Union Rags

Keeneland January Sale Ends With Declines

• By Glenye Cain Oakford
• January 15, 2015
• Sales, Kentucky

Keeneland's January horses of all ages sale, topped by $2.2 million mare Up, closed Jan. 15 with across-the-board declines in a year that featured no major dispersals.

Declaration of War Moving to Ashford Stud

• By Blood-Horse Staff
• October 22, 2014
• Breeding, International, Kentucky

Declaration of War, third on his only start on dirt in last year's Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I), will relocate to Coolmore's Ashford Stud near Versailles, Ky., for the 2015 breeding season, it was announced Oct. 22.

Union Rags' First Foal Is a Colt

• By Blood-Horse Staff
• January 20, 2014
• Breeding, Kentucky

The colt was born at William Shively's Dixiana Farm and is out of Shively's stakes winner Gleaming.

Pletcher to Saddle Record Five Belmont Horses

• By Frank Angst
• June 7, 2013
• Racing, Triple Crown, Northeast Region

Todd Pletcher will set a record if all five 3-year-olds he entered start in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I), but the multiple Eclipse Award-winning trainer is most concerned about the race result.

Pedigree Analysis: Appreciation Comes Late

• May 7, 2013
• Breeding

by John P. Sparkman
Despite admirable objective accomplishments, some very good sires like Dixie Union seem fated not to be fully appreciated within their lifetimes.

War Power to Stand at Gibson in Washington

• By Blood-Horse Staff
• February 18, 2013
• Breeding, West Region

Gibson Thoroughbred Farm in Washington state has purchased War Power, a multiple winner by Pulpit out of a half sister to 2012 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Union Rags.

BloodHorse.com: 2012 In Review

• January 2, 2013

Bloodhorse.com's most popular stories, blogs, videos, slideshows, and horse profiles for 2012.

Slideshow: New Sires of 2013

• December 7, 2012

A visual look at some of the top new stallions for 2013. View Slideshow

Overanalyze Rebounding Toward Classics

• By Alan Porter
• December 7, 2012
• Breeding, Triple Crown

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
Distance concerns were, to a degree, dispelled by his determined triumph over the Remsen's nine furlongs.

THS: The Kentucky Derby

• November 16, 2012

Jason and Tom give their picks for the 138th Kentucky Derby. Watch Video

Smart Strike's Fee Remains at $85,000 in 2013

• By Blood-Horse Staff
• November 5, 2012
• Breeding, International, Kentucky

Lane's End stallion Smart Strike, a two-time leading sire, will stand in 2013 for $85,000, the same fee he stood for in 2012.

Champion and BC Winner Hansen Retired

• By Blood-Horse Staff
• September 17, 2012
• Breeding, Kentucky

Hansen, last year's champion 2-year-old male and Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) winner, has been retired from racing due to a tendon injury.

Union Rags to Enter Stud at Lane's End

• By Blood-Horse Staff
• August 17, 2012
• Breeding, Kentucky

Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Union Rags will enter stud next year at William S. Farish's Lane's End Farm near Versailles, Ky., the farm announced Aug. 16.

Paynter Heads $1 Million Haskell Invitational

• By Claire Novak
• July 26, 2012
• Racing, Northeast Region

Five other contenders line up for their shot at a $1 million purse, joining the Bob Baffert trainee in trying to bring excitement to a summer season lacking major 3-year-old stars.

Belmont Stakes Winner Union Rags Retired

• July 20, 2012
• Racing, Northeast Region

Owner Phyllis Wyeth is now shopping for a stud deal for Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Union Rags, her adviser Russell Jones said July 20.

Union Rags Sidelined by Suspensory Lesion

• By Blood-Horse Staff
• July 11, 2012
• Racing, Northeast Region

Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Union Rags has sustained a minor suspensory injury and will miss the remainder of the 2012 season.

Jockey Nominees Announced for ESPY Awards

• By Blood-Horse Staff
• June 27, 2012
• Racing

Jockeys Javier Castellano, Ramon Dominguez, Mario Gutierrez, and John Velazquez are the four nominees in the "Best Jockey" category for the 20th annual ESPY awards, ESPN announced June 27

Union Rags Dealt Stamina in Genetic Shuffle

• By Alan Porter
• June 22, 2012
• Breeding

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
Leading up to the 2012 classics, many speculated that Union Rags could be the horse to end the long wait for a 12th winner of the U.S. Triple Crown.

No Surgery on Collarbone for Jockey Velazquez

• By Claire Novak
• June 21, 2012
• Racing, Northeast Region

Velazquez will not require surgery on a broken right collarbone sustained in a June 16 riding accident at Churchill Downs, according to a medical update issued June 21 by the jockey's wife.

2012 Triple Crown Review

• By Steve Haskin
• June 20, 2012

This free report is a look back at the 2012 Triple Crown by award-winning turf writer Steve Haskin. Download Report

Turmoil and Triumph - By Eric Mitchell

• By Eric Mitchell
• June 12, 2012
• Triple Crown

Amid the chaos in New York, Union Rags delivers a brilliant performance. read blog

Haskin's Belmont Recap: Rag Time

• By Steve Haskin
• June 11, 2012
• Triple Crown

In his hauntingly melodic song, "Hallelujah," Leonard Cohen wrote, "Baby I've been here before. I know this room, I've walked this floor." read blog

After the Wire - 6/10/2012

• By Evan Hammonds
• June 10, 2012
• Triple Crown

Evan Hammonds recaps the Belmont Stakes (gr. I), True North Handicap (gr. II), Just A Game Stakes (gr. I), and Manhattan Handicap (gr. IT). watch video

Union Rags Quickly Ships Back to Fair Hill

• By Blood-Horse Staff
• June 10, 2012
• Triple Crown, Northeast Region

Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Union Rags was a happy horse this morning in Michael Matz's barn at the Fair Hill training center in Elkton, Md.

Belmont Overnight Ratings Up 13%

• By Blood-Horse Staff
• June 10, 2012
• Triple Crown, Northeast Region

Overnight ratings for the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) on NBC soared in spite of the scratch of Triple Crown-hopeful I'll Have Another, topping last year's overnight by 13% and the 2010 overnight by 74%.

Slideshow: Belmont Stakes 144

• June 10, 2012
• Triple Crown

View the excitement of Belmont Stakes 144. view slideshow

2012 Belmont Stakes Wrap

• June 9, 2012
• Triple Crown

Lenny Shulman recaps the exciting 2012 Belmont Stakes won by Union Rags. Sponsored by Three Chimneys Farm. Watch Video

2012 Belmont Stakes Press Conference

• June 9, 2012
• Triple Crown

Trainer Michael Matz and Jockey John Velazquez answer questions after Union Rags' victory in the 2012 Belmont Stakes. Watch Video

Haskin's Belmont Rept: A Day With Union Rags

• By Steve Haskin
• June 9, 2012
• Triple Crown

A photo gallery of a typical morning with Belmont Stakes contender Union Rags. read blog

Union Rags Earns Riches in Thrilling Belmont

• By Jack Shinar
• June 9, 2012
• Triple Crown, Northeast Region

Union Rags, closing with urgency along the rail under John Velazquez, got up in the final couple of strides to win a heart-pounding finish over Paynter in the 2012 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) June 9.

THS: The Belmont Stakes

• June 9, 2012

Tom LaMarra and Pete Denk handicap the Belmont Stakes. Sponsored by TVG. Watch Video

Haskin's Belmont Report: Leftovers

• By Steve Haskin
• June 9, 2012
• Triple Crown

We won't even begin to express our disappointment and disgust over the scratch of I'll Have Another. All we will do for now is kill the paragraphs already written and leave the leftovers. This is what is left of the Belmont. Read Blog

Dullahan is 9-5 Morning Line Belmont Favorite

• By Eric Mitchell
• June 8, 2012
• Triple Crown, Northeast Region

Donegal Racing's Belmont contender is now the 9-5 favorite in Saturday's classic. Dullahan finished third in the Kentucky Derby and skipped the Preakness Stakes.

Live Blog - TODAY, June 8 at NOON ET

• June 8, 2012

Join Tom LaMarra and Pete Denk to talk Belmont Stakes and the Triple Crown. Read Transcript

I'll Have Another Bucking Trends in Belmont

• By Jack Shinar
• June 8, 2012
• Triple Crown, Northeast Region

When I'll Have Another attempts to become the 12th Triple Crown winner in racing history June 9 in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I), he will be bucking more than the 34-year gap since the last one.

Some Trainers Still Upset With Stakes Barn

• By Ron Mitchell
• June 7, 2012
• Triple Crown

A day after the dozen Belmont Stakes (gr. I) horses were relocated to a designated barn, some trainers still expressed dissatisfaction with the arrangement and questioned why it wasn't handled differently.

Belmont Stakes News Minute 06/07/2012

• June 7, 2012

Lenny Shulman reports on the days news, including Union Rags' first tour of the Belmont track, I'll Have Another, and the weather. Sponsored by Three Chimneys Farm. Watch Video

On Location - Michael Matz at Belmont Park

• By Ron Mitchell
• June 7, 2012
• Triple Crown

Trainer Michael Matz comments on his Belmont contender Union Rags. watch video

I'll Have Another Draws Post 11 for Belmont

• By Blood-Horse Staff
• June 6, 2012
• Triple Crown, Northeast Region

I'll Have Another gets another outside draw, post 11 of 12, for the Belmont Stakes (gr. I). The son of Flower Alley bids to become racing's 12th winner of the Triple Crown in the "Test of the Champion" June 9.

2012 Belmont Stakes - Predict the Order

• June 6, 2012
• Triple Crown

Will I'll Have Another be crowned as Triple Crown winner number 12? Or will there be a spoiler? Predict the Order

Move to Belmont Stakes Barn Orderly

• By Ron Mitchell
• June 6, 2012
• Triple Crown, Northeast Region

The move of all horses entered in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) to Barn 2 at Belmont Park was an orderly process June 6, with 4-5 morning-line favorite I'll Have Another the last to arrive just a few minutes past noon.

Belmont News Minute: 06/06/2012

• June 6, 2012
• Triple Crown

Lenny Shulman reports on the draw, the detention barn, and the weather. Sponsored by Three Chimneys Farm. Watch Video

Belmont News Minute - 6/4/2012

• By Steve Haskin
• June 4, 2012
• Triple Crown

Steve Haskin examines works for Belmont Stakes contenders Atigun, Dullahan, Paynter, Street Life, Unstoppable U, Guyana Star Dweej, and Union Rags. watch video

Dullahan Leads Belmont Workers on June 3

• June 3, 2012
• Triple Crown, Northeast Region

With the rain having moved out of the New York area, the June 3 work tab at Belmont Park was busy, with five contenders for the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) putting in their final workouts.

Final Workout Plans for Belmont Contenders

• By Blood-Horse Staff
• June 1, 2012
• Triple Crown, Northeast Region

With two Belmont Stakes (gr. I) hopefuls having completed their final workouts, trainers of other contenders for the June 9 classic have firmed up their plans.

THS: Belmont Stakes Preview

• May 31, 2012
• Triple Crown

Tom and new co-host Pete Denk present an early look at the Belmont Stakes. Sponsored by TVG. Watch Video

'Stakes' Barn to Be Used for Belmont Horses

• By Steve Haskin
• May 30, 2012
• Triple Crown, Northeast Region

The New York State Racing and Wagering Board has issued a set of protocols for horses running in the Belmont Stakes, the most notable one being the use of a stakes barn, to which all Belmont starters must go beginning June 6.

I'll Have Another Gallops at Belmont Park

• By Blood-Horse Staff
• May 25, 2012
• Triple Crown, Northeast Region

With a steady rain falling, dual classic winner I'll Have Another galloped a mile at Belmont Park May 25 as he continued to prepare for attempt at history in the June 9 Belmont Stakes (gr. I).

Union Rags Works for Belmont Stakes

• By Steve Haskin
• May 24, 2012
• Triple Crown

Fountain of Youth winner is looking for a clean trip this time under John Velazquez.

Velazquez Named to Ride Union Rags in Belmont

• By Esther Marr
• May 22, 2012
• Triple Crown, Northeast Region

Trainer Michael Matz confirmed May 22 that Union Rags will be ridden by jockey John Velazquez in the June 9 Belmont Stakes (gr. I).