A little more than a month after her first graded victory in the Arlington Matron Stakes (G3) at Arlington International Racecourse, Princess La Quinta returns June 23 to vie for her third consecutive win in the $100,000 Chicago Handicap (G3).
With Flameaway suitably freshened since his classic try, trainer Mark Casse and owner John Oxley fully expect to see a strong effort June 23 when he takes on 11 challengers in the $500,000 Ohio Derby (G3) at Thistledown.
Winning on debut for owner Carolyn Wilson and trainer Larry Rivelli, Strong Will turned in an impressive performance for his sire Strong Mandate June 17 at Arlington when he secured a $32,000 maiden special weight on the all-weather track.
Midwest Thoroughbreds' 2015 Arlington Million (G1T) winner The Pizza Man and 2014 champion sprinter Work All Week returned to the barn of Roger Brueggemann on the Arlington International Racecourse backstretch last week for careers as stable ponies.
Trainer Amy Sondej scored the first win of her career June 12, when Bosphorus Storm set the pace and won the eighth race at Thistledown by 2 3/4 lengths. The win came with Sondej's 10th starter. She also has three seconds and a third.
Four of the 15 horses that were offered at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino changed hands at the fall of the hammer, which could prompt the sale's organizers to reconsider their strategy for the auction going forward.
Jockey Rex Stokes III earned his 2,000th career victory in spectacular fashion June 6 when Blazen Betsy set all the pace and crossed the wire 13 1/4 lengths the best in the eighth race at JACK Thistledown Racino.
Wonder Gadot, who has been holding her own against the best of her set south of the border, returns to friendlier confines June 9 for the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks Presented By Budweiser.
The future of Fairmount Park hangs in the balance as the Illinois legislature adjourned its spring session without acting on a bill that would allow tracks to operate casinos.
David Longinotti, a member of Oaklawn Park's management team since 2006, will move into the position of Director of Oaklawn Anywhere after serving as Director of Racing.
Ontario-bred Subsidiary became the first winner for New York-based sire Central Banker on June 2, when the 2-year-old filly set the pace and held sway in a 4 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Woodbine.
The 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award will go to the late Dale Baird, who came to the Upper Ohio Valley from Illinois and made it his home, training horses at what was then Waterford Park and would become Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort.
Thomas F. Van Meter II and Scott Dilworth's venerable turf titan Tower of Texas will look to defend his title the $175,000 Connaught Cup Stakes (G2T) June 2 at Woodbine.
Carlos H. Marquez, Jr. notched his 3,000th victory in North America when he guided Savemethelastdance to a two-length score in the seventh race May 26 at Arlington International Racecourse.
Are You Kidding Me split horses with a commanding move May 26 in the $175,000 Eclipse Stakes (G2) at Woodbine, then held off a late run from Melmich to secure his third victory in the 1 1/16-mile Tapeta race.
A handful of Indiana-breds are pulling double duty on the track and in the research barn for owner Dr. Joe Pagan, owner of Kentucky Equine Research.
Victor Centeno, a former assistant to Florida horseman Nick de Meric, knocked it out of the park during the May 22 second session of the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-year-olds sale when a colt he bought for $6,000 was sold for $275,000.
Apologynotaccepted will attempt to break through the graded ranks when she heads the $100,000 Matron Stakes for fillies and mares 3 and up May 19 at Arlington International.
It's been quite an adventure for jockey Sophie Doyle since she came to ride full time in the United States in 2013. This summer, another chapter will be written in her story when she competes at Arlington International Racecourse for the 2018 meet.
Ghost Hunter makes a return to Arlington International Racecourse in the $100,000 Hanshin Cup (G3) going one mile on the all-weather track May 12.
Owner Sol Kumin has a sprinkling of yearling buys and more recent private purchases as his Monomoy Girl seeks to win the Longines Kentucky Oaks while Justify, Audible, and My Boy Jack go looking for roses in the Kentucky Derby.
Sometime that summer ... a name occurred to them. The name of a mid-tempo ballad so languorous and splendid, it defines the essence of that coming-of-age summer all these years later: Dreamsville.
Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course recently concluded its 2018 winter-spring meet on a positive note, recording a 23.6% spike in wagering per race for the 63-day stand.
Jon Schuster, vice president and general manager of racing at Indiana Grand, was recently honored with the Hall of Distinction award at the annual Indiana Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (ITOBA) banquet April 15 at Indiana Grand.
"Return" is the theme of JACK Thistledown's 2018 race meet that opens Monday, April 30, as Thoroughbreds and horsemen come back for live racing and a celebrated racing series makes a stop in Cleveland.
Oaklawn raced 55 of 57 days after two weather cancellations in January for total handle of $209,695,403. The average total daily handle of $3,812,644 was up 15% over 2017.
Entourage Stables' newly minted Canadian Horse of the Year Pink Lloyd turned in a show-stopping, track-record performance to win the $100,000 Jacques Cartier Stakes in his season debut April 21, as the 2018 Thoroughbred meet kicked off at Woodbine.
Belterra Park will begin its 2018 Thoroughbred racing season Friday, April 27, with weekly races Thursday - Sunday until Sept. 30. Post time for races is 1:20 p.m. The full racing schedule can be found by visiting BelterraPark.com.
Brandi Jo Fett does it all in the Hawkeye State
The year 2017 was a banner year for the Indiana Horse Racing Commission (IHRC) and the Indiana Thoroughbred Breed Development Program (ITBDP) as Indiana-breds graced the national stage and brought awareness to the growth of the regional program.
Despite facing pressure from Quip on the front end and drifting out in the lane, Magnum Moon proved best in the April 14 Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park to remain unbeaten in four starts.
Ricardo Santana Jr. grabbed the 1,000th victory of his career (since based on the United States mainland) when he guided Westfest to a clear victory in the sixth race April 12 at Oaklawn Park.
The multiple graded stakes winner and son of Lemon Drop Kid earned more than $1.5 million during his racing career.
Oaklawn Park plans to make the most significant change to its racing schedule since World War II.
Norma Lee Stockseth and Todd Dunn's Cosmic Burst, winner of the March 10 Honeybee Stakes (G3), is poised to move forward in Oaklawn's April 13 Fantasy Stakes (G3). The daughter of Violence is one of eight 3-year-old fillies for the $400,000 event.
After 69 years of operating in Michigan, Hazel Park closed April 5. The racetrack, which was scheduled to open for training Thursday for its opening day May 4, announced the closure on its website, but did not provide further details.
Owner/breeder James Coulter, who campaigned graded stakes winner and 2014 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) starter Sugar Shock, passed away March 20 at Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, Ill., north of Chicago. He was 71.
The good impression Woodbine management made on owner Ken Ramsey during some of his stakes wins at the suburban Toronto track encouraged the Eclipse Award-winning owner to commit a string of horses this year.
The Southern California-based Accelerate, a 5 1/2-length winner of the March 10 Santa Anita Handicap (G1) at Santa Anita Park, will be pointed to the $750,000 Oaklawn Handicap (G2) April 14 for his next start, trainer John Sadler said March 25.
The already loaded slate of classic contenders on the roster for WinStar Farm got another boost March 24 when Noble Indy, the son of Take Charge Indy owned in partnership with Repole Stable, fought off Lone Sailor to win the Louisiana Derby.
Synchrony sat a stalking rail trip before angling out and blowing past the leaders in midstrech to capture the $300,00 Muniz Memorial Handicap (G2T) March 24.
Pin Oak Stable homebred Synchrony, a two-length winner of the Feb. 17 Fair Grounds Handicap (G3T), returns for the March 24 Muniz Memorial Handicap (G2T) in New Orleans.
Magnum Moon took a big step on the Road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) with a 3 1/2-length victory in the $900,000 Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park March 17.
Unbeaten 3-year-old Exclamation Point returned to the work tab March 17, breezing an easy half-mile in :49 4/5 over a fast track just after the renovation break for trainer Brad Cox.
The "most likely and most logical spot" for Robert and Lawana Low's Magnum Moon is the $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1) April 14 at Oaklawn Park, trainer Todd Pletcher said following the unbeaten colt's impressive victory in the Rebel Stakes (G2).
Magnum Moon remained unbeaten in three starts when he drew off from grade 1-placed Solomini March 17 to score a 3 1/2-length victory in the $900,000 Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park.
When the Streamline starts in the $350,000 Azeri Stakes (G2) March 17, it will mark her 11th consecutive start in Oaklawn's two-turn series of stakes races for older fillies and mares.
Midwest Equine stands Ready’s Image and Blueskiesnrainbows
Oaklawn's March 10 Honeybee Stakes (G3), a 11/16-mile prep for the April 13 Fantasy Stakes (G3), features three fillies that won stakes last time out: Amy's Challenge, Red Ruby, and Stronger Than Ever.
Robert La Penta and Madaket Stables' Catholic Boy can be added to a list of possible entrants for the $1 million Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots March 24.
