BloodHorse.com | Horse Racing News

No Wrongdoing Found in Canceled Oaklawn Wager

Officials announced March 4 that they found no wrongdoing following an investigation into a $100,000 show wager canceled 10 minutes prior to the running of the first division of the Feb. 20 Southwest Stakes (gr. III).

Faulty Start Voids Race Result at Santa Anita

A rare "no contest" was declared after Santa Anita's third race March 3 when the starting gate malfunctioned and only three of the seven horses came out of the gate properly.

Creative Cause Drills Quick Three-Quarters

Creative Cause, one of two Triple Crown prospects for trainer Mike Harrington, worked a quick six furlongs Feb. 28 on the Hollywood Park Cushion Track.

Dominguez Wins George Woolf Jockey Award

Two-time Eclipse Award winning jockey Ramon Dominguez has been selected as the 63rd winner of the prestigious Santa Anita George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award.

Jockeys' Charity Basketball Game Set

The 45th annual Santa Anita Jockeys/Holy Angels charity basketball game will take place Feb. 23, at La Salle High School in Pasadena, Calif., with proceeds to benefit the Holy Angels athletic program and disabled jockeys.

TV Series 'Luck' Renewed for 2013 by HBO

Luck, the racetrack-themed dramatic series which premiered on HBO Jan. 29, has been quickly renewed for a second season according to network officials.

2012 Breeders' Cup Logo Unveiled

The Breeders' Cup has unveiled the official event logo for the 29th running of the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Santa Anita Park, in Arcadia, Calif., on Nov. 2-3, 2012.

Teddy's Promise Battles Rumor in Santa Monica

Teddy's Promise, upset winner of the La Brea Stakes (gr. I) last month, puts her three-race victory streak on the line in the $300,000 Santa Monica Stakes (gr. I) at Santa Anita Jan. 28.

NBC Takes Over Breeders' Cup Coverage

NBC Sports Group picked up the contract to televise the Breeders' Cup beginning in 2012 in a four-year deal that gives it a monopoly on coverage of all major racing events.

Amazombie Scratched From Palos Verdes

With overnight rain causing Santa Anita's main track to be sealed, Eclipse Award sprint champion Amazombie was scratched on the morning of Jan. 21 from the Palos Verdes Stakes (gr. II).

Stronach Says He Wants to Protect Santa Anita

The California Horse Racing Board received a surprise visit Jan. 19 from Santa Anita owner Frank Stronach, who told the board he wants to guarantee Santa Anita's long range future.

Santa Anita Names VIP Player Concierge

Santa Anita Park announced Jan. 12 that Tom Quigley, publisher of The HorsePlayer Magazine, has been appointed to the newly created position of VIP Player Concierge, effective immediately.

Jockey Gomez Set to Undergo Heel Surgery

Garrett Gomez is scheduled to undergo surgery on a broken left heel Jan. 12, the jockey confirmed after seeing a specialist in California Jan. 9.

Unzip Me Eyes Monrovia Repeat

Unzip Me will be heavily favored on Santa Anita's hillside turf course Jan. 2 when seeking a repeat victory in the $100,000 Monrovia Stakes (gr. IIIT) for older fillies and mares.

Santa Anita Opener Biggest in Years

A crowd of 44,579 thronged to Santa Anita for its opening-day card Dec. 26, the largest since 1994.

Smith Guides Mr. Commons to Sir Beaufort Win

Under a heady ride from Mike Smith, Mr. Commons split horses in the stretch and drew off to a convincing 3 1/4-length victory in the $150,000 Sir Beaufort Stakes (gr. IIT) on the Dec. 26 opening day card at Santa Anita.

The Factor Cruises in Malibu Stakes

Fog City Stable and George Bolton's The Factor zipped to a decisive victory in the Malibu Stakes (gr. I) before a crowd of 44,579 on the Dec. 26 opening day card at Santa Anita.

Baffert Happy With The Factor's Outside Post

With The Factor giving way badly after setting a hot pace from the rail in his past two starts, trainer Bob Baffert was feeling better after his grade I winner drew the far outside post for the $300,000 Malibu Stakes (gr. I).

Heroic Santa Anita Paddock Guard to Return

Longtime Santa Anita paddock guard John Shear, who was seriously injured while protecting a young girl from a loose horse on March 12, said Dec. 22 he would be back in action on opening day.

TwinSpires Gets Short California Extension

The California Horse Racing Board agreed Dec. 15 to extend the license of account wagering firm TwinSpires.com after receiving assurance that parent company Churchill Downs Inc. would meet with the Jockeys' Guild.

HRTV to Air Santa Anita Races on L.A. Station

HRTV has reached an agreement with independent broadcaster KVMD of Los Angeles giving Southern California racing fans television access to the upcoming Santa Anita winter/spring race meeting.

Power Back Up At Santa Anita

Training and simulcasting resumed at Santa Anita as power was restored Dec. 2 after a severe windstorm hit the area Wednesday. No injuries to humans or horses were sustained.

Winds Cause Minor Damage at Santa Anita

Strong Santa Ana winds of up to 100 miles per hour blew through Southern California early Dec. 1, uprooting trees and damaging some barns at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia.

Asmussen String Arrives at Santa Anita

Eclipse Award-winning trainer Steve Asmussen returned to Santa Anita Nov. 29 with a stable of approximately 40 horses to begin preparation for a second season in Southern California this winter.

And They're Off: Columbus Day Edition

Lenny and Steve discuss Union Rags' Champagne, the Keeneland Polytrack, and cutbacks at Santa Anita. Plus, John Phillips of Darby Dan Farm talks about Winter Memories. Sponsored by Darby Dan Farm.

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Santa Anita Restructuring, Management Changes

Santa Anita announced Oct. 5 it has undertaken a reorganization that includes merging of some departments, streamlining of finance and operations departments, and a reduction in management and seasonal workforce.

Blog:Diamonds in the Rough - by Lenny Shulman

Racing worked its magic from Longchamp to Belmont to Santa Anita.

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Santa Anita Meet Commences With Maddy Stakes

Unzip Me, a four-time stakes winner on Santa Anita's downhill turf course, will play the role of favorite in the $100,000 Senator Ken Maddy Stakes (gr. IIIT) Sept. 30 on opening day of the autumn meet.

HRTV to Air U.S. Stakes, Arc de Triomphe

HRTV will provide coverage of the U.S. stakes extravaganza on tap for Oct. 1, a major day of racing leading up to the Breeders' Cup World Championships, and the Oct. 2 Qatar Prix de l' Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I).

CHRB Approves Santa Anita Plan for TV Network

The Santa Anita autumn meet can proceed as expected after the California Horse Racing Board dropped its objection to The Stronach Group's distribution plan for its television network.

Santa Anita to Honor Paddock Hero Shear

Oct. 1 race to be named for paddock guard John Shear, who shielded 6-year-old girl from runaway horse at Santa Anita March 12.

HRTV's Limited Access Draws Board Action

Unhappy with Santa Anita's plan for distribution of its television signal on racing network HRTV, the California Horse Racing Board suggested the track should broadcast its upcoming fall meet on rival TVG.

Blind Luck to Skip Pacific Classic

Blind Luck, who was under consideration for the Aug. 28 Pacific Classic (gr. I) against males, will instead point toward the Oct. 1 Lady's Secret (gr. I) at Santa Anita Park, according to trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.

Calif. Track Execs Ask For Lower Takout

The presidents of Santa Anita and Hollywood Park have asked the Thoroughbred Owners of California to reduce takout on Daily Double, exacta, quinella, and Pick 5 wagers.

Santa Anita Fall Meet Begins Sept. 30

Santa Anita will race its first autumn meeting under the direction of the Los Angeles Turf Club when it opens for racing Sept. 30.

Santa Anita Track Project Nears Completion

Santa Anita's track president told the California Horse Racing Board that he hoped to have the track open for training by July 26.

Hollywood to Remain Open for Training in July

The Cushion Track at Hollywood Park will remain open for training while the dirt surface at Santa Anita is being renovated in July, the track announced June 30.

Santa Anita Track to Close for Repair July 11

Santa Anita plans to renovate its main track next month, adding sand to the composition during a remediation that is expected to last no longer than two weeks.

2012 Breeders' Cup Site Decision Due Soon

The host site for the 2012 Breeders' Cup World Championships could be announced before the end of June or in early July, with Belmont Park, Churchill Downs, and Santa Anita the three finalists.

Santa Anita Dirt Track to Undergo Renovation

Santa Anita's dirt racetrack will be undergoing renovation in the coming months to bring it back to the combination of sand, silt, and clay initially approved when the new dirt surface was installed late last year.

Fans and Horsemen Join for Cancer Walk

A walk April 17 after the final race of Santa Anita's winter/spring meet raised $100,000 for the Women's Cancer Program. The walk was held on the racetrack.

Jockey Garcia Thrown From Mount

Martin Garcia took off the rest of his mounts at Santa Anita April 17 following a spill in the third race.

Heroic Paddock Guard, 90, Out of Hospital

John Shear, Santa Anita's 90-year-old paddock guard who was gravely injured while protecting a 6-year-old girl from a runaway horse last month, was released from Huntington Memorial Hospital.

Actress Taylor Had Ties to Horse Racing

Iconic actress Elizabeth Taylor, who had a lifelong interest in horses and starred in the film "National Velvet," died March 23 at age 79.

Santa Anita Continues to Look at Surface

With a month left in its current winter meeting, Santa Anita is continuing to work with the California Thoroughbred Trainers and the California Horse Racing Board on its new dirt surface.

Oak Tree, Santa Anita Complete Deal for 2011

The Oak Tree Racing Association and MI Developments have reached an agreement that will allow Santa Anita Park to run the traditional fall stakes program in Southern California in 2011.

Santa Anita Paddock Guard, 90, Proves Heroic

Veteran Santa Anita paddock guard John Shear was injured March 12 as he threw himself in front of a young girl in order to protect her from a loose horse.

Santa Anita to Switch to 5-Day Week March 23

Santa Anita will move to an expanded five-day race week beginning with the Wednesday card March 23. Racing will be conducted on a five-day-per-week basis through the end of the meet April 17.

Dancing in Silks Looking for a Comeback at SA

Dancing in Silks, who has been winless since his nose victory 2009 Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Sprint at Santa Anita, will get a chance to redeem himself with a new trainer and jockey in the Feb. 27 Sensational Star Handicap.

Santa Anita Shifting to Five Days in March

Pending approval from the California Horse Racing Board, Santa Anita will remain on a four-day race week schedule through March 20 and will transition to a five-day race week beginning Wednesday, March 23.