Who Wins The Holy Bully Stakes?

Saturday is the Grade 3, $250,000 dollar Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park.  It is is the first of three Derby preps at the Florida venue, and 20-10-6-4-2 qualifying points are available to the top five eligible finishers. The 1 1/16-mile Stakes features the 2024 debut of FIERCENESS, last year’s 2-year-old Champion and Winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Here is a look at the lineup for the … Continue reading Who Wins The Holy Bully Stakes?

Bill Shoemaker

At 4 feet 11 inches tall and 98 pounds, it didn’t look like Bill Shoemaker could walk a big dog, let alone control a head-strong Thoroughbred Race Horse a dozen times his weight. Still, Shoemaker personified that mysterious bond between horse and rider. He communicated with an innate light touch on the reins, coaxing the horse into the action, gentling it with his hands. Horses would always … Continue reading Bill Shoemaker

Holy Bull !

Kentucky Derby Champions GO FOR GIN (1994), FUNNY CIDE (2003), and BARBARO (2006) have something else in common…  All three used the Holy Bull (G3) at Gulfstream Park as a steppingstone toward career-defining Wins in the Run For The Roses. So, even though it’s early in the prep-race season, it would be worth your (Derby handicapping) while to take note of this contest Saturday at … Continue reading Holy Bull !

Baffert Bails On Appeal

On Monday trainer Bob Baffert announced that he has asked his attorneys to dismiss the appeal of the MEDINA SPIRIT disqualification from the 2021 Kentucky Derby. The dismissal would bring an end to over two and a half years of litigation and administrative proceedings dating back to May 2021. Baffert’s statement on Twitter read in-part: “I have instructed my attorneys to dismiss the appeal related … Continue reading Baffert Bails On Appeal

Kentucky Derby Upsets

The Kentucky Derby is not only the most anticipated, most watched Thoroughbred race in the world but an essential part of American sports culture. Memories are made with each Run For The Roses that over the passage of time become legend, not only to day-to-day followers of horse racing but to the general public. While the most memorable Derbys usually involve a heavily-favored horse Winning and thus … Continue reading Kentucky Derby Upsets

Derby Purse Increases

This years Kentucky Derby is Saturday, May 4th. It is the 150th anniversary for the landmark event.  So it stands to reason that this year’s milestone race will be the richest in the history of America’s greatest race. The 2024 Kentucky Derby purse has been elevated to a guaranteed $5 million. The substantial $2 million increase to the 1 ¼-mile race for for 3-year-olds highlights a … Continue reading Derby Purse Increases

A 2024 Wish List

We’re 8 days into 2024, and anticipation is already building for what’s to come this year in the wonderful world of horse racing. There will be plenty of exciting contests, memorable moments, and great times to be had at tracks all across the country. Everyone (even horseplayers) make New Year’s resolutions; some are more successful than others.  The Daily Racing Blog won’t add any undue … Continue reading A 2024 Wish List

Derby Preps

The 2024 Kentucky Derby is a mere 4 months away, and the Derby preps will be coming hard and fast now- leading up to the first Saturday in May. Beginning in 2013, the Kentucky Derby prep races were officially bundled under the banner of The Road To The Kentucky Derby. Known fondly as the Derby Trail, the introduction of the prep series has led to a … Continue reading Derby Preps

The Kentucky Bunbury ?

There is no horse race more iconic in the United States than the Kentucky Derby. The race has been contested every year without a miss since 1875. Held at Churchill Downs, the prestigious race is the first leg of the Triple Crown and is often considered to be the one race that everyone involved in the sport would like to Win. But where did the Kentucky Derby get its famous moniker? The Kentucky part … Continue reading The Kentucky Bunbury ?

AFFIRMED & ALYDAR

There are a lot 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