Leading Kentucky Derby (gr. I) candidate Point Given worked seven furlongs at 1:24 4/5 at Santa Anita on Friday just before the first race. "I clocked him 1:23 3/5, going out a mile in 1:37 3/5," said trainer Bob Baffert. Dana Barnes was aboard the son of Thunder Gulch, who is pointing for the March 17 San Felipe Stakes (gr. II).
Chester and Mary Broman's Hook and Ladder led from start to finish and held off a game challenge from Trippi and Rollin With Nolan for an impressive victory in Friday's Gulfstream Park Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. II).
Mike Pegram's Captain Steve and Juddmonte Farms' Aptitude, America's two entries in the $6-million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) on March 24, each worked in Southern California on Friday, one day before they are scheduled to leave on their long journey to the desert nation. Also on Friday, trainer Robert Frankel indicated that Gary Stevens will ride Aptitude for the first time in the World Cup.
A field of nine 3-year-olds was entered Friday at Fair Grounds for the track's Louisiana Derby. The 11/6-mile race will be run Sunday and has a 4:10 post time (Central time).
Like its ailing economy, racing in Japan is slumping. The Japan Racing Association reported a third consecutive year of declines in 2000 in both on-track attendance and total handle. With government-sanctioned wagering on soccer set to begin in Japan this year, 2001 promises to be a major challenge for the JRA.
Britain's Cheltenham Racecourse announced Friday that discussions were taking place between course officials and "all interested parties regarding the availability of dates for the rescheduled National Hunt Festival." Cheltenham further requested ticket holders to retain their tickets until the Festival dates are announced, at which time "they will then have the option of attending on the same day of the week or applying for a full refund."
Account wagering by TV Games Network subscribers generated an additional $440,000 in source-market fees for Kentucky horsemen and racetracks since October. The money, distributed this week, raises the total fees generated by the horse racing network to $1.95 million since September 1999.
A mobster-turned-informant testified Thursday that he helped fix races at Atlantic City Racecourse and Garden State Park in the 1990s.
Zippy Chippy, the maiden who recently lost his 89th race at Penn National Race Course, will go up against a Standardbred pacer on March 17 at Freehold Raceway, a New Jersey harness track. Last year, Zippy Chippy lost a match race with a minor-league baseball player.
Startac earned the top spot as 7-5 favorite in Saturday's El Camino Real Derby (gr. III). He comes into the race off a romp in the Turf Paradise Derby.
Legislation that would grant Oaklawn Park a reduction in its pari-mutuel excise tax is back in the Arkansas Senate's Committee on Revenue and Tax after having failed to pass the Senate Thursday. The bill has already been amended to strike out language that would authorize Oaklawn and Southland Greyhound Park to engage in account wagering.
Calder Race Course's $4.8 million stakes program will be anchored by the Summit of Speed and the 10th annual Festival of the Sun.
Calder Race Course's $4.8 million stakes program will be anchored by the Summit of Speed and the 10th annual Festival of the Sun.
Calder Race Course's $4.8 million stakes program will be anchored by the Summit of Speed and the 10th annual Festival of the Sun.
Grade II winners Dollar Bill and Millennium Wind are expected to vie for favoritism when entries are taken Friday for Sunday's $750,000, grade II Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds.
A dazzling victory in the Florida Derby lifted John Oxley's Monarchos into the favorite's role heading into the final day of Pool 2 of Churchill Downs' 2001 Kentucky Derby Future Wager.
