BloodHorse.com | Horse Racing News

CHRB to Begin Race Date Considerations

The California Horse Racing Board takes a first look at a race dates calendar that doesn't include Betfair Hollywood Park next year when it convenes in Sacramento May 23.

Open Water Rushes Late for Everett Surprise

With a surge through the stretch under Joe Talamo, 9-1 shot Open Water upset the field in the $150,000 Marjorie L. Everett Handicap (gr. II) for her first stakes victory May 18 at Betfair Hollywood Park.

And They're Off: Preakness Edition 2013

Steve Haskin and Lenny Shulman recap race impressions left by Orb and other Kentucky Derby contenders, races that have produced Derby winners, Hollywood Park, and of course Preakness picks!

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Bejarano Rolls to 3,000th North American Win

Jockey Rafael Bejarano earned the 3,000th North American victory of his career when 1-2 favorite Ondine rolled to an easy victory in the first race May 11 at Betfair Hollywood Park.

Charlie Em Makes Early Move to Steal Senorita

Charlie Em made a brilliant United States debut when she held off 3-5 favorite Scarlet Strike by a head in the $100,500 Senorita Stakes (gr. IIIT) on the turf at Betfair Hollywood Park May 11.

Hollywood Park to Close in December

Betfair Hollywood Park, in a May 9 letter, said it told the California Horse Racing Board it won't seek 2014 racing dates and will close at the end of its fall meet Dec. 22.

Hollendorfer Spots Scarlet Strike in Senorita

Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer looks to resume his torrid start to the Hollywood Park meet when he sends out Providencia Stakes (gr. IIIT) winner Scarlet Strike in the $100,000 Senorita Stakes (gr. IIIT) on the grass May 11.

Liaison Makes Winning Move in Mervyn LeRoy

Liaison disposed of favored Blueskiesnrainbows coming off the far turn and lengthened stride impressively through the stretch to take the Mervyn Leroy Handicap (gr. II) handily May 4 at Betfair Hollywood Park.

Balanced Field Meets Liaison in Mervyn LeRoy

Liaison returns to the scene of the biggest victory of his career when he battles six other well-matched older horses at Betfair Hollywood Park in the $150,000 Mervyn LeRoy Handicap (gr. II) May 4.

TVG to Offer Derby, Oaks Programming

TVG's coverage of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) begins May 1 with the one-hour "Kentucky Derby Profile Show" that profiles each entrant in the May 4 race.

Firm Turf Helps Halo Dolly Find Winning Form

Halo Dolly returned to winning form when teamed with Rafael Bejarano for the first time April 28, scoring a 1 1/2-length victory in the $100,000 Wilshire Handicap (gr. IIIT) on firm turf at Betfair Hollywood Park.

On Derby Cusp, 'Minister Heads for Snow Chief

On the bubble for a possible start in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), Tiz a Minister has been entered in the $300,000 Snow Chief Stakes, the featured event for California-breds April 27 at Hollywood Park.

TVG Provides Live Coverage of Hollywood Meet

TVG will present live, on-site coverage of the Betfair Hollywood Park 2013 spring/summer meet beginning April 25.

Hollywood Park Kicks Off 75th Season April 25

Betfair Hollywood Park opens for its 75th, and perhaps final, season April 25 with an eight-race card headlined by the $70,000 Harry Henson Stakes.

Expanded Roles Seen for Santa Anita, Del Mar

With Fairplex Park announcing it is pulling back on expanding its racetrack, Santa Anita Park and Del Mar are likely to host the 2014 Southern California racing circuit should Betfair Hollywood Park shut down.

Baffert: 'Deaths are Personally Troubling'

Trainer Bob Baffet said his team is working with the state of California to find the causes behind sudden deaths in his barn.

CHRB Renews Racing Injury Prevention Program

The California Horse Racing Board April 11 approved an allocation of $2.85 million over the next three years for continuation of its racing injury prevention program with the University of California-Davis.

Hear the Ghost Injured, to Miss Triple Crown

Hear the Ghost, one of the favorites for the upcoming $750,000 Santa Anita Derby (gr. I), is off the Triple Crown trail after he was detected to be slightly lame during a morning jog April 4 at Betfair Hollywood Park.

Trainer Shirreffs to Try East Coast String

Trainer John Shirreffs will leave the West Coast to run a string at Belmont Park at the end of April, according to a March 20 report from the Los Angeles Times.

Hear the Ghost Posts Santa Anita Derby Drill

San Felipe Stakes (gr. II) winner Hear the Ghost worked six furlongs March 24 at Betfair Hollywood Park as he approaches his next start for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer in the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I).

California Trainers Discuss Hollywood Options

California Thoroughbred Trainers officials met with members March 21 to update them on industry discussions for an alternative to Betfair Hollywood Park when it eventually closes for expected development.

Hollywood Takeout Will Remain 14% in Pick 5

Betfair Hollywood Park will continue to offer the Players' Pick 5 at the reduced takeout rate of 14% when the spring/summer meet begins April 25.

CTT Pushing for Consideration of Fairplex

The president of the California Thoroughbred Trainers wants a more transparent process for selecting the track that will eventually succeed Betfair Hollywood Park and is calling for renewed consideration of Fairplex Park.

Flashback Posts Bullet Move for San Felipe

Flashback moved a step closer to his much-anticipated showdown with Goldencents in the upcoming San Felipe Stakes (gr. II) with a five-furlong workout March 3 in a bullet 59 seconds flat under regular rider Julien Leparoux.

Hollywood Announces Spring Stakes Schedule

The 74th running of the $500,000 Hollywood Gold Cup and the $350,000 American Oaks (both gr. I) headline a stakes schedule worth more than $6.8 million for the 2013 spring/summer meet at Betfair Hollywood Park.

Fairplex Out for Now as Hollywood Alternative

Fairplex Park, one of two locations under consideration as a replacement for Betfair Hollywood Park, is out of the running for now, says the president and chief executive officer of the Los Angeles County Fair facility.

Takeout Changes Need Examining, Liebau Says

Betfair Hollywood Park president Jack Liebau told the California Horse Racing Board Jan. 17 that it's time to revisit racing's business model with regard to pari-mutuel takeout.

Hollywood Park Commits to Fall Racing Dates

Ending much speculation about its immediate future, Betfair Hollywood Park will operate its annual fall meet in 2013, track president Jack Liebau said in an appearance before the California Horse Racing Board Jan. 17.

Hollywood Park Decision Due on 2013 Fall Meet

Betfair Hollywood Park is expected to announce whether it will conduct its fall meet later this year or shut down in preparation for development of the Inglewood property at the Jan. 17 California Horse Racing Board meeting.

Hollywood Park Handle, Field Size Show Gains

Betfair Hollywood Park showed appreciable gains in all sources handle and field size during the 2012 autumn meet.

Jimmy Creed Gives Mandella 5th Malibu Win

Jimmy Creed, a disappointment in last month's Xpressbet Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I), rebounded with an emphatic victory in the $301,000 Malibu Stakes (gr. I) on opening day of the winter meet at Santa Anita Park Dec. 26.

ADW Fuels Handle Increase at Hollywood Park

Advance deposit wagering increase fueled a healthy increase in business during the brief 2012 Autumn meet at Betfair Hollywood Park, which concluded its 24-day live racing season Dec. 16.

Weewinnin Posts 60-1 King Glorious Whopper

Weewinnin registered a 60-1 shocker in the inaugural running of the $200,000 King Glorious Stakes on closing day of the 2012 autumn meet at Betfair Hollywood Park Dec. 16.

Eblouissante Avoided Serious Injury in Mishap

Zenyatta's half sister Eblouissante, scratched from an allowance race Dec. 15 at Betfair Hollywood Park after banging herself in the receiving barn, apparently avoided serious injury.

Unbeaten Violence Wins CashCall Futurity

Favored Violence remained unbeaten in three starts when he ran down front-running Fury Kapcori for victory in the $750,000 CashCall Futurity (gr. I), the final graded stakes of the autumn meet at Hollywood Park Dec. 15.

Grandeur Handles Turf Cup Distance

Favored Grandeur earned his second grade II win from three United States starts when he came from off the pace to capture the $250,000 Hollywood Turf Cup by three-quarters of a length at Betfair Hollywood Park Dec. 15.

Eblouissante Scratched With Superficial Cut

The much-anticipated second start for Zenyatta's half sister, Eblouissante, will have to wait. The 3-year-old filly banged her hip and was a late scratch from the fourth race at Betfair Hollywood Park Dec. 15

11 Juveniles Set in Closing Day King Glorious

Eleven 2-year-olds are set for the inaugural running of the $200,000 King Glorious Stakes Dec. 16, the featured event on the final day of the 2012 Betfair Hollywood Park autumn meet.

Contentious CashCall Futurity Set Saturday

He's Had Enough, who missed by a head winning the Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) last month, and Nashua Stakes (gr. II) victor Violence face a quartet from the Bob Baffert barn in the CashCall Futurity (gr. I).

Grandeur Tries Elders in Hollywood Turf Cup

Runner-up as the favorite in the Hollywood Derby (gr. IT), Grandeur will try to become the first 3-year-old since Bien Bien in 1992 to win the Hollywood Turf Cup (gr. IIT) Dec. 15 at Betfair Hollywood Park.

Eblouissante to Make Next Start at Hollywood

A smashing winner in her much anticipated debut last month, Eblouissante, a half sister to 2010 Horse of the Year Zenyatta, will make her second start Dec. 15 at Betfair Hollywood Park.

Doinghardtimeagain Solves Soviet Problem

A fast pace worked perfectly for Doinghardtimeagain, who swept past the leaders to register a 2 1/4-length victory in the inaugural running of the $196,000 Soviet Problem Stakes at Betfair Hollywood Park Dec. 9.

Baffert Quartet Likely for CashCall Futurity

Trainer Bob Baffert, long a major player in the CashCall Futurity (gr. I), formerly the Hollywood Futurity, expects to have four entrants in the Dec. 15 renewal.

McPeek's Pure Fun Toys With Starlet Rivals

Pure Fun, the lone shipper in this year's grade I Hollywood Starlet Stakes, turned in an electric performance in rallying from last at the quarter pole to win by one length Dec. 8 at Betfair Hollywood Park.

Lady of Fifty Shows Her Ability in Bayakoa

Lady of Fifty charged down the outside to sweep past the leaders in the stretch, registering her first graded stakes win in the $200,000 Bayakoa Handicap (gr. II) Dec. 8 at Betfair Hollywood Park.

Unbeaten Home Journey Heads Soviet Problem

Home Journey, who has won her first two starts by a combined margin of nearly 10 lengths, will try to stay perfect in the $200,000 Soviet Problem Stakes Dec. 9 at Betfair Hollywood Park.

Class Included Gets Some Relief in Bayakoa

Class Included, overmatched when seventh at 38-1 in the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic last month, should get some class relief in the $200,000 Bayakoa Handicap Presented by Oak Tree Racing Association (gr. II) Dec. 8.

Executiveprivilege Can Make Case for Eclipse

With a victory in the $500,000 Hollywood Starlet Stakes (gr. I) Dec. 8 at Betfair Hollywood Park, Executiveprivilege could set off quite a debate for the Eclipse Award in the juvenile filly division.

Smiling Tiger Roars Back in Underwood

Favored Smiling Tiger, back on his home track at Betfair Hollywood Park, posted his first win of the year in the $100,000 Vernon O. Underwood Stakes (gr. III) Dec. 2.

Executiveprivilege to Run in Starlet Dec. 8

Executiveprivilege, beaten favorite for the Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) one month ago, runs next in the $500,000 Starlet Stakes (gr. I) Dec. 8.