Category: Kentucky Derby

Aqueduct Park, Belmont Park, Churchill Downs, Del Mar, horse racing, Kentucky Derby, Lifestyle, NYRA, Pegasus World Cup, Santa Anita, Saratoga

Belated Birthday Greetings

The Daily Racing Blog wishes the incomparable Johnny Velazquez a belated Happy Birthday. The Hall Of Fame jockey celebrated his 51st lap around the solar track yesterday (Thanksgiving). A native of Puerto Rico, Johnny V as he’s affectionately known, is Thoroughbred racing’s all-time leading money Winning jockey, with career purse earnings of more than $446 million from 6,357 Wins.  A Winner of three Kentucky Derbies, Velazquez has Won … Continue reading Belated Birthday Greetings

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Belmont Stakes, horse racing, Kentucky Derby, Lifestyle, Preakness

The Kid Is 62

Monday we wrote about the racing rivals, today The rider. 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 … Continue reading The Kid Is 62

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Belmont Stakes, horse racing, Kentucky Derby, Lifestyle, Preakness

AFFIRMED & ALYDAR

There are lots of so-called rivalries in sports.  But there are few whose status lives on and can stand up to the test of time.  It is one small three letter word that is the barometer for these athletic battles that grow more legendary with each passing generation.  That word? AND.  It’s just that simple.  Whenever you cannot name one participant without the reflexive action … Continue reading AFFIRMED & ALYDAR

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Aqueduct Park, Belmont Stakes, horse racing, Kentucky Derby, Lifestyle, NYRA, Saratoga, Travers Stakes

A Classic New York Bred

Nicholas Philip Zito grew up near Aqueduct Racetrack. His father would take him to the track as a young lad. But back in the day there were age restrictions on admission to the track. So the elder Zito would leave young Nicholas with a friend of his, who just happened to be a security guard at the Big A. It was there and then that Zito felt he found his calling. … Continue reading A Classic New York Bred

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Churchill Downs, horse racing, Kentucky Derby, Lifestyle, Wagering

Can Rich Strike Again ?

RICH STRIKE is back at Churchill Downs, where he etched his way into history earlier this year on the first Saturday in May. Saturday he will run in the $500,000 dollar Lukas Classic Stakes.  The 1 1/8 miles race is named in honor of Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. RICH STRIKE who has not hit the board in his two starts since the Run … Continue reading Can Rich Strike Again ?

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Churchill Downs, horse racing, Kentucky Derby, Lifestyle

Happy Birthday EXTERMINATOR

The Daily Racing Blog would be remiss if it didn’t wish a Happy (belated) Birthday to Binghamton’s own Kentucky Derby Winner EXTERMINATOR. Old Bones (a nickname attributed to his rather bony appearance) was born on May 30th, 1915. It was 104 years ago that EXTERMINATOR brought Kentucky Derby glory back to his home town as a 30-1 upset Winner in the Run For The Roses. … Continue reading Happy Birthday EXTERMINATOR

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horse racing, Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks, Lifestyle, Pimlico, Preakness, Wagering

Shhh ! It’s A Secret

Kentucky Derby Winner RICH STRIKE is not running in the Preakness in order to rest up for the Belmont Stakes. Regardless, the 147th running of the $1.5 million dollar Grade 1 Preakness May 21st at Pimlico should still be an exceptionally exciting race. Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks Winner SECRET OATH will attempt to become the seventh filly in history to Win the race, following in the footsteps of … Continue reading Shhh ! It’s A Secret

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horse racing, Kentucky Derby, Lifestyle, Pimlico, Preakness

No Triple Crown

As the horse racing faithful are, no doubt, already aware, Kentucky Derby Winner RICH STRIKE will bypass the May 21st Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in favor of a run in the June 11th Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park, announced owner Rick Dawson on Friday. “Our original plan for RICH STRIKE was contingent on the Kentucky Derby,” Dawson said in a release. “Should we not run in … Continue reading No Triple Crown

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Churchill Downs, horse racing, Kentucky Derby, Lifestyle

A Ride For The Ages

The outcome of the Kentucky Derby was, (how to be kind?) highly improbable. But, to quote Al Michaels announcing a certain hockey game; “DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES?!” An 80-1 shot named RICH STRIKE, Won the GI Kentucky Derby Saturday at Churchill Downs. But how, in the name of SECRETARIAT, did he do it? RICH STRIKE certainly benefitted from a pace meltdown, ran the race … Continue reading A Ride For The Ages

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Churchill Downs, horse racing, Kentucky Derby, Lifestyle, Wagering

He Shoots, He Scores!

Here is the 2nd half of the 2022 Kentucky Derby field which includes the late scratch of ETHEREAL ROAD and his replacement. 11. PIONEER OF MEDINA [ML 30-1] Trainer: Todd Pletcher. Jockey: Joe Bravo. He was 3rd in the Louisiana Derby after pressing the pace, which is promising, but without a Stakes Win to his credit, he is just another longshot here chasing the connections Derby … Continue reading He Shoots, He Scores!

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