(Kentucky gets this from Churchill Downs)

(Florida gets this from Gulfstream Park)

Editor’s Note: 

It’s that time of year. Time to crank things up. Crank things out. Crank the engines. Rev the motors.

It’s Spring. We are one Kentucky race meet away from the Kentucky Derby Time. In other words, it is go time. It is fun time. It is race time.

Here’s some thoughts about this and that, and, of course, one rather large deposit into the “Muck Pit.”

Are you ready? It’s race time.

Here we go…

Isn’t It Amazing? 

Isn’t it amazing how Churchill Downs continues to build up and out, while, at the same time, the Stronach’s continue to tear apart and down?

It truly is.

At the very same time … At every turn of the track, calendar and clock…

While Belinda Stronach and her band of not-so-merry henchmen tied to Gulfstream Park are trying to pass legislation that will allow them to separate their casino operations from the only reason that gives them the right to even have a casino, The Racetrack, and take all the casino money to line their own pockets and not give any, if they so choose, to The Racetrack, and the purse account for the horse people to run for…

Churchill Downs, on the other hand, announces that it will spend up to a Billion Dollars in capital improvements at the mother ship — alone — to improve the facilities and enhance the on-track experience at the world’s most renown and historic racetrack. And, what an enhancement it will be. The artist renderings are as amazing as the new paddock and the First Turn Pavilion. The finished product will undoubtedly create the world’s most attractive & historic racing venue. Period.

Take a look at these renderings:

Simply put…Wow.

At the very same time …

While Belinda Stronach and her band of minions have allegedly “threatened” horse people with absolute extinction if they don’t agree with their heavy-handed ways and have outright refused to guarantee that racing will even exist in South Florida just a couple of years into the future…

Churchill Downs, on the other hand, not only extends the race days at its’ new property in Virginia — Colonial Downs — but launches a brand new Spring Meet so that it can host a spanking new Virginia Derby and join the “Road to the Kentucky Derby.” The first edition was simply amazing, with a packed house of racing revelers dressed to the hilt and a new wave of horse enthusiasts enjoying the sport to a tilt.

At the very same time …

While Belinda Stronach sits on her legislative hands in California, cutting race days and closing Golden Gate Fields and refusing to negotiate with the Native Americans on a possible casino fix; and firing her lobbyist in Kentucky just a few weeks ago, who was retained a couple of years ago to simply work against Historic Horse Racing legislation; she has now retained additional lobbyists in Florida and, somehow, convinced a real estate agent turned legislator into filing a bill that will essentially kill live horse racing in the Ft. Lauderdale area and allow a full-scale real estate development where Gulfstream Park resides today.

(Editor’s Note, Again…Let this point be clear. The casino license currently held in Ft. Lauderdale is not Belinda Stronach’s. It is Gulfstream Park’s license. And, it is only permitted because of the racing operation that is conducted there. A racing operation that is dependent on horse people breeding, raising, training and racing horses. Belinda Stronach may own the land and the stadium; but the horse people own the horses that put on the show.)

Churchill Downs, on the other hand, opens a new, state-of-the-art HHR and simulcasting facility near Owensboro, KY to help build purse money and excitement for its’ new Ellis Park operation in nearby Henderson, KY.

Churchill Downs is in the process of getting a new, state-of-the-art HHR and simulcasting facility approved for near Calvert City in far West Kentucky and near Paducah. This new location will also build purse money for Oak Grove’s new track and for  Thoroughbred operations at Ellis, Churchill Downs and Turfway Park.

And…

Churchill Downs’ new track at Turfway Park just held the G3 Jeff Ruby Steaks Day celebration, which featured the richest race in the history of Northern Kentucky. The Jeff Ruby Steaks purse was $775,000 — making it one of the richest prep races in the country for this year’s 151st Kentucky Derby.

Churchill Downs’ track in New Orleans — the Fair Grounds — just held its biggest day of the Winter / Spring meet, featuring the G2 Louisiana Derby. The Louisiana Derby’s purse was $1 million.

Churchill Downs’ track in Virginia — Colonial Downs — just had its’ first Virginia Derby. It’s purse was $500,000.

You do the math.

You ring up the cash register.

Who do you think is investing in horse racing? Who do you think has the sport’s best interest in mind and in deed? Who do you want to support going forward?

Pretty easy read.

And, maybe, just maybe, it is time to see if the Florida General Assembly would take another action, other than the one proposed by the snowy Belinda Stronach and her string of mental dwarfs.

Maybe, just maybe, the Florida General Assembly should take action to force the Racing Commission to once again issue race dates based on what is in the best interest of the horse industry in the state. The fact the Commission deregulated the dates and allowed all track operators to run whenever they wanted years ago was the sole reason that South Florida has ended up with one Thoroughbred license today. The sole reason. Hialeah and Calder simply could not compete in that environment, when Gulfstream announced it would run year-round.

Maybe, just maybe, the Florida General Assembly should mandate that the Racing Commission consider multiple racing applications from legitimate race track operators — like Churchill Downs — and grant tax incentives to those operators to build and conduct live racing in South Florida.

Maybe, just maybe, the Florida General Assembly should hold the casino license in South Florida in abeyance until there is a guarantee from a legitimate race track operator — like Churchill Downs — to run live racing today, tomorrow and into the future.

Maybe, just maybe, the Florida General Assembly should pass legislation that supports the tremendous Florida horse industry that has been an instrumental part of the agricultural industry for generations by creating economic incentives for a new racetrack; a new operator; a new beginning. One that will support more than one person.

Maybe, just maybe.

After all, Belinda Stronach was the one that started this discussion; this fight.

Maybe, just maybe, it is time that the horse industry and the General Assembly makes it a fair discussion, debate and fight. And, by law, finishes it.

Maybe, just maybe.

That would be amazing. Wouldn’t it?

“Indian Charlie” Is Disgusting — Again — And Deserves to be Dumped in the “Muck Pit” Forever & Ever, Amen…

Just last week, I got a text message from a great friend of mine. Seems as if he ran run upon an internet post from Ed Musselman, who likes to dub himself as “Indian Charlie. He should dub himself as “America’s Dumb Ass.”

The guy is disgusting. The guy is a degenerate. The guy has never, ever once in his life offered anything of value to the industry or society. For years, Musselman issued or distributed a “rag” of a newsletter that has been filled with nasty, unsubstantiated lies, and personal attacks on many people in the Thoroughbred industry. His tag line speaks for itself: “Never let the facts get in the way of a good story.” Never did. Never has. Never will. For this guy.

He has had so many run-ins with industry leaders and participants in the past that his rap sheet would fill many of his own rags.

In 2014, he got into a fight on the backside of Churchill Downs with Eclipse Award-winning trainer Dale Romans. A fight that ended up with both of them wrestling on the ground and Roman’s “significant other,” Tammy Fox, landed a blow or two.

Musselman was kicked off the Churchill Downs’ backside, literally, and later filed a lawsuit against the track.

In 2018, he was ejected from Keeneland and was told he would be arrested if he attempted to distribute his rag on the grounds.

He was revoked track privileges at Keeneland, Gulfstream Park, Pimlico, NYRA and Fasig-Tipton after a “rag time” blast that was deemed offensive to Hispanics.

In January of 2021, Musselman went online to issue a “goodbye farewell.”

But, somehow, the guy has persisted.

Just like a tick on a gelding’s sore spot, or a horse fly on a head net.

All that aside…

This time around, “America’s Dumb Ass” went online to attack Marc Guilfoil, who is the former Executive Director of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and is currently working with Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority as the Director of State Racing Commissions Relations.

“Dumb Ass” posted this:

“Dumb Ass” sucks.

Marc Guilfoil is one of the most honest people I have ever known. He knows the truth. He knows how to speak it. He knows how to keep it.

Marc Guilfoil is one of the hardest working people I have ever known. When I needed a racing license done in another state, which required a finger print, Marc grabbed his kit, on a Saturday, mind you, and came to me to get it done. Over and beyond the call of duty. Every time.

Marc Guilfoil is good people. Period.

If there is anyone in this world — of Thoroughbred racing — who is any better, I don’t know them.

If there is anyone in this world — of it all — who is any more caring, thoughtful, committed, and dedicated. I don’t know them.

If there is anyone in this world who does not need to be ridiculed or slandered by a scum artist like “Dumb Ass” Musselman, I don’t know them.

Marc Guilfoil is good people. And, this world needs a whole lot more people like him, and a whole less more people like “Dumb Ass” Musselman.

Muck Pit time.