The Oak Tree Racing Association, which for the second year in a row hosted the Breeders' Cup World Championships, reported double-digit declines in attendance and handle during the 31-day meet at Santa Anita Park that ended Nov. 8.
4 days ago
For the first time since the Sales Integrity Program was initiated by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, an agent has been sanctioned for violating the SIP Code of Conduct.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Although she was back in her barn at Hollywood Park after her historic Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) win, Zenyatta was the hot topic the morning of Nov. 8 among those gathered at Clocker's Corner at Santa Anita, one day after they witnessed history.
Sunday, November 08, 2009
With all of the major contenders for today's Breeders' Cup World Championships went to the Santa Anita track early to stretch their legs, D' Funnybone, breezed two furlongs in :24 2/5 under the watchful eye of trainer Richard Dutrow.
Saturday, November 07, 2009
With limited training hours at Santa Anita on Breeders' Cup Day, Friday, Nov. 6, most of the major horses scheduled to run on Day 2 went to the track early under cool and partly cloudy skies.
Friday, November 06, 2009
Professional golfer and Thoroughbred breeder Gary Player has a message for horse owners, especially the connections of Rachel Alexandra and Sea The Stars, the soon-to-be respective champions in the U.S. and Europe who are not participating in the Nov. 6-7 Breeders' Cup World Championships at Santa Anita: Race your horses and don't dodge competition.
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien said that Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) contender Rip Van Winkle is fine and did not show any indications of his recurring foot problems when he went to the track at Santa Anita early Nov. 4.
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
Conduit and Red Rocks, the respective 2008 and 2006 winners of the Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT), are among the eight horses entered in the $3-million, 1 1/2 mile turf test.
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
In what trainer Chip Woolley labeled "pretty much perfect," Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Mine That Bird worked five furlongs in 1:01 2/5 at Santa Anita Nov. 2 in preparation for the Nov. 7 Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I).
Monday, November 02, 2009
The Breeder's Cup World Championships experienced its first defections Nov. 2 with the withdrawal of three horses from consideration. They are Kodiak Kowboy, Allicansayis Wow, and Dave in Dixie.
Monday, November 02, 2009
In a move faster than trainer/exercise rider Helen Pitts would have liked, Stronach Stables' Einstein tuned up for the Nov. 7 Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) with a half-mile workout in a quick :47 4/5 at Santa Anita Nov. 1.
Sunday, November 01, 2009
The sun was barely visible over the mountains shortly after 5 a.m. (Pacific Time) Nov. 1 when Regal Ransom went to the track at Santa Anita for final preparations for the Breeders' Cup World Championships.
Sunday, November 01, 2009
The president of Churchill Downs Inc. said he believes recent developments with the makeup of the Kentucky General Assembly are positive and could help lead to legalization of video lottery terminals at racetracks in the state.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Lael Stable's Lentenor, the full brother to Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Barbaro, is scheduled to make his career debut on Keeneland's Oct. 31 closing-day card.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Sea The Stars, who was retired after a thrilling two-length victory over Youmzain in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I) Oct. 4, will enter stud in 2010 at the Aga Khan's Gilltown Stud in Co. Kildare, Ireland.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
The harsh competitive environment in which Kentucky racing finds itself was on displayed in black and white Oct. 26 when a subcommittee of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission considered applications from Thoroughbred racetracks that signal a drastic reduction in live racing dates for 2010.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Glencrest Farm's Devil May Care earned an automatic berth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) when she posted a narrow victory over Awesome Maria in the Oct. 10 Frizette Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont Park.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Starlight Partners Take the Points was rated off the leaders and took the lead rounding the turn to post a game head victory over Straight Story in the $300,000 Jamaica Handicap (gr. IT) at Belmont Park on Oct. 10.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Keeneland announced Oct. 5 that 4,702 horses have been cataloged for its November breeding stock sale, a decline of 17.6% from the record 5,709 cataloged for the Lexington sale in 2008.
Monday, October 05, 2009
The owner of Ellis Park said Sept. 29 the struggling Kentucky racetrack will apply for racing dates in 2010, while the president of Turfway Park said the track would seek fewer racing dates next year.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
The marathon Keeneland September yearling sale drew to a close Sept. 28 with some of the biggest declines in key statistical categories in recent history as the gross receipts fell 41.5%, the average was down 33.2%, and the median was off 40.5% for the 14 sessions.
Monday, September 28, 2009
While the gross, average, and median prices continued to be well below levels of 2008, the Sept. 27 penultimate session of Keeneland's marathon September yearling sale produced the lowest buyback rate of the 13 sessions to date, as only 16.7% of the horses through the ring did not bring their reserve prices.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Kevin Scatuorchio and Bryan Sullivan's Let's Go Racing Stable went to $630,000 to purchase a Candy Ride colt from Padraig Campion's Blandford Stud during the Sept. 17 session of the Keeneland September yearling sale.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
A filly from the last full crop sired by leading stallion Storm Cat was purchased by Westrock Stables for $675,000 to top the early portion of the Thursday, Sept. 17, Keeneland September yearling sale.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
The third session of the Keeneland September yearling sale got off to a solid start Sept. 16, with a Dynaformer colt bringing the top early price of $610,000.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Agent John Ferguson bought Hip No. 342, a Storm Cat colt of champion mare Fleet Indian, for $2,050,000, the highest price so far during the first two days of the Keeneland September yearling sale. The colt was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
An Unbridled's Song filly consigned by Stone Farm, agent, became the first seven-figure offering of the Keeneland September yearling sale when she was purchased by agent John Ferguson for $1 million during the early portion of the Sept. 15 second session.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Agent John Ferguson, accompanied by client Sheikh Mohammed, went to $700,000 to purchase Hip No. 39, a Speightstown colt consigned by Dromoland Farm, at the first session of the Keeneland September yearling sale Sept. 14.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Calling it a bargain, Wyoming horse owner William J. Sims went to $450,000 to acquire a colt by Storm Cat to highlight the early portion of the Keeneland September yearling sale Sept. 14.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Jockey Calvin Borel was back on board Mine That Bird on the morning of Aug. 31 as the winner of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) worked a half mile in :51.16 over the main track at Saratoga Race Course.
Monday, August 31, 2009
James McIngvale, a Houston horse owner known for his high profile promotions on behalf of his Gallery Furniture stores, is proposing a $2-million match race between Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Quality Road, the winner of the BlackBerry Presents the 58th Running of the Florida Derby (gr. I) who was one of the early favorites for the Kentucky classic before being sidelined with injuries, makes his return to competition in the Aug. 3 Amsterdam (gr. II) at Saratoga.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Although Churchill Downs Inc. posted a slight increase in revenue during the second quarter of 2009 despite the depressed economic picture with the U.S., the racetrack operating company's president and CEO said the "results from our racing operations were disappointing."
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Joanne Nor, who operated Norfields Farm near Versailles, Ky., and raced Breeders' Cup winner Desert Stormer, has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection in the Eastern District of Kentucky U.S. Bankruptcy Court.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
As the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July yearling sale drew to a close July 21, a Versailles, Ky.-based farm and racing stable purchased a Medaglia d'Oro filly for $370,000.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
BC3 Thoroughbreds, an Australian-based pinhooking operation went to $335,000 to acquire a Speightstown colt during the July 21 final session of the Fasig-Tipton July yearling sale in Lexington.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Sheikh Mohammed's agent, John Ferguson, went to $400,000 to acquire a son of Birdstone as the top-priced offering at the opening session of the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July yearling sale in Lexington July 20.
Monday, July 20, 2009
The action picked up in a big way during the second half of the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July yearling sale opener July 20 when a Rock Hard Ten filly and a Bernardini colt each brought $350,000.
Monday, July 20, 2009
A colt from the first crop sired by grade II winner War Front was purchased by Steven W. Young for $180,000 as the top-priced offering during the first half of Day 1 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July yearling sale in Lexington.
Monday, July 20, 2009
A filly from the first crop of grade II winner Congrats was purchased by Thomas M. McGreevy, as agent for Rick Porter's Fox Hill Farm, for $150,000 during the opening minutes of the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July yearling sale in Lexington July 20.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Dr. Rodney Stewart, who was suspended five years by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission for violating various medication violations including possession of cobra venom, has been granted a stay of that action until his appeal can be heard, according to a ruling by a Franklin (Kentucky) Circuit Court judge.
Friday, July 17, 2009
IEAH Stables has filed court documents claiming that David Lanzman failed to disclose injuries to I Want Revenge that eventually led to the 3-year-old colt being scratched on the morning of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), for which he was the morning- line favorite.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Citing a variety of claims that his client's rights were violated, an attorney for trainer Rick Dutrow has filed an appeal over the 30-day suspension levied by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission for a Clenbuterol positive in the spring of 2008.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Lawyer Ron, the 2007 champion older male, was euthanized July 10 at Stonewall Farm Stallions near Versailles, Ky., due to complications from a recent colic surgery.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
In a rare decision, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has rejected it's stewards and hearing officer's recommendations and suspended trainer Rick Dutrow 30 days for a Clenbuterol positive that dates back to May 2, 2008.
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Mine That Bird continued his progress toward the West Virginia Derby (gr. II) when he breezed four furlongs in :49 2/5 July 7 at Churchill Downs. The time was co-sixth fastest of the day among 66 horses working the distance over a fast track.
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
The storybook ride of Calvin Borel and Mine That Bird has come to an end, with the connections of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner now looking for a new jockey.
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
In his first workout since finishing third in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I), Mine That Bird went an easy half-mile in :51 at Churchill Downs on June 29 in preparation for his next start in the Aug. 1 West Virginia Derby (gr. II) at Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort. Jockey Calvin Borel was aboard for the breeze.
Monday, June 29, 2009
While Churchill Downs Incorporated will continue to focus on racing as its primary business, its ability to expand into more profitable ventures such as alternative gaming and concerts will be key to future growth.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
In an effort to cut down on the number of scratches that occur because a horse's foal papers are not on file at a track where it is scheduled to run, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has approved a plan to test a system in which the papers are maintained electronically.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
