Pope Francis-Christmas Message and “Urbi et Orbi” Blessing 2019-12-25 DECEMBER 25, 2019 - At noon from the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica

[Click to watch video of Pope's Christmas message.  Audio delay at beginning]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amF8ml3SmTY

DECEMBER 25, 2019 12:20ZENIT STAFFPAPAL TEXTS

At noon today from the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Francis addressed the following Christmas Message to the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square.

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light” (Is 9:1)

Dear Brothers and Sisters, Merry Christmas!

From the womb of Mother Church, the incarnate Son of God is born anew this night. His name is Jesus, which means: “God saves”. The Father, eternal and infinite Love, has sent him into the world not to condemn the world but to save it (cf. Jn 3:17). The Father has given him to us with great mercy. He has given him to everyone. He has given him forever. The Son is born, like a small light flickering in the cold and darkness of the night.

That Child, born of the Virgin Mary, is the Word of God made flesh. The Word who guided Abraham’s heart and steps towards the promised land, and who continues to draw to himself all those who trust in God’s promises. The Word who led the Hebrews on the journey from slavery to freedom and who continues to call the enslaved in every age, including our own, to come forth from their prisons. He is the Word brighter than the sun, made incarnate in a tiny son of man: Jesus the light of the world.

This is why the prophet cries out: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light” (Is 9:1). There is darkness in human hearts, yet the light of Christ is greater still. There is darkness in personal, family and social relationships, but the light of Christ is greater. There is darkness in economic, geopolitical and ecological conflicts, yet greater still is the light of Christ.

May Christ bring his light to the many children suffering from war and conflicts in the Middle East and in various countries of the world. May he bring comfort to the beloved Syrian people who still see no end to the hostilities that have rent their country over the last decade. May he stir the consciences of men and women of good will. May he inspire governments and the international community to find solutions to allow the peoples of that region to live together in peace and security, and put an end to their sufferings. May he sustain the Lebanese people and enable them to overcome the current crisis and rediscover their vocation to be a message of freedom and harmonious coexistence for all.

May the Lord Jesus bring light to the Holy Land, where he was born as the Saviour of mankind, and where so many people – struggling but not discouraged – still await a time of peace, security and prosperity. May he bring consolation to Iraq amid its present social tensions, and to Yemen, suffering from a grave humanitarian crisis.

May the tiny Babe of Bethlehem bring hope to the whole American continent, where a number of nations are experiencing a time of social and political upheaval. May he encourage the beloved Venezuelan people, long tried by their political and social tensions, and ensure that they receive the aid they need. May he bless the efforts of those who spare no effort to promote justice and reconciliation and to overcome the various crises and the many forms of poverty that offend the dignity of each person.

May the Redeemer of the world bring light to beloved Ukraine, which yearns for concrete solutions for an enduring peace.  May the newborn Lord bring light to the people of Africa, where persistent social and political situations often force individuals to migrate, depriving them of a home and family. May he bring peace to those living in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, torn by continuing conflicts. May he bring consolation to all who suffer because of violence, natural disasters or outbreaks of disease. And may he bring comfort to those who are persecuted for their religious faith, especially missionaries and members of the faithful who have been kidnapped, and to the victims of attacks by extremist groups, particularly in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Nigeria.

May the Son of God, come down to earth from heaven, protect and sustain all those who, due to these and other injustices, are forced to emigrate in the hope of a secure life. It is injustice that makes them cross deserts and seas that become cemeteries. It is injustice that forces them to ensure unspeakable forms of abuse, enslavement of every kind and torture in inhumane detention camps. It is injustice that turns them away from places where they might have hope for a dignified life, but instead find themselves before walls of indifference.

May Emmanuel bring light to all the suffering members of our human family. May he soften our often stony and self-centred hearts, and make them channels of his love. May he bring his smile, through our poor faces, to all the children of the world: to those who are abandoned and those who suffer violence. Through our frail hands, may he clothe those who have nothing to wear, give bread to the hungry and heal the sick. Through our friendship, such as it is, may he draw close to the elderly and the lonely, to migrants and the marginalized. On this joyful Christmas Day, may he bring his tenderness to all and brighten the darkness of this world.

[Original text: Italian]

DECEMBER 25, 2019 12:20PAPAL TEXTS

Kentucky Derby Field Set - CPT Pick to win - Vicar's in Trouble with Rosie Napravnik making history

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Today was the drawing for post position and the first posting of the odds for Saturday's 140th Kentucky Derby and the Coltons Point Times pick to win, Vicar's in Trouble, will have to shatter history to make history.

Vicar's in Trouble

The most dreaded position in the Kentucky Derby is post position number 1, against the fence.  Would you believe the first horse to draw was Vicar's in Trouble and the position it drew was Pole Position #1 so the entire rest of the field could rest easy, the hell hole was gone.

Rosie Napravnik

Did I mention no #1 horse has ever won the Derby?  Neither has a woman ever won and that brings me to Rosie Napravnik, a 26 year old 5' 2 " 133 lb female jockey and no female has ever won the Derby.  I had no choice but to pick Rosie because she was born about 5 miles from where I lived in 1988, I lived in Morris Township, NJ and she was born in her grandmother's home in Mendham Township, NJ.  She was brought to the hospital in Morristown.  At the time I worked for Governor Thomas Kean of New Jersey.

So Rosie has to beat history to win, the horse has to beat history to win, it is the smallest horse in the race, and by the way, even though the horse ranks number 2 in terms of Derby points, four top experts for Churchill Downs made top ten picks and Vicar only showed up once, and that was in 9th place.

Vicar is only the third horse bred in Louisiana to compete in the Derby, none have won.  The Vicar first sold for $8,000, then resold for $80,000 before winning 3 of its last five races. And Rosie moved to Louisiana with her husband, Joe Sharp, a trainer so the Louisiana horse has an adopted Louisiana rider in Rosie.

Then there are opening odds, Vicar was 30-1.

Still I say do not underestimate this determined Jersey girl.  She has her sites set on winning the Triple Crown before she is through and if anyone can shatter all the glass ceilings needed to get there it is Rosie.  Did I mention she was the first woman to win the Kentucky Oaks? Last year she finished 5th in the Kentucky Derby and 3rd in the Preakness, the best finishes ever for a woman.

Over the last two seasons she was one of the top ten jockeys in the USA and is in the running for jockey of the year in 2014.  I say it is time for history to be made, not followed.  Go Rosie.

Kentucky Derby favorite California Chrome leads odds and draws PP #5 

  

Kentucky Derby betting favorite? California Chrome

Kentucky Derby morning-line favorite California Chrome drew post position No. 5 and is a 5-2 favorite to win the 140th "Run for the Roses." Wicked Strong and Hoppertunity are the top challengers to California Chrome, and both were able to avoid the dreaded No. 1 post. Wicked Strong drew the No. 20 gate while Hoppertunity will break from the No. 11 gate.

The draw can have a major impact on the outcome of the race. Get stuck too far outside and your chances go down. No horse has ever won the Kentucky Derby running from the 17th gate like Commanding Curve will this year. Getting stuck along the rail can also be an issue, with no Derby winner coming from the first two inside spots in the last 25 years. There are always exceptions -- like I'll Have Another winning from the No. 19 gate in 2012 -- but a poor draw is a lot to overcome.

California Chrome will enter the derby having won four straight stakes. Even with the wins, there have been issues with California Chrome's break, possibly making post position an even bigger factor. Staying away from the rail could be a key, as another poor break won't necessarily pin California Chrome behind the field with too much ground to make up right off the bat. California Chrome has had success running from the No. 5 post, including winning the Santa Anita Derby. If California Chrome is able to come away with the win, it would make history in the process. At 77 years old, trainer Art Sherman would become the oldest trainer to win the Kentucky Derby.

Wicked  Must Reads

Strong was unfortunate to draw the No. 20 post and will have ground to make up starting from the far outside. Ride on Curlin with jockey Calvin Borel also landed an outside spot and will break next to Wicked Strong at the No. 19 post. Hoppertunity, trained by Bob Baffert, was more fortunate, drawing the 11th post. Hoppertunity jockey Mike Smith said he was happy with the No. 11 post, although the horse will have to be in the gate for a while.

Any concerns of getting the rail went away early with Vicar's In Trouble drawing the No. 1 position on the very first draw. The trainers and jockeys did have to sweat some with the No. 2 post staying on the board late into the draw before Harry's Holiday was saddled with the spot.  Pablo Del Monte is an alternate entry and would be added to the field if any of the current 20 horses scratch before 9 a.m. ET on Friday.

Post positions and morning line odds for the 2014 Kentucky Derby

Post Position	Horse	Jockey	Trainer	Odds
1	Vicar's In Trouble	Rosie Napravnik	Mike Maker	30-1
2	Harry's Holiday	Corey Lanerie	Mike Maker	50-1
3	Uncle Sigh	Irad Ortiz Jr.	Gary Contessa	30-1
4	Danza	Joe Bravo	Todd Pletcher	10-1
5	California Chrome	Victor Espinoza	Art Sherman	5-2
6	Samraat	Jose Ortiz	Rick Violette Jr.	15-1
7	We Miss Artie	Javier Castellano	Todd Pletcher	50-1
8	General A Rod	Joel Rosario	Mike Maker	15-1
9	Vinceremos	Joe Rococo Jr.	Todd Pletcher	30-1
10	Wildcat Red	Luis Saez	Joe Garoffalo	15-1
11	Hoppertunity	Mike Smith	Bob Baffert	6-1
12	Dance With Fate	Corey Nakatani	Peter Eurton	20-1
13	Chitu	Martin Garcia	Bob Baffert	20-1
14	Medal Count	Robby Albarado	Dale Romans	20-1
15	Tapiture	Ricardo Santana Jr.	Steve Asmussen	15-1
16	Intense Holiday	John Velazquez	Todd Pletcher	12-1
17	Commanding Curve	Shaun Bridgmohan	Dallas Stewart	50-1
18	Candy Boy	Gary Stevens	John Sadler	20-1
19	Ride On Curlin	Calvin Borel	William G. Gowan	15-1
20	Wicked Strong	Rajiv Maragh	James A. Jerkens	8-1
21 AE	Pablo Del Monte	Jeffrey Sanchez	Wesley Ward	50-1

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NBC Boosts TV Coverage

NBC is adding Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski to its Kentucky Derby telecast as fashion correspondents next week, illustrating how the network's coverage now reflects one of the most female-friendly televised sporting events of the year.

The two figure skaters, who were the breakout stars of NBC's Sochi Olympics broadcast team, will comment on the fashionable outfits worn by members of the rich and celebrity-filled audience who try to avoid spilling mint juleps on their designer duds, the network said Tuesday.

The image of cigar-chomping race fans no longer applies to horse racing's signature event. Slightly more than half of NBC's Derby viewers last year were women attracted to the party, the Nielsen company said. No other major TV sports event, with the exception of the Olympics, is so weighted toward female viewers, NBC said.


''It's not just a two-minute race,'' said Rob Hyland, coordinating producer for the NBC Sports Group. ''Of course, the two-minute race is extremely important, but our job is to capture the venue and the day - it's a huge celebration - as creatively and poignantly as possible.''
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Kentucky Derby Update 4/21

CURRENT ACTIVITY

VICAR’S IN TROUBLE (No. 2) / GENERAL A ROD (No. 16) / HARRY’S HOLIDAY (No. 21) – Trainer Mike Maker reported Sunday morning that things were “all well” at the nearby Trackside Training Center for his trio of Kentucky Derby possibilities.
               Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Vicar’s in Trouble worked five furlongs at Trackside in 1:00.40 on Saturday and is scheduled to breeze here this Saturday along with Harry’s Holiday, who is owned by Skychai Racing, Terry Raymond and Jana Wagner.
J. Armando Rodriguez’s General a Rod is scheduled to work at Churchill Downs on Tuesday or Wednesday.

DANZA (No. 6) – Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Arkansas Derby (GI) winner Danza galloped a little more than 1 ¼ miles after the morning renovation break under exercise rider Nick Bush.
Danza will be joined Tuesday by two more Kentucky Derby hopefuls for trainer Todd Pletcher: Starlight Racing’s Intense Holiday and Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s We Miss Artie.
Both colts worked at Palm Meadows on Sunday: Intense Holiday going a half in :48.75 in company with Micromanage and We Miss Artie going five furlongs in 1:01 in company with Capo Bastone.

WILDCAT RED (No. 9) – Honors Stable Corp.’s Wildcat Red completed the Florida portion of his preparation for Kentucky Derby 140 by working a half-mile in :48.69 at Gulfstream Park.
“He went very nicely, very easy,” trainer Jose Garrofalo said. “Luis Saez was up and I got him in :48 and change.”
Wildcat Red, winner of the Fountain of Youth (GII) and Hutcheson (GIII) and runner-up in the Florida Derby (GI) in his most recent start, is scheduled to ship to Churchill Downs on Tuesday.
“I will be there after the sale in Ocala on Thursday or Friday,” Garrofalo said. “I will work him there Saturday or Sunday, depending on the weather.”

RIDE ON CURLIN (No. 11) – Daniel Dougherty’s Ride On Curlin, runner-up in the Arkansas Derby (G1), galloped after the renovation break under exercise rider Bryan Beccia for trainer Billy Gowan.
               Ride On Curlin, who arrived here last Monday, is scheduled to work Saturday or Sunday depending on weather according to Gowan. Three-time Kentucky Derby-winning rider Calvin Borel has the mount for Derby 140.

CHITU (No. 12) / BAYERN (No. 24) – Tanma Corporation’s Chitu, winner of the Sunland Derby (GIII), galloped after the morning renovation break with exercise rider Jorge Alvarez up for trainer Bob Baffert.
Following Chitu out was Kaleem Shah’s Bayern, who also galloped. Bayern stands 24^th on the “Road to the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard Presented by TwinSpires.com” and would need several defections to gain a spot in the Derby starting gate should his connections opt to enter.
               Scheduled to arrive Monday from California for Baffert is Karl Watson, Mike Pegram and Paul Weitman’s Hoppertunity, winner of the Rebel (GII) and runner-up in the Santa Anita Derby (GI).

TAPITURE (No. 13) – Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Tapiture galloped Sunday morning and is scheduled to work Monday morning shortly after 6 o’clock for trainer Steve Asmussen.

MEDAL COUNT (No. 17) – Spendthrift Farm’s Medal Count, runner-up in the Blue Grass (GI) in his most recent start, galloped after the renovation break under exercise rider Faustino Aguilar for trainer Dale Romans.

COMMANDING CURVE (No. 22) – West Point Thoroughbreds’ Commanding Curve, third in the Louisiana Derby (GII) in his most recent start, jogged before the renovation break under exercise rider Pedro Velez for trainer Dallas Stewart.

Commanding Curve stands 22^nd on the “Road to the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard Presented by TwinSpires.com.”

Final Derby Points Standing

Rank	Horse	Trainer	Points	Non-Restricted Stakes Earnings
1	California Chrome	Art Sherman	150	$782,250
2	Vicar's in Trouble	Mike Maker	120	$760,000
3	Dance With Fate	Peter Eurton	108	$600,000
4	Wicked Strong	Jimmy Jerkens	102	$630,000
5	Samraat	Rick Violette Jr.	100	$640,000
6	Danza	Todd Pletcher	100	$620,000
7	Hoppertunity	Bob Baffert	95	$576,000
8	Intense Holiday	Todd Pletcher	93	$527,500
9	Wildcat Red	Jose Garrofalo	90	$610,000
10	We Miss Artie	Todd Pletcher	60	$544,000
11	Ride on Curlin	Billy Gowan	55	$354,387
12	Chitu	Bob Baffert	54	$440,000
13	Tapiture	Steve Asmussen	52	$470,378
14	Ring Weekend	H. Graham Motion	50	$260,000
15	General a Rod	Mike Maker	40	$240,000
16	Medal Count	Dale Romans	40	$226,500
17	Candy Boy	John Sadler	30	$380,000
18	Uncle Sigh	Gary Contessa	24	$180,000
19	Vinceremos	Todd Pletcher	20	$191,666
20	Harry's Holiday	Mike Maker	20	$152,622
21	Commanding Curve	Dallas Stewart	20	$140,000
22	Pablo Del Monte	Wesley Ward	20	$102,000
23	Bayern	Bob Baffert	20	$100,000
24	Social Inclusion	Manny Azpurua	20	$90,000
25	Big Bazinga	Katerina Vassilieva	14	$92,149
26	Coastline	Mark Casse	13	$131,346
27	Strong Mandate	D. Wayne Lukas	11	$479,166
28	In Trouble	Tony Dutrow	10	$190,000
29	Noble Moon	Leah Gyarmati	10	$170,000
30	Cleburne	Dale Romans	10	$127,044
31	Commissioner	Todd Pletcher	10	$110,667
32	Schiverelli	Eddie Kenneally	10	$40,000
33	Conquest Titan	Mark Casse	9	$210,945
34	Casiguapo	Mario Morales	5	$272,717
35	Asserting Bear	Reade Baker	5	$33,099

Horses Out of Race:

Sidelined/Inactive/No Longer Under Derby Consideration/Not Triple Crown Nominated: Toast of New York (100, $1,200,000), Constitution (100, $600,000), Asmar-IRE(40, $557,500), Albano (34, $190,000), Emirates Flyer-GB (20, $381,691), Havana (14, $660,000), Cairo Prince, (19, $520,000), Honor Code (14, $300,000), Kristo (14, $76,000), Tamarando (12, $495,000), Bond Holder (11, $333,000), Ami's Holiday (11, $146,145), New Year's Day (10, $1,100,000), Rise Up (10, $786,633), Giovanni Boldini (10, $345,678),  Mr Speaker (10, $210,000), Tanzanite Cat (10, $111,000), Top Billing (10, $40,000), Surfing USA (10, $35,000), Dublin Up (10, $60,000), Rebranded (5,), Financial Mogul (5, $95,000), East Hall (5, $77,550), Classic Giacnroll (5, $62,500), Schoolofhardrocks (5, $18,250), Smarty's Echo (4, $82,000), Walt (4, $45,857), Laddie Boy (4, $45,599), Scotland (4, $45,000), Divine Oath (4, $40,000), Smart Cover (4, $38,418), Go Greeley (2, $220,601), Enterprising (2, $138,000), Roman Unbridled (2, $113,000), Rankhasprivileges (2, $100,250), Ontology (2, $77,250), Artic Slope (2, $42,252), Gold Hawk (2, $38,000), Supermonic (2, $20,000), Awesome Sky (2, $16,819), Can the Man (1, $111,000), Diamond Bachelor (1, $97,020), Matuszak (1, $42,667), Rum Point (1,$30,250), Almost Famous (1, $28,579), Puppy Manners (1, $18,000), Son of a Preacher (1, $11,500), Buck Magic (1, $8,410), and I'll Wrap it Up (1, $6,000).
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