Saturday is the $415,000, Grade 2, Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park. Some of the top 3-year-olds in the country will do battle in this 1 1/16-mile contest. The Fountain of Youth is named after the mythical spring that attracted explorers to Florida in the 16th Century. The race was first held in 1945, and has been run every year since 1953. In 1973, it … Continue reading Youth Is Served
The Road to the Kentucky Derby makes a stop at Oaklawn Park on Saturday, with the running of the $1.25 million dollar, Grade 2 Rebel Stakes. This 1 1/16-mile event typically draws a deep, competitive field, buoyed by a massive purse plus 50 qualifying Derby points going to the Winner. The race was inaugurated in 1961 as the Rebel Handicap, and was changed to the Rebel Stakes … Continue reading Rebel History
On Saturday, Fair Grounds will host the $500,000 dollar, Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes. It’s the first race of the season to offer the Winner 50 qualifying points toward a spot in the Kentucky Derby. The contest will award a total of 105 points on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale. The race was first held in 1973 as the Louisiana Derby Trial Stakes. In 1989, it was renamed in honor of … Continue reading Risen Star Stakes Historic Stars
The New York Racing Association announced last week that general admission tickets, hospitality offerings, and reserved seats for the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course will go on sale to the public February 13th. Highlighted by the 157th running of the $2 million dollar Belmont Stakes on June 7th, the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival will be conducted June 4-8. For the second consecutive year, Saratoga … Continue reading Belmont Stakes @ Saratoga Round Two.
SIERRA LEONE, who last out Won the Breeders’ Cup Classic returned to training today (01-06-25) at Payson Park Training Center Florida. He ran an easy three furlongs in :37 4/5 as he begins preparations for the $20 million dollar Saudi Cup on February 22nd. Said trainer Chad Brown after the Monday morning workout; “He went nice and smooth, he galloped out with a lot of … Continue reading Sierra Leone Looking For More Treasure
It’s that time of year when industries (music, cinema, television, etc…) look back at the previous 12 months and review their ups and downs. Horse racing is no different but rather than trying to choose the good, the bad and the ugly across the board, we give you just a few snippets of some significant developments of 2024 involving some of the sports favorite venues. … Continue reading Track Stars…Or Not
Over four decades (can that be right?) removed from his sensational jockey career, Steve Cauthen lives the life of a typical Thoroughbred insider in his hometown of Verona in Northern Kentucky. Best known for capturing the 1978 Triple Crown aboard AFFIRMED, Cauthen had established himself as a potential superstar in his first full year as a jockey in 1977. He was honored for that season with three Eclipse Awards—outstanding apprentice and journeyman … Continue reading He’ll Always Be ‘The Kid’
The Grade 2 Remsen Stakes is Saturday at Aqueduct Park. Due to some recent achievements the Remsen seems a reliable indicator of Triple Crown success. DORNOCH took last years Remsen and then went on to Win the Belmont Stakes as well as the Haskell Stakes. SIERRA LEONE ran 2nd to DORNOCH in last years contest. He lost the Kentucky Derby by a nose and came … Continue reading The Remsen Stakes
There is at least one racing term that immediately inspires respect, and admiration from people in the racing industry and from those with little knowledge of the sport – the Triple Crown. The difficulty of capturing the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes, at three distances, on three tracks, all in the span of five weeks is not hyperbole. The task is such a tall … Continue reading The Triple Crown 70’s
The Belmont Stakes at Saratoga was by all accounts very successful and adds another tier to the storied history of The Spa. In S.P.A.C. speak that means the warm-up act is over, it’s time for the headliner to take the stage. The 40-day racing season, the 156th since the first meet was staged in 1863, commences Thursday with an 11-race program at Saratoga Race Course, … Continue reading Riders Up @ Saratoga
