The timing of a low-grade fever in the spring could not have been worse for Songbird, but with deft handling the undefeated champion juvenile filly of 2015 continued to deliver spectacular races through the summer.
Cathryn Sophia went off favored at 1-9 in a field of six for the Princess of Sylmar, and turned in a text-book run, with jockey Paco Lopez perched motionless in the saddle en route to a 6 1/2-length victory.
A Pennsylvania lawmaker will introduce legislation that would restore delayed breeder and stallion awards payments and also alter some of the parameters of the Thoroughbred breeding program.
Six stakes and total purses of $845,000 for 11 races will be offered Sept. 3 when Parx Racing returns from a more than three-week break with a program for mostly Pennsylvania-bred runners.
The Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission Aug. 24 again postponed action on breeder and stallion award payments that haven't been paid since earlier this year because of ambiguous language in a new horseracing reform law,
The Racing Medication and Testing Consortium (RMTC) announced Aug. 9 that Pennsylvania has become the 10th state to pass the National Uniform Medication Program (NUMP) in its entirety.
Gov. Tom Wolf has told Pennsylvania Thoroughbred breeders the resumption of payment of breeder and stallion awards lies with the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission, so they plan to again ask the regulatory agency to free up the money.
With Parx Racing in Pennsylvania closed for live racing from Aug. 10-Sept. 2, the Maryland Jockey Club Aug. 6 said it will pay all shipping expenses to Laurel Park for horses stabled at Parx throughout August.
The Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association is urging members and non-members to contact Gov. Tom Wolf to facilitate release of breeder and stallion awards that have been suspended since a new horseracing reform law took effect in late February.
CANTER Pennsylvania is offering its nationally recognized service to horsemen at Presque Isle Downs & Casino near Erie, Pa.
The Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association has asked Gov. Tom Wolf to facilitate resumption of breeder and stallion awards payments that have been suspended since late March because of ambiguous language in a new racing reform law.
Restoration of payments for Pennsylvania breeder and stallion awards suspended since late March because of incorrect language in an omnibus horseracing reform bill signed into law in late February will have to wait at least another month.
Statistics in the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission annual report for 2015 reflect how integral revenue from slot machines is to purses for Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing at six racetrack casinos in the state.
An excessive heat warning from the National Weather Service led Parx Racing to cancel its July 25 live racing program.
The Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association July 15 said it continues to work on restoring payments for breeder and stallion awards after corrective language failed to win approval before the state General Assembly adjourned.
Parx Racing has added a $150,000 stakes for 3-year-old fillies at one mile Sept. 3 designed to serve as a Cotillion Stakes (gr. I) prep for Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) winner Cathryn Sophia.
The Pennsylvania Senate July 11 passed a bill that in part restores earlier language that governs the state Thoroughbred breeding fund.
Two sharp turf sprinters owned by Colts Neck Stables, along with The Jim Stable's Ben's Cat and recent grade III winner Pure Sensation, are among 10 horses entered in the $200,000 Parx Dash (gr. IIIT) for 3-year-olds and up July 9 at Parx Racing.
The head of the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association July 1 said legislation that would alter the Thoroughbred breeding fund isn't workable because the proposed percentages could greatly reduce restricted races and owners' bonuses.
Valor Ladies' Tuttipaesi (IRE), winner of the March 16 Santa Ana Stakes (gr. IIT) at Santa Anita Park last out, chases a second graded victory in the $200,000 Dr. James Penny Memorial (gr. IIIT) July 4 at Parx Racing.
Legislation that would change the parameters of the Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Breeding Fund cleared a House of Representatives committee June 27.
A restored 200-year-old horse barn at Greenbriar Farm in Alburtis, Pa., was completely destroyed by fire the night of June 26. No horses were injured.
The Pennsylvania House June 22 passed an amendment that adds Internet gambling to a bill that would permit more slot machines in the state but stopped short of approving video gaming machines for bars, taverns, and private clubs.
Horsemen's groups and casino operators in Pennsylvania have made known their opposition to legislation that would authorize tens of thousands of video gaming terminals in bars and taverns.
John Servis, trainer of Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) winner Cathryn Sophia, is questioning three clenbuterol positives in his horses in April and May at Parx Racing, including one for a 3-year-old filly he said had never been administered the medication.
An Into Mischief colt posted the fastest quarter-mile time of : 20 4/5 when the first of six under tack workout sessions for the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co.’s June sale of 2-year-olds in training and horses of racing age was conducted June 5.
Ben's Cat looks to follow his success in the Jim McKay Turf Sprint by lining up for his fifth try June 4 in the $150,000 Pennsylvania Governor's Cup.
Trainer Mark Casse looks to have a strong one-two punch in the $500,000 Penn Mile (gr. IIIT) for 3-year-olds June 4 at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course.
The 2016 Pennsylvania-bred stakes schedule, valued at $2.2 million, kicked off May 28 at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course and will continue June 4 at Parx Racing.
Canadian Horse of the Year Catch a Glimpse is nominated to three stakes the weekend of June 4-5, but trainer Mark Casse said the winner of five consecutive stakes probably will face males in the $500,000 Penn Mile (gr. IIIT).
The nine members of a reconstituted Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission have been appointed by Gov. Tom Wolf under legislation he signed into law in late February.
One day after winning the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) with Cathryn Sophia, trainer John Servis captured the Parx Oaks with Miss Inclusive.
Freshman son of Flatter's first crop showing potential
Adam Staple and Jalin Stable's Page McKenney, who was claimed for $16,000 in 2013 and since then has earned more than $1 million, was named Pennsylvania-bred horse of the year for 2015.
Raging Smoke took the $150,000 Sugar Maple Stakes presented by CANTER Mid-Atlantic wire-to-wire April 23, and in the process gave trainer Mike Salvaggio the biggest win of his career.
More than $228 million was accrued for purses at six Pennsylvania racetracks in 2015 with almost 90% of the funds derived from slot machine revenue, according to an annual report that analyzes the racetrack gaming industry in the state.
Matthew Carter, the treasurer for the Pennsylvania Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association under investigation for possible misuse of funds, was found dead March 20 in the the Susquehanna River near City Island, Pa.
Trainer Alfredo Velazquez, best known for saddling Private Zone to a pair of grade I victories in 2014, secured the 1,000th North American training win of his career March 15.
Legislation designed to modernize horse racing in Pennsylvania was signed into law Feb. 23 by Gov. Tom Wolf, who last fall threatened to shut down the industry because it couldn't pay for regulation.
Parx Racing reopened for training the morning of Feb. 22 and took entries for Feb. 27, which will be the first live racing program at the Pennsylvania track since Dec. 22 of last year.
Long before the 3-year-old filly crossed the wire first, she was already a winner. The $18,000 claiming race was just her third start and first in nine months, having overcome a bout with pneumonia that nearly took her life.
There was a reason bettors made PJG Stable's Favorite Tale the 1-2 favorite for the $200,000 Fabulous Strike Handicap; he was the class of the field off a third in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I).
Ben's Cat, the formidable iron horse who keeps on campaigning for Hall of Fame trainer King Leatherbury, could take home his fourth consecutive edition of the $200,000 Fabulous Strike Handicap Nov. 25 at Penn National.
The Penn Gaming Racing Challenge, which links major races at tracks owned by Penn National Gaming Inc., will contest its fifth and final leg of the year at three racetracks Thanksgiving week.
State officials in Pennsylvania said they expect lawmakers the week of Nov. 16 to consider legislation that would, in part, stabilize the funding of horse racing regulation.
Multiple graded stakes winner Pants On Fire will stand his initial season at stud for $5,000 next year at Glenn and Becky Brok's Diamond B Farm near Mohrsville, Pa.
Former Irish stallion Lord Shanakill and Last Gunfighter, a recently retired multiple graded stakes winner, will join the 2016 stallion roster at Pin Oak Lane Farm in New Freedom, Pa.
Racing stakeholders in Pennsylvania are working with Gov. Tom Wolf's administration to devise a funding plan for regulation in the wake of ongoing declines in pari-mutuel handle in the state.
Multiple graded stakes winner Senor Swinger will relocate to La Mancha Farm in Ocala, Fla,. for the 2016 breeding season, as property of Michael V. Laurato.
A racing official with Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course has pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud charges after he allegedly accepted bribes in exchange for inside information about races.
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