Bobby Flay knows a good dish when he sees one, makes one or – in the Thoroughbred horse world — buys one. And the celebrity chef/horse owner is nothing, if not quick on the uptake. Five years ago, Flay bought into the colt Creator five days before the 2016 Belmont […]
Tag: horse racing
Saratoga EHV-1 Quarantine Set to End Aug. 1 — If No Further Cases
Horses quarantined as a result of an Equine Herpesvirus (EHV-1) case in Saratoga’s Barn 86 will be allowed to race Aug. 1, provided there are no further positive cases. The New York Racing Association made the announcement on Tuesday, citing the end of a 21-day quarantine in that barn. This […]
Wit Shows He’s No Joke as a Promising 2022 Kentucky Derby Prospect
It’s never too early to put promising 2-year-olds on your Kentucky Derby radar screen, which is why it’s time to say hello to one of the most promising juveniles of 2021 – Wit. The Todd Pletcher charge graduated to graded stakes champion on Saturday, capturing the Grade 3 Sanford Stakes […]
Preakness Winner Rombauer Taking a Break, Won’t Race Until 2022
Preakness Stakes winner Rombauer will take the next 60 days off and won’t race for the duration of the 2021 season, according to the Daily Racing Form. Trainer Mike McCarthy told the DRF that Rombauer hadn’t been training “as sharp as he was before the Preakness and Belmont.†That June […]
Mystic Guide’s Racing Future Uncertain After Impending Knee Surgery
The racing future for standout 4-year-old Mystic Guide has become uncertain after owner-breeder Godolphin announced he would undergo surgery for a knee chip. Noted surgeon Dr. Larry Bramlage of Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky, will perform the surgery. Meanwhile, the Dubai World Cup winner goes on the […]
Controversy, Near-Catastrophe, Marks Haskell Stakes Finish
The inherent danger of riding horses combined with a controversial rule change to create a frightening finish to Saturday’s Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park. Hot Rod Charlie crossed the finish line first, nipping Mandaloun by a nose. That apparently gave him his long-sought first Grade 1 victory. However, the 4/5 […]
Can Brown Hunt Down His Sixth Consecutive Diana Stakes Title?
The main storyline coming to you from this year’s Grade 1 Diana Stakes at Saratoga is what Chad Brown can do for an encore – times five. Yes, Brown owns the last five Diana titles and six overall. You expect Saratoga’s premier turf trainer to win Saratoga’s premier filly and […]
A Triple Crown Placers War by the Jersey Shore Headlines Haskell Stakes
The first thought that comes to mind when you see Mandaloun, Midnight Bourbon and Hot Rod Charlie lined up as the three headliners for Saturday’s Grade 1 Haskell Stakes is that deja-vu sense of familiarity. You’ve seen these three clash repeatedly, but there’s something else about them that stands out. […]
Cross Country Wagering Goes Truly Exotic: Meet the Cross-Breed Pick 5
The New York Racing Association’s Cross Country Pick 6, you’re probably familiar with. But for this Saturday’s busy day, how about a Cross-breed Cross Country Pick 5? NYRA and Monmouth Park joined forces for Saturday’s All-Stakes Cross Country Pick 6. That weekly slate isn’t surprising given it’s Haskell Day at […]
Can the Remarkable Arklow Plant His Flag at the United Nations Stakes?
Figuring out the most remarkable element of Arklow’s career takes you on a trip around America’s racetracks in search of the freakish, most bizarre factoid you can find. So, it makes perfect sense that Arklow is one of the favorites for Saturday’s Grade 1 United Nations Stakes at Monmouth Park. […]
Del Mar Opens to Sellout Crowd and a Dream Shake Turf Sighting
Last year’s Del Mar summer season opener carried such a weird vibe that Del Mar Thoroughbred Club CEO Joe Harper spent much of it walking around in a surreal, dreamy haze. This year, Harper and the rest of Del Mar’s sold-out, opening-day crowd – and yes, we said “crowd†– […]
Belmont Park Reports 20% Boost in 2021 Spring/Summer Meet Handle
Displaying further signs of post-pandemic economic health, Belmont Park boosted its 2021 spring/summer meet handle by 20.6% over 2019 totals, and 63.5% over last year’s handle. The New York Racing Association released the figures Wednesday. They showed the 48-day Belmont spring/summer meet brought in $632,208,251 in all-sources handle. This, from […]
Saratoga’s 2021 Season Opens with Fans, Golden Pal’s Return
The long-anticipated 2021 Saratoga Meet opens Thursday, headlined by a familiar name — Golden Pal — making his seasonal debut. The standout sophomore sprinter anchors a deep field of 3-year-olds in the Grade 3 Quick Call. That 5 ½-furlong sprint on the Mellon Turf Course is one of two stakes […]
Judge Rules Bob Baffert’s NYRA Suspension Unconstitutional
On the eve of Saratoga Race Course’s 2021 opening day, a New York federal judge ruled the New York Racing Association’s suspension of Bob Baffert was unconstitutional. That Wednesday ruling by Judge Carol Bagley Amon opens the gate for the Hall of Fame trainer to run his charges at Saratoga’s […]
This $1 Million Bonanza is Easy: Just Win Haskell, Travers and BC Classic
Monmouth Park and BetMakers Technology Group announced a $1 million bounty – the BetMakers Bonanza — to any 3-year-old who wins the Haskell Stakes, the Travers Stakes, and the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Just win three of the most prestigious events in American racing. Simple, right? Actually, one horse collected the […]
Cigar Mile Once Again Headlines Aqueduct’s Fall Stakes Schedule
The New York Racing Association took time out from prepping for Thursday’s Saratoga Meet opener to announce Aqueduct’s stakes schedule for its fall meet. Aqueduct’s 18-day fall meet offers 26 stakes races – 10 of those graded – along with $4.9 million in purses. That meet begins Friday, Nov. 5 […]
Irish Invaders Santa Barbara, Bolshoi Ballet Plan Breeders’ Cup Return
Bolshoi Ballet and Santa Barbara came across the Atlantic from their Irish home, arrived at Belmont Park, won their respective Turf Triple Series races, and returned to Ireland on Sunday. But expect to see the Irish colt and filly back in November for the Breeders’ Cup. “That’s the plan for […]
Brown Sees Green Again, Wins Sixth Straight Belmont Park Training Title
Belmont Park continues to be Chad Brown’s world and the rest of the New York horse racing community is merely living in it. Brown clinched the Belmont Park Spring/Summer Meet training title for the sixth consecutive year, racking up 32 victories over the 48-day meet that ended Sunday. Jose Ortiz […]
Incomparable Champion Sire Galileo Euthanized At 23 After Foot Injury
Galileo, the most successful European sire in racing history, was euthanized early Saturday morning after suffering a chronic, debilitating injury to his left fore foot. The son of Sadler’s Wells was 23. Coolmore Farm, Galileo’s owners, announced the death after Galileo’s injury failed to respond to treatment. “It is a […]
The Belmont Derby Gives You International Flavor, Domestic Depth
The Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational offers up a Kentucky Derby alum, along with a former Bob Baffert colt who may be the turf star of his generation. It also gives you one of Europe’s top turf terrors, straight from the barn of that continent’s top trainer – Aidan O’Brien. […]