Claire Crosby, editor of BloodHorse Daily, has melded her love for human-interest journalism and the equine breed into a successful turf writing career. Since her first freelance article on racing was published at BloodHorse.com in 2005, her byline has appeared in the New York Times, ESPN The Magazine, and on ESPN.com, among others. She is the winner of the 2011 Eclipse Award for Feature/Commentary, the 2013 Joe Hirsch Memorial Award (feature/advance division), and the 2008 Louisville Metro Journalism Award for Sports Writing. She is an avid equestrian and therapeutic riding instructor.
Stronach Stables' homebred Something Awesome came to Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races on a roll, Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado arrived on a mission, and the two brought home the money April 21 in the $1.2 million Charles Town Classic (G2).
Her last start was a runner-up finish in the July 8 Belmont Oaks Invitational (G1T) at Belmont Park, but Peter Brant's Sistercharlie was primed for a big effort April 14 in the $350,000 Coolmore Jenny Wiley Stakes (G1T) at Keeneland.
The 5-year-old daughter of Hat Trick dug deep to run down European champion Lady Aurelia in the final sixteenth of the $100,000 Giant's Causeway Stakes at Keeneland.
BloodHorse Visuals Director Anne Eberhardt Keogh and longtime freelance photographer Enzina Mastrippolito were honored April 11 with the Charles W. Engelhard Award at the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders' Kentucky-bred champions awards.
Ruis Racing's Medaglia d'Oro colt drew on even terms with a workmate in mid-stretch after he tracked about two lengths behind early, hit the wire in 1:01 1/5 in front by a neck, and surged into his gallop out with powerful strides.
After winning a Feb. 18 allowance/optional claimer by a neck going a mile and 70 yards at the New Orleans track, the former claimer thrust herself into contention for the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) with a qualifying score.
When Good Samaritan galloped last out of the gate for his season debut in the $376,000 New Orleans Handicap (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, jockey Joel Rosario felt no concern.
Tom Benson, a Louisiana sports icon who took his football and his basketball with a healthy side of horse racing, died March 15 at Oschner Medical Center in Jefferson, La., with his wife Gayle Marie Benson at his side. He was 90.
Bowies Hero upset the $400,000 Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes (G1T) March 10 at Santa Anita Park, as favored World Approval finished fifth.
The strong-galloping filly all but put herself in the entry box for the $225,000 Hillsborough Stakes (G2T) with the way she trained in Florida the past few months for Ken McPeek, who will send her out to her first start as a 4-year-old March 10.
The Ontario-bred son of Gio Ponti gave the owners a 1-2 finish in the Barbadian group 1 and became their third Gold Cup winner in the past five years—all trained by Mike Maker—when he ran down stablemate Shining Copper to secure a half-length win.
Midnight Bisou skipped through the slop with her ears pricked March 3 to win the $100,000 Santa Ysabel Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park by 2 1/4 lengths, and the way she did it has her connections dreaming of lilies on the first Friday in May.
Just 30 days after his maiden-breaking score going six furlongs at first asking, the chestnut colt took to the track again at Oaklawn Park and won a two-turn mile allowance/optional claimer.
The 6-year-old Stormy Atlantic gelding led a charge of Peter Miller trainees through the stretch of the turf sprint and held off stablemates Stormy Liberal and Calculator to claim his first graded stakes victory.
The 2017 champion 2-year-old filly has been on the muscle with trainer Ralph Nicks in Florida, and finally was able to stretch her legs for the first time this season with a three-furlong move in :38.45.
Straight off the bench into the $200,000 Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, Monomoy Girl shook off the rust and took home the victory, along with 50 points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks.
Highway Star has been assigned as the 124-pound highweight, and was given the outside post in a field of 11 older fillies and mares for the Barbara Fitchie, facing a tough task off the layoff in her 5-year-old debut against some sharp rivals.
BloodHorse Daily editor Claire Novak recaps the Fasig-Tipton winter mixed sale, including comments from Codee Guffey, Glenn Brok, and Boyd Browning. Sponsored by Taylor Made Sales Agency.
The champion racemare will wait for her partner and chase the AU$600,000 TAB Chipping Norton Stakes (G1) March 3 at Royal Randwick rather than racing Feb. 17 in the Apollo Stakes (G2) without him, trainer Chris Waller announced Feb. 5.
Coming off a win in the Jan. 6 San Gabriel Stakes (G2T), 4-5 favorite Itsinthepost hit the front with a quarter mile to run in the 1 1/4-mile San Marcos, and somehow repelled the late challenge of longshot Hayabusa One.
Wilbo got the early jump on even-money favorite Ivan Fallunovalot for a second straight race and drew off to win by two lengths over the two-time King Cotton Stakes winner in the 68th renewal of the $125,000 sprint stakes Feb. 3 at Oaklawn Park.
A four-time grade 1 winner who first raced in Panama before he achieved top success in the United States, Private Zone was euthanized Feb. 3 in Kentucky after multiple weeks of treatment for a form of colic.
St Patrick's Day, the 3-year-old full brother to Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, is in Ireland for rehabilitation from a tendon injury, a representative from Coolmore confirmed Feb. 1.
BloodHorse Daily editor Claire Novak interviews Mark Taylor and Logan Payne in this exclusive sale preview, brought to you by Taylor Made Sales Agency.
2017 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Always Dreaming has members of his jam-packed partnership looking forward to a 4-year-old campaign, and took strides toward fulfilling those dreams Jan. 29 when he returned to the work tab in Florida.
Season debuts are drawing near for Untamed Domain and Best Performance, two runners who could become stars in their respective divisions.
Hogy and Bigger Picture teamed up to give Maker and jockey Jose Ortiz a stakes double—Hogy won the Frontier Utilities Turf Sprint going five furlongs, while Bigger Picture took the 1 1/2 mile John B. Connally Turf Cup Stakes (G3) for the second year.
When Jose Ortiz wasn’t riding in New York last year, he’d slip down to Parx Racing in pursuit of additional winners. A four-hour round-trip commute was nothing if it led up the ladder.
Live Oak Plantation’s homebred World Approval was already a grade 1 winner when the calendar turned, courtesy of his 2016 United Nations Stakes (G1T) score—and trainer Mark Casse had a plan.
Anne D. Scott's Galleon Mast returned to winning ways Jan. 20 in the $150,000 Sunshine Millions Turf Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
Reddam Racing's Mopotism had to dig deep to get her first graded stakes score, but she earned it in thrilling fashion Jan. 13 in the $200,000 La Canada Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park.
Little Red Feather Racing and Michelle Nevin's My Boy Tate became the first black-type winner for his sire, Boys at Tosconova, when he took the $100,000 Say Florida Sandy Stakes Jan. 13 at Aqueduct Racetrack.
After setting the pace for now-retired champion Big Blue Kitten, 8-year-old Shining Copper has carried on to earn graded accolades of his own—the latest of which set him up for a trip to compete in the Barbados Gold Cup.
Multiple grade 1 winner and Canadian champion Shaman Ghost will enter stud at Tommy Town Thoroughbreds near Santa Ynez, Calif., his connections announced Jan. 11.
Claire Crosby recaps book 1 of the the Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale, including comments from agent Steve Young and Geoffrey Russell of Keeneland. Sponsored by Taylor Made Sales Agency.
Multiple graded stakes-placed Majestic Quality led the early action Jan. 8 at the Keeneland January horses of all ages sale, when Shadai Farm went to $350,000 to take home the 4-year-old daughter of Quality Road.
The Jeff Mullins trainee kicked off 2018 with a 1 1/4-length victory Jan. 6 in the $200,000 San Gabriel Stakes (G2T), a race in which he was second upon his stakes debut in 2017.
Claire Crosby previews the Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale, including comments from Bill Farish of Lane's End regarding offspring selling by Honor Code, Liam's Map, Tonalist, and Mr Speaker. Sponsored by Taylor Made Sales Agency
Scrambled, the first foal out of grade 1 winner Egg Drop, is nearing his debut at Santa Anita Park.
Even after winning the $75,000 Woodchopper Stakes by 1 3/4 lengths over First Premio, Flurry Racing Stables' Mr. Misunderstood galloped back under Bridgmohan tough and full of run.
Violence, who will stand the 2018 season at Hill 'n' Dale near Lexington for $25,000, entered Saturday atop the first-crop sire leaderboard with 31 winners through Dec. 29, and Peace took that total to 32 with his closing run.
Ivan Rodriguez's 4-year-old son of Freud landed his first top-level score for trainer Jorge Navarro with a 5 1/4-length victory over Mind Your Biscuits in the $750,000 Cigar Mile Handicap Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) Dec. 2 at Aqueduct Racetrack.
His stablemate may have won the grade 1, but Analyze It put forward an impressive flourish on a strong day for trainer Chad Brown when he cruised home an easy winner of the $100,000 Cecil B. DeMille Stakes (G3T) at Del Mar.
One year after winning the Marathon Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park, the 6-year-old Tapit gelding once again found his way to the winner's circle—this time in the $150,000 Hawthorne Gold Cup (G3) at Hawthorne Racecourse.
Mark Casse sent Road to Victory down from Woodbine to find out if she was a quality dirt horse, and the 2-year-old filly answered that question with an emphatic performance Nov. 25 in the $200,000 Golden Rod Stakes (G2).
A fighting spirit enabled the fiesty runner to thrive, but it took patience, gelding, 17 starts, a trip to California, and the faith of his Phillips Racing Partnership connections to unearth the talent they knew ran in his veins.
According to Equineline reports, El Padrino had 22 foals born this year from his total 133 foals from three crops to date. As of Nov. 24, he bred 55 mares during the 2017 season.
Claire Novak recaps day 4 of the Keeneland November sale with a look at the top hips of the day, as well as comments from John Sikura, Matt Lyons, and Michael Hernon. Brought to you by Taylor Made Sales Agency.
Claire Novak recaps day 3 of the Keeneland November sale with a look at the top hips of the day and comments Chris Richardson, Managing Director of Cheveley Park Stud and Yukio Shimokobe of Shimokobe Farm. Brought to you by Taylor Made Sales Agency.
Claire Novak recaps the second day of the Keeneland November sale with a look at the top hips and comments from Craig Bandoroff of Denali Stud, Jane Lyon of Summer Wind Farm, and Fernando Diaz-Valdes. Brought to you by Taylor Made Sales Agency.
