What could be more specialized than horses that like to sprint on the turf? Yet all manner of runners make up the 22 pre-entries in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, which drew the largest field of all 14 Breeders' Cup races.
Friday, October 30, 2009
New York's top racetracks are off limits to trainer Jeff Mullins for six months in a case his attorney claims is a "witch hunt."
Friday, October 30, 2009
Indianapolis-based Centaur, which owns Hoosier Park Racing & Casino in Anderson, Ind., recently missed interest payments and has defaulted on loans in excess of $400 million.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Cherokee Run, a champion sprinter who went on to become a successful stallion, has been pensioned from stallion duty at Sheikh Mohammed's Darley near Lexington because of fertility problems and lameness issues.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Coming off a historic victory against the boys in the Sept. 20 Woodbine Mile (Can-IT), Ventura looks to be a powerful contender in the Nov. 5 Sentient Jet Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I) as she attempts to defend her title at Santa Anita Park. But the Juddmonte Farms homebred will likely face some tough competition, as five other graded stakes-winning females were also pre-entered.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
After failing to attract a qualified bid for Santa Anita Park this summer, bankrupt Magna Entertainment Corp. is prepared to try it again early next year. Meanwhile, a committee of horse owners from the Thoroughbred Owners of California is continuing to negotiate the purchase of the picturesque 303-acre racetrack, site of the 2009 Breeders' Cup.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Millionaire mare Unbridled Belle, who has competed in some of New York's premier stakes races over the past four seasons, makes her final start in the Big Apple as the heavy favorite in the $100,000 Turnback the Alarm Handicap (gr. III) at Aqueduct Oct. 31.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
The Michigan House has approved a bill that would restore some funding for the state's horse racing programs.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Gov. David Paterson and New York legislative leaders met behind closed doors Oct. 29 in Manhattan to try to resolve the selection of an operator for the long-stalled Aqueduct video lottery terminal casino project.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Jason, Tom, and James Scully Preview the Breeders' Cup, focusing on those races with returning champions. Plus, a look at Zenyatta in the Breeders' Cup Classic.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
The New York Thoroughbred Breeders and New York Racing Association announced a price reduction in foal nominations to the New York Stallion Stakes Series for progeny of New York-based stallions.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
The Oak Tree Racing Association and Santa Anita Park, site Nov. 6-7 of the Breeders' Cup World Championships -- for the second straight year -- have been accredited by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Safety and Integrity Alliance, it was announced Oct. 29 in a release.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Off his game in his past two tries, Past the Point makes his first start at Aqueduct for trainer Eoin Harty as the morning line favorite in the $150,000 Bold Ruler Handicap (gr. III) Oct. 31.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
If Zenyatta's connections opt to run her in the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I), she will be the favorite on the official Breeders' Cup morning line.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Steeplechase owner Calvin Houghland, who had recently turned 93, died Oct. 27.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
The Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall yearling sale bucked the prevailing negative trends in the Thoroughbred marketplace to post increases of 9.1% in median price and 5.7% in gross revenue during its three-day run that ended Oct. 28 in Lexington.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
The Tattersalls autumn horses in training sale finished its four-day run in England Oct. 29 with a median price that was up 12.5% from 2008. The gross revenue declined 11.3% while the average price fell 8.2%. The clearance rate rose from 78.8% last year to 84.9% this year.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas has entered Robert Baker and William Mack's highly-touted Dublin in the $100,000 Iroquois (gr. III) for juveniles at a mile on the main track. A field of 12 was drawn for the Churchill Downs fall meet opening day co-feature.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
For more than a decade it seemed that Lady Luck was refusing to smile upon the Last Call Racing Partnership of Chicago residents Clyde Peterson and Tim Fella, until Mizzcan'tbewrong came along.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Trainer Dale Romans unleashed a true "Star of Tomorrow" in the 2008 Pocahontas (gr. III) when Sara Louise romped to victory by 3 3/4 lengths over Rachel Alexandra. On Nov. 1, Romans hopes history repeats itself when he saddles Jerry Romans' Sassy Image in the $100,000 event for 2-year-old fillies. A full field of 13 was drawn.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association is conducting a free, online handicapping contest in association with the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Santa Anita Nov. 6-7 in which the winner will receive four tickets to the 2010 Breeders' Cup at Churchill Downs.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
The presence of classy Europeans Mastercraftsman and Sweet Hearth to the pre-entry field for the $1-million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I) on Nov. 7 gives the runners from the powerful Godolphin stable the prospect of some tough competition.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
HRTV announced Oct. 29 it will broadcast the prestigious Melbourne Cup (Aust-I) from Australia on Monday, Nov. 2.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Though three of the Euros top distance horses -- Mastercraftsman, Rip Van Winkle, and Twice Over -- are being pointed to either the Classic (gr. I) or Dirt Mile (gr. I), they still hold the upper hand on the Americans for the Nov. 7 Turf.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
An interest in Del Mar Mile (gr. IIT) winner Ferneley has been purchased by Robert Teel, it was announced Oct. 29.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
The presence of the most accomplished United States-based colts thus far and a strong contingent from Europe should spell value for those who wager on the Nov. 7 Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) at Santa Anita Park.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
The logo for the 2010 Breedersf Cup World Championships was unveiled Oct. 29 by the Breedersf Cup and Churchill Downs, the Louisville track that will be hosting the two-day racing event for a record seventh time. The 2010 Breeders' Cup is scheduled for Nov. 5-6.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Golden Ransom, a 10-year-old son of Hennessy, will stand in 2010 at Dr. Leonard Blach's Buena Suerta Equine near Roswell, N.M., for a fee of $2,000.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
A personal visit with superstar filly Rachel Alexandra goes on the auction block tomorrow as the grand final item in Kendall-Jackson's "Rachel Alexandra Running Auction," benefiting The V Foundation for Cancer Research. The auction will end after seven days at noon, Nov. 4.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Lillie Langtry is the most accomplished horse in the field of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Singapore trainer Don Baertschiger made his presence felt during the option two section of the Magic Millions national horses in training sale in on the Gold Coast of Australia Oct. 29. He went to Aust$110,000 ($99,840 in U.S. funds) to secure the day's top seller – a 2-year-old Hidden Dragon –Donnatelle colt. A half-brother to group winner Don't Tell Clang, the colt was consigned by Centaur Park Thoroughbreds.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Goldikova looks to become the fourth horse to repeat in the Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT).
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Putney Bridge, from the Juddmonte Farms consignment, was the star on the third day of the Tattersalls autumn horses in training auction, selling for 300,000 guineas to bloodstock agent John McCormack Oct. 28 in England. McCormack was acting on behalf of Prince Faisal bin Khalid of Saudi Arabia.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
A subsidiary of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma received court approval Oct. 28 to buy Magna Entertainment Corp.'s Lone Star Park horse track in Texas, albeit for $20 million more than the tribe first thought it would spend.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Delaware Park raced 27 fewer days this year but registered increases in total handle and average daily handle, track officials said Oct. 28.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
The Breeders' Cup has released the official race order and wagering menu for the 26th Breeders' Cup World Championships, to be held Nov. 6-7 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Trainer John Shirreffs said on a national teleconference Oct. 28 that the first preference for Zenyatta is the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) as long as she works well this Saturday at Hollywood Park and appears to be peaking for the race.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
A total of 166 horses were pre-entered Oct. 26 for the 2009 Breeders' Cup World Championships to be run Nov. 6 and 7 at Santa Anita.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Steve Specht, a mainstay in the Northern California training ranks since the mid-1980s, collected his 1,000th career victory Oct. 28 at Golden Gate Fields when his 2-year-old filly Veillit' won the fifth race.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Looking to join Ouija Board as the only two-time winner of the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (gr. IT), Forever Together is the likely pick in the $2 million event sponsored by Emirates Airline.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Citing the economic situation facing the breeding and sales industries in North America and Europe, Sheikh Mohammed's Darley operation announced Oct. 28 that fees for 37 of its 40 stallions on those two continents would remain unchanged or decrease for 2010.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Behindatthebar, who won three of five lifetime starts including the Coolmore Lexington Stakes (gr. II) in 2008 in his last outing, will stand in 2010 at Perry Judice's Judice Farm near Sunset, La.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
A globetrotting sire and an all-American dam have strikingly similar pedigrees that combined to produce recent graded winner April Pride. Breeding analyst Alan Porter discusses how his "parallel pattern" theory is evident in the filly's pedigree. Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Lenny and Steve discuss the Breeders' Cup Pre-Entries, and the Top 10 reasons that Sea the Stars is staying away from California. Plus, Special Guest Bill Farish of Lane's End Farm.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Churchill Downs Inc. reported Oct. 28 that net revenue from continuing operations for the third quarter of 2009 totaled $100.9 million, an increase of $1.3 million, or 1%, over the $99.6 million recorded during the third quarter of 2008.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Hal Wiggins hit the apex of his training career this spring when he saddled Rachel Alexandra to her resounding victory in the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) May 1. He hopes the final month on the backside gets off to a rousing start Nov. 1 when he sends out Brassy Boy in the Iroquois (gr. III) for longtime client Millsap Stables.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
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.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Bob Baffert has been quoted as saying Zensational is one of the most talented horses he has ever trained in his Hall of Fame career. The 3-year-old son of Unbridled's Song will get a chance to prove it Nov. 7 in the $2-million Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) at Santa Anita.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Parading returns to the scene of his most lopsided stakes victory earlier this year when he takes on nine rivals in Keeneland's $150,000 Fayette Stakes on Oct. 31, closing day for the Lexington track's short fall meet.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
The Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering Oct. 27 approved Hialeah Park's application to hold a 40-day Quarter Horse meet beginning Nov. 28.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
