It’s on to Pimlico and the Preakness Stakes for controversial Kentucky Derby winner Country House, but a rematch between the Bill Mott trained Derby winner and Maximum Security — first at the wire, but then shockingly disqualified — now seems unlikely. The DQ’d horse’s owner Gary West told the Today […]
Tag: horse racing
Omaha Beach, Baffert Trio Are the Kentucky Derby Favorites
Omaha Beach at 4/1 is now the morning line favorite for Saturday’s highly anticipated $3 million Kentucky Derby. It’s the 145th edition of the US’s most prestigious horse race. Barring any late scratches, the field is now set with Tuesday’s completion of this year’s post position draw. The Kentucky Derby is […]
Horse Racing: Baffert Duo Both Settle for Second Place in Rebel Stakes Split Divisions
The last person any race fan expects to see contracting “seconditis†is Hall-of-Fame trainer Bob Baffert. But that’s just what happened to both his leading Kentucky Derby contenders, Improbable (2/5 on the odds board) and Game Winner (the public’s 1/2 favorite) Saturday at Oaklawn Park. The Baffert duo, re-routed from […]
California Horse Racing Stakeholders Agree to Revise Medication, Whipping Rules
Santa Anita Park, the iconic Southern California racetrack plagued by a horrifying series of equine fatalities, is setting March 29 as its “re-opening†day. A dispute over new medication rules between horse owners and track management had been threatening the future of the track, near Los Angeles. There’s been no […]
Dark Days Linger at Santa Anita, Another Fatality Prompts More Changes
A pall remains over Thoroughbred racing in Southern California and is continuing to intensify. This, in the aftermath of a 22nd fatal breakdown early Thursday at Santa Anita Park. Princess Lili B, a lightly raced, 3-year-old maiden filly, snapped both front legs at the end of a half-mile workout on the […]
Racing to Return to Santa Anita in March, 21 Dead Horses Still a Mystery
Racing is set to resume March 22 at Santa Anita, Tim Ritvo, chief operating officer for the owner, The Stronach Group (TSG), confirmed Sunday morning. When horses do enter the starting gate, it will end a two-week break prompted by a series of equine fatalities at the historic racetrack in […]
Derby Fever Spiking, Hopefuls Test Mettle in Florida, New York, Kentucky
Kentucky Derby hopefuls are gathering Saturday in Florida, New York and Kentucky. The mission: test their speed, stamina and heart attempting to earn a spot in the Derby starting gate on May 4. A fourth key prep, the $500,000 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita remains on hold as track […]
Santa Anita Horse Deaths Puzzle Track Investigators, Racing Stakeholders
Twenty-one equine fatalities in less than three months at Santa Anita Park have forced an indefinite suspension of all racing and training activities. As officials try to determine if they’re looking at a statistical anomaly, deteriorating track conditions in the face of unprecedented rain and cold, or something else, the […]
Code of Honor Digs in as Derby Contender with $400K Fountain of Youth Win
Code of Honor is forging ahead towards the Kentucky Derby after showing high energy in winning the historic $400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes Saturday at Gulfstream Park. Jockey John Velasquez, breaking from the inside post, allowed Code of Honor ($21.00-$8.60-$5.40) to establish position fifth at the rail. Settling his mount […]
Kentucky Derby Hopes Spring From Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream
Just who will sip from the Fountain of Youth? The legend of a spring that supposedly restores the vitality and vigor of anyone who drinks or bathes in its waters may be a myth, but the horse race Saturday at Gulfstream Park, near Miami, is quite real. All eyes will be […]
How the Kentucky Derby Became a Worldwide Horse Racing Event
Non-American horse racing interests have long coveted the greatest prize in US racing, the Kentucky Derby. The question of who has the fastest horse — in this instance a three-year-old — is many hundreds of years old and has no national boundaries. In 2012, a specific framework was created establishing […]
Horses Moving Up or Moving Out in Kentucky Derby Points Chase
Mid-February remains a key time of year for Kentucky Derby hopefuls. Aspirants must soon be moving forward in any of the multitude of prep races, stepping up training to attain fitness for longer, more testing March and April Derby preps. Or, head for the exit ramp on the road to […]
Seeking Kentucky Derby Glory Presidents’ Day Weekend
Don’t overlook two additional preps Presidents’ Day Weekend as hopefuls pursue a place in the Kentucky Derby winners’ circle. Complementing the $400,000 Risen Star at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans are the $100,000 El Camino Real Derby Saturday at Golden Gate Fields near San Francisco and the $500,000 Southwest […]
No Surprise: Triple Crown Winner Justify Named 2018 Horse of the Year at Eclipse Awards
Triple Crown conqueror Justify is the Eclipse Award-winning Horse of the Year for 2018. The announcement was made at the annual awards dinner Thursday night at the Eclipse Awards Banquet at Gulfstream Park near Miami. honoring the now-retired, chestnut son of Scat Daddy. Just as he had often done on the […]
Favorites Fail in First Round of Derby Preps on Road to Triple Crown
Heavy favorites Coliseum (3/5) and Code of Honor (4/5) both failed on Saturday to live up to the betting hype in their first Kentucky Derby prep races for 3-year-olds in California and Florida. Their results, or lack thereof, left presumptive 2-year-old champion Game Winner as the standout in the ongoing […]