Free Republic

Philadelphia Park opened southeastern Pennsylvania's first slot-machine parlor and the second statewide yesterday, attracting gamblers who said they were happy for a local alternative to the casinos in Atlantic City. Hundreds of people poured in when the doors opened shortly after 11:30 a.m. and began stuffing bills into the machines, and the ca sino enjoyed a brisk business in its first hours of operation. Ines Beiez, 47, a North Philadelphia woman who was one of the first to sit down at a machine, said Philadelphia Park would become her gambling destination of choice. Although she was a frequent patron of...

Smarty Jones Now a Father Derby and Preakness winner Smarty Jones now has another title: father. Three Chimneys Farm, Smarty's home, announced Tuesday that Smarty's first foal was born shortly after midnight. The bay filly, whose mother is Shoppingwithbetty, was born at Stone Farm, just outside Paris . "She's popped around, jumped around," said Arthur Hancock, owner of Stone Farm. "She's a very nice foal, and the mother's crazy about her. She just looks like a little athlete." Shoppingwithbetty, owned by Hancock and Tom Tatham of Oak Cliff Stables, was due to foal Jan. 19. Her father was Danzig, who...

The constant pounding Smarty Jones put on his hoofs in a brilliant racing career that brought him within one length of the Triple Crown, forced his retirement from the sport on Monday. Diagnosed with bone bruises in all four hoofs, the winner of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness will stand stud at Three Chimneys Farm, occupying the stall of Seattle Slew, the only undefeated Triple Crown winner in history. It's an appropriate spot for the red chestnut colt who recovered from a life-threatening accident early in his career and won every race until his last one when he was caught...

Under Ronald Reagan it used to be so easy. "We win. You lose." That's politics and, yes, that's horse racing. The two don't mix? Oh sure they do. I am here to prove that a single thoroughbred is more than just a horse, he is us. Even Americans who think Secretariat means a grandee at the UN, and even Israelis who say "King David" when I say "Bold Ruler", should pay heed. Smarty Jones speaks for America and for Israel. He came along just in time, to remind us that the wall of sound from the rafters sounds too much...

SJ was just upset by Birdstone

Glory, or heartbreak. I looked but did not see a thread. My apologies if someone else did one. I will post as many good racing links as I can find. The lineup: BirdstoneCaimanEddingtonMaster DavidPurgeRock Hard TenRoyal AssaultSmarty JonesTap Dancer

The Triple Crown, and Smarty Jones, can he do it?Move over Seabiscuit, we have Smarty Jones to keep us on the edge of our seats..Saturday June 5, Smarty Jones could become only the second horse in history to have a shot at being an undefeated Triple Crown winner behind the fabulous Seattle Slew. Even the threat of rain can't dampen the excitement of the Belmont Stakes, as Smarty Jones goes for the whole enchilada, the coveted Triple Crown. The Triple Crown is comprised of three annual horse races: the Kentucky Derby (held on the first Saturday in May), the Preakness...

I checked but didn't see another thread on this. And, no. It's not "too soon." Us horse racing fans are... well... fanatical. I'm excited, as it looks like my Kentucky Derby pick (the winnah), Smarty Jones, is headed in with a good chance. Here is the main link to the Maryland Jockey Club. Lots of good info can be found there. They also have a special Preakness Page. That's where you can find an archive of the daily stories, on the horses, up through today. Here's today's news: BALTIMORE, 5-14-04 --- SIR SHACKLETON/THE CLIFF’S EDGE – Trainer Nick Zito made...