Trainer John Sadler and owner Kostas Hronis are taking home the cash and trophy as their California-based horse Higher Power won the 2019 Pacific Classic this weekend. If the names sounds familiar, its because the same trainer/owner combination also were victorious in last year’s edition of the $1 million, 1 […]
2019 Pacific Classic at Del Mar Presents Full Field, Best Horse is Anyone’s Bet
Quantity is likely to exceed quality Saturday in the 2019 Pacific Classic Saturday at Del Mar. Ten are entered this year, and if they all make the gate, the summer showcase race at the Northern San Diego track will boast its largest field in six years. The 2013 Pacific Classic […]
Bricks and Mortar Trainer Chad Brown Wins Four at Arlington Million Day
With startling ease, Bricks and Mortar won the 37th Arlington Million. Yet somehow trainer Chad Brown managed to steal the limelight from his top horse by sweeping the final four races on the Arlington card. Brown is also the winning conditioner of the first place finishers in both the Beverly […]
New York Approves $1.3B Belmont Park Arena Project for New NY Islanders Home
Belmont Park, the venerable metro New York City Thoroughbred racetrack, now has key government approval as the site for the new home of the NHL’s New York Islanders. On Thursday, the Empire State Development board unanimously approved a $1.3 billion project that will bring the NHL’s New York Islanders back […]
Horse Racing’s New Richest Purse: $20M Saudi Cup Added to International Schedule
The title of richest horse race in the world now belongs to the newly announced $20 million Saudi Cup. The inaugural running is set for King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh on Feb. 29, 2020. It’s a dirt event at 1 1/4 mile. A maximum of 14 starters will participate. Unlike […]
Santa Anita to Install New Drainage System in Safety Prep for Fall Season
Santa Anita Park, the epicenter of attention over the increase in equine injuries and subsequent euthanizations earlier this year, is installing a new drainage system. Maintenance consultant Dennis Moore told the Daily Racing Form about the track’s new drainage system, which will be installed under the main dirt track beneath […]
Bricks and Mortar Favorite to Build Win Streak at Historic Arlington Million
The Arlington Million, North America’s first seven-figure Thoroughbred horse race, returns Saturday with a strong field and historic implications. All eyes will be on Bricks and Mortar, undefeated in big-money races this year and universally regarded as the best US grass horse in training. This year’s running marks the 37th […]
Money: Canadian Superhorse Pink Lloyd Wins Again at Woodbine
The party continues for Pink Lloyd, the under-the-radar Canadian Thoroughbred that just keeps raking in the victories and the dollars. The north-of-the border win machine coasting to his 20th career win for Hall of Fame trainer Robert Tiller on Sunday afternoon at his home base, Woodbine Racetrack, near Toronto. Although he’s […]
McKinzie, Mr. Money Deliver Decisive Wins in Saturday Stakes Action
Both McKinzie in the $1 million Whitney at Saratoga and Mr. Money in the $500,000 West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer easily blew away the competition Saturday. Bettors were heavily backing both at the windows and were not disappointed. The competition in both races came out fighting, but were no match […]
Elite Older Horses to Square Off Saturday in Whitney Stakes at Saratoga
A quartet of top-level older horses head an eight-horse field Saturday in the $1 million, 1 1/8 mile Whitney Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. McKinzie, Thunder Snow, Vino Rosso and Yoshida are all Grade 1 winners. But, the top four will have to deal with four other emerging runners in […]
Horse Racing Returns to Virginia: Colonial Downs Reopens Thanks to HHR Law
After an absence of six years, Thoroughbred racing returns to Virginia next week. The reason: historical horse racing (HHR) electronic gaming machines are resurrecting the state’s dormant equine industry. Slot machines and casino gambling remain illegal in Virginia, on the eastern edge of the Bible Belt. However, the State General […]
Cash is King: Mr. Money Ducks Prestigious Travers Stakes for Soft Spot in West Virginia Derby
Mr. Money, the equine ATM machine, is heading to Saturday’s $500,000, 1 1/8 mile West Virginia Derby. Trainer Bret Calhoun announced that his son of Goldencents is forgoing a chance to take on the elite of the three-year-old division in $1.25 million, 1 1/4 mile Travers Stakes on Aug. 24 […]
Tax Files in Plenty of Time, Wins Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga
Former fringe player Tax is now front and center as a contender in the 1 1/4 mile, $1.25 million Travers Stakes Aug. 24 at Saratoga in Upstate New York. The former claimer disposing of a solid group of rivals in the $600,000 Jim Dandy, the local Travers prep. He’s now […]
Judge Allows Hollendorfer to Stable and Race at Del Mar — For Now
A California judge has given beleaguered Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer a reprieve, temporarily halting the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club from banning him. San Diego Superior Court judge Ronald F. Frazier issued the injunction on Friday, ruling that Hollendorfer must be allowed to stable his horses and train at […]
Tested to the Max, Maximum Security Prevails in Haskell Stakes
Maximum Security, boldly turning back Mucho Gusto in the stretch, is once again at the top of the three-year-old class with a stirring win in Haskell Stakes. The first under-the-wire-horse in the Kentucky Derby — only to be disqualified for interference — disposing of just five others Saturday in the […]
Two Horses Die in Freak Training Mishap at Del Mar during Opening Week
A training accident early Thursday at Del Mar has left two horses dead and one rider injured in a freak, head-on collision during a morning workout session. On Wednesday, the historic San Diego-area track had just begun its 80th summer meeting of Thoroughbred racing, kicking off a season in which track […]
Jerry Hollendorfer Heads to Court Challenging Del Mar Exclusion
Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer is now suing the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. The DMTC manages the racing operation at the track on the San Diego County Fairgrounds. The track begins its 80 season Wednesday. The civil action filing in California Superior Court Monday seeks a temporary restraining order, […]
Resolute Group Ready to Test Maximum Security’s Defenses Saturday at Monmouth Park
Maximum Security makes his second start Saturday since his disqualification in the Kentucky Derby, squaring off against just six rivals in the $1 million Haskell Invitational Stakes. It’s a small but highly talented field in the 1 1/8 mile signature race during the summer season at Monmouth Park on the […]
Can Del Mar Summer Season Prove California Racing Is Safe Again?
Thoroughbred racing returns Wednesday to the Del Mar Fairgrounds, outside of San Diego, with a renewed focus on equine safety. Considered one of the most beautiful racetracks in the world, the historic oval created by Bing Crosby and his pals in the 1930s is presenting a full, 10-race card opening day […]
Mr. Money Cashes Big in $500K Indiana Derby, Game Winner Impresses at Los Alamitos
Race fans and bettors were wondering if 4/5 favorite Mr. Money, facing 10 rivals in the 1 1/16 mile, $500,000 Indiana Derby, could win away from his home base at Churchill Downs in Louisville. That’s where he easily posted wins in the Pat Day Mile and the Matt Winn Stakes. […]