The Illinois Racing Board Sept. 27 rejected a 2011 racing dates proposal that would have eliminated the spring meet at Hawthorne Race Course, including the grade III Illinois Derby.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
OK, Uncle Mo lost the Wood Memorial; time to move on.
A huge weekend of racing like this, which includes three Derby preps and opening weekend of Keeneland, needs little introduction. Let's get right to it.
A review of the Florida Derby, the Dream Big Moment with Robert LaPenta, owner of Dialed In, and a look at the three preps for the weekend: Wood Memorial, Illinois Derby, and Santa Anita Derby.
Horse Racing Radio Network will broadcast live from Santa Anita Park on Saturday, April 9, with exclusive radio coverage of the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I).
Thursday, April 07, 2011
A little more than three weeks ago Watch Me Go was dismissed at odds of 47-1 in the Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II). Now, the son of West Acre is the horse to beat in the $300,000 TVG Illinois Derby (gr. III).
Wednesday, April 06, 2011
The partnership between Hawthorne Race Course and TVG for the Illinois Derby (gr. III) has allowed for the purse for the race to be increased from $250,000 to $300,000.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
The site of old Sportsman's Park in Illinois will complete a kind of weird full circle with plans to build a new headquarters for Wirtz Beverage Illinois on the suburban Chicago acreage.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Churchill Downs' official list of Kentucky Derby contenders by graded stakes earnings as of April 5.
Monday, April 05, 2010
Let's concentrate on the obvious: Sidney's Candy, Eskendereya were impressive; WinStar Farm could have as many as five starters.
Monday, April 05, 2010
American Lion ran the race his connections have been waiting for all season April 3, taking the field in the $500,000 Illinois Derby (gr. III) all the way around to score by 2 3/4 lengths.
Saturday, April 03, 2010Any horse moving on to the Kentucky Derby from the Grade I Wood Memorial will be deprived of competing against a large field on Saturday. Aside from that, this could turn into a rider's race and odd things could happen.
Thursday, April 01, 2010
Jason, Tom, and Les Instone of twinspires.com preview the Wood Memorial (gr. I), the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I), and the Illinois Derby (gr. III).
Backtalk has already amassed more than $170,000 in graded earnings, which is likely already enough to secure him a slot in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) starting gate.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Owner Vic Carlson leaned against the wall of Barn 41 April 29 at Churchill Downs waiting for his Musket Man to head to the track for his morning gallop. The one-time high school athletic director turned money-machine magnate has been to the Kentucky Derby before, but not with some skin in the game.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Illinois Derby (gr. II) winner Musket Man continued his progress toward the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) with a six-furlong workout in 1:14 4/5 at Churchill Downs April 25.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
The Virginia H. Tarra Trust's Giant Oak, runner-up in the Kentucky Jockey Club (gr. II) at Churchill Downs and the recent Illinois Derby (gr. II), is out of consideration for the May 2 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
Monday, April 20, 2009
HRTV's weekly series analyzing the pursuit of the Triple Crown. This week's edition includes previews of the Arkansas Derby and Blues Grass Stakes, and recaps of the Wood Memorial, Santa Anita Derby, and Illinois Derby.
Friday, April 10, 2009
It's not quite the Sunshine Millions, but this year's Kentucky Derby (gr. I) is looking like a regional battle between California- and Florida-based horses, who at this point appear on their way to occupying the top four favorite roles in the Run for the Roses.
Monday, April 06, 2009
Musket Man took over at the top of the lane and cruised to an impressive two-length victory in the $500,000 Illinois Derby (gr. II) April 4 at Hawthorne Park. It was the second straight graded stakes victory for the son of Yonaguska, who also took the Tampa Bay Derby (gr. III) last month.
Saturday, April 04, 2009
Featuring previews of the Santa Anita Derby (including words from Bob Baffert and Julio Canani), Wood Memorial, and Illinois Derby, and recaps of the Florida Derby and the UAE Derby. Plus, updates on Charitable Man and Dunkirk.
Friday, April 03, 2009Early pace often makes the race in the grade II Illinois Derby, and this Saturday may not be much different than usual.
Friday, April 03, 2009Triple Crown Talk blog, with host Jason Shandler, analyzes the Wood Memorial, and the Santa Anita and Illinois Derbies. Plus, join Jason and Dick Downey from the TheDowneyProfile.com for a live chat at noon Eastern on April 4.
Thursday, April 02, 2009
Tampa Bay Derby (gr. III) winner Musket Man and Illinois-bred Giant Oak lead a wide-open field of 11 in the 52nd edition of the $500,000 Illinois Derby (gr. II) April 4 at Hawthorne Race Course
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Hawthorne Race Course in Illinois registered gains in average daily total handle for its 2008-09 fall/winter meet thanks to increases in out-of-state wagering. On-track and in-state handle on Hawthorne races declined, however.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009The Illinois Racing Board Dec. 10 released its 2009 stakes schedule.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Recapturetheglory, a solid fifth in a 20-horse field in this year's Kentucky Derby (gr. I), seems well-placed for a return to his winning ways in the $750,000 West Virginia Derby (gr. III) for 3-year-olds at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort Aug. 2.
Friday, August 01, 2008
As trainer Louie Roussel III feeds his 3-year-old bay colt a mint to keep him quiet during a morning bath in the week leading up to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), it isn't so hard to imagine it is Risen Star being rinsed down, not the appropriately named Recapturetheglory.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Illinois Derby (gr. II) winner Recapturetheglory, a potential contender for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), worked five furlongs at Churchill Downs April 17.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Prepping for a run in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), Zayat Stables' Z Humor worked four furlongs in :47.50 at Churchill Downs April 17.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Well, we're down to our final two major preps, the Toyota Blue Grass (gr. I) and Arkansas Derby (gr. II), with the Coolmore Lexington (gr. II) and Holy Bull (gr. III) thrown in for good measure. The question right now is: what did we learn from last Saturday's preps?
Monday, April 07, 2008
Recapturetheglory, thought to be nothing more than a pacesetter, jumped to the early lead and never gave it up, powering home to a commanding four-length victory in the $500,000 Illinois Derby (gr. II) April 5 at Hawthorne Race Course.
Saturday, April 05, 2008
HRTV's originally produced weekly show on top Derby prospects and the road to the Triple Crown. This week's episode includes an update on the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, a recap of the Florida Derby, an interview with Eoin Harty, trainer of Colonel John; and previews of the Wood Memorial, Illinois Derby, and Santa Anita Derby.
Friday, April 04, 2008
NBC will present live coverage of a pair of grade I preps for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) when it airs the Santa Anita Derby and Wood Memorial live Saturday, April 5, from 5-6 p.m. ET.
Thursday, April 03, 2008In the Grade II Illinois Derby, Denis of Cork won't get the dream trip he had in the Grade III Southwest Stakes. And his plans have been changed twice since that race. So will he come through in Chicago on Saturday?
Thursday, April 03, 2008
William K. Warren's Denis of Cork will put his undefeated record on the line and try to remain near the top of a small list of Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) favorites April 5 when he takes on six rivals in the $500,000 Illinois Derby (gr. II) at Hawthorne Race Course.
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
With the final Derby preps approaching, there is no more room for error. It's time to earn your way into the Run for the Roses or pack up and go home. The three graded stakes this weekend, the grade I Santa Anita Derby and Wood Memorial and grade II Illinois Derby, offer intriguing plot lines that will make or break aspiring Derby hopefuls.
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Denis of Cork was installed as the 2-1 morning-line favorite in a field of seven in the $500,000 Illinois Derby (gr. II) April 5 at Hawthorne Race Course.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Complications with travel arrangements could keep the undefeated Denis of Cork from coming to New York for the $750,000 Wood Memorial (gr.I) at Aqueduct April 5. Denis of Cork's trainer, David Carroll, said the other option for the winner of the Southwest Stakes (gr.III) is the $500,000 Illinois Derby (gr.II) at Hawthorne Race Course April 5.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Entries for the $500,000 Illinois Derby (gr. II) won't be drawn until March 31, but from the looks of the nominations, the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) prep is shaping into a deep and competitive field with many of the nation's top trainers and horses participating.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Trainer Michael Matz said that Gotham winner Visionaire appears to have come out of his March 8 Gotham Stakes (gr. III) victory in good shape, and will ship back to Palm Meadows in Florida March 11.
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Handle rose by more than 7% during Hawthorne Park's new January racing schedule, and the Chicago-area racetrack is hoping that the upswing will continue when doors open March 7 for the start of its spring meet.
Friday, February 29, 2008
After final approval from the Illinois Racing Board Dec. 13, Hawthorne Race Course announced the 2008 stakes schedule for its spring and fall meets.
Thursday, December 13, 2007In a year filled with synthetic surface preps and extended layoffs between races, most of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) contenders are looking to break some kind of trend.
Wednesday, May 02, 2007We had a little bit of everything this week, with Nobiz Like Shobiz back to his winning ways; the deja vu-like return of Team Giacomo; and some shifts in the Todd Pletcher power structure. So, with links to Funny Cide and Giacomo providing a sense of recent history, the Kentucky Derby trail heads into its final big weekend of preps.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007WinStar Farm's Cowtown Cat had the benefit of the front end on the speed-favoring Hawthorne Race Course main track and the Todd Pletcher trainee took full advantage, drawing off in the final furlong for a 2 1/4-length triumph in the $500,000 Illinois Derby (gr. II) Saturday.
Saturday, April 07, 2007Looking to punch their tickets to Louisville for next month's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), a field of nine 3-year-olds will meet in Saturday's 50th running of the Illinois Derby (gr. II) at Hawthorne Race Course.
Thursday, April 05, 2007Kenny McPeek has made a last-minute change and has decided to run Birdbirdistheword in Saturday's Florida Derby (gr. I), instead of the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I), while Bold Start, who has been slated to run at Gulfstream, will now point for the April 7 Illinois Derby (gr. II).
Tuesday, March 27, 2007Hawthorne Race Course has announced stakes schedules for both of its 2007 Thoroughbred meets. The spring season at Hawthorne kicks off Feb. 23, and $1.6 million in stakes purses will be offered. The fall campaign commences Sept. 17, and $1.8 million in stakes purses will be offered.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007The Kentucky Derby favorite has arrived in all his glory. At around 11:30 Thursday morning, Brother Derek stepped off the Tex Sutton chartered plane and onto a one-horse van, which delivered him safe and sound to his new home at Churchill Downs.
Thursday, April 27, 2006
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