Gary Perkinson opnortdseS 01t30042c1A142g8cfrtma44hM2hu5a:u603ffl lg5 u a1M  · For three years, Volodymyr Zelensky has been America’s darling, a khaki clad symbol of defiance, pleading for billions in aid and NATO’s embrace amid Ukraine’s self inflicted war. To many well-meaning Americans, he’s a hero battling overwhelming odds. But behind the curated image lies a far uglier truth, a stooge comedian turned president, propped up by a criminal oligarch, surrounded by cronies, and presiding over a regime of corruption, repression, and broken promises. This is the real Zelensky, an actor playing a role he’s woefully unfit for, that was proven yesterday in the oval office. As Ukraine spirals deeper into chaos and its brutally harvested conscript army collapses in retreat, it's important that decent Americans understand who and what this man really represents. Let's start with Kvartal 95, The Oligarch’s Launchpad, Zelensky’s story starts not in politics but comedy. Born in 1978 in Kryvyi Rih, he co-founded Studio Kvartal 95 in the 1990s with a group of friends that had hit it big by the 2000s, ironically their big breaks were made in Russia, performing in Russian and focusing on Russian and Ukrainian political and cultural life. The key to all this success? Ihor Kolomoisky, a billionaire ukrainian oligarch with a laundry list of crimes, including fraud, money laundering, and brutal violence. Kolomoisky then owned 1+1, the TV network that handed Zelenskys Kvartal 95 a national platform starting in 2012. He didn’t just offer airtime. He bankrolled Zelensky with cash, security, and legal and criminal muscle. This wasn’t mentorship. It was a transaction. Kolomoisky, later sanctioned by the U.S. for “significant corruption,” saw Zelensky as a pawn in his game. By 2019, when Zelensky ran for president, Kolomoisky’s DNA was all over the campaign providing vehicles, lawyers, bodyguards, and a media blitz. Zelensky was never an outsider; he was a "made man" This is where it gets almost unbelievably bizzare. In 2015, Zelensky starred in "Servant of the People," a hit satire aired on Kolomoisky’s 1+1 channel, where he played a teacher turned president railing against corruption. Ukrainians, tired of the endemic corruption in the post Soviet state, lapped it up. Then, in 2018, his Kvartal 95 crew decided to turn fiction into reality, registering a political party called, you guessed it, "Servant of the People." It had absolutely no manifesto, no policies, and no plan of action, just a TV title and Zelensky’s face. Running in 2019, Zelensky promised to end corruption and the Donbas civil war, which had erupted after the CIA backed Maidan Coup, winning in a landslide thanks to Kolomoisky’s media machine. An actor who played a president on TV was now remarkably in the real job. Zelensky didn’t waste any time handing power to his showbiz pals. Ivan Bakanov, a Kvartal 95 co-founder, became head of the SBU security service with no experience. Serhiy Shefir, another comedy crony, took a top aide role, no experience. And then there’s Andriy Yermak, a film producer turned Zelensky’s right-hand man, now head of the Presidential Office, dubbed Ukraine’s “shadow president.” Yermak, physically and intellectualy towering over Zelensky, controls policy and access, a fixer running the show while the president flounders. These weren’t appointments based on merit. They were loyalty hires, a Kvartal 95 clique utterly unfit for a grossly dysfunctional war-torn nation. Zelensky’s laughable anti-corruption pledge met reality in 2021 with the Pandora Papers. The leak revealed he and his inner circle,including Bakanov, were funnelling cash to Kolomoisky with Zelensky stashing millions offshore. Zelensky swore to end corruption and the Donbas war. Instead, he’s delivered more of both, a million lie Dead, the free Media crushed, billions stolen, languages and religion banned. This criminal is no hero. No Churchill. And no friend of America. He should be treated accordingly. Thanks for reading. ~ Peter Goodgame https://x.com/BowesChay/status/1895887898106323076...

Bernie has an alternative view, and Schiff talks sense….  

R1)  5 R2)  1            Best Bet R3)  1 R4)  6             Best Bet R5)  4x13 R6)  2x3 R7)  3x5 R8)  3x9 R9)  3x6 R10)2x10 R11)3x4 R12)1x2 Thank you, say no more.

The new 2025 season remains status quo for Skippylongstocking as the 6-year-old son of Exaggerator targets a three-peat in the $125,000 Challenger Stakes (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs March 8.View the full article

The Budget and Taxation Committee of the Maryland Senate heard discussion March 5 among supporters and detractors of a bill that would authorize up to 4,000 historical horse racing terminals at designated sports wagering locations in Maryland.View the full article

A little over a month after posting the first black-type win of her career with a furious late rally in the Endeavour Stakes (G3T), CHP Racing's Saffron Moon is back at Tampa for more graded accolades in the Hillsborough Stakes (G2T) March 8.View the full article

After finishing third in the March 1 Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park, trainer Ian Wilkes says Holy Bull Stakes (G3) winner Burnham Square will target the April 5 Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland.View the full article

On March 8, comebacking dual grade 1 winner Chancer McPatrick gets a second crack at a two-turn route when he attempts to rebound from his first defeat last fall in the $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G3).View the full article

No, and neither will Trump.

Interesting statement from China…..  

The difference between Jayne and just about any other trackside presenter is daylight (couple of exceptions - O'Connor being one of them).

Regulatory-Impact-Statement    advice to GOVT regarding protecting TAB from offshore on-line betting to ensure sustainable racing, random excerpts; The cash injection (Entain) has had a significant impact, and the agreement has been well received by much of the industry. However, the increased returns from the Entain partnership are only guaranteed until 2028. After this time TAB NZ will receive a 50% share of the revenue with no guaranteed minimum funding. It is difficult to assess whether Entain can grow TAB NZ's market share and revenue enough to maintain the current level of returns from 2028, particularly without increased protection from the substantial and currently legal operations of offshore competitors.  As noted, TAB NZ estimates that around $180 million a year is being lost to overseas operators by New Zealanders betting offshore. However based on POCC figures, in 2023 the reputable online market was worth a minimum of $45 million. We have been unable to investigate the reasons for this difference, however a portion of this is like to be TAB NZ's estimate taking in to account operators who do not pay the POCC ( but this is unlikely to account for the full difference )  ' Point Of Consumption Charge" There are 3 options discussed, the preferred option is "2"; Option 2; TAB NZ hold an online monopoly- TAB NZ's land-based betting monopoly is extended to the on-line environment. Offshore operators would be prohibited from offering betting products to New Zealanders; alongside a package of measures to give the required oversight and monitoring of TAB NZ protections for customers in light of this monopoly to TAB NZ. There are a number issues that could be detrimental to this option, one of which is..." that the proposed interim enforcement regime will not be sufficient for TAB NZ to receive the related payments from Entain.

Didnt mind Hickory jack in the last today.  Everything that could have went wrong went wrong at his last start but still finished a credible 4th.  Hope the track dries throughout the day.

We are not breeding many stayers.. I went through the breeding of the horses in the Derby field and there was some many Aus related. We are now breeding for speed and I think so many of the field may just be slowies. I wont bet this race but good luck to the owners.  its something to say you had a horse running in a Derby or Oaks

Nic's Style looks to secure her first graded stakes win in the $165,000 Hurricane Bertie Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park, March 8. The 5-year-old daughter of Uncaptured takes on six other fillies and mares in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint. View the full article

Three Heating Up for the 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1)View the full article

This week's racing schedule for radio and television as compiled by America's Best Racing.View the full article

Hartlage said the 2024-25 Oaklawn Park meeting will be his last, ending a 45-year career highlighted by training titles in Kentucky and Arkansas and campaigning the nationally prominent On Fire Baby.View the full article

The "Euro" part of the Euro/Mideast Road to the Kentucky Derby winds up without much sizzle March 7 at Dundalk in Ireland.View the full article

He now has an open road ahead to implement his agenda. And so here we sit, waiting to see if he is an "all-knowing God like" figure; or a blinkered, vain, self-indulgent, fool, leading his country down the wrong path, both economically and diplomatically. He won't be half as good as Joe Biden even after remembering his uncle was eaten by cannibals near Papua New Guinea and not going to pardon his smartest son Hunter. Do you think Joe will end up on Mt Rushmore?