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.
Josephine Abercrombie's homebred Higher Power is being pointed toward the March 17 Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park, according to trainer Donnie Von Hemel.
Heavy rain and high winds from Winter Storm Riley forecast to hit March 1 has forced The Maryland Jockey Club to postpone the live program March 2 at Laurel Park.
Peter Blum's filly Oh My dueled on the front end into deep stretch to hold off a determined late challenge, capturing the fourth race at Laurel Park Feb. 25 and giving trainer Brittany Trimble her first career victory.
Eye of the Leopard, the Canadian champion 3-year-old colt of 2009 and Queen's Plate winner, has been relocated from Calumet Farm to Osborne Farm near Cambridge, Minn., for the 2018 season. His stud fee will be $1,500 live foal stands and nurses.
Next-race plans are pending for My Boy Jack, who was to be flown to his Southern California base Feb. 21 following a dominant performance in the $500,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) for 3-year-olds Feb. 19 at Oaklawn Park.
Jockey Corey Lanerie found the rail to be the best spot to place Hawaakom for a stretch run in the Razorback Handicap (G3) on the Feb. 19 Presidents' Day card at Oaklawn Park and the strategy paid off as the pair posted a 3 1/4-length upset victory.
In his second start this year and third crack against graded stakes company, Bravazo tracked pacesetter Snapper Sinclair every step of the way and got his best stride down when it counted to win the Risen Star Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds.
Count the $500,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Feb. 19 as a microcosm of how deep the well of potential runners in Asmussen's shedrow is these days.
With back-to-back stakes victories now under her belt, Coffee Pot Stables' Farrell aims to build on her rejuvenated swagger when she starts in the $150,000 Bayakoa Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park Feb. 17.
Effective Feb. 17, Oaklawn Park is increasing all allowance and maiden special weight races by $3,000. Allowance races will range from $79,000 to as high as $83,000. Maiden special weight races will increase to $78,000 from $75,000.
With three straight wins to his credit including back-to-back stakes triumphs, Cedartown will try and knock off his first graded stakes victory Feb. 17 when he starts in the $150,000 Mineshaft Handicap (G3) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
Ivan Dalos will tell you his foray into Thoroughbred racing and breeding began purely by chance. He will tell you one of the first horses he bred, Victory Gallop—who stunned the racing world when he won the 1998 Belmont Stakes (G1)—was a “fluke.”
Horses rarely race at the advanced age of 12, let alone win, but Feb. 10 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, and for the second consecutive time this year, seasoned veteran Dance Caller did just that.
Due to recent positive tests for equine herpesvirus 1 at Turfway Park in Kentucky, Delta Downs has issued a temporary ban on horses stabled at that racetrack from entering its stable area.
Ready's Image, winner of the grade 2 Sanford Stakes at 2, will stand at Midwest Equine and Veterinary Hospital near Trafalgar, Ind., for the 2018 breeding season.
Grade 1 winner Sporting Chance will make his 3-year-old debut in the $500,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park Feb. 19, Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas confirmed Feb. 2.
Texas Chrome will be named the Texas Horse of the Year for the second consecutive time at the Texas Thoroughbred Association's annual meeting and awards banquet June 23 at Lone Star Park.
Canterbury Park racing officials announced Jan. 24 a Thoroughbred stakes schedule for the 2018 season with 35 races worth a total of $2.375 million, including three new races and increased purses for nine existing stakes.
R Star Stallions takes advantage of Indiana breeding program.
Plainsman became the first "Lasix-free bonus" winner of the 2018 Oaklawn Park meeting, and the 15th since the Arkansas track began the program in 2015, with a half-length victory in the ninth race Jan. 21.
OXO Equine's Instilled Regard exited his triumph in the Lecomte Stakes (G3) in fantastic fashion according to Christina Jelm, the assistant for Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.
Instilled Regard provided his conditioner his first ever win at the venue and signaled his presence on the Road to the Kentucky Derby when he drew clear for a 3 3/4-length win in the Lecomte Stakes (G3) at Fair Grounds Race Course.
The promise Stronger Than Ever hinted at in her first two starts came to fruition during her 3-year-old debut Jan. 13, when the daughter of Congrats fought past odds-on favorite Wonder Gadot to take the $150,000 Silverbulletday Stakes.
