BloodHorse.com | Horse Racing News

Trainer Gets First Win in Fourth Start

Dan Blacker got his brand new training career off to a quick start by capturing his first win in just his fourth start.

Hollywood Park Reports Handle Up 13.8%

The Southern California track also reported its average daily handle up 9.5% but complete figures are not yet available for the 26-day Autumn meet.

Trainer Bob Hess Jr. Records 1,000th Win

Trainer Bob Hess Jr. earned the 1,000th victory of his career when front-running So Tempted coasted to a 2 3/4-length victory in the first race at Hollywood Park Dec. 18.

THS: CashCall Futurity 2011

Jason Shandler, Tom LaMarra and Les Instone from TwinSpires.com handicap the CashCall Futurity at Hollywood Park.

watch video

Morning Line Moved to John Shirreffs Barn

Recovered from knee surgery this summer, grade I winner Morning Line has joined the John Shirreffs stable at Hollywood Park, according to the track's publicity office.

Italian Trainer Wins With First U.S. Starter

Italian trainer Francesco Santella scored with his first North American starter when Coal Region Kid captured the third race at Hollywood Park Dec. 1.

Vergara Not Seriously Injured After Spill

Daniel Vergara escaped serious injury after his mount broke down at Hollywood Park but Waltzing With Blue had to be euthanized following the race.

Comma to the Top Posts Bullet Work

Comma to the Top, who swept the Real Quiet and Generous Stakes (gr. IIIT) and the CashCall Futurity (gr. I) last fall signaled his readiness for a return to the races with a bullet five-furlong work in :59 Nov. 13.

Drysdale Duo Works for Hollywood Turf Cup

Multiple graded stakes winner Bourbon Bay and dual grade I victor Miss Match worked seven furlongs on the Hollywood Park turf course the morning of Nov. 13 in preparation for the Nov. 19 Hollywood Turf Cup (gr. IT).

Hollywood Overnight Purses Hiked About 25%

The fall/winter meet at Hollywood Park, which begins with an eight-race program Nov. 10, will see an increase of approximately 25% in overnight purses from the 2010 season.

Caracortado Posts Bullet Work at Santa Anita

Several horses posted their final workouts the weekend of Oct. 28-30 in preparation for the Nov. 5 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (gr. II).

CHRB Disciplines Racing Officials

CHRB disciplines five racing officials for incorrect finish order.

Blind Luck Works Four Furlongs at Hollywood

Blind Luck recorded her first work in more than three weeks Sept. 8 at Hollywood Park, clocking four furlongs in :47 2/5.

Majestic City Posts Bullet Work for Futurity

Unbeaten Majestic City, winner of the Hollywood Juvenile Championship Stakes (gr. III), worked five furlongs in a bullet :59 under jockey David Flores on Sept. 1 in preparation for the Sept. 7 Del Mar Futurity (gr. I).

Calif. Track Execs Ask For Lower Takout

The presidents of Santa Anita and Hollywood Park have asked the Thoroughbred Owners of California to reduce takout on Daily Double, exacta, quinella, and Pick 5 wagers.

Claiming Box Popular in Southern California

Claiming activity in Southern California surged at Hollywood Park this summer, a positive indicator for horse ownership as the popular summer meet at Del Mar completes its first week of the 2011 season.

Hollywood Betters Projections for Spring Meet

The just-concluded Hollywood Park 2011 spring/summer stand was off 2.4% in average total handle, according to Hollywood Park officials.

Baffert, Rosario Take Hollywood Meet Titles

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert won his first spring/summer meet title at Hollywood Park with 36 wins at the just-concluded stand.

Hollywood Park Re-accredited by Alliance

Hollywood Park in California has earned re-accreditation from the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Safety and Integrity Alliance.

Valenzuela Off Mounts July 9 at Hollywood

Jockey Patrick Valenzuela is off his mounts at Hollywood Park July 9 after being unseated in a race the night before. According to his agent, Tom Knust, the 48-year-old rider should return to action July 10.

Celtic Princess Takes Royal Heroine Mile

A two-time group I winner and Horse of the Year in her native Brazil, Celtic Princess finally notched her first stakes win in the United States in her sixth try, handily taking the Royal Heroine Mile (gr. IIT) July 4.

Apprentice Flores Gets First Win

Eswan Flores, already a winner on Quarter Horses, gets his first Thoroughbred victory July 4 over the Hollywood Park turf course. It was the Mexico native's first ride ever over a grass course.

Royal Heroine: Harmonious Back at Hollywood

Harmonious returns to her preferred turf course July 4 when she makes her first start in nearly five months in the $150,000 Royal Heroine Mile (gr. IIT) at Hollywood Park.

Hollywood to Remain Open for Training in July

The Cushion Track at Hollywood Park will remain open for training while the dirt surface at Santa Anita is being renovated in July, the track announced June 30.

BC Ownership Contest at Hollywood Gold Cup

Fans in attendance at Hollywood Park for the 72nd renewal of the $500,000 Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) July 9 will have a chance to become a virtual owner of the horse that wins the track's signature event.

TOC: Takeout Hike Unpopular But Necessary

Faced with criticism and a move to decertify it as the official horsemen's organization in California, the Thoroughbred Owners of California held a public forum at Hollywood Park June 25.

Winner's Circle - Better Late

It took more than 60 years for William Gregory to realize his boyhood dream of training Thoroughbreds.

read blog

CashCall, Starlet Nominations Are Up for 2011

The first round of nominations for both the CashCall Futurity (gr. I) and the Hollywood Starlet Stakes (gr. I) are up over last year, according to Martin Panza, Hollywood Park's racing secretary and vice president-racing.

Michael Baze Memorial Fund Established

The Michael Baze Memorial Fund has been established to defray the funeral expenses for the late jockey, according to a May 30 Hollywood Park press release.

Steiner, Leonard Reunite for Emotional Tally

Jockey Joe Steiner and trainer/owner Bob Leonard combined for long-awaited victory with 71-1 shot Slane Castle at Hollywood Park May 28.

Eclair de Lune Looking for Comeback in Gamely

Eclair de Lune is ready for a comeback. The German-bred daughter of Marchand de Sable boosted her resume considerably when she captured the 2010 Beverly D. Stakes at Arlington Park, but has been unable to score a win since.

Michael Baze Memorial Scheduled for June 2

A memorial for jockey Michael Baze will be held immediately after the races Thursday, June 2 at Hollywood Park.

Santa Anita Handle Down in All Categories

Whether gross or average figures are used, pari-mutuel handle for the Santa Anita Park winter/spring was down, according to information compiled from various sources.

Hollywood Park to Begin 54-Day Stand April 21

Hollywood Park will have live racing Thursday through Sunday for a majority of its 54-day Spring/Summer meet, which begins April 21.

TVG Coverage Returns to Three Major Tracks

TVG will be providing exclusive coverage from Woodbine, Keeneland, and Hollywood Park.

Actress Taylor Had Ties to Horse Racing

Iconic actress Elizabeth Taylor, who had a lifelong interest in horses and starred in the film "National Velvet," died March 23 at age 79.

Hollywood Hoping to Race Again in 2012

During a meeting with the California Horse Racing Board March 14, Hollywood Park made it clear that it wants to remain a part of the racing calendar at least through 2012.

Gold Cup Highlights Hollywood Meet

The 72nd running of the $500,000 Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) tops a stakes schedule worth more than $5.2 million during the 2011 spring/summer meet at Hollywood Park.

Meeting Focuses on California Racing Issues

Some 35-40 people involved with California racing met at Hollywood Park Feb. 22 to discuss ways in which to improve the state's industry.

Hollywood Attendance Stable, Handle Drops

Hollywood Park finished its 30th fall season on Dec. 19 with a slight decline in ontrack attendance and a 4.2% drop in all source wagering.

Comma to the Top Voted Horse of the Meet

Comma to the Top, who won three stakes on two surfaces, including the $750,000 CashCall Futurity (gr. I), was voted Horse of the Meet in the annual media poll as the autumn meet concluded Sunday.

Miller's Big Meet Ends With Exclamation Point

Comma to the Top's victory in the $750,000 CashCall Futurity (gr. I) at Hollywood Park Dec. 18 was not only the biggest win of Peter Miller's career, it also capped a remarkable meet for the 44-year-old trainer.

Heavy Rain Closes Hollywood Park Early

Heavy rain in Southern California forced Hollywood Park to cancel racing Dec. 19 prior to the third race, bringing the final day of the 2010 Autumn meet to an unexpected end.

Slideshow: Farewell, Zenyatta

Images from Zenyatta's Hollywood Park retirement celebration and Keeneland appearance.

View Slideshow

Trainer Bob Baffert Collects 2,000th Victory

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert collected the 2,000th win of his carer when the maiden Free Pourin held off Baffert stablemate Tokubetsu in the third race at Hollywood Park Dec. 5.

Hollywood Cuts Meet's Final Wednesday Cards

Hollywood Park will return to a four-day week with live racing Thursday through Sunday for the remaining two weeks of its Autumn meet, the track announced Dec. 2.

Zenyatta Ceremony Finalized

Zenyatta, before leaving for Kentucky and motherhood, will parade in the Hollywood Park paddock and on the racetrack in a ceremony Sun., Dec. 5.

Gypsy's Warning Rallies to Score Matriarch

After missing narrowly in her last two grade I attempts, Gypsy's Warning broke through by rallying to win the $250,000 Matriarch (gr. IT) Nov. 26 at Hollywood Park.

Nov. 24 Live Program at Golden Gate Canceled

Due to an insufficient number of entries, the live racing card scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 24, at Golden Gate Fields has been canceled, the track announced.

Zenyatta Appreciation Day at Hollywood Dec. 5

Before Zenyatta leaves for a new stage of her life as a broodmare at Lane's End Farm in Kentucky, Hollywood Park will stage an appreciation day for the brilliant mare Dec. 5.