With the 2025 Belmont Stakes in the rearview mirror the Daily Racing Blog would be remiss if we didn’t pay tribute to a former Belmont Winning trainer. Christophe Clement, who trained longshot TONALIST to Victory in the 2014 Belmont Stakes, passed away May 25th. He was 59. Clement announced his own death in a prepared statement that was posted to his stable’s X account. “Unfortunately, … Continue reading A Horseman & Gentleman
On Saturday, November 2nd THORPEDO ANNA Won the $2 million dollar Breeders’ Cup Distaff. On November 5th she was also on top of the the final National Thoroughbred Racing Association poll of top Thoroughbreds of 2024. In that poll THORPEDO ANNA was ahead of SIERRA LEONE and FIERCENESS. The poll would seem to indicate the probability of her being awarded the prestigious prize of 2024 Horse … Continue reading Thorpedo Anna Horse Of The Year?
Jockey Tyler Gaffalione rode his 2,000th Winner Friday at Gulfstream Park, where his riding career began back in 2014. The 28-year-old Florida native had closed to within one Victory of 2000 Wins in Friday’s third Race aboard TEMERITY ($8) before reaching the milestone aboard MEGACITY ($10) in Race 6. “I feel so blessed. I just want to thank the people who have gotten me to … Continue reading Milestone For Gaffalione
Three-time Eclipse Award-Winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. could be out three to four weeks as a result of a knee injury suffered in a starting gate incident January 7th at Gulfstream Park. The jockey’s agent- Steve Rushing, said on Tuesday that Ortiz suffered a small fracture to his left knee. On the day of the injury his mount, SHEA ON A MISSION (a four-year-old filly), … Continue reading Dangerous Occupation
Calvin Borel isn’t the only Hall Of Fame jockey traipsing about the Oaklawn Park barn area these days. Gary Stevens, who permanently retired from riding in 2018, returned to the Hot Springs track December 1st to begin laying the groundwork for the 2021-2022 Oaklawn meet as the agent for Southern California-based jockeys Geovanni Franco and Tiago Pereira. Stevens, 58, said he represented Corey Nakatani during … Continue reading Mr. Gary Stevens
The 38th Breeders’ Cup Championships are set for November 5-6 at Del Mar Race Course. Ever since the late John Gaines’ vision became a reality back in 1984 with the inaugural Breeders’ Cup at Hollywood Park, the event has brought together the best of the best in the horse world to compete in a group of races that offer both money (huge purses) and prestige (influencing the year-end Eclipse … Continue reading Breeders’ Cup Is Special
Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen is now North America’s most Victorious trainer. In the 5th race at Saratoga on Saturday Asmussen surpassed Dale Baird’s old record of 9,445 Wins. The record, which was a foregone conclusion the past few weeks, became reality on Saturday as Asmussen climbed all the way to the top of the training mountain. The 55-year-old trainer now owns the record … Continue reading All-Time Top Trainer
The coronavirus pandemic impacted just about everything in 2020, including sports across the globe. Thoroughbred racing was no exception, but by May racetracks started reopening with limited or no fans allowed, while the horses and those who care for them got back to business. Not surprisingly, the pandemic also impacted the Eclipse Awards, which honor the Champions of 2020. The awards ceremony that crowned the Winners … Continue reading Virtual Eclipse (Awards)
