The Road To The Kentucky Derby is open for business as the qualifying prep races have began in earnest. So, it seems a good time to talk about those that pilot the Derby hopefuls. More specifically, a charity that is near and dear to their hearts. The Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF) is a public charity that provides financial assistance to former jockeys who have suffered catastrophic on-track injuries. Since … Continue reading Coffee For A Cause
In this day and age at any racetrack across the country, you’ll likely find a female jockey in one of the races. Lady riders (a Dire Straits song just whispered to me) have won Triple Crown races, Breeders’ Cup races and marquee Stakes such as the Kentucky Oaks and Pacific Classic. Julie Krone, who won 3,704 races, is enshrined in the Racing Hall of Fame in … Continue reading Breaking Down Barriers
The Tampa Bay Derby takes center stage on the east coast Saturday afternoon, as the road to the May 2nd Kentucky Derby continues. The $400,000-dollar, Grade 3 Stakes offers a total of 105 qualifying points toward a spot in the Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs, distributed to the top five finishers on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale. Here is a brief look at the field … Continue reading Who Wins The Tampa Bay Derby?
In addition to the Tampa Bay Derby on Saturday, the west coast prep races begin in earnest with the Grade 2, San Felipe Stakes. The race has 105 total qualifying points to divvy up to the first five finishers on a 50-25-15-10-5 basis. Held in March, the San Felipe primarily serves as the final local prep for the Santa Anita Derby (G1). But the 1 1⁄16-mile … Continue reading The San Felipe Stakes
The 1 1⁄16-mile Tampa Bay Derby (G3) is Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs. The race has long existed in the shadow of richer Kentucky Derby (G1) prep races at neighboring Gulfstream Park. But despite facing fierce competition to attract the best three-year-olds in Florida, the Tampa Bay Derby has more than held its own as a productive prep for the First Saturday in May. First held in 1981, the … Continue reading The Tampa Bay Derby
The Arkansas Road to the Kentucky Derby is paved with gold. Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs has four Derby points races with total purses equaling $3.75 million dollars. These rich pay-days along with Derby qualifying points leads to deep and talented fields with compelling 3-year-olds looking for a spot in the gate for the May 2nd Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs. Sunday the $1 … Continue reading Who Wins The Rebel Stakes?
This is the time on the calendar when Derby hopefuls should be concentrating on two-turn preps and qualifying points. The Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct Park on Saturday is a bit counter intuitive to this thinking. The Gotham is contested as a one-turn mile; however, the winner does receive 50 Derby qualifying points, a total that should be good enough for a spot in The Run for … Continue reading Who Wins The Gotham Stakes?
The Rebel Stakes is Saturday at Oaklawn Park. To say that winning this Derby prep race is a harbinger of greatness would be an understatement. While the accumulated thoroughbred talent in this race goes back to its inception, here’s a look at three of the best in the 21st century. SMARTY JONES (2004) For their 100th anniversary in 2004, Oaklawn Park decided to spice up their road … Continue reading Rebel Stakes Greats
Saturday is the John Battaglia Stakes at Turfway Park. Twenty Kentucky Derby qualifying points will be awarded to the winner of Saturday’s contest. The race also offers synthetic runners a useful prep ahead of the March 21st Jeff Ruby Steaks. The Battaglia, held on the Turfway Tapeta Footings track, attracted an overflow field of 13. Here is a brief look at that field: 1. STREET BEAST … Continue reading Who Wins The John Battaglia Stakes?
This weekend’s lone stateside Derby qualifier is the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes at Turfway Park. The race honors John Battaglia, former general manager at Latonia (now Turfway) and other tracks. His son, oddsmaker and retired announcer Mike Battaglia, called the Kentucky Derby from 1978-1996. Inaugurated in 1982, the John Battaglia Memorial was added to the Road to the Kentucky Derby series in 2021, and the 1 … Continue reading The John Battaglia Stakes
