|
|
Post by Evelyn on Apr 18, 2014 0:21:22 GMT -5
Of course, John Henry nmever had these purses! Game On Dude poised to surpass John Henry's earnings mark Brisnet  With a successful title defense, Game On Dude would become North America's all-time richest gelding (Coady Photography) Three-time Santa Anita Handicap winner Game On Dude stretched his legs over the Charles Town oval Thursday morning as he continues preparations for his title defense in Saturday night's Grade 2, $1.5 million Charles Town Classic. The seven-year-old gelding took to the track for a gallop right after the 9 a.m. (EDT) morning training break under his regular exercise rider Dana Barnes. While the gelding is attempting to win the Charles Town Classic for the second time, a victory in the 2014 edition would provide the son of Awesome Again with another milestone. Should the Bob Baffert charge take home the $1 million first place check, Game On Dude would break a long standing racing record and become the highest earning gelding in the history of North American racing, eclipsing John Henry's mark. After closing out his career with a win in the 1984 Ballantine Scotch Classic at the Meadowlands, John Henry's career earnings of $6,591,860 has incredibly stood as the standard for geldings for 30 years. However, with a victory on Saturday night, Game On Dude -- who currently sits third on the all-time list for geldings -- would not only surpass John Henry, but would also become the first gelding to break the $7 million mark in career earnings. All-Time North American Money Leaders Among Geldings: RANK NAME EARNINGS 1 John Henry $6,591,860 2 Wise Dan $6,473,610 3 Game on Dude $6,163,893 4 Best Pal $5,668,245 5 Lava Man $5,268,706 Like Game On Dude, two-time reigning Horse of the Year Wise Dan is also still active and sure to keep adding to his bankroll. Post time for the Charles Town Classic remains set for 10:30 p.m. on Saturday night. |
|
|
|
Post by mackdaddy on Apr 18, 2014 3:13:43 GMT -5
He makes money for his connections and thats all anyone could ask for.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2014 8:54:29 GMT -5
The stupidity of a comparison like this is that the winner of this single cheesy race will earn $2000 less than Dr. Fager earned in his entire career and half of what Kelso earned in his career. Is the author or anyone else going to compare Game On Dude to either of them?
|
|
|
|
Post by Evelyn on Apr 18, 2014 10:12:59 GMT -5
I don't think the article is a comparison of the horses' accomplishments. It's about earnings. I also don't think a 1.5M purse can be correctly referred to as "cheesy"!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2014 11:03:14 GMT -5
Regardless of the purse, it's a relatively insignificant race that has been run only five times so far. To highlight how insignificant it is in the grand scheme of things, the winner of the first two Charles Town Classics, Researcher, closed out his career by losing five straight Maiden Special Weights over hurdles. His only graded stakes win was the Grade 3 Queens County Handicap.
His earnings in the two Charles Town Classics represent 67% of his total earnings in 35 races. It certainly isn't the caliber of the Santa Anita Handicap or the Jockey Club Gold Cup.
|
|
Jon
Administrator 
Posts: 4,669 
|
Post by Jon on Apr 18, 2014 12:58:55 GMT -5
Probably same % for a lot of BC winners LOL 1.5M? Not cheesy, not insignificant
2010 - no grade - $1,000,000
2009 - no grade - Tiered Purse ($500,000 - $1,000,000)
(note: In 2009, if the winner had previously won a Grade 1 Stakes Race, then the purse was $1,000,000. If the winner had previously won a Grade 2 Stakes Race, then the purse was $750,000. If the winner had previously won a Grade 3 Stakes Race, then the purse was $600,000. If the winner had never before won a Graded Stakes Race, then the purse was $500,000.)
Based on above, first 2 runnings not a gauge of anything. Researcher was out almost a year before he ran again after the 2nd Classic win. Obviously something not right. Not sure what that has to do with anything LOL
Has nothing to do with the other races you mention. $'s the game and the $'s there. Think it might draw more if held later in the year.
|
|
|
|
Post by keystone on Apr 18, 2014 13:15:33 GMT -5
RACE SHOULD BE MOVED TO THE 4TH OF JULY AREA, THERE ARE NOT A LOT OF BIG MONEY RACES AROUND THAT TIME AND IT GIVES HORSES SOMETHING TO AIM FOR IN MID SUMMER.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2014 14:49:57 GMT -5
RACE SHOULD BE MOVED TO THE 4TH OF JULY AREA, THERE ARE NOT A LOT OF BIG MONEY RACES AROUND THAT TIME AND IT GIVES HORSES SOMETHING TO AIM FOR IN MID SUMMER. It should be split up into 10 $150,000 races for local fans and horsemen. It's not like one race, or the supporting stakes races tomorrow night, are going to elevate the status of Charles Town Race Track. It's a nice little track. I love betting on their races a couple of nights a week, but its essentially a country bull ring running primarily $5,000 claimers. |
|
|
|
Post by keystone on Apr 18, 2014 15:26:19 GMT -5
RACE SHOULD BE MOVED TO THE 4TH OF JULY AREA, THERE ARE NOT A LOT OF BIG MONEY RACES AROUND THAT TIME AND IT GIVES HORSES SOMETHING TO AIM FOR IN MID SUMMER. It should be split up into 10 $150,000 races for local fans and horsemen. It's not like one race, or the supporting stakes races tomorrow night, are going to elevate the status of Charles Town Race Track. It's a nice little track. I love betting on their races a couple of nights a week, but its essentially a country bull ring running primarily $5,000 claimers. I DON'T KNOW WHAT GOES ON THERE BECAUSE I DON'T FOLLOW RACING AT CT, JUST FIGURE THE RICHEST RACE OUTSIDE OF THE BC AND TC SHOULD BE RAN AT A MORE PROMINANT TIME |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2014 15:54:50 GMT -5
I DON'T KNOW WHAT GOES ON THERE BECAUSE I DON'T FOLLOW RACING AT CT, JUST FIGURE THE RICHEST RACE OUTSIDE OF THE BC AND TC SHOULD BE RAN AT A MORE PROMINANT TIME And less than 3 turns. |
|
Jon
Administrator
Posts: 4,669
|
Post by Jon on Apr 18, 2014 16:16:59 GMT -5
Agree Key - around 4th of July would be good. George - Are you negative about everything? Just askin' LOL They offer $ - Dude showed up as did Moreno and Clubhouse Ride. I'll be including the local Lucy's Bob Boy. Have been a few times - maybe more than a few. Great little track. Successful operation. WTF split it up? Bad suggestion IMO There are plenty of races with that purse range for the locals - tomorrow night 3 50K, 1 100K, 1 200K.
Don't think they care about "elevating their status". They race year round, have $ and present a decent product. No one said they were SA or Belmont!
|
|
Jon
Administrator
Posts: 4,669
|
Post by Jon on Apr 18, 2014 16:24:32 GMT -5
The Classic is 3 turns - Why change it? It's CT and that's the way it is. Don't think a 6 1/2F suits a Classic
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2014 16:30:42 GMT -5
George - Are you negative about everything? Nope, just figured I'd fit in better these days the way it's been lately. The subject is Game On Dude surpassing John Henry's earnings mark, the implication being that Game On Dude is in the same class, or better, than John Henry. For a writer to even bring that up is ludicrous. Rapid Redux surpassed Ruffian's earnings mark. Can anyone sensibly say those two horses' names in the same breath, much less write an article about it? |
|
Jon
Administrator
Posts: 4,669
|
Post by Jon on Apr 18, 2014 17:30:27 GMT -5
That's your take. Nothing in the article implies that IMO It's clearly about $. It's like posts on the forum. Both need to be taken at face value without all the personal spinning.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2014 18:01:32 GMT -5
After tomorrow night's races, the next stakes race over $50,000 is in five months, September 20. There are a few $50,000 stakes between now and then, all for West Virginia breds.
Everyone's for the little guy, why not here? I'm not running the place, but to run one race for $1,500,000 that is probably going to be won by an outsider, only one mid-Atlantic based entry, just doesn't make sense to me. There is no business buildup leading to tomorrow night and no residual benefit after the race. It's a once a year bonanza for a ship-in, whoever it turns out to be.
|
|
Jon
Administrator
Posts: 4,669
|
Post by Jon on Apr 18, 2014 18:11:08 GMT -5
TY for the meaningless stats which really have nothing to do with this thread LOL Am done discussing this, Read the Jerardi article on the race thread.
(BTW My wife thinks your avatar is "creepy" and I agree!)
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2014 23:48:22 GMT -5
I completely 100% agree with George on this one. like I said in the Illinois derby post I made, that money should be divided up in other overnight stakes and claiming races. and if they have that much extra money just sitting around jon, then maybe they should be lowering the take out. like I said, if these kind of races are the reason they are letting casinos in their backdoor and selling away their future, then somethings wrong. its one thing if they needed that casino money to card everyday races and stay open. but if it is just being frivolously thrown away on, yes insignificant races, then they don't need it. and yes jon the race is insignificant. the purse money is not, but the race is. there is a big difference there.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2014 9:08:18 GMT -5
Meaningless stats? I assume this was in reference to stakes races? It was mentioned that there are plenty of races with purses in that range (figured you meant $150K, not $1.5M). Between tonight and September 20 there are no races over $50,000, and those seven $50K races are all for West Virginia breds.
So the bottom line is that Game On Dude, Clubhouse Ride, Moreno, etc. will drop in tonight for a race, probably take the majority of the $1.5M, and not be seen again at Charles Town until this time next year, if then.
The avatar is one of my favorite comedy characters, Leonard Hofstadter of "Big Bang Theory".
|
|
Jon
Administrator
Posts: 4,669
|
Post by Jon on Apr 19, 2014 12:44:02 GMT -5
George -It's summertime and there's tons of competition from CA and NY so they are smart not to allocate big purse $ during those months. They know they are small and can't compete with the big circuits and horses wouldn't ship in then. Post the card for 9/20.
Your suggestion sucks IMO Simple as that. CT is trying to build this race. They are getting national exposure. Tonight's field drew some big names. CT is proving that small guys can "play". What's your problem with that? Wiz - you're against any track that uses casino money. LOL Do I think that will all change (casino $)? Probably. But who knows when? So, for now, I give this little track props for creating this race and expect their handle on it will be high. What's wrong with that?
George - As far as your endless stream of stats - IMO - MEANINGLESS for this discussion. And yes, thank God you aren't carding races. LOL This is a successful year round operation. I'm betting they've run the #'s, demographics, calculated the risk/reward, analyzed the marketing and PR and are doing what they feel is best for THEIR track.
I disagree with you (and Wiz). Simple as that.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2014 16:41:31 GMT -5
George -It's summertime and there's tons of competition from CA and NY so they are smart not to allocate big purse $ during those months. They know they are small and can't compete with the big circuits and horses wouldn't ship in then. Post the card for 9/20. Your suggestion sucks IMO Simple as that. CT is trying to build this race. They are getting national exposure. Tonight's field drew some big names. CT is proving that small guys can "play". What's your problem with that? Wiz - you're against any track that uses casino money. LOL Do I think that will all change (casino $)? Probably. But who knows when? So, for now, I give this little track props for creating this race and expect their handle on it will be high. What's wrong with that? George - As far as your endless stream of stats - IMO - MEANINGLESS for this discussion. And yes, thank God you aren't carding races. LOL This is a successful year round operation. I'm betting they've run the #'s, demographics, calculated the risk/reward, analyzed the marketing and PR and are doing what they feel is best for THEIR track. I disagree with you (and Wiz). Simple as that. ok so clubhouse ride is a big name for this thread and conversation, but last year when talking about the fields that GOD had been facing, he was "a nobody"? remember those posts? so on one thread he is sub par and on another he is a big name? |
|
