The issue of historical horse racing at Les Bois Park was the topic of a public meeting Tuesday night.
At the meeting, around 150 people told the Ada County Commissioners about what they think about the idea.
Treasure Valley Racing, which manages live and simulcast horse racing at Les Bois Park, is hoping to add self-service historical racing video machines in the Turf Club.
It would allow customers to bet on previously run races any time during business hours.
"Simulcast wagering is now accessible via the internet and has lead to reduced sales revenue in live locations. Without additional sources of revenue, Idaho's horse racing industry is not sustainable," said John Sheldon, President of Treasure Valley Racing.
After Treasure Valley Racing presented its proposal to Ada County in August, Garden City officials expressed concern.
"We have a county owned piece of land here. We have a private enterprise that's operating at a loss, and you're being asked, essentially, to bail them out," said Garden City Mayor John Evans at Tuesday night's meeting.
No decisions were to be made Tuesday night.
Debate over horse racing machines at Les Bois continues | KTVB.COM Boise
RYAN MOORE, who excelled on the international stage on Sunday when he partnered Gentildonna to victory in the Japan Cup, has the chance to capture another big pot in the Far East after being confirmed for the ride on Grandeur in the Hong Kong Cup.
Moore, who has also won the Derby, Gold Cup and Breeders' Cup Turf this year, rode the Jeremy Noseda-trained gelding to win a Listed race at Goodwood in September - the only time the two have teamed up.
Grandeur has won twice in the States and is set to arrive in Hong Kong on Monday. He will be on the same flight from Stansted as John Gosden's Hong Kong Vase contender The Fugue.
"Grandeur is on schedule for the Hong Kong Cup and Ryan Moore will take the ride," said Noseda, quoted on his website.
"The horse leaves Shalfleet on Sunday and I think he is in great nick.
"He will be suited by the trip, track and ground. To have a winning chance, he will have to run a lifetime best but I feel he will go there and give a really good account of himself."
Grandeur, owned by Yvonne Jacques, is 40-1 with bet365 for the 1m2f race at Sha Tin on December 8.
Among his rivals are Hong Kong regular and top older horse Cirrus Des Aigles and Side Glance, winner of the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington this month.
Moore could bid for more big-race success in Japan after being linked with the ride on Gold Ship in next month's Arima Kinen.
Moore chasing more international success on Grandeur | Horse Racing News | Racing Post
With Hayden Haitana's lifetime ban from racecourses being lifted by Queensland authorities on Friday, it effectively brings closure to one of Australian sport's most talked-about scandals.
Haitana, the horse trainer involved in the infamous Fine Cotton ring-in, had been warned off racetracks since the 1984 incident which has become part of Australian folklore.
Depending on who you believe, it was an attempted sting by a bunch of rank amateurs, or one conducted with the knowledge of some of the most powerful figures in Australian horse racing.
It claimed the careers of members of both groups - most notably bookmakers Bill and Robbie Waterhouse, who were warned off racetracks until the late 1990s for having prior knowledge of the ring-in.
Nearly 30 years on, with many of those involved at the heart of the ring-in having served jail time and Fine Cotton himself having died in 2009, Haitana remained persona non grata on Australian racetracks.
Until now. Haitana, who had also served jail time over the ring-in, penned a letter to Racing Queensland in October asking for the chance to be allowed back to watch races.
The ring-in, involving two horses Haitana was recruited to train, was ridiculous in its execution.
Having meticulously planned buying two horses - the first a well performed Sydney galloper named Dashing Soltaire and Fine Cotton who looked near identical - and picked out a low-key Saturday afternoon race at Eagle Farm in Brisbane, the problems started.
When Dashing Soltaire was injured days before the race, instead of having the good sense to delay their plans, the organisers decided to hastily buy another horse using a cheque that would bounce.
The horse wasn't even the right colour. But handy Northern Rivers sprinter Bold Personality was eligible for far higher grade than the Novice Handicap he was aimed at. So they painted him.
Clearly word spread despite the amateurish nature of the plot. Fine Cotton, who had shown little at previous starts, was backed from 33-1 on the morning of the race to 7-2 by the jump - a phenomenal betting move which would have netted between $1 million and $2 million.
Stewards alleged that some of that money came from Robbie Waterhouse. He had always maintained he had no involvement in the ring-in, but was banned anyway after one of his associates claimed he had put money on the horse for the bookmaker.
Calls of 'ring-in' began as Bold Personality/Fine Cotton returned to scale following a narrow win. The paint running down the horse's leg not long after made it clear all was not as it seemed. The horse was disqualified, and the chase was on to round up those involved to be dealt with.
Haitana did a post-race runner to South Australia, and eventually ended up doing an infamous television interview on 60 Minutes while on the run.
In it, he made a series of claims including that he would have been killed if he had not gone through with the scam. Eventually he was dragged back to face justice.
He, ringleader and bloodstock agent John Gillespie, and others went to jail. Robbie Waterhouse served periodic detention for perjury.
The effects on the Waterhouse family were far-reaching. Robbie's wife Gai Waterhouse struggled for the years to get her training licence - most believing it was in large part because of her husband's problems with the authorities.
In a neat piece of symmetry, just three weeks after Gai Waterhouse won the Melbourne Cup, Haitana can now enter the racecourse.
Horse Racing News | Fine Cotton: Ban lifted for Haitana
RALPH BECKETT is hoping Haaf A Sixpence can capture the £45,000 Ladbrokes Handicap (8.20pm, 13 runners) over an extended mile, the highlight of an eight-race card at Wolverhampton this Saturday, November 30, the latest valuable race run during the All-Weather Championships.
The four-year-old son of Haafhd annexed the Spring Cup at Newbury in April and, after finishing down the field in handicaps at Ascot and Ayr, got back to winning ways in a mile handicap at Newmarket on November 2.
Haaf A Sixpence is unbeaten at Wolverhampton on Polytrack, having won a seven-furlong maiden in November, 2011, and a handicap over the same trip in April last year.
"Haaf A Sixpence came out of his win at Newmarket in good shape,'' said Beckett. "He needed the run at Ayr on the back of a break, but bounced back and loved the soft ground at Newmarket.
"He is a dual course winner at Wolverhampton and has got a good draw in stall three, so we are looking forward to running him and he should go well.
"His first big aim next year will be the Lincoln (Doncaster, March 29)."
Haaf A Sixpence, partnered again by regular rider Jim Crowley, will clash with 12 rivals, headed by top-weight Galician, who has been placed in two Win & You're In races. Mark Johnston's three-year-old went down by a head to Forgive in the Listed 32Red/ebfstallions-com Fleur De Lys Fillies' Stakes at Lingfield Park on October 31 before finishing third behind Sirius Prospect in the Listed Hyde Stakes at Kempton Park on November 20.
Solar Deity, a Listed course winner in March, improving turf performer Laffan and talented four-year-old Trader Jack, who will be having his second start for David Flood, also line up, while other notables include Italian Listed winner Tellovoi.
Racing gets underway at 5.50pm with a five-furlong maiden and concludes at 9.20pm with the second division of the Download The Ladbrokes App Handicap.
Sixpence's a turn-on for Ralph Beckett | Horse Racing | Sport | Daily Express
The six-year-old, winner of last season's Topham Chase at Aintree, also gave jockey Barry Geraghty back-to-back victories in the race after the success of Bobs Worth 12 months ago.
Rocky Creek fought hard in the closing stages but it was Triolo D'Alene who prevailed with Theatre Guide in third. Henderson said: "Barry has been begging me all year to save him for the National and we were looking at Aintree next weekend.
"I didn't do what I was told but the Hennessy is very special."
Geraghty said: "On that ground and on a stiff track, the horse finds it so easy."
Katenko fell while in contention and Invictus ran a big race after a long lay-off before tiring.
Horse Racing: A happy Hend-ing for Nicky | Racing | Sport | Daily Star. Simply The Best 7 Days A Week
Murphy suffered a dislocated shoulder and missed his ride on Our Father in the Hennessy.
An inquiry at Newbury on Saturday was adjourned after steward Paul Barton had taken evidence from Elsworth, valet Chris Maude and Paul Struthers, chief executive of the Professional Jockeys Association.
However, he was unable to interview Murphy, who was at home recovering from the injury. "I spoke to Timmy Murphy by phone but he wasn't well enough to come to give evidence," said Barton.
"I've arranged to reconvene the inquiry at Wincanton on Thursday, though I'd hoped to conclude matters before then."
The incident between the two riders occurred after a race on Friday in which Elsworth was second on Easter Meteor and Murphy fourth on Upsilon Bleu.
Horse Racing: Newbury fight inquiry | Racing | Sport | Daily Star. Simply The Best 7 Days A Week
THE unanswerable question after the Belmont Stakes was: who would be champion three-year-old? The Triple Crown yielded three separate winners in Orb, Oxbow and Palace Malice and, while each had their positives, none stood out.
Little did we know that the real champion three-year-old - the one with the talent to mix it with the best older horses in the country and the one who was about to improve on every subsequent start - had been clobbered out of sight in all three legs of the Triple Crown.
Will Take Charge had a season of two halves. Two halves entirely incompatible with one another.
He had shown a glimmer of ability when defeating Oxbow in the Rebel Stakes in March and had some minor excuses in the Kentucky Derby (sloppy track, lost position bend), Preakness (too far back) and Belmont Stakes (stamina).
But he was never close to hitting the frame in those events, finishing eighth, seventh and tenth, beaten over 45 lengths - and yet since then he's never looked like missing the frame.
On his next start he lost out to Palace Malice again in the Jim Dandy, where he finished second, but he then reversed that result by winning the Travers, where he also beat Orb and the recent Haskell Invitational winner Verrazano. This was the turning point of his season.
He followed that up with a win in the Pennsylvania Derby (RPR 118), then finished within a nose of Mucho Macho Man in the Breeders' Cup Classic (124+) and on Friday he stepped it up again, beating Game On Dude by a head in the Clark Handicap with an RPR of 128.
That figure puts him up in a four-way tie for the best dirt horse of 2013 alongside Game On Dude, Fort Larned and Mucho Macho Man.
Although those four have shown a similar level of ability, they achieved their peak figures by very different means, with Fort Larned and Game On Dude only producing their peak form when allowed an uncontested lead on the rail.
Game On Dude did not have that luxury on Friday. The pace was set by Our Double Play, who forced Bob Baffert's favourite to settle off the rail in a half-length second before moving up to join the leader on the bend.
Game On Dude twice ran to RPRs of 128 earlier in the year, when making all against lesser types in what were effectively hugely impressive Grade 1 time trials, but he didn't enjoy the same run of the race on Friday and ran just below his best with a mark of 127.
Picking between the four leading dirt horses is difficult. At their best they were roughly equal - and this is the way it played out on the track, with a head between Will Take Charge and Game On Dude in the Clark Handicap and a nose between Mucho Macho Man and Will Take Charge in the Breeders' Cup.
But if you're looking to next year you can narrow the list down to two (or maybe one), with Fort Larned off to stud and the gelded Game On Dude set to turn seven.
There could still be more to come from Mucho Macho Man. He's a late developer and is brilliant at Santa Anita, which is where the Breeders' Cup finds itself for an unprecedented third consecutive year in 2014. If he improves again the Kathy Ritvo fairytale could be set for an encore.
But then there's Will Take Charge. The horse on the strong upward curve, the horse with the unrelenting end-of-season momentum and the horse who is the youngest and least exposed of the top-rated quartet. He could be set for an excellent 2014.
There is a but, however, as he may never get the chance to race on. His owner, Willis Horton, will decide this week on whether to keep him to run at four (his preferred option) or sell him to stud. The decision to retire would be a major blow for the sport.
It would be a very different scenario from a superstar three-year-old like Sea The Stars, for example, retiring at three, because the Irish colt did the business at three. There was little more he could add to that perfect season. Will Take Charge, on the other hand, has only just got started at the end of his three-year-old campaign.
It is hoped whoever holds the majority share in the colt in 2014 would see the value in campaigning him another season before ending his racing career. There is no guarantee he'll improve again, but as his owner you'd want to find out. Wouldn't you?
After Friday's victory the Horse of the Year question was raised, but it's hard to see a colt who was beaten in all of the most important races of the year lifting the ultimate prize.
The second best three-year-old male on the ratings this year is Verrazano and after his defeat in the Cigar Mile on Saturday it left the way clear for Will Take Charge to secure at least one Eclipse prize in 2013, that of leading three-year-old male.
It's interesting to note that Will Take Charge started favourite for just one (Pennsylvania Derby) of his 11 starts this year. It's safe to say that will not be the case next year. Provided he returns.
World Class Will Take Charge up there with the best | Horse Racing News | Racing Post
State lawmakers have adjourned without approving legislation supporters say would give the horse racing industry a needed boost.
Arlington International Racecourse officials said in a Tuesday statement that they're disappointed.
Legislation allowing online betting on horse racing expires at January's end. Race dates would be severely cut if legislators don't renew the betting law and give Illinois' racing board access to money wagering generates.
The plan renews the betting law for three years, calls for a surcharge on wagers and provides off-track betting licenses at parks.
A House committee approved legislation Monday. But it didn't come up on the floor Tuesday as lawmakers approved a major pension overhaul.
Industry officials say they'll lobby lawmakers to bring the issue back when lawmakers reconvene in late January.
Backers of a horse race track and casino are in the final turn to making the $24 million facility on Calgary’s doorstep a reality.
The United Horsemen of Alberta and Century Casinos broke ground Tuesday on the long sought after and oft-delayed project, which will see horse racing return to the Calgary area by the end of 2014, six years after racing at Stampede Park took its last lap.
The gaming destination, located just north of Calgary next to CrossIron Mills shopping centre, will include a 5.5 furlong (1.1 km) track and a 30,000 sq.-ft. racing entertainment centre with a bar, lounge, restaurant and an off-track betting area.
It will also have 550 gaming machines for those who prefer slots to horses.
Paul Ryneveld, who works with special projects with Century Casinos, said the long wait will soon be over for horse racing fans.
“From a horse racing standpoint it’s an incredibly big deal, not only for Calgary but for Alberta in general,” he said.
“Instead of building a traditional race track, we’re building the race track of the future.”
Ryneveld said there will be 900 grandstand seats track-side, with many more on the gaming floor, as well as the ability to watch races from the 150-capacity bar, 75-seat restaurant and 100-seat off-track betting area.
Plans for the new racing facility ran into several false starts after Stampede Park closed in 2008, until United Horsemen of Alberta last year struck the deal with Century Casinos.
“If it was just the racing industry on its own, nobody would get involved,” Ryneveld said.
“It was dead in the water.”
He added the year-long construction timeline is ambitious but achievable and will be dependant on approvals from Rocky View County and weather.
Standardbred racing will be first out of the gate when the facility opens late next year, followed by Thoroughbred racing slated to begin in 2016 when more barns are added.
Horse racing set to return to Calgary area with with new track and casino near CrossIron Mills | Calgary | News | Calgary Sun
Members of the Pennsylvania Senate have introduced Senate Bill No. 1188, which if enacted, would reform the regulatory oversight of the multi-billion dollar horse racing industry in the state. The new legislation would create a Bureau of Horse Racing tasked with duties ranging from drug testing enforcement to gift exchanges between breeders, owners, and trainers. Moreover, and perhaps of most interest to the many commentators following this story, the new legislation would effectively phase out the Racing Commissions that currently operates under the PA Department of Agriculture and would instead have the new bureau be run by the Gaming Control Board, which would also have the ability to grant online horse-race betting licenses to casinos across the state.
Among the sponsors of this bill is PA Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-9th District). After receiving a Presidential Scholarship to Saint Joseph's University and graduating with a B.A. in Economics in 1979, Pileggi went on to earn a J.D. from the Villanova School of Law in 1982. He chairs the Rules and Executive Nominations Committee and is a member of the Appropriations Committee, the Judiciary Committee, and the Legislative Reapportionment Commission. Prior to his election to the Senate, Senator Pileggi served as Mayor of the City of Chester.
This bill has a lot of components to it - what are the highlights of which Pennsylvania residents should be aware?
Our goals are to make Pennsylvania a national leader in ensuring the integrity of the horse racing industry, to continue the growth of an industry which provides more than 23,000 jobs in Pennsylvania and contributes significantly to open space preservation, and to better fit the regulation of horse racing within the context of how Pennsylvania regulates other forms of legal gambling, such as slots, table games, small games of chance and the state lottery.
These goals will be accomplished by:
Placing responsibility for oversight of the industry with the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board and dissolving the two separate commissions which are now responsible for those duties.
Strengthening Pennsylvania's drug-testing program by authorizing testing at off-site training and boarding facilities, authorizing out-of-competition testing, and authorizing a testing fee which will include the cost of equipment, supplies, and facilities.
Prohibiting track personnel or relatives from receiving gifts from breeders, trainers and other persons.
Moving fines and fees, along with a significant percentage of both thoroughbred and standardbred breakage to the State Racing Fund to ensure the Gaming Control Board has the resources needed to enforce the act. Fees and fine amounts will be increased. Establishing a surcharge on purses for marketing and promotion of Pennsylvania racing.
Providing a statutory framework for the current practice of Internet wagering on horse racing.
What was the impetus for the drafting of this proposed legislation?
The law governing horse racing in Pennsylvania has not been updated in almost 30 years. Since the General Assembly authorized slot and table gaming in Pennsylvania in 2004, the number of races, the number of horses racing, and the size of purses have all increased dramatically.
On top of that, since additional means of wagering on horse races, including via the Internet, have become available, the state has seen a decline in live betting - the primary revenue source for the State Racing Fund, which is used for regulatory oversight.
In other words, Pennsylvania has experienced a large expansion in the racing market since 2004 while simultaneously experiencing declining revenues to support the necessary regulatory oversight.
What effect can we expect this to have beyond Pennsylvania's borders?
We want to position Pennsylvania as a national leader. We hope our law can be used as a model for other states who wish to grow the horse racing industry while ensuring its integrity with strong oversight.
Senator Weighs In on New Internet Betting and Horse Racing Bill | The Legal Blitz
The Marco Botti-trained Dandino is reported to have sustained a soft tissue injury to his right front leg while David Wachman's Galileo Rock is suffering with a similar issue in his left front leg.
Both will now bypass the Group One event, leaving The Fugue, Mount Athos and Red Cadeaux to represent British interests while Simenon will be the sole Irish-trained contender.
The Fugue tops the ante-post market following her excellent second in the Breeders' Cup Turf at Santa Anita last month.
The four-year-old was beaten just half a length by Magician on that occasion and trainer John Gosden is delighted with her current condition.
He said: "There's a nice bounce to her now. She's full of herself and just wants to get on with it. I took it quietly with her earlier in the week because I wanted her to get over her travel.
"She was only beaten by a brilliant horse in the Breeders' Cup Turf last time."
The Fugue enjoyed a canter on Saturday morning and big-race jockey William Buick is also more than satisfied with the filly.
He said: "She felt good this morning and seems to be in good form. It's maybe a lot of travelling going to America and back to England and then here but she travelled over well and seems to be showing the right signs."
Mount Athos cantered on the all-weather and his team are hoping for a big run from the Melbourne Cup third.
Sarah Cumani, wife of trainer Luca, said: "I'm very pleased with the way he looks and we're quietly confident he can run to his best on Sunday."
Willie Mullins was on hand to watch Simenon breeze and he will be partnered by Ryan Moore for the first time this year.
Moore won on him twice at Royal Ascot in 2012 but Richard Hughes was in the saddle when Simenon finished fourth in Melbourne and unplaced in the Japan Cup last time.
Mullins said: "He's a good traveller and very well in himself. I also think it is a big plus that we have got Ryan Moore. He has had great success on the horse in the past but he hasn't been available to ride him for some time."
Gordon Lord Byron will be out to improve on last year's fourth place in the Hong Kong Mile.
Tom Hogan's charge won the six-furlong Sprint Cup at Haydock back in September but he also claimed a mile event at Leopardstown in August and his trainer believes he is even better equipped to deal with the longer trip this term.
Hogan said: "The horse is much stronger this year, he's really developed through the past 12 months and he's done well here in Hong Kong. I would say he's absolutely spot on."
Dandino and Rock miss Hong Kong Vase run | Horse Racing News
JIM MCGRATH has called for tougher penalties for steroids abuses and stricter testing in training in the wake of Gerard Butler's five-year ban for use of the banned substance stanozolol.
An owner and former independent director at the BHA, McGrath said on Saturday that Britain's drugs rules "aren't tough enough" when the bans for Butler and Mahmood Al Zarooni, who was banned for eight years in the spring for anabolic steroid abuses, are compared against the sanctions handed down to the likes of jockey Greg Fairley for his part in a betting conspiracy.
Speaking on Channel 4 Racing, McGrath said: "If you look at the likes of jockey Greg Fairley two years ago, a silly young man caught up in a [betting] scam, he got 12 years.
"Gerard Butler had no regard for the laws, knew what he was doing, it was premeditated and he has got five [years]. Mahmood Al Zarooni used an even stronger substance and got eight years; the laws aren't tough enough."
McGrath, who has horses with Richard Fahey and Tim Easterby, wants more testing done on horses when they go out of training for a break and again when they return.
"As an owner what I want to know is that if a horse is in training and someone says ‘I'm just going to send it down the road for six weeks it would do it good etc, etc' I want that horse to be tested before it goes and tested when it comes back," he said.
"I think we are kidding ourselves saying we have world-leading regulation. It appears people are prepared to take chances now."
Regarding Butler's suspension, BHA media manager Robin Mounsey said on Friday: "The penalty imposed was above the entry level penalty for breaches of the rules in question and five years is a significant penalty."
McGrath steroid penalties are not tough enough | Horse Racing News | Racing Post
Rose's Desert has been one of New Mexico's greatest ever mares on the racetrack. On Sunday afternoon, the 5-year-old won her final career race in grand style, demolishing a field of six rivals in winning the six-furlong New Mexico State Racing Commission Handicap at Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino.
Rose's Desert, who will retire to Kentucky and be bred to champion stallion Giant's Causeway, finished her career with 10 wins and five seconds in 15 starts.
"Every race in her career was special to me," winning trainer Todd Fincher said. "Lots of horses have talent but you don't know if they have the heart. She had the special mix of talent and heart. She had it all on the track and to go out with a win in her last race means a lot."
Rose's Desert won by 3 and 1/4 lengths over Little Vidalia, while Gossip Dome was third. Rose's Desert carried the high weight of 124. Rose's Desert took control of the race at the halfway mark under the careful guidance of jockey Dusty Shepherd and never looked back in winning the race in a time of 1:10.24.
"Rose's Desert is a great horse and is well trained,"< Shepherd said. "We got a great trip and she had so much left at the end. She had a great career."
Rose's Desert earned $51,000 for owner Joe Peacock of San Antonio to bring her earnings to more than $626,000. She returned $3.20 to win, $2.20 to place and $2.10 to show.
Fincher also had the winning horse in the co-feature of the day, the 6 and 1/2 Johnie L. Jamison Handicap with Hush's Storm.
Hush's Storm was in seventh place at the halfway point, but jockey Aldo Arboleda made a strong move in the final half of the race, slicing through traffic to win by a length over Thermal. Thermal is also trained by Fincher. Gotta Move was third.
"He ran great and we felt as a team that he would run well," Arboleda said. "There was the opportunity to make a good run when we did and he had plenty left at the finish. This is a strong horse and he showed it today."
Hush's storm, who finished the race in a time of 1:16.78, earned his fourth career win from 16 starts and returned $19.40 to win, $8.60 to place and $5 to show. He earned $51,000 for owners Dale Taylor and Joe Dee Brooks and Joe Hogg.
Both stakes races on Sunday were worth $85,000. Live racing resumes at 12:15 p.m. Tuesday
Horse racing: Rose's Desert ends with 10th victory - El Paso Times
Horse racing, a housing subdivision and a large motor vehicle purchase are on the agenda of the Cascade County Commission meeting Tuesday.
Under a proposed agreement with the Great Falls Turf Club, the Turf Club would conduct a four-day race meet sanctioned by the Montana Board of Horse Racing July 19, July 20, July 26 and July 27 at the Montana ExpoPark grounds, which are owned by the county.
The Turf Club would provide the horses and necessary personnel necessary to conduct the race. It would kick in $3,000 for security and $300 for the cost of garbage removal and provide a photo finish company.
The county would make ExpoPark facilities available for the races, provide concessions and pay the turf club $50,000 for purses.
The Turf Club conducted a race meet at the county facility in 2013 as well. That agreement followed two years in which horse racing was not conducted at the facilities.
In other action Tuesday, commissioners will vote on awarding bids for 42 light-duty vehicles.
Staff is recommending that an $882,040 bid be awarded to Bison Ford of Great Falls for six police interceptors, a large SUV, a prisoner transport van and several different-sized pickups.
A second recommendation calls for awarding a bid of $259,386 to City Motor Co. of Great Falls for SUVs, vehicles, vans and pickups.
Public Works Director Brian Clifton said the vehicles will be used in 15 departments.
It is the first time the county has conducted a single mass order, he said. Previously, individual departments ordered vehicles.
Commissioners decided to combine orders and have Public Works conduct the purchasing, Clifton said.
“We think we have more purchasing power in buying bulk like this,” Clifton said.
Commissioners also will vote on the final subdivision plat for Cottonwood Glen major subdivision planned near the intersection of Flood Road and Woodland Estates.
Developer DLBP is planning to subdivide 245 acres into 23 residential lots.
ANYBODY who follows the adage horses for courses will be keeping a close eye on Dubai Hills at Southwell today for the course’s richest raceday of the year.
The Bryan Smart-trained seven-year-old will be back at his favourite track, having won each of his six starts there since he finished third on his first encounter with the specialist surface in November 2010.
Four of those wins came over today’s trip and he lines up in the 7f Ladbrokes Handicap at 1.30 off a 1lb higher mark than when last running here in March.
Smart said: “He’s very well in himself and I couldn’t be more pleased with him. I couldn’t tell you what it is about it but he just seems to like the track.”
Although none of the nine-strong field has recent winning form, four of them finished second last time out, including the two horses rated higher than Dubai Hills, Galician and Clockmaker.
Going report
Fontwell: Good, good to soft in places
Uttoxeter: Chase - Soft, good to soft in places; Hurdles - Good to soft, soft in places (soft in the chute)
Southwell: Standard
Key stat
Philip Hobbs has a 50 per cent strike-rate (4-8) in novice hurdles at Fontwell in the last five seasons for a £1 level-stake profit of £15.13. He runs According To Sarah in the 1.40
Dubai out to improve super Southwell record | Horse Racing News | Racing Post
Greek horse racing is sinking in value on a daily basis, and the government’s handling of the matter is threatening to destroy yet another effort to reduce the size of the state through the concession of a horse race betting license to a private company.
Sell-off fund TAIPED started the process for the permit in spring, but its completion has been delayed due to the absence of legislation that would satisfy the requirements of the two parties that have expressed an interest: PMU of France and local firm Intralot.
As a result, the race course and the permit to be conceded are plunging in value: While a year ago TAIPED was expecting revenues of 40 million euros from the permit, market experts say it cannot hope for any more than 20 million these days.
At the same time amateur owners are gradually withdrawing from the sport and selling their horses to trainers, leaving just 450 horses today from 1,600 in 2007, according to the Jockey Club of Greece.
Three people have been arrested on suspicion of a £2.4m VAT fraud connected to the horse racing industry.
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) criminal investigators made the arrests at homes in Essex and Buckinghamshire. Two business premises were also searched.
A 63-year-old man and a woman, 50, were arrested near Braintree, an HMRC spokeswoman said.
A 64-year-old man was arrested at a residential address in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.
They are being questioned in relation to fraud by false representation, cheating the public revenue and money laundering.
Paul Barton, HMRC assistant director for criminal investigation, said: "Tackling tax fraud is a key priority for HMRC and we will not hesitate to investigate those suspected of stealing public funds."
BBC News - Arrests over £2.4m VAT fraud related to horse racing
Trained by Philip Hobbs he was only beaten three-quarters of a length by Johns Spirit and can benefit from the expected rain this time around.
Colour Squadron (2.25) was something of a late starter over the fences last season ans I'm taking this seven-year-old to claim a famous win in the December Gold Cup.
Attaglance finished a brave fourth in the Paddy Power from 6lb out of the handicap but Johns Spirit looks the main threat to Colour Squadron after claiming two successive victories on this course.
THE NEW ONE (3.00) is favourite for next year's Champion Hurdle and can strengthen his position at the head of the market.
He claimed a convincing 10-length win over a disappointing Rock On Ruby at Kempton in October. Now I'm taking this gritty Turn to Page 2 Kempton in October.
Now I'm taking this gritty five-year-old to land the International Hurdle under Sam Twiston-Davies.
After overcoming Creepy by 18 lengths at Cheltenham's October meeting, KING'S PALACE (1.50) can win here again on conditions he'll love.
AP McCoy has guided MORE OF THAT (3.35) to victory in the gelding's last two outings and a hat-trick looks on the cards.
Wins at Wetherby and Haydock last month indicate the JP McManus owned five-year-old to be pretty smart.
My old boss Nicky Henderson can win the BetVictor Summit Juvenile Hurdle at Doncaster with ROYAL IRISH HUSSAR (2.05). This three-yearold with ROYAL IRISH HUSSAR (2.05). This three-year-is emerging as a realistic contender for the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
He has looked our top juvenile hurdler following victories at Market Rasen, Wetherby and Cheltenham.
His latest effort saw him overcome Irish raider Guitar Pete and he can rack up a four-timer.
NIGHT IN MILAN (3.15) can get back to winning ways for trainer Keith Reveley in the three-mile handicap chase. The seven-year-old, ridden by Keith's son James today, is expected to step up on a disappointing Haydock effort last time.
He is better judged on his winning Kelso form.
Horse Racing: Colour Squadron's golden chance to fly home | Racing | Sport | Daily Star. Simply The Best 7 Days A Week
R.D. Hubbard says he’s disappointed that Hollywood Park race track, which he owned for most of the 1990s, is shutting down for good after its current racing season. But he’s far from surprised.
“When this last group (Bay Meadows Land Company) bought it, they bought it from Churchill Downs, we all knew they are developers,” said Hubbard, who owned Hollywood Park in Inglewood for most of the 1990s. “They did the same thing with the track up in San Francisco, Bay Meadows. They bought Bay Meadows and operated it for three or four years, and then just shut her down and started developing it.”
After years of rumors, the current owners announced in May that they were closing Hollywood Park this month, ending a racing legacy at the park that dates back to 1938. Hubbard, who became the largest shareholder in the publicly traded company that owned the park in 1991, admits he’s sad about the closure, but he believes it is symptomatic of the health of California horse racing in general.
“It is just too bad what is happening to racing,” Hubbard said at Bighorn Golf Club in Palm Desert, where he is also the managing general partner of that ownership group. “Horse racing in California is in a lot of trouble. I don’t see anything that is going to turn it around. Stables and owners are leaving.”
One reason Hollywood Park is closing is Bay Meadows Land Company’s belief that the nearly 300-acre Hollywood Park site can be used for better purposes. Preliminary development plans include homes as well as retail development like malls, restaurants and movie theaters.
Hubbard said he saw the troubles for California racing starting in the 1990s when he ran Hollywood Park. Under his ownership, Hollywood Park re-established itself as a garden spot, committing to lakes and gardens that had been taken out through the years. Other additions included a dance pavilion and a focus on getting younger people to the park.
“They would go right outside, bet on the races, watch the races and then go back inside and drink their beer and dance. It was hot,” Hubbard said. What Hubbard couldn’t bring to Hollywood Park, something he said was needed then and needed today, is Nevada-style gaming. Hubbard’s company did open the Hollywood Park Casino and had the building ready to hook up to slot machines and other games. But the California legislature never repealed its laws banning such games and casinos on Native American reservations filled the void.
Hubbard believes the horse racing industry in the state lost a big revenue source.
“In New York, they have a big casino at Aqueduct. So the purses get part of the money that is won, so racing in New York now is very viable,” said Hubbard, who still owns a race track in Riudosa, N.M., a track that includes a casino. “The same thing in Pennsylvania, the same thing in New Mexico, Oklahoma now, so those states are racing and thriving.”
Hubbard said one reason he sold Hollywood Park in 1999 to Churchill Downs Inc. for $260 million is because he knew the nearly 300-acre facility would never make money consistently without Nevada-style gaming.
“I saw the handwriting on the wall. I told everybody that casino gambling was coming everywhere with Indian gaming,” he said. “And if the race tracks couldn’t get a piece of that, then they were in trouble. We couldn’t (get gaming) in California.”
Hubbard said even with casinos, horse racing across the country could be in trouble as fewer people attended races and wager less.
“The trouble is the racing product is not the one that is generating the income. It is the slot machines,” Hubbard said. “And sooner or later, the states, when they get in financial trouble, they are going to want to take part of that money back.”
TONY McCOY, who made history last month when riding his 4,000th winner, had to settle for third behind Andy Murray in the race for the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year award, which was announced in Leeds on Sunday night.
Earlier in the event, McCoy told host Clare Balding that he was already eyeing up another milestone. “I dream a lot. I think I'm going to ride 5,000 winners - my wife will kill me for saying that. I want to be champion jockey at the end of this season, so who knows [after that],” he said.
McCoy, who missed the start of this season with injuries that left him in intensive care for five days, said he had been driven on by speculation he could be defeated in the race to become champion jockey.
“I was reading that people were doubting whether I was going to be champion jockey or not - it just gives you something to drive towards,” he said.
The 18-time champion jockey, who won the award three years ago, travelled to the ceremony after riding at Navan, but was not expecting to beat Murray. Long odds-on in the ante-post betting, Murray ended Britain's 77-year wait for a Wimbledon men's singles champion in the summer.
McCoy third in Sports Personality of the Year | Horse Racing News | Racing Post
At the meeting, around 150 people told the Ada County Commissioners about what they think about the idea.
Treasure Valley Racing, which manages live and simulcast horse racing at Les Bois Park, is hoping to add self-service historical racing video machines in the Turf Club.
It would allow customers to bet on previously run races any time during business hours.
"Simulcast wagering is now accessible via the internet and has lead to reduced sales revenue in live locations. Without additional sources of revenue, Idaho's horse racing industry is not sustainable," said John Sheldon, President of Treasure Valley Racing.
After Treasure Valley Racing presented its proposal to Ada County in August, Garden City officials expressed concern.
"We have a county owned piece of land here. We have a private enterprise that's operating at a loss, and you're being asked, essentially, to bail them out," said Garden City Mayor John Evans at Tuesday night's meeting.
No decisions were to be made Tuesday night.
Debate over horse racing machines at Les Bois continues | KTVB.COM Boise