Not true at all my dear Betsy! The channel is not only available in the DC-Metro area through the cable providers but it’s broadcast over the air by the local NBC affiliate. So, God forbid you break both legs and are stuck at home, you could watch it from the comfort of your living room with rabbit ears or in the atmosphere of a local sports bar.
As an aside it was sad to read that Little Eveglades Steeplechase is cancelled for 2010, M/M Bob Blanchard lost Mercedes-Benz as the signature sponsor.
Already LES butted heads with the NSA and pulled out of being sanctioned while the NSA backed and upstart 'chasing event in Palm Beach.
Lex - the info on Universal ‘not’ being in Virginia came from the Int’l Gold Cup peeps themselves.
???
Well, they were misinformed or simply uninformed. I got it straight from the network.
Over the air is 4.3
Verizon FIOS is 464
RCN Cable is 29
Cox Communications Digital Cable is 807
Comcast Cable is 207
TVG will carry this new day of steeplechasing live, but hey if you’re in New Jesey why not check it out yourself?
Monmouth Park-Meridian Health Steeplechase Festival
Saturday Sept 26, 2009 which is the first time in almost 15-years that 'chasing will be held at Monmouth Park (NJ)
The day begins at Monmouth Park with traditional flat races, followed by steeplechase races. Plans call for six jump races as part of a full day of racing and other activities at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, New Jersey. Potential starters include stakes winners Slip Away, Best Attack, Four Schools, Swagger Stick, Left Unsaid, Seer, Dynaskill and Moon Dolly.
Presented in partnership with the National Steeplechase Association and Monmouth Park. Proceeds benefiting patient care programs supported through the Meridian Health Foundation.
I inquired about Steppenwolfer and his fall racing debut.
The plan (as it stands now) will be run him on the flat at Foxfield (Sep 27) and then just maybe in the maiden at the New Jersey half (Far Hills) of the Steeplechase Championship day.
(Entries for Foxfield close tomorrow - Sep 22nd)
[QUOTE=Glimmerglass;4346019]
Steppenwolfer was sold in late Spring of this year to Polaris Stables (who as you know own among others ‘Preemptive Strike’) and trainer Sanna N. Hendriks with Sean Clancy having a hand in the transaction. [/QUOTE]
For Mixed Up it looks like the wheels have fallen off on his quest to be the next Good Night Shirt. In Sunday’s (9-20) Lonesome Glory Hurdle S. (NSA-G1) at Belmont Park he finished dead last. Although the race was won by a 21-1 long shot Red Letter Day. Sermon of Love finished 2nd to last.
Of note, Glim, did you see that Ken McPeek is going to give it a try over jumps? He’s got a maiden hurdler for Foxfield, friend of mine rode the horse for him this summer.
[QUOTE=SteeleRdr;4390678]
Of note, Glim, did you see that Ken McPeek is going to give it a try over jumps? He’s got a maiden hurdler for Foxfield, friend of mine rode the horse for him this summer.[/QUOTE]
I haven’t but I’ll be sure to look for him when the etries come out.
A lot more trainers and owners seemingly are exploring the option of chasing as a second career for good horses that just aren’t cutting it on the track. Plus as the NSA gets more linked with the wagering outlets there is possibly going to be more money for purses. The fact that the Ramsey’s have chasers - something I never thought I’d see - says a lot.
http://www.st-publishing.com/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=995&Itemid=73
Here’s the little blurb I saw today. Old Man Buck is scheduled to use Foxfield just as a school/learning experience.
SteeleRider - very cool with Old Man Buck
Foxfield 32nd Annual Fall (9-27) Races (pdf)
Race 2 Training Flat. 1-1/16 Miles on the Turf.
Horse 1: Steppenwolfer with Jodie Petty up for Polaris Stables
Rae 5 Purse $15,000. Maiden Hurdle. 2-1/8 Miles over National Fences
Horse 1: Old Man Buck with J Roberts up
LIVE STREAMING VIDEO OF FOXFIELD FALL RACES
The NSA and Foxfield Fall Races will conduct live streaming video of the Foxfield Races on their websites on Sunday, September 27. Viewers will be able to see all the live action with post time for the first race at 1:30 p.m.
To view the races, go to the NSA’s website, www.nationalsteeplechase.com or Foxfield’s website, www.foxfieldraces.com and click on the link on the homepage.
Looks like the NSA is going ahead with their own wagering system in less then a week …
On Monday, September 28, the NSA is launching its own wagering platform at jump2bet.com . Fans will be able to wager on selected racetracks around the country, with additional tracks being added in the coming weeks. We hope to be able to offer wagering on all the nation’s top thoroughbred racetracks, in addition to a variety of steeplechase venues, in the future. Watch live video streams and view full program information, such as odds and changes, and see race replays and archives for free.
Jump2Bet.com, specifically, is a promotional gateway for eBet Technologies, Inc, which is incorporated in the State of Nevada and is licensed as a Multi-Jurisdictional Account Wagering Hub, regulated through the State of Oregon under the rules and laws of the State of Oregon and the United States of America.
I wonder if the goal is more to help fund (if not fatten up) the purses or simply to energize more would-be fans and horse racing attention. You’d think the NSA would pitch a deal with say TVG to get the same end result.
Wow, bold move by the NSA, and long overdue. Here’s the website www.jump2bet.com.
I imagine though that meets in states with no parimutuel wagering, Carolinas, Tennessee etc will still be off limits. I also don’t see them attracting many meat and potatoes bettors, given the historical apathy and aversion US bettors have towards handicapping and betting on jump races. It’ll be interesting to see what kind of handle it generates, any thing is better than nothing. I wonder if that also means on-track parimutuel will now also be available at many of these meets?
The live video and replays in and off itself make it worthwhile signing up.
Looks like I’ll definitely be at the Int’l Gold Cup. The defending winner of the Old Dominion Turf race will be coming back, not with us, but another trainer, as the trainer I work for just didn’t have the time for the horse at the moment.
I’ll be there with I’m Telling and Maximize, who both won this weekend at Middleburg. Pulled huge upsets.
OMG I’m Telling was amazing. So was Maximize.
Look for huge efforts (Read – betting opportunity!) at Gold Cup.
HR-
Do you know if any of the other photographers from yesterday have websites? I know Susan and Sarah both couldn’t make it.
As for Telly, not bad for the horse who none of the jockeys would ride in the Spring before Jacob took the ride!
I can’t wait to see them!! 
Ok. Looks like TexAng is coming in for the IGC races. We’re meeting up at my place and coming over around noon. First race is just after 1, I think.
Looks like (and, seriously, no offense intended; I’m just whining) that GlimmerG does not want to meet up with us. :o( We/I have made repeated offers to get together but to no avail.
JSwan, WateryG, etc. whoever wants to, we’ll do a paddock rendezvous before hte first race. How about meet up at the entrance from the winners circle to the stewards stand enclosure? Its manned by a cop, but you can ask for me (Betsy Parker) or look for TexAng and a gaggle of fetching friends.
Hope to see lots of folks there!
I won’t be able to make it to the paddock before the first race between getting everything set and making sure my horses are ready, but I’ll be in the paddock during the post for the 1st race. I’ve got one in the first race (Mighty Valdiar) and one in the second (I’m Telling). Here’s to everything going ok!
[QUOTE=Hunter’s Rest;4434035]
First race is just after 1, I think.
Looks like (and, seriously, no offense intended; I’m just whining) that GlimmerG does not want to meet up with us. :o( [/QUOTE]
Not true as I’m happy to meet and greet with everyone. I am however staying very close by (The Plains) so for us we’re likely to go at our leisure with getting down to Great Meadows late in the morning. We have dinner at Goodstone that evening so at best we’re trying to guess how congested it will be and how much time we have to account for getting in and out.
It looks like mother nature is not going to cooperate as it will be chilly and most likely raining.
Applicable more to those watching the race on tv in the States or internationally and interested with the New Jersey portion of the races:
Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG) has entered into an agreement with the National Steeplechase Association (NSA) to host the pari-mutuel pools on the six hurdle races from the Far Hills Race Meeting that will comprise the inaugural U.S. Steeplechase Championships Oct. 17.
The six events being conducted in Far Hills, N.J., will be combined with five races from the International Gold Cup in The Plains, Va., to form the first Championship Day and will be featured on a live five-hour broadcast by NBC Universal Sports and on www.universalsports.com .
Races on the Far Hills card will be broadcast internationally in the United Kingdom and Ireland on the dedicated horse racing channel “At The Races”. Simulcast coverage will also extend the European audience with Satellite Information Services distribution into off-track betting outlets in Germany, as well as the UK and Ireland.
America’s top jumpers will compete in races worth $550,000 in prize money. Highlight of the day will be the Grade I American Grand National, the nation’s premier race, for a $250,000 purse over 14 fences.
The race program will attract the very best jumping horses in training and includes prospective champions in several National Steeplechase Association divisions, from Three-Year-Olds to Novices to Open horses.
The following is the schedule for U.S. Championship Day (all times EDT):
12:50 pm Peapack (Filly & Mare Hurdle Stakes) 2m1f (turf) $ 50,000
1:30 pm Harry E. Harris (Maiden Hurdle Stakes) 2m1f (turf) $ 50,000
2:15 pm Appleton (Restricted Hurdle Stakes) 2m1f (turf) $ 50,000
3:00 pm Foxbrook (Novice Hurdle Stakes) 2m4f (turf) $100,000
3:55 pm Grand National (Gr. I Hurdle Stakes) 2m5f (turf) $250,000
4:40 pm Gladstone (Three-Year-Old Hurdle Stakes) 2m1f (turf) $ 50,000
I assume the entries and details at Great Meadows will be released soon.
