Saturday’s $750,000 dollar, Grade 1 Whitney Stakes is an annual highlight of the Saratoga Race Course summer meet. It is a race that has major importance on the road to the Breeders’ Cup World Championships in the fall. Even without the Breeders Cup significance the Whitney is one of the most historic and significant races for older dirt horses in North America. Some of the … Continue reading The 2020 Whitney Stakes
When former NYRA track announcer Tom Durkin walks down Broadway in Saratoga Springs, it is almost as if he is stepping back in time. Fans often stop him to remind him of one of his legendary race calls and to express their appreciation for his extraordinary career. Those conversations mean the world to Durkin. “You’re walking down the street and somebody stops you and has … Continue reading The Legendary Tom Durkin
The Daily Racing Blog was going to take a closer look at Saturday’s Grade 1, $250,000 dollar Vanderbilt Stakes at Saratoga, but frankly with a short field of five horses it offers little betting Value. The Morning Line favorite VOLATILE seems to be head and shoulders above the rest in this one. Next Saturday is the Whitney Stakes which will certainly have a larger, more … Continue reading Jockeys & Trainers At The Spa
The Travers Stakes will be truly living up to its nickname of The Midsummer Derby this year. As part of a revamped Saratoga Race Course schedule, the 1 1/4-mile Travers has been moved up three weeks to an August 8th date while still retaining the one million dollar purse as an enticement to on-the-fence entrants. The Travers is usually held on the final Saturday in … Continue reading Travers Talk
Women have played key roles in horse racing since the celebrated sport’s earliest days. Yet few women – or men for that matter – at any level of the sport created a legacy that can rival the respect and importance of Marylou Whitney. Whitney, who died July 19, 2019 at age 93, did so much more than simply race in the famed Eton blue … Continue reading Marylou Is Still A Presence
The Haskell Stakes (G1) has retained its million dollar purse and still remains a part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series that offers the Winner a place in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on November 7th. However, the signature race at Monmouth Park has undergone some changes (as everything else has) in 2020. No longer an invitational race, the mile and eighth Grade 1 was … Continue reading The Haskell Stakes
There is no finer setting for thoroughbred racing than historic Saratoga Race Course. It was named one of the world’s top 10 sporting venues of the 20th century by Sports Illustrated. This year, of course, things are a little different. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Saratoga Race Course will begin its first-ever meet with no spectators on site, Thursday, July 16th. The 2020 summer … Continue reading Saratoga Opens
Chad Brown picked up 23 Wins to finish as the leading trainer at the Belmont Race Track spring/summer meet for the 5th consecutive year. Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. posted 34 Victories to lead all riders as the 25-day meet concluded on Sunday at Belmont Park. The meet ran from June 3rd to July 12th. The spring/summer meet kicked off on June 3rd marking the return … Continue reading Wrapping Up Belmont
Saturday’s $600,000 dollar Bluegrass Stakes (G2) offers 170 qualifying points toward this year’s Kentucky Derby with 100 points going to the Winner, 40 to the runner-up, 20 to 3rd place and 10 points to 4th. The Blue Grass is race 9 on a card of 10, with a scheduled Post Time of 5:30. So let’s take a look at the field. 1. SHIVAREE [8-1] … Continue reading The Bluegrass Special
The 2020 Road to the Kentucky Derby continues its unprecedented summer tour with a stop this Saturday at a historic, picturesque locale that’s usually reserved for early spring competition – Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky. Postponed from April 4th, the $600,000, dollar Grade 2 Bluegrass Stakes offers 170 qualifying points for the September 5th Kentucky Derby, distributed on a 100-40-20-10 scale to the top … Continue reading Bluegrass By The Numbers
