Fancy Fusaichi, runaway winner while making her stakes debut in the Iowa Distaff, looks to add a graded stakes victory to her resume Aug. 16 when she takes on six challengers in the $150,000 Gardenia Handicap (gr. III) at Ellis Park.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
The message at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame induction ceremony Aug. 4 was plain and simple: "It's all about the horse."
Monday, August 04, 2008
Trainer calls his latest honor "a hell of a lot of responsibility."
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Jockey Calvin Borel took off his 10 mounts at Churchill Downs on June 14, citing pain in his knee as the cause.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
The team that won the 2007 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) with Street Sense will reunite at Churchill Downs, the scene of their stirring victory, for a special book signing April 27
Friday, April 25, 2008
One year ago, Carl Nafzger was the hottest name in horse racing, as Street Sense, starting with his Tampa Bay Derby victory, was just beginning his run towards the Kentucky Derby. In this exclusive Q & A, see what Nafzger remembers most about Street Sense's Derby win, and who the veteran trainer likes in this year's Classic.
Friday, March 14, 2008
John Pierce's homebred Mystery Classic, a winner of five consecutive stakes last year, will be honored as the 2007 Texas Horse of the Year and champion older horse by the Texas Thoroughbred Association. Mystery Classic is trained by Robert Schultz.
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Trainer Carl Nafzger will be honored for his overall contributions to Thoroughbred racing when Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners (KTO) presents the two-time winner of the Kentucky Derby with the 2007 "Warner L. Jones Jr. Horseman of the Year Award."
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
It's not surprising a Todd Pletcher-trained filly was made the favorite for the Oct. 27 Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I), it's just a little surprising which one.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
In separate interviews, Lenny Shulman speaks with Carl Nafzger about Street Sense and Lady Joanne running in this year's Breeders' Cup.
Saturday, October 20, 2007
The eyes of the horse racing world are squarely fixed on next week's Breeders' Cup, with a total of 160 pre-entries (141 individual horses, 19 cross-entered) for 11 races. It will be a year of many firsts for the World Championships.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Street Sense, winner of the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), worked a sharp five furlongs over his home track at Churchill Downs while Curlin got five furlongs in 1:01.20 at Keeneland. Both are training for the Breeders' Cup Classic - Powered by Dodge (gr. I).
Monday, October 15, 2007
At a program hosted by the University of Kentucky Horse Racing Club in Lexington, five prominent trainers gave attendees a glimpse of what life was like while walking in their shoes. Called "Inside Horse Racing: the Trainer's Point of View," the Oct. 8 event featured a question-and-answer session as well as a silent auction to benefit the Maker's Mark Secretariat Center.
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
James Tafel's Street Sense, winner of this year's Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), tuned up for a run in the Sept. 29 Kentucky Cup Classic (gr. II) at Turfway Park with a five furlong work Sept. 25 at Churchill Downs.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
James Tafel's Street Sense, winner of this year's Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), turned in a solid five-furlong work at Churchill Downs Sept. 11 in his first major training move since a victory in the $1 million Travers Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga Aug. 25.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
The Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame will honor several influential industry figures in the Lone Star State at its annual Gala Oct. 13.
Thursday, September 06, 2007
The Travers blanket - red and white carnations, white "T" in the middle - hangs in front of Street Sense's stall at the barn of Carl Nafzger and Ian Wilkes. The bright colors are still vibrant, and Nafzger is still savoring the victory this morning
Monday, August 27, 2007
Carl Nafzger says he does not worry about the competition going into a race, because you can only train one horse, and that's your horse. Were he concerned about a specific runner for Street Sense to beat in Saturday's running of the Travers (gr. I), however, it would be the Phipps Stable's Sightseeing, who is coming into the Aug. 25 race in what trainer Shug McGaughey terms the "best mental condition" this year.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
D. Wayne Lukas pauses from his morning duties to give his view on the Travers. The well-spoken Hall of Fame trainer has, as always, an insightful opinion on the race.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Street Sense, winner of this year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), will start from post position number four in Saturday's running of the $1 million Travers Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Street Sense, winner of the May 5 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and the July 29 Jim Dandy (gr. II), was back on the main track at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 15 at 7:30 a.m. for another workout.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
With the recent trend toward installing synthetic surfaces at racetracks and training centers around the country, Skylight Training Center, located near Louisville, Ky., is the first North American facility to install Pro-Ride Racing, a non-wax-based synthetic surface.
Thursday, August 09, 2007
Street Sense made his return to racing a successful one Sunday with a facile victory at short odds in the $500,000 Jim Dandy (gr. II) at Saratoga.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Perch on a picnic table near a small barn in Clare Court and take a long look at this year's Kentucky Derby winner...
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Street Sense, winner of this year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Barnds (gr. I), worked four fulongs in :51.59 July 26 at Saratoga Race Course.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
James Tafel's Street Sense, winner of the 2007 Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), continued to train toward his summer and fall campaign with a five furlong workout July 13 at Churchill Downs.
Friday, July 13, 2007
The second season for 3-year-olds began on July 4, with the emphatic victory by Any Given Saturday in the Dwyer Stakes (gr. II), and judging from the works turned in by Curlin and Hard Spun on Monday, as well as Street Sense's work on Sunday, the heavy hitters from the Triple Crown are all primed and ready for their respective returns.
Monday, July 09, 2007
The winners of this spring's memorable first two Triple Crown races were in action at Churchill Downs July 1 as Street Sense, winner of the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), and Curlin, who edged the Derby winner to take a memorable renewal of the Preakness Stakes (gr. I), each worked five furlongs under the historic Twin Spires.
Monday, July 02, 2007
Derby winning jockey Calvin Borel and trainer Carl Nafzger are among the celebrity bartenders who will take part in a fundraising event supporting the Backside Learning Center and the Race for Education to be held at the Kentucky Derby Museum next to Churchill Downs following the running of the Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) Saturday.
Friday, June 15, 2007
Jockey Calvin Borel and trainer Carl Nafzger, who teamed to win the 133rd running of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) with champion Street Sense, will participate in a charity autograph session benefiting the Permanently Disabled Jockeys' Fund at Churchill Downs on Saturday.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
By Ray Paulick - What fans got this year were three incredible horse races that ended with three very accomplished and deserving winners, punctuated by the history-making performance of Rags to Riches, the first filly winner of the Belmont since Tanya in 1905.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
The Equine Wellness Foundation will present a post-race "Happy Hour" following the June 16 Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) in support of the Klein Family Learning Center and The Race for Education, the Kentucky Derby Museum announced June 7.
Thursday, June 07, 2007
By Clay S. Robinson - What the breed needs is a series of big money stakes on dirt over a longer distance of ground.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Lady Joanne is headed toward the $250,000 Mother Goose (gr. I) at Belmont Park June 30 following her impressive victory on Saturday in the $150,000-added Dogwood Breeders' Cup (gr. III) at Churchill Downs.
Sunday, June 03, 2007
With the racing world still rocking from the bombshell dropped by Carl Nafzger Thursday morning, all thoughts immediately turned to the two big horses who will remain on their Triple Crown journey and the two trainers who elected to see it through to its conclusion.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
The streets of New York will be a little less crowded next weekend because Street Sense will not be running in the June 9 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) but instead will be pointed toward the Travers (gr. I) at Saratoga and a fall campaign. The announcement was made by trainer Carl Nafzger at a press conference Thursday morning.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Street Sense, winner of the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), worked a half-mile May 30 at Churchill Downs as his owner, Jim Tafel, and trainer, Carl Nafzger, consider a possible start in the June 9 Belmont Stakes (gr. I), the final jewel of racing's Triple Crown.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Thoroughbred racing is a sport of contrasting emotions, ranging from euphoria to despair and laced with a heavy dose of what might have beens. It often takes a special horse to bring all those emotions to the surface, and after watching the 132nd Preakness Stakes (gr. I), there is no doubt that Curlin is that kind of horse.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
The autograph hounds were on the prowl Thursday morning at Pimlico, with Kentucky Derby winning trainer Carl Nafzger signing an oversized print of Street Sense to benefit a Pennsylvania charity.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Trainer Carl Nafzger will be the featured guest on a special Preakness Stakes edition of HRTV's "Across The Board" show May 17.
Monday, May 14, 2007
Steve Asmussen trainee Curlin, who finished third in the May 5 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), tuned up for Saturday's 132nd running of the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) with an easy half-mile work on Monday at Churchill Downs.
Monday, May 14, 2007
The 133rd Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) was about a king, a queen, and a bunch of country boys. It was about a near-record crowd that erupted in celebration for its transplanted hometown heroes -- Street Sense, Carl Nafzger, and Calvin Borel. And it was about the end of a 23-year-old jinx. But most importantly, it was about class.
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
By Dan Liebman - More than anything else, this year's Run for the Roses is about relationships...and myths.
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Although trainer Doug O'Neill has played a significant role in some of racing's biggest days, on May 5 he will experience saddling a Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) contender for the first time. After the defection of his trainee Cobalt Blue, O'Neill will be saddling two horses in the Derby, Great Hunter and Liquidity
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
By Ray Paulick - For some, just getting a horse to Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May is the realization of a dream. For others who've been there before, it's about winning -- pure and simple.
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas holds court for an assembling of media in front of his spotless barn. He's the only trainer without a Derby horse who can still provoke a good half-hour worth of questioning.
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
There was one disappointing aspect of Tuesday morning's brief activity at Churchill Downs. With 11 days still left until the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), it would come as a major surprise - no, make that a shock - if any horse turns in a more impressive workout than Street Sense's five-furlong masterpiece.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Street Sense drew post four for Saturday's Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) at Keeneland. James Tafel's homebred champion was also made the 4-5 morning line favorite for the nine-furlong race. Great Hunter, the 9-5 second choice, will break from the outside seven post.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
James B. Tafel's 2006 juvenile champion Street Sense returned to action in gutsy style Saturday when he defeated 7-10 favorite Any Given Saturday by a nose in a tremendous finish to the Tampa Bay Derby (gr. III).
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Turning for home in the Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I), Street Sense seemed to materialize on the lead from out of nowhere with a move so explosive, even the normally eagle-eyed race caller Trevor Denman missed it.
Monday, January 22, 2007
