Thursday, December 11, 2008

Harness Tracks



There are 46 harness tracks in the United States. They are clustered for the most part in the Northeast and Midwest, with a lone track on the West Coast in California. Cal Expo is home to the only harness track in the west. Also catering to the Thoroughbred crowd, this track in Sacramento also offers amateur racing for drivers who are licensed but have not been paid for their services.

Heading east, in Minnesota you can enjoy harness racing at the Running Aces Harness Park. This is one of many harness tracks that also offers a hotel and casino to its visitors. Live racing takes place from April to July, and simulcast races from around the country are shown in the off season. Iowa offers Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino. If you prefer Illinois, you can choose between Balmoral Park, Hawthorne Racecourse, Maywood Park or at two fairs: the Du Quoin State Fair and the Springfield, Illinois State Fair.

Michigan provides you with harness racing excitement at Hazel Park, Jackson Harness Raceway, Northville Downs, and Sports Creek Raceway. Indiana's harness racing tracks include Hoosier Park, Indiana Downs, and an annual meet at the Indiana State Fair. Kentucky isn't just for Thoroughbred racing, it also offers three prime harness tracks. Take your choice from Player's Bluegrass Downs, The Red Mile and Thunder Ridge. The Red Mile is home to the Kentucky Futurity, one of harness racing's Triple Crown jewels. Florida is home to Pompano Park Harness, which offers winter racing.

Ohio is home to Northfield Park, Raceway Park, Scioto Downs and a fine fair meet at the Delaware, Ohio Fair. Virginia has the Colonial Downs harness track, and Maryland offers Ocean Downs, which caters to family entertainment, and Rosecroft Raceway. Delaware has two tracks: Dover Downs and Harrington Raceway. New Jersey has Freehold Raceway and The Meadowlands, home of the Hambletonian. This is harness racing's biggest race of the year.

Pennsylvania hosts three harness tracks: Harrah's Chester Casino and Racetrack, The Meadows, which offers year-round live racing, and Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. New York is far and away the home of the most harness tracks in the United States. Batavia Downs, Buffalo Raceway, Monticello Raceway, Saratoga Gaming and Raceway, Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs will provide you with plenty of harness action. Yonkers Raceway is home to the Yonkers Trot, one of trotting's Triple Crown races. Goshen Historic Track sits in the "Cradle of the Trotter." Many famous harness horses are buried on site near the famous Hambletonian tree, beneath which Hambletonian, foundation sire of the Standardbred breed, grazed.

Massachusetts hosts the Plainridge Racecourse as its only harness track. New Hampshire is home to Rockingham Park. This track is home to the Breeders' Cup. Maine has two harness tracks: the Bangor Raceway and Scarborough Downs. Scarborough advertises free admission and parking. If you are fortunate enough to live near any of these harness tracks, take a day to enjoy the races! You may be bitten by the harness bug! It happens to most people who attend these exciting events. Many celebrities have gotten involved in harness racing because they went to the track one day and got bit by the racing bug.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Superbowl XLIII

In 2008, Super Bowl XLII featured the champion New York Giants from the National Football Conference pitted against the New England Patriots of the American Football Conference. This would crown the champions for the 2007 football season.

This was one of the most significant upsets in the history of the Super Bowl. The New York Giants, who had a 14-6 winning record, were playing against the New England Patriots who had an 18-1 winning record. Everything pointed to the Patriots winning the game. Well, it’s not over till it’s over! In a stunning upset, the New York Giants beat the New England Patriots by a score of 17-14. This prevented the Patriots from becoming the first team that was undefeated since the 1972 Miami Dolphins.

The Giants made a bit of history becoming the first wild card team from the NFC to ever win a Super Bowl. This was New York’s first title since January 1991 when they played in Super Bowl XXV. Bill Belichick coached the New England Patriots and the tagline for this Super Bowl was “Who Wants It More?” It was quite evident that the New York Giants were hungry for victory.

The Super Bowl Game was held on February 3, 2008, in Glendale, Arizona at the University of Phoenix Football Stadium. It turned out to be a rematch of the final game in the regular season. The New England Patriots came into Super Bowl XLII as 12-point favorites.

The telecast of Super Bowl XLII was the one that was the most watch of all time. There was an average of 97.5 million viewers in the U.S. alone and 148.3 total viewers that watched at least part of the game. The broadcast of the XLII Super Bowl achieved the highest Nielsen ratings for any game watched since Super Bowl XXXIV. This Super Bowl game was also the second most watched television program of all time here in the U.S.

This was indeed one of the greatest upsets in all of Super Bowl history. The New York Giants derailed the perfect season of the New England Patriots and they also turned around a mediocre regular season.

The New York Giants were 12 point underdogs as they headed into Super Bowl XLII. The New York Giants overcame the highest point spread to put the icing on the cake since the New England Patriots the St. Louis Rams as 14 point underdogs at Super Bowl XXXVI in 2001.

Now we have to set our sights on Super Bowl XLIII which will be held on February 1, 2009, down at Tampa Bay, Florida. You have to check out the latest Super Bowl odds for Super Bowl XLIII in the BetUS.com Sportsbook futures section.

For the NFC and the AFC, the long and grueling road ends here, in Tampa, FL. The Super Bowl is their one chance to step into gridiron greatness, their one chance to be crowned World Champions. Be there at the state-of-the-art Raymond James Stadium to see who will take home the coveted Lombardi Trophy. Don't get stuck watching the Super Bowl on the couch — get your exclusive Super Bowl tickets to experience the excitement live!