BloodHorse.com | Horse Racing News

Jackson Bend Returns to Training

A familiar name appeared on the worktab at Calder Casino & Race Course on May 5: dual grade I-winning millionaire Jackson Bend is back in training.

Calder, Gulfstream Fail to Resolve Date Fight

Gulfstream Park and Calder Casino & Race Course apparently have failed to strike a deal on racing dates, meaning they could race head-to-head on all Saturdays and Sundays during the year beginning July 1.

Csaba Looks for Another Calder Stakes Win

After rolling to victory in the Tropical Park Derby on Oct. 13 at Calder Race Course, Csaba will try to keep the ball rolling when he faces an expected five rivals in the Fred W. Hooper Handicap (gr. III).

Breeders' Cup Works Heat Up at Santa Anita

Fans at Santa Anita's Clockers' Corner had plenty of action on the morning of Oct. 25 as 10 horses pointing to the Breeders' Cup breezed. At Calder, defending Filly & Mare Sprint winner Musical Romance worked five furlongs.

1,000 Wins for Jockey Paco Lopez

Jockey Paco Lopez scored his 1,000th career win when he rode Whitey's Gold to victory for trainer Bobby DiBona in the second race at Monmouth Park Aug. 17.

Gantry Proves Gallant in Smile Sprint

Gantry remained perfect at six furlongs, winning his sixth straight at that distance and winning easily in the Smile Sprint after a third to monsters Shackleford and Amazombie at Churchill Downs.

THS: Suburban Handicap

Tom and Pete handicap the Suburban Handicap and the Princess Rooney Handicap this weekend.

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Musical Romance Stands Out in Princess Rooney

In step with the trend from recent years, the July 7 Princess Rooney Handicap (gr. I) at Calder Race Course has attracted mostly local horses, highlighted by reigning champion female sprinter Musical Romance.

New Hialeah Breeders' Cup Bill Introduced

A bill introduced Nov. 3 in the Florida legislature could allow Hialeah Park to again hold annual Thoroughbred meets, provided that it becomes a site for the Breeders' Cup.

Gulfstream Interested in Casino Hotel

The Florida legislature began its annual session March 8, with a bill that would authorize up to five Las Vegas-style casino hotels topping its list of issues that would impact the state's Thoroughbred industry.

No Agreement Reached Over FL Race Dates

A meeting in Louisville Feb. 25 between MI Developments chairman Frank Stronach and Churchill Downs Inc. chief operating officer Bill Carstanjen ended without resolving a racing dates dispute between Gulfstream and Calder.

Gulfstream Willing to Negotiate Over Dates

Gulfstream Park would be willing to consider a partial change in southeast Florida's racing calendar, a top official of Gulfstream's parent MI Developments.

Hammer Time: Good News, Bad News

It's good news (I think) that Fasig-Tipton is moving its Florida sale of 2-year-olds in training to Palm Meadows, but it's bad news that Walt Robertson is retiring. I'll miss him.

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Calder Tries to Block Proposed Hialeah Casino

Calder Race Course has asked a state court in Tallahassee, Fla., to overturn a provision of a 2010 Florida law that allows Hialeah Park to apply for and operate a casino.

Mambo Meister Rolls in Memorial Day Handicap

Switching back to the main track was no problem for versatile Mambo Meister, as the 5-year-old romped to a 7 3/4-length victory as the odds-on favorite in the $100,000 Memorial Day Handicap (gr. III) May 31 at Calder.

Calder Adds Races to Weekly Schedule

Calder Casino & Race Course has added three races to its weekly schedule -- with one more race each Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Calder Opens First Live Meet with Slots

Calder Race Course opens its first live meet enhanced with slot machines April 25.

Calder Barn Quarantine Lifted

The Florida Department of Agriculture on March 23 lifted a quarantine on a Calder Race Course barn that had been the stable for a horse that died March 22.

Sick Calder Horse Affects Gulfstream Card

Management at Gulfstream Park canceled the first and sixth races March 22 due to a temporary quarantine of horses stabled at Calder Race Course.

Sky Mesa Filly Works Fastest Quarter

Four fillies are the quickest at an eighth of a mile during the under tack show for the Fasig-Tipton Florida select juvenile auction.

F-T Catalogs 237 Horses for Calder Sale

Company president Boyd Browning says catalog is one of the strongest Fasig-Tipton has ever put together for a juvenile auction.

Fly by Phil Pulls Tropical Park Derby Upset

Fly by Phil, a 23-1 longshot making his stakes debut, got the graded stakes season off to a rousing start when he ran down odds-on favorite Lost Aptitude in the final jump to win the $100,000 Tropical Park Derby (gr. IIIT).

THS: The Tropical Park Derby (Video)

Special Guest Host Suzanne Dorman, Creative Director at The Blood-Horse, and James Scully of Twinspires.com preview the Tropical Park Derby (gr. III) on January 1 at Calder Race Course.

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Becky's Kitten Stretches Out in Tropical Park

Becky's Kitten, who has never before raced at 1 1/8 miles, will attempt to follow in the footsteps of his sire, Kitten's Joy, with a win in the Jan. 1 Tropical Park Derby (gr. IIIT) at Calder Race Course.

Calder Lifts Quarantine; Horses Can Ship

Calder Casino & Race Course lifted a virus-related quarantine Dec. 21, allowing 60 horses to resume normal training and racing.

Calder Cancels Earlier Postponed Stakes

Two graded races canceled Dec. 5 will not be run; portion of purse money to go to remaining overnight schedule.

Calder Update: Quarantine Lifted on One Barn

Results of testing for Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1) on a horse in one of the quarantined barns at Calder Race Course came back negative the morning of Dec. 5, allowing for the quarantine on that barn to be lifted, thus unrestricting the activity of all the horses in that barn, including racing.

Calder Quarantines Fourth Barn

Calder Race Course has placed a fourth barn under quarantine after a horse stabled in it showed signs of illness.

Hialeah Asks to Run Thoroughbreds

Hialeah Park is seeking to run Thoroughbred races during its Quarter Horse meeting, according to a letter Hialeah owner John Brunetti sent to Gulfstream Park and Calder Race Course.

Calder Closed to Shippers

A horse previously stabled at Calder Race Course has tested positive for Equine Herpesvirus.

Calder Cuts Overnight Purses

Calder Race Course announced Oct. 3 a 15% reduction in overnight purses to take effect Oct. 8. This purse cut is in response to the economic trends evident across the industry and in Florida.

Calder Accredited by NTRA Safety Alliance

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association announced Sept. 25 that Calder Race Course has been fully accredited by the NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance following a complete review of all racing operations at the facility.

Ziadie Appeal Dismissed in Florida

A state court in Tallahassee, Fla., on Sept. 11 honored trainer Kirk Ziadie's request and dismissed his appeal of a 60-day suspension and $1,000 fine by the Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering for a violation of medication rules.

Ex-Jockey Boulanger Gets First Training Win

Former jockey Gary Boulanger saddled his first winner as a trainer when the 6-year-old mare Tinkerbuck won the first race at Calder Race Course on Sept. 13.

Calder to Keep Four-Day Racing Weeks

Officials of Calder Casino & Race Course and the Florida Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective Association decided to continue four-day live racing weeks through November and have made adjustments to the fall calendar accordingly.

Florida Gaming Compact Signed; May Change

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and the Seminole Tribe of Florida signed a gaming compact Aug. 31 that has some significant changes from a gaming law Crist and the Florida legislature approved earlier this year.

Deadline Looms for Florida Gaming

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and the Seminole Tribe of Florida are nearing their Aug. 31 deadline to approve a Gaming Compact, which would trigger a new law that would provide economic benefits for the state's Thoroughbred industry and for that tribe's casinos.

Calder Handle Rebounds From Troubled Year

All-sources handle at Calder Race Course rose 48%, from $131.4 million to $195 million, during this year's second quarter, according to parent company Churchill Downs in a report to the Securities and Exchange Commission. But Calder's handle for the quarter ended June 30 was 22% below its handle of $249 million for the second quarter of 2007.

Churchill Posts Slight Increase in Earnings

Churchill Downs Inc. released its second-quarter results after the close of the stock market July 29, with a slight increase in earnings due to its advance deposit wagering system and slot-machine gaming.

Indian Blessing Looking to Bounce Back

Hal and Patti Earnhardt's homebred Indian Blessing will try to rebound from the worst start of her career, as she ships to Florida for the first time to take on eight challengers in the $350,000 Princess Rooney Handicap (gr. I) July 11 at Calder Race Course.

Memorial Day 'Cap Looks Mighty Familiar

Six horses coming out of the April 25 Sumter Stakes will make up the field for the $100,000 Memorial Day Handicap (gr. III), a 1 1/16-mile route on the dirt May 25 at Calder Race Course.

Indian Ocean Gets First Winner

Grade III winner Indian Ocean got his first winner, at Calder Race Course May 16.

CDI: We're Rebuilding Racing, but Need Slots

Despite growth in its online pari-mutuel wagering and Louisiana slots operations, the top executive of Churchill Downs Inc. said May 7 the company is not ignoring its racing properties, but needs legislative help to keep them viable entities.

CDI: Revenues Up, Earnings Down

Citing the absence of insurance payments received in 2008, Churchill Downs Inc. reported a net loss of $4.8 million in the first quarter of the year, but said a 12% increase in net revenues were attributed to strength in its Louisiana gaming business and on-line wagering operation.

Florida Legislature Extends Session

The Florida Legislature May 1 extended its annual regular session for seven days, with pending bills on Thoroughbred and other pari-mutuel issues and on Indian gaming among unfinished business.

TVG Gets Churchill, other TrackNet Signals

Customers of TVG will be able to wager on the Churchill Downs spring meet beginning May 1, it was announced in the early evening of April 30. The limited-term deal also includes wagering on the 2009 Arlington Park meet and Calder Race Course meet through Oct. 31.

Deadline Approaches on Florida Gaming Issues

The Florida Legislature will end its annual regular session May 1, and as of April 28 the House and Senate had not resolved major gaming issues including whether the Seminole Tribe of Florida should be able to keep blackjack and baccarat tables at its casinos.

Gary Boulanger Makes Training Debut at Calder

Former jockey Gary Boulanger saddled his first horse as a trainer at Calder Race Course April 26, a 6-year-old mare named Tinkerbuck that finished second in the 11th race.

Criticism Leads All the Way in La Prevoyante

Darley Stable's homebred Criticism took advantage of soft early fractions en route to a wire-to-wire one-length victory in the $150,000 La Prevoyante Handicap (gr. IIT) April 25 on the Calder Race Course turf.

Youbet Regains Calder Signal

Youbet.com will carry the Calder Race Course signal for the live meet beginning April 24, saying the move is another building block on "continued cooperation" between parent company Churchill Downs Inc. and the advance deposit wagering entity.