Bailey lands on 5-2 Legends Race favorite..
 

BAILEY’S MOUNT 5-2 CHOICE IN UNIQUE ‘LIVING LEGENDS’ COMPETITION SATURDAY

ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 15, 2008) – According to the Oak Tree Racing Association’s morning line odds, retired Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey will record one more victory, the 5,894th of his career, on Saturday in the unprecedented “Living Legends Race” at Santa Anita Park.

The unique competition, which brings eight Hall of Famers out of retirement for a single pari-mutuel betting race, will be presented as the fourth race on a ten-race program that begins at 12:30 p.m.

The sport’s Living Legends will compete in a $47,000 allowance race for California-breds at seven furlongs. Unlike other “Old-Timer’s Day” attractions, this is not an exhibition, but an official race that is counted as such statistically while offering a broad range of wagering options.

The field in post position order with listings of horse, legendary rider, weight, age, career wins and morning line odds:

1. Dee Dee’s Legacy, Jerry Bailey, 122. . .51. . .5,893. . .5-2

2. Tribal Chief, Sandy Hawley, 122. . .59. . .6,449. . .5-1

3. Swift Demand, Pat Day, 122. . .55. . .8,803. . .4-1

4. Kalookan Event, Jacinto Vasquez, 126. . .64. . .5,228. . .15-1

5. Scandalous, Gary Stevens, 122. . .45. . .4,888. . .6-1

6. Waafi, Chris McCarron, 122. . .53. . .7,141. . .3-1

7. Major Smoke, Julie Krone, 122. . .45. . .3,704. . .10-1

8. Stathy, Angel Cordero Jr., 126. . .65. . .7,057. . .12-1

Immediately after the preceding third race, the competitors will be joined in a winner’s circle salute by fellow Hall of Famers and Living Legends Ambassadors Laffit Pincay Jr., Eddie Delahoussaye and Jorge Velasquez. Among them, the assemblage will have accounted for earnings near $2 billion from 71,872 combined racing victories with yet one more to follow.

The elite eleven will be on hand earlier to greet fans and sign autographs between 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. in the track’s East Paddock Gardens.

“This truly is an event that will be difficult to ever duplicate with such a distinguished, accomplished group of riders,” said Sherwood C. Chillingworth, Oak Tree’s executive vice president. “The total number of our wins and purse money takes your breath away,” commented Bailey.

Mounts were drawn by lot, and Bailey wound up on the probable favorite, Dee Dee’s Legacy, in the judgment of Oak Tree oddsmaker Jeff Tufts. Dee’s Legacy just missed by a head in his last start when second at a similar level for trainer Mike Puype. He previously had gone unplaced in a pair of stakes races following a maiden victory.

Waafi, the second choice to be ridden by McCarron, has been facing tougher in most of his recent starts. His last was a sixth-place finish in the El Cajon Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 29.

Anyone but Bailey..

I think I like it. Cool idea! Will most certainly tune in.

The key will be who "T" likes! ;)

If I understand the Legends Race correctly, it is closer to an exhibition than a real race, even though there is wagering involved.

If that is true, wouldn't this be a good time to try the longshot?
(4. Kalookan Event, Jacinto Vasquez, 126. . .64. . .5,228. . .15-1)

I don't understand what you're trying to say. It's not really very different from any other race.

If these are retired jockeys, I'm guessing the skills that they are capable of factoring into a race have diminished and may not be apt to ride as fast as possible. So I'm just saying if that is a wild card amongst a typical race, then maybe the long shot might have a better chance. Maybe I'm thinking too much of an old timers baseball game that they typically play during the All-Star festivities. Nobody goes all out.

I think you're placing way too much emphasis on the jockeys to begin with.

I very well could be. I'll buy you a beer if I win the 15-1.

I agree but this isn't really a race that will appeal to alot of the folks here on the blog. No offense to anyone at all. But the intent here isn't to offer handicapping opportunities, etc. or appeal to the handicappers. It is a step in the right direction to appeal to those that are fans of the game, over and above the handicapping. Or may be intrigued by watching an old timers race. Much like many watch old timers day at Yankee Stadium. I think it offers an opportunity to draw folks in a bit. Aqueduct is doing something as well. Meager tho it is. They are offering free parking and no increase for club house admission. It is a start and I like that folks are starting to think of marketing angles. Belmont's openning day with free admission was great and should be done daily.

I could be wrong but the $2-$5 it costs for admission is not much of a deterrent to people who are planning on wagering. If it is, the churn they will create is not going to make a difference in the handle, or profits that the track will accumulate.

I don't think there is any one issue that is making a total difference. I just think it is going in the right direction. But there needs to be a much more creative approach to marketing the sport.

Geauxxx Julie!!! Girls Rule, Boys Drool!!! :D

My $2 is on Day!

I wasn't decrying the concept of the Legends race, I think it's cool. I was being perplexed at the idea that this race would somehow be more ripe for a longshot winner than any other.

One minor thing though.. Please stop calling this a blog. It's a message board. :zz:

I'll put my 2.00 on Day and he will finish DFL

I'm contacting PETA about this!

I'm contacting AARP! :D

Gimme that # 6 beast carrying the best big-race rider that I've ever seen...

hes the Second best behind Jerry Bailey

God will help Pat Day to victory.

Hawley has been working very hard towards getting ready. He has taken this very seriously

I hope the horses cooperate

you do that too?

Any major network coverage here? ESPN? Anything?

Regarding the race -- one word -- Cordero.

Eric

Be nice would'nt it? In a "perfect" world I guess...

I put $20 on Scandalous.

that was cool.

Replay.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlfKxLi9oQw

:confused:

thanks Kiris...

Yeah for Sandy!! :p

seeing all those jocks again, that was cool.

:)

That sucks for whoever was last. You train all these months for this one comeback race, only to be on the wrong horse....lol

Cordero was last, nosed by McCarron whose horse Waafi trailed and then bled ...

Actually, Cordero and Vasquez gallop horses regularly, and McCarron rides his school racehorses ... Apparently Stevens and Krone ride, but Bailey does not, and it was Hawley that just hopped on but a couple before this ...

Here's the Bloodhorse article about the race- sounds like the jockeys all had a really good time:

http://racing.bloodhorse.com/article/47610.htm

I especially laughed at McCarron's comment:

“That was such a blast,” said McCarron. His mount, Waafi, bled and finished next to last, but that didn’t bother McCarron. “I beat (Angel) Cordero. That was my only goal.”

Thanks for posting the link to the race, Kiris!

I would be interested in what the winner beyered after the race as compared to his previous starts with the more recent Jockies. The final time of 1:21.03 for the race was very good for the 126lbs he had to carry. I have a feeling some the guys and gals could still outride many of the riders riding today.