Saratoga Dreaming

Attention Saratoga racing fans – the New York Racing Association (NYRA) has just released more details regarding the upcoming 2021 summer meet at Saratoga Race Course. The 40-day Saratoga season will feature 76 Stakes Races worth $21.5 million dollars in total purses. Last month, NYRA announced that the 2021 summer meet at Saratoga will begin on Thursday, July 15th, and conclude on Monday, September 6th. … Continue reading Saratoga Dreaming

The Amazing KELSO

The Triple Crown and the Breeders’ Cup, for the past 70 years, have been proving grounds for a long list of Thoroughbred racing’s greatest Champions. Some horses, though, transcend the sport’s most famous stages. Horses like KELSO. KELSO never ran in a Triple Crown race and his legendary career ended some 18 years before the Breeders’ Cup even began. Yet in eight years of racing, … Continue reading The Amazing KELSO

A Successful And Safe Pegasus

On Saturday, (as most of you are aware) the fifth running of the Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series was held at Gulfstream Park in South Florida. The Stronach Group which operates Gulfstream, transformed the course and grounds into a socially distant entertainment experience, welcoming 1,500 fans (15% of typical Pegasus World Cup capacity) to the race track for the first time since the outset … Continue reading A Successful And Safe Pegasus

BIG Money @ The Big A

If you don’t play Aqueduct Park, and tend not to participate in multi-race Wagers, Saturday January 16th would be a good time to start. The Early Pick 5, covering the first five races of every card at NYRA tracks was, for the first time in quite a stretch, not hit on Friday, resulting in a carryover of $265,042.64 when live racing resumes on Saturday at … Continue reading BIG Money @ The Big A

Till Death Or NYRA Do Them Part

Jockeys Trevor McCarthy and Katie Davis were married (small ceremony) back in mid-December. But just this week they received a wedding gift they were not expecting.  The couple were stunned to learn that due to New York State Gaming Commission rules, their horses must be coupled (#1 & #1A) in the Wagering whenever they ride in the same race at New York Racing Association tracks. … Continue reading Till Death Or NYRA Do Them Part

Handle It

Thoroughbred horse racing saw a quarter of its race days eliminated in 2020 because of precautions and restrictions put in place to slow the spread of COVID-19. Ever-resilient bettors, however, supported the available product as best they could. While thoroughbred owners saw a decline in purses that mirrored the loss of race days. In this difficult year, racing business fared well compared with other sports, … Continue reading Handle It

Junior The Snow-Bird

He has been a year-round force on the New York Racing Circuit for the past several years. But not this year- jockey Junior Alvarado has returned to south Florida for the winter months to compete at Gulfstream Park, where he rode his first Winner in the United States back in 2007. “It’s around 12 years since I’ve ridden full time here. I’m pretty happy to … Continue reading Junior The Snow-Bird

A.P. INDY

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

Jockey Kendrick Carmouche

Kendrick Carmouche wished his fellow New York riders much success as they left to compete in the Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland during the first weekend in November. He didn’t worry about not having any mounts with which to join them on the global thoroughbred stage. He didn’t fret because he recognized the opportunity — and was determined to capitalize on it. With most of the … Continue reading Jockey Kendrick Carmouche

A Classic New York Bred

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