Smarty Jones isn't John Servis' only starter this weekend. He will send out longshot Pilfer for Friday's Black-Eyed Susan. Bob Baffert's Yearly Report is favored in the nine-furlong race.
Tuesday, May 11, 2004"The Castle," a prominent structure on Versailles Road in Woodford County, Ky., suffered severe damage Monday night when a fire apparently started around 8 p.m.
Tuesday, May 11, 2004The Kentucky Horse Racing Authority has a myriad of mandates from Gov. Ernie Fletcher and from participants in the racing industry, but according to chairman Bill Street, its #1 issue is revenue.
Tuesday, May 04, 2004In David Moore's family, horse racing becomes a hobby at an early age. Moore was introduced to the sport by his grandfather, Charles (Crip) Moore, at age six. His 7-year-old daughter, Charlotte, is already a fan--she names his horses, including Kentucky Derby contender Pollard's Vision.
Thursday, April 29, 2004Phil Heard, who joined Hastings Park as general manager in April of 2000, resigned on Tuesday.
Wednesday, April 28, 2004The Race Track Chaplaincy of America (RTCA) announced its first nominees for the 2004 White Horse Award, which strives to honor unsung heroes at North American racetracks.
Wednesday, April 28, 2004Friday's Alysheba Stakes is open to 3-year-olds, but a sizable group of older horses will go to the gate for the 8 1/2-furlong event including Kodema, Spanish Empire, Perfect Drift, and Sarava.
Tuesday, April 27, 2004Grand Slam, whose oldest offspring just turned four this year, could have two sons entered in this year's Kentucky Derby (gr. I)--Limehouse and Master David. The more accomplished of the two, Limehouse, has four stakes victories to his credit, and quality connections on his side.
Thursday, April 15, 2004David Willmot shared his opinions on everything from slot machines to the relationship between purses and handle at Wednesday night's Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers' Club meeting.
Wednesday, April 14, 2004Smarty Jones, a Pennsylvania native and Arkansas' adopted son, was scheduled to relocate to Kentucky on Tuesday.
Tuesday, April 13, 2004At its recent meet that ended March 27, Delta Downs reported a 32% increase in handle over last year's results, with a total handle of more than $115 million.
Thursday, April 08, 2004Great Canadian Gaming Corporation, through one of its subsidiaries 686486 BC Ltd., has completed its purchase of Hastings Park in Vancouver, British Columbia, in a $20.1 million deal.
Thursday, April 08, 2004The defection of Congaree from Saturday's Commonwealth Breeders' Cup Stakes (gr. II) at Keeneland, opens the race up a bit wider for its six entrants. After all, Congaree, who was taken out of consideration after a bout of colic, is a multiple graded stakes winner whose victories include the Carter Handicap (gr. I).
Thursday, April 08, 2004The $250,000 Aventura Stakes for 3-year-olds is chock full of Florida-based and Florida-bred horses. All eight entrants made their last start in the Sunshine State, and six of the eight were bred within the state's boundaries.
Thursday, April 01, 2004Seven horses will line up Saturday for the 1 1/4-mile Gulfstream Park Handicap (gr. II), and none of them has ever won at that distance.
Thursday, April 01, 2004Keeneland opens its 17-day spring meet on Friday and the first featured race is the grade III Transylvania Stakes. Of the 11 jockeys named to ride in the Transylvania, five of them rank among the top 12 in the country by earnings this year.
Wednesday, March 31, 2004At an open meeting at Keeneland on Tuesday, two entomologists shared their best recommendations for monitoring and reducing the ETC population.
Tuesday, March 30, 2004Three Thoroughbred retirement groups--ReRun, the Exceller Fund, and Old Friends--have teamed up to retire Rich in Dallas, one of the dozen horses who played the star Seabiscuit in the movie of the same name.
Tuesday, March 23, 2004Hastings Park, which was put up for sale in February by parent company Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG), already has a buyer.
Tuesday, March 23, 2004Dr. Edwin W. Thomas of Lexington died early Friday morning in his sleep. He was 85.
Friday, March 19, 2004The last time Bowman's Band raced 8 1/2 furlongs he lost the Hal's Hope Handicap (gr. III) to Puzzlement by a neck. Perhaps he'll have the advantage this time around as he competes in Saturday's Skip Away Handicap (gr. III).
Thursday, March 11, 2004Madcap Escape, winner of the Old Hat Stakes, and La Reina, who hasn't yet started this year, are among the six entrants for Saturday's Stonerside Forward Gal Stakes (gr. II).
Thursday, March 11, 2004At first glance the success of Imperialism, the son of a $4,500 mare, appears flukish, but after delving into the thought process that produced the two-time grade II winner, it replays a common refrain in breeding: stamina, plus speed, equals success.
Wednesday, March 10, 2004A bill that would allow account wagering by residents of Washington State passed the state's House of Representatives on March 4 79-17 and yesterday passed the Senate 38-10. Senate Bill 6281 now heads to Gov. Gary Locke for his signature.
Tuesday, March 09, 2004Only six fillies are entered in Saturday's Fair Grounds Oaks (gr. II), but every single one of them deserves to be there.
Thursday, March 04, 2004On Wednesday Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher requested state auditor Crit Luallen to review policies and procedures by the former Kentucky Racing Commission, which he disbanded in January.
Wednesday, March 03, 2004The lineup for the March 13 Florida Derby (gr. I) has gained another stakes-winning contender as Tapit's connections have announced they will enter the colt for the race.
Wednesday, March 03, 2004Kentucky Secretary of Commerce Jim Host told the Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers' Club that the state's administration will work to promote the horse industry.
Tuesday, March 02, 2004Hastings Park is for sale. The Vancouver racetrack that was purchased by Woodbine Entertainment Group in 2002 apparently isn't performing as well as its parent company had hoped, even though attendance and wagering have increased since it changed hands.
Thursday, February 26, 2004Playfair's racing days could be over for good. The 65-acre property that includes the track near Spokane, Wash., is listed for sale for $7 million and all of its contents and equipment--starting gate, tractors, seating, and more--will be auctioned March 4.
Wednesday, February 25, 2004Hastings Park opens its 71-day live season April 17. The track has scheduled two more live racing days than last season and purses have increased nearly 15% over last year.
Tuesday, February 24, 2004With Anticipation, who has started in 17 grade I events in his seven-year career, has been retired.
Tuesday, February 24, 2004The amazing story of Amazing Philly continued Wednesday as she finished third in her first start. Race fans might remember her as the surprise foal of Speak Compelling, produced at Philadelphia Park in 2000.
Wednesday, February 18, 2004As promised, the MassCap will return in 2004 after a one-year hiatus. Suffolk Downs has announced the 64th running of the grade II race will be May 29 with a $500,000 purse.
Wednesday, February 18, 2004Members of the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority are still getting an introduction to their new roles, but that didn't stop them from changing a notable racing rule during a Feb. 16 meeting. Eleven of the 12 members present voted to temporarily suspend the rule that mandates what type of helmets jockeys must wear.
Monday, February 16, 2004Old Friends was formed last year with the intent of retiring and/or bringing home pensioned Thoroughbred stallions and giving the public access to these horses. Ironically the operation's first acquisition, aptly named Narrow Escape, is a 21-year-old mare.
Sunday, February 15, 2004Saturday's Silverbulletday Stakes (gr. II) is an appropriate one for Valentine's Day. It features seven 3-year-old fillies, and one amorous exacta hunch bet.
Thursday, February 12, 2004More than 300 people turned out at Turfway Park Wednesday to honor Mike Rowland, the jockey who died Monday after suffering extensive injuries in a spill at the track Feb. 4.
Wednesday, February 11, 2004The real estate market has been busy in Central Kentucky, starting in November when the successful Keeneland sales brought lookers to the area. Some of the farms which changed hands already have ties to the Thoroughbred industry, while a Versailles landmark could soon be linked to horses.
Thursday, February 05, 2004Miss Lodi, winner of the 2002 Safely Kept Stakes (gr. III), has been retired. She is booked to A.P. Indy and is scheduled to be sold later this year.
Wednesday, February 04, 2004Pleasantly Perfect, Funny Cide, Congaree, Medaglia d'Oro, and some top Kentucky Derby (gr. I) candidates are among the U.S.-based horses who have been invited to compete in one of the seven stakes races at Nad al Sheba on March 27, Dubai World Cup Day, when more than $15,000,000 will be offered in purses.
Wednesday, January 28, 2004On Tuesday members of the Monmouth Park stakeholders committee were told that the racetrack could gain future revenue from slot machines and that leasing market is extremely favorable--and that was at its first meeting.
Wednesday, January 21, 2004EquineCommerce.com, the online company which sells horses through a bid/ask system, registered its first sale on Dec. 30. An online bidder purchased a Smart Strike no-guarantee season for $24,500. EquineCommerce.com launched its Web site in early December.
Thursday, January 08, 2004After three straight years of gain in handle, due in part to the addition of slot machines in 2000, Woodbine reported a 4.5% drop in handle for its 2003 meet. The Ontario oval ended its 162-day meet on Nov. 30.
Wednesday, December 03, 2003Hastings Park officials were hopeful slot machines could be installed at the racetrack sometime next summer. However, after a Vancouver city council vote on Tuesday night, installing slots at the racetrack is still on hold.
Wednesday, December 03, 2003Hastings Park recently concluded its 2004 meet with a minor dip in on-track handle figures, and an 8.5% drop in all-source handle.
Tuesday, December 02, 2003Does a Breeders' Cup in California mean less people attend the Cal Cup two weeks later? This year that was the case, and as a result, the Cal Cup could be in October in 2004.
Wednesday, November 12, 2003Jean Romanet, who tirelessly worked to encourage international cooperation between racing's ruling bodies, died Wednesday in France. He was 88.
Wednesday, November 12, 2003The Woodlands, in Kansas City, Kansas, just completed its most successful meet in recent history. The track registered gains in live and off-track handle, as well as attendance, following its 30-day mixed meet which ran from Sept. 23 through Nov. 1.
Thursday, November 06, 2003The crowd appeared to thin out a bit at Wednesday's session of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock sale, but it wasn't any easier for buyers to get a foot in the door. The totals in gross, average, and median rose this year compared to last year's figures.
Thursday, November 06, 2003