Establish racing and breeding organizations in Florida are united in opposition to a new Ocala-area Quarter Horse track it contends has several safety issues and only is concerned about offer poker and full-card simulcasts.
The National HBPA said April 11 it supports changes made by the Association of Racing Commissioners International in regard to uniform medication regulations.
Even though it faced new weekend competition from nearby Calder Casino & Race Course, Gulfstream Park came close to its record for average daily all-sources handle during its 2013-14 winter meet that ended April 6.
Florida and Arkansas illustrate the challenges in obtaining uniformity. read blog
Repole Stable's Micromanage seemed to have forgotten the way to the winner's circle, but he found it again March 29 in South Florida when galloping clear in the $100,000 Skip Away Stakes (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park.
Trainer Tom Albertrani did a masterful job getting Godolphin's Anjaz ready to roll off more than a seven-month gap between races, and the daughter of Street Cry finally got her first U.S. victory.
Devil's Cave did all her running from the start as the 1-2 favorite in the $150,000 Rampart Stakes (gr. III) at Gulfstream March 29, so stablemate Gamay Noir picked up the pieces in deep stretch to win at odds of 49-1.
Nikki's Sandcastle and Csaba, both seeking a return to winning ways, share co-high weight of 123 pounds in the $100,000 Skip Away Stakes (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park March 29.
Devil's Cave, winner of the Feb. 16 Sabin Stakes (gr. II), heads a field of eight including multiple graded stakes winner Unlimited Budget in the $150,000 Rampart Stakes (gr. III) March 29 at Gulfstream Park.
As the buildup continues for the $1 million Besilu Stables Florida Derby (gr. I) March 29, Honors Stable's Wildcat Red is acting like he can't wait. Trainer Jose Garoffalo said the colt is full of himself.
Florida herd helped shape today's medication rules Download Now
Cairo Prince, likely favorite for the March 29 Florida Derby (gr. I), worked at Palm Meadows March 15 while fellow Florida Derby contenders Wildcat Red and General a Rod prepped at Gulfstream.
I went back to the barn next morning to see Puck and ran my knuckles over his shins, looking for signs of trouble, but he didn't move an inch...
Michael D'Angelo worked with many of the East Coast's most prominent trainers before opening his own stable.
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.
A Malibu Moon colt, who is a half brother to grade II winner Spellbound, was purchased by agent Demi O'Byrne for $1.3 million during the March 11 Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s selected sale of 2-year-olds in training.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Longtime horse owners and breeders Lisa and Jerry Campbell have launched Team Equest, a Florida-based syndicate initiative designed to attract new owners to racing.
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).
Stablemates Testa Rossi and Kitten Kaboodle, both graded stakes winners in 2013 from the barn of trainer Chad Brown, will make their first appearances as sophomores in the March 8 Florida Oaks (gr. IIIT) at Tampa Bay.
Conquest Titan was runner-up to Cairo Prince in the Holy Bull, while Vinceremos won the local prep for the March 8 Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II).
Due to inclement weather forecast for the Ocala, Fla., area, the first session of the under tack show for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's March 2-year-olds in training sale has been rescheduled for Friday, March 7.
Palace Malice and Itsmyluckyday were among the best of the 3-year-old crop in 2013. On March 8, the two return for the first time in 2014 as part of an eight-horse field set to go in the $250,000 Gulfstream Park Handicap.
Florida stallion Repent has been sold to stand at Paradise Farms in Trinidad, Matt Lyons of Woodford Thoroughbreds confirmed March 5.
Hialeah Park has set its schedule for its next season, with a Quarter Horse-only meet of 40 days from Dec. 26, 2014 through March 2, 2015. It will conduct racing Fridays through Mondays throughout that period.
"It is a big jump and I think it says a lot about his quality," trainer Todd Pletcher said of Gala Award's grass win. "I'm not going to rule out something like the dirt or the Blue Grass (gr. I)."
A sharp Cairo Prince continued his preparations for the $1 million Besilu Stables Florida Derby (gr. I) by breezing a bullet five furlongs March 1 at Palm Meadows, the Gulfstream Park satellite training facility.
Sophomore son of Stormy Atlantic has won four of five starts for trainer Chad Brown, including a wire-to-wire season debut by a head over grade I winner We Miss Artie in the Jan. 19 Kitten's Joy Stakes.
Consignor Danzel Brendemuehl goes into the juvenile sales season bolstered by successes of recent stakes winners Wildcat Red, Uncle Sigh, and Sushi Empire, among others.
Ciaran Dunne's Wavertree Stables has led all consignors of 2-year-olds in training in gross sales for consecutive years. The Ocala, Fla.-based operation generates results with quantity and quality.
With Cairo Prince and Honor Code sitting out the next leg of the Florida sophomore series on the road to the Kentucky Derby, the Feb. 22 Fountain of Youth attracted a strong 13-horse field led by Top Billing.
This year, Venezuelan-born trainer Jose Garoffalo and owner Salvatore Delfino have ventured into exciting new territory--the Triple Crown trail with Fountain of Youth (gr. II) contender Wildcat Red.
Tampa Bay Downs and Hialeah Park haven't amended their plans for live racing dates for the 12-month period that begins July 1, though they have until Feb. 28 to do so.
Unless serious talks resume soon and quickly produce a settlement, Gulfstream Park and Calder Casino & Race Course appear to be headed toward another 12 months of bitter head-to-head weekend racing.
Fasig-Tipton has cataloged 157 selected juveniles for its 2-year-olds in training sale March 24 at Adena Springs South in Williston, Fla.
Owner/breeder Carlos Vaccarezza got his first win as a trainer Feb. 9 at Gulfstream Park with first-time starter Little Alexis.
Newtown Anner Stud and Joseph Bulger's Falling Sky won for the first time since the 2013 Sam F. Davis (gr. III), upsetting the Feb. 8 Gulfstream Park Sprint Stakes (gr. III) just over a year after his last triumph.
No decision has been made on where Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) winner Mucho Macho Man will make his next start, but he left no doubt the morning of Feb. 8 that he is ready to run again.
A Florida appeals court upheld an earlier ruling that the Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering violated a state rule-making process when it granted Gretna Racing LLC a license to hold pari-mutuel barrel racing.
MAHUBAH'S CORNER
Cairo Prince could have just the right balance of stamina and speed to be a successful contender in the Kentucky Derby.
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.
After Conquest Titan closed from last to finish second behind Cairo Prince in the Holy Bull (gr. II) at Gulfstream Park Jan. 25, trainer Mark Casse looked into his options for the son of Birdstone.
Multiple grade I winner Jackson Bend heads a field of 11 as part of a one-two punch for trainer Stanley Gold in the $100,000 Gulfstream Park Sprint (gr. III); Gold also has 2013 winner Fort Loudon in the Feb. 8 race.
The Florida Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse industries Feb. 3 renewed their request for the Florida legislature to clarify state laws on the definition of a horse race and released a study on breeding and racing's impact.
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.
Honors Stable Corporation's Wildcat Red turned in a sparkling performance Feb. 1 at Gulfstream Park, taking the $200,000 Hutcheson Stakes (gr. III) over eight other 3-year-olds in dominant fashion.
Private Zone, who had been ticketed for the $500,000 Donn Handicap (gr. I) on Feb. 9, has been turned out in Bradbury, Calif. Meanwhile, grade III winner Romansh will open his 2014 campaign in the Gulfstream Park event.
