Credit Smarty Jones in slots legislation push

Smarty Jones was not only the greatest thoroughbred ever stabled at Philadelphia Park but also has been credited with aiding in the legalization of slots at tracks in Pennsylvania, thus helping to preserve the sport.

The 2004 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner attracted some 7,000 followers just to see him jog around the track one morning, and Gov. Rendell visited the chestnut colt at his stall in Barn 11 at the Bensalem track.

Enthusiasm for the local horse helped spur aid to the ailing industry in the state.

Smarty Jones won eight of nine starts and $7.6 million, his only loss coming to Birdstone in the Belmont Stakes.

The colt's first crop will hit the tracks as 2-year-olds this season, possibly 83 of them at $100,000 per stallion service.

"They're well-made with excellent balance, good bone and beautiful heads," Anne Peters of Three Chimneys Farm in Midway, Ky., said yesterday. "They have lots of class, tremendous hind ends, which is where the power comes from."

A total of 34 of Smarty's yearlings sold last year at an average price of $201,029.

And it's not too late to get your own Smarty juvenile.

Five will be sold next week at the Calder sale in Miami, one at the Barretts sale in California on March 12, three at the Ocala sales on March 18-19, and four at the Keeneland April venue.

Steroids ban.

Racing jurisdictions rarely get on the same page and the never-ending pursuit for uniform medication rules continues to face hurdles.

The Pennsylvania Racing Commission announced on Dec. 1 that it was banning the use of steroids as of April 1, allowing ample time to clear horses' systems of the drugs.

But while Delaware will join Pennsylvania in the ban when its meet begins on April 19, Maryland, New Jersey, and other states have yet to implement a ban, and many states are seeking a Jan. 1 target date.

While the drugs can be used in excess as a performance enhancer, many trainers feel the drugs are useful in stimulating appetite and general well-being when used in moderation.

But since many tracks rely on shippers to fill their programs, the steroids issue becomes even more complex.

If a horse ships from a locale where steroids are permitted, he could test positive if shipped to compete in Pennsylvania and Delaware, and thus certain tracks would have to fill cards from their own horse population.

The effect of many runners being weaned off steroids could be a major reason why an inordinate number of heavy favorites have been finishing out of the money in recent months at Philly Park.

Hall of Fame nominees.

Edgar Prado, who rode his 6,000th winner on Feb. 10, is among 12 finalists for the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame.

Prado, 40, rode Barbaro to victory in the 2006 Kentucky Derby and two Belmont Stakes winners (including Birdstone), and his mounts have earned more than $200 million.

Other nominees include riders Randy Romero and Alex Solis, and trainers Carl Nafzger and Robert Wheeler.

Nafzger saddled Street Sense to capture last year's Kentucky Derby.

Fillies named included Open Mind, Silverbulletday and Sky Beauty.

Males recognized were Best Pal, Manila and Tiznow, the only two-time winner of the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Inductees will be announced in April with enshrinement Aug. 4 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y..

Allard rocket on shelf.

Few horses win their debuts as impressively as Affluent Lady's 17-length romp at Philly Park on Jan. 8, but her fans will have to wait a while to see her next start.

"She had a little problem, and we gave her some time off. She's down at Stonehedge Farm in Williston, Fla., and we'll have her back in the spring, hopefully for some turf races," trainer Ned Allard said.

Affluent Lady paid $33.60 to win that afternoon, so Allard must have gotten rich, right?

"I stopped betting 20 years ago," he said. "I'm a bad gambler; there's too much aggravation involved. But I realize that gambling is what provides purses."

Atlantic City Race Course.

The Mays Landing track, open year-round for simulcasting, will feature six days of live racing this season, two more than in previous years.

The track will operate Wednesday through Friday on April 23-25, and then April 30 and May 1-2.

Bettors will be able to follow the races via simulcasts this season.

In recent years, the only way to wager on Atlantic City's races was on site.