Thoroughbred Horse Racing Blog | 251 days ago
The Breeders Cup 2012 World Championships at Santa Anita is just over three weeks away. With the date closing in quickly, that means the Breeders Cup Challenge as part of the Win and You’re In series is coming to an end. Upon the conclusion of...
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Horse Racing Bloggers
15 More Challenge Races for 2012 Breeders Cup
Thoroughbred Horse Racing Blog | 258 days ago
Last weekend, there were 14 races as part of the 2012 Breeders Cup Challenge Series. Belmont Park and Santa Anita held their respective Super Saturday’s with multiple Grade 1 races now in the books. Newcastle and Curragh over in Europe had three races as well....
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2012 Breeders Cup Dates & Post Times
Thoroughbred Horse Racing Blog | 259 days ago
We are now less than one month away! Pages have been created and added for all 15 races including the main event, the Breeders’ Cup Classic. To view these pages, you can either select them by scrolling over the Breeders’ Cup Challenge title at the...
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2012 Breeders Cup Implications This Weekend
Thoroughbred Horse Racing Blog | 266 days ago
This weekend has serious implications for the upcoming 2012 Breeders Cup World Championships in early November at Santa Anita. As part of the Win and You’re In Challenge Series, there are a combined total of 14 races across the United States and Europe. Super Saturday...
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Breeders’ Cup 2012 Just Around the Corner
Thoroughbred Horse Racing Blog | 273 days ago
It’s hard to believe another year has flown by. In just over six weeks time, the 29th installment of the Breeders’ Cup World Championship will be held once again at Santa Anita race track in Arcadia, California. A total of 15 races worth 25.5 million...
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Bob Baffert Still Going Strong, Despite
Thoroughbred Horse Racing Blog | 286 days ago
It’s been a roller coaster ride of emotions for trainer Bob Baffert these last few months, both on and off the track. In March, he had a heart attack in Dubai as Game on Dude was preparing to run in the Dubai World Cup. He...
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Del Mar Futurity Closes Successful Meet
Thoroughbred Horse Racing Blog | 288 days ago
It was Saratoga’s turn on the weekend with the running of the Grade 2 Three Chimneys Hopeful Stakes. Shanghai Bobby made it look easy with a 3 3/4 lengths win over favorite Fortify and Bern Identity. For Shanghai Bobby, it continued his winning streak as...
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Forego the Woodward This Weekend
Thoroughbred Horse Racing Blog | 293 days ago
Ok, maybe the title is a bit too much, but in my opinion the Grade 1 Forego Stakes at Saratoga this weekend is a much more appealing race than the Grade 1 Woodward Stakes. I believe the Woodward is Mucho Macho Man‘s to lose. In...
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Dullahan, Alpha, Golden Ticket Create Instant Classics
Thoroughbred Horse Racing Blog | 295 days ago
It’s been a well documented disaster season for the three year old male division in terms of the number of star horses lost to injury and retirement. Among others, we’ve lost Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner I’ll Have Another, Arkansas Derby and triple crown double...
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Thoroughbred Times TODAY column on Henrythenavigator
Horse Racing Bloggers | Sid Fernando | 300 days ago
Click here to read about Ashford Stud’s freshman sire, now represented by two Group 1 colts in Europe.
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Ghostzapper colt from ‘Rags’ and Jazil family wins Derby
Horse Racing Bloggers | Sid Fernando | 303 days ago
For the fifth consecutive year, a US-based sire was represented by the winner of the Russian Derby. Ghostzapper’s well-bred son Ghost Honour won the 2400-meter Russian classic on dirt at the Central Moscow Hippodrome Sunday, August 19, following ...
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Little Mike Saves Americans, Wins Arlington Million
Thoroughbred Horse Racing Blog | 305 days ago
It’s great for horse racing when you have International flavor in three consectuive races. There’s just something about Americans vs Europeans no matter what the sport. Today at Arlington Park had three Grade 1 turf races with favorites from both sides of the pond. The...
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Field of 10 Set for Beverly D. Stakes (G1)
Thoroughbred Horse Racing Blog | 306 days ago
The one part of the summer meet at Arlington Park that I like are the major turf races. It has the healthy International competition between American vs European horses. It’s one of the few times throughout the racing season, European connections will travel their top...
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Racing Spotlight Remains on Turf, Arlington Park
Thoroughbred Horse Racing Blog | 307 days ago
Last weekend, the five year old chestnut Wise Dan returned to turf for the first time in 10 months and easily won the Grade 2 Fourstardave Handicap at Saratoga by five lengths. The Charles Lopresti trainee has performed very well in his limited action on...
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Travers Stakes, Another Watered Down Race?
Thoroughbred Horse Racing Blog | 308 days ago
It’s been quite a year for the three year old male division. You’ve read our articles about the injuries sustained to the top horses from January up to now. Out of Bounds (Sham Stakes winner), Algorithms (Holy Bull Stakes winner), Thunder Moccasin (Hutcheson Stakes winner)...
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Shackleford, Ron the Greek Part of Upset Weekend at Saratoga
Thoroughbred Horse Racing Blog | 317 days ago
It was one of those crazy weekends where nothing went right for the favorites and everything went right for the betting public. A total of 8 graded stakes races across the continent and 7 of them resulted in upsets. The only favorite to win was...
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Whitney Invitational Headlines Saturday at Saratoga
Thoroughbred Horse Racing Blog | 321 days ago
This Saturday, trainer Bill Mott brings his two-time Grade 1 winner Ron the Greek to The Spa to tackle eight others in the $750,000 Grade 1 Whitney Invitational Handicap. This race is part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge race. If a horse is nominated for...
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Hansen to Run in West Virginia Derby, Brilliant?
Thoroughbred Horse Racing Blog | 323 days ago
I’ve written posts on the topic of top horses side stepping the “major” races for “lower” tier races at less familiar race tracks. In the title of this post I mention the word brilliant. Why? Let me explain. Last year, I wrote about Bob Baffert...
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Paynter Takes Over Division Lead With Haskell Win
Thoroughbred Horse Racing Blog | 324 days ago
With the departure of I’ll Have Another to injury that eventually forced him to retire, the three year old male division was left for Bodemeister to control. The Bob Baffert trained colt who destroyed the competition in the Arkansas Derby by 9 1/4 lengths fell...
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Royal Delta, Acclamation Prove They Are Champions
Thoroughbred Horse Racing Blog | 332 days ago
In a year that’s been tough on Breeders’ Cup champions and Eclipse Award winners, two individual champions on Saturday afternoon showed why they were voted as Champions in 2011. Last year, the Bill Mott trained Royal Delta won three graded stakes races including the Breeders’...
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Is the Three Year Old Male Season Salvageable?
Thoroughbred Horse Racing Blog | 335 days ago
We are now into the second half of the racing season and the news keeps getting worse for the three year old male division. It’s the division that receives the most spotlight due to the popularity of its mainstream races such as the Kentucky Derby....
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Del Mar vs Saratoga, Comparing the Meets
Thoroughbred Horse Racing Blog | 336 days ago
When it comes to the best Summer meets in American thoroughbred horse racing, look no further than Del Mar and Saratoga. Both rich in tradition and a long history of memorable horse racing. Both historic race tracks are known for bringing in the top American...
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Man o’ War Stakes Headlines Quartet of Big Stakes
Thoroughbred Horse Racing Blog | 341 days ago
The last time Treasure Beach ran on American soil, he won the Secretariat Stakes (G1) at Arlington Park on August 13, 2011. After the win, the Aidan O’Brien trained four year old colt was shipped to France and ran a poor 14th in the Qatar...
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Hollywood Gold Cup Headlines Big Weekend
Thoroughbred Horse Racing Blog | 348 days ago
Eight graded stakes will occur this weekend across the United States and Ontario with three in Grade 1 company. Several star horses will make appearances including five time graded stakes winner Game on Dude in the Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap at BetFair Hollywood Park on...
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Joel Rosario to New York, Good or Bad Move?
Thoroughbred Horse Racing Blog | 362 days ago
Joel Rosario is 27 years old, one of the top jockeys in Southern California and across the country. So why the move to New York? Am I missing something? So far in his career, which consistently started in 2006, Rosario has won over 1,300 races...
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2011 Breeders Cup Winners, So Far This Year
Thoroughbred Horse Racing Blog | 366 days ago
With the recent performance by reigning three year old champion filly Royal Delta this past weekend, I wanted to reflect on all Breeders Cup winners from last November and see how they have each fared since that weekend. Royal Delta, won the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’...
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Tough Field in Stephen Foster Handicap, BC Challenge Race
Thoroughbred Horse Racing Blog | 370 days ago
A combined 21 career graded stakes wins for this year’s Stephen Foster Handicap field. 10 of those 21 have come in 2012. Leading the way are Nates Mineshaft and Alternation with three each. Despite the recent success for both horses, they are still looking for...
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Showdown Looms in Grade 1 Vanity Handicap
Thoroughbred Horse Racing Blog | 371 days ago
Two Grade 1 winners and one Grade 2 winner will do battle come Saturday June 16 at BetFair Hollywood Park for the Vanity Handicap (G1). It’s a race that has seen stellar female horses win over the last decade. Winners include Blind Luck (2011), three-time...
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Union Rags Back on Top with Belmont Stakes Win
Thoroughbred Horse Racing Blog | 374 days ago
Union Rags wins the Belmont Stakes! Has he come full circle? Well, not quite. However it is very close. Last year, The Michael Matz trained colt broke his maiden first time out at Delaware Park. Won the Three Chimneys Saratoga Special Stakes (G2) at Saratoga...
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Goodrich recalls the back story of Majestic Prince, Belmont
Horse Racing Bloggers | Sid Fernando | 376 days ago
Wednesday night on Twitter, after following a discussion among fans speculating on I’ll Have Another’s physical condition for the Belmont, I made the following statements about Majestic Prince, the undefeated Derby and Preakness winner of 1...
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Amid Drama, History At Stake for I’ll Have Another
Thoroughbred Horse Racing Blog | 377 days ago
The horse racing World talked about the potential for I’ll Have Another to capture the triple crown for the first time in 34 years after his improbable win in the Kentucky Derby on May 5th. His big run down the middle of the stretch to...
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May 2012 Graded Stakes Winners Recap
Thoroughbred Horse Racing Blog | 380 days ago
The sport of horse racing got a much needed media boost in May with the emergence of Southern California colt I’ll Have Another. His winning streak of four which now includes the Kentucky Derby and Preakness is in the National spotlight as he put himself...
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Shepard and Hemingway as enchanted with horses as us
Horse Racing Bloggers | Sid Fernando | 384 days ago
Got a sandwich from Subway, settled on the hotel bed, and opened the book I’d just bought in Amherst on the recommendation of North American Trainer editor Frances J. Karon. “Day out of Days” is a short story collection by Pulitzer wi...
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Shackleford Wins Met Mile, Exciting Finish
Thoroughbred Horse Racing Blog | 386 days ago
Belmont Park was the host of four graded stakes on the holiday Monday race card. It started off in Race 7 with the Grade 2 Sands Point Stakes. The favorite was 4/5 Somali Lemonade. Trainer Michael Matz must be getting tired of his star horses...
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Hemingway: Mangled horses, dead jockeys, dope, fixed races
Horse Racing Bloggers | Sid Fernando | 387 days ago
Pulitzer winner Walt Bogdanich and co-authors were the most recent to write dramatically about “mangled horses,” drugs, breakdowns, and injured jockeys in America (New York Times), but before them Nobel winner Ernest Hemingway, a one-time j...
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Union Rags again: Unlucky or does he have curse of Gorytus?
Horse Racing Bloggers | Sid Fernando | 390 days ago
What’s a Gorytus? A Gorytus is a case for holding arrows. Who’s Gorytus? He was a gorgeous physical specimen by Nijinsky out of Glad Rags, trained by Dick Hern for Alice duPont Mills in England. Gorytus won his first two starts at 2 in a ma...
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Kentucky Derby and Preakness Winners, Triple Crown
Thoroughbred Horse Racing Blog | 392 days ago
Which Group Will I’ll Have Another Join? It’s a long line of horses who won just a single triple crown race. The line shortens quite a bit for those who have won two of the three. And as you know, the list of those who...
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I’ll Have Another Impresses Again in Preakness Stakes
Thoroughbred Horse Racing Blog | 395 days ago
Despite winning the Santa Anita Derby and Kentucky Derby, I’ll Have Another was still the second choice to the betting public for the 137th running of the Preakness Stakes. Derby runner-up Bodemeister was bet down as the 8/5 favorite. Why? Bodemeister ran one of the...
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2012 Preakness Stakes Entries, Analysis, Picks
Thoroughbred Horse Racing Blog | 397 days ago
137th Running of the Preakness Stakes is set for Saturday, May 19th at Pimlico Race Course. A field of 11 three year old colts will for the second leg of the triple crown. Preakness Stakes – Pimlico – 1 3/16 miles – Dirt – $1,000,000...
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History of Derby Winners in Preakness Stakes
Thoroughbred Horse Racing Blog | 400 days ago
It’s only been 3 years since a Kentucky Derby winner also won the Preakness Stakes. That was Big Brown in 2008. This back to back feat has happened seven times since 1997. It occurred three times in a row twice since 1997. So it’s not...
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Clarifying some terms, such as ‘bleeder’; and Drape quote
Horse Racing Bloggers | Sid Fernando | 403 days ago
There’s so much confusion about exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH) in articles, blogs, and SM today that I want to clarify some issues as they have appeared in recent posts in this space. For one, whenever possible I’ve defined a ...
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A look at EIPH history and its prevalence in Hong Kong
Horse Racing Bloggers | Sid Fernando | 403 days ago
The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) has strict testing requirements in place for exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH) in potential imports, but nevertheless would you believe that bleeders (defined here as those exhibiting epsitaxis, or bleeding t...
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A closer look at the Hong Kong model, breakdowns, Lasix
Horse Racing Bloggers | Sid Fernando | 404 days ago
Hong Kong racing is frequently cited as a model for US racing to follow because race-day furosemide is not permitted and breakdown rates are among the lowest in the world. Joe Drape, the New York Times racing writer, once tweeted: “Not complex: I...
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April 2012 Graded Stakes Recap, Review and Stats
Thoroughbred Horse Racing Blog | 406 days ago
It was a great month of racing, with many graded stakes races run all across the country, as well as, the last prep races and weeks leading up to the Kentucky Derby on May 5th. We welcomed the following Horses to the multiple graded stakes...
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Against Odds, I’ll Have Another Wins the Kentucky Derby
Thoroughbred Horse Racing Blog | 409 days ago
It’s been days, weeks and months that everyone had been waiting for the 138th running of the Kentucky Derby. With numerous morning workouts completed and all the derby prep races run, the day had come and gone with a success story that everyone dreams of...
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2012 Kentucky Derby Picks & Predictions
Thoroughbred Horse Racing Blog | 411 days ago
We’ve been waiting for this day for months. It’s finally here. The 138th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs will field 20 horses (barring any late scratches). Everyone has their own way to handicap the big race. Over the last few days/weeks, we’ve...
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2012 Kentucky Derby Post Positions, Analysis
Thoroughbred Horse Racing Blog | 413 days ago
How will the post positions affect each horse and the 138th running of the Kentucky Derby? We break it down below. Kentucky Derby (G1) – Churchill Downs – $2,000,000 – 1 1/4 miles – Dirt Post Position #1. Daddy Long Legs – Trainer Aidan O’Brien...
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On Fire Baby’s early form without Lasix no different now
Horse Racing Bloggers | Sid Fernando | 413 days ago
Anita Cauley’s highly regarded homebred On Fire Baby, 4-1 co-second choice on the morning line for the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks on Friday at Churchill Downs, began her racing career as a rarity these days. She made her debut at Ellis Park last Augus...
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Kentucky Derby: Mark Valeski Out, Lukas/Optimizer In
Thoroughbred Horse Racing Blog | 414 days ago
D. WAYNE LUKAS When you think about Kentucky Derby trainers over the last three decades, you automatically think about him. He’s had 44 horses start in the Derby. Four were winners, one finished second, and five others finished third. Only a 9% winning percentage, but...
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2012 Kentucky Derby Jockeys – Career Stats & Info
Thoroughbred Horse Racing Blog | 415 days ago
It’s amazing to see so many great jockeys from all over the country be humbled by one single race. Over their careers, top jockeys win multiple graded stakes races from various race tracks. However, as you will see, the same jockeys just can’t seem to...
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