A rally to rescue Ohio's troubled horse racing industry is planned for Tuesday at 10 a.m. on the South Plaza of the State House in Columbus.
Organized by Lisa Schwartz of Washington Courthouse, Ohio, the rally is to emphasize to legislators that Ohio horse racing is a $900 million agricultural-based industry with 16,000 direct jobs and 42,000 indirect jobs. Schwartz said race tracks could close and those jobs would go away if Ohio's harness and thoroughbred race tracks are not allowed expanded gaming to meet competition from race tracks in neighboring states.
Schwartz is the wife of veterinarian Bob Schwartz, who works for the Midland Acres standardbred breeding farm in Bloomingburg, Ohio. Buckeye State standardbred breeding farms, although in decline, registered 11,735 foals over the past seven years, 2,500 more than any other state.
A bus to the Columbus rally will leave Northfield Park on Tuesday at 7:30 a.m. For a seat, call the Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association, 614-778-5905.
Ohio not alone: The Kentucky Equine Education Project has a rally planned for today at the Kentucky State Capitol, and for the same reason as Ohio's rally on Tuesday. It wants to to draw attention to its beleagured horse racing industry and the need for expanded gambling. Churchill Downs officials said competition from tracks in neighboring states, where alternative gambling has resulted in higher purses, has resulted in a lack of entries and the cancellation of Churchill Downs races on four days last week.
A bill to allow Kentucky tracks to install video lottery terminals, much like slot machines, died in the Kentucky House this year.
Preakness at Thistle: The Preakness will go to post on Saturday, and Thistledown railbirds can watch and wager on the second leg of the Triple Crown. There is early bird Preakness wagering at Thistledown on Friday, and the track's gates open at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday. The local betting interest is Big Drama, owned by former Lodi horseman Harold Queen. Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird is in the field, joined by Kentucky Oaks victor Rachel Alexandra.
Northfield's Cedar Downs in Sandusky will also offer betting on the Preakness.
Very well rested: Bus Fare took some time off from the races, and it paid off. The 11-year-old made his first start in almost six years a winning one on Monday evening, posting a lifetime-best mile of 1:58.1 to pay $23.80 in the seventh race with Charlie Smith Jr. in the sulky. Bus Fare's last start was on Oct. 15, 2003, and his previous best mile was a 1:58.3 effort as a four-year-old in 2002.
Aden Miller of Sugarcreek bought Bus Fare in March, and trainer Jeffrey J, Miller got him back into racing shape.
Courageous Lady news: Hawaiian Drink and Jordan's Jewell, two pacers nominated for the $125,000 Miller Lite Courageous Lady Pace at Northfield Park on May 23, are heavy hitters. Hawaiian Drink qualified at the Meadowlands last week in 1:53.3 for owner Bulletproof Enterprises. Trained by Joe Anderson, Ryan Anderson does the driving. She won eight of 13 starts last year, including a Breeders Crown elimination, earning $490,000.
Jordan's Jewell has a pair of wins and two seconds in five starts this year for Connecticut owners Beverly and Gary Paganelli and trainer Matthew Madeiros. As a two-year-old, she won all seven of her races. A supplemental nominee for the Courageous Lady, Best of Ball has won all eight of her career starts, including her season debut on May 1 in a $20,300 Ohio Sires Stake race at Lebanon Raceway.
Northfield drivers: Local reinsman Aaron Merriman continues lead the nation in driving wins, with 314 in 1,624 starts this year through Wednesday. A big weekend at Northfield helped Merriman to keep his lead. Merriman notched four wins on Friday and added another four on Saturday.
Jody Jamieson is second in the country with 269 driving wins, followed by Tim Tetrick at 255. In seventh place nationally is Northfield's Matt Kakaley with 217 wins.
Thistledown jockeys: Huber Villa-Gomez bagged his 1,000 riding victory on Monday at Thistledown aboard Sneak a Cold Treat, in the third race, and added another victory that afternoon in the eight with It Is The Way. Villa-Gomez was Thistledown's top jockey in 2003 and 2004.
After the first eight days of the new season, Ernesto Oro leads the jockeys with nine wins, followed by Weldon Cloninger Jr. with six victories. In a log jam for third with four winners are Victor Urieta, Christian Pilares and Filmer Munaylla.