BloodHorse.com | Horse Racing News

15 Horses Added to Barretts May Sale Catalog

A Henny Hughes--Unlimited Pleasure colt, which is a half brother to grade III winner Jardin, is among the 15 horses that have been supplemented to the Barretts May select sale of 2-year-olds in training.

Grade I Winner Misremembered Retired

Grade I winner Misremembered has been retired from racing to become a stallion.

Jack Robbins Steps Down as Oak Tree President

Dr. Jack K. Robbins has stepped down as president of the Oak Tree Racing Association and has assumed the chairmanship of the board of directors.

'Comma' Begins Period at Churchill

California invader Comma to the Top looked sharp and alert after his flight from California as he settled in at Churchill Downs May 3 for his run in the Kentucky Derby.

Awesome Gambler Sires First Winner

California stakes winner Awesome Gambler came through with his first winner when his daughter, Willa B Awesome, scored at Hollywood Park April 21 in her first start.

Barretts May Sale Has 108 Horses

Barretts has cataloged 108 horses for its May sale of 2-year-olds in training and older horses of racing age. The auction will be held May 16 in Southern California.

Santa Anita Handle Down in All Categories

Whether gross or average figures are used, pari-mutuel handle for the Santa Anita Park winter/spring was down, according to information compiled from various sources.

Fewer Runners Blamed for Santa Anita Declines

A decline in average daily handle ontrack and overall was caused by a low horse inventory. Average ontrack attendance remained steady with 2010 for the winter/spring meet.

Pacific Classic Highlights Del Mar Schedule

As it has for the past two seasons, Del Mar again will offer 42 stakes races over the course of a 37-day summer meet that runs from July 20 through Sept. 7.

'On-Track to Beat Cancer' Set for Santa Anita

Santa Anita Park and City of Hope announced March 31 a partnership that will unite the track's racing fans and the California racing industry in the fight against cancer.

Thorn Song Gets First Mare in Foal

The first mare bred to dual grade I winner Thorn Song is believed to be in foal.

Keeneland, Del Mar in Partnership

Del Mar and Keeneland have announced a partnership for the 2011 season that the tracks hope will enhance and encourage horse ownership.

Zardana, Upset Rachel Alexandra, Retired

Zardana, who beat Rachel Alexandra in the New Orleans Ladies Stakes at Fair Grounds in March 2010, has been retired from racing because of an ankle issue.

California Group Seeks to Represent Horsemen

A group of horsemen in California has formed a new organization whose goal is to become the official representative of horsemen in the state.

Santa Anita Returns to Four-Day Race Week

Santa Anita Park will return to a four-day race week beginning March 31, and will operate on a Thursday through Sunday schedule for the remainder of its winter/spring meeting which concludes April 17.

Pinhooking Results: OBS and Barretts

Pinhookers improve the rate of return on their investment at Barretts March select juvenile sale, but their profits fall at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. March select auction.

Square Eddie Back to Stud

Grade I winner Square Eddie, who entered stud in 2010 and then was returned to training, is back at stud at Vessels Stallion Farm near Bonsall, Calif.

Evening Session Could Add Energy at Barretts

A small but select group of 2-year-olds in training will be offered at the Barretts sale March 21 in Pomona, Calif. The auction will be held in the evening for the first time and in one session.

Sensible Times at Barretts Sale Preview

Consignors sent their 2-year-olds in sensible times for the March 18 under-tack preview of the March 21 Barretts selected 2-year-olds in training sale in Southern California.

Pablo Suarez to Represent TOC on NTRA Board

California horse owner Pablo Suarez has been selected by the Thoroughbred Owners of California to fill its seat on the National Thoroughbred Racing Association board of directors.

Meeting Focuses on California Racing Issues

Some 35-40 people involved with California racing met at Hollywood Park Feb. 22 to discuss ways in which to improve the state's industry.

Thorn Song to Stand at Harris Farms

Thorn Song, who underwent stem cell therapy after developing laminitis, will enter stud at John C. Harris' Harris Farms near Coalinga, Calif.

Long Layoff No Problem for Cozi Rosie

Despite moderate fractions, Jerry and Ann Moss' Cozi Rosie circled most of her foes and drew away to a comfortable 1 1/4-length tally in the $150,000 Buena Vista Handicap (gr. IIT) at Santa Anita Park Feb. 21.

Santa Anita to Host 'Beat Cancer' Event

Santa Anita Park and the City of Hope have announced a partnership to presenting the first-ever "On-Track to Beat Cancer" event at Santa Anita on closing day, April 17.

Santa Anita Unveils New Luxury Suite

Santa Anita Park officials unveiled the exclusive Arcadia Suite Feb. 18 at the Southern California track, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by several area politicians.

Barretts March Juvenile Sale Has 105 Horses

Barretts has cataloged 105 horses for its March select sale of 2-year-olds in training. The number is down 21.6% from last year's total of 134.

Santa Anita Notes: Cohen, Cedillo, Heap

Popular Santa Anita Park horn blower Jay Cohen expects to be gone from the Southern California track for about two weeks for surgery on a painful neck ailment.

TOC Chairman Zetcher to Step Down From Board

Arnold Zetcher, chairman of the Thoroughbred Owners of California, will resign from the board Feb. 16. He has served as chairman for about six months.

Gulfstream Allowance Features Derby Hopefuls

Just because there are no 3-year-old dirt stakes at Gulfstream this weekend doesn't mean there are no races with Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) implications.

Safe in the U S A to Tommy Town Thoroughbreds

Safe in the U S A, a son of Gone West produced from champion sprinter Safely Kept, will relocate to Tommy Town Thoroughbreds in Santa Ynez, California for the 2011 breeding season.

Dixie Chatter's First Foal Is a Colt

The first foal by grade I winner Dixie Chatter is a colt born Jan. 21 at Glenridge Farm near Midway, Ky.

Papa Clem's First Foal Is a Colt

The first reported foal by grade II winner Papa Clem is a colt born Jan. 25 at Valley Oak Ranch near Oakdale, Calif.

Sunshine Millions Classic All-Florida Affair

The question of which state will win the $500,000 Sunshine Millions Classic is moot this year as all 10 entrants were bred in Florida.

Barretts Mixed Sale Begins Jan. 24

Some of California's best families will be represented at the Jan. 24 Barretts mixed sale in Pomona, including horses from Golden Eagle, River Edge, and Harris Farms.

Bourbon Bay Tastes Success in San Marcos

David and Jill Heerensperger's Bourbon Bay begins another assault on Santa Anita's distance events on grass with a win in the San Marcos

Jamgotchian Plans to Race in California Again

California horse owner Jerry Jamgotchian says he is planning to race again in the state after an absence of about two years due to his dislike of synthetic tracks and the policies of the California Horse Racing Board.

HANA Targets Takeout Hike, Wants Panel Formed

The Horseplayers Association of North America is calling for reversal of a pari-mutuel takeout increase in California as well as creation of a gambling board that would advise the California Horse Racing Board.

Santa Anita 'Feeling Way' With New Surface

There has been one racing fatality following a breakdown in the first eight days of competition on Santa Anita Park's new dirt track, according to the California Horse Racing Board equine medical director.

California Owner James Vreeland Dies

James Vreeland, a successful California owner, died Dec. 20 of cancer at his Buellton, Calif., home.

Successful Opening Day for Santa Anita

With a new track surface in place, Santa Anita Park opened the doors for its 74th winter/spring meet Dec. 26 with 34,268 fans in attendance for a nine-race program that included four stakes.

Zenyatta Has Visitors

Zenyatta's California connections came to visit on Dec. 20 at Lane's End Farm near Versailles, Ky.

Read Blog

Forest Command to Oak Hill in California

Grade II stakes-placed Forest Command will stand in 2011 at Oak Hill Farm near Paso Robles, Calif.

New Santa Anita Dirt Handles Record Rainfall

Santa Anita's new traditional dirt track received its initial baptism of record rainfall that is ongoing in the Los Angeles area and has weathered the storm well as opening day, Sunday, Dec. 26, draws near.

Retired California Publisher Don Engel Dies

Don Engel, a publisher and breeder who founded the Thoroughbred Information Agency in California, died Dec. 6 at age 85.

Barretts January Mixed Sale Has 392 Horses

Barretts has cataloged 392 horses for its 2011 January mixed sale. The auction will be held Jan. 24 at the Hinds Pavilion on the grounds of Fairplex Park in Southern California. It will begin at 10 a.m. (PST).

Vincent Timphony, Trained Wild Again, Dies

Vincent Timphony, who saddled Wild Again to an upset victory in the inaugural Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) at Hollywood Park in 1984, died Monday, Dec. 13, at Arcadia Methodist Hospital in California.

Zenyatta Adapting Smoothly to Farm Life

Zenyatta's transition from superstar racehorse to broodmare is going smoothly, according to William S. Farish.

California Screamin'--Issues Get Airing Out

Issues impacting the long-term health of California horse racing were dissected Dec. 9 and produced a general message: Think outside the box, because the prospect of revenue from gaming is very dim.

Trainer Mitchell Begins Serving Suspension

Mike Mitchell, one of the leading Southern California trainers, has begun serving a 15-day suspension resulting from one of his horses testing positive for an excessive level of total carbon dioxide.

Training Begins on New Santa Anita Surface

Santa Anita opened its new dirt track to horses the morning of Dec. 6. With most horses still stabled across town at Hollywood Park, few horses galloped on the new surface, which is a mixture of 90% sand and 10% clay.