BloodHorse.com | Horse Racing News

Slideshow: The 2011 Eclipse Awards

Images from the 41st annual Eclipse Awards.

View Slideshow

Havre de Grace Crowned Horse of the Year

For the third straight year, a female was crowned Horse of the year when Fox Hill Farm's Havre de Grace took home top honors Jan. 16 at the annual Eclipse Awards ceremony.

Older Female: Grace in a Landslide

There was little drama in the announcement of Fox Hill Farms' Havre de Grace being named top older female. The 4-year-old daughter of 2005 Horse of the Year Saint Liam garnered 245 of the 248 first-place votes cast.

Through The Lens: A Visit with Havre de Grace

Owner Rick Porter offered fans a special opportunity to visit with his filly Havre de Grace at Vinery.

read blog

Breeders' Cup Interview: Rick Porter (Video)

Lenny interviews Rick Porter about Havre de Grace's work and who Rick thinks will be the most challenging competition in the Classic. Sponsored by Taylor Made Stallions

watch video

Jones: Havre de Grace to Run Again in 2012

Rick Porter's Havre de Grace, the 4-year-old filly seeking to earn a Horse of the Year title with a victory in the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I), will remain in training in 2012, according to trainer Larry Jones.

Havre de Grace to be Entered in Classic Only

Havre de Grace, who was pre-entered in both the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) and Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic (gr. I), will only be entered in the Classic when final entries are drawn Oct. 31.

Friesan Fire to Merryland in Maryland

Friesan Fire, winner of the 2009 Louisiana Derby (gr. II) and the favorite in that year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), has been retired from racing and will stand at Merryland in Maryland.

Handicapping the Race for Horse of the Year

Game On Dude, Havre de Grace, and Tizway probably control their own destiny.

read blog

Beldame: Havre de Grace Destroys Royal Delta

Havre de Grace made a decisive case for favoritism in next month's Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I), as she annihilated Royal Delta and three others in the $350,000 Beldame Invitational (gr. I) Oct. 1 at muddy Belmont Park.

Fever Knocks Tizway Out of JCGC

Tizway, the expected favorite for the next weekend's $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I), will miss the race, according to trainer Jimmy Bond.

Havre de Grace in First Breeze Since Woodward

In her first workout since defeating males in the Woodward Stakes (gr. I), Havre de Grace breezed five furlongs in 1:01 4/5 at Delaware Park Sept. 19.

Jones Taking Stable to Keeneland

Larry Jones, who usually remains at Delaware Park through the end of its live racing meet, is moving his stable to Keeneland in preparation for the Lexington, Ky., racetrack's fall meet.

And They're Off: Fall Football Edition

Lenny and Steve interview Geoffrey Russell and Rick Porter, discuss Life At Ten/John Veitch, Breeders' Cup Classic and Mile, Gio Ponti and Havre de Grace. Sponsored by Darby Dan Farm.

Watch Video

Havre de Grace Makes Her Own Woodward History

Standout filly Havre de Grace put herself in the picture for Horse of the Year honors with a gutsy win in the $750,000 Woodward Stakes (gr. I) over males at Saratoga Sept. 3.

Porter on 'Grace': Time to Take on the Boys

Rick Porter of Fox Hill Stables has made many bold statements in regards to his 4-year-old filly Havre de Grace. Time is now ticking to see whether she will prove him right by winning the Sept. 3 Woodward (gr. I).

Havre de Grace on Her Way to Woodward

Another showdown between Blind Luck and Havre de Grace will likely have to wait for another day, as Rick Porter said Aug. 19 that Havre de Grace is headed to face males in the $750,000 Woodward Stakes (gr. I) Sept. 3.

Blind Luck, 'Grace' Spa Showdown Possible

Rick Porter said Havre de Grace would run in the Personal Ensign if purse is doubled.

HOY Could be Ultimate Goal for Havre de Grace

The Obeah Stakes (gr. III) and Delaware Handicap (gr. II) are her immediate goals, but trainer Larry Jones said Havre de Grace could face males this summer and shoot for a Horse of the Year type of campaign.

Joyful Victory Posts Bullet Work at Churchill

Joyful Victory, who is pointed toward the May 6 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I), worked five furlongs in :59 1/5 at Churchill Downs the morning of May 1.

Joyful Victory Stamps Oaks Ticket in Fantasy

Joyful Victory tuned up for next month's Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) with her second dominating performance of the Oaklawn Park season in the $285,000 Fantasy Stakes (gr. II) April 10.

Joyful Victory Buzzes Home in Honeybee

Favored Joyful Victory went to the front of the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) class when she dominated the $125,000 Honeybee Stakes (gr. III) by 8 3/4 lengths in her first start of the year at Oaklawn March 12.

Honest Man to Stand at Red River

Honest Man, a multiple graded stakes winner, has been retired from racing to stand in 2011 at Jay Adcock's Red River Farms near Coushatta, La.

Havre de Grace Seeks Repeat Over Blind Luck

Rick Porter, who won the Ladies' Classic when it was the Distaff in 2006, seeks a repeat with Havre de Grace, who has established quite a rivalry with likely favorite Blind Luck.

No Travers for Winslow Homer

The colt was diagnosed with a condylar fracture of his left foreleg following his victory in the Aug. 1 Curlin Stakes at Saratoga.

Winslow Homer Back to Work

Winslow Homer, the impressive 3-year-old who won the Holy Bull (gr. III) before being sidelined with a stress fracture in his cannon bone, had his first series of works since returning to the track during the past week.

Winslow Homer Off the Derby Trail

Fox Hill Farm's Winslow Homer, winner of the Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III), has been sidelined with a stress fracture.

Winslow Homer a Thing of Beauty in Holy Bull

Winslow Homer moved into striking position approaching the turn, Winslow Homer splits horses at the top of the lane and held off 2-1 favorite Jackson Bend to win the Holy Bull by a length in his stakes debut Jan. 23.

Laus Deo Shows Way in Count Fleet

Laus Deo made the lead soon after the start and never looked back in winning the $65,000 Count Fleet for 3-year-olds at Aqueduct Racetrack Jan. 2.

Friesan Fire on the Comeback Trail

Vinery Stables' and Fox Hill Farm's Friesan Fire, who was diagnosed with a pair of leg injuries after the Preakness (gr. I), is back in training and targeting a comeback later this fall. Who his trainer will be, however, is unclear at this time.

Old Fashioned to Stand at Taylor Made

Multiple graded stakes winner Old Fashioned, who was unbeaten at 2 and won four of six starts, will stand in 2010 at the Taylor family's Taylor Made Farm near Nicholasville, Ky.

Congrats Filly Sells for $150,000 at FTK

A filly from the first crop of grade II winner Congrats was purchased by Thomas M. McGreevy, as agent for Rick Porter's Fox Hill Farm, for $150,000 during the opening minutes of the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July yearling sale in Lexington July 20.

Friesan Fire, Old Fashioned Recuperating

Friesan Fire, the favorite in this year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), is recuperating from surgery at Vinery near Lexington.

Old Fashioned Retired

Grade II winner Old Fashioned, who underwent surgery after emerging from the Arkansas Derby (gr. II) with an injury, has been retired.

Southwest Suits Old Fashioned

He had to work a little harder than the typical 2-5 shot has to, but Old Fashioned pulled clear late and came out on top in his 2009 debut Feb. 16 with a 3 1/4-length victory over a stubborn Silver City in the $250,000 Southwest Stakes (gr. III) at Oaklawn Park.

Solar Flare Looks to Shine in Stuyvesant

When Fox Hill Farms' Rick Porter acquired promising Argentine-bred Solar Flare last winter and sent him to trainer Larry Jones at Fair Grounds, there were high expectations. But as talented as the 4-year-old was, the son of Salt Lake arrived with issues to be worked out.

Porter Hires Barkley as Trainer

Rick Porter of Fox Hill Farms has hired Jeff Barkley as his private trainer, beginning a transition resulting from trainer Larry Jones' recent announcement that he will wind down his operation and retire.

Is Honest Man BC Classic Material?

On Sept. 27, Honest Man will tell trainer Larry Jones if he is ready for prime time, as he makes what could be his final Breeders' Cup prep in the $350,000 Kentucky Cup Classic (gr. II) at Turfway Park. He will take on five rivals in the 1 1/8-mile test on Polytrack.

Eight Belles Honored in Public Memorial

With more than 200 people in attendance, this year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) runner-up Eight Belles was memorialized in a public ceremony in the garden of the Kentucky Derby Museum Sept. 7.

Public Invited to Eight Belles Ceremony

Eight Belles, who had to be euthanized on the Churchill Downs racetrack shortly after finishing second in this year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), will be memorialized in a ceremony Sept. 7 at 2 p.m. in the Kentucky Derby Museum's gardens.

Eight Belles Honored at Derby Museum

This year's second-place Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) finisher Eight Belles will be memorialized in a ceremony open to the public Sept. 7 at 2 p.m. in the Kentucky Derby Museum's gardens.

Eight Belles to Be Interred at Museum

Eight Belles, who finished second in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) but suffered a catastrophic injury moments after the race, will be honored by Churchill Downs Inc. through a series of charitable contributions and initiatives, including the interment of her remains at the Kentucky Derby Museum.

Eight Belles Tests Negative for Steroids

Eight Belles, who finished second in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), tested negative for banned substances and steroids, according to test results from the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority's official laboratory at Iowa State University.

Larry Jones Clings to Support, Faith

Trainer Larry Jones doesn't have a horse in the May 17 Preakness (gr. I), but he is at the track to run horses in stakes Friday and Saturday. Not surprisingly, he is still being asked questions about the tragic breakdown of Eight Belles.

Eight Belles' Necropsy Report Released

A necropsy of Eight Belles, ordered by the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority, found no pre-existing bone abnormalities that contributed to compound fractures she suffered in both front legs after finishing second in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands on May 3.

Eight Belles Wristbands Benefit Rescue

Six days after Eight Belles' breakdown in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), owner Rick Porter of Fox Hill Farms approved a wristband manufactured in memory of the gallant filly, with proceeds to benefit Midlantic Horse Rescue.

Owner Porter Reflects on Eight Belles

Three days after his brilliant filly Eight Belles broke down in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), Rick Porter was still searching for answers. But they aren't easy to come by.

Jones Girls Rule Kentucky Oaks Line-Up

Trainer Larry Jones took it as a sign of better things to come when his Eight Belles drew the outside 12 post for the May 2 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I), but all was not lost for the Kentucky-born trainer when his Proud Spell drew post 8 in the 1 1/8-mile race for the lilies on the first Friday in May.

Saez to Ride Eight Belles if in Derby

Should Eight Belles run in the May 3 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands instead of the previous day's Kentucky Oaks (gr. I), jockey Gabe Saez will have the mount, trainer Larry Jones said April 24.

Porter Buys Interest in Biker Boy

Rick Porter's Fox Hill Farm has purchased 51% interest in Richard Brand's Biker Boy, the 3-year-old Nick Zito trainee whose March 16 debut resulted in a 93 Beyer and a 3 Ragozin number.