Racing Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas promised "more stories than Mother Goose," and the four-time Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner--and a panel of five other Derby winners--delivered on that promise. read blog
Such records will cover the 14-day period preceding and including the day of each race and will be available on the day of the race at least two hours prior to post time. The pledges take effect immediately.
The Coolmore Lexington Stakes (gr. II), which served as a springboard for Charismatic in 1999, is no longer a key Kentucky Derby prep. However, Keeneland's 1 1/16-mile event was once a well-worn path to Louisville.
Willis Horton's Will Take Charge notched his first victory of the season in the $600,000 Oaklawn Handicap (gr. II) April 12 at Oaklawn Park, surviving multiple claims of foul and a lengthy inquiry.
Will Take Charge won the 3-year-old championship, but speedster Moreno was surprisingly right there with him in the summer months before going to the sidelines after the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I).
Reigning 3-year-old champion Will Take Charge and stablemate Strong Mandate both worked April 1 at Oaklawn Park, while Southwest Stakes winner Tapiture was also on the Arkansas oval's tab.
Keeneland Race Course has scheduled a long list of special events that will be offered during the 15-day spring meet at the Lexington track from April 4-25.
Skyring snapped a seven-race losing streak dating back to last year's Dixie Stakes (gr. IIT) when he delivered a front-running victory in the Mervin H. Muniz Jr. Handicap (gr. IIT) March 29 at Fair Grounds.
Grindstone was an unheralded colt who never grabbed the public's attention. He served notice, however, that 3-year-olds capable of a strong run down the longest stretch in the nation should not be disregarded.
Zayat Stables has terminated Steve Asmussen and moved all 12 of its horses that were previously in the trainer's care following an internal investigation on the PETA report and video that was published in the New York Times.
The first four finishers of the Rebel Stakes (gr. II) March 15 came out of the race none the worse in spite of the roughly-run final furlong, and three of them are definitely pointed for a return in the Arkansas Derby.
Every morning D. Wayne Lukas sends the first set out over the Arkansas oval, their hooves sinking softly in the freshly harrowed ground. On March 14, he supervised Rebel contender Strong Mandate and champion Will Take Charge.
Mucho Macho Man has been installed as the 9-5 morning line favorite for the 77th renewal of the $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) March 8.
Lenny Shulman and Steve Haskin examine the Santa Anita Handicap field, the history and memorable horses. Steve and Lenny recap the Gotham Stakes, rivalries, Del Mar's dirt and interview trainer Nick Zito about Spot. watch video
If all goes as planned, the Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) March 8 will feature a rematch between the top two finishers in last year's Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) in Mucho Macho Man and Will Take Charge.
Hopeful Stakes (gr. I) winner Strong Mandate returns to action for the first time since the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) in the $300,000 Southwest Stakes (gr. III) Feb. 17 at Oaklawn Park.
Will Take Charge will be on his way to becoming a handicap star if he aces this test as the 123-pound highweight. Runners to face him Feb. 9 include Revolutionary, Lea, River Seven, Uncaptured, and Bourbon Courage.
Champion Will Take Charge arrived by van early the morning of Feb. 4 at Gulfstream Park, where he is slated to make his 2014 debut in the $500,000 Donn Handicap (gr. I) on Feb. 9.
Steve Haskin chooses one Kentucky Derby contender to examine each week. This week Steve examines the Hopeful Stakes winner Strong Mandate.
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.
Will Take Charge, recently crowned 3-year-old champion male, will be the 123-pound highweight for his 4-year-old debut, the $500,000 Donn Handicap (gr. I) on Feb. 9 at Gulfstream Park.
Will Take Charge remains on course for his 2014 debut in the $500,000 Donn Handicap (gr. I) at Gulfstream Park Feb. 9, but a start in the March 29 Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) is unlikely, owner Willis Horton says.
Wise Dan, the 2013 Horse of the Year, became the first horse to win three championships in consecutive years.
John Oxley's Coastline looks to rebound from an eighth-place finish in the Delta Jackpot (gr. III) as one of 10 3-year-olds entered for the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes Jan. 20 at Oaklawn Park.
Three runners who delivered remarkably different campaigns in 2013 face off for Horse of the Year honors at the Jan. 18 Eclipse Awards, highlighting the open-for-interpretation nature of the category.
In a year when the 3-year-old male leaderboard kept changing by the month, it should come as no surprise that a horse like Will Take Charge, who excelled from August to November, be the frontrunner for the Eclipse Award.
Led by Horse of the Year candidates Mucho Macho Man, Will Take Charge, and 2012 Horse of the Year Wise Dan, the finalists for the 2013 Eclipse Awards were announced Jan. 8.
D. Wayne Lukas, the most successful trainer in the history of horse racing, will be honored with the Eclipse Award of Merit for a lifetime of outstanding achievement in the Thoroughbred industry.
Three Chimneys Farm has secured a 50% interest in multiple grade I-winning 3-year-old Will Take Charge, this year's favorite for the Eclipse Award as 3-year-old male champion and also a Horse of the Year candidate.
Owner Willis Horton isn't in a hurry to make a deal for likely 3-year-old champion Will Take Charge, and hasn't signed stud contracts or partnership agreements for the chestnut son of Unbridled's Song, he said Dec. 19.
Lenny Shulman and Steve Haskin present the 2013 Offy Awards. Sponsored by Darby Dan Farm. Watch Video
Willis Horton's Will Take Charge was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at the Churchill Downs barn of trainer D. Wayne Lukas the morning after winning the Nov. 29 Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (gr. I).
If Will Take Charge hadn't secured an Eclipse Award as the nation's top 3-year-old already, his determined head victory over multiple grade I winner Game On Dude in the Clark Handicap (gr. I) Nov. 29 certainly wrapped it up.
Trainer D. Wayne Lukas and owner Willis Horton discuss Will Take Charge's win the 2013 Clark Handicap. Watch Video
Claire Novak asks, 'What are you thankful for in horse racing this season?' read blog
Multiple grade I winner Game On Dude and Travers (gr. I) victor Will Take Charge both drew well for the $500,000-added Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (gr. I) to be held Nov. 29 at Churchill Downs.
Willis Horton's Will Take Charge, gearing up for a bid in the Nov. 29 Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (gr. I), breezed five furlongs Nov. 22 at Churchill Downs in 1:01 for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas.
Trainer had been weighing options for Golden Ticket that included a possible run in the Cigar Mile (gr. I) before he settled on staying home for a Clark bid.
Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) runner-up Will Take Charge breezed four furlongs Nov. 16 at Churchill Downs in preparation for the $500,000 Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare Nov. 29.
A nose loss to Mucho Macho Man in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic (Grade I) at Santa Anita Park by Willis D. Horton's Will Take Charge might not be the late-blooming sophomore's final race of the season.
The buzz is rising. It's Breeders' Cup Friday, and if you can't enjoy horse racing's Super Bowl at Santa Anita, you might as well get out of the sport. read blog
There weren't any audible groans when post positions were drawn for the Nov. 2 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I), but with a field of 13--one short of the maximum permitted--the run to the first turn could prove critical.
Horsemen said Oct. 28 they like racing at Santa Anita and appreciate improvements in the clubhouse and grandstand, but conditions in the barn area leave something to be desired.
Trainer Eric Guillot officially apologized to fellow conditioner D. Wayne Lukas for triggering an investigation into his allegations jockey Luis Saez used an electrical device on Will Take Charge in the Travers Stakes.
An infographic celebrating the Breeders' Cup 30th Anniversary. view infographic
Calumet Farm's Oxbow, winner of this year's Preakness Stakes (gr. I), has been retired and will begin his stud career at Taylor Made Stallions in Central Kentucky. The son of Awesome Again will stand for $20,000.
Tight race for 3-year-old champion male read blog
Trainer D. Wayne Lukas became the oldest trainer, at 77, to saddle a winner at the Breeders' Cup when he sent Hightail to an upset victory in the 2012 Juvenile Sprint; at 27, Craig Dollase won the 1998 Sprint with Reraise.
Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas discusses Will Take Charge, Fast Bullet, Strong Mandate and more Breeders' Cup contenders. Watch Video
Listen to Steve Haskin ask D. Wayne Lukas about the meaning of the Breeders' Cup experience, most memorable victories, and if the Breeders' Cup Juvenile is a Kentucky Derby prep race. listen to podcast
