Contact Information:
Bob Roberts (216-662-8600)
February 7, 2008
www.thistledown.com
Kentucky Derby/Oaks Future Wager Returns To Thistledown This Weekend
Derby fever returns to Thistledown this weekend with the opening of the Kentucky Derby/Kentucky Oaks Future Wager books. For as little as $2, thoroughbred fans can attempt to pick and wager on the winners of the May 3 Kentucky Derby as well as the Kentucky Oaks, the "derby for fillies," which is run the day before, also at Churchill Downs.
"This is obviously a future wager, but those who participated last year and liked Street Sense, the Derby winner, collected a much larger payoff than if they had waited until race day to bet," said Bob Hickey, Thistledown's mutuel director. "Street Sense paid $22.80 to win in the future book, and nearly half of that ($11.80) on Derby day."
Future book wagers mean that refunds are not offered on any bets that aren't winning ones. Odds posted at the close of each pool determine the win wager payoffs. Pool No. 1 of the Derby/Oaks Future Wager is being offered from noon Thursday (2/7) through Sunday (2/10) at 6 p.m. Those who can't make it to the track this weekend can play Pool No. 2 (March 6-9) and Pool No. 3 (April 3-6).
War Pass, winner of last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile and voted the 2007 Eclipse Award as North America's champion two-year-old, has been posted at morning line odds of 12-1 for Pool No. 1. The mutuel field, every horse except the 23 individual ones being offered as separate betting interests, is the 5-2 morning line favorite.
"Those wishing to play should stop at our main floor program stand and pick up a free Derby/Oaks Future Wager past performance program," said Hickey. "Not only will the booklet help with their bets, but is a great way to keep up with the racing and workout tabs of the leading Triple Crown horses."
Racing fans can also follow North America's leading three-year-old thoroughbreds at Thistledown's website (thistledown.com) where the weekly feature "Kentucky Derby/Ohio Derby Countdown" is posted every Friday.
NO COUCH POTATO --- Thistledown Director of Racing Bill Couch isn't sitting out the winter months in his office in the track basement. Instead, he's serving his first year as racing secretary at Gulfstream Park, Thistledown's sister track in Hallandale, Fla. Couch is featured in the current issue of Horse Player Magazine and told a reporter when asked if he wants the job in a pressure situation, "Pressure is laying in a bunker near the DMZ wondering if I could get home healthy and in time to bet the next Derby winner." Couch served in Vietnam before launching a racetrack career that included stints as a trainer, jocks' agent and racing writer.
GOING ON TOUR -- The National Thoroughbred Racing Association and the Daily Racing Form recently announced the creation of the NHC Tour, a program that will reward additional prize money and qualifying berths to the DRF/NTRA National Handicapping Championship in Las Vegas that could net a tour member a $2 million payday. To become eligible, horseplayers must pay an annual $125 registration fee. Registration, rules and an explanation of the tour's point system, can be found at www.ntra.com/nhctour.
FEED BAG --- Joe Yacinski of Eastlake turned in a solid performance in the recent Coast Casinos World Horse Player World Series. Yacinski, who advanced to the Nevada finals by winning a Thistledown qualifier, was competing in a field of 683. He finished 69th and cashed for $1,024.50. Another Thistledown qualifier, Oris Dupont, just missed cashing, as he finished 101st. Tournament winner Ken Hopkins took home $307,350 . . . Officer Rocket, who finished seventh in last year's Ohio Derby, made his first start since the June 2nd race at Thistledown by running sixth in a Feb. 2nd allowance race at Oaklawn Park. He made a five-wide move in the turn, but tired . . .Thistledown trainers hold down three of the top nine spots in the Beulah Park conditioners' derby. Reid Gross is fourth with seven winners, while Mike Nance and Joe Faulkner are tied for seventh place with four winners . . .Meanwhile, down the road at Turfway Park in northern Kentucky, Rodney Faulkner, a son of Joe Faulkner who sent out 61 winners at Thistledown last year, has saddled three winners.