Jockey Club 2014 Fact Book Posted Online
The Jockey Club announced March 13 that the 2014 edition of the Fact Book is available in the Resources section of its website at jockeyclub.com.
Thoroughbred Racing
News, previews, results for major North American Thoroughbred races
Constitution to Make Stakes Debut in FL Derby
Lightly raced unbeaten colt Constitution will make his stakes debut in the $1 million Besilu Stables Florida Derby (gr. I) at Gulfstream Park March 29.
ThistleDown Racino Meet to Begin April 19
With purses boosted by added gaming, ThistleDown Racino will open its 2014 racing season April 22 when the North Randall, Ohio track offers its 90th season of racing.
Tapiture Takes On Rebel Invaders and Old Foes
Homebred Tapiture looks to continue his journey to the Kentucky Derby when he takes on two he beat in the Southwest Stakes along with California invaders, among others, in the March 15 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn.
Iotapa Heads Tough Lineup in Santa Margarita
After breaking through with her first graded stakes win one month ago, Iotapa seeks grade I glory when facing seven other older fillies and mares in the $350,000 Santa Margarita Stakes March 15 at Santa Anita Park.
Azeri: Don't Tell Sophia Faces Close Hatches
Don't Tell Sophia has sailed through the early part of 2014, but faces a stout test March 15 in the $200,000 Azeri Stakes (gr. II) against multiple grade I winner Close Hatches, On Fire Baby, and Flashy American.
Parranda Seeks More Gulf Glory in Honey Fox
Parranda, coming off back-to-back stakes victories at Gulfstream Park, will attempt to add to her impressive record n the $200,000 Honey Fox Stakes (gr. IIT) at one mile March 15.
Social Inclusion Spoils Honor Code's Return
Remsen Stakes winner Honor Code was defeated by Social Inclusion March 12 at Gulfstream Park as the speedster drew away to a 10-length victory in track record fashion.
New Standards May Be Imposed on NY Stewards
New York racing regulators raised the prospects of imposing new transparency standards on stewards, including possibly publicly releasing videos that are used by officials in decisions affecting the outcome of a race.
Sign Runs Last in Return from Lengthy Layoff
Sign, winner of the 2012 Pocahontas Stakes (gr. II) at Churchill Downs, was distanced March 12 in her return to the races at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots after a lengthy layoff.
Sire de Grugy in Cheltenham 'Feel Good' Story
Sire de Grugy provided one of the feel-good stories of the Cheltenham Festival in England by winning the high-profile BetVictor Queen Mother Champion Chase by six lengths March 12.
Taptowne Draws Rail in Well-Matched Razorback
Multiple stakes winner Taptowne, preparing for a likely start in the Oaklawn Handicap (gr. II) in a month's time, was assigned top weight of 117 pounds for the $200,000 Razorback Handicap (gr. III) March 15 at Oaklawn Park.
U.A.E. to Supply Horses for Chinese Race Day
China and the United Arab Emirates-based Meydan Group are partnering to hold a groundbreaking race meeting next month at Jinma Racecourse. Race fields will consist of horses shipped from the U.A.E.
Special Post Time for Aqueduct on Wood Day
The New York Racing Association announced a special 1 p.m. EDT post time at Aqueduct Racetrack for April 5 when the stakes-heavy card highlighted by the $1 million Wood Memorial (gr. I).
Hall of Fame Jockeys to Compete at Pimlico
One of the unique offerings on this year's Black-Eyed Susan (gr. II) day card at Pimlico Race Course May 16 is the $50,000 Jockey Challenge Presented by Xpressbet that will feature seven active Hall of Fame riders.
New York Panel to Adopt, Amend Racing Rules
New York racing regulators have a busy schedule of items to consider at their March 12 meeting, including adoption of final rules involving claiming races.
Dixiana to Sponsor Two Keeneland Stakes
William Shively's Dixiana Farm of Lexington has become the signature sponsor of two turf stakes at Keeneland Racecourse -- the Elkhorn (gr. IIT) that will be run April 25 and the Oct. 5 Bourbon (gr. IIIT).
Gulfstream Uses Graded Stakes Testing Fund
Gulfstream Park will become the first racetrack to use the graded stakes out-of-competition testing grant fund, beginning with the March 29 Besilu Stables Florida Derby (gr. I), it was announced March 11.
Louisiana Bills to Reduce Dates, Slots Money
The Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association has issued a call for its members to contact their legislators and voice opposition to several bills filed during the session that began March 10.
Retro Rebel: Smarty Jones Wowed in 2004
"He was just getting better... He matured and had filled out nicely. He was more rounded and he was more settled."--trainer John Servis on Smarty Jones at the time of his Rebel Stakes win.
Old Friends Retiree The Name's Jimmy Dies
The Name's Jimmy, who set a stakes record in the 1992 American Derby (gr. IIT), was euthanized March 7 at Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Center in Georgetown, Ky. due to increasingly severe mobility issues.
Golden Gate Fields Adds Alcatraz Stakes
The $75,000 Alcatraz Stakes has been added to the winter-spring meeting stakes schedule at Golden Gate Fields and the $100,000 Campanile Stakes has been moved from May 31 to June 8, it was announced March 9.
Judy the Beauty Splendid in Las Flores Score
Judy the Beauty, game runner-up in last fall's Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I), began what Wesley Ward hopes is a championship campaign with a sharp win in Santa Anita's $100,000 Las Flores Stakes (gr. III) March 9.
Pressure Off Sherman After 'Chrome's Dazzler
Following a dazzling win from California Chrome in the San Felipe Stakes (gr. II) March 8 at Santa Anita Park, trainer Art Sherman says he can concentrate on the best way to get to this year's Kentucky Derby (gr. I).
Santa Anita Handicap Handle Increases 23%
The Santa Anita Handicap program March 8 produced a robust 23% increase in total handle over last year, the track reported.
Ramseys' Major Marvel Takes Barbados Gold Cup
Ken and Sarah Ramsey enjoyed a win in the Caribbean March 8 when veteran Major Marvel cruised to a clear victory in the $214,000 Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup at Savannah Garrison Racecourse.
Hernandez Reaches 1,000th Victory Milestone
Jockey Colby Hernandez reached his 1,000th career victory March 8 when guiding Stephanies Wildcat to a narrow triumph in the fifth race at Delta Downs Racetrack and Casino.
Florida Derby Card to Receive Purse Incentive
Gulfstream Park announces it will add bonus money for March 29 program based on the number of starters during each of the day's races.
Honor Code Gets Tightener for Seasonal Debut
Coming up to his 2014 seasonal debut at Gulfstream Park, top 3-year-old prospect Honor Code breezed four furlongs March 9 in :47.97 over the main track.
Game On Dude Captures Record Third Big 'Cap
Experts thought Game On Dude had lost a step, but the gallant old gelding proved them wrong with a history-making third victory in the $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) March 8 at Santa Anita Park.
Sahara Sky Storms to Second San Carlos Win
In an impressive display of gameness and power, Sahara Sky drove between horses in the stretch and struck for a repeat win in the $250,000 San Carlos Stakes (gr. II) March 8 at Santa Anita Park.
Palace Malice Returns a Winner in GP Handicap
Dogwood Stable's Palace Malice, on the shelf since an even sixth-place finish in the 2013 Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I), showed no signs of rust with a gritty victory in the $250,000 Gulfstream Park Handicap (gr. II) March 8.
Winning Prize Streaks Home in Kilroe Mile
Argentinian import Winning Prize streaked gate-to-wire in the $350,000 Frank E. Kilroe Mile (gr. IT) at Santa Anita Park March 8, securing his first grade I score in the U.S.
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.
California Chrome Shines Again in San Felipe
Favored California Chome proved he belongs on the Triple Crown trail with a front-running stampede to victory in the $300,000 San Felipe Stakes (gr. II) March 8 at gleaming Santa Anita Park.
Ring Weekend Springs Tampa Bay Derby Upset
St. Elias Stable and West Point Thoroughbreds' Ring Weekend sprang a 14-1 upset of the $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II) March 8 at Tampa Bay Downs, well clear of Vinceremos in an impressively speedy gate-to-wire score.
Testa Rossi Cruises in Florida Oaks Stretch
In her first start since finishing second in last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (gr. IT), Testa Rossi overpowered 11 other 3-year-old fillies in the stretch to post a 3 1/2-length victory in the Florida Oaks.
Cloud Scapes Carries On to Hillsborough Score
Pin Oak Stud's homebred Cloud Scapes carried on in the $150,000 Hillsborough Stakes (gr. IIIT) March 8 at Tampa Bay Downs, edging Waterway Run to earn her third straight victory at the Florida oval.
Fiorente Proves Best in Australian Cup
Shamus Award tried for the seemingly impossible in the Aus$1million Australian Cup (Aus-I) March 8 at Flemington. He led nearly all the way, but then wilted late as Fiorente proved himself the nation's best horse.
Vercingetorix Co-Stars on Super Saturday
Vercingetorix stayed unbeaten in six career starts after joining pacesetting stablemate Anaerobio at the front in early stretch, then drawing away to capture the $300,000 Jebel Hatta (UAE-I) March 8 at Meydan.
Prince Bishop Makes Strong Meydan Statement
Prince Bishop burst between horses to lead in the stretch and drew clear to win the $400,000 Al Maktoum Challenge-Round 3 (UAE-I) March 8 at Meydan Racecourse.
Silent Achiever, Vespa Win in New Zealand
Former New Zealand champion Silent Achiever overhauled longtime pacesetter Historian and won the Lindauer New Zealand Stakes (NZ-I), one of two group I races on the March 8 card at Ellerslie.
Top Billing Off Derby Trail With Fracture
Top Billing will miss the Florida Derby and is off the Triple Crown trail with a cannon bone injury. Stablemate Honor Code, who makes his season debut March 12 at Gulfstream, could now be a candidate for Florida's big event.
Judy the Beauty Leads Las Flores Shippers
Florida-based Judy the Beauty heads a field of five for the $100,000 Las Flores Stakes (gr. III) March 9 at Santa Anita Park, her first start since the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I) last fall.
Riposte Heads Solid Hillsborough Field
Juddmonte Farms' homebred Riposte heads a field of nine in pursuit of her first graded stakes victory stateside in the $150,000 Hillsborough Stakes (gr. IIIT) March 8 at Tampa Bay Downs.
Portion of Vinceremos' Earnings to Charity
WinStar Farm and Twin Creeks Racing, owners of Sam F. Davis (gr. III) winner Vinceremos, will donate a portion of the colt's earnings to the Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center.
Sweet Reason Comes Back a Winner
Treadway Racing Stable's Sweet Reason, winner of the Spinaway Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course last summer, made a successful return to the races March 7 at Aqueduct Racetrack in the featured eighth race.
Honor Code to Bypass Rebel, Run at Gulfstream
Remsen Stakes (gr. II) winner Honor Code makes his highly anticipated 3-year-old debut in a 1 1/16-mile allowance event at Gulfstream Park March 12 rather than shipping to Oaklawn for the Rebel (gr. II).
Big 'Cap was 'Holy Grail' for Trainer Jones
From the time he was a youngster, trainer Gary Jones said winning the Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) was his family's biggest quest.
Curlin, Asmussen Among Hall of Fame Finalists
Two-time Horse of the Year Curlin and trainer Steve Asmussen, who saddled him to nine stakes wins in the years he won those titles, are among 10 finalists on the 2014 Hall of Fame ballot.
Most Popular Stories
- Constitution to Make Stakes Debut in FL Derby
- 'Mandate' Should Be Strong in Rebel Stakes
- ThistleDown Racino Meet to Begin April 19
- Tapiture Takes On Rebel Invaders and Old Foes
- Social Inclusion Spoils Honor Code's Return
- Downey Profile: Improvement Mandated in Rebel
- Study Links Cell Damage to Corticosteroids
- Azeri: Don't Tell Sophia Faces Close Hatches
- Steve Haskin's Derby Dozen 3/10/2014
- New Standards May Be Imposed on NY Stewards
