Keeneland enjoyed its third consecutive year of record Spring Meet handle, bringing in an all-sources handle of $219,284,979 for its just-concluded Spring Meet. That handle was the largest total in the Kentucky track’s history. The more than $219 million from the 15-day meet that ended Friday represented a 33.16% increase […]
Tag: horse racing
Big ‘Cap Winner Express Train Roars Into Next Stop: The Californian
The rolling freight train that is Express Train makes another stop Saturday in Santa Anita Park’s Grade 2 Californian Stakes. That’s one of the featured events of the California track’s return to racing after a week’s planned hiatus between its Winter and Spring meets. The last time we saw Express […]
With One Stakes, this Cross Country Pick 5 Puts Handicappers to the Test
A million-dollar gelding and one of the first stakes races on Belmont Park’s Spring/Summer Meet provide two of the storylines for this week’s New York Racing Association Cross Country Pick 5. The weekly, multi-track, multi-race wager comes from Belmont Park and Oaklawn Park this week. While it’s light on stakes […]
Keeping it Simple With Kentucky Derby Sleeper Simplification
Lost in Friday’s Kentucky Derby news of the final California works from the former Bob Baffert/now Tim Yakteen duo of Taiba and Messier, and Zandon’s latest impressive work at Churchill Downs (1:00.40 for five furlongs) was the happenings out of Gulfstream Park, where Simplification quietly turned in a bullet five-furlong […]
Early Voting May Give Up His Kentucky Derby Spot, Wait for Preakness
Trainer Chad Brown said Wednesday that Early Voting will likely skip the Kentucky Derby and head straight to Baltimore for the May 21 Preakness Stakes. This, despite the fact Early Voting has the points for a starting gate berth in the May 7 Derby. This, despite the fact that Brown hedged […]
NYRA Hearing Officer Recommends Two-Year Ban for Bob Baffert
Retired Justice O. Peter Sherwood, who presided over the January hearing pitting Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert against the New York Racing Association issued a report recommending Baffert be banned from NYRA tracks for two years. That 54-page report was issued to the media on Wednesday. In it, Sherwood […]
Letruska Emerges from Apple Blossom No. 2 in Familiar Territory
This Letruska script is one we’ve seen before. After all, it bears a striking resemblance to the 2021 script for the powerful, now 6-year-old mare. Win Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park. Head to Kentucky to train for the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps at Belmont Park. Leave no mistake who […]
Canterbury Park Wants You to Take In This Low Takeout Pick 4
Canterbury Park announced it will add a “Post Time Pick 4†wager that features the lowest takeout of any North American track – 10%. To put this into perspective, the average takeout on a multi-race wager is 22%, according to TwinSpires. That means 22 cents out of every dollar bet […]
This Deep Oaklawn Handicap Provides A Handicapper’s Puzzle
The numbers tell you how competitive Saturday’s Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap is from a wagering standpoint. Because this is a race where just about everyone can win. How competitive is the anchor stakes race on Oaklawn Park’s 12-race card? Six of the eight older horses in the 1 1/8-mile Oaklawn […]
Oaklawn Provides Strong Stakes Bookends for Cross Country Pick 5
A deeply talented Grade 1 for fillies and mares and a contentious Grade 3 for older males bookend this week’s New York Racing Association Cross Country Pick 5 wager. The all-stakes Cross Country Pick 5 features races from Oaklawn Park – the site of the aforementioned Grade 1 Apple Blossom […]
Apple Blossom Blooms With Two Champions, Four Grade 1 Winners
There are only five horses in Saturday’s Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park, a statistic that trainer Rob Atras puts into perspective for everyone. “It’s a small field, but it’s got like a Breeders’ Cup kind of feel to it,” Atras told Oaklawn Park’s Jennifer Hoyt. That’s probably the […]
Commissioners Rescind Monmouth Park’s Restrictive No-Crop Rule
The New Jersey Racing Commission (NJRC) rescinded Monmouth Park’s draconian no-crop rule that was implemented for the 2021 racing season. The NJRC rescinded the rule in favor of the less-stringent House Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) guidelines. Those guidelines, called “house rules” in New Jersey, allow jockeys six strikes per […]
NYRA Plays Three with New Triple Play Pick 3 Wager
The New York Racing Association unveiled a new wager, the NYRA Triple Play, that begins at Belmont Park’s upcoming spring/summer meet. The Pick 3 wager comes with a $3 minimum and covers the final three races of Belmont Park’s Sunday cards. It also comes with a hefty 24% takeout rate. By […]
Bobby Flay Delivers Pizza Bianca to Aqueduct’s Memories of Silver
Even with celebrity chef Bobby Flay as an owner, Pizza Bianca doesn’t have the highest profile for a Breeders’ Cup winner. But, the winner of last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf remains formidable in Sunday’s Memories of Silver on Aqueduct’s closing day. Pizza Bianca’s low profile has nothing to […]
NBC Expands Triple Crown Coverage, Brings Peacock in to Live Stream
NBC expanded its Triple Crown portfolio to the streaming world, announcing that its Peacock service will live stream all three Triple Crown races. This marks a first for the streaming service, which will supplement – not replace – NBC’s Triple Crown coverage. It also brings horse racing back to Peacock, […]
After Final Kentucky Derby Prep, the Points Are Set, but Not the Field
The gate to the 2021-22 Kentucky Derby trail came down Saturday, with Tawny Port winning the final Derby prep on the trail: the Grade 3 Lexington Stakes. That brought the Brad Cox-trained colt safely in the field with 60 points, courtesy of the 20 he earned with his one-length victory […]
Due to Untimely Fever, Slow Down Andy Stops Short of Kentucky Derby
Slow Down Andy, trainer Doug O’Neill’s top Kentucky Derby prospect, spiked a fever in his Keeneland stall and will miss the Derby, O’Neill confirmed to OG News. “Andy got a cold, he’ll be fine, just won’t be ready for the Derby,†O’Neill said via text to OG News. A two-time […]
It’s Time: Kentucky Derby Trail Ends Here at the Lexington Stakes
Considering what’s on the line in Saturday’s Grade 3 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland, those of you who like betting horses based on their names have the perfect choice sitting there. In Due Time. This would be a fine time for In Due Time, the 3/1 second choice in the 11-colt Lexington, to win […]
Salty Kentucky Derby Prep, Ascot Winner Head Cross Country Pick 5
The last stop on the 2022 Kentucky Derby trail and a Royal Ascot winner making her season debut headline this week’s New York Racing Association Cross Country Pick 5 wager. This week’s Cross Country Pick 5 features races from Keeneland and Aqueduct. Two of the five races are stakes events. That […]
Smooth Like Strait Makes His Way East for Maker’s Mark Mile
Smooth Like Strait ventured outside his California barn once last year: for the Grade 1 Turf Classic on the Kentucky Derby undercard. He ventures forth again for Friday’s Grade 1 Maker’s Mark Mile at Keeneland, the featured race on that track’s Good Friday card. And according to his trainer, Mike […]