The Saratoga Race Course Local Advisory Board has asked state government leaders to resolve the issue of selecting an operator for the video lottery terminal project at Aqueduct.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
There must be steel coursing through the veins of the Campbell family. Three generations of these steel-driving men have been blacksmiths, shoeing some of the finest Thoroughbreds on the East Coast.
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
A weanling filly by City Zip sold for $55,000 to top the New York Breeders Sales Company's fall breeding stock sale Oct. 18 at Saratoga Race Course. New Jersey bloodstock agent Buzz Chace, acting on behalf of West Point Thoroughbreds, purchased her from Waldorf Farm, agent.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Trainer Linda Rice answers your questions about her background, life as a trainer, her best horses, the training title at Saratoga, and more. Transcript is now available.
Friday, October 16, 2009
The Saratoga meet will expand by four days in 2010 and "for the foreseeable future," the New York Racing Association announced Oct. 7.
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Fighting Brave, who brought the sale-topping price of $2 million at last year's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select yearling auction, made his career debut a winning one at Dundalk in Ireland Oct. 4.
Sunday, October 04, 2009
The New York Breeders' Sales Company has cataloged 201 mares, yearlings, weanlings, and horses of racing age for its fall breeding stock sale, which will be held Oct. 18 at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. The auction will begin at noon (EDT).
Thursday, September 17, 2009
On Sept. 7, Linda Rice became the first female to win a training title at a major U.S. racing circuit when she edged out Todd Pletcher, 20-19. The historic feat was even more impressive considering Rice had only 75 starters at the meet, compared to 135 for Pletcher, who is a six-time titleholder at the Spa.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Brushwood Stable's Mushka took over approaching the quarter-pole, opened a clear lead in the stretch, and held on for a 1 1/4-length victory in the $110,500 Glen Falls Handicap (gr. IIIT) Sept. 7 at Saratoga.
Monday, September 07, 2009
Standing outside his barn at Saratoga the morning of Sept. 6, trainer Steve Asmussen was still basking in the glow of Rachel Alexandra's historic victory in the $750,000 Woodward Stakes (gr. I) as he reported the filly came out of the race in good shape.
Sunday, September 06, 2009
It took Al Khali five tries, but he finally got his graded stakes score Sept. 6 at Saratoga, running down the two pacesetters in mid-stretch and taking the $107,000 Saranac (gr. IIIT) by 1 1/4 lengths.
Sunday, September 06, 2009
Odds-on favorite Hot Dixie Chick served notice that she is among the elite 2-year-old fillies in the land, as she put away a pair of rivals in upper stretch and glided home for a 1 3/4-length score in the $300,000 Spinaway (gr. I) Sept. 6 at Saratoga.
Sunday, September 06, 2009
Rachel Alexandra cemented herself as one of the best fillies of all-time in a race for the ages, as she set a suicidal pace and then was all out under Calvin Borel to hold off a bold charge from Macho Again to win the $750,000 Woodward Stakes (gr. I) by a head in electrifying fashion Sept. 5 at Saratoga.
Saturday, September 05, 2009
GoldMark Farm's undefeated Backtalk will try to remain perfect in four lifetime starts, but will have to overcome post 13 when he meets a dozen rivals in the $300,000 Three Chimneys Hopeful Stakes (gr. I), Saratoga's final major race for 2-year-olds on Labor Day.
Friday, September 04, 2009
Wertheimer and Frere's homebred Interactif made his turf debut a successful one, pulling off a 15-1 upset in the $109,500 With Anticipation Stakes (gr. IIIT) Sept. 4 at Saratoga.
Friday, September 04, 2009
Pari-mutuel handle on United States racing continued its decline in August despite the country's two premier summer meets at Del Mar and Saratoga.
Friday, September 04, 2009
The Christophe Clement trained duo of Sal the Barber and Armstrong Mill lead a field of eight in the $100,000-added Saranac (gr. IIIT) Sept. 6 at Saratoga.
Friday, September 04, 2009
Rachel Alexandra will steal all the headlines, but she won't be the only heavily-backed filly Steve Asmussen sends out in a grade I race this weekend at Saratoga. The nation's leading trainer also has Grace Stables' Hot Dixie Chick going in the $300,000 Spinaway (gr. I) on Sept. 6, and the daughter of Dixie Union figures to receive much of the attention at the windows.
Thursday, September 03, 2009
Rachel Alexandra's attempt against older males has given the Woodward (gr. I) all the headlines, but Saratoga's other grade I race on Sept. 5--the $300,000 Forego Stakes--is no slouch. The seven-furlong sprint drew a solid field of a 12, including the morning-line favorite, Kodiak Kowboy.
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
On Sept. 5 at Saratoga, Rachel Alexandra will seek history when trying to become the first female to win the Woodward Stakes (gr. I) -- a feat that would almost certainly lock up Horse of the Year honors and stamp the 3-year-old as one of the best fillies of all time.
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
Saratoga Race Course will welcome college students back to their favorite course this fall with the first ever College Day Sept. 4, featuring a host of prizes, giveaways and $1,000 scholarships to be awarded after each race by The New York Racing Association.
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Attendance and handle turned down fractionally for the first time during the 2009 Saratoga Race Course meet after two inches of rain Aug. 28 and 29 lowered attendance on Shadwell Travers (gr. I) Day and forced seven of the weekend's 11 carded turf races off the turf. Attendance was down 1.6%, on-track handle down 1.6%, and all-sources handle down 2.8% from 2008 totals through week five.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Summer Bird continued his meteoric rise to the top of the nation's 3-year-old ranks, as he rolled through the slop for an easy 3 1/2-length score in the $1-million Shadwell Travers (gr. I) Aug. 29 at Saratoga.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Godolphin's Music Note repelled a bid from Indian Blessing at the top of the stretch and sloshed home for a 5 1/4-length upset victory in the $300,000 Ballerina (gr. I) Aug. 29 at Saratoga.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Sara Louise, the last horse to defeat superstar filly Rachel Alexandra, returned from a nine-month layoff in sparkling fashion, coming from off the pace to score the $110,000 Victory Ride (gr. III) Aug. 29 at Saratoga.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Darley Stable's Justenuffhumor remains undefeated on the season as he collared pacesetter Cowboy Cal inside the sixteenth-pole and posted a half-length victory in the $200,000 Bernard Baruch Handicap (gr. IIT) Aug. 28 on the Saratoga turf.
Friday, August 28, 2009
With more than an inch of rain in the forecast overnight and into tomorrow, an off-track appears likely for the $1-million Shadwell Travers (gr. I) Aug. 29 at Saratoga.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Multiple graded stakes winner Unbridled Belle tops a trio of charges from the barn of Todd Pletcher in the $400,000 Personal Ensign Stakes (gr. I), Saratoga's Aug. 30 headliner.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Sara Louise will race for the first time since November in the $100,000 Victory Ride (gr. III) Aug. 29 at Saratoga. She is the last horse to defeat Rachel Alexandra.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Big Drama and Munnings should each relish a cut back to their ideal distance of seven furlongs, but in addition to dealing with each other must contend with the likes of Capt. Candyman Can, Vineyard Haven, and a host of other talented sprinters Aug. 29 in the $300,000 NetJets King's Bishop Stakes (gr. I)at Saratoga.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
This time last year, Indian Blessing was the front-runner in the female sprint division and on her way to a year-end Eclipse Award. Now, the Indian Charlie filly will have to take the division's leadership role from Informed Decision, who has won five straight stakes and enters the $300,000 Ballerina (gr. I) as the one to beat.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
A pair of quarter cracks may have kept Quality Road out of the Kentucky Derby (gr. I), but nearly four months later the record-setting 3-year-old will get his shot at the next best thing -- the Mid-Summer Derby.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Fresh off a runner-up finish in the Whitney Handicap (gr. I) at Saratoga, West Point Thoroughbreds' Macho Again will make his next start in the $750,000 Woodward (gr. I) on Sept. 5, where he will meet a field that will include superstar filly Rachel Alexandra.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
On Aug. 5, as it is does from time to time for the community, Saratoga Race Course recognized the historic neighboring town of Mechanicville. For trainer Chad Brown, who comes from this small town southeast of Saratoga Springs, it was a chance to relax for a little while with high school friends and family, a break from the intensity of running an up-and-coming stable.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Mine That Bird breezed Aug. 25 at Saratoga for the first time since undergoing minor throat surgery last week and the next 24 hours should determine whether he will run in $1 million Shadwell Travers (gr. I).
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Fans coming to Saratoga Race Course Aug. 26 will be able to help the almost 200 Thoroughbred horses recently rescued from a Greene County Farm. In April, 2009, police raided the Climax, N.Y. farm of horse breeder Ernest Paragallo who has been arraigned on 35 counts of animal cruelty, accused of failing to adequately care for the horses at his farm.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Darley Stable's Justenuffhumor and Magnolia Racing Stable's Cowboy Cal resume what may be a budding rivalry when they meet Aug. 28 in the $200,000 Bernard Baruch Handicap (gr. IIT) at 1 1/8 miles on the inner turf at Saratoga.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Edward P. Evans' Quality Road put in his final breeze before the Aug. 29, grade I, $1-million Shadwell Travers at Saratoga Race Course, covering five furlongs over the muddy main track in :59.68, fourth fastest of 24 at the distance on the morning of Aug. 24.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Though Rachel Alexandra was not in the $600,000 Alabama (gr. I), Donver Stable's Careless Jewel did her best impression of the superstar filly, running away from seven rivals to win by 11 lengths in a breakthrough performance Aug. 22 at Saratoga.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Summer Bird breezed five furlongs over the main track at Saratoga Aug. 22 with Kent Desormeaux up. The time for the move, seventh best of nine at the distance, was 1:00.91 over a muddy track.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
New York Racing Association-operated Saratoga has been fully accredited by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Safety and Integrity Alliance, officials announced Aug. 21.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin confirmed Aug. 20 that Mr. and Mrs. William K. Warren Jr.'s Charitable Man, third in the Jim Dandy (gr. II), would make his next start in the Shadwell Travers (gr. I) on Aug. 29.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
There are two ways to look at the field for the $600,000 Alabama (gr. I): It could be a disappointment that the nation's top 3-year-old filly, Rachel Alexandra, is not included in the field. Or, a more optimistic view would be that many of the talented fillies entered for the prestigious race are only there because Rachel Alexandra is not in the field.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Barbara Hunter's homebred Keertana, winner of three in a row including the last two in stakes company, leads an evenly-matched field of eight 3-year-old fillies who will take to the Saratoga turf for the $150,000 Lake Placid Stakes (gr. IIT) on Aug. 21.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
For nearly a quarter of a century, Denny Brace has guarded the gap at Saratoga's Clare Court training track, among the loveliest spots at the racecourse, as if he's watching over the crown jewels.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Of the three major races for juvenile males at the Saratoga, D. Wayne Lukas has won the Sanford (gr. II) and Hopeful (gr. I) five times apiece, and the Saratoga Special (gr. II) three more times. On Aug. 20, Lukas will go for Special No. 4 when he sends out longshot Activity Report in the $150,000 event.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
The New York Racing Association invites female racing fans to the fourth annual Women's Day Expo at Saratoga Race Course, which will take place Aug. 19 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Rachel Alexandra breezed five furlongs in a bullet 1:00.37 on a foggy Monday morning on the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga Race Course, after which trainer Steve Asmussen said discussions would begin "in earnest" on where the filly would make her next start.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Attendance is up 8.4%, on-track handle up 12.3%, and all-sources handle up 4.8% from 2008 totals midway through the 2009 meet at Saratoga Race Course.
Monday, August 17, 2009
International Equine Acquisitions Holdings (IEAH), through agent Nick Sallusto, was the biggest-spending domestic buyer at the recent Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select yearling auction in New York, paying $2,150,000 for six yearlings. All the horses could be offered next year at sales of 2-year-olds in training, according to IEAH president and director Michael Iavarone.
Monday, August 17, 2009
