Fantasy Racing
Welcome to the Weekly Fantasy Racing Challenge. July has arrived!! That means that we are only weeks away from openings of two of our most popular tracks annually, Del Mar and Saratoga. For racing fans this is one of the most exciting times of the year. There are great stakes races run from coast to coast and our hot jockeys and trainers really build some important momentum. For you it is a chance to hook your WFRC wagon to some stars who will bring you success and bragging rights that they can never take away. There are also some significant events going on in racing, mostly as a result of the Eight Belles accident following the Kentucky Derby and racing is getting a lot of headlines that are negative in tone. We certainly wish you all have a chance to tune in to the Oaklawn Handicappers' Hour this Saturday morning (9:07-10:00 a.m. CDT) so that you can hear leading owner Maggi Moss address some of the negative things going on in racing. Maggi, much like many of you, is bullish on racing and very positive in her approach. Those of you who are playing this competition know that racing, while a business, is intended to be fun for the public and it is her hope (and ours) that we can reestablish that element to the sport we have all grown to know and love. So, as we set off on to another great month of our sport, let's do our homework and enjoy this holiday weekend for all it's worth. Although there is a holiday on Friday, we will be making selections this weekend for Saturday and Sunday ONLY.We had a great competition in June, so let's hope we can keep it going this month. Do your best to get off to a good start. Once you get rolling, you might just be very tough to catch. As we always say, do your homework and good luck. The entries you make this week are for Saturday-Sunday, July 5-6.
Remember that, since we are operating with a new website, if you have not already done so, you'll need to go through the registration process again. Click here to register. But this does remain the best FREE horse racing contest on the Internet, so you will not be asked for any money to play. In the meantime, don't hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have. For the Simulcast Season you will be selecting four jockeys and four trainers from tracks we are simulcasting. All of the jockeys and trainers will be of equal (one point) value. They will get 5 points for a win, 3 points for a second and 1 point for a third. The Simulcast Season version of the Weekly Fantasy Racing Challege continues with the races of this Saturday-Sunday, July 5-6.
For the month of July, we will all be aware of the great champions in the sport, so it's time to offer a copy of the great book, Champions, to our monthly winner. If you're a racing fan, this book is a must, with pictures and complete records of the greatest race horses since the beginning of the twentieth century. And, as usual, weekly winners will win an Oaklawn cap.
For the past weekend we ended with a tie for the win between Steve Wolsleger of Lincoln, Nebraska, and Roger B. of Swansea, Illinois.That twosome finished five points ahead of Jackie Varicak of Lincoln, Nebraska, Irvin Powell of Versailles, Kentucky and Curt Morse of Sparta, Tennessee, who tied for third.
Steve and Roger had the same team for the week. They used the best-possible trainer team of Mike Maker (11 points), Dale Romans (12 points), Allen Milligan (13 points) and Danny Pish (12 points), combined with a jockey squad of Jessee Campbell 20 points), Cornelio Velasquez (30 points), Jamie Theriot (14 points) and Eddie Castro (20 points), for a total of 132 points. Irvin and Curt also used the best-possible trainer team of Maker, Romans, Milligan and Pish, but Irvin's jockey squad included Velasquez, Theriot, Castro and Victor Espinoza (15 points), while Curt's jockeys were Campbell, Velasquez, Castro and Richard Eramia (9 points). Jackie got the same 127 point total by using jockeys Campbell, Velasquez, Theriot and Castro, combined with trainers Maker, Romans, Milligan and Jeff Mullins (7 points). The best-possible score for the weekend would have been 133 points and required a team of jockeys Campbell, Velasquez, Espinoza and Castro, added to the trainer combo of Maker, Romans, Milligan and Pish. For their great work Steve and Roger will each be receiving an Oaklawn cap.
Thanks to his big finish Roger B. of Swansea, Illinois edged out Charlie Pachtler of Strongsville, Ohio, by four points in the June competition, while Curt Morse finished another five points back in a terrific competition that went right down to the proverbial eleventh hour.Once again we encourage you to get off to a good start for the month of July. It's going to be an exciting month in racing and most certainly will again in the WFRC. Don't forget to do your homework. Remember you're picking jockeys and trainers for Saturday-Sunday, July 5-6.
Good Luck
The Commissioner's Office
If you have any questions regarding this Contest, please contact Oaklawn via email at commissioner@oaklawn.com.
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