari-mutuel betting.

In the short term, the liquidity provided by bots wagering is enticing to race tracks, but in the long term–and racing today is squarely in the long term–the smaller payouts to other bettors, the tremendous money shift or negative settlements from host tracks and off-track wagering venues to the locations that host the bots means that an untold amount of churn has been and continues to be lost. I would offer that this is a major reason why annual pari-mutuel handle totals in the U.S. have not seen any real growth over these many years.

Finley also referred to the payment of rebates to the computer teams or players. The de facto increase in takeout to all other bettors and inherent unfairness to them is a whole other story that is worthy of further analysis.

So where does racing as a whole go from here? For sure it was easier to accept bots wagering into our pools than it will ever be to effectively control or eliminate it. But at some point in the future, racing operators will be forced to confront this reality. For racing to expend effort to create new fans and bettors is indeed a worthy venture especially for the bots who always need fresh money in their business model.

Paul W. Berube, Retired President , Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau

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Retired Racehorse Project: 480 Trainers Accepted For 2021 Thoroughbred Makeover

The Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) welcomes 484 accepted applications, representing 480 unique trainers and teams, to the 2021 class of the Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America. The Thoroughbred Makeover is the world's largest and most lucrative retraining competition for ex-racehorses, and the 2021 class combined with 322 trainers from the postponed 2020 competition year will make this the biggest Makeover yet.

The Thoroughbred Makeover is a retraining competition open to professionals, junior, amateurs and teams, competing side-by-side. Ten disciplines of competition are offered, including barrel racing, competitive trail, dressage, eventing, field hunter, polo, ranch work, show hunter, show jumper, and freestyle (a free-form discipline to demonstrate skills of the trainer's choice). Horses can compete in one or two of those disciplines.

Horses from each competition year will compete in separate preliminary rounds, and the five top-placed horses in each discipline after preliminary competition will return for the Finale where they will compete once more to determine final placings. New for this year (intended to be part of the 2020 Makeover), a panel consisting of all the judges from the ten disciplines will determine the overall Thoroughbred Makeover Champion in each competition year, selecting the best-trained horse from the ten discipline winners. A popular vote placed by spectators watching both in-person and online via live stream will determine a People's Choice winner in each competition year, who wins the right to direct a donation to an equine charity of their choosing.

“After the pandemic forced the cancelation of the 2020 Thoroughbred Makeover, it was important to us to preserve the opportunity for our 2020 class to compete, and thanks to so many loyal sponsors and donors from the racing, breeding and sport horse worlds, we are going to be putting on the largest retraining competition in history,” said RRP executive director Jen Roytz.

Accepted trainers are encouraged to register their horses at TBMakeover.org as soon as they acquire them. Horse registration closes on July 31, but registration upon acquisition allows the RRP to better gather data on horses undergoing the Makeover process.

The application process for the 2021 Thoroughbred Makeover required trainers to demonstrate their skills and expertise through competition results, videos and references, as well as a letter from a vet stating that that the applicant has the necessary skills and knowledge to appropriately care for a horse transitioning off the track. The RRP's selection committee took into consideration both candidates' ability to effectively retrain an off-track Thoroughbred and candidates' commitment to the RRP's mission of promoting off-track Thoroughbreds in second careers.

“We're always humbled by the interest we receive from applicants each year, but with hundreds of 2020 entries still in play and known logistical challenges — move-in, daylight hours, running two Finales, and more — the application committee had the tough task of narrowing down the 2021 entry pool to meet our schedule capacity,” said RRP managing director Kirsten Green. “The primary goal of the Makeover is to showcase Thoroughbreds at their very best, so this means we're looking for trainers whose application demonstrates that they're equipped to meet that goal on the timeline provided.”

The Makeover has historically attracted a broad cross-section of the horse industry, represented by junior, amateur and professional equestrians, as well as teams. The great equalizer at the Makeover are the horses: eligible Thoroughbreds competing in 2021 will all come from similar backgrounds, with no more than 10 months of retraining for a second career and all having raced or trained to race within the past two years.

This format allows trainers in all categories to compete side-by-side on equal footing. Juniors and amateurs routinely enjoy great success at the Makeover and have earned many top-five finishes; the 2017 Thoroughbred Makeover Champion Old Tavern was trained by junior Charlie Caldwell.

“Driving demand for Thoroughbreds after racing is a critical aspect of aftercare, and the Retired Racehorse Project's Thoroughbred Makeover is central to that mission,” says Erin Crady, executive director of TCA. “We believe in the importance of that mission and are thrilled to support the RRP as it prepares for the biggest Makeover in its history.”

Accepted trainers for 2021 include Becky Huestis, assistant rider and manager for John Madden Sales; Darby Mazzarisi, champion hunter trainer; and Natalie (Voss) Nevills, two-time Eclipse Award-winning turf writer for Paulick Report. They join a diverse class of trainers hailing from 46 states and four Canadian provinces. Trainers range in age from 11 (will be 12 at the time of the Makeover as per rules) to 74.

Trainers for the 2021 class have signed up to bring a total of 521 horses. Combined with the declared horses from the 2020 competition year, a total of 953 horses will participate in the Makeover process this year. The full list of trainers accepted for the 2021 Thoroughbred Makeover can be found at the event website.

With the uncertainty of training green horses, the length of time between acceptance of trainers and Final Entry, and the fact that some horses sell before the Makeover, the RRP is once again offering a wait list. Individuals who missed the initial round of applications are welcome to apply to the wait list and can do so by contacting secretary@tbmakeover.org. The wait list does not guarantee final entry into the competition, but does widen the impact of the Makeover and helps more horses transition to second careers.

For riders seeking a well-started off-track Thoroughbred for competition or pleasure, the ASPCA Makeover Marketplace will return in 2021, offering buyers the unique opportunity to watch a horse compete, trial-ride, and complete a pre-purchase exam all in one location. Over 100 horses are expected to be entered in the Marketplace from both competition years.

In addition to a weekend of Thoroughbred competition and celebration of what makes the off-track Thoroughbred great, the Makeover also offers ample opportunity for education for both trainers and the public: educational seminars and panel discussion will take place on Friday, October 15, as well as the Makeover Master Class, a retraining clinic for recently-retired racehorses. Structured similarly to popular colt-starting competitions but without the competitive aspect, the Makeover Master Class offers spectators the opportunity to watch experienced off-track Thoroughbred trainers assess a prospect's conformation and movement, as well as demonstrate their process for initial training and first rides. A vendor fair provides plenty of shopping opportunities as well!

The Thoroughbred Makeover is the flagship event for the RRP, a 501(c)3 non-profit committed to increasing the demand for and value of Thoroughbreds in their careers after racing. Sponsorship opportunities are still available for the 2021 Thoroughbred Makeover.

Thoroughbred Makeover fast facts:

▪ The 2021 competition is open to any Thoroughbred that raced or had a published work after July 1, 2019 and did not start retraining for a second career before December 1, 2020
▪ Trainers indicate a primary (and optional secondary) discipline on their applications, but are free to change disciplines as the competition approaches and they learn their horses' strengths. A horse can compete in up to two disciplines, and a trainer can compete a maximum of two horses in a single competition year.
▪ Trainers do not need to have obtained the horse they intend to compete at the time of their application. Some trainers have already obtained their Thoroughbred Makeover mounts, but many are still searching. Trainers may begin registering their horses today, but have through July 31 to complete horse registration
▪ Participation in the Thoroughbred Makeover Marketplace sale is entirely voluntary, but many trainers take advantage of the extra exposure to market their prospects. All sales are private contracts between individual trainers and buyers; the RRP is not involved and receives no commissions

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COVID-19: Nick Garafola, Veronica Gallardo Among ‘Unsung Heroes’ Of Backstretch Community

Longtime New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) employees Nick Garafola and Veronica Gallardo have worked valiantly for the racing community amid the COVID-19 pandemic in the dormitories located on the Belmont Park backstretch.

Garafola and Gallardo have a combined 37 years of experience at NYRA. On Belmont's vast backstretch, they're responsible for the housing and well-being of a small city: anywhere from 450 to 600 backstretch workers living in approximately 500 rooms among 69 cottages.

On March 19, 2020, NYRA voluntarily suspended live racing at Aqueduct Racetrack due to changing circumstances in the racing community relative to COVID-19 pandemic. Although racing was stopped, the essential work of caring for the more than 1,300 horses stabled at Belmont continued.

“That's when you ask yourself, 'how can I make a difference?'” said Garafola, who is NYRA's Dormitory Supervisor.

Nearly a year later, Garafola and Gallardo, NYRA's Assistant Dormitory Supervisor, are making a difference. They're NYRA's “first responders before the first responders,” as Garafola put it – as part of an expansive Belmont backstretch team responding to protocols and processes put in place to ensure the health and safety of the community, alerting medical professionals as needed and even serving as translators for a diverse group of backstretch workers.

“Nick and Veronica have played an important role in the day-to-day challenge of maintaining a safe working environment on the backstretch,” said Glen Kozak, NYRA's Senior Vice President, Operations and Capital Projects. “They've done so with hard work and a lot of empathy, by adapting when needed and by following a strict set of protocols. This pandemic has created some unsung heroes in our business. They're at the top of list.”

Gallardo and Garafola routinely go above and beyond the call of duty for their friends and extended family on the Belmont backstretch.
“If a resident goes into quarantine, we stay in touch,” said Gallardo. “Sometimes, there's not much to say. We just want them to know we're thinking of them and that we care.”

Garafola and Gallardo credit NYRA's Preparedness and Response Plan Committee, comprised of key NYRA staff members as well as representatives of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (NYTHA), the New York Chapter of the Racetrack Chaplaincy of America (NYRTCA), the Backstretch Employee Service Team (B.E.S.T.), the Belmont Child Care Association (BCCA) and Premise Health – for taking an effective team approach to health issues, both big and small.

The committee has pitched in as needed, often on the fly. Last spring, in the early days of the pandemic, NYTHA received a shipment of several thousand face masks – at a period of time when masks could be hard to come by – and people from the committee groups made sure everyone on the backstretch received a mask and understood the importance of wearing one.

The team approach continues to pay off as representatives of NYRA, NYTHA, NYRTCA, B.E.S.T, and the BCCA have set up food banks, provided up-to-date communications on health care and distributed gift cards for groceries for the hundreds of Belmont-based backstretch workers and their families. Many of the tasks, too numerous to name, were performed essentially “on call” at all hours – and almost always involving Garafola and Gallardo.

“What Veronica and Nick do every single day is huge,” said Nick Caras, the NYRTCA's Programs Director. “The hours don't seem to matter to them. They just 'do,' helping us work together to make the backstretch safer for all.”

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From Dundalk to California

Going Global (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) made an impressive U.S. debut for trainer Phil D'Amato by taking Sunday's GIII Sweet Life S. at Santa Anita. Formerly trained by Mick Halford in Ireland, the 3-year-old filly was purchased privately this winter in a deal structured by BBA Ireland's Michael Donohoe and Niall Dalton. Gary King caught up with Donohoe on Monday morning to chat about the win.

GK: What attracted you to Going Global?

MD: Her first run at Limerick really caught my eye and Niall's [Dalton]. We liked her action and when she won her maiden at Dundalk we liked the way she quickened to the line. It was a bit of a gamble buying her off a Dundalk handicap win but it paid off. It just goes to show how strong Irish race form is.

GK: Did she strike you as a California kind of horse?

MD: For sure. When I saw her in the flesh she looked the part, well made with a great hip like a lot of the Mehmas progeny. The Mehmases all seem to progress with racing which is a great trait and are sound horses. For racing in California soundness is so important.

GK: How have you found the horses-in-training market during the last few months?

MD: To be honest, it's been pretty good. Myself and Niall working together have had a lot of success these last few months and always have people looking for Irish horses.

GK: Mehmas obviously had a terrific year with his first juveniles. Do you expect them to progress as 3-year-olds?

MD: Absolutely. Even though they have proven to be precocious they are also seriously progressive. They seem to have that will to win and are very sound. He really could be a very important stallion in years to come and is in a very good hotel in Tally Ho. So popular he has become I have only been able to secure one nomination for my clients.

GK: Before I let you go, have you identified any under the radar stallions in Europe for the upcoming breeding season?

MD: I have been hearing and seeing very good reports from Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (€30,000 at Coolmore)'s first crop of 2-year-olds. Also, I think Shalaa (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) (€15,000 at Haras de Bouquetot) will have a better 3-year-old crop after a promising start with his first runners last season.

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