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BloodHorse.com Articles by Claire Novak

Guild Assembly Hooks Up With Symposium

The Jockeys' Guild will move its annual assembly to Arizona this year, becoming part of the University of Arizona Symposium on Racing & Gaming held in Tucson each December, Guild national manager Terry Meyocks said April 6.

 Monday, April 06, 2009
Garcia Makes Keeneland His April Home

Garcia Makes Keeneland His April Home

Jockey Alan Garcia, whose most recent stakes win came aboard Godolphin Stables' Regal Ransom in the March 29 UAE Derby (UAE-II), will spend the spring meet at Keeneland in Lexington for the first time in his career, agent Tony Micaleff said March 31.

 Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Injured Lebron to Undergo Surgery

Jockey Victor Lebron, the leading rider at Turfway Park for the ongoing winter-spring season, will undergo surgery March 27 to repair two fractured bones and tissue damage incurred in a racing accident on March 21 at the Florence, Ky. track.

 Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Turfway Leader Lebron Sprains Ankle

Jockey Victor Lebron sustained a sprained right ankle after he fell from his mount in the third race at Turfway Park on March 21. The diagnosis, made following a trip St. Luke Hospital in West Florence, Ky., was good news for the leading rider at Turfway, who feared the injury was more serious.

 Saturday, March 21, 2009
Jockey Hill to Relocate to California

Jockey Hill to Relocate to California

Jockey Channing Hill, a regular on the New York circuit since 2005, will shift his tack to Southern California after riding the March 18 program at Aqueduct.

 Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Bejarano Closes in on Southern Cal Sweep

Bejarano Closes in on Southern Cal Sweep

With one week left until the end of Hollywood Park's 2008 fall racing season, jockey Rafael Bejarano is poised to complete a rare riding feat: a sweep of each victory title at every major meet in Southern California in 2008.

 Sunday, December 14, 2008

Gary Boulanger Recovering From Injuries

Former jockey Gary Boulanger, who rode the Florida circuit before he was injured in a 2005 spill at Gulfstream Park, was recovering from surgery Nov. 8 following a farm accident at a facility in Davie, Fla., where he had been teaching riding lessons and working with young students.

 Saturday, November 08, 2008
Rose Back to Winning After Suspension

Rose Back to Winning After Suspension

Jockey Jeremy Rose, back riding after a suspension for a whipping incident at Delaware Park in June, believes he's off to a good start.

 Monday, October 27, 2008
Indyanne Holds Off Wild Gams

Indyanne Holds Off Wild Gams

In her last start, David and Jill Heerensperger's Indyanne lunged at the start and missed winning Saratoga's Victory Ride Stakes (gr. III) by just half a length. At Keeneland Oct. 4, she got the perfect break and trip, and returned to her winning ways in the $300,000 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (gr. III) on the Keeneland Polytrack.

 Saturday, October 04, 2008
Velazquez Rests After Hospital Release

Velazquez Rests After Hospital Release

Jockey John Velazquez was resting in good condition at a Lexington hotel Oct. 4 following his release from the University of Kentucky Medical Center. He was hospitalized a day earlier when he suffered a serious concussion in a spill at Keeneland Race Course.

 Saturday, October 04, 2008
Exercise Rider Parker Buckley Dies

Exercise Rider Parker Buckley Dies

Former jockey Parker Buckley, an exercise rider for trainer Steve Asmussen, died Aug. 19 at Albany Medical Center in Albany, N.Y., following an Aug. 18 accident on the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga Race Course.

 Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Exercise Rider Buckley Critical

Parker Buckley, a former jockey who was working as an exercise rider for trainer Steve Asmussen, is in critical condition following an Aug. 18 accident at Saratoga's Oklahoma training track.

 Monday, August 18, 2008

Curlin Zips 7 Furlongs in Woodward Work

Reigning Horse of the Year Curlin turned in his final serious prep for an upcoming start in the Aug. 30 Woodward Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course when he breezed seven furlongs over the upstate New York oval Aug. 18.

 Monday, August 18, 2008
Red Rocks Out of Sword Dancer Stakes

Red Rocks Out of Sword Dancer Stakes

J. Paul Reddam's Red Rocks, the 9-5 favorite for the $500,000 Sword Dancer Invitational Stakes (gr. IT) at Saratoga Aug. 16, has been declared out of the race by trainer Mark Henning.

 Friday, August 15, 2008
Curlin Works; Plans Still Undetermined

Curlin Works; Plans Still Undetermined

Curlin, the 2007 Horse of the Year, worked five furlongs at Saratoga Race Course July 28 in preparation for a start that, according to trainer Steve Asmussen, has yet to be determined.

 Monday, July 28, 2008
Rutherienne Tops All Along Field

Rutherienne Tops All Along Field

Virginia Kraft Payson's Rutherienne will top a quality field of turf distaffers including Valbenny, Lady Digby,and J'ray, in the $200,000 All Along Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Colonial Downs June 21.

 Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Calvin Borel Off Mounts at Churchill

Calvin Borel Off Mounts at Churchill

Jockey Calvin Borel took off his 10 mounts at Churchill Downs on June 14, citing pain in his knee as the cause.

 Saturday, June 14, 2008
Three Fillies Meet Again in Eatontown

Three Fillies Meet Again in Eatontown

The winner and runner-up from Monmouth Park's May 26 Politely Stakes -- plus the fourth-place finisher -- will meet again at the New Jersey oval June 14, when a field of eight fillies and mares go postward in the $150,000 Eatontown Handicap (gr. IIIT).

 Thursday, June 12, 2008
Curlin Schools for Stephen Foster

Curlin Schools for Stephen Foster

Curlin, the 2007 Horse of the Year and 3-5 morning line favorite for the June 14 Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I), schooled in the paddock at Churchill Downs following the fifth race June 12. He was accompanied by trainer Steve Asmussen and assistant trainer Scott Blasi.

 Thursday, June 12, 2008
Dreaming of Anna Back in Mint Julep

Dreaming of Anna Back in Mint Julep

Coming off a runner-up finish to Bayou's Lassie in the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (gr. IIIT) May 3, Frank Calabrese's Dreaming of Anna heads a field of 11 older fillies and mares in the $150,000 Early Times Mint Julep Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Churchill Downs June 14.

 Thursday, June 12, 2008
Pyro Seeks Northern Dancer Redemption

Pyro Seeks Northern Dancer Redemption

The last time Winchell Thoroughbreds' Pyro raced at Churchill Downs, he finished a disappointing eighth, 15 lengths behind Big Brown, in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). In the June 14 Northern Dancer Stakes (gr. III), trainer Steve Asmussen looks for a much-improved effort.

 Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Curlin One to Catch in Cash-Rich 'Foster

Curlin One to Catch in Cash-Rich 'Foster

For Steve Asmussen, the perfect scenario in the June 14 Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) goes something like this: clean break, good position, powerful move, and a romp home under wraps from Curlin, the 2007 Horse of the Year. But whether the trainer will get that result in the 1 1/8-mile test at Churchill Downs is another question.

 Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Curlin Expected to Make Stephen Foster

Curlin Expected to Make Stephen Foster

Trainer Steve Asmussen was none too pleased with the 128-pound impost assigned to 2007 Horse of the Year Curlin for his expected bid in the June 14 Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) at Churchill Downs. Still, after a half-mile breeze in :49 seconds by the Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) winner June 9, Asmussen indicated the horse would start in the 1 1/8-mile event.

 Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Inside Track: Tribute to a Champion

Inside Track: Tribute to a Champion

In the back of the courtyard at the Lane's End stallion barn, a new equine figure has been given permanent residence. It is a life-sized bronze of the farm's greatest stallion, A.P. Indy, commissioned by co-breeder William S. Farish.

 Monday, June 09, 2008
'Metropolitan, Sterwins 1-2 in Eclipse

'Metropolitan, Sterwins 1-2 in Eclipse

True Metropolitan and Sterwins were the class of the field in the $150,000 Eclipse Stakes (gr. III), and those two proved it by finishing one-two in the 1 1/16-mile event at Woodbine June 7.

 Saturday, June 07, 2008
Benny the Bull Gets Up in True North

Benny the Bull Gets Up in True North

If Benny the Bull's victory in the True North Handicap (gr. II) is any indication of how trainer Rick Dutrow and owner IEAH Stables will fare with Big Brown later in the day in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I), things are looking good for the Triple Crown-chasing team.

 Saturday, June 07, 2008
NYRA Nixes Hooters Deal

NYRA Nixes Hooters Deal

Kent Desormeaux will not wear the Hooters patch on his pants when he rides Big Brown postward in the June 7 Belmont Stakes (gr. I). The New York Racing Association refused to approve the endorsement deal June 6, citing a "conflict of interest" between Belmont Park sponsors, which include UPS and NetJets.

 Saturday, June 07, 2008
Delosvientos Takes Brooklyn Wire-to-Wire

Delosvientos Takes Brooklyn Wire-to-Wire

Delosvientos loped along on the lead of a $200,000 Brooklyn Handicap (gr. II) that was extended to the 1 1/2 mile distance, and the easy fractions he set enabled him to steal home the winner of the June 6 event at Belmont Park. Evening Attire, the Kelly family's hard-knocking 10-year-old contender, finished second.

 Friday, June 06, 2008
Matt's Broken Vow Heads Victoria Stakes

Matt's Broken Vow Heads Victoria Stakes

Trainer Josie Carroll will send out the likely favorite in Woodbine's $150,000 Victoria Park Stakes when Matt's Broken Vow takes on five other 3-year-olds going 1 1/8 miles June 8.

 Friday, June 06, 2008
Vacare Makes Season Debut in Just a Game

Vacare Makes Season Debut in Just a Game

Jon and Sarah Kelly's Vacare has aced nearly every test thrown at her thus far, from her most recent win in the First Lady Stakes (gr. IIT) last October to a score in the 2006 Queen Elizabeth Challenge Cup (gr. IT). But trainer Christophe Clement is asking for a career-best effort from the 5-year-old daughter of Lear Fan when he brings her back for her first start of the season in the $400,000 Just a Game Stakes (gr. IT) at Belmont Park June 7.

 Thursday, June 05, 2008
'Benny,' Thor's Echo Meet in True North

'Benny,' Thor's Echo Meet in True North

Benny the Bull, the "now horse" of the sprinting world, will face a blast from the past in the $250,000 True North Handicap (gr. II) at Belmont Park June 7, when 2006 Eclipse Award-winning sprinter Thor's Echo returns to competiton for the first time in a year.

 Thursday, June 05, 2008
Desormeaux Picks Up Hooters Sponsorship

Desormeaux Picks Up Hooters Sponsorship

When Kent Desormeaux heads to the starting gate aboard Big Brown in the June 7 Belmont Stakes (gr. I), viewers won't see the lone UPS logo that was prominently placed on the jockey's pants in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and Preakness Stakes (gr. I). Instead, Desormeaux will bear not only the UPS symbol, but also Hooters' orange logo, as the popular restaurant chain represtented by an owl peering through the "OO" in its name becomes his second official sponsor.

 Thursday, June 05, 2008
Sterwins, 'Metropolitan' Head Eclipse

Sterwins, 'Metropolitan' Head Eclipse

Eugene Melnyk's homebred Sterwins, longshot winner of the April 20 Ben Ali Stakes (gr. III) at Keeneland last time out, seeks the second graded score of his career when he faces Bahadur Cheema's True Metropolitan and four other runners in the $150,000 Eclipse Stakes (gr. III) at Woodbine June 7.

 Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Still Dapper Evening Attire to Brooklyn

Still Dapper Evening Attire to Brooklyn

Trainer Pat Kelly was about to take Evening Attire out of stakes competition, to try the 10-year-old gelding in a few allowance races or to pick spots in turf routes as a main-track-only entry. But the seasoned runner turned in such a solid performance in his last start that NYRA stakes coordinator Andrew Byrnes was able to convince Kelly to tackle the $200,000 Brooklyn Handicap (gr. II) at Belmont Park.

 Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Triple Crown Jockeys Recall Near-Misses

Triple Crown Jockeys Recall Near-Misses

The loss of the 2004 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) by Smarty Jones still plays in Stewart Elliott's mind, especially around this time of year. He thinks of the pressure going into that race, remembering the media frenzy and build-up of public recognition.

 Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Medaglia d' Oro, 'Livingston Get Winners

Medaglia d' Oro, 'Livingston Get Winners

Freshmen sires Medaglia d'Oro and Mr. Livingston, both by El Prado, were represented by their respective first winners when Richard Rowan's Renda and Theresa and David Palmer and Merritt Racing's D. C.'s Legacy won at Calder Race Course May 31.

 Saturday, May 31, 2008
Indian Chant Fierce in Aristides

Indian Chant Fierce in Aristides

Maggi Moss's Indian Chant set his sights on a victory in the $125,000 Aristides Stakes (gr. III) at Churchill Downs and would not be denied, holding off a bid from the late-closing Noonmark to win the May 31 event by a nose.

 Saturday, May 31, 2008
Raw Silk Smooth Winner of Sands Point

Raw Silk Smooth Winner of Sands Point

Darley Stable's Raw Silk staged a minor upset at a rainy Belmont Park May 31, when she took the $150,000 Sands Point Stakes (gr. IIT) in a wire-to-wire effort under jockey Alan Garcia.

 Saturday, May 31, 2008
Fit to Fight Euthanized

Fit to Fight Euthanized

Fit to Fight, one of the original three stallions to enter stud at Mr. and Mrs. William S. Farish's Lane's End near Versailles, Ky., was euthanized Friday, May 30, due to the infirmities of old age.

 Friday, May 30, 2008
Belmont Profile: Ready's Echo

Belmont Profile: Ready's Echo

There are plenty of reasons for Ready's Echo to not prove contentious in the June 7 Belmont Stakes (gr. I). But a stunning late run to third in the May 10 Peter Pan Stakes (gr. II) demands respect for the maiden winner.

 Friday, May 30, 2008
Alwejeeha Too Good to Miss Sands Point

Alwejeeha Too Good to Miss Sands Point

It's never especially exciting when all other entries in a race carry 117 pounds and your filly is given 121, but trainer Kiaran McLaughlin considers extra weight a fair assignment considering the last performance of his Alwejeeha, and he expects good things from the Shadwell homebred in the $150,000 Sands Point Stakes (gr. III) at Belmont May 31.

 Thursday, May 29, 2008
Dogwood a Reunion for LaTroienne Runners

Dogwood a Reunion for LaTroienne Runners

Add a little more distance and throw in a few extra runners, and a rerun of the May 3 La Troienne Stakes (gr. III) is essentially what you'll have in the $100,000 Dogwood (gr. III) at Churchill Downs.

 Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Kelly's Landing Tackles Aristides

Kelly's Landing Tackles Aristides

Millionaire Kelly's Landing will make his first start in graded company since last October when he faces five older horses in the $125,000 Aristides Stakes (gr. III) at Churchill Downs.

 Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Prado to Ride Casino Drive in Belmont

Prado to Ride Casino Drive in Belmont

Although top jockeys from across the country were clamoring for a chance to ride Casino Drive in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I), one rider's prior experience at shooting down Triple Crown contenders made him the perfect man for the job. On May 28, it was announced that Edgar Prado would become the colt's pilot, adding more intrigue to the highly-anticipated June 7 event.

 Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Belmont Profile: Behindatthebar

Belmont Profile: Behindatthebar

Behindatthebar comes into the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) a fresh horse, having scratched from the May 17 Preakness Stakes (gr. I) due to a bruised left front foot.

 Tuesday, May 27, 2008
'Gizmo and Gomez Get 'Em at Lone Star

'Gizmo and Gomez Get 'Em at Lone Star

Frank Stronach's Giant Gizmo landed a third consecutive score and proved his affinity for the 1 1/16-mile distance when he took control of the $400,000 Lone Star Park Handicap (gr. III) and rolled home a solid winner in Texas May 26.

 Monday, May 26, 2008
Bargain Baby Divine Park Grabs Met Mile

Bargain Baby Divine Park Grabs Met Mile

James Barry purchased his 4-year-old Divine Park for just $20,000 at Keeneland's September yearling sale in 2005. Less than three years later, the son of Chester House became a grade I winner when he ran down the talented Commentator in the $600,000 Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I) at Belmont Park.

 Monday, May 26, 2008
Lattice Loves Louisville 'Cap Length

Lattice Loves Louisville 'Cap Length

In the $150,000 Louisville Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Churchill Downs, Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider's homebred Lattice got an extension to the 1 1/2-mile distance, a confident ride from jockey Robby Albarado, and a soft pace to run at courtesy of Transduction Gold. Those factors were all he needed to put together a winning run.

 Saturday, May 24, 2008
Commentator Takes on Met Mile

Commentator Takes on Met Mile

In January, Tracy Farmer's Commentator blistered to a new track record at Gulfstream Park as he trounced an outclassed field of five allowance competitors by 14 lengths. In March, he demolished six Richter Scale Sprint Handicap (gr. II) contenders while drawing off to win by 13 3/4 lengths. But the 7-year-old Distorted Humor gelding faces his steepest test of the season this Memorial Day, when he heads a field of nine in the $600,000 Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I) at Belmont Park.

 Saturday, May 24, 2008
Valenzuela Eyes Louisiana Downs Return

Valenzuela Eyes Louisiana Downs Return

Jockey Patrick Valenzuela, on three years' probation for a California DUI and unable to apply for a riding license in that state until Dec. 31 of this year, plans to begin riding races at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, La., according to a report in the Daily Racing Form.

 Wednesday, May 21, 2008
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