Tag: horse racing

$12 Million Dubai World Cup Becomes Latest COVID-19 Casualty

$12 Million Dubai World Cup Becomes Latest COVID-19 Casualty

The $12 million Dubai World Cup, one of the world’s richest horse races, became the latest sporting casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic when organizers canceled the race and the rest of Saturday’s card. That card at Meydan Racecourse forms the world’s richest race day, one featuring $35 million in purses […]

Enforceable is the 7/2 favorite in a packed Louisiana Derby field. But can he beat the traffic with his closer style? (Image: Coglianese Photos)

Full Field, Equal Talent Means Betting Opportunities in Louisiana Derby

When it comes to A-list 3-year-old talent, this year’s Louisiana Derby is an example of a race that is an inch deep and a mile – actually 1 3/16 miles – wide. It’s a Kentucky Derby prep featuring 14 solid, but heretofore unspectacular, horses all in search of a breakout […]

Horses won't be coming down the stretch at New York's Aqueduct Park in the foreseeable future. The track closed Thursday after a worker tested positive for the coronavirus. (Image: NYRA)

Aqueduct Park Closes After Backstretch Worker Tests Positive for Coronavirus

In the latest COVID-19-related news to hit the horse racing community, officials closed Aqueduct Racetrack in New York until further notice after a backstretch worker tested positive Thursday morning for the coronavirus. The unidentified worker, who lives and works in nearby Belmont Park, has been quarantined. He developed symptoms on […]

The Golden Slipper Trophy is the hardware for the world's richest race for 2-year-olds: the Golden Slipper Stakes in Sydney.

Golden Slipper, Richest Race for 2-Year-Olds, a Go in Australia

While the rest of the world postpones or cancels races due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s almost business as usual for horse racing in Australia. The $3.5 million (A) Golden Slipper Stakes at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney is all set to run on Friday, albeit in front of an […]

Jockey Club Reports Horse Fatalities at Lowest Point in a Decade

Jockey Club Reports Horse Fatalities at Lowest Point in a Decade

The incidences of horse fatalities at American thoroughbred racetracks are now at their lowest point in a decade, according to statistics compiled by the Jockey Club’s Equine Injury Database (EID). The 2019 rate of fatal injuries to horses is at its lowest number since the EID began collecting data in […]

The twin spires of Churchill Downs could stand guard over an empty infield and grandstand the first Saturday in May. Officials plan to make an announcement on the Kentucky Derby's status this week (Image: Yahoo News)

Will the Kentucky Derby Be Canceled for the First Time in History?

World wars, great depressions and countless global calamities have never stopped the Kentucky Derby, going all the way back to 1875. Only once, in 1945, was the Derby delayed, from May until June. Now, with only seven weeks until the 2020 Run for the Roses and the coronavirus pandemic shutting […]

Seen here winning the San Vicente in January, Bob Baffert's Nadal checks all the boxes for a Rebel Stakes winner. (Image: Eclipse Sportswire)

Which Speedster Can Lock Up Kentucky at the Rebel Stakes in Arkansas?

Like its Santa Anita counterpart, last weekend’s San Felipe, the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas is a Grade 2 Kentucky Derby prep race that boasts predictability, a blueblood pedigree of winners, and the ever-present Bob Baffert. The Rebel, a 1 1/16-mile, two-turn test, is Saturday’s lone Derby prep […]

Until further notice, fans won't be able to enjoy this spectacular view of the San Gabriel Mountains behind the Santa Anita finish line. The track is closed to spectators. (Image: Santa Anita Park)

Last Sport Standing? Horse Racing and Betting Continues, Just Not In Person

From a betting standpoint, the coronavirus outbreak that has canceled or suspended events across the sporting spectrum means America’s horse racing tracks are some of the few venues with action available to punters. Provided you have a remote betting account or betting app. Due to the threat of coronavirus and […]

Trainer Jason Servis is accused of administering  PEDs to horses in his caire. That includes Eclipse Award-winning 3-year-old Male Maximum Security. (Image: Getty Images)

Fallout from Horse Doping Scandal Moves Maximum Security to Baffert’s Barn

Federal authorities indicted 27 horsemen on Monday for using performance-enhancing drugs on thoroughbreds. The horse doping charges are shaking up barns throughout racing, with the biggest tremor involving Jason Servis, who just last week won the inaugural $20 million Saudi Cup, the richest purse in racing, with Maximum Security, his […]

The 8/5 favorite for the San Felipe Stakes, undefeated Authentic isn't a drama-free runner. He won the Sham by 7 3/4 lengths despite inexplicably breaking for the rail twice down the stretch. (Image: OG News)

Undefeated San Felipe Favorite Authentic Finds Unorthodox Ways to Win

He is the offspring of Into Mischief, which probably explains why San Felipe Stakes favorite Authentic found himself causing trouble in his last Kentucky Derby prep race. It was in January’s Grade 3 Sham Stakes at Santa Anita — the same track Authentic will tackle Saturday as the 8/5 favorite […]

Tiger Roll will enter the Grand National as the clear favorite to win an unprecedented third straight race at Aintree. (Image: The Scottish Sun)

Tiger Roll Favored to Win Unprecedented Third Straight Grand National Race

Tiger Roll could make history next month at Aintree, as the Irish-bred horse attempts to win his third straight Grand National. The 10-year-old Tiger Roll currently stands as the 5/1 favorite to win the world’s most prestigious National Hunt race, according to William Hill, after earning the title in both […]

At age 7, Gift Box is one of the most dominant older horses in the country. He'll try to be the fifth horse to win multiple Santa Anita Handicaps Saturday. (Image: OG News)

Gift Box Seeks To Unwrap Second Consecutive Santa Anita Handicap

The Santa Anita Handicap is a race that rewards the complete package in a horse, which is why it presents an opening for Gift Box to find the winner’s circle. After vanquishing McKinzie with one of the best stretch duels of any 2019 race in last year’s edition, Gift Box […]

Sole Volante is a legitimate favorite in the Tampa Bay Derby. But against rival Chance It, can he close like he did here in winning the Sam F. Davis Stakes? (Image: SV Photography/Tampa Bay Downs)

Sole Volante, Chance It Renew Rivalry at Tampa Bay Derby

Up until last week, the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby looked to be the sole province of Sole Volante. The Sam F. Davis Stakes winner was more than a prohibitive favorite. He was the only horse anyone was talking about in the Kentucky Derby prep. That changed last week when […]

Chance It, seen here at Gulfstream Park beating As Seen On Tv by a nose in the Mucho Macho Man Stakes, has won four of his last six races. (Image: Lauren King)

Chance It Riding Wave of Momentum into Tampa Bay Chasing Derby Points

The chance for a better post draw brought Chance It to town for Saturday’s Tampa Bay Derby. And the chance of a lifetime brought trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. to the cusp of qualifying for the Kentucky Derby — something he’s angled for since arriving in the US from Barbados in […]

Dennis' Moment went off as the 6/5 favorite in the Fountain of  Youth. But a disappointing last-place finish has his camp puzzled. (Image: Holly M. Smith Photography)

Fountain of Youth Favorite Dennis’ Moment Disappoints on Derby Trail

Dale Romans was puzzled. Nothing he trained Dennis’ Moment for at Saturday’s Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park was supposed to play out like this. And unlike past mishaps, Dennis’ Moment’s start was good, his tactics were fine, and jockey Flavien Prat was turning in his usual solid, intelligent ride. […]

The Cheltenham Festival attracts upwards of 260,000 people a year. It's 2020 future is in doubt because of the Coronavirus. (Image: Edward Whitaker)

Will Cheltenham Festival Be Canceled Due to Coronavirus Threat?

The global-wide Coronavirus has infected the horse racing markets in Great Britain with news that two Gloucestershire residents have contracted the virus ahead of the annual Cheltenham Festival, scheduled to begin March 10. Betfair is now taking action on Cheltenham Festival races being canceled, with odds shortening from 5/2 to […]

Maximum Security doing his morning workout earlier this week at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Process of Elimination Makes Maximum Security a Safe Bet in Saudi Cup

The easiest way to look at Saturday’s Saudi Cup is to go back to your old test days. Remember when your teacher told you to eliminate the wrong answers and, eventually, you’d arrive at the right one? Not only does this work for geometry and history, it also works for […]

Maximum Security, seen here winning the 2019 Florida Derby, has only been beaten across the finish line once.

Maximum Security Seeks Redemption in $20 Million Saudi Cup

Maximum Security had a year most owners and trainers would run with, culminating in his coronation as the year’s 3-year-old Male Eclipse Award Champion. But everyone who saw Maximum Security run knew he didn’t get the maximum out of his considerable talent. That considerable talent, more than anything he did […]