Some of the best 3-year-old horses in the country and their riders are set to face off on Saturday, at Belmont Park in the 155th running of the Belmont Stakes. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the romp in the park by SECRETARIAT, when Big Red demoralized the field on his way to Victory and the Triple Crown. On that day fifty years ago the G.O.A.T. was … Continue reading 2023 Belmont Stakes Jockeys
The Belmont Stakes is the oldest of the three Triple Crown races, and given its longevity the contest has seen its fair share of upsets, with the majority of those have come in roughly the last third of the race’s 154-year history. During the post-World War II era, 20 horses have come into the Belmont Stakes with Wins in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, … Continue reading Historic Belmont Stakes Upsets
For us race fans in the northeast winter is (hopefully) over, so bring on the sun and fun of summertime racing. But, to paraphrase an old adage, into every horse race meet a little rain must fall. Unlike baseball, Horse Racing usually goes on before, during, and after a rainstorm and there are some general handicapping concepts that you should keep on hand for… a … Continue reading Betting Mudders
The Grade 2, $750,000 dollar Wood Memorial is Saturday at Aqueduct. The 1 1/8-mile race attracted a field of thirteen 3-year-olds who will compete for the 100-40-30-20-10 points that go to the top five eligible finishers. Here is a look at that field. 1. DREAMLIKE [ML 7-2] Trainer: Todd Pletcher. Jockey: Jose Ortiz. Was a $975,000 yearling purchase who did not make his first start until … Continue reading Who Delivers The Wood ?
The New York State road to the 2023 Kentucky Derby reaches its terminus Saturday. Aqueduct Park will host the Empire State’s premier Kentucky Derby prep race- the $750,000 dollar Grade 2 Wood Memorial Stakes. The race is contested at 1 ⅛ miles on the main track at the Queens facility. The Wood was a Grade 1 from 1973 to 1994, and again from 2002 to 2016. There … Continue reading The Wood Memorial
The New York Racing Association (NYRA) has announced plans to install a synthetic track at Belmont Park. The one-mile synthetic oval will be located to the inside of the inner turf course and will serve as the fourth Belmont racing surface to complement the existing main track and two turf courses. This project, among others, is part of the NYRA FY2023 capital budget, which was … Continue reading Belmont Park To Get Synthetic Surface
Over 100 people, including union members, backstretch workers, trainers, veterinarians and farmers gathered Monday in Albany, NY. in support of a plan to modernize Belmont Park. The plan, according to a press release, promises significant new job creation and as much as $1 billion in one-time economic impacts while freeing up 110 acres of state-owned land at Aqueduct Racetrack for future development. The project was … Continue reading Belmont Park Makeover ?
Mother Nature is undefeated in ALL her starts and the streak continued last week as single-digit temperatures and high-winds KO’d last Saturday’s Withers Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct Park. The rescheduled $250,000, 1 1/8-mile Derby prep is set to go on Saturday (2/11) at the Big A and the skies look clear for takeoff. A field of seven (up from six last week) will break from the starting … Continue reading Who Wins The Withers ?
The New York State road to the 2023 Kentucky Derby moves on this Saturday, with the 143rd edition of the $250,000 Grade 3 Withers Stakes. Named after prominent 19th-century owner David Withers, the race was held for the first time in 1874 at Jerome Park. It has been held at several different tracks, but has been run at Aqueduct Park since 1997. Historically held in the spring, the Withers was … Continue reading The Withers Stakes
On Friday afternoon the American Graded Stakes Committee released its list of graded stakes races for the for 2023 season. The list included five races that were downgraded from Grade I status to Grade II contests. Included in the downgrades were prestigious NYRA races for older dirt horses- the Woodward Stakes as well as the Cigar Mile will now be considered Grade II’s. Also dropping … Continue reading NYRA Downgrades
