Tag: horse racing

The pomp and pageantry of Royal Ascot could be3 on hold if the British government further postpones racing's resumption. It pushed openings back until June 1 at the earliest. (Image: Getty)

UK Racetracks Slated for Stage 2 Reopening in June (No Fans Allowed)

With some European countries already reopening racetracks across the Continent, British government officials announced Monday that tracks in the UK won’t reopen until June 1, at the earliest. The announcement curbing British racing came after a Sunday night speech by Prime Minister Boris Johnson outlining plans to reopen the UK. […]

The grandstands and boxes at ParisLongchamp will be empty for Monday's racing return outside the French capital. (Image: Vincent Fillon)

After Near Reversal, French Racing Resumes on Monday

Overcoming a late-arriving challenge from entities inside the French government, horse racing will resume as planned in France Monday, according to an announcement by France Galop. Edouard de Rothschild, the president of the French governing body for racing, tweeted early Saturday morning that French President Emmanuel Macron signed off on […]

As racetracks reopen, the NTRA issued extensive safety procedures for everyone from executives to veterinarians and their assistants. (Image: iStock)

As Tracks Reopen, NTRA Issues Extensive Guidelines for Safe Racing

With racetracks around the world beginning to reopen amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) Safety and Integrity Alliance issued an extensive blueprint for tracks to conduct safe, spectator-free live racing. The 33-page document carries the title “Best Practices Related To Coronavirus Mitigation When Conducting Live Racing […]

Charlatan has a fruitful future in the breeding shed after he finishes beating his fellow thoroughbreds like he did here in the Arkansas Derby. (Image: Coady Photography)

After Three Races, Charlatan’s Breeding Rights Sold to Kentucky Farm

He has all of three races and one stakes victory under his tack. And now, Charlatan has a new home once his racing career is finished. Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm in Lexington, KY. announced it bought Charlatan’s breeding rights for an undisclosed amount. The announcement came less than a week […]

American Pharoah is just beginning to make his mark on the racing world as a stallion. His prolific career won't be affected by The Jockey Club's new limits on stallion breeding. (Image: Coolmore Farm)

The Jockey Club Introduces New Limit on Stallion Breeding

In a significant effort to reduce overbreeding among thoroughbred horses, The Jockey Club implemented a new rule limiting stallions to covering (or mating with) 140 broodmares per year. The new rule, which The Jockey Club said is “to preserve the health of the Thoroughbred breed for the long term…” goes […]

As one of five open tracks in April, Arkansas' Oaklawn Park enjoyed a 242% increase in April handle compared to 2019. (Image: AP)

April Racing Handle Tells Two Different Stories on COVID-19 Effects

When Equibase released its monthly report of Economic Indicators in Thoroughbred Racing earlier this week, the numbers told two different stories about the COVID-19 effect on handle. And by default, the effect on the sport itself. The first: that total wagering dropped 24.4% in April 2020 compared to April 2019. […]

After six weeks on COVID-19 enforced hiatus, Golden Gate Fields opens its gate to horses again May 14. (Image: Billy Poon Photos)

Golden Gate Fields Gets Approval to Reopen Next Week

The beleaguered California racing industry received a booster shot Wednesday when Golden Gate Fields announced it will resume live racing on May 14. The announcement came after the Northern California track received provisional approval from Alameda County Health officials. The west Berkeley track closed for live racing on April 2 […]

It's still up in the air when Preakness horses will come down the Pimlico stretch in 2020. A Wednesday report on an Oct. date was refuted shortly after. (Image: Patrick Smith/Getty)

Despite Earlier Report, Preakness Stakes Date Remains in Limbo

Refuting a Wednesday morning report from Baltimore’s WBAL-TV that the Preakness Stakes would run on Oct. 3, The Stronach Group said a new date for the postponed race is not yet finalized. TSG, which owns Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore and its sister track, Laurel Park, was forced to put […]

Wise Dan won 23 races and finished second twice in 31 starts. (Image: SI.com)

Three Centuries of Racing Represented in 2020 Hall of Fame Class

One of the most accomplished older horses of the last decade, the reigning winning trainer in the Preakness and Belmont, a record-setting former jockey. and the son of a Titanic victim who became one of the pillars of the sport. Those are four of the seven new members of the […]

In winning the tougher second division of the Arkansas Derby, Nadal remained unbeaten. The Bob Baffert-trained cold also took over the Kentucky Derby points lead. (Image: Coady Photography)

What Did We Learn About Major Kentucky Derby Hopefuls?

The Arkansas Derby is behind us and a work-in-progress Kentucky Derby Trail lies in front of us. With tracks around the country beginning to open again in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, and Churchill Downs officials still mapping out prep races, it’s a good time to see where the […]

Fans won't see the gates wheeled into place at Churchill Downs, but horses and jockeys will starting May 16. (Image: Christopher Fryer)

Churchill Downs Announces New Race Schedule, Key Spring Stakes

After not hosting the Kentucky Derby on the first Saturday in May for the first time in 75 years, Churchill Downs officials released its first condition book of races and its entire stakes schedule for its spring meet. The proposed slate features 16 stakes races and offers $2.25 million in […]

Santa Anita Park's revamped spring stakes schedule could use a Zenyatta-like performance to help the beleaguered track. (Image: Jae C. Hong/AP)

Santa Anita Park Releases Full Stakes Schedule, Pending Resumption

With its plan to safely resume racing on May 15 officially in the hands of local legislators, Santa Anita Park laid out its revamped spring stakes schedule – a schedule featuring the Santa Anita Derby and Santa Anita Oaks on June 6. That day sets up as the revamped meet’s […]

Combatant pulled off a mild upset in winning March's Santa Anita Handicap. The 5-year-old is a 4/1 favorite to win the Oaklawn Handicap. (Image: Benoit Photo for AP)

Older Horses Show Off Newest Tricks in Deep Oaklawn Handicap Field

This is scheduling as brilliant as the race its talent promises. In between the split Arkansas Derby divisions on Oaklawn Park’s dynamic closing day card rests the $600,000 Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap – a race punching far above its Grade 2 status. Put the grade aside. Far aside. This year’s […]

Bob Baffert's unbeaten Nadal is the 5/2 favorite in the tougher of the two Arkansas Derby divisions. (Image: AP)

Deep End of Arkansas Derby Pool is Smack Dab in Second Division

With the Arkansas Derby’s split divisions, here runs the talent. The Arkansas Derby’s second division features your graded-stakes winners, your low-odds Kentucky Derby futures picks and the horses owning Derby prep victories. Here is the Arkansas Derby’s varsity division – the second division. This is where you find your Louisiana […]

Rarely has Charlatan had to stare down his opponents. He faces his first true test in the first division of Saturday's Arkansas Derby. (Image: Mark Terrill/AP

Arkansas Derby’s First Division Features Charlatan — and Not Much Else

If you picture Saturday’s Arkansas Derby’s two divisions as a high school sport, the first division would be the junior varsity. And not just because it goes to post an hour and 44 minutes before the second division. With few exceptions, the first division is the JV. There’s no other […]

While racing will soon return to Churchill Downs, the surreal sight of empty stands will stick around for the foreseeable future. (Image: Pat McDonogh: Courier-Journal)

Kentucky, New York Officials Cautiously Plan Return to Live Racing

Government officials in two of the country’s biggest horse racing states, Kentucky and New York, opened the doors for live, spectator-free racing to begin amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The announcements came separately and, in both cases, contained few details on exactly when live racing would begin again. But in the […]

Hall of Fame Trainer Bob Baffert and his wife, Jill, took part in a pro-racing demonstration in front of the LA County Board of Supervisors building. (Image: I Am Horse Racing)

Baffert, O’Neill Lead Protest for California Racing at LA County Board

Bob Baffert and Doug O’Neill built a rivalry among the Santa Anita Park training colony, fueled by the fact that they’ve trained a combined four Kentucky Derby winners since 2012. But the two training mainstays put aside their rivalry on Tuesday to lead a demonstration outside the Los Angeles County […]

The annual Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Selected Yearling Sale often brings in more than $40 million. Due to the coronavirus. it was canceled and merged with two other sales this year. (Image: Donna Abbott-Vlahos)

Fasig-Tipton Combines Three Major Horse Auctions Into One Showcase

Recognizing a sagging market for yearlings amid the coronavirus pandemic, renowned thoroughbred auction house Fasig-Tipton announced plans to consolidate three yearling sales into one. The company merged the Saratoga and New York Bred sales scheduled for July into the 2020 Selected Yearlings Showcase, scheduled for Sept. 9-10 at its Lexington, […]