Sent off as the 4-5 favorite among the eight 2-year-olds, Gold Mark Farm' Backtalk stumbled at the start but recovered and steadily progressed to the fore en route to a one-length victory in the $110,500 Bashford Manor Stakes (gr. III) at Churchill Downs July 3.
6 hours ago
Richard Shapiro, the former head of the California Horse Racing Board, was charged with one felony count of vandalism for allegedly damaging a vehicle owned by a longtime rival, according to the Los Angeles Times.
9 hours ago
Jealous Again, five-length winner of the group II Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot, has been sold to Godolphin and will be ship to England over the weekend to prepare for upcoming stakes.
11 hours ago
Joe Santanna has been elected to another three-year term as president and chairman of the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association.
12 hours ago
Churchill Downs officials say their test of night racing this summer has been a great success after large crowds packed the track for the final evening.
12 hours ago
Double Eagle Ranch and Buena Suerte Equine's Mine That Bird remains without a confirmed rider for the West Virginia Derby (gr. II) on Aug. 1 at Mountaineer.
12 hours ago
Fourteen sprinters get their shot at grade I glory in an unpredictable renewal of the $300,000 Triple Bend Handicap at Hollywood Park July 5.
14 hours ago
Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Summer Bird rolled into the Monmouth Park stable area at 5:30 the morning of July 3 and settled into his stall in Barn 3 as he prepares for his next start, the $1 million Haskell Invitational (gr. 1) on Sunday, Aug. 2.
14 hours ago
A trainer has been fined and banned three months from entering horses after one of Queen Elizabeth II's racehorses failed a drug test.
17 hours ago
Margie's Wildcat sired his first winner when his son You Take It Easy won July 2 by 5 1/4 lengths at Woodbine in his initial start.
18 hours ago
The expansion of gaming at racetrack casinos doesn't always guarantee more money for purses and breed development programs, horsemen said July 2 during a sobering discussion that showed horse racing's challenge to stay relevant in a revenue-driven environment.
Yesterday
If this is to be its final renewal, the $700,000 American Oaks (gr. IT) at Hollywood Park is going out in style after drawing 16 entrants for the 1 1/4-mile turf event. The truly intriguing field of 3-year-old fillies includes three international aspirants and four challengers from the East Coast.
Yesterday
First-crop sire Grand Reward got his initial winner July 2 when Angus Kahn won the first race at Presque Isle in Pennsylvania.
Yesterday
Jason, Evan, and special guest Les Instone of Twinspires.com preview the Suburban (gr. II) at Belmont Park on July 4.
Yesterday
Royal Ascot winner Jealous Again has been bought by Sheikh Mohammed. Formerly trained by American handler Wesley Ward, the filly turned in a hugely impressive display in the Queen Mary Stakes (Eng-II) last month, bursting out of the stalls and showing far too much speed for the opposition to finish five lengths clear.
Yesterday
Darley Stable's Tizaqueena will try to bounce back off a third-place finish in the Early Times Mint Julep Handicap (gr. IIIT), a defeat that broke a string of four consecutive scores, as she headlines a field of eight fillies and mares in the $100,000 Locust Grove Handicap (gr. IIIT) on the Churchill Downs turf July 5.
Yesterday
Lisa Kotula, daughter of longtime Gulfstream Park clerk of scales and Prime Time Manager Victor Sanchez, died in Atlanta Thursday after a long illness.
Yesterday
After Fabulous Strike turned in a dazzling performance in the June 6 True North (gr. III), trainer Todd Beattie said he was leaning toward giving the 6-year-old gelding some well-deserved time off. But as they say, the horse will tell you what it wants, and the son of Smart Strike has spoken loud and clear.
Yesterday
Freddy Anderson plans to stand Portobello Road at his Anderson Farms near Malvern, Ark., next year.
Yesterday
An accomplished group of older horses that includes four grade I winners is set to go in the $750,000 United Nations Stakes (gr. IT) July 4 on the Monmouth Park turf.
Yesterday
Kendall-Jackson Winery announced July 2 a five-month-long charity auction that will take place on its Web site featuring items, donated by winery owner and co-founder Jess Jackson, that are related to Rachel Alexandra's racing season.
Yesterday
A federal bankruptcy judge has closed the case of the Jockeys' Guild, ending the long-running court supervision of the riders' trade association.
Yesterday
North Dakota's top horse racing regulator has resigned. Randy Blaseg's departure as the state's director of racing was disclosed at a state Racing Commission meeting July 1.
Yesterday
Robert Clay's Three Chimneys Farm announced July 1 that Rahy, one of the farm's foundation sires, has been pensioned from stallion duty due to declining fertility. The 24-year-old stallion will stay at Three Chimneys throughout his retirement.
2 days ago
The National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association said July 1 it plans to be more involved as the racing industry considers medication and drug-testing policies horsemen believe could be detrimental and counterproductive.
2 days ago
Whatsthescript, a 29-1 upset winner a year ago, will carry high weight of 120 pounds as he defends his title in the $150,000 American Handicap (gr. IIT) on the Independence Day program at Hollywood Park.
2 days ago
Multiple grade II winner Smooth Air, coming off a strong second in the Metropolitan Mile (gr. I), makes his first start for trainer Chad Brown in the $250,000 Salvator Mile (gr. III) at Monmouth Park July 4.
2 days ago
Informed Decision, on a four-race winning streak following back-to-back grade I wins for trainer Jonathan Sheppard, towers over the field for the $150,000 Chicago Handicap (gr. III), the Independence Day headliner at Arlington Park.
2 days ago
Robert Landry, who began his riding career in 1981, recorded his 2,000th win on Canada Day July 1 at Woodbine.
2 days ago
Zayat Stables' Thorn Song will attempt to become the first repeat winner of the Firecracker Handicap (gr. IIT) when he takes on seven rivals July 4 at Churchill Downs.
2 days ago
Marchfield, named Canada's outstanding older horse last year, found the winner's circle for the first time in 2009 when he rallied from last on the final turn to capture the $190,767 Dominion Day Stakes (Can-III) at Woodbine July 1.
2 days ago
A. Stevens Miles Jr.'s Warrior's Reward, who lost a tough duel with Successful Dan three weeks ago in the Northern Dancer (gr. III), will look to break through for his first graded stakes score in the $200,000 Dwyer (gr. III) July 4 at Belmont Park.
2 days ago
Edmund Gann's It's a Bird, winner of consecutive graded stakes and three of his last four overall, will try to continue his top form when facing nine rivals in the $400,000 Suburban Handicap (gr. II) July 4 at Belmont Park.
2 days ago
Street Hero, who stood his first season at Dr. Tom Simon's Vinery in Kentucky this year, will shuttle to Tony Santic's Makybe in Victoria, Australia for the upcoming Southern Hemisphere breeding season.
2 days ago
MAHUBAH'S CORNER, by Avalyn Hunter
Montjeu has enjoyed considerable success as a sire of Classic horses. Irish Derby winner Fame and Glory adds to his sire's tally-while also tying in this year's theme of German bloodline influences. 2 days ago
In the aftermath of the failed passage of the legislation that would have allowed video lottery terminals at Kentucky racetracks, several Thoroughbred industry members voiced their opinions on how they will survive without the extra boost to the state's purse structure and breeders' incentive programs.
2 days ago
After showing her fondness for Belmont Park with a front-running triumph in the Acorn Stakes (gr. I) one month ago, Gabby's Golden Gal will cut back in distance for trainer Bob Baffert in the Prioress Stakes (gr. I) July 4.
2 days ago
The Breeders' Cup announced July 1 that 10 individuals are on the ballot for the election of six positions to its board of directors.
2 days ago
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.
2 days ago
Jockey Rene Douglas, who was seriously injured in a May 23 racing accident at Arlington Park, has issued his first statement since the accident occurred. Douglas, who is currently paralyzed from the chest down, sent a letter to the 3,527-member Facebook group 'Rene Douglas Get Well Card,' in which he voiced his appreciation to the racing community.
2 days ago
The Maryland Jockey Club and Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association have agreed to the live racing dates and stakes schedule for the balance of 2009, including the return of the Grade I Frank J. De Francis Dash after a one-year hiatus.
2 days ago
The effects of the international recession on the European breeding industry is underscored by registration figures from Weatherbys showing sharp downturns in broodmare registrations and ownership changes during the first five months of 2009.
2 days ago
The Jockey Club announced July 1 that it has enhanced its free Tattoo Identification Services by adding access to its markings database to the tattoo research module.
2 days ago
Viva Pataca finally achieved his rightful place alongside the greats of Hong Kong racing when he was named Horse of the Year for 2008-09 at the annual Champions Awards.
2 days ago
Hong Kongers sent horse racing on its annual summer holiday after a spectacular Sha Tin season finale that gave the Jockey Club its biggest betting day in six years.
2 days ago
Former jockey Mark Guidry is now making his way as a trainer back in his native Louisiana, and will give a leg up to veteran Shane Sellers July 2 at Evangeline Downs.
2 days ago
The Obama administration says it's named Michigan Racing Commissioner Christine White as state executive director for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency.
3 days ago
It is unlikely that Hal Wiggins will find a horse like Rachel Alexandra any time soon, but he does have a promising young colt making his stakes debut in the $100,000 Bashford Manor (gr. III), a sprint for 2-year-olds July 3 at Churchill Downs.
3 days ago
Five months after horse industry officials lobbied for funds from the United States Department of Agriculture's Emergency Conservation Program to assist with property damage to dozens of Central Kentucky Thoroughbred farms due to a January ice storm, the USDA delivered some negative news.
3 days ago
When it came time to do the right thing by the bay gelding, there was no hesitation. P. Kerney would be retired with dignity and live the rest of his life like a former racehorse should: as a retrained Thoroughbred with a useful second career.
3 days ago
