Over 100 people, including union members, backstretch workers, trainers, veterinarians and farmers gathered Monday in Albany, NY. in support of a plan to modernize Belmont Park. The plan, according to a press release, promises significant new job creation and as much as $1 billion in one-time economic impacts while freeing up 110 acres of state-owned land at Aqueduct Racetrack for future development. The project was … Continue reading Belmont Park Makeover ?
Mother Nature is undefeated in ALL her starts and the streak continued last week as single-digit temperatures and high-winds KO’d last Saturday’s Withers Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct Park. The rescheduled $250,000, 1 1/8-mile Derby prep is set to go on Saturday (2/11) at the Big A and the skies look clear for takeoff. A field of seven (up from six last week) will break from the starting … Continue reading Who Wins The Withers ?
The New York State road to the 2023 Kentucky Derby moves on this Saturday, with the 143rd edition of the $250,000 Grade 3 Withers Stakes. Named after prominent 19th-century owner David Withers, the race was held for the first time in 1874 at Jerome Park. It has been held at several different tracks, but has been run at Aqueduct Park since 1997. Historically held in the spring, the Withers was … Continue reading The Withers Stakes
The New York Race Track Chaplaincy announced Wednesday that it will pay tribute to Tracy and Todd Pletcher for their generous and continued support of the New York backstretch community. The couple will be honored at the Chaplaincy’s 16th annual fund-raising brunch to be held on August 16th at the Saratoga National Golf Club in Saratoga Springs, NY. “The Pletchers have demonstrated a deep commitment … Continue reading In Todd & Wife They Trust
For all of the sun and fun rolled into summertime racing, the fall/winter racing season in the northeast occasionally brings inclement weather. Unlike baseball, Horse Racing usually goes on before, during, and after a rain/snow storm and there are some general handicapping concepts that you should keep on hand for… a rainy day. First off, keep in mind that racetracks can be like apples and … Continue reading Dirty Money
The Daily Racing Blog wishes the incomparable Johnny Velazquez a belated Happy Birthday. The Hall Of Fame jockey celebrated his 51st lap around the solar track yesterday (Thanksgiving). A native of Puerto Rico, Johnny V as he’s affectionately known, is Thoroughbred racing’s all-time leading money Winning jockey, with career purse earnings of more than $446 million from 6,357 Wins. A Winner of three Kentucky Derbies, Velazquez has Won … Continue reading Belated Birthday Greetings
The 12th and final race of the card, on the last day of racing at Saratoga this summer was also the last call at The Spa for track announcer John Imbriale. Imbriale will retire as NYRA’s full-time track announcer at the end of 2022. While he will step away from the microphone at Saratoga Race Course and Aqueduct Racetrack, Imbriale will continue to serve as … Continue reading New NYRA Announcers
As teenagers, some/most youngsters tend to think the world is their oyster. Not so for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. He did not dream big as a youth. “I was 18 years old and hauling horses around in a two-horse trailer to the bush tracks,” recalled the native of Mobridge, South Dakota. “I never imagined training for anybody else other than myself.” As the son of a Veteran, … Continue reading Mr. Bill Mott
The Sleepy Hollow Stakes was the 10th and final race on the Belmont@Aqueduct card Sunday. The contest was Won by ARCTIC ARROGANCE a Linda Rice trained horse, ridden by Jose Lezcano, who kept his head in the race. But why Sleepy Hollow Stakes? Stakes races are usually named after horses, trainers, or other legendary horse people- not small towns on the Hudson. Famously described as … Continue reading The Headless Horseman
Nicholas Philip Zito grew up near Aqueduct Racetrack. His father would take him to the track as a young lad. But back in the day there were age restrictions on admission to the track. So the elder Zito would leave young Nicholas with a friend of his, who just happened to be a security guard at the Big A. It was there and then that Zito felt he found his calling. … Continue reading A Classic New York Bred
