An Interview with HANA's Theresia Muller

On a visit to Santa Anita for Breeders' Cup, Theresia Muller, Treasurer of Horseplayers Association of North America (HANA), spoke about the organization and its goals. HANA is a grass roots, non-profit organization made up of horseplayers who are seeking to bring racing back to the prominence it once held in people's hearts on a national level.

Their stated goals include open access to all track signals for all ADWs, takeouts that are competitive with other forms of gambling, the abolishment of breakage, severe penalties for trainers who cheat, and odds updates in real time. To accomplish those goals, HANA is working to increase recognition of the players and their input by those who run racing.

Obviously a passionate horseplayer, Muller also talked about her handicapping methods. When I followed up with her after the Breeders' Cup weekend, she reported that she had been "moderately successful" with her wagering.

"Saturday was much more lucrative for me than Friday, highlighted with wins by Vale of York in the Juvenile and Smart Bid in the Damascus," said Muller. "And for me its very satifying nailing a longshot or two on Breeders' Cup day (also makes my getting up early each morning to hit Clockers Corner worth it)."

She thought the Breeders' Cup card was pretty good overall, with the undercard stakes on both days being good complements. And there were "plenty of exciting finishes and amazing performances, topped off by of course the phenomenal experience of watching Zenyatta."

Muller, who heads out to Southern California two to three times a year, plans to be back for the Hollywood Park Turf Festival on Thanksgiving weekend. Here's wishing the best of luck to her and horseplayers everywhere!

Euroglide Pointing for Cigar Mile at Aqueduct

Euroglide at Peter Eurton's barn, Santa Anita.

Euroglide was happy to walk out with foreman Alex Berec and pose for pictures on a beautiful, sunny morning last week at Peter Eurton's barn, Santa Anita. The 5-year-old son of Honor Glide is nominated for the Grade 1 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct, to be run Saturday, Nov. 28.



Euroglide ran third in the Grade 3 San Simeon Handicap and was a close second in the El Segundo Handicap, both at Santa Anita. In his most recent race, Nov. 4 at Oak Tree, he finished second by a nose in an Allowance Optional Claiming race at 6-1/2 furlongs.

Zap! of the Week: Itsultryinthecape Wins at Hollywood Park

Larry Zap offers up some very nice footage of two-year-old fillies Jet Blue Girl and Buckysue, both Larry Zap Bloodstock purchased thoroughbreds, as they school in the Hollywood Park paddock for their races the day before they run. Also watch three-year-old Itssultryinthecape ($4500) as he breaks his maiden impressively in a MSW on grass at Hollywood Park on Nov. 14 2009. Narrated and edited by by Larry Zap. Enjoy!

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