BloodHorse.com | Horse Racing News

Panel: Exchange Wagering Changes Everything

As exchange wagering edges closer to its American debut, regulators will have to deal with many makeovers of existing laws. According to a panel appearing before legislators June 18, it will change everything.

Smarty Jones Charity 'Moneigh' Tops $3,100

The artistic skills of Smarty Jones, Big Brown and Curlin brought in big donations for the horse retirement charity ReRun during its just-concluded online auction.

Put the Fun Back in Racing, Brackpool Urges

Why can't all of California racing be more like Del Mar? Keith Brackpool, who took over as chairman of the California Horse Racing Board earlier this year, challenged his state to embrace racing's fun factor.

Rider Martinez Improves After 11-Hour Surgery

Jockey Michael Martinez, who ranks second in the rider standings at Golden Gate Fields, was in critical but stable condition Sept. 13 after nearly 11 hours of emergency surgery overnight at Oakland's Highland Hospital.

Oak Tree's Lease to Continue if Court Affirms

Quieting some of the uncertainty surrounding Magna Entertainment's bankruptcy woes, Oak Tree Racing Association has been assured that its long-term lease will be honored at Santa Anita.

CHRB Seeks to Reverse Decline at Satellites

Seeing many former customers preferring to stay home, the California Horse Racing Board wants to woo fans back to the state's simulcast centers.

Cal Expo Returns to Thoroughbred Racing

For the first time in four years, the Thoroughbreds are coming back to Cal Expo.

California Adopts Steroid Testing Levels

The California Horse Racing Board took a major step towards banning supplemental anabolic steroids with the adoption of testing levels for four major substances during its meeting Feb. 28 in Arcadia.

CHRB Hears World Poker Tour Concept

The World Poker Tour has a tournament idea that could be developed for handicappers, the California Horse Racing Board was told Feb. 28.

Hollendorfer 4th to Mark 5,000 Wins

In the final race on the final day of the 2007 autumn Hollywood Park meet, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer won the 5,000th race of his career Dec. 22.

Santa Anita to Be Ready, CHRB Told

Less than two weeks from opening day, construction crews are scrambling to get Santa Anita Park's Cushion Track back in running condition.

Calif. Fund for Retired Horses OK'd

California took a first step toward helping more horses after their racing years with the final approval of a new fund to support the state's equine retirement facilities.

'Mini-Satellites' Coming to California Bars, Card Clubs

In a move to expose horse racing to more people, California satellite wagering can get up to 45 new outlets, including sports bars and card clubs, under a new law signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

California Approves License for TwinSpires.com

As California continues to wrestle with improving advance deposit wagering, the state welcomed a new provider. TwinSpires.com was awarded an ADW license Oct. 18, making it the fourth company to offer home computer betting on horse racing in the state.

CHRB Targets Integrity of Pari-Mutuel Wagering System

Hearing complaints from fans and state legislators, the California Horse Racing Board tried to tackle two fronts on how to maintain integrity for the sport: late wagers and board conflicts.

Amid Uncertainty, CHRB Begins 3-Year Date Plan

Trying to cure a scheduling headache, the California Horse Racing Board has started planning for the future -- with or without Bay Meadows and Hollywood Park. At an Aug. 10 meeting at Del Mar, the CHRB's dates committee took the first step in piecing together a cohesive three-year calendar.

Bay Meadows Granted Waiver, Will Race in 2008

The California Horse Racing Board has approved a one-year conditional waiver from the state mandate for synthetic surfaces for Bay Meadows.

Hold All Tickets! Bay Meadows to Race in '08

The California Horse Racing Board agreed in principle June 19 to a one-year waiver in 2008 from the state's synthetic track mandate for Bay Meadows. But the board can't make it official until its next meeting.

Stronach Tells CHRB He'll Use $24M on Upgrades

Trying to undo the negative fallout over comments by his company's new CEO, Magna Entertainment founder Frank Stronach pledged $24 million for installation of synthetic racing surfaces at Santa Anita Park and Golden Gate Fields as well as much needed refurbishing of the Santa Anita barn area.

Calif. Owners Could Face Fines When Horses Test Positive

Owners -- along with their trainers -- whose horses have repeated medication violations are subject to tough new penalties under changes given final approval by the California Horse Racing Board April 19.

Drug Testing: California Thoroughbred Owners Could Face Fines

Owners whose horses have repeated medication violations would be subject to tough new penalties under changes given initial approval by the California Horse Racing Board April 19.

Over the objections of the Thoroughbred Owners of California, the board unanimously approved monetary fines for owners as an added incentive to monitor their stables and tr...

Athletic Fields Would Be Built on Dixon Downs Infield

With its proposed Dixon Downs racetrack going before the voters of the town of 17,000 on April 17, Magna Entertainment Corp. has offered to turn the track's 14-acre infield into athletic fields open free to community organizations.

CHRB Decides Not to Enforce Toe Grab Rule

A long-running controversy over toe grabs before the California Horse Racing Board could turn into a referendum on trainer authority.

CHRB Moves Ahead With Stricter Drug Regulations

The California Horse Racing Board has moved forward with its revised equine drug regulations and tougher penalties for offenders.

Special Election to Decide Dixon Downs' Fate

The fate of Magna Entertainment Corporation's $250 million state-of-the-art racetrack for Northern California will be decided in a special election April 17 by the city of Dixon, a town of 17,500 residents 19 miles west of Sacramento.

EHV-1 Update: Northern Cal Horsemen Await Test Results

The equine herpes virus quarantine continued at three Bay Area tracks Dec. 31 as Northern California horsemen await test results that won't be known until after the New Year's weekend.

Council OKs Dixon Downs; Opponents Want Vote

Dixon Downs, Magna Entertainment Corp.'s "dream track" for Northern California, got a giant step closer to reality the evening of Oct. 23. But a local group that opposes the project is pushing for a referendum on the project in 2007.

Fog's Cancer Extensive, Necropsy Reveals

The deceased champion sprinter Lost in the Fog's cancer was much more extensive than originally believed and most likely had been growing for many months. Results of the necropsy, released Oct. 18, showed a gigantic tumor that compromised several of his internal organs.

Maloofs' Horse is 'King of Seconditis'

The owners of the Sacramento Kings and the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas - the Maloof brothers - have a new claim to fame: King Palm, who has run second in his last nine races.

City Staff Urges Approval of Dixon Downs Plan

Six years after Magna Entertainment Corp. first pitched its idea, Dixon, Calif., city staff officially recommended the approval of Dixon Downs, a $250 million state-of-the-art racetrack and training center proposed for the rural town 20 miles west of Sacramento.

Cloned Mules to Square Off in California Fair Race

Idaho Gem, the world's first cloned equine, is about to make his racing debut along with his duplicate copy--Idaho Star, another clone created from the same genetic material.

Carthage Crashes Lost in the Fog's Party

Carthage crashed Lost in the Fog's welcome back party. The former claimer defeated last year's champion sprinter by three lengths Saturday in the $100,000 Oakland Tribune Golden Gate Fields Sprint.

Hollendorfer Points Cause to Believe to Derby

Swayed by what looks like a speed-packed field, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer announced Saturday that he will enter late-running Cause to Believe in the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).

Cause to Believe Provides Hope In El Camino

Cause to Believe lived up to his name with a come-from-behind victory in Sunday's $250,000 El Camino Real Derby (gr. III) for 3-year-olds at Bay Meadows.

City Puts Dixon Downs Wish List On Table

City officials put their demands on the table Jan. 24 for Dixon Downs, Magna Entertainment's proposed state-of-the-art racetrack and training facility near Sacramento, Calif.

CHRB Adopts Stable Surveillance Rule

As expected, the California Horse Racing Board adopted an emergency regulation to reaffirm its authority to add surveillance in stable areas.

CHRB Seeks Reality Check on Jockey Weight

How much weight does a horse actually carry in a race? No matter what the program says, nobody seems to know for sure. The California Horse Racing Board hopes an ad hoc committee can help revamp pre-race weigh-in practices.

'Foggy' Wins 10th Straight for Home Crowd

Thrilling fans and packing stands, Lost in the Fog maintained perfection with his 10th consecutive win, romping to an impressive 7 3/4-length victory before his hometown crowd in Saturday's $100,000 Bay Meadows Speed Handicap.

California Dreaming for Hollendorfer, Baze

Adreamisborn continued to show his love for California as the Jerry Hollendorfer trainee got up in the final stride to win Saturday's $125,000 Bay Meadows Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. IIIT) on the turf.

Dixon Releases Track's Environmental Draft

Five years after Frank Stronach first pitched his dream of Dixon Downs, Magna Entertainment's model racing and entertainment complex in Northern California reached a significant milestone Sept. 23 with the release of the draft environmental impact report.

CHRB Reviewing Sweet Catomine's Activities, Condition

Comments made by Sweet Catomine co-owner Marty Wygod after her flop as the odds-on favorite in the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) April 9 spurred an investigation into the champion filly's pre-race activities and condition.

Smaller Version of Gulfstream Seen for Dixon

At the final session in a series of city-sponsored public workshops March 19, Magna Entertainment presented its updated proposal for Dixon Downs, the $250 million state-of-the-art racetrack and entertainment complex the company wants to build in Dixon, Calif., 20 miles west of Sacramento.

Fairplex Harness Plan Worries Thoroughbred Interests

Thoroughbred owners and trainers are willing to forgo racing dates at the State Fair in Sacramento this summer to allow for harness racing, but moving out of Fairplex Park for a new harness meet in Southern California is another matter.

Sacramento Fair May Move to Harness Racing

The California State Fair board plans to swap its Thoroughbred meet this summer for harness racing.

Capitol Racing Near Deal for Les Bois Park

Track operator Capitol Racing, which decided to walk away from its harness meet in Sacramento, is moving on – to Idaho and other breeds.

Baze Muscles Past 'Shoe' On Win List

Hall of Fame jockey Russell Baze won four races Saturday at Golden Gate Fields to surpass legendary Bill Shoemaker's career total with a big assist from the dam Shes Got the Facts.

Dixon Downs On Track, Official Tells Planners

Four years after it was first proposed, Magna Entertainment's $250 million dream track for Northern California is finally nearing the public hearing stage. A series of meetings on various aspects of the development will be held in 2005, Dixon city officials said at a planning commission meeting Dec. 21.

CHRB Names Ingrid Fermin Executive Director

Ingrid Fermin, an outspoken steward known for her no-nonsense approach, will be the new executive director of the California Horse Racing Board.

Santa Anita Issues 'Milkshake' Policy; CHRB Weighs In

Santa Anita Park isn't waiting for a statewide ban to make its stand against "milkshakes." Starting at its upcoming meet that begins Dec. 26, the Arcadia, Calif., track will test every horse in every race for excess bicarbonate in their bloodstreams.

Magna Plans to Bid on Cal Expo Harness Lease

Magna Entertainment Corp. has expressed it intentions to bid on the lease of Cal Expo in Sacramento, Calif., and take over the 10-month-long Standardbred meet.