The holiday season annually brings west coast racing fans a gift they might actually want – albeit a day late, so let’s call it horse racing’s version of Boxing Day in southern California. On December 26th Santa Anita Park begins its winter racing season. The track celebrates its traditional post-Christmas opening day, which marks the start of a new season of racing at the Arcadia … Continue reading West Coast Racing
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
The Daily Racing Blog wishes the incomparable Johnny Velazquez a belated Happy Birthday. The Hall Of Fame jockey celebrated his 51st lap around the solar track yesterday (Thanksgiving). A native of Puerto Rico, Johnny V as he’s affectionately known, is Thoroughbred racing’s all-time leading money Winning jockey, with career purse earnings of more than $446 million from 6,357 Wins. A Winner of three Kentucky Derbies, Velazquez has Won … Continue reading Belated Birthday Greetings
Santa Anita Park concluded its six-month 2021-22 winter-spring season on June 19th as the safest track in North America among those with a comparable volume of racing and training. Santa Anita Park’s record is highlighted by a 62.5 percent improvement from the previous year. From December 26th, 2021, through closing day June 19th, the main dirt track did not have a single musculoskeletal racing fatality … Continue reading Santa Anita Gets Safer
The Derby door of opportunity is still ajar, but time is running out. There are three major preps this Saturday each offering 100 points to the Winning horse, which virtually locks down a spot in the gate on May 7th. Here then, the big three this weekend: THE WOOD MEMORIAL STAKES New York’s premier Kentucky Derby prep race is contested at 1 1/8 miles (9 … Continue reading Three Big Preps On Saturday
There are no Derby prep races this weekend. But, the 100-40-20-10 point preps are at hand- eight races compressed into 15 days, beginning next Saturday (03/26). As long as they are eligible (aka not Baffert horses), the Winners are mathematically assured of berths in the starting gate in the Run For The Roses. The 2nd-place horses have a good shot at getting there as well. … Continue reading Where The Winners Prep
Christmas morning … a time for family, fellowship, generosity and gratitude. For many Americans, it is a time for spiritual celebration. A holiday unlike any other, full of good tidings and cheer and a trip to the racetrack. Okay, scratch that last part. If you head to the racetrack with your family on Christmas Day, you’re going to be there by yourself, and you’re going … Continue reading Here Comes Santa…Anita
For the first time in his illustrious 32-year career, Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez will ride full-time this winter at Santa Anita, beginning with the track’s opening day, Sunday, December 26th. A 50-year-old native of Puerto Rico, Johnny V as he’s affectionately known, is Thoroughbred racing’s all-time leading money Winning jockey, with career purse earnings of more than $446 million from 6,357 Wins. A … Continue reading Johnny West
California horse racing experienced a 50-percent decline in equine fatalities over the last two fiscal years. This was largely due to steps taken by the California Horse Racing Board along with the entire California horse racing industry. 144 horses died in fiscal year 2018-19 from racing and/or training injuries while stabled at facilities under jurisdiction of the CHRB. That number dropped to 72 in 2020-21, … Continue reading Safer Racing In California
The Daily Racing Blog did a story on this young-at-heart gentlemen from California last January. So the news of his retirement certainly begets another mention here. The announcement came in a twitter post this past Monday. John Shear, the 100-year-old Paddock Captain at Santa Anita, made it official as he announced his retirement from The Great Race Place following more than 60 years of fond … Continue reading Centennial Man Set To Retire
