When Florida voters overwhelming approved the banning of dog racing by a 69-31% vote in a 2018 constitutional amendment, the 11 surviving dog tracks had to make plans to phase out their business that had been going on for nearly 100 years.
It appears only two tracks remain open as the final deadline to run live races is December 31st, 2020 – St. Pete’s Derby Lane and West Palm Beach’s Palm Beach Kennel Club.
But only the PBKC is going out with New Years Eve in a blast. The kennel club will be racing up until the final seconds till the amendment takes effect. That’s right, this New Year’s Eve, the famed dog track, in their 88th and final season, will have live racing for 12 hours. The first face will take off at 12 noon and the last race will end all dog racing in the state of Florida at 11:59pm, finishing up just 25 seconds or so till the amendment takes place.
The celebration will include live entertainment all day long with bands, Lake Worth High School ROTC, Irish dancers, and even a traveling polka band. The first 1,000 guest will get a PBKC wallet and a midnight toast of complimentary champagne for all guests 21 and over. The last race will feature The Long Run 1932-2020 Championship and the Twin-Tri and Tri-super jackpots will be forced out.
Meanwhile, St. Pete’s world famous Derby Lane will be wrapping up their racing season next weekend. They will be giving away hats to the first 2,000 fans over the weekend and their live brass band will be playing in attendance. Beer drinkers will like the special on their final racing day Sunday. Guests 21 and over will receive two complimentary Fast Dog Blonde Ale with a local craft beer festival going one. A Grand Finale Stakes race will then take place to close out live racing. I had made New Years Eve plans set over two year ago for December 31st to head to Derby Lane for its last race, but unfortunately it will be 4 days earlier.
The St. Pete Kennel Club opened on January 3, 1925 and regulars included the likes of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Don Zimmer. I remember being there when the most famous racing dog in the country, Keefer, raced before a record 12,770 fans in 1986 in a stakes race. For decades, men had to wear a sports jacket to enter their famous restaurant. A tuxedo dressed band would perform before each race before crowds that were usually over 10,000 a performance on the weekends. There were multiple floors to wager any pari-mutual race with multiple restaurants and a huge gift shop.
It’s hard to believe the government can shut down a business that had been around nearly 100 years and hadn’t changed or done anything illegally. Kind of like what’s going on in NYC and California, I guess.
Jose Ricardo Solaun’s biographical data in the center of the Tampa Jai-Alai program was simple: #30 Solaun- 5′ 11″ – 185 lbs – Frontcourt – Basque. The blurb under his photo was short and succinct: “Consistent, crafty frontcourter with perfect form; his best shot is the cortada.” What the program failed to say was: “tremendously intelligent, unending loyalty, and one of the most popular players with the female fans.”
For whatever reason, fate brought this young Basque pelotari from Durango, Spain, and this young Jewish kid from Tampa together. As I said in an earlier article, I met “Ricky,” as he was known to his friends and fans, just before the season started during some of the amateur practices. Very few words were exchanged between us since I knew almost no Spanish and he spoke very little English. But life is unpredictable, and for two people from two completely different worlds, a friendship began to develop. Friendship is not a strong enough word… we became brothers with a mutual love and respect to this day.
During my first season (December,1971- May 1972), I would go into the player’s quarters a few times each performance. Officially, I was supposed to get the entries from player manager Enrique Beitia to teletype to the newspapers. But I would sometimes go there just to be around the players. Who wouldn’t? These were superior athletes, playing the fastest sport in the world. They were just plain cool.
All were very friendly to me, except those just coming off the court, having just lost the game or a playoff. They would be muttering some Basque expletives because losing was just unacceptable. But Ricky would always greet me with a big smile and a “Hi, Martino.” That was the name I chose for myself as one of the three selectors in the program. “What you doing manana?” he would ask me, his English getting a little better. “The beach?” he asked.
Ricky and I would drive over to Clearwater beach almost every day when there was not a matinee performance. We’d walk on the beach and look at the bikini-clad girls. We hardly spoke, yet we seemed to communicate perfectly, especially when he came upon another beautiful girl laying in the sand. We’d barely make it back home in time to be at the fronton by 6 p.m. This was our routine, along with him inviting me to his in-law’s house on Sundays for their weekend party. Other players would drop by for some wine and paella. There would always be discussions of how some played that week or some of the past great players. I listened and learned.
When watching the games from the booth, I couldn’t help but root for #30 to win his games. If he dropped a ball, the crowd would boo unmercifully. The fans did that to all the players. But I started getting really offended when they booed Ricky, my new friend.
When I was in the announcer’s chair, I would notice that when he was walking off the court, he would glance up and give me a little wink. Was this to say hello OR was he telling me something else?
The Tampa Jai-Alai Official Program cost $.35 and had the lineups, results from past performances, and season statistics. But it, also, had the classic reprint of an article published in the Miami Herald by esteemed columnist Jack Kofoed, titled: “They Win with a Smile… and Lose with a Snarl.” It described the fickleness of the typical jai-alai fan with such great lines (paraphrased), “The $2 bettor is a strange character. They will stand up and cheer a player when he wins. But, when the ball takes a lazy, reverse twist and falls out of the basket, they will boo that very same player.”
Kofoed, who wrote more than 18,000 columns during his legendary newspaper career was a big Jai-Alai fan. His insight into the psychology of the typical bettor was astute. No one likes to lose. But, for some reason, anytime a Jai-Alai bettor loses, it has to be “fixed.” And, yet the fans love most of the players and they adore the sport. Jack Kofoed summed it up so well with the title of his column. So, we placed it prominently in every Miami and Tampa program hoping it might convince the fans that this is a tough sport, that the players are trying to win. Since I actually played it, I knew how tough it was and why players missed balls. Unfortunately, it convinced no one, but was still good reading.
It is now the last Saturday night of the season. The fronton is packed. Smoke is hanging from the ceiling as the 7,000 plus fans are crammed into every available space. Some can’t even watch it live but are standing in the main lobby viewing the closed circuit broadcast.
Ricky and I are now the closest of friends. We have discussed summer plans, including me visiting him in Spain. I now know most of the roster very well having been invited to many of their after-game parties or Sunday paella feasts. I was even planning my summer, a jaunt through Europe with a long visit to the Basque country, visiting my new friends.
So, when I walked downstairs before the final game that night, the feature doubles match to 7 consecutive points, I was greeted by #30 Solaun and #13 Ramon, playing as team in the red shirts of post 1. They had just finished their warmup for the game and were waiting for the march-out to start the game. Ramon, one of the very friendly Basque players who, for some reason, spoke perfect English gave me a big hello. Ricky, then, said to me in a low voice, “We’re going to win this game!” I said, “Really?”
Then, Ramon says, “We can’t lose.” And Ricky nods and gives me the wink. I am now getting excited because this is what I have been waiting for. I am thinking they know me well enough to give me the “inside scoop.” I double check one more time and ask if they are sure. “Martino, we are going to win this game!!” Ricky repeated forcefully.
I quickly exited the player’s quarters and hurriedly found a friend of mine hanging out on the standing area below the booth. Now, of course, this was illegal, against the pari-mutuel rules, but I told him to wheel the #1 team on top of all possible perfecta combinations. I now knew they were going to win, but I didn’t know what team would finish in second place. A perfecta bet requires you to pick the top two finishers in the exact order. It pays from $200 to $500 depending on the combination. This would be two week’s salary for me if what they are telling me is true. And, it has to be true, because the game is assuredly “fixed,” and I just got the tip from the inside.
I give my buddy $21, the cost of the wheel bet and run up to the booth to announce the game. As I arrive upstairs, I ask Ralph if I can announce the game, he can take the game off. He quickly agrees.
Solaun and Ramon, being in post one, serve first. After a long rally, the post 2 team throws a carom shot that scores and my team slowly walks to the bench. Ricky looks up as he leaves the court and winks at me, all part of the plan, I guess.
As the round robin game continues, Ricky and Ramon get up again, still needing to score 7 points. This time, Ramon drops a deep throw by Laca that was going to chula. My team is still at zero and Bolivar is running up the score getting closer to game point. Now, I’m getting nervous and my heart is pumping, my ears are on fire.
Thankfully, Solaun and Ramon get up for a third time, surely the last chance for them. They need to run seven straight points to win and to bring in my perfecta wager. Surely this is like wrestling, teasing the fans, but coming in for the win from last place.
This time Ricky misses a difficult picada catch and the game is soon over. Post one, Solaun and Ramon, the guaranteed winner, the “fix is in winning team,” scored zero points and finished last. I began reading Kofoed’s article again.
After finishing my teletyping to the newspapers, I ran down to the player’s quarters where Solaun and Ramon were finishing up their showers. I said, “WHAT HAPPENED?” They both looked at me quizzically. I repeated the same question and added, “You guys were supposed to win.”
Ramon answered, “We tried, but I guess it wasn’t our night.” “What? Not your night?” I quickly responded. I told them I understood from them it was arranged for them to win. They indignantly said, “Are you crazy?” And, Ricky, supposedly knowing very little English, says profoundly, “Martino, You win some, you lose some.”
I didn’t smile, I didn’t snarl. And I didn’t win! But I would figure out later how to get “inside” information that would help me hit it big… or would it?
Here are the standings so far and a link to the Youtube Video from Magic City Day 1 (Saturday 12-05-20). Day 2 will be Sunday 12-06-2020.
Matches feature some of our NJAA roster (RickB as Bernard II)(Anthony as ANT)(Scott King as King)(Brodie as Barracuda)(Paul Kubala w/Kyle as Paul&Kubala)(Cachin as Cachin47)(Belota as Belota) and also some Connecticut Stars including Matt, Monte, Beach and more.
Another short, two-month season is in store for Miami Jai-alai – but this one has a twist. Former star players Goiko and Lopez return to the “Yankee Stadium” of jai-alai, but joining them are six players from the Dania fronton including Erik, Ladutxe, Amigorena and Foronda. Those players likely will join the roster in mid- December, when the Dania season goes on break. The season opens Wednesday, December 2nd.
There will be 3 performances a day with new hours – 11am, 1:30pm and 4:30pm. There will be 8 games scheduled for each performance and all games are singles – at this point. There will be 8 post positions (again at this point) and betting should be available on Watch & Wager.
Being able to watch Goiko (recognized as the best player in the world) vs. Erik (Dania’s top player for years) should bring some excitement back to the sport. All games will offer quinella, perfecta and trifecta wagering with a superfecta in game 4. The Pelota Press will be there covering the event and be sure to look for updates on Friday.
Here is the complete Miami roster:
– 15,Frank,front court. height 6’1, weight 190. born August 12, 1977. Nationality Mexico – 16,Julen,front court. height 5″8, weight 160. born October 16, 1995. Nationality AMERICAN – 17,Carlos,back court. height 6’1″, weight 185. born February 16, 1981. Nationality USA – 18,Foronda,front court. height 6’00, weight 168. born May 15, 1981. Nationality SPAIN – 19,Cisneros,back court. height 5″10, weight 183. born January 26, 1979. Nationality MEXICO – 20,Crizz,back court. height 6″3, weight 265. born December 3, 1995. Nationality USA – 22,Aratz,back court. height 5’7, weight 180. born February 25, 1989. Nationality USA – 23,Anndy,front court. height 5″10, weight 170. born October 4, 1983. Nationality Cuba – 24,Sierra I,front court. height 5’6, weight 170. born December 21, 1981. Nationality Mexican – 25,Lopez,back court. height 6.4, weight 220. born March 4, 2001. Nationality Spain – 27,Alex,front court. height 5″10, weight 180. born November 28, 1993. Nationality USA – 36,Aritz,front court. height 6’0″, weight 184. born June 9, 1987. Nationality Spanish Basque – 41,Alejandro,back court. height 5″9, weight 200. born September 20, 1969. Nationality Mexico – 42,Toto,front court. height 5’6, weight 180. born July 1, 1976. Nationality Mexican – 43,Goiko,front court. height 6″4, weight 250. born March 4, 1981. Nationality Zumaya, Spain – 48,Erik,front court. height 5″11, weight 180 . Nationality Spain – 56,Ladutxe,back court. height 6′, weight 200. born September 19, 1987. Nationality France – 57,Amigorena,back court. height 6′, weight 190. born September 1, 1961. Nationality Spain – 59,Gallo,back court. height 6′, weight 199. born August 28, 1982. Nationality American – 60,Manuel,back court. height 5’10”, weight 180. born March 2, 1980. Nationality Mexican – 62,Vega,back court. height 5″7, weight 175. born January 12, 1989. Nationality Cuba – 63,Troy,front court. height 5’6, weight 185. born January 27, 1975. Nationality American
Magic City Jai-Alai in Miami Florida concluded their 2020 short-court Jai-Alai season on Sunday, November 29th. The second and final doubles tournament was a nail-biter coming down the final doubles game #7 to see if Diaz-Carballo could tie the team of Asier-Douglas who had 17-wins. The team of Juice-RonRon upset the plans of Diaz-Carballo by winning the game from post 4.
The team of Asier-Douglas split $10,000 for their tourney win while Diaz-Carballo split $5,000 for their second place finish. The final standings for all 9-teams can be seen under “Wagering Info” under Magic City Doubles Tournaments on the SayHiLi.com website. Douglas has won all doubles tournaments since he started doubles tournament play at Magic City in 2019.
The top 3-finishers in the Magic City Singles Championship were awarded their checks on Sunday. Douglas won the singles championship again as in 2019 and took top prize of a cool $15,000 for his 179-singles wins. RonRon won 2nd place prize of $10,000 with his 151-singles wins and Bueno took home $5,000 for his 3rd place finish with 109-wins. El Barba was a close 4th place finish that came down to the final performance with 105 wins and is well deserving of an honorable mention here for his late-season run where he won the Golden Cesta Award weeks 24 through 26.
The 2020 Coaches Award was awarded to Magic City player Tennessee for the 3rd consecutive year. Tennessee is the “spirit-head” of the entire program. He is a vibrant bright personality and all-around “nice-guy” and even helped Limonte move recently.
The Most Improved Player Award went to Ben. Ben played an astonishing 898 games this season and was never sick, injured or scratched from any performance. Ben worked constantly on his game and was first one there and last to leave according to Stu Neiman.
Both the Jai-5 and the Mighty Ocho Jackpots were Forced-Out on Sunday. The Jai-5 already had a carryover jackpot of $2,983.60 going into Sunday and another $3,738 was wagered on it Sunday. After the 20% takeout rate on Sundays Jai-5 pool, the Force-Out was a total of $5,974 to be paid to the ticket holders with the most winners. Asier pulled somewhat of an upset in the leg 1 game 3 of the Jai-5, however, Asier had only been playing in one singles game lately and had won two of the three singles games in game 3 already this week. The remaining winners were Bradley in post 1 game 4, Diaz-Carballo in post 5 game 5, Douglas in post 8 game 6, and Juice-RonRon in post 4 game 7. There was one-team live for a 5 of 5 payout of $5,974 had the team of Diaz-Carballo won from post 6. The $5,974 force-out jackpot was paid out to (9) ticket holders with 4 of 5 winners correctly selected, with each ticket paying $663.70 for a $1 wager.
Asier, the son of Magic City Player Manager Arra, deserves an honorable mention for closing out the 2020 season by winning 3 of his 4 singles games for the week! His hard-throwing left side can be a bit too hot for some to handle when he gets going. Some of the older fans of the 1980’s Tampa roster have noticed Asier’s left side throws have similarities to those of the famous player, Laca.
The $1 Mighty Ocho wager only had $546.80 in the jackpot, but Magic City COO, Scott Savin, guaranteed a $3,000 payout to be split among ticket holders with the most winners correctly selected for the 8-game sequence. Bettors spent $2,920 into this Jackpot and after the 20% takeout had been removed from the $2,920 and the prior jackpot carryover of $546.80 was added, there was $2,882.80 to be paid back, so Magic City had to make-up only $117.20 to bring the Mighty Ocho Force-out up to the $3,000 guarantee. Going into the final leg of the Mighty Ocho, there were 4-posts covered for 6 of 8 payoffs (posts 1,3,5 for $3,000 each and post 8 with 2-tickets for $1,500 each). Douglas won game 5, result 5-1-3, and the $3,000 was paid out to a single winner with 6 of 8 winners correct. Games 1 and 2 of the Mighty Ocho were won by Diaz in post 1 and Ben in post 7, respectively.
Magic City short-court Jai-Alai action returns on February 6, 2021 to kick-off an additional 10-weeks of Jai-Alai next year before the regular season starts in May. Word from Stu is the performances will be on Saturday, Sunday and Mondays. Stay tuned for more info.
Don’t forget to tune in to the Jai-Alai Channel on Saturday and Sunday, December 5 & 6 for the US National Jai-Alai Championship at Magic City Jai-Alai. Tourney games start at 10 am each day. The US Nationals are only open to US citizens and like the Magic City 2020 Jai-Alai season, there is no live viewing of the event due to covid-19 precautions. Jai-Alai fans won’t want to miss this!
Congratulations Magic City Jai-Alai players, staff and management and all involved for providing this great entertainment opportunity, including the FREE Fantasy Jai-Alai League, during these trying times in 2020. Well Done!
The players, all carrying their cestas, descended the movable metal stairway which abutted the Eastern Airline prop jet. Their flight, Bilbao-Madrid-Miami-Tampa, was a long, tiring ordeal. But, these 40 young Basque athletes all had smiles on their faces, posing on the stairway for the many media assembled to get the obligatory picture for the newspaper sport’s section.
This was a big day. It signified the 1971-72 Tampa Jai-Alai season was about to begin. I was there to coordinate the photo-op. Every year, the newspapers ran this picture on page 1 of the sports sections with the caption: “Jai-Alai players return from Spain to kick of Tampa Jai-Alai season on December 27th.” It was our most valued media exposure letting the fans know that soon they would be hearing the crack of the pelota.
I couldn’t help but notice the mass of gorgeous young women, also, greeting the players. Some were past girlfriends, but many were future hopefuls. I would soon find out that these young athletes had a following of Jai-Alai “groupies” similar to the rock stars of the 70s.
And, of course, I was not opposed to the possibility that my close proximity to the players might afford me a few opportunities of my own. They didn’t know I was just a “pakete” amateur. Wearing an actual player jersey might just confuse them, make them think I am one of the pros. I will tell Ernie that I was told my game would improve with an old player jersey. It’s not how you play, it’s how you look.
While some players searched for new apartments, many returned to their past rentals in South Tampa, like The Cove on West Shore or Tampa Villas. They, also, began their daily practice sessions at the fronton. This was my chance to watch and get to know some of the players. This would become invaluable to me not only dealing with the press but getting the trust of the players.
Even though my job now was preparing the program, checking out the equipment, testing the music and march tapes, preparing press releases, and answering media questions about the upcoming season, my favorite time was hanging out during the player practice.
Being less than two weeks from opening night, the seasonal workers still needed to be hired and licensed. That night was known as “Roll Call”, the pari-mutuel job fair where betting tellers, ushers, box office workers, janitorial staff, Tele-Wager girls, bartenders, and cocktail waitresses were interviewed and hired. This was done all in one night. And it was incredible. I was like a kid in a candy store, just wandering around the main lobby, like a shark circling for the kill.
During the day, the box office lines were ringing off the hook. Opening night was already sold out, all 3,792 reserved seats, from lower Loge to upper Orchestra sections. There was nothing left but the $1 Standing Room admission, where people stood on the sides or just watched on closed circuit television from the lobbies.
Finally, December 27th, opening night arrived. Cars were lined up for almost a mile in both directions on Dale Mabry. The box office had at least eight windows open, but the lines of fans still stretched around the corner into the parking lot.
From the announcer’s booth, I could see the seats gradually filling in. Our background music was playing, and the early game players came out to practice. The tension and excitement was building as we approached the 7:30 first game post time and player’s parade, the salute to the fans.
And then it happened. As I was gazing out into the crowd, eyeing the Tele wager Girls in their short mini-skirts and the cocktail waitresses in their white Hot Pants, I noticed a group of girls entering the middle section, directly eye-level to our elevated announcer’s booth. One looked very familiar. Yes, it was my ex-girlfriend. It was the girl that I dated my final year at UF, where I had said, “It’s not you, it’s me.” I was attempting to end the relationship in a civil manner as she had another year to go and I was venturing into my next step in life, which did not include her.
Unfortunately, I guess it did not work because she was surrounded by four, very tall, assassin-like sorority sisters, all staring directly at the booth. Any one of them could have kicked my a… Not once did any of them look at the practicing players, just stared straight at me. I asked Ralph and Mike to protect me if there was trouble. Ralph was too busy planning his next quinella box and Mike said he needed to concentrate on the statistics. I might survive my first opening night but wasn’t sure I was going make it home.
I spent the entire night in the announcer’s booth. When I announced a game, my voice was quivering, not from the record crowd, but from what could await me if I ventured downstairs. Fortunately, they departed back to Gainesville after the 8th game without any incidents. I still left through the player’s quarters back door.
Opening night ended well beyond midnight, smoke suspended like fog throughout the fronton. There were losing tickets scattered all over the floor, but fans still seemed happy as they lined up in valet parking, all thrilled that their favorite sport was back.
We set records that night, both in attendance and betting handle. I was now on the inside, venturing into the restricted player’s quarters during the games, and conversing with the players that spoke English. In the back of my mind, I carried the thought that maybe one day they would tell me who was supposed to win a game and I could make a big score.
After all, everyone knew that Jai-Alai is “fixed.” That is what my buddy told me the first time I snuck into the fronton. That is what everyone said when I told them I was working at Jai-Alai. My family even believed it. So, it must be, right? After all, humans are involved. It’s a gambling sport. Everyone seemed to know, except me. But I was about to find out.
