We have been in the summer heat here for over a month as its been in the 90's for over 20 days this year already. Compared to last year where our highest temperature was 91 degrees for one day. As you know Churchill Downs installed lights and gave the place a completely different look. Night racing was exceptionally popular with an average of around 27,000 attending for each of the four nights. This month they are going to have a three day Mega concert with roughly 60 bands over the three days. National bands like Bon Jovi, Kenny Chesney and Dave Matthews will be performing, just to mention a few.
Churchill Downs spring meet has come to a close. We won 3, ran second ten times, had seven third place finishes and nine fourths. We hit the board 29 out of 39 starts winning over $102,000 in purse money. We lost three through the claims box; BRIDAL VISION for $20,000, DEVIL'S APPRENTICE for $16,000 and SAFE for $15,000. A couple of the seconds should have been wins as I thought the horses had ran a winning race and for one reason or another didn't get the job done.
Indiana Downs closed on July 14th with the stable having 56 starts with 11 wins, 7 seconds, 6 thirds and 11 fourths. Total purse winnings over $201,000. We ran 2nd in a $70,000 stake getting caught in the last jump. I definitely thought we should have won a couple of more as we got beat in head bobs and photo's.
During this meet we also won the $100,000 Tom Ridge Stakes at Presque Isle Downs with ROCKIN' ROCKSTAR for owners Jack Danehy, Ralph Piercy, Terry Ward, Barry Ward, Kenneth Agronin, Mary Ann Barth and Steve Yamaguchi.
Total purse money won for 2010 is over $458,000 with 21 wins, 19 seconds, 19 thirds and 27 fourths. We still have a chance to reach our goal of a million in purse money, but the two year olds will have to pick it up in the second half of the year.
Ellis Park is running three days a week and Saratoga opens July 23 and runs to Labor Day, September 6th. We are moving from Indiana Downs to Hoosier Park which opens for live racing July 30th and runs five days a week until late October. Maiden Special purses will be $35,000.
On the Breeding side, the highest earner we have ever bred(MOR CHANCES) won his eleventh race today at Belmont and is right near the half million mark in earnings. 98 % of his races have been at Saratoga, Belmont and Aqueduct. We have enjoyed watching his performance.
