Trainer Hal Wiggins, who plans to retire at the end of November, is the recipient of the 2009 Warner L. Jones Jr. Horseman of the Year Award given by the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners.
6 days ago
Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas has entered Robert Baker and William Mack's highly-touted Dublin in the $100,000 Iroquois (gr. III) for juveniles at a mile on the main track. A field of 12 was drawn for the Churchill Downs fall meet opening day co-feature.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Hal Wiggins hit the apex of his training career this spring when he saddled Rachel Alexandra to her resounding victory in the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) May 1. He hopes the final month on the backside gets off to a rousing start Nov. 1 when he sends out Brassy Boy in the Iroquois (gr. III) for longtime client Millsap Stables.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Rachel Alexandra cemented herself as one of the best fillies of all-time in a race for the ages, as she set a suicidal pace and then was all out under Calvin Borel to hold off a bold charge from Macho Again to win the $750,000 Woodward Stakes (gr. I) by a head in electrifying fashion Sept. 5 at Saratoga.
Saturday, September 05, 2009
After training horses for more three decades and having his career peak this year with the success of the sensational filly Rachel Alexandra, Hal Wiggins will ride off into the sunset of retirement at the end of Churchill Downs' fall meet in November.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
It is unlikely that Hal Wiggins will find a horse like Rachel Alexandra any time soon, but he does have a promising young colt making his stakes debut in the $100,000 Bashford Manor (gr. III), a sprint for 2-year-olds July 3 at Churchill Downs.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Rachel Carson, author of "Silent Spring," wrote: "One way to open your eyes is to ask yourself, 'What if I had never seen this before? What if I knew I would never see it again'?"
Monday, May 18, 2009
One day after combining to win the BlackBerry Preakness Stakes (gr. I), trainer Steve Asmussen and jockey Calvin Borel were enthusiastic in their praise of the Rachel Alexandra.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
With all the rain recently in Kentucky, and with a minor business matter requiring him to be out of town over the weekend, Calvin Borel had an important project to finish before leaving town. The morning of May 15 he was mowing his grass.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Jess Jackson's Stonestreet Stables and Harold T. McCormick have purchased spectacular Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) winner Rachel Alexandra from Dolphus Morrison and Mike Lauffer.
Thursday, May 07, 2009
The best story of Kentucky Derby weekend was 7-year old Rachel Mattson and Kentucky Oaks winner Rachel Alexandra.
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Though her work was a bit fast for his taste, trainer Hal Wiggins was more than satisfied when his filly Rachel Alexandra made it back to the barn in good shape after zipping through a half-mile in :46 2/5 at Churchill Downs the morning of April 27.
Monday, April 27, 2009
L and M Partner's Rachel Alexandra, who figures to be the favorite for the May 1 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I), galloped a mile and a half under exercise rider Rudy Gallegos shortly before 7 a.m. April 25 at Churchill Downs.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
L and M Partners' Rachel Alexandra continued to show her readiness for the May 1 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) by galloping a mile and a half under stout restraint from exercise rider Rudy Gallegos at Churchill Downs April 22.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Trainer Hal Wiggins was looking for an easy work April 16 at Churchill Downs for L & M Racing's Rachel Alexandra, the likely favorite for the $500,000 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) at Churchill Downs May 1.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
David Lanzman and IEAH Stables' I Want Revenge, the possible favorite for the 135th running of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), turned in his first serious training move since his arrival at Churchill Downs when he worked an easy half-mile over a muddy track on April 14.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Rachel Alexandra, the probable $500,000 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) favorite who has dominated all three of her starts this season, will ship from Hot Springs, Ark. to Louisville, Ky. on April 8 to begin training at Churchill Downs, trainer Hal Wiggins said.
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
At the moment, trainer Hal Wiggins is resisting the temptation to seriously consider racing Rachel Alexandra against the boys. But, if the ultra-talented filly should put on another scintillating performance in the $400,000 Fair Grounds Oaks (gr. II) March 14, Higgins admits the plot would thicken.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
A field of only four or five opponents is shaping up to face Golden Rod (gr. II) winner Rachel Alexandra in the $400,000 Fair Grounds Oaks (gr. II), which is scheduled for March 14 at Fair Grounds.
Friday, March 06, 2009
Triple Crown Talk blog, with host Jason Shandler, interviews Hal Wiggins, trainer of Rachel Alexandra. Will it be the Derby or the Oaks for this talented filly?
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Rachel Alexandra exacted revenge on rival Sara Louise in winning the Golden Rod Stakes (gr. II) in gate-to-wire fashion Nov. 29 at Churchill Downs.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Closing from the rear of the field after the opening half-mile, Robert V. Hovelson's homebred Swingit proved a game winner when she bettered Luna Dorada by a head to win the $171,500 Edgewood for 3-year-old fillies on Friday at rainy Churchill Downs.
Friday, May 04, 2007
James Conway's Dash of Humor, winner of last month's Furl Sail Handicap, shares top weight of 118 pounds as the 3-1 morning line favorite in the $75,000 Truly Bound Handicap Saturday at Fair Grounds Race Course.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
James Conway's Dash of Humor, ridden patiently by Brian Hernandez Jr., captured the $75,000 Furl Sail Handicap for fillies and mares by a head Sunday in a tight three-way finish at Fair Grounds Race Course.
Sunday, December 31, 2006
The connections of Star Dabbler have filed a protest with the Indiana Horse Racing Commission centering around the 3-year-old colt's dead-heat victory in the $513,200 Indiana Derby (gr. II) Oct. 7. Owner Barry Schwartz and trainer Michael Hushion, who feel their entry hit the wire first, faxed the protest to the IHRC Oct. 9.
Thursday, October 12, 2006
The Louisiana State Racing Commission has disqualified Rapid Proof from his win in the March 19 Mervin Muniz Memorial Handicap (gr. IIT) at Fair Grounds as a result of a positive test for dexamethasone, according to the New Orleans
Times-Picayune.
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Rapid Proof brings the best form into Monday's $100,000-added Louisville Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Churchill Downs. But he must answer a major distance question if he is to defeat six rivals in the 1 3/8-mile event on the Matt Winn Turf Course.
Saturday, May 28, 2005
Rapid Proof unleashed a powerful kick in the stretch run to nip defending champion Warleigh by a head in the $216,000 John B. Connally Breeders' Cup Turf at Sam Houston Race Park Saturday night.
Sunday, April 10, 2005
A pair of old pros who own the last four wins in the Connally Breeders' Cup Turf Handicap will hook up to keep the crown Saturday at Sam Houston Race Park.
Thursday, April 07, 2005
Rapid Proof, dismissed at odds of 31-1, edged out A to the Z and America Alive in a three-horse photo to win the $500,00 Mervin H. Muniz Jr. Memorial Handicap (gr. IIT) on the Fair Grounds turf course. Local runners dominated the New Orleans track's signature turf event .
Sunday, March 20, 2005
Lotta Kim overcame a rough journey Sunday to notch her first career stakes victory, winning the $100,000 Tiffany Lass Stakes for 3-year-old fillies Sunday at Fair Grounds.
Sunday, January 25, 2004
Trainer Hal Wiggins holds a strong hand in Sunday's $100,000 Tiffany Lass at Fair Grounds, entering a pair of strong contenders in Lotta Kim and All Electric.
Friday, January 23, 2004
Trainer Hal Wiggins, who captured the Louisville Handicap (gr. IIIT) with three straight heart-pounding victories with Chorwon, starts Dolphis Morrison's Red Mountain against eight rivals Saturday in the $100,000-added fixture at Churchill Downs.
Thursday, May 29, 2003
Jake the Flake, Jack Murphy and Pam Slaughter's 6-year-old gelding set to go in Sunday's $150,000-added River City Handicap (gr. III) at Churchill Downs, suffered a career-threatening torn tendon.
Saturday, November 16, 2002
