Wise Dan Seeks Second Stakes at Keeneland
A short field of five, three of which are graded stakes winners, will go postward in the April 16 Commonwealth Stakes (gr. II).
Esther Marr
Kathmanblu Heads Deep Ashland Field
Five D Thoroughbreds and Wind River Stables' homebred filly Kathmanblu, a stakes winner on grass and dirt, will attempt to transfer that form to Keeneland's Polytrack surface April 9 in the Central Bank Ashland (gr. I).
Dancinginherdreams Still Dreaming of the Oaks
Trainer John Ward has a master plan in mind for the daughter of Tapit. Read Blog
Women Riders Stepping Up
- By Esther Marr
Esther Marr talks with Karma Kitaj, author of the book 'Women Riders Who Could...and Did: Life Stories of Top Level Equestriennes.' Read Blog
Actress Taylor Had Ties to Horse Racing
- By Esther Marr
Iconic actress Elizabeth Taylor, who had a lifelong interest in horses and starred in the film "National Velvet," died March 23 at age 79.
Ball Four Retired, Sent to Old Friends
Ball Four, a son of Grand Slam, has been retired and sent to Old Friends near Midway, Ky. Michael Blowen, owner of Old Friends related the story of how he got the gelding.
Retired Racehorse Spotlight: Icy Edge
- By Esther Marr
Sometimes it seems that certain horse-rider combinations were just meant to be. Read Blog
JRA Reports Farms OK But Tracks Damaged
Reports from different areas of Japan have so far indicated no major farm damage on Hokkaido as a result of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. Tracks and OTBs in the Northeast district have been damaged.
Key Issues Discussed at KY Immigration Forum
The fairly new concept of e-verification for immigration workers was one of the topics at a March 8 forum hosted by Blue Grass Farms Charities in conjunction with attorneys from Wyatt, Tarrant and Combs in Lexington.
Jones Resigns as Chairman of KEEP
Brereton Jones, who has served as chairman of the Kentucky Equine Education Project since it was formed in May 2004, has resigned from his position.
Retired Racehorse Spotlight: Felicity & Windy
- By Esther Marr
Susies Cameo Girl ran 48 times, and is now being retrained as hunter jumper Felicity. Read Blog
Racing Legislation Clears GA Committee
Legislation that would allow Georgians to vote on whether horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering should be brought to the Peach State passed out of the Regulated Industries Committee on a unanimous vote March 2.
Devil May Care Still Not Fully Recovered
Multiple grade I winner Devil May Care, who finished 10th in the 2010 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), continues to struggle from complications of a non-contagious form of hepatitis.
GA Racing Resolution Assigned to Committee
A constitutional amendment that would allow Georgia voters to decide on legalizing horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering in their cities was assigned to a House Regulated Industries Committee during the week of Feb. 7.
Pinnacle in Negotiations for 2011 Race Dates
The owners of the Detroit, Mich.-area Pinnacle Racecourse, which has been shuttered since November due to financial problems, including property tax issues, still want to host a limited racing schedule in 2011.
Blue Love: The Story of Blue Blue Sea
- By Esther Marr
Maryland resident Miranda Prather has an amazing story to tell about how her horse overcame odds by surviving a malabsorbtion disorder and several other health issues. Read Blog
National Racing Compact Bill Clears KY Senate
Following testimony by horse racing officials, legislation authorizing Kentucky to join a proposed National Racing Compact passed through the Senate State and Local Government Committee and the full Senate Feb. 9.
Georgia Horse Racing Resolution Introduced
Georgia Republican Rep. Harry Geisinger announced Feb. 8 his filing of House Resolution 186, a constitutional amendment that would allow Georgia voters to decide whether or not to allow horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering.
KY Immigration Proposal Worries Industry
After being on the national back burner for the last three years, the illegal immigration issue has resurfaced again in Kentucky in the form of a bill that breezed through the Senate in early January.
Friends With Cows: The Story of Quest
- By Esther Marr
Shannon Hahn relates the story of an adopted Thoroughbred named Quest, and talks about Double L Equine Rescue and Sanctuary's Valentine's Day fundraiser. Read Blog
Canterbury Announces 2011 Stakes Schedule
Canterbury Park's 2011 Thoroughbred stakes schedule features 28 races worth $1.215 million in purses, highlighted by the $60,000 Minnesota Oaks and Derby, which are slated for Aug. 13 at the Shakopee, Minn. track.
First Jockey Eclipse Award for Dominguez
While Venezuelan-born jockey Ramon Dominguez may have not posted a Triple Crown or Breeders' Cup victory in 2010, he vaulted above the rest and earned his first Eclipse Award as the top rider in North America.
KTA Discusses Ways to Increase Purses
Several Thoroughbred industry officials met in Frankfort, Ky., Jan. 14 to discuss a 2011 legislative plan for increasing purses and breed development funds.
Hotstufanthensome Finds a Home!
- By Esther Marr
New Vocations announced Jan. 12 that the gelding would be going to Akindale Thoroughbred Rescue. Read Blog
Moss, Stall Weigh in on HOY Debate
- By Esther Marr
Owner Jerry Moss and trainer Al Stall gave their final thoughts on the Horse of the Year debate during a National Thoroughbred Racing Association teleconference Jan. 13.
Hotstufanthensome: Needs a Place to Call Home
- By Esther Marr
Dual graded stakes winner and earner of more than $750,000, facing a dire situation. Read Blog
HFL Sport Science Laboratory Opens in KY
Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear Dec. 14 joined community leaders and executives of HFL Sport Science Inc. to celebrate the grand opening of the company's new laboratory in Lexington.
Arctic Bright: Hollywood or Bust
- By Esther Marr
Beyond the Blinkers tells more about the story of the white Thoroughbred going to Hollywood. Read Blog
All-White Thoroughbred is Hollywood-Bound
Arctic Bright, an all-white Thoroughbred that failed to hit the board in two starts, will pursue a new career in the movie business under well-known trainer Rex Peterson.
Indian Buyers Active Again at Keeneland
Due to the recent end of a five-year ban that prohibited the importation of horses from the U.S. to India, breeders and owners from the latter country have had a strong presence this year at the Keeneland November sale.
Pinnacle to Suspend Simulcast Operations
Pinnacle Race Course officials shut down the Detroit, Mich.-area track following the end of its live meet Oct. 31 and announced that simulcast operations would be suspended until at least the spring 2011.
Goldikova Owners Buy Deputy Minister Mare
- By Esther Marr
- Sales, Kentucky
Brothers Alain and Gerard Wertheimer went to $825,000 for Just Reward (by Deputy Minister), the dam of grade I winner Persistently, during the Nov. 8 session of the Keeneland November breeding stock sale.
Coolmore Buys Second Seven-Figure Mare
- By Esther Marr
- Sales, Kentucky
Golden Ballet, a stakes-winning and grade I producing broodmare by Moscow Ballet, brought $1.4 million during the first session of the Keeneland November breeding stock sale.
Chamberlain Bridge Gets Up to Win Turf Sprint
Carl Moore Management's 6-year-old gelding Chamberlain Bridge posted an exciting, come-from-behind victory when gaining the lead in the final 50 yards of the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (gr. II).
Firestones Looking for Another Epic Victory
If Winchester were to capture the Nov. 6 Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Turf, the Virginia homebred would provide his owners, Bertram and Diana Firestone, with yet another prestigious victory for the history books.
Groom Honored by RTCA for Selfless Acts
Daniel Orantes, 29, was presented with the Race Track Chaplaincy of America's White Horse Award at the organization's annual luncheon at Churchill Downs Nov. 4.
Smarty Jones Fans Bid Farewell
A day after a warm welcoming party was given for the champion mare Zenyatta at Churchill Downs, a plethora of Smarty Jones fans gathered at Three Chimney's Farm near Midway, Ky., to say goodbye to the Kentucky Derby winner.
Telling: A Longshot With a Tale to Tell
In 2009, things didn't look good for Telling from the start of the Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) at Santa Anita Park, where he finished a distant seventh, beaten 10 1/4 lengths by the winner Conduit.
Top Mare Zenyatta Arrives at Churchill Downs
Accompanied by a police escort, a van carrying Zenyatta rolled into the stable area of Churchill Downs and stopped at Barn 41 at 12:07 p.m. ET Tuesday, Nov. 2.
Champ Pegasus: Ready for BC Turf Competition
Champ Pegasus, a two-time graded stakes winner this year, is ready to take on foreign contenders in the Nov. 6 Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) at Churchill Downs.
Devil May Care Off BC Trail Due to Hepatitis
After being diagnosed with a non-contagious case of hepatitis Oct. 7, multiple grade I winner and Kentucky Derby (gr. I) finisher Devil May Care will skip the Nov. 5 Ladies Classic (gr. I) at Churchill Downs.
Defending Champ Informed Decision Heads TCA
Augustin Stable's Informed Decision will seek to become only the second horse to win the Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (gr. II) in consecutive years when she faces eight rivals in the six-furlong sprint.
Blind Luck Draws Inside Post in Cotillion
Blind Luck, whose inspiring rags-to-riches story has garnered her a sizable fan base, is looking to add an eighth graded stakes victory to her resume in the Oct. 2 Fitz Dixon Cotillion Stakes (gr. II) at Parx Racing.
Courageous Comet Looking to Shine at WEG
Courageous Comet, a retired Thoroughbred ridden by Becky Holder, is looking to make his mark at the FEI World Equestrian Games in Lexington, which started Sept. 25.
Foreign Influences Felt at Keeneland
- By Esther Marr
- Sales, Kentucky
Every year, the Keeneland September yearling sale is saturated with foreign buyers wishing to add some prominent North American bloodlines to their respective racing industries, and this year's auction has been no exception.
Mine That Bird's Brother Sells for $250,000
- By Esther Marr
- Sales, Kentucky
A half brother to Mine That Bird was bought for $250,000 by Jerry Crawford, manager of Donegal Racing, at Keeneland Sept. 16. He was consigned by Bona Terra Stud, agent for Halecky and Needham.
Smart Strike Filly Brings $550,000
- By Esther Marr
- Sales, Kentucky
A Smart Strike filly, the second yearling of the day to bring $550,000 was bought by investment manager George Bolton from Gainesway, agent for Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings.
Buyers, Sellers React to Book Two Format
- By Esther Marr
- Sales, Kentucky
Following the first few days of Book Two horses being offered under a new format at the Keeneland September yearling sale, buyers and consignors had a chance to reflect on the positives and negatives of the change.
$550,000 Smart Strike Colt Leads Session
- By Esther Marr
- Sales, Kentucky
A $550,000 Smart Strike colt fetched $550,000 during the Sept. 16 session of the Keeneland September yearling sale. Bought by Bradley Weisbord, for Ahmed Zayat's Zayat Stables, he was consigned by Gainesway, agent.
Catching up With Ron McAnally
- By Esther Marr
- Sales, Kentucky
Trainer Ron McAnally, who is selling a couple horses in book two at the Keeneland September yearling sale, is still basking in the victory of Eclair de Lune in the Aug. 21 Beverly D. (gr. IT).
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