In the long and colorful history of Thoroughbred racing there’s a wealth of heartwarming stories, but few can match the exhilarating rags-to-riches saga of John Henry.
Month: March 2021
Florida State Players Must Check Their Guns Out?
July 25, 2006 (Dublin, Ohio)- Training camps are opening up all over America and two of the most celebrated ones in college football are the University of Miami and Florida State.
Disturbing reports out of the Sunshine State indicate that two of their players were involved in a dangerous shooting incident over the weekend. This is definitely something you should know about if you’re into sports betting.
Reserve safety Willie Cooper was shot in the buttocks when confronted in his yard Friday morning by an unknown person who fled after another player returned gunfire. Police said Cooper was able to walk after being shot and the injury wasn’t believed to be serious, but he was taken to a hospital for treatment.
After Cooper was shot, teammate and roommate Brandon Meriweather pulled a pistol from his pants pocket and fired three times at the person who jumped a fence and fled with another person in a car, police said. It was unclear if the assailant was hit.
Cooper and Meriweather told police that they noticed a suspicious car parked outside their home near campus shortly after 6:30 a.m. When they went outside to investigate, a person crouched next to the house jumped up and shot Cooper.
The house is owned by Hurricanes defensive backs coach Tim Walton and was rented to players with approval from the school’s compliance office. Cooper, a junior, has played mostly on special teams for three years. He is listed as a second-team safety on the spring depth chart.
Meriweather is a standout safety for the Hurricanes.
Please, would somebody tell me that I am not the only one that finds this story just a bit disturbing? I have a 17 year old son who has not been even close to being out of bed at 6:30 am on a summer day, so that in itself raises the flag. Isn’t it convenient that an assistant coach happens to own a house and rents it to two of the players? Miami coach Larry Coker was quite calm over the whole affair and suggested that he was not even sure how many players owned guns on the team.
Over in Tallahassee, Bobby Bowden has suggested that all of his players’ guns are under lock and key and when they go hunting they are required to sign out their weapons of choice.
When asked if the sign out policy was enforced, Bowden suggested that he hasn’t given it a second thought. Knowledge is power in online gambling.
Are you ready for some football?
Bob Acton
Cheltenham Festival: Rachael Blackmore rides Allaho to victory in the Ryanair Chase
The Cheveley Park Stud-owned seven-year-old simply ran his rivals into the ground from the off, with Blackmore making her intentions clear from flag-fall with a strong pace.
Luck of Hong Kong Derby Draw Favours Russian Emperor
After finishing a barnstorming second from gate 11 in a slowly run renewal of the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) four weeks back, last year's G3 Hampton Court S. scorer Russian Emperor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was assigned barrier five as post positions were drawn Thursday for the HK$24 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) Sunday at Sha Tin Racecourse.
The former Aidan O'Brien galloper was no factor and well beaten in his first two local appearances, including a ninth to the upset-minded Excellent Proposal (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) in the Hong Kong Classic Mile in January. But trainer Douglas Whyte added blinkers for the Classic Cup and Russian Emperor hit the line hard to miss by a neck to Healthy Happy (Aus) (Zoustar {Aus}), who enjoyed a very soft time of it in front.
“He'll get the trip and plus, so he's going to have every answer–that's the beauty of being drawn where he is,” the 'Durban Demon' said. “[Jockey] Karis [Teetan] can now use the draw and ride a race.”
If that version of Russian Emperor shows up, they may all be running for second, but three-time Derby-winning conditioner John Size will try to make his presence felt with a trio of entrants. The highest-rated of them is Excellent Proposal, who returned a colossal $23 (22-1) in the Classic Mile and was one of several inconvenienced by the lack of pace in the Classic Cup. He has gate eight for Blake Shinn, who nearly pulled the upset in last year's Derby with 289-1 Playa Del Puente (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}).
“I'm pretty comfortable with barrier eight, it's a middle of the line draw, he'll have all the main chances around us–I'm happy,” Shinn said.
David Hayes is in the Derby in his first season back in Hong Kong, having saddled the filly Elegant Fashion (Aus) (Danewin {Aus}) in 2003. The more likely of his two runners appears to be the classy Shadow Hero (Aus) (Pierro {Aus}), who rallied from midpack to be third in the Classic Cup. While he drew nicely in seven, stablemate Conqueror (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) was less fortunate to land 13.
Sky Darci (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) carries the highest local rating of 103 into the Derby, and while Sunday's 10-furlong trip looms a bit of a question, his chances to stay were enhanced when he and leading rider Joao Moreira pulled gate two Thursday.
“I'm very pleased with that draw–he needs a soft gate and I'm very happy, it's going to give him his chance,” said trainer Caspar Fownes, whose Super Satin (NZ) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) was piloted by Whyte when taking out the Derby back in 2010.
Our special BMW Hong Kong Derby cheat sheet will appear in Saturday's TDN Europe/International edition.
The post Luck of Hong Kong Derby Draw Favours Russian Emperor appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.
