Saturday is the Gun Runner Stakes at Fair Grounds. The 2-year-old Stakes contest is the first of four Kentucky Derby preps at Fair Grounds. The mile & 1/16th Gun Runner will offer a total of 21 Derby qualifying points on a scale of 10-5-3-2-1 to the top five finishers. Here is a brief look at Saturday’s field: 1. MESQUITE [ML 9-2] Jockey: Jose Ortiz. Trainer: Cherie … Continue reading Who Wins The Gun Runner Stakes?
It appears the New York jockey colony and NYRA have, at least for the moment, reached an accord as racing resumed at Aqueduct Park on Thursday. Saturday at Aqueduct brings us the 2025 edition of the $500,000, Grade 2 Cigar Mile Handicap. Held around one turn, the Cigar Mile has long been an important race in the dirt mile division since its inaugural running in 1988 … Continue reading Who Wins The Cigar Mile?
If NYRA and the New York jockey colony can reach some form of an accord on Thursday, Aqueduct Park has a good card come Saturday. One of the feature races is the Grade 2, $250,000 dollar Remsen Stakes. 2-year-olds will be tested around two turns at a 1 1/8-mile distance with the top five finishers being awarded Kentucky Derby qualifying points. Here is a brief … Continue reading Who Wins The Remsen Stakes?
It was a short card at Aqueduct on Sunday. The New York jockey colony refused to ride after the first race because of a number of recent problems they have said they were having with NYRA management. The latest episode occurred around the time of the first race when the jockeys learned that NYRA Assistant Clerk of Scales Brian Pochman was told to leave work … Continue reading Another Blackeye For NYRA
Rarely will a thoroughbred racehorse have the same jockey in the saddle from their first start through their last. There are many reasons for this, but the core principle is simple: horse owners are small businesspeople, most of them with a CEO mindset, while jockeys in North America are independent contractors in charge of making their own employment decisions. This allows for a great amount … Continue reading Who’s Riding Who?
Trainer Max Hirsch was a titan in the sport of horse racing. He won the 1934 Travers Stakes with OBSERVANT. He trained 1936 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner BOLD VENTURE. He was well on his way to a Hall of Fame career. In 1934 he had recently become the trainer for the King Ranch, which would soon be one of the most successful stables in America. That year Hirsch’s … Continue reading It Was A Happy & Fast Thanksgiving
Live racing returns to Fairgrounds on Thursday (11/20) as the New Orleans racetrack hosts its 154th season. The 2025-26 meet will encompass 70 race days that run through March 22nd. As always, the winter session at Fairgrounds offers racing fans and handicappers some of the best wagering to be found. The track will unveil a renovated paddock area for the 2025-26 meet as well as a new lounge overlooking … Continue reading NOLA Racing Resumes
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 What A Ride For ‘The Kid’
The Daily Racing Blog would like to wish a big old hedge-skimming Happy birthday to Hall of Fame jockey Calvin Borel ! A Louisiana native, Borel became the first rider to win the Kentucky Derby three times in a four-year span when he piloted STREET SENSE (2007), MINE THAT BIRD (2009), and SUPER SAVER (2010) to victory in the Run for the Roses. His … Continue reading HBD Calvin Borel
The $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic is North America’s Thoroughbred Racing Championship event. The results of the Classic are often the determining factor in which racehorse is honored as Horse of the Year at the Eclipse Awards. Here is a brief look at the Breeders’ Cup feature race on Saturday: 1. FIERCENESS [ML 5-2] Jockey: John Velazquez. Trainer: Todd Pletcher. When this colt is good, he’s really, really good. … Continue reading Who Wins The 2025 BC Classic?
