When Royal Ascot ended its five-day meet, there was a sense of sadness, as if something beautiful, yet comforting, was taken away after filling four and a half hours each morning with a kaleidoscope of images and colors and unbridled emotion.
Here we are once again following yet another John Nerud coup. He is now responsible this year alone for Arrogate, Always Dreaming, Tapwrit, Gun Runner, Classic Empire, and after today, Lady Aurelia.
Humans and animals overcoming physical handicaps and going on to achieve great things has always been a sure way to bring out the sentimental side of people, who admire grit and resolve in the face of adversity.
The fairy tale journey of Mucho Macho Man and trainer Kathy Ritvo that began on Father's Day 2008.
To set the stage for Hansel's Belmont victory, one must go back to Churchill Downs, where the colt had thrown in an inexplicably bad performance in the Kentucky Derby, finishing 10th after looking like a winner at the top of the stretch.
Tonalist...Frosted...Creator...Tapwrit. If not for Triple Crown winner American Pharoah defeating Frosted in 2015, Tapwrit would have been Tapit's fourth consecutive Belmont Stakes winner.
Here we are at the end of the road--the often unpredictable Belmont Stakes, without the Kentucky Derby or Preakness winner, without the favorite Classic Empire, and with a cloud of uncertainty hanging over the head of the Japanese invader Epicharis.
Steve Haskin reflects on the legacy of 1994 Horse of the Year Holy Bull.
Let's start off by saying what has happened in the past often has no bearing on what is going to happen in the future. In Thoroughbred racing, they call them past performances for a reason.
There was no doubt that A.P. Indy would be a heavy favorite in the Belmont Stakes. All that was left was for the colt to have his all-important major work. Unfortunately. the night before it poured at Belmont, turning the track into a quagmire.
If you want to get a bit more adventurous and take a shot on a horse who not only could win the Belmont, he could win in impressive fashion, then why not take a good hard look at the Japanese invader Epicharis.
Damascus went into the August 5 American Derby having already run 10 times as a 3-year-old, including victories in the Preakness and Belmont Stakes.
Steve Haskin reflects on Cloud Computing's victory in the 2017 Preakness Stakes.
If you enjoyed the Kentucky Derby dream, no sense waking up now. You might as well keep dreaming until you are jolted back to reality, if and when that ever occurs.
Of all the stakes to change to the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial, none would have made the Hall of Fame trainer happier than the King's Bishop.
Todd Pletcher and old-school training have never exactly been synonymous. Pletcher is known for being a conservative trainer, preferring long periods of time between races.
As I have done the past several years, I thought it would be interesting to go back week by week and re-live the observations, race reports, workout reports, and any news regarding the eventual Kentucky Derby winner.
Steve shares stories about the connections of Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming.
Steve announces his final selections and wagers for the 2017 Kentucky Derby.
The final Derby Dozen for 2017. Do you agree with Steve's list? How would you rank them?
Racing fans who were not around before the 1980s may find it difficult to appreciate just how much the dynamics of the Kentucky Derby have changed since then and how much more difficult the race is to win.
A BloodHorse magazine (issue of May 9, 2015) recap of American Pharoah's 2015 Kentucky Derby victory. The story carried the headline, "A Part of History, American Pharoah allows Ahmed Zayat to enter the Derby winner’s circle."
The details in the Dozen make the difference as the Derby draws near.
The 1992 Run for the Roses will always be remembered for the phenomenon known as Arazimania.
How did the Arkansas Derby impact the Derby Dozen? Was Classic Empire's performance enough to propel him back to the top.
Steve Haskin shares memories of covering the Kentucky Derby
How did the weekend stakes results impact the Derby Dozen? Did Blue Grass winner Irap make the cut?
With Awesome Gem arriving at his new home at Old Friends April 7 I thought it would be an appropriate time to reprint a column I wrote in 2010 on this old warrior and the person whose life he changed.
There's a new number one in the Derby Dozen, and the return of an old face at number 12
John Nerud's influence can be found in both the male and female family of Arrogate, the sensational Travers, Breeders' Cup Classic, and Pegasus World Cup winner who set off a frenzy of superlatives with his incredible victory in the Dubai World Cup.
Arrogate is as great as each individual perceives him, and it has nothing to do with competition or longevity. Years from now, Arrogate's Hall of Fame plaque will be there among the others, and nowhere will it mention the quality of his competition.
Does the new addition to Derby Dozen prove that Steve Haskin is always dreaming?
It’s almost as if Arrogate has taken on the best qualities of different great horses in each of his four stakes victories.
Classic Empire follows in a long line of misbehavers amongst talented Thoroughbreds
Was Malagacy's Rebel performance enough to secure a place in the Derby Dozen?
Mastery's injury and weekend results impact the Derby Dozen, which features the return of some old faces.
With season one a major success, NYRA has announced an expanded partnership with Fox Sports that will result in additional live shows. 46 live shows are scheduled to be shown on Fox Sports2 covering racing from Aqueduct, Belmont Park and Saratoga.
With the Dubai World Cup preps concluded and the big night only a few weeks away, I thought I would get everyone in the mood by reprinting a feature my daughter Mandy wrote for Dubairacenight.com in 2010 about her experiences.
It's a week of changes for the Derby Dozen, including a new top dog. Also, new faces mean that some old favorites are now on the outside.
Throughout the 1960s and ‘70s, the name Darby Dan Farm and the Galbreath family were synonymous with the Triple Crown, especially the Kentucky Derby.
Late-breaking news that McCraken will miss the Tampa Bay Derby due to a minor ankle injury has scrambled things up at the last minute. And, there is another new face amongst the 12.
With Stewart Elliott being named the winner of this year’s prestigious George Woolf Award, it rekindled memories of those glorious five weeks in racing and Triple Crown history.
The Southwest provides a new face for the Derby Dozen, and those knocking on the door include a Japanese hopeful, Epicharis
Grover "Buddy" Delp, although a successful trainer and one of Maryland's best, was a relative unknown on a national scale when he unleashed Spectacular Bid on the racing world.
A look at how American Pharoah inspired Jon Parkerson to turn his life around.
Did McCraken's victory in the Sam F. Davis propel him to the number one spot? Are there any new faces among the dozen?
The 3-year-old stakes results caused a shake up in the Derby Dozen. Who is the new number 1?
Steve Haskin revisits the story of how Tiznow helped inspire a dynasty.
Since last year's Travers Stakes, the racing world has been trying to place Arrogate's astounding feats in historical perspective.
In honor of American Pharoah's Birthday, I thought I would reprint my column recapping his historic Belmont Stakes and Triple Crown victory. Brings back a lot of special memories.
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