R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

Since the humble beginnings of the sport in the United States, African Americans have made significant contributions to horse racing. African American jockeys dominated the Winner’s circle in racing’s first three decades. They were the first black superstar athletes in the United States, and Won 15 of the first 28 Kentucky Derby‘s.  In fact, 13 of 15 jockeys at the inaugural Kentucky Derby in 1875 were African American. … Continue reading R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

Risen Star Stakes Historic Stars

On Saturday, Fair Grounds will host the $500,000 dollar, Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes. It’s the first race of the season to offer the Winner 50 qualifying points toward a spot in the Kentucky Derby. The contest will award a total of 105 points on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale. The race was first held in 1973 as the Louisiana Derby Trial Stakes. In 1989, it was renamed in honor of … Continue reading Risen Star Stakes Historic Stars

Who Wins The Sam F. Davis Stakes?

Tampa Bay Downs hosts its first Kentucky Derby points race Saturday with the1 1/16-mile Sam F. Davis Stakes. A springboard to the March 8th Tampa Bay Derby, the Sam F. Davis is also a solid first step toward a starting spot in the May 3rd Run For The Roses as it awards 20-10-6-4-2 qualifying points to the top 5 finishers. Here’s a brief look at … Continue reading Who Wins The Sam F. Davis Stakes?

Belmont Stakes @ Saratoga Round Two.

The New York Racing Association announced last week that general admission tickets, hospitality offerings, and reserved seats for the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course will go on sale to the public February 13th. Highlighted by the 157th running of the $2 million dollar Belmont Stakes on June 7th, the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival will be conducted June 4-8. For the second consecutive year, Saratoga … Continue reading Belmont Stakes @ Saratoga Round Two.

Who Wins The Holy Bull?

The $265,000 dollar Holy Bull Stakes is Saturday at Gulfstream Park. The 1 1/16-mile dirt race is the first of three Road to the Kentucky Derby stops at the Hallandale facility, followed by the Fountain of Youth on March 1st and the Florida Derby March 29th. The Holy Bull offers qualifying points for the 151st Run for the Roses to the top five finishers, distributed on … Continue reading Who Wins The Holy Bull?

Holy Bull !

The Road to the Kentucky Derby makes the first of three stops at Gulfstream Park Saturday with the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes. The race will offer 20 qualifying points to the Winner as top 3-year-olds compete to accumulate points and earn a place in the gate for the first Saturday in May. Inaugurated in 1990 as the Preview Stakes, the race was re-named in honor of … Continue reading Holy Bull !

The Southwest Stakes

The Road to the Kentucky Derby makes a stop in Arkansas on Saturday with the running of the million dollar, Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park. Aside from the $1 million purse, the contest will also award 20-10-6-4-2 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top five finishers. Last year’s Southwest Stakes Winner MYSTIK DAN used the race as a springboard on his way to Win the Run … Continue reading The Southwest Stakes

Who Wins The Pegasus?

On Saturday Gulfstream Park will host the $3 million dollar Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes. The 1 1/8-mile dirt race has been a centerpiece of the winter season since it was rebranded in 2017. The contest annually brings together some of the best older dirt horses in training to compete. Here is a brief look at this year’s field: 1. MIXTO [ML 10-1] Jockey: Frankie Dettori. … Continue reading Who Wins The Pegasus?

The Fate Of Gulfstream Park

The future of thoroughbred horse racing at Gulfstream Park is in the hands of the state legislature, as that government body considers House Bill 105. Sponsored by Republican State Representative Adam Anderson the proposed legislation seeks to decouple casino licenses from the requirement to host live horse racing. The Hallandale track has become a hub for elite thoroughbred racing in Florida, hosting renowned events like the Pegasus … Continue reading The Fate Of Gulfstream Park

The Lecomte Stakes

Saturday is the Grade 3, $250,000 dollar Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds. The race is the second of four stops at the New Orleans venue on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. For a race that carried a mere $40,000 purse as recently as 1996, it’s impressive how quickly this contest has developed into an important stop on the Derby Trail. The race is named in honor of … Continue reading The Lecomte Stakes