Tracy and Carol Farmer have chosen Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Farm in Georgetown, Ky., as the permanent home for two-time Whitney Handicap (gr. I) winner Commentator, it was announced Oct. 2.
Friday, October 02, 2009
Tracy Farmer's multiple grade I-winning gelding Commentator arrived Sept. 10 at Mike Evans' Sheltowee Woodford near Versailles, Ky., where he will live out his retirement.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
The New York Racing Association (NYRA) paid tribute to Commentator Sept. 6, at Saratoga Race Course. The 8-year-old chestnut gelding, owned by Tracy Farmer and trained by Hall of Famer Nick Zito, was retired from racing Aug. 9, a day after finishing third in the Whitney Handicap (gr. I). He was attempting to join Discovery and Kelso as the only three-time winners of the race in its 82-year history.
Sunday, September 06, 2009
The New York Racing Association will pay tribute to one of the most popular horses in racing when the recently-retired Commentator is honored on Sept. 6 at Saratoga.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Tracy Farmer's two-time Whitney Handicap (gr. I) winner Commentator has been retired after finishing third in his quest for a record-tying third win in the Saratoga event, trainer Nick Zito announced on the morning of Aug. 9.
Sunday, August 09, 2009
Like a fine wine, Commentator seems to get better with age. And on Nov. 28 at Churchill Downs, Tracy Farmer's remarkable 7-year-old gelding will try to cap off a terrific season when he takes on seven rivals in the $400,000-added Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (gr. II).
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Tracy Farmer's two-time Whitney Handicap (gr. I) winner Commentator, Robert LaPenta's 2008 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Da' Tara and Four Roses Thoroughbreds' 2007 Kentucky Jockey Club (gr. II) winner Anak Nakal, all trained by Nick Zito, headline a list 26 horses nominated to the $400,000-added Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (gr. II) to be run Nov. 28 at Churchill Downs.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Two-time Whitney Handicap (gr. I) winner Commentator could end his successful racing season at Churchill Downs with a bid for the 134th running of the $500,000 Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (gr. II) Nov. 28.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Commentator took command of the $500,000 Massachusetts Handicap with three furlongs to run and won by a record 14 lengths at odds of 1-10 at Suffolk Downs Sept. 20.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Why should this year's incarnation of the MassCap be any different than the other 65 events contested beneath the deafening roar of overhead planes from nearby Logan Airport?
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Commentator, a two-time grade I winner for Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito, leads a field of seven for the $500,000 Massachusetts Handicap Sept. 20 at Suffolk Downs.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito gave every credit to Commentator after the 7-year-old gelding won his second Whitney Handicap (gr. I) by 4 ¾ lengths over Student Council and Grasshopper July 26 at Saratoga. Zito was thrilled that the New York-bred, owned by Tracy Farmer, can now be counted alongside multiple Whitney winner Kelso.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Three years after last winning the Whitney Handicap (gr. I), 7-year-old Commentator returned to the Saratoga winner's circle when he galloped to a surprisingly easy front-running victory in the $750,000 Spa fixture.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Colt will be re-X-rayed after two months.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Anak Nakal breezes a half-mile in :46.60.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Tracy Farmer's Commentator proved to be back in the top form he was nearly three years ago when he won the 2005 Whitney Handicap (gr. I), this time trouncing five rivals to take the $200,000 Richter Scale Sprint Handicap (gr. II) by 13 3/4-lengths March 8 at Gulfstream Park.
Saturday, March 08, 2008
Seven rivals will look to knock off Lazy F Ranch's red-hot Chatain March 8 in the $200,000 Richter Scale Sprint Handicap (gr. II) at Gulfstream Park.
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders' Association held its annual board and member meetings Aug. 8 at the Gideon Putnam Hotel in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Members of the Breeders' Cup Members and Trustees and the Board of Directors discussed a proposal before the state of New Jersey, home to Monmouth Park, site of the 2007 Breeders' Cup World Championships, to conduct out of competition testing for erythropoietin (EPO).
Friday, July 13, 2007
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association March 28 released the 2006 Annual Report for its Political Action Committee, Horse PAC. New to the PAC Board in 2007 is owner/breeder Tracy Farmer. Peggy Hendershot, NTRA vice president of legislative and corporate planning, has been appointed PAC president.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Millionaire Sir Shackleton, who came within two lengths of Saint Liam in last year's Woodward Stakes (gr. I), will enter stud at Dr. Tony Ryan's Castleton Lyons near Lexington.
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Monday signaled the start of Travers week and two of the season's grandest galas. On Thursday, the New York Racing Association will host its annual event to benefit B.E.A.T (Backstretch Employees Assistance Team), and on the evening preceding that, Wednesday, the annual Belmont Child Care Association (Anna House) benefit will be held at the Gideon Putnam.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
The surprisingly large influx of campaign contributions from breeders and horse owners in Kentucky, California and elsewhere to the New York gubernatorial campaign of Eliot Spitzer did not come from individuals secretly vying to obtain the New York Racing Association franchise, according to one of the top donors.
Friday, July 21, 2006
Tracy Farmer has received the third annual William T. Young Humanitarian Award from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders. The award was established in 2003 to recognize a person in the thoroughbred industry "who recognizes and promotes the human endeavor," was presented at the annual Kentucky Derby trainers' dinner Tuesday night.
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Sir Shackleton, a homebred millionaire for Tracy Farmer, has been retired from racing because of an injured sesamoid.
Monday, April 24, 2006
The turn-back in distance to seven furlongs did the trick for the slumping Sun King, who charged from seventh in the stretch to win Keeneland's $443,200 Commonwealth Breeders' Cup (gr. II) going away Saturday.
Saturday, April 15, 2006
Saint Liam, who clinched his Horse of the Year campaign with a solid victory in the Breeders' Cup Classic - Powered by Dodge (gr. I) at Belmont Park, led the list of 2005 award winners announced March 15 by the New York Turf Writers' Association.
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Tracy Farmer's Commentator, winner of last year's Whitney Handicap (gr. I) over eventual Horse of the Year Saint Liam, is ready to begin training at Palm Meadows training center, trainer Nick Zito said Wednesday.
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
A field of eight older horses passed the entry box for Saturday's Gulfstream Park Handicap (gr. II) valued at $300,000. Suave and Sun King, grade II winners last season, are each looking for his first win of 2006.
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Tracy Farmer's homebred millionaire Sir Shackleton, who came into the $50,000 Super Stakes fresh off of a layoff and a series of good works at Palm Meadows, left the Oldsmar oval the holder of the seven furlong track record at Tampa Bay Downs with an additional $30,000 in earnings.
Saturday, February 11, 2006
Tracy Farmer's grade I winner Commentator, who owns two of the year's fastest Beyer Speed Figures, has been taken out of training after re-aggravating a shin injury.
Monday, September 19, 2005
Tracy Farmer's favored Sun King overcame his outside post in a 14-horse field to easily win the $750,000 Pennsylvania Derby (gr. II) under Rafael Bejarano.
Monday, September 05, 2005
Grade I winner Commentator breezed a half mile over Saratoga's training track Friday morning in :51. It was the gelding's first recorded work since winning the Whitney Handica (gr. I) Aug. 6.
Friday, August 19, 2005
The classy sprinter Commentator was able to stretch his speed all the way to the wire under Gary Stevens in Saturday's $750,000 Whitney Handicap (gr. I), digging in to hold off Saint Liam by a neck at Saratoga Race Course.
Saturday, August 06, 2005
A field of eight older horses is set to line up for Saturday's 78th running of the prestigious Whitney Handicap (gr. I) at Saratoga. Won by Roses in May in thrilling fashion over Perfect Drift in 2004, this year's edition includes division leader Saint Liam--with trainers Nick Zito and Todd Pletcher entering two starters each.
Thursday, August 04, 2005
Horse of the Year Point Given came through with his first winner when his daughter Claremont won July 23 at Arlington Park for owner Tracy Farmer.
Sunday, July 24, 2005
Tracy Farmer's Sun King, fitted with blinkers by trainer Nick Zito, went gate to wire to win the $300,000 Leonard Richards (gr. III) for 3-year-olds by 5 3/4 lengths Sunday at Delaware Park.
Sunday, July 17, 2005
Two of the five horses trainer Nick Zito is pointing toward the May 7 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) worked Thursday morning and the conditioner was pleased with how both 3-year-olds did.
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Tracy Farmer's Sun King, winner of both his starts this year including the Tampa Bay Derby, breezed an easy five furlongs in 1:02 4/5 at Churchill Downs Monday in preparation for the April 16 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I).
Monday, April 04, 2005
Tracy Farmer's Sun King, sent off as the 1-20 wagering favorite in the $250,000 Tampa Bay Derby (gr. III) Saturday, showed some true grit while fending off a couple of challenges from the quarter pole to mid-stretch before pulling away to a 3 1/4-length victory.
Saturday, March 19, 2005
The March 19 Tampa Bay Derby (gr. III) drew a field of eight, but the race for all intents and purposes comes down to Sun King vs. Sun King. The Nick Zito-trained colt is the class of the field, and the race his to lose. Only two others in the field have even been nominated to the Triple Crown.
Thursday, March 17, 2005
Tracy Farmer's homebred Sir Shackleton wore down the surprise pacesetter Clock Stopper in the final sixteenth of a mile after a long drive and drew clear to win the $200,000 Richter Scale Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) in track record time at Gulfstream Park Saturday.
Saturday, March 12, 2005
Tracy Farmer's Sun King, impressive winner of his 3-year-old debut, worked five furlongs in :59 2/5 at Palm Meadows training center Saturday in preparation for the March 19 Tampa Bay Derby (gr. III).
Saturday, March 12, 2005
The Nick Zito-trained Commentator glided to an easy seven-length win in Thursday's $112,600 Perryville Stakes at Keeneland. Eurosilver was second, with Weigelia a half-length back in third.
Thursday, October 14, 2004
The $600,000 West Virginia Derby (gr. III) was the major mid-season test for Sir Shackleton, and he passed it with flying colors with a resounding victory over six other foes in the 1 1/8-mile event for 3-year-olds at Mountaineer Race Track & Gaming Resort.
Saturday, August 07, 2004
Royal Assault, content to lope along near the back of the pack early under a patient Pat Day, unleashed a strong run in the stretch to win the Sir Barton Stakes for 3-year-olds Saturday at Pimlico.
Saturday, May 15, 2004
Trainer Nick Zito, who saddled two horses in the Kentucky Derby (gr. I), could have two or even three in the Preakness Stakes (gr. I). Zito said owner Tracy Farmer and racing manager Lincoln Collins are seriously considering the second leg of the Triple Crown for Sir Shackleton and/or Royal Assault.
Tuesday, May 04, 2004
Favored Sir Shackleton, making his stakes debut, repelled the challenge of Courageous Act in the stretch and went on to post a convincing victory in Saturday's $110,800 Derby Trial (gr. III) on opening day at Churchill Downs.
Saturday, April 24, 2004
A colt from the second-crop of Forestry brought a final bid of $950,000 from Bob and Beverly Lewis to get the fourth day of the Keeneland September yearling sale off to another strong start Thursday.
Thursday, September 11, 2003
Comments from buyers, sellers, and Keeneland on the decline in average and gross prices during the unofficial "selected" sessions of the Keeneland September yearling sale:
Wednesday, September 11, 2002
