11/12/2008 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The major part of the 2008 thoroughbred racing season has been completed, so let's take a few seconds to look back and forward.
Three names came to dominate the headlines this year: Curlin, Big Brown and Zenyatta. All three secured themselves at least one Eclipse Award with the only question being, Who is the 2008 Horse of the Year?
Defending Horse of the Year Curlin made thoroughbred history in 2008 by becoming the first horse to surpass the $10 million mark in lifetime earnings. The four-year-old colt went past Cigar on the career earnings list with a second straight win in the Jockey Club Gold Cup.
With Robby Albarado in the saddle for all seven starts, Curlin won five times in 2008 to bank $5,399,000. While it has not been officially announced, Curlin closes his Hall of Fame career with $10,501,800. The only thing he was unable to accomplish was repeating as Breeders' Cup Classic champ.
Leading three-year-old Big Brown may have had the strangest of years. After blowing away the competition in the Florida Derby, Run for the Roses and Preakness Stakes, he failed miserably in the Belmont Stakes.
We will never know exactly why the best three-year-old of 2008 was pulled up at the top of the stretch in the Belmont Stakes by jockey Kent Desormeaux. The official chart shows that he never finished the 1 1/2 mile Test of Champions.
Owned by IEAH Stables, Big Brown came back with a win in the Haskell Invitational after looking beaten in mid-stretch by Coal Play. Big Brown's final start was on the turf in the Monmouth Stakes in preparation for the Breeders' Cup.
Unfortunately, Big Brown suffered a hoof injury during training for the Breeders' Cup and was retired. He finished with $3,614,500 having won seven of eight career starts.
I never bet on Big Brown, nor consider him an all-time great. However, I give his connections credit for getting him to the starting gate for the Belmont Stakes plus two more starts. He suffered some setbacks following the Preakness and I expected Big Brown to be retired sometime during the three week break between the final two Triple Crown events.
Other than Curlin, Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic champ Zenyatta is the only possible thoroughbred who could be voted 2008 Horse of the Year. The four- year-old filly is undefeated in nine career starts, seven this year, and has career earnings of better than $2.1 million.
Zenyatta had a very well orchestrated schedule. She started eight times in California, all on synthetic tracks. Her lone race elsewhere was the Apple Blossom Handicap this year at Oaklawn Park when she was the second choice behind 2007 Eclipse winner Ginger Punch who finished third.
Breeders' Cup Classic winner Raven's Pass has been retired to Sheikh Mohammed's Kildangan Stud in County Kildare, Ireland. The three-year-old closes his short career with seven wins in 11 starts and $3,664,833,
Looking ahead to the Triple Crown races of 2009, Breeders' Cup Juvenile champ Midshipman has been taken to Dubai to prepare for the Kentucky Derby. Midshipman, owned by Shiekh Mohammed, has won three of four starts for $1,380,200. Shiekh Mohammed is desperate to win the Run for the Roses.
Juvenile Turf winner Donativum is owned by Princess Haya of Jordan, the wife of Shiekh Mohammed. Trained by John Gosden, the gelding has three wins in six starts and better than $1.5 million. His status for the Kentucky Derby is unknown.
In early odds for the 2009 Kentucky Derby, Midshipman is roughly 15-1 and Donativum is 20-1. Keep in mind that lightly raced three-year-olds are becoming the rule not the exception leading to the Kentucky Derby.
<< Bobcats' Richardson has knee examined
Charlotte, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Charlotte Bobcats guard Jason Richardson
underwent an exploratory arthroscopic procedure Wednesday morning on his right
knee.
The test, prompted by inflammation in the joint, revealed no structura
<< Piniella's staff to return in 2009
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Cubs announced Wednesday that
manager Lou Piniella's coaching staff will return for the 2009 season.
Piniella was named the National League's top manager earlier Wednesday after
leading the
<< NBA Pacific: Bynum hopes to help Lakers take the next step
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Obviously if you reach the NBA Finals and take the eventual
champs to six games you have to be considered a legitimate NBA title
contender.
But, after watching the Boston Celtics torture the Los Angeles Lakers
<< Berry bounced as Bombers coach
Winnipeg, MB (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have fired head
coach Doug Berry.
Berry spent three seasons guiding the Bombers and posted a record of 27-26-1.
The team finished 8-10 this past season, good enough for second
Line of Scrimmage: Week 11 - Ravens Must Still Prove Mettle >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Baltimore Ravens won't get the same
credit as the Atlanta Falcons or Miami Dolphins for their abrupt turnaround.
The Ravens were 5-11 in their final year under Brian Billick a year ago, but
they were a
Burke steps down as Ducks GM, Murray to step in >>
Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Anaheim Ducks announced Wednesday that
executive vice president and general manager Brian Burke has stepped down,
and that former senior vice president of hockey operations Bob Murray will
replace
Hansbrough "extremely doubtful" for UNC opener >>
Chapel Hill, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - North Carolina senior forward Tyler
Hansbrough will likely miss the Tar Heels' season-opener Saturday against
Penn because of a stress reaction condition in his right shin.
UNC announced Wedne
Around FCS: So long, Southland championship >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - I have always held the opinion that
championships, however great or small, are won on the field of play. Don't
bother me with asterisks, or press releases about forfeits.
I don't want to hear teams having
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MySportsbook.com: New College Football Clock Rules Examined
Coaches and bettors alike are desperate to make sense of the new time-keeping rules on the NCAA gridiron. One of the big stories to come out of the Ohio State-Texas clash last weekend was Texas coach Mack Brown's criticism of the NCAA's new clock rules that are intended to shorten the duration of college football games, therefore affecting college football betting.
"They scored with six minutes left and the game was over before we had a chance to do anything," Brown told ESPN.com. "I really hope whoever made these changes will go back and look them over."
Sure, it might be sour grapes; the Buckeyes thoroughly trounced the defending national champion Longhorns 24-7. However, Brown isn't alone in giving the changes their due thought. Bettors are also wondering about them, albeit for a completely different reason. Most experts agree that the changes will result in games being shortened by anywhere from 10 to 20 plays. The obvious consequence is lower scores, with more time rolling off the clock during changes of possession. (The Ohio State-Texas game flew well under the total of 52.)
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17-10 in 2007. Granted, a 24-17 game last year might end at 21-17 these days, but the former - a three- or seven-point advantage being preserved as opposed to created - is the most likely scenario.
*UPDATE* - Sept. 25, 2007
New Clock Rules Boon for online bookmakers
By adjusting the time-keeping rules to shorten the duration of college football games, the NCAA hoped to make its product more enjoyable for the fans. While the NCAA's success in this regard is still up for debate, bookmakers couldn't be happier with the results.
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