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) Despite setbacks, thoroughbred racing may return to Mich. in '08
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- It's no sure bet that thoroughbred horse racing will return to Michigan next year, although the odds greatly improved within the past few weeks.
Pari-mutuel horse racing featuring thoroughbreds has been held every year in Michigan since 1933, according to the state's Office of Racing Commissioner. The 75-year streak appeared likely to end next year when the operator of the state's lone thoroughbred track announced in January that the 2007 meet would be its last.
As with other states where there are alternative forms of legalized gambling such as casinos and lottery games, the popularity of horse racing in Michigan has been on the decline for years.
However, the sport got a boost when the state received applications from two experienced horse racing enthusiasts who want to conduct thoroughbred meets in 2008. More>> - (
) Judge orders hearing to determine horse owner's fate
A prominent racehorse owner is betting big on a final hearing which will settle the question of whether his horses can compete in the West Virginia Breeder's Classic later this month.Kanawha County Circuit Judge Charles King ruled Tuesday that the dispute between Raymond "Randy'' Funkhouser and the West Virginia Racing Commission will be finally decided at a hearing before an independent arbiter next Monday.
If the arbiter rules in Funkhouser's favor, he'll have enough time to enter four horses in the Breeder's Classic, scheduled for Oct. 20 at Charles Town Races & Slots.
The eight races in that event have a total purse of $1.45 million.
If, however, the arbiter rules against him, Funkhouser won't be able to appeal, and his horses -- some of which are favored to win their races -- won't run. More>>
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) Horse breeder may get race permit back
A horse breeder whose racing permit was suspended indefinitely by the state Racing Commission may get to enter his horses in the Oct. 20 West Virginia Breeders� Classic.But first, Raymond �Randy� Funkhouser, a fourth-generation breeder and president of the Charles Town Horsemen�s Benevolent and Protective Association, must convince a hearing examiner that he deserves to be reinstated.
Funkhouser�s horses were barred from racing at Charles Town Races & Slots on Oct. 2 after three racing stewards accused him of making false representations to the commission in order to have a rival horse excluded from the July 4 Charles Town Dash Invitational. Funkhouser�s horse Confucius Say won the race and its $100,000 purse.
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) Horse owner fights suspension from racing at Charles Town
A horse owner accused of misleading officials to get a rival horse scratched from a race is seeking an injunction to halt his indefinite suspension from thoroughbred racing at Charles Town Races & Slots.Stewards for the Jefferson County track suspended Raymond "Randy'' Funkhouser's occupational permit on Tuesday.
Funkhouser's lawyer, David Hammer of Martinsburg, said he filed a motion Thursday morning in Kanawha County Circuit Court seeking a temporary restraining order to keep the occupational permit in place. Funkhouser hopes to enter four horses in Charles Town's Oct. 20 West Virginia Breeder's Classic, which comprises eight races for a total purse of $1.45 million.
The suspension follows allegations that Funkhouser improperly influenced the West Virginia Racing Commission to get the horse Forest Park removed from the $100,000 Charles Town Dash Invitational. More>>
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) GOP picking up big contributions from gaming interests
As Florida's lawmakers mull expansion for the Seminole Tribe, owners of other gambling interests are pouring money into Republican campaign coffers, betting that big contributions will pay off for them.Many commercial gaming entities, including horse tracks, jai-alai frontons and dog tracks - are losing money and some pari-mutuels in Broward County and Tampa could soon see more competition from Indian-operated casinos.
Gov. Charlie Crist is in the middle of negotiations with the Seminoles that would allow blackjack and craps and perhaps other games not permitted at other Florida casinos in exchange for a cut of the action. That proposal would also give the tribe Las Vegas-style slots as well as table games.
In the three month quarter ending Sept. 30, gaming interests put more than $840,000 in the campaign accounts of Republicans - who control the Florida Legislature. More>>
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) Nobel prize season kicks off with medicine prize
STOCKHOLM (AFP) - The 2007 Nobel prize season kicks off Monday with the announcement of the medicine prize and runs through next Monday, with the fight against climate change tipped for the prestigious Peace Prize.As is tradition, the Nobel prize committees are keeping mum ahead of the much-awaited announcements, leaving observers to engage in a wild guessing game.
Americans tend to dominate the science prizes and last year they made a clean sweep, taking the medicine, physics, chemistry and economics awards.
Monday's medicine prize was to be announced at 0930 GMT at the earliest.
For the peace prize, to be announced in Oslo on Friday, a total of 181 individuals and organisations are known to have been nominated.
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