Furthest Land Hopes to Atone in San Antonio

Furthest Land, last as the 3-5 favorite a month ago in his first race since capturing the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I), can make amends Feb. 7 in the $150,000 San Antonio Handicap (gr. II)at Santa Anita.

Gio Ponti Tops U.S. Nominees to World Cup

Eclipse Award winners Gio Ponti and Lookin At Lucky are among the record 1,951 horses nominated to the March 27 Dubai World Cup program at the new Meydan Racecourse in Dubai.

Dancing Forever to India

Dancing Forever, one of the leading turf runners of 2008, has been sold to stand at stud at Nirmal Ruia's Hazara Stud near New Delhi, India.

Eclipse Awards: Event Full of Grace, History

Rachel Alexandra gets the main prize, but partisan crowd shows admiration for both at the 2009 Eclipse Awards.

2009 Eclipse Awards

Recap all of the Eclipse Award winners with this photo slideshow featuring photos from throughout the 2009 racing season.

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Champion Older Male: Gio Ponti

Son of Tale of the Cat dominated the turf division in a season that lacked a main track standout; finished second to Zenyatta in the Breeders' Cup Classic

Champion Breeder: Juddmonte Farms

Fifth win for Khalid Abdullah's global operation; won in 1995, 2001-03

Champion Turf Male: Gio Ponti

Castleton Lyons' homebred won four consecutive grade I turf races, ran second in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (gr. IT) and Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I).

Zenyatta Wins NTRA 'Moment of the Year'

The historic victory by the undefeated Zenyatta in the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) -- the first in the race by a female -- has been voted the 2009 National Thoroughbred Racing Association Moment of the Year.

Half-sister to Gio Ponti Brings $950,000

Craig Bandoroff of the Paris, Ky.-based Denali Stud, paid $950,000 for Bon Jovi Girl, a stakes-winning daughter of Malibu Moon at the Keeneland January horses of all ages sale.

Banner Year Comes to an End For Dominguez

The last day of 2009 found Ramon Dominguez in the same place as the first -- atop the jockey standings and in the winner's circle at Aqueduct.

Grateful Ascanio Moves On Without Frankel

Trainer Humberto Ascanio says he'll push on in 2010 without his longtime mentor and friend, Hall of Fame member Bobby Frankel, even with the loss of the barn's blue-blood horses from its central client, Juddmonte Farms.

NYRA 'Story of the Year' Voting Now Underway

Beginning Dec. 11 and through Jan. 15, 2010, fans can choose from among five compelling storylines some human, some equine and cast their ballots for NYRA "Story of the Year."

Poll: Best North American Older Male of 2009

Who should win the Eclipse Award as North America's top older male of 2009?

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Gio Ponti to Race in 2010

Gio Ponti, the leading candidate for champion turf male, will stay in training in 2010. Campaigned by Castleton Lyons, he is being pointed to the Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) in early spring.

Zenyatta Reclaims Top Spot in Poll by a Nose

Zenyatta reclaimed the top spot in the final National Thoroughbred Racing Association poll of 2009.

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.

Forget the Favorites, Gimme Some Prices

If there is one thing you can always count on in the Breeders' Cup it's that it will have it's share of longshot winners and mid-price overlays who get lost in the handicapping frenzy that is so much a part of the event.

Nov. 5: Lillie Acts Up; Zenyatta on Track

On an otherwise routine morning, Lillie Langtry tosses rider and forces trainer to climb aboard.

Classic Report: Some Final Angles

In looking at the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I), several thoughts and angles emerged that could have a bearing on the race. While they may turn out to be mere folly, they are at least worth mentioning just to make sure all bases are covered and there is less of a chance of Monday morning quarterbacking.

Rip Could Have Eclipsed 'Stars'

There is no way of telling what might have been in any given race had circumstances been different. And it would be seem audacious to say that Rip Van Winkle was the best horse in the Coral Eclipse Stakes (Eng-I), won by Sea the Stars, but a close look at the race reveals several reasons why that statement might have validity.

Classic Offers Tough Handicapping Challenge

A hodgepodge of horses from all walks of life will converge on the Santa Anita Pro-Ride Nov. 7, most of whom would not be a surprise should they win.

Champs Elysees Goes Out On Top at Woodbine

Favored Champs Elysees, in likely the final race of his career, went out on top with a come-from-behind victory in the $1,927,556 Pattison Canadian International (Can-IT) at Woodbine Oct. 17.

Marsh Side Defends in Canadian International

Marsh Side returns to defend his title in the $2-million Pattison Canadian International (Can-I) over the Woodbine turf course Oct. 17 against a field that includes German group I winner Jukebox Jury.

Countdown to the Cup: Beyond the Sea...a Bird

If Sea the Stars does not make the trip to California, which seems more likely than not, and joins Rachel Alexandra on the absentee list, it will create a void never before seen in the Breeders' Cup.

Gio Ponti Likely For BC Classic

Several trainers from the Oct. 3 races at Belmont indicated which way they were leaning for next month's Breeders' Cup.

Interpatation Stuns Gio Ponti in Turf Classic

Elliot Mavorah's Interpatation pulled a shocker in the $600,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational (gr. IT) and did it in sensational fashion. The 7-year-old gelding was passed by Gio Ponti with a furlong remaining, then re-rallied on the heavy favorite to score a 43-1 upset Oct. 3 at Belmont Park.

Gio Ponti Tries For Fifth Straight Grade I

Christophe Clement has had many talented stakes winners during his years as one of the nation's leading turf conditioners, but the French-born trainer now admits Gio Ponti may be at the top of that list. On Oct. 3, the 4-year-old son of Tale of the Cat seeks his fifth consecutive grade I grass victory when he lines up for the $600,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational at Belmont Park.

Horses Prepare for Belmont's Super Saturday

A trio of contenders for the Oct. 3 $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I) had their final tune-ups for the 1 1/4-mile race on a busy morning at Belmont Park Sept. 26.

Northern Dancer Inquiry Goes to Just as Well

Just as Well was awarded victory in the Northern Dancer Turf (Can-IT) at Woodbine Sept. 20 when the winner, Marsh Side, was disqualified for interference in the stretch.

Castleton Lyons Presents Check to PDJF

In a brief ceremony Sept. 18, representatives of Castleton Lyons presented a check for $29,400 to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund.

Strong Field Lines Up For Northern Dancer

Juddmonte Farms' homebred Champs Elysees is back to defend his title in the $750,000 Northern Dancer Turf Presented by Vtech (Can-IT), but will have to take down a deep field of turf routers Sept. 20 at Woodbine, including Melynk Racing Stables' Marchfield, who defeated the 6-year-old horse last month over the same course.

Grand Couturier Back in Form in Bowling Green

Favored Grand Couturier got the soft going he appreciates and a solid pace to chase, helping him to his first win of the year in the $158,500 Bowling Green Handicap (gr. IIT) at Belmont Park Sept. 13.

Grand Couturier Should Atone in Bowling Green

Grand Couturier heads into the $150,000 Bowling Green Handicap (gr. IIT) at Belmont Park Sept. 13 as the morning line favorite in spite of a fifth-place finish in Saratoga's Sword Dancer Invitational (gr. IT) last month that left trainer Robert Ribaudo a bit perplexed.

Turf Classic or C. Hirsch Next For Gio Ponti

Trainer Christophe Clement said Aug. 26 that Gio Ponti, winner of four consecutive grade I turf races, will race next in either the $600,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational (gr. IT) Oct. 3 at Belmont or the $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Turf Championship (gr. IT) Oct. 11 at Santa Anita in his final prep for the Breeders' Cup World Championships in November.

Telling Pulls 33-1 Shocker in Sword Dancer

A day of upsets at Saratoga was punctuated by the most shocking surprise of all in the $500,000 Sword Dancer Invitational (gr. IT), as the 33-1 longshot Telling took over approaching the top of the stretch and held off Better Talk Now for his first stakes win.

THS: Sword Dancer Invitational (Video)

Jason, Tom, and, Tim Holland from twinspires preview the Sword Dancer Invitational (gr. IT) at Saratoga on August 15.

And They're Off: August 12, 2009 (Video)

Lenny and Steve are back! Topics include night racing, breakdowns at Del Mar, Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta, Gio Ponti, and Bob Baffert's Hall of Fame induction.

Sword Dancer: Grand Couturier Eyes 3 in a Row

Marc Keller's Grand Couturier has only won three of the 14 stakes he has attempted in this country, but the 6-year-old horse sure knows how to pick his spots. All three of the scores have been in grade I races, including two in the prestigious Sword Dancer Invitational Stakes (gr. IT) at Saratoga.

Pair of Veterans Seek Another Sword Dancer

With two previous winners of the Sword Dancer Invitational Handicap (gr. IT) slated to contest this year's running at Saratoga Aug. 15, it's safe to say the day will not be lacking in excitement.