BloodHorse.com | Horse Racing News

Charles Resigns as President of Santa Anita

Ron Charles, who has served as president of Santa Anita's Los Angeles Turf Club since 2004, has resigned. His last day will be May 19.

Champion Snow Chief Dies

Snow Chief, the 1986 Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner and champion 3-year-old male, died Preakness Day of an apparent heart attack. The 27-year-old son of Reflected Glory stood at Eagle Oak Ranch near Paso Robles, Calif.

MI Developments Ends Contract with Oak Tree

MI Developments notified the Oak Tree Racing Association May 14 that it was ending its lease agreement.

More Than Ready Filly Works Fast at Barretts

She posts the quickest time at an eighth of a mile, covering the distance in :9 4/5 during the under tack show for the May sale of 2-year-olds in training.

Greg Gilchrist Retires From Training

Trainer Greg Gilchrist, who trained champion sprinter Lost in the Fog, is calling it a career at age 62. The Northern California-based conditioner had a stream of stakes winners for owner Harry Aleo.

Gilchrist Retiring From Training

Northern California horseman conditioned champion sprinter Lost in the Fog.

Barretts May Sale Has 154 Juveniles

The auction will be held May 10 at Fairplex Park in Southern California.

Mike Mooney Retires From Hollywood Park

Mike Mooney, who began in racetrack publicity in 1970, retired April 16 from Hollywood Park, where he had worked since 1991.

Crown the King Sires First Winner

The first winner by California stallion Crown the King won April 8 at Santa Anita.

E Z Warrior Get First Mares in Foal

First-year stallion E Z Warrior (Exploit -- Carson Jen, by Carson City) has gotten three mares in foal.

Barretts Sale Barns Could Have Other Uses

Some could be converted for office or manufacturing use, but Barretts would continue to conduct Thoroughbred sales in the near future.

Pinhookers' Profits Fall at Barretts

The rate of return on their investment drops to 47.1%, but the percentage of horses offered that were profitable is the same as last year.

Barretts March Sale: Horses to Watch

Read a list of top prospects based on workout times, yearling purchase prices, and pedigrees.

Barretts Horses Perform Well During Preview

Four youngsters worked a furlong in :09 4/5 at the March 19 under-tack preview of the March 22 Barretts selected 2-year-olds in training sale. Those were the fastest times of the day during the preview at Fairplex Park.

Officials: Track Consistency, Maintenance Key

As people rush to takes sides in the great dirt-versus-synthetic surface debate, Dr. Mick Peterson and Santa Anita Park track superintendent Richard Tedesco suggested consistency and maintenance trump type of surface.

Millionaire Desert Code to Harris Farms

Desert Code, a millionaire and winner of the 2008 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Oak Tree at Santa Anita, will enter stud at John C. Harris' Harris Farms near Coalinga, Calif.

Lookin At Lucky Works, Headed to Oaklawn

Last year's champion juvenile male, Lookin At Lucky, is on schedule for his first start of the year, the March 13 Rebel Stakes (gr. II) at Oaklawn Park, after a workout at Santa Anita March 8.

Stronach, CA Horsemen to Discuss Problems

Frank Stronach will meet with owners and trainers in California trying to change the framework under which racetracks operate.

Dead Heat for Cal-bred Horse of the Year

California Flag and Dancing in Silks, both Breeders' Cup winners last year, share the honor of California-bred Horse of the Year for 2009.

First Foal by Bedford Falls Is a Colt

The first reported foal by Bedford Falls is a colt born. Jan. 29 at John C. Harris' Harris Farms near Coalinga, Calif.

Golden Gate Fully Accredited by Alliance

Golden Gate Fields in Northern California is the 15th racetrack to be fully accredited by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Safety and Integrity Alliance.

Come to Papa

Though he was bred in Kentucky, Papa Clem is a Californian.

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CTT: San Luis Rey Downs to Close for Training

The California Thoroughbred Trainers reported Feb. 16 that San Luis Rey Downs will close as a Thoroughbred training center effective March 15.

Betty Mabee, Raced Best Pal, Dies

Betty Mabee, who with her late husband, John, built one of the West Coast's leading Thoroughbred empires, has died.

Mary Jones Bradley, Raced Cougar II, Dies

Mary Jones Bradley, who campaigned Hall of Famer Cougar II, died Feb. 5 of natural causes at her home in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.

Barretts March Catalog is Larger Than in 2009

There are 134 2-year-olds in the auction, which is scheduled for March 22.

BC Turf Sprint Winner Desert Code Retired

Susan Osborne's Desert Code, winner of the 2008 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, has been retired from racing for stallion duty.

Bortstein Memorial Service Set for Feb. 24

Longtime turf writer Larry Bortstein will be remembered at the Frontrunner Restaurant at Santa Anita.

Edmund Gann, Raced Medaglia d'Oro, Dies

Edmund Gann, a leading California owner who campaigned dozens of stakes winners alone and in partnership, died Feb. 7 after a bout with cancer.

California Breeder/Owner Ernest Auerbach Dies

Ernest Auerbach, who campaigned several California graded stakes winners, died Feb. 1 of pancreatic cancer at his Pacific Palisades, Calif. home.

Dancing in Silks Named Dual Cal-Bred Champion

Dancing in Silks, winner of the 2009 Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I), has been named California champion sprinter and older male by the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association.

Santa Anita Cancels Card; Stakes Rescheduled

Santa Anita canceled its Feb. 6 card due to heavy rains in Southern California. The wash out of the program impacts important prep races for both the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) and Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I).

Steve Schwartz Resigns TOC Position

Resigns from his position as president Feb. 5 after just being named to the post Nov. 15.

California Tracks Trim Live Racing Schedules

Two California racetracks have announced cutbacks in their live racing schedules effective the week of Jan. 25.

Major Incentive Program for Bedford Falls

Foals by second-year stallion Bedford Falls may be eligible for a new incentive program valued at $125,000.

New Surface for Santa Anita Later This Year

Santa Anita Park officials have indicated the California track's main racing surface will be replaced, but it remains to be seen if the new surface will be synthetic or dirt.

Santa Anita Cancels Monday Card

Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., has noted on its Web site that due to inclement weather, live racing has been cancelled for Monday, Jan. 18.

California Breeder/Owner Ronald Waranch Dies

Ronald Waranch, who raced Southern California grade II winners Northern Afleet and Saint Afleet, died Jan. 6 at age 78.

Retired Trainer Tinsley Found Dead

Retired California trainer J.E. "Cotton" Tinsley was discovered dead Jan. 4, Daily Racing Form reported. Tinsley, who had been missing since New Year's Eve, was 81.

Taking Control: Azeri's First Foal Wins Debut

Son of A.P. Indy scores by 1 1/2 lengths at Santa Anita Park.

518 Horses Cataloged For Barretts Mixed Sale

Auction will be held Jan. 25 and 26 at the Hinds Pavilion on the grounds of Fairplex Park in Southern California.

Whatsthescript to Tommy Town in California

Whatsthescript, a California grade II winner who placed in the 2008 Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT), will enter stud at Tom and Debi Stull's Tommy Town Thoroughbreds near Santa Ynez, Calif.

Time to Get Even to Lovacres in California

Graded stakes winner Time to Get Even has been retired from racing and will enter stud in 2010 at Terry Lovinger's Lovacres Ranch in Warner Springs, Calif.

Snorter to Madera Thoroughbreds

Graded stakes winner Snortner will stand in 2010 at Cal Fischer's Madera Thoroughbreds near Madera, Calif.

E Z Warrior to Applebite in California

California graded stakes winner E Z Warrior will enter stud in 2010 at Applebite Farms near French Camp, Calif.

Southern Image to Rancho San Miguel

Southern Image will stand the 2010 breeding season at Rancho San Miguel near San Miguel, Calif., it was announced Nov. 23. The 9-year-old son of Halo's Image will stand for $5,000.

Oak Tree Handle, Attendance Decline

The Oak Tree Racing Association, which for the second year in a row hosted the Breeders' Cup World Championships, reported double-digit declines in attendance and handle during the 31-day meet at Santa Anita Park that ended Nov. 8.

CA Trainers Group Agrees to New Election

The nine members of the California Thoroughbred Trainers board of directors gave notice they will resign when a new board is seated after an election in January 2010.

Gryder Accepts Invite to Compete in Hong Kong

Aaron Gryder, who has been based in California for several years, has opted to ride in Hong Kong beginning Nov. 14, the jockey announced Nov. 10.

All BC Equine Drug Tests Come Back Clean

Officials said all blood and urine samples collected from horses that competed in the Nov. 6-7 Breeders' Cup World Championships at Santa Anita Park have come back clean.