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'Summer Festival' Set for Tampa Bay Downs

Tampa Bay Downs is moving ahead with a two-day meet it calls the Summer Festival of Racing.

Brennan on Orb: 'He Always Moved Forward'

To Brennan, success is a result of teamwork and talent. Along with wife, Stephanie, Niall operates Niall Brennan Stables in Ocala, Fl. where Kentucky Derby winner Orb received his initial training as a young colt.

Simulcasting Returns to Miami's Hialeah Park

Hialeah Park Casino announced May 14 the return of full card simulcasting on Preakness Day, May 18, and every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday thereafter.

Calder, Horsemen Strike Temporary Agreement

Calder Casino & Race Course and the Florida Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association May 9 reached an agreement that extends their purse contract through the end of the month.

Judge Rules Barrel Racing in Violation of Law

An administrative law judge in Florida ruled May 6 the state can't allow pari-mutuel barrel racing under current law.

Florida Simulcast of Oaks, Derby Seems Safe

Though Calder Casino & Race Course can't export its signal outside of Florida, the Florida HBPA indicated it doesn't expect other horsemen's groups to immediately pull their consent for signals to be sent to Calder.

Florida HBPA Blocks Export of Calder Signal

The Florida Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association said it revoked simulcast approval for Calder Casino & Race Course April 30 when the two parties failed to agree on a purse contract.

Rumor That Stronach is Buying Calder Denied

Gulfstream Park officials said April 25 that there is no truth to rumors that its parent The Stronach Group has reached an agreement to buy Calder Casino & Race Course from its parent Churchill Downs Inc.

OBS Juvenile Sale Continues to Show Strength

Considering the record results posted during the opening session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s spring sale of 2-year-olds in training, an encore on day two of the four-day auction might have seemed like a lot to ask.

Little Mike Takes Three FL Championships

The son of Spanish Steps is Florida's horse of the year, older horse and turf male champion.

Numbers Soar at OBS Spring Juvenile Sale

Ocala Breeders' Sales Company officials could not have scripted a better start to the OBS spring sale of 2-year-olds in training in Ocala, Fla., on Monday, April 22. Bidding proved fast and furious, fueling large gains.

Itsmyluckyday Breezes a Mile at Calder

Itsmyluckyday breezed a mile in 1:43 1/5 April 18 at Calder Casino & Race Course in his next to last work before shipping to Kentucky for the May 4 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).

OBS Juvenile Sale Under Tack Show Continues

Three fillies worked a furlong in :9 4/5, the fastest works at the distance at the second session of the Under Tack Show for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's 2013 Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training.

Under Tack Show Starts for OBS Juvenile Sale

A City Zip filly consigned by Old South Farm, agent, went an eighth of a mile in :9 3/5 to post the fastest work at the distance at the under tack show for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. 2013 spring sale.

Virginia Kraft Payson Podcast

Owner/breeder Virginia Kraft Payson has put her renowned Payson Park Training Center on the market.

Top Florida Stallion Montbrook Pensioned

Florida stallion Montbrook has been pensioned from stud duty and will remain at J. Michael O'Farrell's Ocala Stud in Florida, where he was foaled.

Speak Logistics Tops Calder Derby

Hardway Stables' Speak Logistics, third behind subsequent Besilu Stables Florida Derby (gr. I) winner Orb in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II), heads a field of eight for the Calder Derby.

Gulfstream Park Awaiting Schedule Approval

Gulfstream Park's request to have racing on Mondays and Tuesdays for 12 weeks this spring is being studied by two Florida regulatory agencies.

Dreaming of Julia Devastates Gulfstream Oaks

Stonestreet Stables' homebred Dreaming of Julia left her connections dreaming of victory in the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) when she devastated the $300,000 Gulfstream Oaks (gr. II) March 30 at Gulfstream Park by 21 3/4 lengths.

Starformer Tops Orchid Line-Up

Juddmonte Farms' homebred Starformer seeks her second straight stakes score at Gulfstream Park March 30, going up against nine others in the $150,000 Orchid Stakes (gr. IIIT) on the undercard of the Florida Derby (gr. I).

Big Three Ready for Florida Derby Showdown

A field of 10 has been entered for the $1 million Besilu Stables Florida Derby (gr. I) March 30 at Gulfstream Park, although three horses are getting almost all of the attention: Itsmyluckyday, Shanghai Bobby, and Orb.

Bernardini Colt Tops F-T Sale at $1.6 Million

A bay colt by Bernardini became the new sale topper at the Fasig-Tipton Florida select sale of 2-year-olds in training when he was bought for $1.6 million by prominent New York owner Robert LaPenta.

OBS Spring Catalog Available Online

The catalog for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s 2013 spring sale of 2-year-olds in training is available on the OBS website at obssales.com.

Hot Prospects Adorn Fasig-Tipton Florida Sale

Prospective buyers in search of future stakes stars have diligently traversed the barn area of Palm Meadows Training Center in Boynton Beach, Fla., in recent days ahead of Fasig-Tipton's Florida sale on Monday, March 25.

Intriguing Group Lines Up for Pan American

Four runners from the Feb. 16 Mac Diarmida Stakes, headed by Resolute Group Stables' second-place finisher Teaks North, are among 10 entered to contest the $150,000 Pan American Stakes (gr. IIT) March 23 at Gulfstream Park.

Racing Artist Anthony M. Alonso Dies

Anthony M. Alonso, who painted racing scenes and portraits of Thoroughbreds and racing personalities, died March 15 after a lengthy battle with cancer.

Doyle Named to HallMarc Stallions Position

Declan Doyle has been named director of bloodstock services at HallMarc Stallions in Ocala, Fla.

Champion Big Drama Elected to Calder HOF

Eclipse Award-winning sprinter Big Drama, south Florida riding stalwart Eduardo Nunez, and top-five, all-time Calder trainer Dan Hurtak were among the nine new members elected to the Calder Hall of Fame.

OBS, Consignors Ready for 2-Year-Old Sale

The Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s juvenile sale season kicks off on Tuesday, March 12 with the first of two sessions of the March selected sale of 2-year-olds in training in Ocala, Fla.

Rosario to Ride Dynamic Sky in Tampa Derby

Trainer Mark Casse is looking for a big effort against the undefeated Verrazano.

Southeast Regional: Proud Transition

Bridlewood Farm retains its class in a changing role.

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Contessa Mulls Options After Rydilluc Cruises

Watching his Rydilluc dominate a group of 3-year-old turf runners in his stakes debut in the $150,000 Palm Beach (gr. IIIT) March 3 at Gulfstream Park, trainer Gary Contessa may have come to a conclusion.

Pletcher Works Discreet Dancer, 'Bobby

Trainer Todd Pletcher had a busy Sunday morning at Palm Meadows Training Center March 3 with more than a dozen stakes runners from his powerful stable hitting the work tab for upcoming stakes engagements.

Kitten's Point Takes Herecomesthebride

Kitten's Joy daughter and Augustin Stable homebred prevails in rough-run grade III at Gulfstream Park.

Three-Year Deal Sought for Claiming Crown

The Florida Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association is working with Gulfstream Park and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to secure a three-year contract for the Claiming Crown.

National HBPA to Breeders' Cup: Keep Salix

The National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association Medication Committee voted Feb. 23 to endorse the use of race-day furosemide, also called Salix or Lasix, at this year's Breeders' Cup World Championships.

Data Link Doesn't Disappoint in Canadian Turf

Data Link notched his second straight graded stakes victory in his 2013 debut when he got up late and prevailed by a length over Joes Blazing Aaron in the Feb. 23 Canadian Turf Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Gulfstream Park.

Live Lively Tops 'Julia in Davona Dale Theft

Live Lively got the jump on odds-on choice Dreaming of Julia in the $245,000 Davona Dale (gr. II) and never looked back while registering a front-running 1 1/2-length victory in her stakes debut Feb. 23 at Gulfstream Park.

Horsemen Warned of Federal Drug Legislation

Horsemen expect members of Congress to make another attempt at winning support for legislation that would regulate medication use in racehorses by banning all race-day administration.

TRF to Host Open House in Florida

The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation and the Florida Department of Corrections invite the public to attend an open house at the Lowell Correctional Institution's Second Chances Farm.

Mac Diarmida: Amira's Prince Has Perfect Run

Amira's Prince remained a perfect three-for-three in the U.S. Feb. 16, collecting his first graded-stakes win in the $150,000 Mac Diarmida (gr. IIT) at Gulfstream Park.

Starformer Continues to Shine in The Very One

Juddmonte Farms' homebred Starformer continued to shine in the $100,000 The Very One Stakes (gr. IIIT) Feb. 16, cruising to 3 1/4-length victory as much the best over seven other older fillies and mares at Gulfstream Park.

Mott Holds Hot Hand for GP Turf Stakes

Newsdad, Ioya Bigtime, and Twilight Eclipse will shake it up Feb. 16 in the $150,000 Mac Diarmida Stakes (gr. II) at Gulfstream Park, while Starformer and Closing Range tangle in the $100,000 Very One (gr. III).

OBS March Sale Catalogs 345 Select Juveniles

The catalog is available on online. The sale, to be held March 12-13, will be streamed live on BloodHorse.com.

Graydar Wins Grade I Donn in First Stakes Try

An audacious Graydar took it to his more accomplished foes and carried on Feb. 9 at Gulfstream Park, winning the $500,000 Donn Handicap (gr. I) wire-to-wire for Twin Creeks Racing Stable.

Fund Established for Injured Exercise Rider

The Tampa Bay Downs Division of the Race Track Chaplaincy of America has established a fund to assist exercise rider Erasmo Tranquilino, who was critically injured Jan. 18 at the Florida track.

Hemingway Joins Journeyman Stud

Brent and Crystal Fernung's Journeyman Stud in Ocala, Fla., has named Michelle Hemingway to the position of senior bloodstock associate.

Bahamian Squall Heads GP Sprint Championship

Donald Dizney's Bahamian Squall will go up against open company including Silverton Hill's Swagger Jack in the $150,000 Gulfstream Sprint Championship Stakes (gr. III) Feb. 9 at Gulfstream Park.

Animal Kingdom vs. Point of Entry in GP Turf

Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom will take on top turf contender Point of Entry in the $300,000 Kitten's Joy Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (gr. IT) on Feb. 9.

Discreet Dancer Returns a Winner

Discreet Dancer, whose most recent start resulted in a third-place finish in the Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II) nearly a year ago to the day, returned with a victory Feb. 6 at Gulfstream Park.