Any racing fan knows that Todd Pletcher wouldn’t be caught dead in a cheap suit, on almost any given Saturday Todd can be spotted in the clubhouse or the saddling ring in one of his fashionable and neatly pressed custom made suits. Like his cool demeanor, Todd’s suits are part of his trademark [...]
Entries Tagged as ‘MEC’
March 5, 2008
Can I Get A $5 Obama/Clinton Exacta Box?
Inspiration for posts from news in the racing world has alluded me this week. Yet with the hotly contested battle for the Democratic Presidential nomination resembling that epic battle between Rags To Riches and Curlin in last year’s Belmont Stakes, I started to wonder what kind of action a horseplayer could find on a [...]
March 1, 2008
Could MEC Be Bankrupt by Derby Day?
After about ten minutes of reassurances by MEC top management that things would turn around in the latest MEC Earnings Conference Call, one investor asked Frank when MEC would be getting a new CEO. Stronach’s answer and the tone of his voice were very telling. His answer was that basically they’re still looking but Frank [...]
February 29, 2008
That’s One Big Rat Hole You Got There!
It’s been a good week here in the blogosphere, with the Breeders Cup changes creating a lot of buzz and traffic on this site is way up. I think that is partially due to the fact that many racing fans enjoy the open exchange of ideas and opinions here at the TBA.
We may not [...]
February 29, 2008
That’s One Big Rat Hole You Got There!
It’s been a good week here in the blogosphere, with the Breeders Cup changes creating a lot of buzz and traffic on this site is way up. I think that is partially due to the fact that many racing fans enjoy the open exchange of ideas and opinions here at the TBA.
We may not [...]
January 3, 2008
The Evil That Men Do Lives After Them
The Demolition of Gulfstream Park</strong
OK, so maybe this is a little overly dramatic but this line from Julius Caesar sums up my feelings on this opening day of the Gulfstream meet. All we can do is hope he never gets his hands on Saratoga.
The damage that can be done by a guy [...]
November 14, 2007
Pity the Poor MEC Executives and Their Worthless Stock Options
It’s no secret that MEC is a revolving door as far as executive staff is concerned. Frank changes his staff nearly as often as I change my underwear(and that’s daily if you were wondering). But a visit to the Yahoo Insider Trading page for MEC reveals a few interesting bits of information about executive compensation [...]
September 24, 2007
Magna Buys Out De Francis, Can Slots Be Far Behind?
Magna (MEC) announced today that it has exercised its option, pursuant to an agreement with Joseph De Francis to acquire the remaining interest in The Maryland Jockey Club (“MJC”) that it does not already own. MJC is the trade name under which Pimlico Race Course and Laurel Park operate. Magna will pay De Francis approximately [...]
September 15, 2007
Stronach Finally Admits His Blunders at Gulfstream
It was a bitter pill to swallow and sounding pained and bit like Wolfgang Puck when the wiener schnitzel burns, Big Frank finally conceded in this investor conference call (15:33 into call) that many mistakes were made at Gulfstream Park. In particular he acknowledged that the lack of seating for racing fans is a problem [...]
September 13, 2007
auf Wiedersehen Ebreichsdorf
Responding to pressure from angry investors, Magna Entertainment (MECA) announced the details of a debt reduction plan which will require a fire sale of tracks like Thistledown, Portland Meadows and even Frank’s pet project, the racino in Ebreichsdorf, Austria (which looks like Gulfstream without the palm trees to me).
The deal requires a $100 [...]
