Oaklawn Stakes Picks

The Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park  was moved to May 2nd after Churchill Downs pushed the Kentucky Derby back to September. The $200,000 dollar Oaklawn Stakes will run on Saturday at nine furlongs and offer three automatic berths to the Arkansas Derby to its top finishers. The Oaklawn Stakes is Race 11 on a card of 12, with a scheduled Post Time of 6:48.  … Continue reading Oaklawn Stakes Picks

Jockey Out-Runs Covid-19

Jockey Javier Castellano plans on returning to competitive riding on May 1st at Oaklawn Park, 37 days after testing positive for coronavirus, per a report from turf writer David Grening. The Hall of Fame rider has not raced since March 15th, nine days before testing positive for the COVID-19 virus on March 24th. Castellano returned to New York on Tuesday, after spending two weeks at … Continue reading Jockey Out-Runs Covid-19

Team Effort; Red & Ron

SECRETARIAT, arguably the greatest race horse of all time, would have been fifty years of age on March 31st.  Big Red passed away in 1989. But one can not celebrate the birthday of the mighty Triple Crown champion without pointing to jockey Ron Turcotte, and recognizing him as an integral member of a dynamite team. Watching replays of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes … Continue reading Team Effort; Red & Ron

Horse People Helping Out

As the planet learns to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, most people do what they can to survive.  Others use their creativity and innovation to help serve those in need. The medical community — those on the front line caring for patients infected with the virus, is perhaps the most affected.  Beyond the physical and emotional demands of their jobs, access to equipment and supplies … Continue reading Horse People Helping Out

NYRA & Aqueduct Step Up

New York State will build a 1,000-bed emergency hospital at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens to try to help the region accommodate the expected surge of COVID-19 patients in the weeks to come. This construction was announced March 28th by New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo. The remainder of the winter and spring meets at Aqueduct have been canceled.  Racing was originally scheduled to conclude at the … Continue reading NYRA & Aqueduct Step Up

Florida Derby In Doubt

Broward County Florida has put a ban on conducting non-essential business amid the Coronavirus pandemic.  The city of Hallandale Beach (in Broward County) is where Gulfstream Park is located. With the track’s signature Florida Derby (G1) set for Saturday, newspaper reports indicate that Gulfstream has threatened legal action should local government stand in its way. “They need to stop the racing,”  said Hallandale Beach Vice … Continue reading Florida Derby In Doubt