Roman Chapa has appealed the five-year suspension and $25,000 fine levied him by the Texas Racing Commission after it was determined the 43-year-old jockey carried an electrical shocking device during a stakes victory.
Trainer Tony Dutrow said that The Big Beast appeared fine physically coming out of a win in his 4-year-old debut March 1 and is scheduled to make his next start in the $300,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (gr. III) April 9.
Because of severe winter weather conditions, or expected winter weather, racing for March 5 has been canceled at Aqueduct Racetrack, Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, and Oaklawn Park.
The would-be spoiler will get a chance at victory sans 'Brandi' March 7, as her more accomplished rival will start against boys March 14. Sarah Sis heads a group of nine sophomore fillies in the $150,000 Honeybee.
Oaklawn officials said Take Charge Brandi appears headed for a showdown against top 3-year-old males in the Rebel Stakes (gr. II) March 14, as last year's champion 2-year-old filly will not race in the Honeybee (gr. III).
The Texas Racing Commission has suspended jockey Roman Chapa five years and fined him $25,000 after stewards determined he carried an electrical shocking device while riding Quiet Acceleration to victory in a stakes.
Alex and JoAnn Lieblong's The Big Beast showed no signs of rust in his first race since winning the Ketel One King's Bishop Stakes (gr. I) Aug. 23 at Saratoga Race Course.
Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas said he hopes to breeze champion filly Take Charge Brandi March 2 at Oaklawn Park in preparation for her next start, possibly against males in the $750,000 Rebel Stakes (gr. II) March 14.
The Arkansas Racing Commission unanimously approved a request by Oaklawn Park Feb. 28 to add two Wednesdays to its 2015 Racing Season -- March 18 and March 25-to compensate for days lost to winter weather.
Due to winter weather, live racing at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in West Virginia and at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas has been cancelled for Feb. 27, along with racing at Maryland's Laurel Park.
Churchill Downs Inc. officials said Thursday, Feb. 26, they aim to build on last year's highly profitable Kentucky Derby week but acknowledged they see little opportunity for racing growth outside of that week.
Owner Willis Horton confirmed Feb. 25 that the $750,000 Rebel Stakes (gr. II) at Oaklawn Park March 14 is under consideration as a target for champion Take Charge Brandi, although a decision has not yet been made.
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Zayat Stables will continue its chess game of 3-year-old prep racing by shipping Mr. Z to the March 28 Louisiana Derby (gr. II), while American Pharoah runs in the Rebel (gr. II) and El Kabeir starts in the Gotham (gr. II).
Aided by cancellations and healthy purse accounts, Oaklawn Park in Arkansas and Turfway Park in Kentucky have increased overnight purses.
With a sharp move to the rail by Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, Far Right claimed the $300,000 Southwest Stakes (gr. III) at Oaklawn Park Feb. 22. He had previously won the Smarty Jones Stakes at the Arkansas track.
Ken and Sarah Ramsey's International Star came back for more Feb. 21, punching through on the rail to win the $400,000 Risen Star Stakes (gr. II) after taking the Jan. 17 Lecomte Stakes (gr. III) at Fair Grounds.
John Wentworth's Chocolate Ride went right to the front and never looked back to upset the $125,000 Fair Grounds Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Feb. 21.
Fletcher and Carolyn Gray's homebred I'm a Chatterbox rallied from far off the pace to win the $175,000 Rachel Alexandra Stakes (gr. III) Feb. 21 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
Making just his third career start Feb. 21, and sent off at odds of 21-1, Anstu Stables' Street Babe upset the $125,000 Mineshaft Handicap (gr. III) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
Kept in training, Robert Evans' Irish Mission returned immediate dividends, taking the $150,000 Very One Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Gulfstream Park Feb. 21.
Joseph Shields Jr.'s House Rules overcame a bump at the start and survived an objection to win her first graded stakes Feb. 21 -- the $100,000 Rampart (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park.
Willis Horton's champion Take Charge Brandi posted a five-furlong bullet work in 1:00 2/5 Feb. 21 at Oaklawn Park, a major move in preparation for her upcoming outing in the $150,000 Honeybee Stakes (gr. III) March 7.
Todd Pletcher said J S Bach would be scratched from the Risen Star Stakes (gr. II) and trainer David Carroll said Villandry would be scratched from the Fair Grounds Handicap (gr. IIIT).
Mathew "Cole" Norman, a former leading trainer at Louisiana Downs and Oaklawn Park, reportedly has been arrested and charged following an incident in Shreveport, La.
The top three finishers in the Jan. 17 Lecomte Stakes (gr. III) will face several new shooters in the $400,000 Risen Star Stakes (gr. II) Feb. 21 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
The redrawn Southwest Stakes (gr. III), part of a Presidents' Day program that was lost due to severe winter weather, brought back 10 of the original 12 sophomore entrants for Feb. 22 at Oaklawn Park.
Hard Aces, sharp winner of the Louisiana Handicap in his first start of 2015, has been sold privately to Hronis Racing with plans to ship to Southern California to take on Shared Belief in the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap.
Mufajaah, impressive winner of the Bayakoa Stakes (gr. III) at Oaklawn Park, will be pointed for the $300,000 Azeri Stakes (gr. II) March 14, postponing retirement at least one more race, trainer Dan Peitz said Feb. 18.
On Feb. 21, the 6-year-old son of English Channel returns with a new trainer, and his connections' hope that he can ace the $125,000 Fair Grounds Handicap (gr. IIIT), a race in which he finished second in 2014.
Arapahoe Park in Aurora, Col., announced Feb. 18 it will offer a bonus for races drawing large field sizes and a penalty for races with small fields during its meet that begins May 22.
Silverbulletday Stakes winner I'm a Chatterbox will aim for her first graded stakes win when she starts in the $175,000 Rachel Alexandra Stakes (gr. III) Saturday, Feb. 21, at Fair Grounds Race Course and Slots.
Nates Mineshaft did his sire proud when upsetting the 2012 Mineshaft Handicap (gr. III) as the longest shot on the board. On Feb. 21 he'll be a price again in this year's $125,000 renewal at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
Fasig-Tipton has cataloged 121 entries for its 2015 Texas 2-year-olds in training and horses of racing age sale to be held March 31 at Lone Star Park
Favored Mufajaah went six wide in the final turn and closed to win the $100,000 Bayakoa (gr. III) by a neck over Flashy American for her second straight stakes win at Oaklawn Park Feb. 15.
Zayat Stables' American Pharoah Drew an appreciative appraisal from trainer Bob Baffert as he continued to work in preparation for his 3-year-old debut the morning of Feb. 15 at Santa Anita Park.
Runner-up in the Essex Handicap Feb. 14, Ride On Curlin will point toward the $250,000 Razorback Handicap (gr. III) in one month, trainer Billy Gowan said the morning after the son of Curlin made his return to stakes action.
Returning to Oaklawn Park where he secured his first career stakes win, Golden Lad held off last year's Preakness Stakes (gr. I) runner-up Ride On Curlin to post a 1 3/4-length victory in the $100,000 Essex Stakes.
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots explains a confusing situation leading to the decision to reprice payouts following a race Feb. 13.
Convincing Smarty Jones winner Far Right is one of 11 3-year-olds seeking to advance on the road to the Triple Crown in the $300,000 Southwest Stakes (gr. III), the Presidents' Day feature from Oaklawn Park Feb. 16.
Most of the entrants in the field of 10 for the $100,000 Bayakoa Stakes (gr. III) Feb. 15 at Oaklawn Park are more than familiar with each other.
The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association will hold an educational Thoroughbred ownership seminar Feb. 21 at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark.
Multiple grade III stakes winner Swift Warrior has been retired to stud at David Spears Racing near Hartshorne, Okla.
Ride On Curlin, under regular exercise rider Bryan Beccia, worked an easy half mile in :49 3/5 after the break the morning of Feb. 11 in preparation for the $100,000 Essex Handicap to be run Feb. 14 at Oaklawn Park.
Five projected starters for the $300,000 Southwest Stakes (gr. III) Feb. 16 at Oaklawn Park, completed their final major preparations at the Arkansas oval the morning of Feb. 11.
A Feb. 27 hearing date has been set by the Texas Racing Commission in the case of Roman Chapa, who faces allegations that he carried an electrical shock device in a winning race at Sam Houston Race Park Jan. 17.
The Paddock Foundation, a non-profit organization launched by the Texas Thoroughbred Association to support and advance Thoroughbred aftercare, will hold an event at Sam Houston Race Park next month.
The National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association ended its winter convention Feb. 8 with a new affiliate and a call for the organization to take more of a leadership role in the industry.
Far Right completed his major preparations for the $300,000 Southwest Stakes (gr. II), the highlight of the upcoming Presidents Day card at Oaklawn Park, by breezing a half mile in company Feb. 8.
One King's Man ruled the $200,000 Louisiana Premier Night Championship Feb. 7 at Delta Downs, using a big late kick to win by 3 1/2 lengths, highlighting an evening of stakes racing for state-breds.
