Racing! Are TVG and Churchill dating?

Hello, my name is John Cherwa and welcome back to our horse racing newsletter as start to see signs of horse racing interests cooperating with each other. Naw, couldn’t be.

Of the hundreds of emails I get most every day, it’s easy to miss one, especially if it’s just another news release. (Note to PR professionals: Journalists often don’t look at releases we aren’t expecting.)

But on Saturday, I got one from former racing executive Chip Tuttle’s public relations and marketing firm. The subject was: TVG to Televise Churchill Downs Fall Meet.

On the surface that doesn’t seem like big news. Except, when you know the history. In racing the only thing that would be more shocking would be if Gulfstream ran a race when post time first hit zero.

Here’s the background. Churchill Downs, in its quest for world domination, has been downright rude to anyone who runs a competing ADW to its TwinSpires. TVG reporters, who cover the Derby and its lead up in a non-stop way, are denied credentials to report from the grounds of Churchill Downs. If you want to make a bet at Churchill on Xpressbet (and TVG, I presume), the website is blocked.

Earlier this year, Caton Bredar was initially denied a credential to cover the Derby for a Louisville television station because of her association with TVG. The track relented after it created a public furor.

Now, for the Breeders’ Cup, it’s as if the track is rented out and the BC folks have a lot to say about who gets in but TwinSpires is its official ADW partner.

Still, this is the first sign of a detente between Churchill and everybody else.

Churchill Downs has been relegated to TVG2 since TVG bought HRTV, which had its contract with Churchill and the Stronach tracks. Now, I have DirecTV, so I get to miss all of Dave Roberts regular season bad pitching moves and I also don’t get TVG2. When I had ATT-Uverse, I did get TVG2. Both TV companies are owned by ATT, but no cross-over? Go figure.

The fact that Churchill is moving to the big-boy network could very well be seen as a sign of the ice thawing. Of course, the Breeders’ Cup races will be shown on NBC, not TVG.

It’s in racing’s best interests that all the involved parties work together instead of trying to grab as much as they can of a declining market. I’ve often said that if racing ever goes away, the cause of death will be listed as self-inflicted wounds.

Maybe in May, TVG will be allowed on the grounds of Churchill during Derby week. If they are, I wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t invoke the same rules of commercialism as the Masters, no signage. But, no one is suggesting that this is around the corner, but there is hope.

We all get it. TVG is an ADW disguised as a television network. Without the ADW, we would be back to watching non-live racing highlights shows late at night or the next morning, only if the tracks bought the time.

I may be way too premature or reading more into this than there is, but, I don’t think so.

I’ll be at Churchill this week so I’ll try and find out. But last time I asked to interview a high-level Churchill official I was denied.

But, optimism is always preferable to the opposite.

Newsletter schedule

Just so you won’t be confused there will be no newsletter on Thursday because there is no racing at Santa Anita. They have a three-day week coming up, but each racing day will be a marathon. But, we’ll be back on Friday, live from Louisville. In the mean time check the online and print editions of the Times for daily stories from there. In fact, I’ve got five Breeders’ Cup story lines to look for this week already on the web. You can read it here.

Santa Anita review

Battle of Midway, unretired after a failed stint as a stud, looked at top form as he easily won the $75,000 Comma to the Top Stakes for horses going a mile on the dirt. Jockey Flavien Prat placed him perfectly in third position until midway through the far turn when he moved to the front and stayed there to win by 4 ½ lengths.

As the favorite, Battle of Midway paid $4.20, $2.80 and $2.40. All Out Blitz was second and St. Joe Bay was third.

“The key today was getting him back to two turns,” Dan Ward, an assistant trainer for Jerry Hollendorfer, told Mike Willman of Santa Anita. “From here, Jerry would like to go next in the Native Diver [on Nov. 25 at Del Mar], the San Antonio [on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita] and if all goes well the Pegasus.”

Prat was also happy with his run.

“He’s got a lot of natural speed and he settled very nice,” Prat said. “He’s a very classy horse and the two turns probably helped him.”

Big races review

A look at graded stakes or races worth more $100,000 or more on Sunday.

Belmont (4): $100,000 Chelsey Flower Stakes, fillies 2-years-olds, 1 mile on turf. Winner: Seek and Destroy ($7.70)

Belmont (7): $100,000 Pumpkin Pie Stakes, fillies and mares 3 and up, 7 furlongs. Winner: Sower ($4.20)

Belmont (8): $125,000 Zagora Stakes, fillies and mares 3 and up, 1 ½ miles on turf. Winner: Homeland Security ($7.90)

Churchill (8): $100,000 Rags to Riches Stakes, fillies 2-years-old, 1 mile. Winner: Mother Mother ($5.40)

Woodbine (8): Grade 3 $125,000 Ontario Fashion Stakes, fillies and mares 3 and up, 6 furlongs. Winner: Silent Sonet ($114.80)

Churchill (10): $300,000 Juvenile Stallion Stakes, Ky-breds 2-years-old, 7 furlongs. Winner: Dunph ($10.80)

Final thought

Always looking to add more subscribers to this newsletter. Can’t beat the price. If you like it, tell someone. If you don’t like it, then you’re probably not reading this. Either way, send to a friend and just have them click here and sign up. Remember, it’s free, and all we need is your email, nothing more.

Any thoughts, you can reach me at johnacherwa@gmail.com. You can also feed my ego by following me on Twitter @jcherwa

Now, here is the star of the show, Sunday’s results. See you on Friday.

MONGOLIAN HUMOR caught four wide into initial turn, joined leaders three abreast, forced pace from the outside, gained lead on second turn, turned back rival into and in upper stretch then kicked clear under urging. SAUCE ON SIDE tucked in behind dueling leaders, shifted out early on second bend, bid three deep then outside winner, was turned back in upper stretch and held off rival for the place. VENUE was bit off the rail stalking the pace, moved up some from along the rail, swung out four wide leaving last turn and missed the place outside the runner-up. TIZ WONDERFULLY contested the pace from along the fence, grabbed lead and inched away leaving the backstretch, was overtaken later on second turn and weakened from along the rail. STILL A FUNNY GIRL reserved from off the rail, continued three wide to second bend, came out further entering the stretch and never threatened. DEMIGODDESS dueled from between rivals and inside winner, dropped back on same path into and around the second turn and faded.

SIBERIAN IRIS (IRE) content to lag back while bit off the fence, lacked room inside on the second turn, shifted out four wide, rallied from the outside and collared rivals in well-timed trip. TWIRLING APPLES was bit slow to begin, stalked from the inside, continued along the rail to second turn, came out bit in the drive and nailed inside rival for the place. PRINCESS ROI tracked pacesetter from the inside then slightly off the rail, challenged outside leader on second turn, reached front then inched away, dug in from the inside cut could not hold off the runner-up. LYNNE'S LEGACY angled over early, chased from the inside, came back out exiting the last turn and found her best stride in the final eighth. LADY NINJA bobbled slightly in opening strides, tracked pace outside a rival, continued three wide to the stretch, was briefly between foes and inside winner in upper stretch and lacked late response. SAVANNAH SLEW (GB) was sent to front and quickly opened up clear cushion, controlled pace from the inside to second turn, relinquished command into the lane and steadily weakened inside.

GOREN tracked pacesetter early from the inside, moved up under urging on the turn, gained advantage early in the stretch then powered away despite drifting out some under left handed urging. AGGRESSIVITY chased from the inside, came off the fence on the turn, steadily rallied from just off the rail in the lane and was along for second. CANDY CORNELL settled outside, remained four wide into and around the turn, continued well off the fence in the stretch and was up late for a minor award. CONCUR chased while outside winner into and on the turn, continued on three wide path into the stretch and was out finished from between rivals. OUTLAW sped to the front while crossing over, dictated the pace from just off the rail, briefly resisted winner leaving the bend then weakened from the inside. VANDER KELEN chased three wide or outside a rival, remained on same path into the stretch and lacked needed response. BRIOSO outside a rival early, chased two then three wide to the stretch and never reached contention. ACED saved ground chasing the leaders and also lacked needed rally.

RAPID RED stepped to the front, rated from the inside, resisted when challenged into the stretch, turned back rival in upper stretch, edged away under right handed urging and then safely held. THE BIG TRAIN between rivals into the backstretch, chased three wide on the second turn then four wide into the stretch, roused and rallied strongly from the outside and whittled gap on winner late. PLAY HARD TO GET stalked from along the rail, continued inside into the lane, rallied along the fence in the late stages and got up gamely for the show. MR. OPPORTUNIST tracked pacesetter to the final bend, moved up and challenged outside that rival nearing quarter marker, was turned back in upper stretch and flattened in the drive. TWENTYTWENTYVISION chased while outside a rival then three wide on the second turn, continued off the rail and between rivals in the drive and lacked needed response. COMES THE DREAM unhurried from along the rail, continued inside, came off the fence on the second turn and never menaced. GROUND RULES caught three wide into and on the first turn, chased from the outside, dropped back on the final bend, came in some and faded.

SMOKIN B tracked pacesetter from off the rail, continued three wide, steadily advanced around last turn and well into the stretch, finally collared leader passing sixteenth marker and edged away under urging. GETALOADOFTHIS sped to the front, had lead dissolve bit nearing half-mile marker, re-established command and padded lead on the second turn, weakened bit from the inside in the lane and was overtaken a sixteenth out. ALPHADAR settled well off the rail, chased three or four wide to the stretch and clearly bested others. SPEND IT reserved while slightly off the rail, chased two then three wide to the stretch and improved placing. KEY TO THE NILE stalked from along the rail, moved up nearing second bend, loomed approaching half-mile marker, but lost contact on the second turn and weakened. THEFOURFORTYFOURTH stumbled leaving the gate, quickly recovered, stalked while outside a rival, was inside winner leaving the backstretch but also weakened. ELEVATE settled inside, chased along the rail to the second turn, angled out some on that bend and also weakened. OBSCURE BREW reserved early, angled in some on the first turn, chased two then three wide into the stretch and never reached contention. CAPTAIN N. BARRON also settled inside, hugged the rail throughout and lacked the needed rally.

NORTH COUNTY GUY prompted the pace from the outside down the hill, roused and challenged three deep entering the stretch, surged to the front, quickly powered away and won convincingly. SHAYMIN was void of early foot, secured the rail down the hill, came back out leaving the hill, moved up between rivals, checked momentarily passing sixteenth marker, found seam between rivals, surged in final yards and was up in final jump for second. FASHIONABLY FAST forced the pace from the inside, bid crossing dirt portion, was no match for winner in upper stretch, continued along the rail and was nailed in final jump for second. HOLLYWOOD SQUARE stalked from off the rail, drifted out some leaving the hill, came back in some through the drive and finished strongly from between rivals. NEVERMISSESABEAT stalked from off the rail, continued three then two wide into the stretch, angled back out some in upper stretch and finished very willingly between foes and finished three deep on the wire. LOVE MY BUD reserved early, came out and chased from off the rail, drifted six wide into the stretch, remained outside and finished well from the outside. PREACHER ROE chased from off the rail then between foes, came in bit through the drive but was out finished. DUKE OF FALLBROOK settled outside rival, chased four then three wide to the stretch and failed to menace. JAY MAKES US LAUGH stalked from the inside, continued prominently down the hill then weakened from the inside in the lane. SILVER SUMMER showed good early foot, dueled outside rival to the dirt portion, dropped back in upper stretch and weakened. Rail at zero on the hill.

HARD ARCH was slow to begin, chased five wide early then four wide in middle stages, advanced four wide into the lane, collared leader past eighth marker, edged away and just lasted. ORIGINAL INTENT stumbled leaving the gate, chased from the inside, angled out on second turn, came out further in the stretch, rallied from the outside and closed gap strongly on winner in final yards. TOPGALLANT bobbled slightly at the start, chased two wide, angled three then four wide into the stretch, came out further in upper stretch, shifted back inward through the drive and got up for minor award. GLORIOUS CROWN stalked three wide then between foes, bid three deep on the final turn, gained lead into the stretch, inched away, was overtaken past mid stretch then weakened and lost placing late, did not return to be unsaddled and was vanned off. POINT GUARD stalked from the inside, saved ground to second turn, dropped back bit around last bend, came out slightly and improved placing. HAYLORD was sent to the front, set pressured pace to the second turn, was overtaken late on that bend and weakened from along the rail. LIVIN ON PRAYER forced the pace while outside leader to the second turn, continued on two wide path into the lane and also weakened. PREMIUM FOREST between foes early, stalked from off the rail then inside the winner into second bend, dropped back around that turn and faded. LUCKY PATRICK between foes early, continued bit off the rail, saved ground into the stretch and also weakened.

BATTLE OF MIDWAY caught three abreast into first turn, taken off leader and tracked three wide, moved up under asking leaving the backstretch, challenged three deep midway on the last turn, gained advantage late on that turn, drifted out slightly into the lane then kicked clear under asking. ALL OUT BLITZ pressed the pacesetter into the backstretch, continued outside that rival, between foes briefly on the second turn, could not go with the winner into the stretch but out gamed inside rival for second. ST. JOE BAY set pressured pace from along the rail, briefly resisted on the second turn, continued along the fence into and through the stretch and was out finished for the place. VERY VERY STELLA three wide early then chased from outside and four wide to the second bend, came in slightly entering the stretch and was no serious late threat. TATTERS TO RICHES settled along the rail, moved up some on the backstretch, dropped back around the second bend and weakened. ROMAN ROSSO (ARG) angled out some into the initial turn, stalked from well off the rail, continued outside, also dropped back some on the final bend and weakened.

BREAKERS ISLE broke out bit at the start, was sent up between foes to grab lead passing five-eighths marker, kicked clear in upper stretch and safely held under urging. FALCONE steadied off heels on the first turn, chased from the inside, waited for room on the second bend, angled to the rail, rallied strongly inside, came out some late and whittled gap on winner in final yards. MAGNUM MADURO briefly dueled then forced the pace from outside rival, pressured the winner into and around the last turn, lost contact in upper stretch, came out some later and held third. CAUSEIDIDITMYWAY briefly dueled then forced the pace from along the rail into the backstretch, continued along the fence into the stretch and was out finished for third. SUPER CLASSIC settled slightly off the rail, moved up bit from along the rail on the second turn, remained inside and went willingly to the wire. BITTER RING HOME stalked from off the rail, continued between rivals then three wide into the stretch and lacked needed late punch. HACHIMAN reserved while angling over some early, chased from off the rail then four wide around the last turn and never menaced. IMPLICITLY caught four wide early, chased from the outside, continued five wide around the last turn and never reached contention. STARSHIP CHEWY stalked from along the rail, continued inside into the second turn, dropped back around that bend and weakened. WHEN JESUS WALKED reserved early, angled over and found the rail, remained inside and also lacked needed response. MR. ESKEN had brief early speed from off the rail, stalked three wide on the backstretch, dropped back into and around last turn then was eased in the stretch and walked off.