Scooter Chapman
Fine time for some 'horse play'
Published on Wed, Apr 14, 2010 by Scooter ChapmanRead More Chapman
I went to the opening night of Emerald Downs armed with a plan, a sure-fire plan to turn a couple of Chapman bucks into a big pile of green stuff.
The first-night plan was simple: Check the race track stats for the past 14 years and bet on horses owned or trained by the top people and wager on the top jockeys the past 14 years.
The planned seemed to be a no-brainer. How did your scribe do?
The plan was put on hold in the first race as Sequim's Sharon Radke and Sequim/P.A. trainer/owner Brad Varner had Polish Dollar in the very first race, a 51/2 furlong sprint for maiden $5,000 claiming horses.
I remembered last year I bet on one of their horses and won money and was excited to greet Sharon and Brad in the paddock and to meet again jockey Debbie Hoonan-Trujillo.
By time the race came, nearly 9,500 race fans were on hand. Radke has two horses at the meet. Varner was confident his horse was going to do well after helping saddle the huge beast in the paddock.
I quickly went to a window and bet $5 across on Polish Dollar. I was confident in the next two races, so also put down a buck on a "pick three" (getting the top horse in the first three races). That was a $16 bet.
Polish Dollar broke well, led early, sprinted around the clubhouse turn and won going away. I was excited until I looked at the tote board and saw he went off 1-2 in the betting. My net gain was $7.25
After the race, I went back to the original plan and bet jockeys first.
The jockeys
The top five jockeys in the past 14 seasons have been Gallyn Mitchell (1,172 wins), Ricky Frazier (772), Juan Guitierrez (683), Frank Gonsalves (561) and Kevin Radki (532).
Mitchell's first race was the third and the veteran was aboard Amber O. It was the first time out for the horse and I bet $2 across the board. Amber O was the going-away winner for a net gain of $6. He went off 2-1.
The trainers
The top five trainers have been around a long time.
Tim McCanna (707 wins), Frank Lucarelli (576), Howard Belvoir (465), Jim Penney (458) and Bud Klokstad (402).
Good Luck to Us, owned by Howard Belvoir, one of the top trainers, was in the second race. It was a maiden five-furlong dash for $7,500 claimers and, of course, you know that a maiden horse is one who hasn't won a race.
I had picked a 1-1-4 pick three, but Good Luck had trouble and finished third. My net loss was $2.60.
My pick three? I went 1-4-4, so I was out the buck.
With three races and three payouts, although not a lot, your scribe hobnobbed with the media for the next couple of races and turned in.
All in all, a great night.
Top owners, earnings
The top five owners, by wins: Ron Crockett (188), Larry and Veraline Hillis (124), Billie Klokstad (121), Dunn Bar Ranch (118) and Sue and Tim Spooner (118).
Crockett leads owner earnings with $3,085,665. Next is Northwest Farms with $1,688,831) and the Spooners have racked in $1,246,301. Chris and Dianna Randall and Dunn Bar Ranch are fourth and fifth.
Top horses, earnings
Bob Stories and Marker Master each have 16 wins, Fleet Pacific won 15, as did West Seattle Boy. Kimos Friend and Toobustoocall each had 14.
In earnings, Wasserman has $498,812, Flamethrowintexan has earned $358,728. Then it's The Great Face, Kid Katabatic and Jumron Won.
The Widmer Club
For the high rollers, there's a new venue at Em Downs. The Widmer Club had its grand opening and we're talking big bucks, folks.
The Widmer Brothers Brewing Company and the track opened this spendy venue for those who can afford to wager a lot and attend many races. It's an all-inclusive members-only venue offering a first class encounter of thoroughbred racing at its best.
I didn't know if I had enough money to even get a sneak, press preview. Charter memberships are on sale and a four-person membership costs $12,500 inclusive.
Included for every race day with a membership: Four admissions, two valet parking passes, appetizer platter, lunch or dinner entrée for each guest, beer, wine, well and non-alcoholic drinks and guaranteed table overlooking the track with a flat screen TV monitor.
But, wait, there's more: Tableside service, access to expert handicapper, option to purchase day passes, discount opportunities up to 15-percent off on group events and 10-percent off all items in The Gift Horse shop.
For a membership, call 253-288-7700.
There you have opening day. Remember, Em Downs' admission is $7 and includes access to the first five levels of the grandstand. If you get an Emerald Rewards Club Card, admission is just $5. Those 17 and younger get in free, 13 and younger must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and one must be 18-plus to wager.
Preferred parking is $3 on Thursdays, $5 on Fridays and $7 on weekends and holidays, valet parking is $10 and general parking is free with frequent shuttle bus and tram service to the main gate.
The first-night plan was simple: Check the race track stats for the past 14 years and bet on horses owned or trained by the top people and wager on the top jockeys the past 14 years.
The planned seemed to be a no-brainer. How did your scribe do?
The plan was put on hold in the first race as Sequim's Sharon Radke and Sequim/P.A. trainer/owner Brad Varner had Polish Dollar in the very first race, a 51/2 furlong sprint for maiden $5,000 claiming horses.
I remembered last year I bet on one of their horses and won money and was excited to greet Sharon and Brad in the paddock and to meet again jockey Debbie Hoonan-Trujillo.
By time the race came, nearly 9,500 race fans were on hand. Radke has two horses at the meet. Varner was confident his horse was going to do well after helping saddle the huge beast in the paddock.
I quickly went to a window and bet $5 across on Polish Dollar. I was confident in the next two races, so also put down a buck on a "pick three" (getting the top horse in the first three races). That was a $16 bet.
Polish Dollar broke well, led early, sprinted around the clubhouse turn and won going away. I was excited until I looked at the tote board and saw he went off 1-2 in the betting. My net gain was $7.25
After the race, I went back to the original plan and bet jockeys first.
The jockeys
The top five jockeys in the past 14 seasons have been Gallyn Mitchell (1,172 wins), Ricky Frazier (772), Juan Guitierrez (683), Frank Gonsalves (561) and Kevin Radki (532).
Mitchell's first race was the third and the veteran was aboard Amber O. It was the first time out for the horse and I bet $2 across the board. Amber O was the going-away winner for a net gain of $6. He went off 2-1.
The trainers
The top five trainers have been around a long time.
Tim McCanna (707 wins), Frank Lucarelli (576), Howard Belvoir (465), Jim Penney (458) and Bud Klokstad (402).
Good Luck to Us, owned by Howard Belvoir, one of the top trainers, was in the second race. It was a maiden five-furlong dash for $7,500 claimers and, of course, you know that a maiden horse is one who hasn't won a race.
I had picked a 1-1-4 pick three, but Good Luck had trouble and finished third. My net loss was $2.60.
My pick three? I went 1-4-4, so I was out the buck.
With three races and three payouts, although not a lot, your scribe hobnobbed with the media for the next couple of races and turned in.
All in all, a great night.
Top owners, earnings
The top five owners, by wins: Ron Crockett (188), Larry and Veraline Hillis (124), Billie Klokstad (121), Dunn Bar Ranch (118) and Sue and Tim Spooner (118).
Crockett leads owner earnings with $3,085,665. Next is Northwest Farms with $1,688,831) and the Spooners have racked in $1,246,301. Chris and Dianna Randall and Dunn Bar Ranch are fourth and fifth.
Top horses, earnings
Bob Stories and Marker Master each have 16 wins, Fleet Pacific won 15, as did West Seattle Boy. Kimos Friend and Toobustoocall each had 14.
In earnings, Wasserman has $498,812, Flamethrowintexan has earned $358,728. Then it's The Great Face, Kid Katabatic and Jumron Won.
The Widmer Club
For the high rollers, there's a new venue at Em Downs. The Widmer Club had its grand opening and we're talking big bucks, folks.
The Widmer Brothers Brewing Company and the track opened this spendy venue for those who can afford to wager a lot and attend many races. It's an all-inclusive members-only venue offering a first class encounter of thoroughbred racing at its best.
I didn't know if I had enough money to even get a sneak, press preview. Charter memberships are on sale and a four-person membership costs $12,500 inclusive.
Included for every race day with a membership: Four admissions, two valet parking passes, appetizer platter, lunch or dinner entrée for each guest, beer, wine, well and non-alcoholic drinks and guaranteed table overlooking the track with a flat screen TV monitor.
But, wait, there's more: Tableside service, access to expert handicapper, option to purchase day passes, discount opportunities up to 15-percent off on group events and 10-percent off all items in The Gift Horse shop.
For a membership, call 253-288-7700.
There you have opening day. Remember, Em Downs' admission is $7 and includes access to the first five levels of the grandstand. If you get an Emerald Rewards Club Card, admission is just $5. Those 17 and younger get in free, 13 and younger must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and one must be 18-plus to wager.
Preferred parking is $3 on Thursdays, $5 on Fridays and $7 on weekends and holidays, valet parking is $10 and general parking is free with frequent shuttle bus and tram service to the main gate.
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