Given his history in such geographic matters, the fact Golden Pal is back in the US and back at Saratoga bodes well for one of the best turf sprinters in North America. This particular stop is Friday’s Grade 3 Troy Stakes at Saratoga. It should be no hill for this […]
Tag: Royal Ascot
A Royal Flush at Royal Ascot: Two Bettors Hit All Seven Races
The odds of hitting all seven races on last Friday’s Royal Ascot card were 122,889/1, according to William Hill. And yet, two horseplayers on opposite ends of the world managed to beat those odds and hit the improbable wager. And both did it in proverbial lottery fashion. An English bettor […]
Moore, O’Brien, Godolphin Capture Royal Ascot Titles, Ward Blanked
Three very familiar names: Ryan Moore, Aidan O’Brien and Godolphin, wrapped up their respective titles as Royal Ascot wrapped up its 2022 meet Saturday. Godolphin’s successful defense of its owner title came after the Saudi monolith tied Coolmore with five wins each. But Godolphin notched three runners-up to Coolmore’s one. […]
Ward, Ortiz Throw Their Final Royal Ascot Dice With Campanelle
Between a lack of stable success and a suspension to Irad Ortiz Jr., this has not been the greatest of weeks for Ortiz and trainer Wesley Ward at Royal Ascot. But all it takes is Campanelle winning her third consecutive Royal Ascot meet race to flip the plot. That comes […]
At 50/1, The Ridler Sheds His ‘D’ for a Royal Ascot ‘W’ in Norfolk Stakes
Even with one ‘d,’ The Ridler was named after the Batman villain, courtesy of a birthmark in the shape of a backwards question mark on his face. Given what The Ridler did on Day 3 at Royal Ascot, question marks are appropriate. Leaving the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes starting gate […]
Stradivarius Ready to Play a Closing Note at Royal Ascot’s Gold Cup
If we’re going to put a label on Stradivarius, the obvious one would be “crafty veteran.” It’s the perfect description for an 8-year-old staying legend who’s on the cusp of furthering his legacy. The three-time defending champion of the Gold Cup, Royal Ascot’s marquee race, will attempt to join Yeats […]
Nature Strip Makes Winning Look Natural in Royal Ascot’s King’s Stand
Nature Strip answered one question on Tuesday: who’s the best turf sprinter in the world. Now, the star Australian gelding has a history question to answer: will he run again Saturday in the Platinum Jubilee Stakes, on Royal Ascot’s final day? After taking apart Tuesday’s Group 1 King’s Stand by […]
It’s US vs. Australia in a Royal Ascot Rumble
They’re not wasting any time in giving the well-heeled racing fans at Royal Ascot the meet’s main attraction. On Tuesday’s first day of the 2022 Royal Ascot meet, those fans get Golden Pal vs. Nature Strip in the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes. Only the top North American turf sprinter […]
Ward’s Decorated Duo Lead an American Invasion of Royal Ascot
Wesley Ward’s decorated duo of Golden Pal and Campanelle headline a 16-horse American contingent of nominees for this year’s Royal Ascot Group 1 races. A customary presence at the mid-June meet, Ward is one of four American trainers nominating horses to one of the eight Group 1 races. Graham Motion, […]
Golden Pal Blazes His Way Past Rivals, Will Return to Royal Ascot
Golden Pal first broke into the public conscience nearly two years ago when he finished second in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at a near-empty Royal Ascot. You could be forgiven for not noticing, considering not even Queen Elizabeth II made a Royal Ascot appearance. You’ll probably notice when Golden […]
Royal Theater at Royal Ascot: Ward, Campanelle Win Commonwealth Cup
Having stewards elevate Campanelle to victory was a novel way for trainer Wesley Ward to win his 12th Royal Ascot race. But after the American trainer endured a less-than-regal slog at Royal Ascot this week, Ward was not throwing this Group 1 Commonwealth Cup victory back. Off as the 5/1 […]
Commonwealth Favorite Campanelle Seeks Second Crown at Royal Ascot
To give you an idea of how good Campanelle is only four races into her career, she captured the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot last year in only her second start. Plenty of horses win graded stakes their second time out — even graded stakes at a […]
Stradivarius Seeks to Write His Name in the Royal Ascot Record Book
Can Stradivarius, a horse named after a musical instrument, equal Yeats, a horse named after a poet? That next landmark awaits the 7-year-old horse as Thursday’s Day 3 storyline at Royal Ascot. That landmark would be a fourth consecutive Gold Cup title, which would tie Stradivarius with Yeats. He won […]
Can Defending Champion Lord it Over Love in Prince of Wales’s Stakes?
The Prince of Wales’s Stakes gives you defending champion Lord North with leading jockey Frankie Dettori and standout trainer John Gosden getting an assist from his son, Thady. What could possibly go wrong for the 5-year-old gelding in Royal Ascot’s Day 2 marquee race? Well, that’s what Love’s got to […]
Rachael Blackmore Seeks to Conquer Royal Ascot
Not content with owning Cheltenham and the Grand National, standout jockey Rachael Blackmore will now tackle Royal Ascot on Tuesday’s first day of the five-day meet. Blackmore takes the reins of Cape Gentlemen for the Listed Ascot Stakes, the finale of Royal Ascot’s seven-race opening day. Headlining the day are […]
Breeders’ Cup Crowns Royal Ascot With Four Challenge Series Races
For the fourth consecutive year, Royal Ascot’s 2021 meet not only features the usual pomp and pageantry, but four tickets to the 2021 Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar. The prestigious meet, which begins Tuesday and runs through Saturday, will play host to the season’s first four Breeders’ Cup “Win and […]
As Usual, Ward Leads the American Contingent Into Royal Ascot
Royal Ascot’s 11-horse American invasion hit the Newmarket stables on Wednesday, six days before the five-day meet opens next Tuesday. Nine of those horses come from Wesley Ward’s barn, which shouldn’t be surprising since Ward is the usual American invader to Ascot’s premier meet. Dating to his first victory in […]
Royal Ascot Meet Returning Some Pomp, Admitting 12K Fans Daily
The Royal Ascot Meet carries a well-earned reputation as one of the biggest parties in world horse racing. And the English racetrack will resume its party host duties this year when it admits 12,000 fans daily to the five-day meet. The British government selected the track as one of its […]
Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series Offers Record Nine Spots for Classic
The Breeders’ Cup World Championships announced its 2021 Challenge Series race schedule, which features a record nine Challenge Series “Win and You’re In†races to the event’s flagship Breeders’ Cup Classic. The $6 million Classic is an All-Star race, capping the two-day, 14-race, $31 million Breeders’ Cup. This year’s Breeders’ […]
Affordability Checks: What are They and What Do They Mean for Racing?
Picture this scenario, courtesy of the Great Britain Gambling Commission and its proposed “affordability checks†on sports and race bettors. You save your betting money for the Royal Ascot meet in June. The meet arrives and you wager £100 each-way on the second favorite in the Group 1 Queen Anne […]