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TRACKSIDE "Where the truth makes the story"
with Mike Kravchak
6/4/07
with Mike Kravchak
6/4/07
The Last Week of 2007 Bluegrass Downs Meet.
Can you believe it? The Bluegrass Downs meet has come to an
end! "What am I saying, it's a 6 week meet. The shortest in
Harness racing history, and NO LIVE FEEDS to other KY harness
tracks for simulcasting." I will say that the track was in great
shape this meet and the attendance was a little better, mostly
due to the hard work in promotions by KyHarnessRacing.com and
their giveaways...
We saw a lot of the same faces this year and many that we have
never seen before. The purses started out poor, but made a full
turnaround in the latter part of the meet. A big thanks to
Billy "the Kid' Perkins for doing what he was hired to do.....HIS
job. It seemed like everyone was able to take home some money,
which is why we are here, so congratulations to ALL of the
horsemen who came out and supported Bluegrass Downs. We'll
see you at the Red Mile.
For many years Marc Guilfoil has been a positive figure in the KY
horse racing industry, not only as a judge, but as a leader. Marc
has decided to retire from the sport he loves and he will be
missed. So mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest Judge of
all..NO NOT YOU Wayne Oke, it's Marc Guilfoil, and I am proud to
call him my FRIEND.
The leading driver and trainer of the Meet was no other than Gary
Neafus. Gary had great success this year with his stable of 20+.
Neafus stats that his success is do to "the classification of his
horses and the switching to Strategy feeds, by PURINA."
The last race however, ended like a 3rd grade kick ball game..
As I tell this story, I would like to mention that I am very good
friends with both of these guys. As Neafus neared the finish line
with Rocket to a Star, Tyler Shehan got through on the rail and
nipped the Latter at the wire. Shehan then stuck his tongue out
and pointed his whip at Neafus. NOW, " I like to do a dirty Lean
once and a while." Never to the leading driver who has earned 24
wins to Shehan's 5, so while Tyler was smiling in the winner's
circle, GARY WAITS...As Shehan's mommy & daddy enter the
paddock, Tyler explains that is was done just for the picture.. In
24 trips to the winner's circle, Gary Neafus NEVER did that to
anyone, ans he said, "if you do that again, you wont have to
worry about smiling because he would knock his teeth out." END
OF STORY. Lesson Learned here: Leave the finger pointing to the
"EDGAR the Weatherman" and the tongue to Michael Jordan.
Now go and change your underwear!!!
My "D.A. Award" was a tough one this meet. I knew it would be a
BOARD member of the KHHA......but there are sooo many to
choose from.....
Here's my dilemna? What did the KHHA do about the way that a
KHHA BOARD MEMBER (that was praised and singled out at the
awards banquet by Joe "I gotta wear shades" Costa and
President Bob Stewart), cursed the "F BOMB", at another
horseman in the judges office? (Fortunately, the judges were
present or he could have lied his way out of this one too.) WHAT
IS THE KHHA'S STAND ON THIS???
If I told you there was $3 million out there for harness horsemen,
how much would you try to get? Would you be happy with
$80,000 or about 2%. Well, thats what our leaders got for the
Hardworking Horsemen. And who did they give a big pat on the
back.....THEMSELVES of course. YIPPY! YIPPY! MR. PEABODY. And
we all know if it wasn't for the group of horsemen that got
together at Bluegrass Downs last year, there would not be a
Wildcat series with $80,000. Our leaders did not like the ones that
asked the questions about the money. Now is that leadership?
How about the Red Mile's track surface? I asked over 20 different
horsemen, who stable there, how good it was? They ALL said
terrible, it's like training on an unplowed corn field? What is the
KHHA's REP Jack Gray's STAND ON THIS??? Don't worry Jack, you
don't have to acknowledge it just because it was printed here. I
understand you have to represent your team.
Our BGD KHHA Rep did do one thing. He told the Judges that a
horseman was warming up his horse (at 3:05 mind you) without
his colors on. ARE YOU SERIOUS?? EVEN better, Our President
Bob Stewart, says and I quote " If I have to race at Bluegrass
Downs or go there, I will quit my job as President and get out of
the business".. HE SAID THIS IN FRONT OF GM JERRY
BRADLEY (whom he had never met before). IS this
OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP???
Give us a break. Who makes up these awards anyway. What
award, who gets the award etc. All I have to say, is whoever it is,
needs to get their head out from where the sun doesn't shine.....
we're in the 21st century....it's 2007. Todays world, isn't buying it.
How about the last meeting before the change of the KY fairs.
How many KHHA reps showed up."0" The only man to show up?
Dr. Luel Overstreet (you know, the guy you didn't VOTE into the KY
Hall of Fame), instead of the one that Cursed out another
horsemen in the race office??? (And who does the nominating and
voting for the Ky Hall of Fame.) So while they were standing up
and WAVING at the awards banquet (like the queen of England)
you should remember that these are the people who represent
you...They should have stood up and said I AM SO-and-SO, and
this is what I have done for you THIS TERM........they may have
NOTHING to say.
Everyone racing at the fairs..get those entries in early....the box
closes at 10am EST. With the exception of the time that Bill took
the entries at 15 minutes after 10am. Just ask "the fence master"
about that one.
And I've been taking notes. Before KyHarnessRacing.com went
public with their site, the KHHA site only was updated two times a
year....well maybe three times. Since this site went public in
February, the KHHA site has been updated at least 12 times. Is
this a coincident? Not hardly. But I have to ask....is the KHHA
leading or following. You make that call.
Must give you some notes here, too. Mike Davis was race
secretary last year here at the Downs. But, he was under
constant supervision of one of the KHHA REPS, that was telling
him what to do with the purse money and how to spend it. (and
we all know which one it is..."the fence master") After they over
spent, who did the KHHA blame......Mike Davis. Our notes say
different, and everyone agrees. By the way, we also did some
research, and the race secretary is employed and paid by
Bluegrass Downs, not the KHHA. Remember to WAVE guys.
Outstanding Leadership Award, huh...Keep up the Good Work
"Honest Abe", you're doing a hell of a JOB.." .So Stand up now...
KHHA track reps in front of your computers....and Wave. This will
be the First and Last time you get awards as KHHA REPS..I URGE
all of the KY Horsemen to BAND together, whether you hate the
guy sitting next to you or not? We are a part of THE FAMILY. We
can and WILL SURVIVE!! We DO NOT need to RIDE THE FENCE
here. We ARE A VOICE. Lets be HEARD!! We CAN save this dying
sport, I know it!!
Can you believe it? The Bluegrass Downs meet has come to an
end! "What am I saying, it's a 6 week meet. The shortest in
Harness racing history, and NO LIVE FEEDS to other KY harness
tracks for simulcasting." I will say that the track was in great
shape this meet and the attendance was a little better, mostly
due to the hard work in promotions by KyHarnessRacing.com and
their giveaways...
We saw a lot of the same faces this year and many that we have
never seen before. The purses started out poor, but made a full
turnaround in the latter part of the meet. A big thanks to
Billy "the Kid' Perkins for doing what he was hired to do.....HIS
job. It seemed like everyone was able to take home some money,
which is why we are here, so congratulations to ALL of the
horsemen who came out and supported Bluegrass Downs. We'll
see you at the Red Mile.
For many years Marc Guilfoil has been a positive figure in the KY
horse racing industry, not only as a judge, but as a leader. Marc
has decided to retire from the sport he loves and he will be
missed. So mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest Judge of
all..NO NOT YOU Wayne Oke, it's Marc Guilfoil, and I am proud to
call him my FRIEND.
The leading driver and trainer of the Meet was no other than Gary
Neafus. Gary had great success this year with his stable of 20+.
Neafus stats that his success is do to "the classification of his
horses and the switching to Strategy feeds, by PURINA."
The last race however, ended like a 3rd grade kick ball game..
As I tell this story, I would like to mention that I am very good
friends with both of these guys. As Neafus neared the finish line
with Rocket to a Star, Tyler Shehan got through on the rail and
nipped the Latter at the wire. Shehan then stuck his tongue out
and pointed his whip at Neafus. NOW, " I like to do a dirty Lean
once and a while." Never to the leading driver who has earned 24
wins to Shehan's 5, so while Tyler was smiling in the winner's
circle, GARY WAITS...As Shehan's mommy & daddy enter the
paddock, Tyler explains that is was done just for the picture.. In
24 trips to the winner's circle, Gary Neafus NEVER did that to
anyone, ans he said, "if you do that again, you wont have to
worry about smiling because he would knock his teeth out." END
OF STORY. Lesson Learned here: Leave the finger pointing to the
"EDGAR the Weatherman" and the tongue to Michael Jordan.
Now go and change your underwear!!!
My "D.A. Award" was a tough one this meet. I knew it would be a
BOARD member of the KHHA......but there are sooo many to
choose from.....
Here's my dilemna? What did the KHHA do about the way that a
KHHA BOARD MEMBER (that was praised and singled out at the
awards banquet by Joe "I gotta wear shades" Costa and
President Bob Stewart), cursed the "F BOMB", at another
horseman in the judges office? (Fortunately, the judges were
present or he could have lied his way out of this one too.) WHAT
IS THE KHHA'S STAND ON THIS???
If I told you there was $3 million out there for harness horsemen,
how much would you try to get? Would you be happy with
$80,000 or about 2%. Well, thats what our leaders got for the
Hardworking Horsemen. And who did they give a big pat on the
back.....THEMSELVES of course. YIPPY! YIPPY! MR. PEABODY. And
we all know if it wasn't for the group of horsemen that got
together at Bluegrass Downs last year, there would not be a
Wildcat series with $80,000. Our leaders did not like the ones that
asked the questions about the money. Now is that leadership?
How about the Red Mile's track surface? I asked over 20 different
horsemen, who stable there, how good it was? They ALL said
terrible, it's like training on an unplowed corn field? What is the
KHHA's REP Jack Gray's STAND ON THIS??? Don't worry Jack, you
don't have to acknowledge it just because it was printed here. I
understand you have to represent your team.
Our BGD KHHA Rep did do one thing. He told the Judges that a
horseman was warming up his horse (at 3:05 mind you) without
his colors on. ARE YOU SERIOUS?? EVEN better, Our President
Bob Stewart, says and I quote " If I have to race at Bluegrass
Downs or go there, I will quit my job as President and get out of
the business".. HE SAID THIS IN FRONT OF GM JERRY
BRADLEY (whom he had never met before). IS this
OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP???
Give us a break. Who makes up these awards anyway. What
award, who gets the award etc. All I have to say, is whoever it is,
needs to get their head out from where the sun doesn't shine.....
we're in the 21st century....it's 2007. Todays world, isn't buying it.
How about the last meeting before the change of the KY fairs.
How many KHHA reps showed up."0" The only man to show up?
Dr. Luel Overstreet (you know, the guy you didn't VOTE into the KY
Hall of Fame), instead of the one that Cursed out another
horsemen in the race office??? (And who does the nominating and
voting for the Ky Hall of Fame.) So while they were standing up
and WAVING at the awards banquet (like the queen of England)
you should remember that these are the people who represent
you...They should have stood up and said I AM SO-and-SO, and
this is what I have done for you THIS TERM........they may have
NOTHING to say.
Everyone racing at the fairs..get those entries in early....the box
closes at 10am EST. With the exception of the time that Bill took
the entries at 15 minutes after 10am. Just ask "the fence master"
about that one.
And I've been taking notes. Before KyHarnessRacing.com went
public with their site, the KHHA site only was updated two times a
year....well maybe three times. Since this site went public in
February, the KHHA site has been updated at least 12 times. Is
this a coincident? Not hardly. But I have to ask....is the KHHA
leading or following. You make that call.
Must give you some notes here, too. Mike Davis was race
secretary last year here at the Downs. But, he was under
constant supervision of one of the KHHA REPS, that was telling
him what to do with the purse money and how to spend it. (and
we all know which one it is..."the fence master") After they over
spent, who did the KHHA blame......Mike Davis. Our notes say
different, and everyone agrees. By the way, we also did some
research, and the race secretary is employed and paid by
Bluegrass Downs, not the KHHA. Remember to WAVE guys.
Outstanding Leadership Award, huh...Keep up the Good Work
"Honest Abe", you're doing a hell of a JOB.." .So Stand up now...
KHHA track reps in front of your computers....and Wave. This will
be the First and Last time you get awards as KHHA REPS..I URGE
all of the KY Horsemen to BAND together, whether you hate the
guy sitting next to you or not? We are a part of THE FAMILY. We
can and WILL SURVIVE!! We DO NOT need to RIDE THE FENCE
here. We ARE A VOICE. Lets be HEARD!! We CAN save this dying
sport, I know it!!
- Now for my Hot/Not/GO HOME LIST
Horse of the Meet: FALITA
Claimer of the Meet: Fuzzy Finance (close second was
Johnny is a johnny)
Best Buy: Count Masone (Pat will get this old campaigner
back to life...he was also given a couple of keys from Count
Masone's old trainer)
Best Drive: Jim "Dear Mr. Governor" Buchanan and his
drive on Carrie's Best, 4 wide down the backside winning at
30-1
Worst Drive: Half Gold Rose getting the late driver change
only to be parked EVERY STEP in the FINAL.
Best Performance: Boy this was close, but for what it's
worth, these are my awards and CARTOUCHE deserves it.
How often does BGD have the fastest timed 2yrold in the
country??
I will be trackside at all of the fairs and announcing..
Remember at Trackside, You don't need an invitation.
WE TELL THE TRUTH, and it may sting a little, it may even
down right hurt, but we tell it!! And hope YOU CAN
HANDLE THE TRUTH, although we realize YOU MAY NOT
BE USE TO IT!!
You have been Trackside with Michael Kravchak and
this is my SIDE...