Tim Ice, trainer of Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Summer Bird, will shift his stable from Louisiana to New York following the end of the Oaklawn Park meet next spring, he said Nov. 2.
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Horse owner and breeder Jess Jackson said May 13 that entering super filly Rachel Alexandra against males in the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) is not a battle of the sexes but rather a sporting gesture designed to have the best horses racing against each other.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
John Hendrickson, husband and racing and breeding manager for Marylou Whitney, said neither he nor Marylou have ever spoken to Ahmed Zayat, and although they plan on running Luv Gov in the Preakness (gr. I) at the request of trainer D. Wayne Lukas, they would withdraw him if it meant excluding Rachel Alexandra.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
After being besieged with unfavorable comments regarding his earlier decision to enter enough horses to prevent Rachel Alexandra from running in the Preakness Stakes (gr. I), Ahmed Zayat, owner of Pioneerof the Nile, said on TVG that he has decided to reconsider and will not enter any other horses.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
For the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I), Lukas has not one, not two, but three fillies that are looking to take the lilies from overwhelming favorite Rachel Alexandra...or at least get a whiff of them by checking in second, third, or even fourth.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
The Prevention Council will host its first annual fundraising event, the "Dare to Dream Gala," with honorary chairpersons Marylou Whitney and John Hendrickson at the Saratoga Polo Club Aug. 13. The gala will honor Jerry Bailey's victory over substance abuse.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
2007 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winning trainer Todd Pletcher will be honored by the Center for Disability Services at the 14th annual RJ Valente Siro's Cup at Siro's Restaurant in Saratoga Springs on the eve of opening day at Saratoga Race Course.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Saratoga's first three weeks were marked by muggy hot weather followed by splendid cool days and nights, a card cancellation, upsets, an onslaught of New York-bred races, declining attendance, numerous mishaps at the starting gate, and soap opera politics. Will the next 18 days be as rocky as the past 17 days?
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
By Ray Paulick - In the few steps she took, in that brief appearance in the Saratoga winner's circle, fans and admirers of Marylou Whitney witnessed uncommon courage and the heart of a champion.
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Whatever the reason, they missed the full effect of a perfectly delightful day. Racing doesn't get much better than the product put forth at Saratoga on Saturday.
Sunday, August 06, 2006
Todd Pletcher, who two weeks ago set a North American record for earnings in a year by a trainer, submitted the names of 17 horses for early-bird nomination to the April 1 Florida Derby (gr. I) at Gulfstream Park.
Saturday, December 10, 2005
By Ray Paulick - The stars were aligned at Saratoga last summer when Marylou Whitney's Birdstone was victorious in the Spa meeting's most prestigious race, the Travers (gr. I). No one personifies Saratoga Springs better than Whitney, whose tireless dedication to fund-raising for numerous charities reaches its zenith during the summer race meeting.
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
Maylou Whitney and her husband, John Hendrickson, who won the grade I Belmont Stakes and Travers last year and the Kentucky Oaks in 2003, have hired Nick Zito assistant Reynaldo Abreu as their private trainer.
Sunday, May 29, 2005
The Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders announced Marylou Whitney's Dear Birdie has been chosen 2004 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year.
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
Ghostzapper, the powerful winner of the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I), led the list of 2004 award winners announced by the New York Turf Writers' Association March 23.
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
Sing and Swing, the first mare bred to grade I winner Birdstone, has been pronounced in foal at Gainesway Farm.
Monday, March 07, 2005
Bird Town, Marylou Whitney's champion 3-year-old filly of 2003, produced her first offspring, an Empire Maker colt.
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
Marylou Whitney's Birdstone, who was retired earlier the week of Nov. 1 after suffering a chip fracture in his left front ankle, will stand at Gainesway Farm near Lexington, Ky., Whitney's husband, John Hendrickson, said Nov. 5.
Friday, November 05, 2004
Marylou Whitney's Birdstone, winner of the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) and Travers Stakes (gr. I) this year, has been retired after a routine radiograph taken Nov. 2 revealed a P-1 medial chip in the colt's left front ankle.
Wednesday, November 03, 2004
Marylou Whitney's Birdstone, winner of the Belmont (gr. I) and Travers Stakes (gr. I) this year, has been retired after a radiograph taken Nov. 2 revealed a P-1 medial chip in the colt's left front ankle.
Wednesday, November 03, 2004
Birdstone's 2 1/2-length win Saturday in the Travers (gr. I) at Saratoga, coupled with the colt's upset of Smarty Jones in the Belmont (gr. I), opens up the race for this year's 3-year-old championship, at least in the minds of some.
Monday, August 30, 2004
Marylou Whitney's Birdstone, who denied Smarty Jones the Triple Crown with his victory in the June 5 Belmont Stakes (gr. I), will make his first start back in the $1-million Travers Stakes (gr. I), trainer Nick Zito said July 23.
Friday, July 23, 2004
Mineshaft, Eclipse Award winner as Horse of the Year and best older male, has been named winner of the New York Turf Writers Association's Secretariat Award as New York's Horse of the Year for 2003.
Wednesday, June 09, 2004
Mary Lou Whitney has donated an additional $50,000 to help fund the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation's Secretariat Center at the Kentucky Horse Park.
Tuesday, May 11, 2004
Marylou Whitney's Birdstone was installed the even-money favorite against 10 rivals for Saturday's Lane's End Stakes (gr. II) at Turfway Park. The 3-year-old son of
Grindstone drew post one for the 1 1/8-mile race.
Thursday, March 18, 2004
There are eight firm candidates for Saturday's Lane's End Stakes (gr. II), according to the racing office at Turfway Park, with as many as four others riding the fence.
Wednesday, March 17, 2004
Marylou Whitney Stables' homebred Birdstone, winner of the grade I Champagne Stakes at Belmont last year, is the talk of Turfway leading up to their signature Kentucky Derby (gr. I) prep, Saturday's Lane's End Stakes (gr. II). However, the diminutive son of Grindstone hasn't exactly scared anyone off from the $500,000 race with as many as 14 others considering the race.
Tuesday, March 16, 2004
Cynics be damned, it's time to see what the Derby gods might be scheming. With the equine version of March Madness starting next weekened, this is the last opportunity in a while to look at the Derby in an ethereal sense.
Sunday, February 29, 2004
Marylou Whitney's Birdstone, winner of his 3-year-old debut in allowance company, may skip the March 13 Florida Derby and run in the following week's $500,000 Lane's End Stakes (gr. II) at Turfway Park instead, trainer Nick Zito said Monday.
Monday, February 23, 2004
Marylou Whitney's homebred Eclipse Award contender Bird Town (by Cape Town) is booked to another champion contender, Empire Maker (by Unbridled).
Tuesday, December 16, 2003
Bird Town, a candidate for champion 3-year-old filly, has been retired from racing.
Tuesday, October 07, 2003
Bobby Frankel loves the position he is in with Juddmonte Farms' multiple grade 1 winner Sightseek. After 2002 Horse of the Year Azeri had her 11-race win streak snapped last weekend in California, the case could be made that Sightseek is better.
Friday, October 03, 2003
After attending church in Saratoga Springs Sunday morning, trainer Ralph Ziadie visited Barn 30 to check on Silver Wagon the winner of the Hopeful (gr. I) on Saturday. "He came out good," Ziadie said. " Everything was good."
Monday, September 01, 2003
After setting a record with 40 victories at the Belmont spring/summer meeting trainer Todd Pletcher wasn't sure what to expect at Saratoga.
Saturday, August 02, 2003
Marylou Whitney Stable's 2-year-old homebred Birdstone, a half-brother to multiple grade I winner Bird Town, won his debut at Saratoga Saturday by 12 1/2 lengths.
Saturday, August 02, 2003
Marylou Whitney Stable's Bird Town established herself as a leader in the 3-year-old filly division this spring wirh wins in the Kentucky Oaks and Acorn, both grade I's. She will face seven rivals in Saturday's Test Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga.
Thursday, July 24, 2003
The Thoroughbred industry has taken two giant steps toward matching a pledge of $500,000 from distiller Maker's Mark for the development at the Kentucky Horse Park of the Maker's Mark Secretariat Center of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation.
Friday, April 18, 2003
A field of eight fillies was entered for Saturday's $100,000 Three Ring Stakes at Calder, a 1 1/16-mile test for 2-year-old fillies.
Thursday, December 12, 2002
A field of eight fillies was entered for Saturday's $100,000 Three Ring Stakes at Calder, a 1 1/16-mile test for 2-year-old fillies.
Thursday, December 12, 2002
