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Valiant General Quarters Takes Turf Classic

General Quarters got headed down the lane but came back to win the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (gr. IT) at Churchill Downs May 1.

Personal Memories of Personal Ensign

Even today, I still can't believe Personal Ensign won the 1988 Breeders' Cup Distaff. Her will to win was simply too strong.

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Paragallo Should Not Feel Burdened

Ernie Paragallo's attorney said his conviction places a 'burden' on owners. Are you kidding me?

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Sunland Derby a Success Story

Being graded for the first time in 2010, the Sunland Derby, the second richest Derby prep in North America, takes on added importance.

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Todd's Time?

Todd Pletcher has been one of racing's leading trainers the past decade, though the sport's biggest prize, the Derby, has eluded him. This could be his year.

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Come to Papa

Though he was bred in Kentucky, Papa Clem is a Californian.

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What's Going On Here: Lending Influence

We need the help of banks. And we need people like Ahmed Zayat.

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What's Going On Here: States of Confusion

The horse industry in NY, Kentucky, and Maryland is suffering because of politicians.

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It's All Zenyatta in the BC Classic

Zenyatta made it look all too easy, becoming the first female to win the $5-million Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I). Gio Ponti was second and Twice Over third.

Sovereign Stable in Big Show With Negligee

If only it always worked this way: buy a horse privately; win a grade I; and head to the Breeders' Cup World Championships. Forget always; for Matt Gatsas, just once is OK. Of course he wouldn't mind also winning the Breeders' Cup race.

BC Juvenile Fillies a Wide-Open Affair

The favorite from the Oak Leaf Stakes (gr. I) at Santa Anita, where the Breeders' Cup World Championships will be run, is in the field for the Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) on Nov. 6. So, too, is the favorite from the Darley Alcibiades (gr. I) at Keeneland, which is also run on a synthetic surface. It should be noted they were favored, but both lost.

Leading Panamanian Apprentice Arrives in U.S.

Ricardo Santana Jr., the leading apprentice rider in Panama, has arrived in the United States and will have his first mount Sept. 15.

Medication Issues Top Jockey Club Round Table

Though there are differences of opinion on what should be done next in the area of medication reform, everyone seems to agree there is a continuing problem and something should be done.

TRA Adopts Wagering Protocol Measures

Past-posting and late odds changes are major issues in racing, but more of perception than reality, Thoroughbred Racing Associations' executive vice president Chris Scherf said the morning of Aug. 22 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Derby Museum Closed Due to Heavy Rains

Items at the Kentucky Derby Museum, located on the grounds of Churchill Downs, suffered damage due to heavy rains Aug. 4 and the facility will be closed until further notice, museum officials said.

Sailor's Cap Necropsy Identifies Colitis-X

The initial necropsy report on Team Valor's Sailor's Cap, who died suddenly in his stall three days after winning the June 14 Poker Stakes (gr. IIIT), showed that he died of probable cardiac arrest caused by colitis-X.

Friesan Fire, Old Fashioned Recuperating

Friesan Fire, the favorite in this year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), is recuperating from surgery at Vinery near Lexington.

Summer Bird, Desormeaux Soar to Belmont Upset

It was a bird that won the June 6 Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park, but it was not Mine That Bird but rather Summer Bird that won the final leg of the Triple Crown.

Last to First for Gio Ponti in Manhattan

Belmont track announcer Tom Durkin made note of Gio Ponti being at the back of the pack as the field turned down the backside in the $400,000 Woodford Reserve Manhattan (gr. IT), but the colt came from last to first to win the race in dramatic fashion.

Gabby's Golden Gal Wires Acorn Field

The way Rachel Alexandra won the Kentucky Oaks -- by a whopping 20 1/4 lengths -- anything that ran behind her had to be given another chance in her next start. Gabby's Golden Gal proved that theory true when she won the Acorn Stakes (gr. I) June 6 at Belmont Park.

Munnings Wins First Stakes in Woody Stephens

Munnings ran the race his connections always thought he was capable of, impressively winning the Woody Stephens (gr. II) June 6 at Belmont Park.

Sunny Day, Horses Ready for Belmont

We tend to always knock weathermen, but they have been spot on with their predictions for Belmont week. The day before the final leg of the Triple Crown, as predicted, was as miserable as it gets, but race day itself, again as prognosticators said it would, dawned bright and beautiful.

Hirsch Memorial Held at Belmont Park

There were so many good stories being told, and re-told, in memory of Joe Hirsch June 5 at Belmont Park, it is hard to know which one Joe would have liked most. Well, Hirsch always saw the positive in everything, so he would have liked all the stories, equally.

Raining at Belmont; Saturday Forecast Good

The history of the track at Belmont Park is that is dries out quickly. According to the latest forecast, it will have about 17 hours to do so prior to the June 6 Belmont Stakes (gr. I).

Mine That Bird and Woolley, Both Unfazed

Nothing seems to faze Mine That Bird, and lately, nothing seems to faze his trainer, Chip Woolley, either. There is a reason.

Inside Track: NYRA's Silver Lining

As the June 6 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) approaches, discussions often turn to the last Triple Crown winner, Affirmed in 1978, or to Secretariat's 31-length spectacle in 1973. Dan Silver, the new director of communications and media relations for the New York Racing Association, appreciates those historic races, even though he wasn't born when they occurred. Silver is only 29 years old.

Confidence High in Mine That Bird Camp

After working Mine That Bird June 1 at Churchill Downs, jockey Calvin Borel "guaranteed" that the gelded son of Birdstone would win the June 6 Belmont Stakes (gr. I). Believe it or not, Borel is now even more confident.

Hollendorfer Travels East for Classic Shot

Jerry Hollendorfer has 135 horses in training at Golden Gate Fields in Northern California, but he has been making regular trips east the past month to keep tabs on the "big" horse in the stable, Chocolate Candy.

Rachel Alexandra the 2-1 Preakness Favorite

With slightly more than two hours until post for the middle jewel of the Triple Crown, the filly Rachel Alexandra is the 2-1 favorite. Four other horses are single-digit odds.

Advantage to No Advantage in Schaefer

No Advantage and jockey J.D. Acosta bided their time, and then made their winning move coming out of the turn to take the William Donald Schaefer Stakes (gr. III) by 2 3/4 lengths at Pimlico May 16.

Skylighter Easily Wins Allaire duPont

Julien Leparoux sent Skylighter to the front, and the Sky Mesa filly just coasted around the track to an easy victory in the first stakes on the Preakness day undercard May 16, the Allaire duPont Distaff (gr. II).

Setting the Scene on Preakness Day

As of about 6:45 a.m. EDT, every horse was on the grounds at Pimlico Race Course for the May 16 Preakness Stakes (gr. I), the middle jewel of the Triple Crown.

Payton d'Oro Wires Black-Eyed Susan Field

Jockey Terry Thompson had one mount at Pimlico May 16 and he made the most of it, controlling the pace aboard Payton d'Oro to win the biggest race of the day, the grade II Black-Eyed Susan Stakes.

Heart Ashley Holds On For Miss Preakness Win

Heart Ashley opened up on the turn for home, looked like she would coast to an easy win, and then had to hold off the late charge of Cinderella's Wish to win the $100,000 Adena Stallions Miss Preakness Stakes (gr. III) by a head May 15 at Pimlico Race Course.

Ludt on Top of the World with Friesan Fire

Tom Ludt was sitting on top of the world. It was the morning of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), and after I Want Revenge was scratched, Friesan Fire became the new favorite in the classic. Ludt is the general manager of Tom Simon's Vinery, which owns Friesan Fire in partnership with Rick Porter's Fox Hill Stable.

Borel Confident in Decision to Ride Filly

With all the rain recently in Kentucky, and with a minor business matter requiring him to be out of town over the weekend, Calvin Borel had an important project to finish before leaving town. The morning of May 15 he was mowing his grass.

Borel, Mine That Bird Soar in Derby Shocker

Jockey Calvin Borel scored a huge upset May 2 in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) on Mine That Bird. On May 1 he won the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) by 20 lengths on Rachel Alexandra.

Rachel Alexandra a Breathtaking Oaks Winner

Those who believe Rachel Alexandra could have won the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) have evidence to back up their belief after she won the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) May 1 at Churchill Downs in spectacular fashion.

Weather the Big Question for Oaks, Derby

The song says the sun shines bright on my old Kentucky home, but there is no sun shining Kentucky Oaks morning, and the weather is the big topic of conversation.

Take the Points Out; Atomic Rain In Derby

Take the Points will not run in the Derby but Atomic Rain and Advice will.

Harty: Full Brothers are Quite Different

Just as human brothers and sisters can be totally different, the same is true with horses. Eoin Harty has trained full brothers Colonel John and Mr. Hot Stuff, and the two colts are nothing alike.

Pletcher: Two In Derby; Two Undecided

Trainer Todd Pletcher said the morning of April 28 that two of the horses in his care, Dunkirk and Join in the Dance, are definite for the May 2 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). Decisions have not been made on two others he trains, Advice and Take the Points.

Munoz to Handle Velazquez at Keeneland

Ruben Munoz, agent for jockey Gabriel Saez, will also handle the book for leading rider John Velazquez at the Keeneland meet that begins April 3.

Asmussen Wins Six at Fair Grounds

If you spent your Saturday wagering on horses trained by Steve Asmussen at Fair Grounds, you had reason to smile at the end of the day. Last year's leading trainer nationally by wins saddled starters in seven races on the 10-race card and won six, twice ran one-two, and captured the day's stakes race.

Alpha Kitten is Quick Cat in Santa Ynez

She may be named Alpha Kitten, but she ran like Alpha Cougar or Alpha Cheetah, taking charge down the lane and winning the Santa Ynez Stakes (gr. II) for her first stakes win Jan. 17 at Santa Anita.

Bold Move Makes Stardom Bound a Winner

Favorite Stardom Bound, with a bold move, quickly took command of the Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I). Dream Empress was second and Sky Diva third. The final time in the 1 1/16-mile race was 1:40.99.

Dirt Mile: Pool Party

This year the Breeders' Cup World Championships has expanded to 14 races. Trainer Eoin Harty was hoping for a 15th event, for swimming, not running.

Argentine Aspirations

From just 14 starters, Argentina has been represented as the breeding ground of the winners of four Breeders' Cup World Championships races.

Hall of Fame: It's All About the Horse

The message at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame induction ceremony Aug. 4 was plain and simple: "It's all about the horse."

Vinery Moves Horses From Asmussen

After July 10, Vinery will no longer have horses with trainer Steve Asmussen. But Tom Ludt, general manager of the farm, said it is likely the stable will have horses with Asmussen again at some point in the future.