The Grade 2, $400,000 Risen Star on Saturday has drawn a full field of 13 horses who will go nine furlongs in the first Kentucky Derby prep race of the year that offers the increased points level (50-20-10-5). The top four finishers from the Lecomte Stakes (G3), which was the first of the Derby preps this year at Fair Grounds, are in the field. Here is … Continue reading The Risen Star
Saturday is the $400,000 dollar, Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans. It is this years first prep race on the road to the Kentucky Derby to ratchet up the awards and offer a total of 85 qualifying points to the top four finishers. Those points are distributed on a scale of 50-20-10-5. Which means that the Winner will very likely secure … Continue reading The Stakes Are Rising
The 147th running of the Kentucky Derby is scheduled for May 1st, 2021. The health and safety of the entire racing community at Churchill Downs is the primary concern this year. Churchill Downs Inc. (which operates the facility) remains focused on following sound and proven health and safety protocols as they work toward the best experience possible for horse racing fans. They are working under … Continue reading The Derby & Covid Part 2
Two years ago trainer Shug McGaughey followed Florida’s Road to the Kentucky Derby to a 2nd-place finish with CODE OF HONOR in the Run For The Roses. The Hall of Fame trainer found himself back on that illustrious path this past Saturday with a new Triple Crown candidate. GREATEST HONOUR powered his way to a 5 3/4-length Victory in the $200,000 dollar Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes for 3-year-olds at Gulfstream … Continue reading It Was An Honour
Gulfstream Park has always been a key racetrack on the road to the Kentucky Derby, and in recent years three of the last eight Kentucky Derby Winners prepped with at least one start at the Hallandale Beach track while on the Derby trail. Saturday’s $200,000, Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes (named in honor of the 1994 Horse Of The Year) is the first of three Kentucky Derby … Continue reading Holy Bull !
At 4 feet 11 inches tall and 98 pounds, it didn’t look like Bill Shoemaker could lug a couple bags of groceries, 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 … Continue reading Bill Shoemaker
A.P. INDY was seemingly born to greatness. He was sired by Triple Crown Winner SEATTLE SLEW. His successful dam (mother), WEEKEND SURPRISE, was no surprise, as she was sired by SECRETARIAT, another Triple Crown Champion. Wealthy, ambitious owners will pay massive sums for such regal bloodlines, so it was no surprise that Japanese owner Tomonori Tsurumaki went to $2.9 million dollars before the auctioneer’s hammer … Continue reading A.P. INDY
Nick 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 … Continue reading A Classic New York Bred
As teenagers, some youngsters tend to think the world is theirs for the taking. Not so for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. Mr. Mott did not dream big as a youth. “I was 18 years old and hauling horses around in a two-horse trailer to the bush tracks,” recalled the native of Mobridge, South Dakota. “I never imagined training for anybody else other than … Continue reading Mr. Bill Mott
There are numerous reasons to explain why a long list of outstanding horses were thwarted in their bid to become a Triple Crown Champion. Some are predictable; others are surprising. Premature moves, suicidal paces, injuries, medications, exhaustion and bad trips have all played a role in the Triple Crown drought that stood at 37 years until AMERICAN PHAROAH completed the sweep in 2015. There was … Continue reading Hi-Yo SILVER
