360-Days Blog

The Kentucky Futurity is the second race of the prestigious Triple Crown of harness racing for trotters. The race was first held in 1893 at the Red Mile race course in Lexington Kentucky and has remained at the same location for its entire history.

Being that the Kentucky Futurity has always been held in the bluegrass state of Kentucky; the race became an instant success and has continued to be very popular among both horsemen and horseracing fans. It is one of the few races in the sport of harness racing that still utilizes elimination races to determine the winner of the race.

With the elimination format, a horse must win two heats before they will be declared the winner. This means heats will continue to be held until one of the horses is able to win two. In the early years of the race, it was not uncommon for the horses to race as many as four heats before the winner could be determined.

There have also been several occasions in which the Kentucky Futurity was only decided after the horses raced in five heats. The most heats that have been needed to determine the winner was six.

Even thought the Kentucky Futurity is one of the races of the harness racing Triple Crown for trotters, the purse money has not always been very substantial. In the early years of the race, the horses would often race for a total purse of less than $60,000, compared to the Hambletonian that had a purse of over $70,000 for its first running. The Red Mile has tried to improve the total purse over the past few years and has begun to add money to the total purse. In the last few years, the Kentucky Futurity has been able to offer a purse of between $400,000 and a half a million dollars to the horses that are entered.

The great thing about this race is that the race has never been about winning large sums of money. The horsemen and women that are associated with the sport of harness racing are more concerned about having a champion harness racer that will be able to get their name in the history books, along with the past harness racing champions, by simply winning this prestigious and historical race.
Source
http://www.amazines.com/Sports/article_detail.cfm/869750?articleid=869750

New Jersey is known for many things but often visitors are unaware of all the things that the state has to offer. Here you will find everything from gambling in Atlantic City to beach resorts along the Atlantic Ocean to rich history and culture that will educate the whole family and still bring enjoyment to parks for the kids to a vibrant nightlife for the young and young at heart, there is truly something for everyone in the state of New Jersey. Visitors who vacation here often find themselves returning time after time again for an enjoyable vacation and the ultimate in relaxation.

One thing visitors will find an abundance of in New Jersey is cultural activities. The state is home to numerous art museums and galleries such as the Atlantic City Art Center on Garden Pier, the Beacon Fine Arts Gallery, and the Hunterdon Museum of Art. Visitors to the state will also find a number of other exciting cultural activities to enjoy no matter which time of year they decide to visit. Vacationers have the opportunity to attend a performing arts show at one of the states many venues such as the Westminster Arts Center in Bloomfield, the Albert Music Hall in Waretown, the Boheme Opera Company in Trenton, or the Bickford Theatre in the Morris Township. And that's just to name a few there is an extensive list of venues where visitors can enjoy any one of a number of performing arts. Whatever type of show you and your family enjoy you will be sure to find it in New Jersey.

New Jersey also boasts rich history dating back as far as pre-Colonial days. Those who visit this fine state will have the chance to explore sites such as the Absecon Lighthouse, the Berlin Railroad Station, the Beverly National Cemetery, the Civil Rights Garden, and Fort Hancock just to name a few. The state is actually home to more than one-hundred and thirty individual historic sites, all with an exciting bit of information regarding our nations and the state of New Jersey's history.

Many people visit New Jersey for the outdoor adventure as well. In Barnegat you can visit the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in the Harding Township, or the Henry Hudson Recreation Trail. For those that like to sit back and relax and enjoy the more peaceful side of nature there are a number of locations where families can camp or spend the night in a rustic cabin and take in all the wondrous scenery the state has to offer. Such places include the Adventure Bound Camping Resort, Atlantic City Blueberry Hill Campground, or the Big Timber Lake Camping Resort. Other outdoor activities in the state include fishing, boating, snorkeling, surfing, golf, and cross-country skiing. Regardless of what outdoor activities you enjoy you will be sure to find it in the state of New Jersey.

From culture to adventure to history to entertainment New Jersey has something to offer everyone who visits the state.
Source
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/new-jersey-bed-and-breakfasts-892812.html

Guangzhou City served as a central port in the Marine Silk Road. Along with the development of trade in ancient China came the introduction of various religions. Christianity, Buddhism and Islam were introduced to China from this port. The Huaisheng Mosque is the first mosque to be erected in China in the 7th Century during the Tang Dynasty. The word Huaisheng translates to ‘remember the sage’. The sage referred to is Prophet Mohammed. The mosque is spread over 2,966 square meters and contains six important elements the Wangyue Attic, the storehouse of Islamic Scriptures, the Stone Steles Pavillion, the Imam Hall and its most eye-catching feature is the Light Tower. The Light Tower was a guide to ships and traders to maneuver their way to the port of Guangzhou. This tower was built according to typical Arabian architecture and stands approximately 36 meters high. There are 2 spiraling staircases that make its way up the central axis of the building to the highest point of the tower. Sailors would often climb the stairs to the minaret which is the onion shaped crown of the tower to better judge the impending weather conditions. It is recommended to dedicate half an hour of your time to visit the Huaisheng Mosque, which is an excellent way to study the Islamic culture of China. Located on Guangta Road this historical site is open from 6:00am to 5:30pm every day. Islam is still a deeply respected religion in China and the Huaisheng Mosque is its historical landmark. Offering one of the most ideal locations to explore Huaisheng Mosque and other key tourist attractions is the Ascott Guangzhou that offers one of the best Guangzhou serviced accommodation. This hotel offers a sophisticated ambience along with the security and spacious comfort of a Guangzhou serviced apartment.

http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/a-tribute-to-prophet-mohammed-in-guangzhou-892362.html

Are you going on an important personal or business trip? Want to drive there, but don't want to rack up the mileage and put more wear and tear on the family car? Then at this very moment, you are probably worrying about the cost of renting a car. But you don't need to worry - there are many ways you can save money on car rentals. Read on to find out how.

Decide what size vehicle you really need. If you are traveling on your own, there's a good chance that you can get away with renting a subcompact car for your trip. That's generally the most cost-efficient way to go because the rental and the gas will be cheaper. However, if you will be traveling with a family or co-workers, comfort will be of importance so you will most likely want to upgrade to a mid-size car that can handle the demands of your passengers and ensure a safe comfortable ride to your destination.

Get quotes and ask about specials. Before you decide from what company you plan to rent the car from, get out your local yellow page listings or get online to find the best deals. Then locate a phone number and make a telephone call to get price quotes. Oftentimes, if you explain the reason for your trip and that you are calling around to other companies for quotes, each company will try to under-quote their competitors in order to get your business. Customer service agents do their best to get you to rent from them so be sure and take advantage of this by speaking with a live person first.

Ask if the rental club checks driving records. Many consumers do not know this, but when you give the rental company a copy of your driver's license and sign the rental agreement and release, you are giving the rental company the right to check your driving record through the DMV. Many rental companies can increase the rental price or refuse to rent you a vehicle if you have multiple tickets or accidents appearing on your driving record. So be sure to ask about this before signing anything.

Learn more about hidden fees and extra insurance. When renting a vehicle from a car rental company, they each will assess small fees to increase the rental rate. Fees like vehicle refueling charges, cleaning fees, late return fees, and extra insurance can really rack up. In many cases, if you have your own insurance policy for your own cars, your insurance carrier will cover your rental vehicle for no additional cost to you for liability and collision. You do not have to purchase the additional insurance that car rental companies sell- these policies are often grossly over-inflated and useless.

Check with your company for corporate rates. If you are traveling for business purposes, the best thing to do is check with your corporate travel or human resource department to see if your company is eligible for any corporate rates with rental companies. Oftentimes, they will be able to provide you with a special code to use or a contact that will allow you to rent a car for a reduced price. You can hold onto this code and use it later for personal use if you wish and save even more.

Join a club. That's right, if you want to save money join a travel club like AAA or AARP. The memberships cost very little, but the savings you will realize on car rentals, hotels and other travel amenities over time will be well worth it. Many club members save as much as 50% of their travel costs, including car rentals.
Source
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/how-to-save-money-on-car-rentals-892304.html

World health authorities on Friday rushed to tackle flu outbreaks in the United States and Mexico that have killed at least 60 people and have pandemic potential.

Hundreds of people in Mexico have been infected and 60 have died from suspected swine flu, while seven human cases have been confirmed in the United States, a World Health Organisation spokeswoman said.

The WHO, which has identified swine influenza as a potential source of a human flu pandemic, activated its global epidemic operations centre while Mexican authorities closed schools in Mexico City and the centre of the country.

Mexico's Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova urged people to avoid large crowds, shaking hands, kissing people as a greeting, or using the subway.

"This afternoon the epidemic was confirmed by Canadian and US labs to be a new influenza virus," Cordova said in a televised statement late Thursday.

But it was unclear if the Mexican flu virus was the same one implicated in the confirmed swine flu outbreaks in the southwestern United States.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said the "novel" A/H1N1 influenza identified in at least two of the recent cases by US counterparts might have a risk of developing into a pandemic-type virus.

"The infection of humans with a novel influenza A virus infection of animal origins as has happened here is of concern because of the risk, albeit small, that this could represent the appearance of viruses with pandemic potential," the ECDC said on its website.

Referring to "swine flu cases that have broken out in the United States in Mexico," WHO spokeswoman Fadela Chaib said there are "now a total of seven known cases in the United States."

They included five in California and two in Texas, in three clusters, Chaib told journalists.

"Meanwhile in Mexico unusual end of season influenza activity began to be noticed at the end of March, peaking in April."

"To date there have been some 800 suspected cases with flu-like illness, with 57 deaths in the Mexico City area," the WHO spokeswoman said.

Twenty four suspected cases and three deaths were also recorded in San Luis Potosi in central Mexico, she said.

Mexico's health minister reported a total of 20 deaths late Thursday.

"The virus is being described in the United States as a new subtype of A/H1N1. Mexico so far hasn't said anything about the virus, what type of virus it is," said Chaib.

Most of the Mexican cases were found in healthy young adults with no known record of prior illness.

The WHO said it was in constant contact with health authorities in the United States and in Mexico.

Human outbreaks of H1N1 swine influenza virus were recorded in the United States in 1976 and 1988, when two deaths were recorded, and in 1986. In 1988 a pregnant woman died after contact with sick pigs, according to the WHO.

In recent years the global focus for a pandemic has shifted to the H5N1 bird flu virus, which has spread from poultry to humans and killed 257 of the 421 people infected by the virus since 2003.

WHO experts have pointed out that pigs have been implicated in the emergence of new influenza viruses responsible for two of the previous century?s influenza pandemics.

If a pig is simultaneously infected with a human and an avian influenza virus, it can serve as a "mixing vessel" for the two viruses that could combine to create a new more virulent strain.

Source

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/health/141540/deadly-outbreak-of-swine-flu-in-us-mexico