Golden Lad Pulls Away for Razorback Romp
Golden Lad struck for a fourth consecutive win March 15 after taking charge at the quarter pole at Oaklawn Park and drawing off to an open-length victory in the $200,000 Razorback Handicap (gr. III).
Midwest Region
News and features for Midwestern farm owners, racehorse owners, and breeders
ThistleDown Racino Meet to Begin April 18
With purses boosted by added gaming, ThistleDown Racino will open its 2014 racing season April 18 when the North Randall, Ohio track offers its 90th season of racing.
Northeast/Mid-Atlantic Region: A New Heritage
Drs. Bowman, Louis Merryman offer new stallion operation in Maryland. Download Now
Midwest/Canada Regional: Fine Vintage
Stallion business growing at Leigh Ann and Kerry Hopper's RichWine Farm. read blog
Ohio Tracks, Horsemen Sign 10-Year Deals
The Ohio Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association has signed 10-year racing agreements with the under-construction Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course and ThistleDown Racino, formerly known as Thistledown.
Euphrosyne Elevated to Honeybee Victory
Euphrosyne was awarded the win in the $150,000 Honeybee Stakes (gr. III) March 8 after first-place finisher Sugar Shock was disqualified for interference in the Oaklawn Park stretch.
Expanded State-Bred Incentives at Arlington
The plan, co-authored by Arlington Park and the Illinois Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Foundation, includes bonus money, expanded state-bred races, and promotional efforts.
Indiana Downs Has New Name as Part of Rebrand
Indiana Downs, which will begin its lengthy live Thoroughbred racing season May 6, has a new name to coincide with its casino offerings.
Instant Racing Measure Advances in Nebraska
Nebraska racetracks are one step closer to allowing bets on previously run horse races after a March 5 vote in the legislature.
Barbaro's Brother Lentenor Sires First Foal
Lentenor, a stakes-winning full brother to Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Barbaro, sired his first foal when a colt was born Feb. 20 at Calumet Farms near Lexington.
Will Take Charge Fires Bullet at Oaklawn
Will Take Charge breezed a bullet half-mile March 2 at Oaklawn Park in his final local workout ahead of a tantalizing showdown with Mucho Macho Man and Game On Dude in the March 8 Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I).
Mountaineer Opens Meet With Steady Purses
Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort will kick off its 210-day season March 1 with average daily overnight purses of about $115,000, a figure on par with 2013.
PNGI, Horsemen Have Agreement on Ohio Track
Penn National Gaming Inc. and the Ohio Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association have reached an agreement in regard to the under-construction Youngstown-area racetrack that will replace Beulah Park.
Woodbine Adds Bonus to Ontario-Sired Program
Woodbine Entertainment Group and the Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association Feb. 27 jointly announced restructuring of the Ontario-sired Thoroughbred racing overnight program at Woodbine.
Charles Town Cancels Feb. 27 Night Program
Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races has canceled its live racing program scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 27, due to the expected harsh weather conditions.
KY Instant Racing Handle Nears $600 Million
If the monthly average holds, total wagering on historical races in Kentucky will top $600 million by the end of February. The devices have been operating in the state for 29 months.
Doneraile Court Moves to Dove Hill Farm
Dual graded stakes winner Doneraile Court (Seattle Slew -- Sophisticated Girl, by Stop the Music) has moved to Lisa Duoos' Dove Hill Farm near New Prague, Minn., for the 2014 season.
Fair Grounds Cuts Overnight Purses 10%
Overnight purses at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots have been reduced 10% for the rest of the current race meet, track officials said Feb. 20.
Hawthorne Spring Meet to Begin Feb. 21
Hawthorne Race Course's spring meet begins Friday, Feb. 21. Sixty-nine horses are entered for the opening day card at the Stickney, Ill., track.
Like Snow and Ice, Cancellations Piling Up
Harsh winter weather and and poor track conditions have led to the cancellation of almost 70 full racing programs through the first seven weeks of 2014.
Dispute Threatens Illinois Legislative Agenda
A bitter dispute between harness horsemen and Chicago-area tracks, threatening the industry's crucial legislative agenda, came to a head Feb. 17 with a victory for horsemen before the Illinois Racing Board.
EHV-1 Positive Leads to Quarantine at Parx
Just weeks after a lengthy quarantine ended, Parx Racing in Pennsylvania has locked down two more barns because of a positive test for equine herpesvirus.
Turfway, Horsemen Play Weather Waiting Game
Turfway Park expects much warmer temperatures the week of Feb. 16 that will allow proper maintenance of its Polytrack surface and a return to live racing Feb. 21.
Weather Plays Havoc With Racing Calendar
The harsh winter of 2014 continues to take its toll on U.S. racing, leading to a handful of cancellations at tracks in Kentucky, the Mid-Atlantic, and the Northeast as a result of a winter storm or subfreezing temperatures.
Canterbury, Tribe Have Simulcast Agreement
Canterbury Park is making headway with its plan to expand full-card simulcasts of Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing to tribal casinos in Minnesota.
Midwest/Canada Regional: Steady Hand
Mapleville Farms and Sherry McLean stay stable in changing times. Download Now
Fort Erie to Race in 2014, Horsemen Say
Fort Erie Race Track in Ontario, Canada, will offer a live meet this year, with details to be released at a later date.
Robert Lombardini, CANTER President, Dies
Robert A. Lombardini, president of the Michigan chapter and national Communication Alliance to Network Thoroughbred Ex-Racehorses (CANTER), died Jan. 28 in East Lansing, Mich.
Oaklawn Park, Penn National Cancel Friday
With temperatures remaining below freezing for second straight day, Oaklawn Park has been forced to cancel its Friday Feb. 7 card.
Oaklawn, Penn, Charles Town Cancel Feb. 6
Oaklawn has canceled its Thursday, Feb. 6 card because of below freezing temperatures. Severe winter weather conditions have also forced the cancellation of live racing at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course.
Cactus Ridge to Stand in Oklahoma
Former Central Kentucky stallion Cactus Ridge will stand the 2014 season at Royal Vista Ranches in Wayne, Okla., for a fee of $5,000 with special consideration to Quarter Horse mares.
Prairie Meadows' Purses to Average $220,000
Prairie Meadows Racetrack & Casino has announced an average daily purse structure of about $220,000 during the 67-day Thoroughbred meet from April 18-Aug. 9.
Deputy Storm Moves to Indiana
Deputy Storm, a dual stakes-winning son of Forestry, has arrived at Kerry and Leigh Ann Hopper's R Star Stallions at RichWine near Anderson, Ind., where he will stand the 2014 season for $1,500.
Canadian Horse Racing Hall Seeks Nominations
The Canadian Horse Racing Hall invites the public to submit nominations for 2014 from both Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing in seven categories.
Will Take Charge, Strong Mandate Breeze
Newly minted 3-year-old champion Will Take Charge breezed a half-mile Feb. 2 at Oaklawn Park in preparation for his expected start in the $500,00 Donn Handicap (gr. I) Feb. 9 at Gulfstream Park.
Minnesota to Hold Unwanted Horse Summit
An investigation by the University of Minnesota into reasons, costs, and solutions for the increase into unwanted horses in the upper Midwest and Texas will be discussed at a summit March 8 at Leatherdale Equine Center.
Illinois Horsemen Object to Stake's Inclusion
The Illinois Racing Board approved this year's Chicago-area Thoroughbred stakes schedule Jan. 31 despite strong opposition by horsemen to the continuation of one race.
Arlington Park Releases 2014 Stakes Schedule
The International Festival of Racing tops a 2014 schedule that includes 25 stakes races worth $5.5 million during 89 days of racing at Arlington Park from May 2 through Sept. 28.
2013 Iowa-Bred Champions Announced
Wolf Pack Jack has been named the 2013 Iowa-bred Horse of the Year after winning four of six starts and earning $154,770 as a 3-year-old.
Indiana TOBA Stallion Season Auction Underway
The Indiana Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association's annual stallion season auction is underway at www.starquine.com.
Sangaree Represented by First Foal
Sangaree, a stakes-winning son of Awesome Again, sired his first reported foal Jan. 27 when a chestnut colt was born at Dana Myers' Swifty Farms near Seymour, Ind.
Illinois Reauthorizes ADW at Last Minute
Acting under a looming deadline, the Illinois legislature Jan. 29 reauthorized advance deposit wagering in the state, staving off a draconian cut in 2014 racing dates.
Gold Case Moves to Nicks Farms in Indiana
Gold Case, a dual stakes-winning son of Forty Niner, has been purchased by William Nicks to stand the 2014 season at Nicks Farms near Sellersburg, Ind. Out of the Private Account mare Silent Account, his fee is $500.
State Lobbyists Stay Atop Guild Issues
- By Frank Angst
- Racing, Health, Northeast Region, Midwest Region, West Region, Kentucky, Mid-Atlantic
Amid a changing landscape of funding sources in horse racing, the Jockeys' Guild has turned to state lobbyists to help ensure its interests are considered.
VLT Purse Percentages? Take Your Pick in Ohio
It appears rather than having one percentage for the amount of revenue that goes to purses from video lottery terminals, Ohio could have a different number for each of its seven racetracks.
Ohio-Bred Program Gets Financial Boost
Growth and new revenue for the Ohio Thoroughbred industry has led to projected increases in breeders' awards and an expanded state-bred stakes schedule for 2014.
Ohio Panel, PNGI Clash Again Over Track Plan
Construction of a new racetrack gaming facility in the Mahoning Valley is well under way, but the track's owner and the Ohio State Racing Commission continued a battle over a commitment on the number of stalls Jan. 23.
Illinois Breeders Set Online Season Auction
The Illinois Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Foundation will hold its third annual online stallion season auction Feb. 1-9.
Detroit-Area Tracks Authorized for Live Meets
The Michigan Gaming Control Board has authorized Thoroughbred meets at Hazel Park and Northville Downs in the Detroit metropolitan area for 2014, horse racing interests in the state reported Jan. 21.
Hearts on Fire
Euronfire's story warms up the Keeneland January sale.
Most Popular Stories
- After the Wire: Rebel Stakes
- Gulfstream Race is 'No Contest' After Spill
- Rebel Rematch Expected in Arkansas Derby
- Hoppertunity Stays Up in Roughshod Rebel
- California Chrome 'Wait and See' for SA Derby
- Stormy Lucy Ends Graded Drought in Santa Ana
- Featured Horse Profile: Close Hatches
- Likely Entrants for World Cup Card Released
- Onlyforyou Euthanized After Training Accident
- KY-Bred Lideris Wins Latinoamericana in Peru
