A new satellite wagering facility is now open Wednesdays through Sundays at Barretts on the Fairplex Park grounds. It replaces the wagering area in the grandstand clubhouse.

Tracks across North America are on the betting menu.

Seating is available on an outdoor patio and indoors in the restaurant area or in the sales arena. The latter includes free electrical hookups and internet access.

The renovated food service includes drinks, salads, appetizers, sandwiches and desserts.

Parking and admission is free. Enter at Gate 12 on White Ave., south of Arrow Hwy.

Special dates:

• April 4: Santa Anita Derby Day, open 9 a.m.
• May 2: Kentucky Derby Day, open 7:30 a.m.
• May 16: Preakness Stakes Day, open 7:30 a.m.
• June 6: Belmont Stakes Day, open 7:30 a.m.

“Good grief!” Charlie Brown, owned by Jeremy and Irene Templeman of Yucaipa, is the grand champion of the first ever Fairplex Park Wiener dog races! He crushed the competition from the seven-post in Heat 4, and in the final he followed a tractor tread straight to the “Wiener’s Circle.” The Templeman’s winning tactics included constantly squeezing a squeaky ball and screaming, “Charlie!”

Charlie looked like a professional 10-year-old gelding compared to some other Dachshunds during the day. Like a two-year-old horse just learning to race, some broke badly at the start and were easily distracted (as evidenced in this video).

Members of the horse racing community were among the owners, including trainer Kristin Mulhall, Barretts vice president of sales Kim Lloyd, sales consignor Sam Hendricks, and various members of the Craigmyle clan. Teams traveled from as nearby as Pomona and as far away as Grants Pass, Oregon.

Some breed-appropriate names in the program were Lord Brownie Der Wiener, Miss Weenie, Halloweenie, Oscar, Weenie, Wiener, and Frank Shorter. Others included Penny Lane, Gidget Christmas, Zoey O Cordaro, Starrynight, Zoom Zoom, Ditto, and Minnie the Moocher.

Whether they ran straight and strong to their cheering owners at the finish, or took a detour, the Wiener dogs provided great laughs and entertainment.

For more photos of the 2008 Fairplex Park Wiener dog races, click here.

Correction for the Sept. 12 entry:

The first wiener dog race will be around 1:40 p.m., with the final at approximately 4:40 p.m between the 10th and 11th horse races.

The horse-themed “Hoofprints” exhibit is in the Millard Sheets Center for the Arts during this year’s Los Angeles County Fair. Beginning with a replica of primitive horse drawings in the caves of Lascaux, the exhibit takes one through a chronological and geographic history of the horse.
     Included in “Hoofprints” is a large section on horse racing. The centerpiece is a trio of Triple Crown trophies won by owners Bob and Beverly Lewis, including those from Silver Charm’s 1997 Kentucky Derby win and Commendable’s 2000 Belmont Stakes win. Prominent in the center is the prize from Charismatic’s 1999 Preakness Stakes victory - a replica of the Woodlawn Vase, the most valuable trophy in American sports. Another well-known trophy on display is that which commemorates Seabiscuit’s upset win over War Admiral in the inaugural 1938 Pimlico Special.
     Along with these famous trophies are historical paintings and sculptures of some of racing’s brightest stars, with many items from the California Thoroughbred Foundation, and other miscellaneous displays. Archival film footage rolls on a television, and a speaker sounds stories recounting famous moments in horse racing, including Secretariat’s 1973 Belmont Stakes win.
     For a little slice of horse racing history without the trip to the National Racing Museum and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, New York, take a stroll through “Hoofprints” at this year’s L.A. County Fair. For more information click here.
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“Everybody loves a Wiener!”

     This Sunday, Sept.. 14, is the first running of wiener dog races at Fairplex Park Come witness the heart-pounding action as these short-legged canines break from the gate and gallop, trot, or wander towards their owners at the finish line. They even have their own numbered, color-coded saddlecloths like racehorses.
     There will be eight qualifying heats between live horse races, with the final race after the 11th horse race. A total purse of $5,000 is up for grabs. The first heat on Sunday is at 1:15 p.m., and the final is at approximately 5:15 p.m.

 If you are looking to avoid the crowds of the Los Angeles County Fair but still want to wager on Fairplex Park and other tracks, come to the comfortable and convenient wagering area now open within the Barretts auction complex on the Fairplex grounds.

The Barretts wagering area opens at 10:30 a.m. and closes after the last southern California Thoroughbred race is run (usually around 6 p.m.). It will stay open now through Sunday, September 28 for all live racing days.

Enter through the guard shack at Gate 12 off of White Ave. For maps and directions see Google maps and Fairplex maps and directions.

Admission is $3 pre-fair, and $10 (includes program) during the fair, September 5 - 28. Anyone showing a valid account I.D. from any California licensed account wagering provider (Tracknet, TVG, TwinSpires.com, Xpressbet, Youbet) receives free admission.

Both air conditioned indoor seating and outdoor patio seating are available. You won’t miss any action with 25 flat panel televisions located throughout the area. Food and beverages are available for purchase, as well as drinks from a full service bar.

If you want the same great wagering menu at a different pace, come to the Barretts wagering area.

Beginning Wednesday, June 18, Fairplex Park will be offering Senior’s 55 and over, FREE admission to satellite wagering in the clubhouse.  Please note you must sign up or be an existing member of the Race Fan Club Card at Fairplex.

In addition, the following promotions will take place starting that week.

Weekly Promotions:

Thursdays:     Trifecta Thursdays.  Beginning Friday, June 20, receive an entry for every Trifecta ticket cashed for $200 or more.  On Thursdays at 4:30 p.m., we will draw five names from the pool of entries for $100 each.  Each person will have 15 minutes to claim their prize or another name will be drawn. Must be present to win and a member of the Race Fan Club Card.  Entry periods run from Friday through Thursday with the drawing to take place on Thursday through August 28.

Friday:            In the Money.  Beginning Friday, June 20, Race Fan Club Card members can test their handicapping skill by picking a horse that finishes “In the Money” (1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd) of the sixth race at Hollywood Park or Del Mar.  Show your Race Fan Club Card to receive an entry into the contest.  After the sixth race, we will draw five names from those who chose the winner correctly to win $100.  Each person will have 15 minutes to claim their prize or another name will be drawn. Must be present to win.

Weekends:      Jump into our $5,000 Stakes Pool. Every Saturday & Sunday we will designate one stakes race from around the country (two races per weekend).  Just pick the winner and you will win an entry into our $5000 Drawing which will take place on Labor Day Weekend.  On Sat Aug 30, we will draw 20 names.  Each name drawn will win $50.  On Sunday Aug 31, we will draw 40 names.  Each name will win $50.  On Monday Sept 1, we will draw another 40 names.  Each name will win $50 for a total of $5000.  Winner must be present.  Each person will have 15 minutes to claim their prize or another name will be drawn.  Multiple prizes can be won.

Date Specific Promotions:

Win, Place and Showdown.  The popular contest will take place on June 21 and 22, July 12 and 13, August 2 and 3, and August 16 and 17.  Your chance to win a share of $1,000 on each contest weekend.

Stay, Play or Pay:  Hollywood Gold Cup, June 28.  American Oaks and Cash Call Mile, July 5 and the San Diego Handicap, July 19.

Entries for Stay, Play, or Pay will close 30 minutes before the showcased Stakes Race.  Names will be drawn 15 minutes to post (dependent on number of starters) and five alternates.  Must be present to win.  You will have 10 minutes to go to the Ops Office and report to Steve Rittenour with picture I.D. and Race Fan Club Card.

As each name is drawn you will receive that post position.  At that time you must decide whether or not you want to Stay with a $100 win bet on that horse that you are assigned, Play a different horse in that race with a $50 win bet or Pay and receive $25.

Rules for Stay, Play, and Pay:

1.            Must be a member and present Race Fan Club Card to receive an entry into Stay, Play, or Pay.  No exceptions.  Entry forms are available at Program Stand in Clubhouse Lobby.  Entries are accepted at program booths until the posted time of 30 minutes before the published post time of the showcased stake race.
2.             If a horse is a late scratch after the time of the contestant draw and you have a wager on it you will receive the refund.
3.             Entries are limited to one per person.  Anyone with more than one entry will be disqualified on all of his or her entries.   Patrons must be at least 18 years of age and a member of the Fairplex Park Race Fan Club Card to participate.
4.             Employees or former employees of Fairplex, SCOTWINC and their immediate family members, agents, successors, or assignees of Fairplex or any promotional agency involved with this promotion is not eligible to participate in  this contest.
5.             Fairplex Park management reserves the exclusive right to interpret all questions and rules not covered in these rules and their decisions will be final.  Fairplex Park is not responsible for typographical errors.

That was the sound heard throughout racing on Saturday.  It was a disappointment to say the least but that is why you have to run the race.  The Belmont Stakes is a grueling race as is the whole Triple Crown.  According to the press, Big Brown has come out of the race relatively unscathed but it seems that the quarter crack and possible affect on his training regimen prior to the race may have been more than we thought.  So, on to next year!

But hey, all is not forlorn in the world of horse racing and particularly if you are in So. Cal.  We have some great racing at Hollywood Park coming up with the Hollywood Gold Cup on June 28 followed by the American Oaks and Cash Call Mile on July 5th.  Then it is on to Del Mar, seven of the best weeks of racing in the world beginning July 16. 

Of course after that we have the “Funnest” racing in North America at the Los Angeles County Fair.  We open September 5th and race everyday but Tuesday through September 24.  We have a lot on tap for this year’s meet so stay tuned.

Finally, don’t forget about Oak Tree and the first of two years of the Breeders’ Cup in So. Cal.  As of this point, we are hoping to be able to offer some great tickets to the Breeders’ Cup for fans who come out to live racing during the Fairplex Park meet so keep an eye out for that as well.

See, it isn’t all doom and gloom.  Big Brown did a great job captivating the world for awhile.  We have great horses just like him racing in California every weekend!  Come out and enjoy them.

One of my biggest pet peeves of this business of horse racing is how much negative press, jealousy, and doom and gloom it seems to generate.  We are on the verge of possibly witnessing history in the making and should be reveling in the hype rather than pointing fingers.  My reason for this post is the latest press discourse about Michael Iavarone, part owner of Big Brown.  It appears Mr. Iavarone has had some problems in the past so now, according to the press, we must dislike him and everything he represents.  Well Mr. Iavarone isn’t running on Saturday, Big Brown is.  Can we for once look at the positive this event is bringing to the business rather than try to point out some negative.  It just feeds my belief in the misery loves company aspect of life and that most reporters must be miserable!

But onward we go.  According to Dick Dutrow, trainer of Big Brown, things are all systems go.  The quarter crack is healing or at least behaving well and Big Brown may even breeze (have a workout) tomorrow in preparation for Saturday.

Don’t forget, Fairplex Park is open for simulcasting five days a week, Wednesday through Sunday.  We of course will be accepting wagers and showing the entire Belmont card beginning at 9:00 a.m. (gates open at 8:30) on Saturday, June 7.  The Belmont will actually run at approximately 3:15 p.m.

Two chances to win outside of the betting windows are also taking place on Saturday.  The first is our $5,000 Triple Crown Cash drawings.  If you were in attendance on KY Derby Day, you received a card to drop in the hopper that will be good for $100 if drawn.  For the Preakness you received a $75 card and on Saturday you will receive an entry card valued at $25.  If you did things right and came to all three events, you have the chance to win $200 in drawings but you must be here Saturday to win!

But that is not all, simply by picking the winner of the Belmont Stakes (by placing your $25 entry into a box representing one of the runners in the Belmont) you are eligible for a drawing for one of two $200 Best Buy Cards, a $100 Betting Voucher, or one of two $50 betting vouchers!  But you definitely need to be at Fairplex Park.  All drawings will take place after the Belmont Stakes but your entry must be in BEFORE the horses break from the starting gate in what should be a historic event!