Spring is in the air, which means race fans are in the thick of one of the most active and important seasons in Thoroughbred racing. The winter meets are coming to an end and racing enjoys a rejuvenation with certain tracks opening for their spring meets. When the calendar enters April in Kentucky it marks the opening of Keeneland Race Course for its annual spring meet. Located … Continue reading Springtime In Lexington
Saturday is the million-dollar Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. No prep race has produced more Kentucky Derby winners than the Florida Derby, including four of the last 10. The Florida Derby will award qualifying points toward the Run for the Roses on a 100-50-25-15-10 scale to the top five finishers. Here is a brief look at the field of nine: 1. ALBUS [ML 20-1] Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione. … Continue reading Who Wins The Florida Derby?
The $1.5 million Arkansas Derby is Saturday at Oaklawn Park. It is the track’s fourth and final qualifying points prep race for the Kentucky Derby. The 1 1/8-mile race offers a total of 200 points to the top five finishers toward reserving a spot in the Run for the Roses, distributed on a 100-50-25-15-10 basis. Here is a brief look at the field for the 90th edition … Continue reading Who Wins The Arkansas Derby?
There’s only one Derby qualifying race this weekend, and that is the Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs. A spot in the Run for the Roses is on the line Saturday at the New Kent County track. Points will be distributed to the top 5 finishers on a 50-25-15-10-5 basis, more than likely assuring the winner a spot in the Derby gate. Here is a brief … Continue reading Who Wins The Virginia Derby?
The Road To The Kentucky Derby is open for business as the qualifying prep races have began in earnest. So, it seems a good time to talk about those that pilot the Derby hopefuls. More specifically, a charity that is near and dear to their hearts. The Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF) is a public charity that provides financial assistance to former jockeys who have suffered catastrophic on-track injuries. Since … Continue reading Coffee For A Cause
In this day and age at any racetrack across the country, you’ll likely find a female jockey in one of the races. Lady riders (a Dire Straits song just whispered to me) have won Triple Crown races, Breeders’ Cup races and marquee Stakes such as the Kentucky Oaks and Pacific Classic. Julie Krone, who won 3,704 races, is enshrined in the Racing Hall of Fame in … Continue reading Breaking Down Barriers
The Tampa Bay Derby takes center stage on the east coast Saturday afternoon, as the road to the May 2nd Kentucky Derby continues. The $400,000-dollar, Grade 3 Stakes offers a total of 105 qualifying points toward a spot in the Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs, distributed to the top five finishers on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale. Here is a brief look at the field … Continue reading Who Wins The Tampa Bay Derby?
In addition to the Tampa Bay Derby on Saturday, the west coast prep races begin in earnest with the Grade 2, San Felipe Stakes. The race has 105 total qualifying points to divvy up to the first five finishers on a 50-25-15-10-5 basis. Held in March, the San Felipe primarily serves as the final local prep for the Santa Anita Derby (G1). But the 1 1⁄16-mile … Continue reading The San Felipe Stakes
The 1 1⁄16-mile Tampa Bay Derby (G3) is Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs. The race has long existed in the shadow of richer Kentucky Derby (G1) prep races at neighboring Gulfstream Park. But despite facing fierce competition to attract the best three-year-olds in Florida, the Tampa Bay Derby has more than held its own as a productive prep for the First Saturday in May. First held in 1981, the … Continue reading The Tampa Bay Derby
The Arkansas Road to the Kentucky Derby is paved with gold. Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs has four Derby points races with total purses equaling $3.75 million dollars. These rich pay-days along with Derby qualifying points leads to deep and talented fields with compelling 3-year-olds looking for a spot in the gate for the May 2nd Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs. Sunday the $1 … Continue reading Who Wins The Rebel Stakes?
