A race for three year-olds, run at a distance of a mile and a quarter, held at the host countries most famous racetrack…gotta be the Kentucky Derby, right? Except it’s held on the last Saturday in June, not the first Saturday in May. We’re talking about the 160th running of the Queen’s Plate Stakes at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Canada. Indeed, the Queen’s Plate is The … Continue reading Queen’s Plate Stakes
The Breeders’ Cup board of directors meets on Thursday, June 27th, and a key topic for discussion will certainly be whether or not to maintain the organization’s commitment to hold this year’s two-day championships at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, on Nov. 1st and 2nd. It would seem that things are just too hot out there, and not worth taking a chance of running … Continue reading Santa Anita / Breeders Cup ?
Summer officially kicked off on Friday June 21, which means big horse racing weekends are just around the corner, leading off with the Stars And Stripes Racing Festival on July 6th at Belmont Park. After that, as most race fans are aware, there are two spectacular meets that begin in mid-July, and they anchor a summer calendar that overflows with big-event excitement and elite Thoroughbred … Continue reading Hot Fun In The Summertime
As you are now aware, opening day at Saratoga this year is July 11th. The earliest start in the history of the meet. Pending construction which is slated to begin shortly, about 150 feet from the Belmont Park paddock area may have been a factor in the earlier start to racing at The Spa. So while safety concerns certainly came into play when the New … Continue reading New Spa Schedule
There are certain thoroughbred race horses that always battle back. They dig in down the home stretch, and find a reserve of power that propels them across the wire. The type of animal that continually reminds us of the exhilaration that comes from giving everything, pushing to, and possibly beyond limitation. These beautiful stallions sate our hunger for something that was once perhaps grand and … Continue reading Saratoga Dreaming
1. Saratoga Race Course is the oldest sports venue in the United States. The track opened for business in 1863, making it the oldest sporting venue in the entire United States. If you love horses and/or history, Saratoga is a bucket-list destination. 2. It’s one of the most elite racing meets in the world. Over its 155-year history, Saratoga has hosted some of the greatest … Continue reading A Saratoga Primer
A competitive field of 12 horses will run in this year’s edition of the $600,000 dollar Stephen Foster Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs on Saturday night. The race is named in honor of American composer Stephen Foster, known as the Father Of American Music. He wrote over two hundred songs, including “Old Folks at Home”, “Camptown Races”, and “My Old Kentucky Home”. It is the first Breeders’ … Continue reading The Stephen Foster Stakes
It was August 3rd, 1863 when gambler, casino owner, ex-boxer, and future congressman John Morrissey organized the first thoroughbred horse racing meet in Saratoga. It was one month after the Battle of Gettysburg, and (the meet) spanned out over four days at the old dirt track on Union Avenue. Over 5,000 people attended to watch, and wager on eight races. After the success of this … Continue reading The Summer Place To Be
The odd, controversial Triple Crown season ended Saturday with another eye-opening performance as SIR WINSTON Won the Belmont Stakes from off the pace at 10-1 odds. With the exception of the upset Victory, the Belmont was relatively uneventful when compared to the first two races of the series. The Kentucky Derby (the most exciting 22 minutes in sports) featured a disqualification over a rider’s objection. … Continue reading Triple Crown Season Over
Will the Belmont Racing Festival finale (Belmont Stakes) be a chalk fest ? We at the Daily Racing Blog are betting it won’t be. The Belmont is usually a very lucrative race. Favorites don’t fare well here. Only three Post Time favorites in the last 15 years have Won the race, and only five favorites have hit the board. Winning the 2002 edition, SAVARA paid a … Continue reading Belmont Picks
