The fact that Lexington does not have any OTBs outside of Keeneland is laughable. How is this even possible?

1) Enough is Enough, raising the takeouts should bring in a lot of new fans. 2) If NJ's governor Chris Christie runs for President, racing's days are numbered.

The day Maryland has its act together before the racing days are due......there will be a major freeze in hell! I wish you all a Happy and prosperous New Year!

I agree with Jason, BHG will come up with something is my prediction.

What I want to know is what does the NTRA hope to gain from their online poll.  I mean, honestly...in order to vote, you must give up all your personal information and release the names of all of your friends on FB???  Sorry, just too intrusive for me...especially when it doesn't even count.  Really?  Do I look that stupid???  OK-skip that last question.

And Tom...your predictions...do I giggle now or later?  Aren't they postdictions?  Hey...I predict NYC will get 20 inches of snow, and not be able to handle it because they laid all their workers off to cut the budget. (The same $$ they're probably spending in unemployment benefits.)

I love the Belmont on a cable channel and the first TC...LOL!!

I hope your first prediction comes true, Tom. If ever there were a time for a network overhaul on the Triple Crown, hot off the heels of the Zenyatta media blitz would be it.

And who might that Triple Crown winner be????

Question --- are we to assume ( bad choice of a word ) that this future Triple Crown winner will have won the Charles Town Classic, and then went on to win the Breeders Cup Classic all in one year ??? Any predictions if you think that same horse might also win HOY honors too???

Todd Pletcher, in his quest to prove Quality Road is the ultimate distance horse, brings QR out of retirement to run in the BC Marathon. Claiming that QR looked tired in the Classic this year, he uses the Donn as a prep race and then decides to train him up to the BC. 3 furlong breezes every 10 to 14 days should keep him nice and fresh for the big day!!!

California will produce the 2011 Kentucky Derby winner thus breaking break its 38-year drought  

I don't know how it's possible Jason considering its legal. There is a law allowing it.

And Delaware Park will bring back Sunday racing so parents can bring their children to a fun day at the track. Possible future racing fans.

This track does have fun things for the kids to do. Slides, moon bounce, monkey bars, etc.

No Charles Town Classic/Triple Crown winner in same year. Not happening. ... and to clarify because I don't mean to offend: The reason a CT Classic/BC Classic double seems a big stretch is because if tradition holds, many owners will bypass the $1 million grade III to run in a $250,000 grade I. And please don't ask me why that is. I'd run for the million even if the race is around three turns.

LOL....just what have you been smoking Tom? @ Slew...too funny too!

Here is what happens to Hialeah in 2011: First they get SLOTS!!!!....Then they will come up with purses like Monmouth had in the summer.....Then the winner of the $1,000.000 Flamingo wins the DERBY!!!!!!

To all paid entrants:

Yuengling bottle giveway on Haskell Day 2011.  ;-)

Yuengling bottle giveaway!!! Love it.

Fining Todd Pletcher and John Velazquez the amount of the winner's purse they would have won if Life at Ten would have finished 1st in the Ladies' Classic. Also some major suspensions would be nice. Many people lost a lot of money on their bad decisions to run that horse.

I definately agree with the first one. I can feel that there is going to be a Triple Crown winner, I have who I like already, one can't help but pick, but who knows....

I have a ridiculous prediction: Chicago politics will be flushed down the toilet, racing in Illinois will soon become better, and (oh please, oh please!) they take that horrible polytrack out of Arlington!

Hey, CA produced KY Derby winner Giacomo dude...that was only 5 yrs ago, not to mention Pioneer of the Nile 2nd in Derby, Rags to Riches's KYOaks & Belmont, Lookin at Lucky's Preakness, Colonel John's Travers and the Queen herself, Zenyatta.  CA is just fine...

KY racing finds Life At Ten was drugged and trainer has been ruled off for life. LAT returns to racing under Zenyatta's trainer and wins the BC Classic.

I don't think the prediction that we have a Triple Crown Winner is so far fetched! There are some great racehorses waiting in the wings. Great trainers training and great jockeys riding. It is going to be a Triple Crown year and we all know who I'm betting on. An Afleet Alex colt or filly.

AWESOME !!!

Thoroughbreds at Hialeah ... Ridiculously Excellent!!!

Jen: Those horses you mentioned trained in Calif., but none were born there.  They were all Ky.-bred.   Now...for a champion born in California...how did you skip Lava Man?  or even Bold Chieftain?  Those horses are more Californian than your governor.

>> Hey, CA produced KY Derby winner Giacomo dude <<

Please don't remind us!

Thanks in advance!!

Mr. Racing, you mean you would turn down owning him? I wouldn't turn down any horse that earned me 2 1/2 Million and won the KD...in fact, I dream of owning a horse like that!

Indian casino opens at the former site of Roosevelt Raceway. NYRA has no choice but to cut purses.

You guys are coming up with some really good ones. ...

Yes....fans will vote for Horse of the Year.  Love that!

uncle mo will be the next triple crown winner!!!!!

this has nothing to do with the topic, but can someone inform me how Dubai racing supports itself if there is no betting at all. i cant even imagine that, with all that is happening out in california with their new takeout. And is this unique to Dubai or Saudi Arabia as well?

How about this one: it will be illegal to breed any sound horse younger than 6 so that horses can go back to building a good collection of fans - who just might stay fans of the game once they've really gotten into it. Hey it'll work. Look at the fans Zenyatta made by being out there so long! Isn't that why we all still revere the memory of horses like Citation and John Henry and Round Table and so on? Sure, they were super-good - but they were out there long enough to steal our hearts away! (And they didn't have raceday meds back then either!)

A Triple Crown winner cannot also win the CT Classic in the same year because the CT Classic is for 4 & Up :)

My prediction is that the steeplechase races at Saratoga are removed because bettors go bloo bloo bloo at trying to handicap them. They already trashed the Lonesome Glory this year and the chases at Keeneland and Churchill a couple years back.

Prediction for 2011: Tom LaMarra will be the next talking head for TVG or HRTV.

* CHRB orders GG Fields, Del Mar, and Hollywood Park to get dirt tracks exactly like Santa Anita ASAP if not sooner.

* Kentucky Racing Board orders that all tracks have dollar slot machines paying out real silver dollars minted prior to 1930.

* The Breeder's Cup orders no more over watering to appease European cry babies.

* Churchill Downs returns money to all of those who bet on Life At Ten who have ADW accounts, since it can be proven. They promise to give the money back to all of those who bet cash and still have their stub or to those that swear on a stack of Bibles that they made the bet. Limit 2 per household and $500 cap.

* NY Horse Racing Board orders all OTBs to reopen and serve free beers for all of 2011 to all customers that bet at least $2.

* Louisiana Horse Racing Board orders that all horses that knock other horses around as if they were Rocky Marciano actually be disqualified.

* Calvin Borel loses the Derby after being blocked on the rail by a Budweiser Clydesdale entered for that purpose. He qualified by winning the one million Bud Invitational as the only horse entered. Don't ask how it became a graded stakes. Nobody is talking.

THE KEY$TONE STATE I$ BARE N DOWN ON THE BLUEGRA$$ BABY!!!...OTHER$ WILL FOLLOW THEIR LEAD...BU$T N THAT GRIP...R.I.P...ty...

ALL...READY PUT N THE MOE JOE ON "THE MO MAN"...STEWARTS RITE N A NOVEL ON "LIFE AT TEN" DEAL...BUT "THE TA$TE" WON'T GOE AWAY...THANK GOODNE$$???...CAN'T KILL "THE GAME"!!!...ty...

Franch Stronach admits he is wrong and sells all racing properties to responsible owners who turn around the tracks.  Everyone celebrates over a round of Frank's Energy Drink.

Rachel ( 31Dec2010 )--- never give up on a dream.

Wow!  I don't know.  Anything is possible.  Let's say we do have a Triple Crown winner.  I project it will be a filly!  Colonial Downs will make a bid to host a future Breeders' Cup!  Thoroughbreds returning to Hialeah...FAB!  Life At Ten will return to racing better than ever, and win HOY!  I'm giggling!

kudos to the Del Park racing on Sunday idea. Certainly the best paddock and picnic area of ANY track. They are missiing the boat here, but then again, do they REALLY care about racing at all ??

How's this for ridiculous--Now that Zenyatta is retired, Rachel Alexandra will come out of retirement and win HOY 2011. ;)

1. "Todd Pletcher, in his quest to prove Quality Road is the ultimate distance horse, brings QR out of retirement to run in the BC Marathon" only after he and JV each serve a 2-month suspension for running Life At Ten in the Ladies' Classic

2. RE-renaming the "Ladies' Classic' the Distaff.

3. New York State refusing to bail out and resurrect the downstate OTB system and reinstating the purses that were in place before OTB defaulted on its broadcast payments.

4. Jess Jackson buys a $5000 claimer.

I will decode Bellwether.  (I think I got close once in 2010.)

Horses will run in races (instead of playing duck and cover, leading to reams and reams of blogger comments about who would've done what to who in what race whenever).

And Dr. D, you are way too ridiculous about the Clydesdale.  Let's get serious.  Churchill will make a rule that if Calvin wants to run in the 2011 Derby, he REALLY has to run.  No horse.  He will, however, get a 100-pound weight allowance.  

P.S.  How you all doin' with our snow, guys?  Up here (Toronto), we're snickering at your wussy attempts to shovel.  

Shall we watch racing begin (continue?) its slow fall to its knees, like a racehorse caught between two competitors when a hole closes too quickly?  Will we have another lucky, average-talent Kentucky Derby winner because of the ridiculously huge fields (possibly)? Where will the Preakness be? Will the rest of the Cali tracks re-convert to dirt? Well, as Santa Anita continues to succeed! Will we crack down on drugs? Perhaps, when I am an old woman reflecting on my young years. If racing still exists in 2051...Perhaps this is not a good time to read the magnificent book 'Kelso, the Horse of Gold', because it makes the recent times even sorrier.

MZ

  The Racing Commission has ordered Calvin and Javier Castellano to enter a 3-legged potato sack race together before either will be allowed to ride In the Derby or BC again. So Calvin has to pass that hurdle first. How many martinis did you drink last night? Or did you stick to your resolution of the previous year?

Hopefully, Maryland racing will get its act together before we lose the Preakness.  A TC winner would be nice, and CB will win another KD with a blindfold and hopping backwards!!!  Seriously Happy, Healthy New Year to all!

Pboo, I dont know if Todd Pletcher would be stupid enough to make the same mistake twice. Especially at BC day and in KY.

1. Zenyatta will be bred to Tiznow or A.P Indy.

2. Royal Delta will have an impact on the Triple Crown.

3. Sea The Stars' weanlings will sell for more than $250,000 each

4. Azeri and Ghostzapper's 3yo ( Take Control) will also have a huge impact on the Triple Crown.

5. Flat racehorses will not be allowed to retire until they are at least 4yo (unless injured), and steeplechase horses will not be allowed to retire until at least 9yo (unless injured).

I think we all left out a prediction ----

the time span between the Triple Crown races will be changed !!!

I totally agree with re-renaming the "Ladies' Classic" to the much classier "Distaff"

OK, my predictions for New England TB Racing:

1. Rockingham Racetrack has a Thoroughbred meet and begins the return to its former glory...

2. The Mass Cap is actually run.

3. The TC winner is a claimer from the Suffolk 3-year-old ranks!

The Tampa Bay Downs track announcer finally pronounces a horse's name correctly.

The Jockey Club will not allow any more horses named Karakourum's-something, Warren's-something, and Kitten's-something.

FOB will be disbanded on account of the FBI labeling them an active terrorist group.

Ok, one serious prediction:

Sidney's Candy learns to rate & gets grade 1s on all 3 surfaces to become the second horse to accomplish the feat and the first to do it in one year...

Dr. Drunkinbum, you are so very funny. Potato sack race LOL LOL.

Tom and Jason will put some pizzazz into their video show- Tom and Jason and The Other Guy Show. They're going to spruce it up with some lively guests, some bold predictions, and even pick some winners. It will be a whole new format with new outfits, a renewed confidence, with some humerous antics, and giveaways with some really good prizes. A new car!!!!!  A brand new kitchen!!!! A trip to Keeneland for bar hopping with Tom and Jason, and another guy!!!!

AP Indy just got very upset...he says he sired Take Control, not Ghostzapper, and he really liked Azeri. (They are now pen pals, but he doesn't understand Japanese.) Dr D: I think Tom, Jason, and another guy should wear jockey silks for their show for that extra pizazz.  

Carlos in Cali, those were really good!!

Slew, that was good...

Del Mar gets jealous of Santa Anita's oh so wonderful dirt track and the eastern trainers it attracts and tells the California racing authorities it will install its own dirt track.

The armpit called Hollywood Park is bought by someone with a real interest in racing and attracting people who actually have money.  (OK....that's really wishful thinking.  More likely Hollywood Park is sold to provide space for a Walmart.  No one in racing misses it.)

In the first prediction, there are two parts and both parts can NOT come true. If there is going to be a Triple Crown winner, the Belmont will definitely have lots of viewers.

Tom

   Now you're talkin'. Good way to add a little pizzazz to the show with the $20 bet, and accountability. Eat some Pirate's Booty and then kick some.

Dr Drunkinbum, can we bet on the Clydesdales?