You will occasionally catch trainers or turf writers referring to a big race as a key race in a horse’s preparation for an upcoming race. This usually means that the race was essential to the trainer’s plan for that horse, a race that meant a lot for the horse’s development. But when you hear handicappers and horse-players using the term key race, they usually mean … Continue reading Key-Race Longshot Angle
When we signed off on Friday the Daily Racing Blog was hoping that Monmouth Park would cancel its card on Saturday (as did other east coast tracks) due to expected blistering temperatures and excessive humidity. Unfortunately Dennis Drazin who owns Darby Development, which operates the facility didn’t see it that way. He referenced a heat threshold the track needed to reach before deeming racing unsafe. There was no number … Continue reading Commissioner Of Horse Racing?
The last time the New York Racing Association cancelled a card at Saratoga due to expected excessive heat was thirteen years ago. That streak is over. Saturday’s racing at Saratoga has been cancelled for just that reason. Local forecasters are predicting the heat index will be near or over 100 degrees at times on Saturday, with extremely hot temperatures Friday throughout Sunday. The last time an entire … Continue reading Too Hot. No Handle.
It would be remiss of the Daily Racing Blog not to mention a big racing event in New Jersey this weekend. The $1 million dollar, Grade 1 Haskell Invitational Stakes on Saturday at Monmouth Park is traditionally the marquee event at the Jersey Shore racetrack. This 52nd running of the Haskell shapes up to be a very competitive race with several compelling story-lines, the most prominent … Continue reading The Haskell Stakes
The first four days of the revamped Saratoga Race Course meet have come and gone, and the new president and CEO of the New York Racing Association David O’Rourke seems happy with it. This years meet opened one weekend earlier than in past years. In regard to that O’Rourke said; “We’re not hiding from the fact that this is ‘The August Place to Be,’ but it’s … Continue reading Opening Weekend Numbers
The first Grade 1 Stakes race of the 2019 Saratoga meet is Saturday with the running of the $500,000 Diana Stakes which is contested at a mile and an eighth on the outer turf course. It is named for the mythological goddess Diana, the inaugural race was held in 1939. This years Diana has attracted an elite field of six older fillies and mares, each with … Continue reading The Diana Stakes
When I was 13-14 years of age she thought I was cute. I was giddy with this new (albeit childish) infatuation. From 15-17 I vied hard for her attention, only to be spurned for my lack of knowledge and experience. I vowed to get better. As I grew older and wiser my skills did improve and I thought I had what it took to Win … Continue reading And They’re Off
Unless you are still in a Kentucky Derby (The Most Exciting 22 Minutes in Sports) state of shock, then you are aware that the Saratoga Race Course opens this Thursday July 11th. One of the track’s more familiar monikers is The Graveyard Of Favorites. With that in mind, the Daily Racing Blog offers a quick refresher in finding Value at the track. DRB is always on the … Continue reading The Graveyard Of Favorites
The best 3-year-old horses on dirt have finished competing in the 2019 Triple Crown. The $1 million dollar Belmont Derby Invitational on Saturday kicks off a new series for 3-year-olds called the Turf Trinity, with the newly-created $1 million dollar Saratoga Derby and Jockey Club Derby completing the circuit in the upcoming months. As with the Kentucky Derby, the difficulty in the Belmont Derby is in deciding … Continue reading The Belmont Derby
The Stars & Stripes Racing Festival, an annual event at Belmont Park since 2014, features a star-studded schedule of races this year. Event highlights are the Belmont Derby Invitational and the Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes, which each carry a prize fund of at least $1 million. Joining these Grade I races is the Grade II Suburban Handicap. While grade III additions include the Dwyer Stakes and the John A. … Continue reading Stars And Stripes Forever
