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Jack Robbins Steps Down as Oak Tree President

Dr. Jack K. Robbins has stepped down as president of the Oak Tree Racing Association and has assumed the chairmanship of the board of directors.

The Year That Was By Lenny Shulman

The yin and yang of what did and didn't happen in 2010.

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Oak Tree at Hollywood Granted Makeup Day

To make up for the day of racing lost to heavy rain Oct. 6, Oak Tree at Hollywood Park will race Wednesday, Oct. 27.

Harper Wants Breeders' Cup, to Keep Polytrack

As Del Mar closed its 2010 race meeting, Joe Harper, CEO of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, discussed the possible new horizons of California racing.

TVG, Oak Tree in Sponsorship Arrangement

TVG announced Sept. 9 that it has been designated exclusive TV partner of the 2010 Oak Tree at Hollywood Park race meet and title sponsor of two of the meet's premier events--the Lady's Secret and Clement L. Hirsch.

Oak Tree, Hollywood Park Agree to 2011 Meet

Hollywood Park and the Oak Tree Racing Association have already agreed to a second fall meet in 2011. The racing dates still require approval by the California Horse Racing Board.

Stronach: Santa Anita to Have Dirt Main Track

Santa Anita is about to become the first California racetrack to abandon the 2006-mandated synthetic surface experiment and return to dirt.

Santa Anita Closes Track For Repairs

Santa Anita Park began repair work on its synthetic main track on July 26 and embarked upon significant scheduled maintenance of its stable area as well.

Charles Resigns as President of Santa Anita

Ron Charles, who has served as president of Santa Anita's Los Angeles Turf Club since 2004, has resigned. His last day will be May 19.

MI Developments Ends Contract with Oak Tree

MI Developments notified the Oak Tree Racing Association May 14 that it was ending its lease agreement.

It's All Zenyatta in the BC Classic

Zenyatta made it look all too easy, becoming the first female to win the $5-million Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I). Gio Ponti was second and Twice Over third.

Breeders' Cup Attendance, Handle Increase

Breeders' Cup announced that the first of the two days of this year's World Championships, Nov. 6 at Santa Anita, showed an increase in attendance and handle.

Turf Sprint Draws Largest Field of All

What could be more specialized than horses that like to sprint on the turf? Yet all manner of runners make up the 22 pre-entries in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, which drew the largest field of all 14 Breeders' Cup races.

NTRA Alliance Accredits Oak Tree/Santa Anita

The Oak Tree Racing Association and Santa Anita Park, site Nov. 6-7 of the Breeders' Cup World Championships -- for the second straight year -- have been accredited by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Safety and Integrity Alliance, it was announced Oct. 29 in a release.

Official Breeders' Cup Race Order, Wagering

The Breeders' Cup has released the official race order and wagering menu for the 26th Breeders' Cup World Championships, to be held Nov. 6-7 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif.

Woolley: Don't Count Out Mine That Bird

Chip Woolley Jr. sees the glass as half full for Mine That Bird in the $5-million Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) during Santa Anita Park's Oak Tree meeting Nov. 7.

Morvich Kicks Off Santa Anita's Oak Tree Meet

Fittingly featuring 2008 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint champion Desert Code, the Sept. 30 Morvich Handicap (gr. IIIT) heads Oak Tree's 31-day season at Santa Anita, one that will be highlighted by the two-day, $25.5-million Breeders' Cup World Championships on Nov. 6 and 7.

Oak Tree at Santa Anita Meet Set to Begin

The Oak Tree Racing Association will kick off its 41st racing season Sept. 30 at Santa Anita, and the highlight of the meeting will no doubt be the 26th running of the two-day Breeders' Cup World Championships, which will be hosted by Oak Tree for an unprecedented second consecutive year on Nov. 6 and 7.

New Handicapping Contest for Breeders' Cup

The Breeders' Cup and the Oak Tree Racing Association have announced that the Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge, a two-day handicapping tournament, will take place during the 2009 Breeders' Cup World Championships at Santa Anita Park on Nov. 6-7.

Enhancements to Cal-Bred Program Unveiled

The California Thoroughbred Breeders Association announced that enhancements to the California-bred incentive and racing program will begin in late September during the Oak Tree Racing Association meet at Santa Anita and the California Authority of Racing Fairs meet at Golden Gate Fields.

Breeders' Cup General Admission Prices Cut

The Breeders' Cup and Oak Tree Racing Association announced June 4 that general admission tickets will be $10 on each day of the 2009 Breeders' Cup World Championships at Santa Anita Park, Nov. 6-7, in Arcadia, Calif.

MEC Seeks Court Help to Keep Breeders' Cup

Magna Entertainment Corp. is asking a Delaware bankruptcy judge to approve an agreement to keep this year's Breeders' Cup World Championships at Santa Anita Park even if the California track ends up in the hands of a new owner.

Breeders' Cup: Progress on 2009 Site

Breeders' Cup Ltd. has issued a statement reaffirming its belief that negotiations can be completed so the 2009 World Championships will still take place Nov. 6-7 at Santa Anita as part of the Oak Tree meet.

Oak Tree Still Crunching 'Cup Numbers

It's too early to tell if the Oak Tree Racing Association will owe the Breeders' Cup payment as a result of falling short of revenue guarantees for operating the two-day racing extravaganza at Santa Anita Park, according to an executive for the 2008 host.

Bold Move Makes Stardom Bound a Winner

Favorite Stardom Bound, with a bold move, quickly took command of the Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I). Dream Empress was second and Sky Diva third. The final time in the 1 1/16-mile race was 1:40.99.

Cup Countdown: Big Bucks Time

This is part 1 of our annual Breeders' Cup longshot column, and you can bet there will be lots of bargains available this year, in what is without a doubt the most perplexing Breeders' Cup in history.

Sheppard, Strawbridge Together 42 Years

Trainer Jonathan Sheppard and owner George Strawbridge Jr. have been together, well, forever. Forty-two years strong, they will try to win their first Breeders' Cup race as a team with the aptly named Forever Together in the $2 million Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (gr. IT) at Santa Anita Oct. 24.

Muhannak Primed for Marathon Challenge

There are two British-trained challengers in the Breeders' Cup Marathon, a new race this year over 1 1/2 miles on the main track at Santa Anita Oct. 25.

BC Seeks Sponsor for Shipping Costs

Breeders' Cup, in a bold move to make the event even more international, has been actively seeking a sponsor to underwrite all shipping costs for overseas-trained horses, and maybe also pay for their trainers, owners, jockeys and grooms to fly to America, as well.

Dearest Trickski Proves Quite a Claim

Dearest Trickski's road to the Sentient Flight Group Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint began late last year, when the Kalookan Queen Stakes at Santa Anita failed to fill. That pushed the filly into the grade I La Brea Stakes Dec. 29, and a victory there gave owner Tom Mankiewicz and trainer John Sadler grander ideas.

Baffert Hopes for Big BC with Trio

Bob Baffert will send out a pair of Breeders' Cup champions this weekend in Midnight Lute and Indian Blessing, hoping to repeat his strong 2007 World Championships.

Indyanne Scratched from F&M Sprint

Indyanne, a contender in the Oct. 24 Sentient Flight Group Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, will miss the race after developing a low grade fever, according to her trainer, Greg Gilchrist.

BC Sets Health, Safety Procedures

Health and safety procedures announced for two-day Breeders' Cup program.

Oak Tree to Hold Benoit Memorial

A memorial tribute to long-time racing executive and publicist Bob Benoit has been set for Thursday, Oct. 16, at Santa Anita Park.

Former Race Show Host Gil Stratton Dies

Longtime Southern California broadcaster Gil Stratton has died at the age of 86, his Web site reported Oct. 12.

Fire Destroys Oak Tree Barn; No One Hurt

A fire virtually destroyed a 12-stall barn at the Oak Tree division of Lane's End Farm in Central Kentucky Oct. 9, but no people or horses were injured.

Trainer Gets First Santa Anita Victory

Amanda McKaughan collected her first Santa Anita Park victory as a trainer when Double Dip, a 13-1 outsider making her first start at Santa Anita, won the optional claiming feature, a $51,082 event for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles Oct. 2.

Pro-Ride at Santa Anita Gets Thumbs Up

Five grade I races at Oak Tree the weekend of Sept. 27-28 gave the Pro-Ride synthetic surface recently installed at Santa Anita a workout.

Curlin En Route to California

It didn't take majority owner Jess Jackson and trainer Steve Asmussen long to make plans for Curlin, winner of the Sept. 27 Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational (gr. I) at Belmont Park.

Stardom Bound Awesome in Oak Leaf

Stardom Bound put on a dazzling performance in the $250,000 Oak Leaf Stakes (gr. I) Sept. 27 during the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita Park. The 2-year-old Tapit filly rallied from last, came eight-wide into the stretch, and mowed down her rivals to win going away under Mike Smith.

Bailey on Synthetics: Euros Even Up Now

Jerry Bailey said that any disadvantage suffered in the past by European horses on the dirt has been taken away with the introduction of a new synthetic surface for this year's Breeders' Cup.

New SA Surface Gets Positive Reviews

Oak Tree's opening day, Sept. 24, brought sweltering temperatures back to Southern California, almost as if by design to test the new Pro-Ride synthetic surface. The surface heated up, but after the day's six races over it (the other three being on turf), reviews were generally optimistic.

Cushion Track May Add Defendants to Case

Cushion Track Footing and affiliated defendants have indicated in a recent court filing that they may countersue certain defendants in the federal lawsuit over Santa Anita Park's original synthetic surface.

Cordero Ready to Take on Legends

Angel Cordero Jr. says he will be ready for the "Living Legends Race" at the Oak Tree meet at Santa Anita Park Oct. 18, despite not being a big fan of exercise, at least out of the saddle.

No Early Issue with Breeders' Cup Signal

Early handicapping on signal distribution of the Breeders' Cup World Championships shows the prestigious event will be available to a wide variety of outlets and bettors, at first glance calming fears of any "signal wars" fallout evident in other revenue-sharing disputes involving advance deposit wagering.

8 Retired Jockeys in Pari-Mutuel Race

Eight Hall of Fame jockeys - with combined earnings of over $1.5 billion from 49,163 victories - will compete in a pari-mutuel wagering event, "The Living Legends Race," on Oct. 18 during the Oak Tree at Santa Anita meet as a prelude to the following weekend's Breeders' Cup World Championships.

Commentary: Half Empty

By Dan Liebman - The Breeders' Cup should be a win-win for the organization and the host track.

CDI: Multi-Year Proposal for 'Cup

Churchill Downs Inc. says it is sincerely interested in hosting the Breeders' Cup World Championships, so much so that it offered what it considered an "innovative" multi-year plan for regularly staging the annual event at its signature namesake track starting in 2009.

Breeders' Cup Adds 3 Races

One year after expanding the World Championships to a two-day event, Breeders' Cup will beef up the Friday program with three new races, two of which are $1-million events. The Friday program will offer more than $5 million in purses in 2008.

Cal Cup Moved Before Breeders' Cup

Due to the fact the 2008 Breeders' Cup World Championships will be held at Santa Anita Park, the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association (CTBA) confirmed that the 29th California Cup has been moved up nearly a month, to be held Oct. 5, 2008.