John Cherwa 2022 Year In Review

We we are in and we are underway here on the horse racing, happy

hour. And our normal Thursday slot

with our guy John Travolta, LA times at your, at eight, at Jay

Sherman. Yeah, on Twitter.

Is that how that is? Yeah, I'll be honest with you,

I'm a little down as his most of the country on Twitter.

Okay, I have had the weirdest experience.

I feel like once musk acquired Twitter, I started getting more

spam phone calls. And I don't know, I'm sure it's

not related, but it's just feels like too big of a coincidence.

For some reason, I don't know who the heck knows John.

How are you man? I was Christmas.

It was okay. I actually you know, have covid

right now, I did not know that so get it at Santa Anita you

know, I don't I don't think so. My wife got it and before I went

to LA Tested tested - but then what I was there, you know?

And I have allergies so you can't really tell you don't

necessarily know, right? And then, when I get back on

Tuesday, I tested positive and I test it again today and still

still there, but but you know, it's really mild.

That's just like I had cold stuff.

Not a big deal at all other than that, but be careful around

other people. You strike me as keeping up on

their shots, kind of person. I'm at five.

Wow, okay, So yes, yeah, I host with in the mornings and he is

always right on top of his because he's 74.

And I mean, you know, that's a that's a threshold over over 70.

I think that is, you know, one that makes sense.

That you got to go get those things done but well, I'm glad

to hear. It's only head Cole dish and not

anything else. I can't remember.

Have you had it before? No, not receive amazing things.

Wow. Neither one of us had.

We thought we were going to get through the whole thing without

it and But we didn't and, you know, it's actually better than

I had pulled in the fact that you don't have the stuff knows.

He's right the truth, he knows and the sneezing and the

occasional cough. But anyway.

So anyway to back your original question Christmas Christmas can

is never really that terrific when you have to fly out

Christmas night to get the Santa Anita for the Sixth.

Yeah, but that's what that's what I do and I was out there

for a day and a half and the previous night and flew back

Monday night. So there you have it.

I mean, huge crowd, huge handle. I mean how was the environment

out there? Was it as fun as it looked on

TV. It was and matter fact, if you

look behind the track, you know, there's this giant parking lot.

And I have not seen it that full since maybe the xiana, the

sunyata Breeders Cup. Now, part of part of that has to

do with two, is they they took out some available parking when

they built the six-and-a-half shoot, they took parking out of

that but not the down the hill one but the one that actually

now goes into the parking lot. So so I think that's that's what

that was. What do you attribute?

The big crowd too? It was, you know, ethnic new be

the general manager and he said, Monday's for some reason because

is a Monday because it's also a holiday, you know, if there are

a lot of people have the day off.

Yeah. Exactly.

The weather was unbelievable. I went from 30 degrees in

Florida to 75 to 80 degrees in Los Angeles has been so cold.

Here we had about 40 hours in a two-day span.

Where the temperature the temperature not, the windshield

with the temperature, didn't go over 0, we are not, this is not

a place built for that kind of cold.

And so it was, I imagine for some we are lucky.

Our home is is insulated pretty well but I imagine there were

many people for whom it was not a good couple of days.

So yeah, I know I got really cold here.

Luckily, we don't have iguanas or anything running around like

you know yet fall off the trees. Yeah.

Well, I mean, table wins the Malibu.

It's a good day of racing. I mean the best horse is one out

there on that day. You know Bob gets five wins as

he does and life goes on but I mean was table as good in person

as he was on TV. Yeah, I think so.

I think he might have been even better in person because it you

know, he just dominated down the stretch and Mike didn't Mike

Smith handwritten hand wrote In I'm sorry, down this down the

stretch which actually could be kind of a segue into what, our

everyone's thoughts. On three-year-old horse.

Ha ha ha. I thought he moved himself

squarely into the top three and into the discussion by winning

the race. Well question, you know, I

actually everyone says, it's, you know, it's table versus

versus epicenter, and I'm of the mind that it's stable versus

modern games. Yeah.

I I'm with II have submitted last night at like, 10:30.

I submitted my first-ever Eclipse vote and I had modern

games as my three-year-old male. Okay.

Yeah. The reason, you know, and here's

okay, I think epicenter is probably the best horse, but you

know, the Dodgers were the best team in baseball.

I'm with you and they went out in the first round when it came

for the races that he, you know, he won the Travers, but you

know, he got beat by a fluke in the derby, but he did get feet.

He, if you listen to ask fussing, you know, he had a

terrible ride in the Preakness, he broke down in the classic,

you know? I mean, he'll be, you know,

he'll be third. I think in my ballot.

But, and and modern games, I appreciate your your vote there.

But to me, when you think about three-year-old male here in the

United States, it really revolves around.

You know, the trip. Around and you know, the Prix

races to the races and that's right.

It's a direct experience, not really a terrific experience but

I can I think you can logically argue for modern games and I

think episode is probably still going to win because you know

there's there is the the anti Bob bias on table and the anti

Turf bias on Modern games. So I think both of those are

probably correct. I do think that epicenter ends

up winning three-year-old of the year.

I also, I mean I'll be honest, I was so impressed with modern

games that I also, I also voted him my mail turquoise with you.

I haven't submitted my votes yet but flipping and dispersed in

the first and Sherrill spite second.

Okay, and here's the whole thing.

On the eclipse Awards is a second and third place votes,

don't need anything at all. All they do is it helps them

give them you know, three finalists.

But the award is based on the number of First Place votes,

right? Who's your second and third?

Place notes, don't really matter.

Let's go to know, actually. I feel a lot better about my

votes that because I feel like I nailed the first.

Thought it was second and third that was a lot harder to figure

out in some of these categories. You know, we had Ron flatter on

yesterday and he gushed on flight line.

Do you think any how many people do you think won't vote for him

as older dirt mail? Because of how much he didn't

run? Okay?

Before I answer that ice, I do think that you were probably in

violation of a Kentucky statute for cruel, and unusual

punishment. Bye-bye, making listeners, do an

hour and a half. Last so much flatter.

That's a lot of well, learn how to do that. 1.2 and speed up the

episode. Yeah, but to your question, I

fight like should be unanimous horse of the year and I don't

think that the fact that he only ran six You got to remember, six

lifetime justify ran six in one year, right?

And there was a debate at the end of, whether it was, it was

that horse or accelerate, the who won the classic?

I believe that year at Churchill Downs and it was, you know, you

have to go for the Triple Crown winner and Flightline.

You know, what's my favorite Flightline race?

Will course, it's the Pacific classic because that is never

seen that kind of of domination. And, you know, and and floppy

and really, you know, the only race he really had to ride him

was that was the Met Mile and he was just kind of a passenger you

know, in all these things, I mean, and here's here's just

something I was thinking about there is no there are few finer

people in racing than Coast Aromas.

You know, the the owner I really like Costa but but he deceived

us I don't love hate lied to us but he deceived us one when he

when they won the Pacific classic and he's saying we want

him to be America's Horse and blah, blah, blah blah blah.

You know, well, that makes you sound like you wanted to see.

And then in the press conference, it's after the

Breeders Cup output which, you know, you were there.

He's talking about, we're gonna sit down and we're gonna have to

talk about it and well, yeah, the decision was made, clearly,

because I hadn't even cleared, you know, Kentucky airspace

before the next day. Yes.

Before they had City's gone to stun so that they didn't have a

medium was all decided. And like I said, I do think

Costa is one of the finest people in racing, but I was I

was disappointed that he handled it that way and I think, I think

the reason he misled us about the decision, after the classic

is probably didn't, didn't want the headline headline to say

that he was retired, you know, when's classic, come on retired.

That he wanted to give the horses much as much attention as

it could for the fur. You know an incredible

performance and incredible career but short career.

When was the last time it was this easy to vote on horse of

the year. Was it Pharaoh?

I mean you could say yeah. I mean I didn't I did not like

of erasing them so I but, you know, last year was a really any

question that was last year, right?

Yeah, yeah. I mean, that was because I

really wasn't outstanding thing and justify versus accelerate

accelerate, you know, they're sorry, did get some votes but I

think you would have to go back to therapy and I don't, I have

to assume that There was unanimous but I don't know that

he should have been and and flight line should be too, you

know? Yeah.

No I think it's a it's a rare year where it's a good first one

for me. So I didn't have to really

debated in my head or write a piece in the newsletter about

why. I think I think that the the

Filly should be ahead of a authentic but you know, it is

what it is. You know.

We're there other categories where you have found yourself

wondering, who you're going to vote for, not wanting to put

someone in first place. Well Mabel Turf and no no no.

Prevention. Female Turf.

Okay. That was that one, you know, I

mean I'm going to probably go more like goddess but I like,

you know, Tina Romantica is not mad, right?

That was a tough one. I think the I think the trainer

is a little tiger although I'm going to go with Todd, you know.

Here's here's the deal. You know it wasn't a great year

is a great on the track here. For Chad, but not of off-track

ear for a trip and that one, you know, you certainly baffert has

been stigmatized by that and you know if putting you know putting

but cream on a horse gets he two years suspended from Churchill

Downs and you know, and Chad, you know, allegedly, you know,

chokes a woman and he gets 0 from naira, you know?

But I think I think Todd, I think Todd will probably get it

because he, you know, he I think he's had a pretty good year, you

know? Oh yeah.

An excellent here, do. That's not even a question, it's

more, you know, do the do, the grated numbers matter.

We were talking yesterday. I think the thing that came out

of this for me, that was sad was thinking about American Turf

closing now much. I don't how good it isn't

essentially. And so you know, and for a lot

of these races Numbers. You know there's seven horses in

the field. He's got three of them.

Yeah, now to his credit he still wins it like twenty six percent,

which is incredible because he has two thirds of them are

losers that one race. But it's also just he so

dominates Turf racing that I don't know how much credit he

should get for that or not. Get for it, you know what I

mean? And so, it's a, you know, yeah,

the numbers aren't there. But how much of it is just a

pure specialty east of the Mississippi on grass?

Yeah. Yeah, that that's, that's a

really good point. I mean, on Monday in the dirt

races, Bob had 14 starters over five races, very similar?

Yes, version. It's the same thing and he won

every day. I agree and he said it's a

pretty good trainer and you know, I also wondered, you know,

does Sadler get a vote just for how we handle flight line and I

I like him, I like him a lot but I don't think I can do that.

Give him like a third time. I'm talking third set but like I

said earlier you know, third second through doesn't really

matter. Some of these some of these

fields are Our kind of disappointing like two year old

male. Yeah, I agree with I want to

show you just I just went one two three.

You know for we're take a rock and National Treasure and your

the Philly expert. So what did you do?

Wonder Wheel or side? Yeah, I went somewhere else.

I think this is where I'm probably going to be the most

different. I think the best two-year-old in

training right now is who's your Filly?

And so I put her on top just based on I tested other things.

It's not that one. Will is done a single damn thing

wrong. And so it's not her fault.

I just I find Hoosier Philly to be the better.

The better horse. I wish they would have

considered running her in the Breeders Cup, but I understand

why Thomas is doing what he's doing.

I beat that horse. Just she does everything right

and it looks. She looks like a four-year-old

when she's running. I mean it just it's incredible

and Tom Amos even made a veiled comments that I've mentioned on

the show after the Goldenrod that maybe she'd be standing in

the Winner's Circle. Urkel across the track, which is

wearing, of course, the Derby winner circle is.

And so, you know, I think he has really, really high hopes for

her. And, you know, I don't know what

they're going to do with her at Fairgrounds.

Obviously, that's the route that a mistake stored.

Those May races in Louisville, but I think she's the best.

I have Wonder Wheel and second, I put meditate the third spot

because I decided to That even though she only ran once here, I

do think when you win the Breeders Cup Race by open legs,

the way that she did, I think she was pretty clearly the best

her force that ran in North America this year.

She also won five over seven total races.

And so, you know, so that's that's where I went one.

Two and three, I guess I held it against her a little bit.

She only ran once in North America.

But yeah, I went a little off the board there with Hoosier

Philly because I think she's the best to Old Filly going or no.

Okay. Well, that's it.

Mike get her third place for me. Not sure.

Or second. So your water wheel on top, I

imagine where else did you land, you know, I just went with the

123 with leave. No trace and Raging Sea, but I

didn't feel it all strong about it.

I think these three year old Billy was, that's sort of a slam

dunk for, for nest. You know.

Yep, I agree. And I'll tell, you know, when

you go back to the derby weekend, Or the Friday Saturday

or is everybody just went just fell in love with Rich strike

who as we know has still not what at other race and and has a

train wreck for for jockey and maybe when you look back was not

the best moment of that weekend. Secret oath and then way Lucas.

Oh no, it is. It is press conference after you

probably should be the memories that we can rather than the

shots coming across, you know, just getting the perfect trip

and the perfect race because of, you know, the speed speed

killing the field at the beginning, the Japanese or so.

I think it's Jeff and source. So what do you got?

What do you have for? Male Sprint, I laid it on Cody's

wish I don't, I don't know that that one was actually very

difficult. I think that he won the two

biggest races. At the end of the year, I think

that, you know, when you look at where he won, I consider the for

go and absolute Loctite grade 1 and then he goes to the Breeders

Cup and and you were there. I think one of the underrated

things About the Breeders Cup this year was because it was so

windy. They had to wet that track so

much that it was listed as fast. But man, it was Heavy.

It was a heavy dirt track and he was still the very best in that

field. I get it.

He beats a slow down, Andy, and a CyberKnife in that field, but

I think the Breeders Cup win, and then the head-to-head win

against Jackie's Warrior. Excuse me, the for go.

Did it for me? Yeah, actually, I'm totally

squished, but I The thing that I kept wondering, is, am I doing

it? Because it was such a great

story or yeah, right through the best for.

And because it was a great story like that Cody's wish than

Jackie then Jack. So we'll know that we landed the

same spot actually. Yeah, and Jack Jack.

Christopher was the other Horse. By the way, when we talk about

three-year-old male, he's, of course the darn it.

I wish he would have run more horse in that group, but just

amongst three-year-old races. He had as good a year is almost

anyone Yeah. And so, that was the one.

I mean, until the Malibu, he might have made my top three on

the three-year-old side, because I thought he had that going to

be here. Yeah, he just there's such a

bias against and get sprinting to right.

So I mean, you know, people want that they want those classic

Races. They want the, you know, the

Triple Crown Series. They want that to be the thing

that determines their three-year-old and I get it.

I do cripes. I live at all spring on are

shown for sure but it's to me. She was just so dominant in

those races it was. So he was such an easy pick in

those races and then he and they showed up and the only time he

loses his trying to stretch out to the hospital just didn't

work. Now one thing is a new Eclipse

voter that you will learn. Is it takes a little while.

It takes a couple of months but we eventually get a spreadsheet

with everybody's votes. Okay, which is kind of cool

because then you can really see the biases.

and first of all, I think, you know, yes,

Not that I have ever seen or watched.

I know they still run, you know, especially naira.

They'll open the card with one especially in Saratoga.

But yeah, I think the only place that I've really seen them

outside of the very specific kernel spots in the u.s. is at

in, isn't Ira? Okay.

Yeah. So I don't vote and Steeplechase

I don't vote. Apprentice jockey, sometimes I

vote sometimes I don't like last year, I go to just get by for

Cuz I'd seen it and you know, but this the guy who sent a guy

who I think is it do pat-downs? Yep.

You know, there could be three people walk in and I've got

like, a 33% chance to guess which one was hit, sure?

I don't know. So I probably will pass on that

one and sometimes I pass on owners, although breeder seems

pretty easy this year and the dolphin.

I think. Although, you know, again that

and you've heard me say this before, Of the breeding industry

is what is ruining horse racing. So, because they've made it

unaffordable to the average person and, and they, you know,

how does horse racing celebrate, their Stars, they retire them.

Right. And that's all because of the

breeding industry which is which is it conversation?

I think I've had in like to have again withdrew Fleming.

He doesn't usually like that conversation.

I, um, that's where I went a little off the board.

I did have good. All On top.

But then I went with Ash View and second because they bred

both nest and bow Donegal, okay? And they only breed like 20

horses a year, it's abib to me. That's a, that's a, that's a

massive. That's a huge accomplishment to

have a have, the essentially, the exact, in the Belmont and to

have Nest is, I think the pretty clear three-year-old Philly.

And so I put them in the second spot.

I think we could all fit numbers are impossible to miss on the

rear side. But yeah, so I thought the as

true story Just an interesting one and itself.

Yeah, that's that's good. I think they just get me the

second second, place back here. Yeah, fuck, yeah, yeah.

That's why you have these conversations, right?

I mean, because, you know, sometimes either don't, you

know, if you don't think to look for it in the form or whatever,

but, you know, just by doing interviews up here, you know,

we're able to talk to different people than that was one of

those interviews where, you know, the Belmont happens and

we're like, let's call ashes. And so yeah, yeah, I think

another easy one might have been mouth that for older.

ER, dirt female. That's why I wanted you and then

I think I goodnight. Olive second.

Yep. Your old favorite Clary are?

Yeah. Yeah.

I have you and I have the same three.

How about that? I literally have Mal go.

Claire written down in my notes Here Again.

And I haven't finalized the probably Olympia there.

Yeah, those are my top three as well.

I flip the second and third, but I can get some thinking, but

sure that becomes a really interesting conversation.

because who I don't know where you would land, their I probably

would have had Olympiad because I think there's a chance then

that he wins the classic. And then, you know that he's got

the classic, he's got the Jockey Club.

He's got a man, the Stephen it'll seem Foster Sheba, the New

Orleans classic, The Mineshaft, like everything.

I mean, he just he when he was on that run in the spring, Get

out of the way. It was it was really remarkable

so it would have been really interesting but life is good, of

course, between the Whitney of the Woodward, I mean just

massive reasons. I proposed life and life is good

hit right in the Mi. So glad we talked about that

yesterday too and and Ron referred to, as something like a

sporting, a sporting move and I thought you mean stupid.

Because because I remember when it came out, we did the show.

And I said, what are they doing? They got a minor here.

I mean, that works. Would be great a to turn mile.

Yeah. I I guess I gave them props for

putting it in the big race but I think if I hadn't I would've put

them in the mail because just because I think he gives Cody's

Wishin and CyberKnife all the all they can handle for sure.

Yeah, yeah, absolutely. I didn't, you know, I for a

second only because I just saw some thought about Country

Grammar but you know, he lost it.

He lost the flight line and Pacific but then he lost The in

the awesome again but he wasn't the Dubai World Cup.

And and basically and was second in the Saudi Cup in a race that,

you know, he should have won if he would have seen the horse on

his outside, you know, the local horse, the local Workshop, horse

that won. I mean that I think he probably

would have dug in and one but he didn't.

So there you go. If you know if expression if a

frog had wings it wouldn't hit its ass.

You kind of mentioned it in passing?

The eating Butler, you know, the guy that's really sort of made

it happen. And then all week, I kept trying

to get Frankie, I kept trying to get Frankie I get trying to get

Frankie. Yeah, and you won't call me

back, he won't message, he won't anything.

Well, fuck the finally on Christmas Eve.

I text Aidan and I said Aidan I want to talk to him, make it

happen and dart if he did. And then the first thing Frankie

says to me is you know I got all your messages.

I met you better call you back but I just forgot.

So, So I think this is gonna be a real adjustment for him

because he, you know, he's King in Europe.

I mean he goes to a restaurant, he gets here, you know, people

would just be all around them. I mean he's just a big celebrity

there and he's got to come here and you know if he's walking

down the streets of Los Angeles you know nobody's going to know

it. Nope.

And so this will be a big adjustment for him but I think

Part of this move was that he really does want a ride Country,

Grammar in the Saudi and goodbye.

And it's a little bit of a misnomer that like he's writing.

It's a no need all this. Well, he's gonna go to

Gulfstream for the Pegasus. Will go to the salary cap.

He'll go to Dubai you know there's a big race somewhere

else. He you know he might go to that

but I'm frankly shocked. You he won three races including

I mean the Country Grammar when wasn't a shock but I think one

of the specials are whatever those other winter.

We want to late allowance and everything.

Yeah, yeah. So you know he said it's good to

have them out west and in his final year and but will be

really interesting to see is if he gets a good through your old

and I don't I don't know who that is, you know.

But Bob baffert always has like somebody that hasn't raced yet.

Well how about the horse that what we'll see it was on the

Breeders Cup. It was like race to of the day

and it was a maiden special or maybe an allowance or whatever.

Consider a Pian something or other?

Yeah, Arabian. Lion something.

Yeah, was it was a just lights out.

I don't remember who wrote him but, you know, maybe you could

pick up somebody like that. Also off opening day, it's a

lie. The water and Aunt has won four

races. Yeah.

He's starting to terrific writer out there, for sure.

Yeah. He's awesome.

And and Fabien is, he didn't have a great opening day there

is he sticking around for Most of the meat.

Yes. Ok good.

Yep. Yep.

And again, that was one you know I guess I didn't give it a lot

of thought but you know, I put irad first in the Jackie's and

Fabien second and Rosario third, just kind of way they fall but

you know, Fabien puffiness really talented.

And Iran gets a lot of good. New York horses that flop flop.

Ian wasn't applauding was writing for Chad Brown.

So too. Yes, correct.

Yep. But you can't deny the number of

was graded, 20 grade one, Stakes wins or something for irad.

That's and I think he set a record for her Stakes wins a

national record for something we do here.

Yep, he did. That's that's pretty good.

What's up? There's no, yeah, the numbers

with. I read the you just can't, you

can't look at them and think he's not, if not the best.

One of the very, very best jockeys in North America.

You just can't do it. So, yeah, I'll it on Tyler

third. I don't know if that's a, a

local bias thing or whatever, but I thought he had a really,

really good year. So I, I can make, I can make

that case. I mean, I can, I can see that

case. Of course, Rosario with, you

know, again I see more Rosario Jewels really good.

So Tyler was out here for opening day.

Yeah, pretty good day too. He had a good day.

He picked up a lot of Rosario's males because Rosario was sick

and didn't ride. So he is he didn't have that

many mouths to start with. But then when the scratches came

in, he certainly picked up his lunch.

Alright, what else? Have we not gotten into?

I think, I think we did pretty good, man.

I think just good night. All of your females printer.

Let me look for you on the older female.

I think she's got to be first, responder them.

Yeah and then I've got a caravan I have her third spot.

Look at you. All right.

Yeah. And for third, I'll put three

down next to two horses Echoes. Hulu, and with a low and I

haven't decided we could Halo landed in my second spot.

So there you go. Yeah, we do.

Oh yeah. Whoo, yeah.

Whoo, yeah, that's my one. Like who are your other two in

the horse of the year. That?

What I haven't decided yet? Okay, I haven't decided.

I'm, you know, I'm gonna guess, maybe Cody's where she will be

one of them. Wow.

You got to give some thought to life is good.

You've got to, you know, I don't really know how I know that will

be because again, it's, you know, you can easily spend more

time sweating over the second third Summit again, like, it

doesn't, it doesn't really matter, right.

But, you know, it is, it is voting for the eclipse is

actually pretty easy. As you felt, you know, the

online way it is. Do it do.

It is easy that way. Yes that voted in other other

things that are not quite as simple to do it, make it easy,

they know the results right away, there's not a big gap for

the time, the boats close and time, you know, the winners and

they try to make a show of it. And one thing to that when I

cut, you know, I have never been to an eclipse award because It's

not a it's not a great thing and a few of us a few of the

national writers, we will get there.

Those practically those of us that are on, Deadline will get

all but like the big category winners ahead of time so that we

can write, you know, 3/4 two-thirds of our story as long

as we don't you know, break an embargo which I've never done.

So it's kind of fun and I At least it was the eclipse award

sir. You know, I think they're

running under which is good as far as time because it is just

can't go on forever. I don't know that I've actually

sat down to really watch the eclipse Awards before I kind of

just, you know, pay attention on Twitter as they serve and give

announced and that kind of thing.

But I'm sure I will pay more attention now that I am part of

the process, but, yeah, absolutely.

So yeah. So you were very ambitious to

get your vote. You think we haven't told what

next Friday or something like that?

It's the fourth. I think the airway closed voting

closes at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, January 3rd.

Okay? Okay, so I'll do mine over the

weekend and they do really look at like the percentage that

people vote, like if you were to not vote completely shut it out,

you know, that your, your membership might be certain

culture, two years in a row. They might be say, well, God,

But you don't get penalized for skipping categories.

We had that discussion yesterday.

Okay? Yeah I think yeah, Ron got into

like sort of a tussle with some of the TV G guys or something

about about you do you know? I mean you don't when you go to

The Ballot Box, you don't have to vote for every category

Friday every position comes down to something that, you know,

that's Party affiliation that you have absolutely no idea what

they even do like a soil or water, commissioner or something

like that, right? Don't yell vote.

And yeah, there. Yeah.

So, what's your, what's your take on the, what's gonna happen

with high? So, Yeah, I don't know the

answer to that. I interstate commerce stuff is

always so hard for me to wrap my head around.

It's usually though if it goes through Congress then it's good

to go. Right?

And so I don't know it looks like the weird part of it is it

looks like Texas was right the first time around I don't know.

Once they pass the amended one, which Biden will be signing what

this week next week. Yeah.

Yeah, that they're going to have much leeway to make another

choice because they're getting killed.

I mean, they're I mean, they're handles are way down.

And I mean they have to adjust to do something different, but I

don't know. Where do you think it goes?

I think it stays in the courts for a while.

I don't I don't think the medication stuff will will be in

place. I think what does it's like

January 10th or something like that?

It is generate Sonia and I don't think those rules will be in

place because they're going to be contested again.

I mean, Eric Hamel back is been the sort of leader against

constitutionality of haisa, I don't know, constitutional law.

Well, enough to have an informed opinion.

The one thing I will say about haisa is it is well-intentioned

and but good intentions in the horse racing.

You know. That's the sport does not

change, people do not want to change and so it's going to be a

battle. We all want safety.

I mean and we you know, say I'm like primarily concentrate on

California which is a very heavy heavily regulated state in a

very eyes. Horse racing is running very

well there but then there's Florida which is like the wild

west or or Arizona, you know. Yeah.

It's just like they do need some rules and and also to one thing

that I think, one of the bigger stories of this year has been

sort of the, you know, the safety.

The horse safety, especially in California has just really been

Been taken care of, and I think we hit and it's a Breeders Cup.

We had to was it two or three horses to get banned off of

there might have been one of the first day but the two that were

banned off epicenter and the Chad Brown.

Well, yeah. Wasn't there, one like the first

first date? Yeah.

And both those horses you think back four years ago, especially

the Chad Brown horse, which is again I would you know, like you

had a run-in a year. I could ask some questions about

that. At but they both survived, and

and point that's, that's terrific.

I mean, it's a neat. I think it was race to they've

and a horse off and and and I'm like the only one that is so

obsessed with the horse. That's because of 2019 is, you

know, a horse was fine. They're just doing a better

pre-screening job. The Vets are better.

Although I think I I saw the I did not read it yet, but I think

Pollock report had a story About the disconnect between Traders

and veterinarians that I need to go back and read.

And if they had that in the last last few days and I think it's

by Natalie boss and she does a really good job on those sorts

of things. So but they're still, you know,

those those are I think all in all it was a it was a pretty

good year for for racing, you know, I think in this is I know,

Mike's Big Mike's. Mantra is then be seated.

You did nothing to promote Flightline.

Yeah. And I don't know, could you have

gotten people interested to see this superhorse?

I I'd like to think that you could have got some people with

me. You're not going to appreciably

change it but and then of course you know again looking at TV in

the future as a lot of the stuff that goes with this coming year

that the Belmont moves to the fox theh@fox and you know, the

splintering of Braces. I mean, it was kind of nice when

you could get it all in one place, but now you need to go to

go to Fox. Or you've got to go to to

FanDuel /, PVP is just, just kind of, kind of interesting to

see how that one plays out. But all in all, you know, a

good. What was your favorite moment of

this year? Yeah, we were talking about this

and I It was cool seeing flight line in the in the Breeders Cup

and I will say about Flightline. I do think that the good thing

about flight line and the three places he ran this year.

All three of those places really care about horse racing.

So New York fans like that, that mild day, right?

That about, you know, that day that Belmonte is such a huge day

in New York, you know, he runs a Delmar people in San Diego and

that's our number one market for this show and And they love

their freaking horse racing, so that's awesome.

And then he goes to Lexington in Lexington's our number one

market, in, in Kentucky, and people just really care about

horse racing in those places. So, I thought it was, it was

cool that he ran in places where people really give a bleep about

horse racing so that to me was, was great.

I mean, it's hard not to point to that pacific classic John.

I mean, I just, he took when he, when he accelerated On The Backs

on the back stretch before the second turn.

I thought, oh no. Is he going to early as this?

And then it should he didn't slow down?

He just wanted to go. He did, it was a good field.

It was a good, it was a good field.

I agree. And, you know, again, I still

chocolate with baffert told me afterwards.

He said, I am were 61 because he can see anybody in front of

them, you know, and that was Country Grammar.

So I of course I can't let you go without challenging.

You on your comment a couple of shows ago.

Oh yeah. Please do.

Yeah. As is, is that Santa Anita?

It is just the AAA track, it's the major league, the Tampa Bay

Rays of horse racing and because you are such a homer for

Kentucky. You've got it is not okay good

for that. So basically so basically the

two major league tracks you would say in Kentucky is one

that doesn't give give doesn't care about horse racing, but

four or five days a year and doesn't know how to put down the

turf course we're. Okay.

And the other one is the track that you say is all about

breathing and sales and I said, I don't think that I don't think

he lives in Major League truck so hoop.

So what's the major league? I think there is one I think

Saratoga is one. I think Belmont is one.

That might be it. Okay, that might be it.

Here's here's what I would say about, Southern California, when

you run, when you run a grade two for two hundred thousand

dollars in a place where it costs, five times as much money

to live as it does. In other places that offer four

times as much money or whatever you're in, you're running

67,000, you're running Maiden special weight sets and Anita

for less money than Turf way. You're not a major league track.

You know, the first structure is the economics of California

racing. Just a horrible.

They've, you know, I when you had jelqing long arm, you know,

he talked to the workman's comp stuff is just like he said, it

three times. It must be awful.

It is. It is horrendous.

And, and it cost money to live in southern Kevin, Costner, much

weight of look to live up to their Golden Gate, although it's

close enough to the Bay Area, San Francisco's, a more

expensive place to live in Los Angeles.

Angela's agree. Yes.

But, you know I California racing is is certainly always in

some, in some Peril in some, you know, and will they ever shut

down Northern California and move all the racing?

The Southern California? That's certainly been talked

about. But the problem is the horses

that run at Northern California, you can't afford to run them in

Southern California, act, correct.

And yeah. You shut down, Northern

California, those horses wouldn't go to La.

They would go somewhere else, they would they would go

somewhere else. Yeah, I talked to Chris MERS,

the original secretary Cena need on one day and I asked them

what's the horse population? And he said yeah it's about the

same. We've got we've got about 1,200

here. We've got about 500 at at the

table we re about 300 Los Alamitos.

So you're looking at two thousand horses they had made

great. All sizes the first day.

Yeah, I was. But you do you grow weary of the

four horse States? You know, they normally start.

No, that's why baffert in there so many horses, used to make

them race run and then of course, you can always stretch

one but it's it's something to watch and we'll see how it goes.

I still. So delmar's that major league

either, just I think it's the closest to Major League in

Southern California. Yes, I think I just think that.

The / structure and different things at Del Mar, the field

sizes are way, more attractive than whatever is happening

currently in San Anita. And it isn't look.

I think sanity is actually, I think it's major league, but I

think it's, like, the Tampa Bay Rays and not the Yankees.

That's what I'm getting at. So, like, it isn't, it isn't

that, it isn't serious, that the sanity of the Derby, isn't

serious, that the Malibu is answer.

Those are clearly grade 1 races. That isn't it?

It's just what your biggest race of the Year feed.

Someone else's biggest race of the year, you're not the top of

the Heap. That's that's what I was in.

Yeah and I love going to Pimlico but it's you know, I've been

there a bunch. It's not it's not major league,

it just isn't and the Preakness is fun, that weekend's awesome

but it's not it's to me, it's not major league so well.

I mean I love covering Preakness way more than I do, Kentucky

Derby. Oh but you know and when you

when you're done and the stands and the building has not

collapsed upon you, you feel that you Accomplished something

the toilet. Flushes.

It's a good day. Oh yeah.

Well, that's true. No, I mean, everything is just

sort of the back room and that their Championship beat is

really good, but then the rest of the year is just, oh my

goodness. What?

You know, get like all the horses.

Why would you do that? But it also to, you know, as

you're too much racing, it's that's a serious question and I

don't know the answer to that but I would love to have the

major league. You know, like this.

Not like what people really think of their tracks like, you

know. So, you know, we've we've done

shows up at Horseshoe in Indianapolis and I think of them

as sort of double A, you know, that kind of thing.

And and that's it doesn't mean that the racing product is bad

or that they don't have really good field sizes or whatever.

You know, the Rubbermaid specials for 32, right?

And that's, you know, on par with what Delta Downs.

Yeah, it does look like that. And so I mean which I know I

don't know where I would put Delta Downs.

The in the pantheon of are made up Major League Baseball,

rankings of tracks, but like it, you know, like I said, I think

of, you know, when you're running, you know, I mean

they're running a listed Stakes for 125, butterfly, this weekend

and Senator runs great 3, 4 100 and it's just not I don't know,

it just it doesn't feel. I don't know, I don't know why

those numbers really bother me but they do, you know what?

I put my finger on, you know sa L runs straight threes for 100.

Because I can because because they have to, but I prayed for

his have to be 100, your grades have to be two.

Great ones have to be 3 and you know, without that I could see

some 75,000 grade threes, I don't know.

But yeah, the purse is out there are just really unfair.

Basically, you know, again the Malibu is it, is that like a six

hundred thousand dollars? No, it's a 300,000.

Is it 3,000? She's okay.

Yeah I mean if you if I had a horse I think it's - it's on

your show. Previously, I had a horse, I

would just like try to run with. Watch it Kentucky down Society.

Yeah right. Yeah, that's right.

I mean even even Jonathan long as like yeah.

Whole God if we get it a Kentucky down so you get 50,000

just for walking on the track. I think it is that place, I

don't know what to make of it because it's not Of course it's

a meadow and I just, I don't know quite what to make of it.

I mean it's it's fun because of all the money flying around and

the payouts are ridiculous and whatever else, but it's also

very again, it's Meadow racing, not surprising.

So yeah, it's so it's so painful for sure.

Yeah, I know, I think homeless, you know, he, I think he does

the call him there, and I've talked to me, he'll tell you how

absolutely tough that place. That is to call races.

Oh sure. But anyway, well, I'm looking at

the clock here and we're at 50 minutes.

Yes, sir. And the last two bonus episodes

you did. We're Russian freaking novels

that went and you know, as your editor as your only editor.

Yes. Fair longer is not always

better. You're correct.

And like there are two movies that I want to say that I would

like to see right now that I'm not going to go see.

I'd like to see Avatar but it's at like 317 or 380 know like see

Babylon and that's what like 306 or 308.

It's you know, that's Then the prophet and the reason that it

happened in movies is when they went from silver, nitrate to

digital because it was expensive to do all those reels mosa,

that's where movies. That's, why movies were shorter.

And now it's just like whatever they want because it's digital

and the theaters don't like it because they have fewer showings

because the movies are on longer.

Hmm. So anyway, that's that's, that's

how's that for getting off topic.

I never saw. The first avatar.

Did I miss out? It was pretty spectacular, 4/4

time. And that was specially at the

time. Yeah, right.

Yes, it's time. And now would you know, the CGI

is, is every movie and it was pretty good.

But I, I don't know. I just if I'm going to watch a

three hour movie, I think I kind of like to watch it at home or I

could recognize stop and go get a drink and bathroom, do

whatever it is, you do. You know, rather than having to

sit there for three-plus hours. And anyway, that's so you know,

I just think, just give this as friendly editor, advice about

about think of think of your listeners is, do they really

have an hour and a half to give you or they rather give you, you

know? Well, you must, you must be

loving my solo. Winter shows them that are like

35 and 40 minutes long, look at me go.

All right, well, he is John server Edge.

A server on Twitter. Go find his stuff at the LA

Times Ellie times.com slash sports for all of their stuff.

How many? How many pieces did you end up

getting put out for the Malibu did?

I just did two stories and did a Frankie story and I did a Malibu

story. Cool.

No, I did it. Frankie store in the bathroom

story was going to be at a table story.

But only backward, 15 races later, you know, it's told still

like with In the pr guy there, I says, you know, you always come

here with the with the hope that you're not going to right Bob

even though he's you know, he's accessible and everything else.

He's good but you always end up writing Bob.

So so also to we would be remiss if we didn't wish all your

readers listeners, happy New Year and you are the last

episode before the new year. So good work out of you and

yeah, no, I love doing these games.

View episodes. There's some of our most popular

for sure. People love these things and it

is good to do content. When the racing is, is lesson

soon. Yeah, I'm not.

What's the first next big prep? I guess it's like the prep that

leads to the Press. Well I mean there's like I think

there's 10 or 12 graded Stakes on Saturday so it's not like

there isn't racing. It's just, you got to be in tune

with the Florida scene. He's got a bunch of them.

I do this. What three this weekend?

Yeah, I think so. Yeah.

Couple great shoes. And so ya know like you know,

I'll tell you what, for all of the all of the chest beating I

do about about Churchill the fact that they're running a

majority of their races on that Turf course and that's going to

be fine as an Anita is a testament to what they're doing

inside of you because it looks great and it plays very fair.

That course is really excellent. Yeah.

And maybe one day someone can explain to me why Churchill

cannot put in a Turf course. I think it's a very, very

reasonable question. All right, John okay.

Let's get out of here. We thank you.

We thank you for listening. Let's get out of here.

We thank you. We thank you for listening.