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November 20, 2009

Quick quip quashes ticket for quick trip

Quick quip quashes ticket for quick trip

It should be no surprise one of the best quotes comes from Hall of Famer Bill O’Donnell.

When Billy-O lived in New Jersey and was in his heyday at the Meadowlands, he was known for driving fast both on the track and the highway.

One day, O’Donnell was trying to set a new land speed record when he was pulled over on the New Jersey Turnpike. A big ticket was looming. But upon inspection of O’Donnell’s license, the police officer was flabbergasted.

“Are you the Bill O’Donnell that drives at the Meadowlands?”

“Yes,” O’Donnell said.

“Wow, I can’t believe it,” the star-struck cop said in amazement. “I’ve always wanted to meet you.”

O’Donnell didn’t miss a beat.

“Well, I got here as fast as I could.”

He got off with a warning.

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November 16, 2009

Are you bragging, or not?

Are you bragging, or not?

“I don’t hate to brag, but I know she’s one of the best fillies. She’s maybe the best filly, but unfortunately she doesn’t know it.”

— trainer Jimmy Takter after Good News Lady won the Jugette in Delaware, OH in 2008. Takter actually said, “I don’t hate to brag” (it’s clear as day on the tape), but since English is not his first language we choose to believe he meant “I hate to brag”. Either way it’s great. For many reasons, great quotes being one of them, Takter is one of our all-time favourites.

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October 27, 2009

Boni: the greatest influence on speed has been removal of the hub rail

By Bob Boni

Boni: the greatest influence on speed has been removal of the hub rail

  

Why are horses faster today? Is it genetics? Equipment? Drivers? Racing surfaces? Big tracks? Northwood Bloodstock’s Bob Boni believes the removal of the hub rail is the biggest single factor.
 
“I disagree with others as far as the breed people says is so much faster. I think we have more horses that can go faster. I think they come to themselves quicker. They’re gaited quicker. You don’t have to spend a lot of time getting them gaited. The breed is purer in that respect. As far as out and out speed is concerned, as long as I’ve been doing this, you’ve seen horses that can pace quarters in 26 seconds...
 
“I’ll look at certain horses. Like a horse like Tune Town. Tune Town is a Big Towner out of a Colt Fortysix mare. He paced in :49. He was one of the last crops of Big Towner. Big Towner didn’t all of a sudden figure out how to sire a :49 horse and Tune Town wasn’t out of a new bloodline on the mare side. Had he been in Big Towner’s first crop, we’d have built a statue for the horse. So, I don’t want to attribute the breed improving so dramatically to him getting better. I think there are numbers of horses. I think the style of racing has changed dramatically. I think we have, by far, the most talented group of drivers we’ve ever had... They get horses to go faster. It’s as simple as that. Horses live longer for them. The style of racing has changed dramatically. All of the equipment, no question, has changed.
 
“But, one of the single biggest factors is there’s no hub rail. I remind people, if they want to see the difference look at a Meadowlands replay from the mid-‘80s or so, whenever there was a hub rail and you will be astounded how far off the rail horses are going into the first turn. You watch them leave the gate and you can almost put a horse up between them. Now, they are right on the pylons. What’s the worst thing that happens? You hit a pylon.”
 
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