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
Prior to 2013 the traditional qualifying factor for horses wanting to participate in the Kentucky Derby was total Graded Stakes purse earnings- the more money an eligible horse Won, the increased chance of entering the starting gate. But beginning in 2013 Churchill Downs refined the classic earnings method in favor of a points based system which revamped the traditional prep races. These prep races were officially … Continue reading Ease On Down The Road (To The Kentucky Derby)
SIERRA LEONE, who last out Won the Breeders’ Cup Classic returned to training today (01-06-25) at Payson Park Training Center Florida. He ran an easy three furlongs in :37 4/5 as he begins preparations for the $20 million dollar Saudi Cup on February 22nd. Said trainer Chad Brown after the Monday morning workout; “He went nice and smooth, he galloped out with a lot of … Continue reading Sierra Leone Looking For More Treasure
The Grade 2 Remsen Stakes is Saturday at Aqueduct Park. Due to some recent achievements the Remsen seems a reliable indicator of Triple Crown success. DORNOCH took last years Remsen and then went on to Win the Belmont Stakes as well as the Haskell Stakes. SIERRA LEONE ran 2nd to DORNOCH in last years contest. He lost the Kentucky Derby by a nose and came … Continue reading The Remsen Stakes
The Road to the Kentucky Derby is under going a bit of construction in 2025, but there will be no delays. The $500,000 dollar Virginia Derby held at 1 1/8 miles will be run on March 15th during a special four-day spring meet at Colonial Downs. The contest has been added to the Road to the Kentucky Derby Championship Series. The series consists of select … Continue reading Road Work Ahead
The four-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga had over 120,000 racing fans pass through the turnstiles for the unprecedented event. Thursday’s opening day of the Festival featured a pair of $150,000 Stakes for the 2-year-old males and females and the first of the weekend’s 14 Graded Stakes races- the Grade 2 Belmont Gold Cup. In front of an announced crowd of 22,227, THE GREY … Continue reading Saratoga Rocks
There is no Triple Crown on the line this year. Regardless of that, the 156th edition of the Belmont Stakes is still generating a lot of interest. Most of the Belmont buzz is due to the fact that the $2 million race on Saturday is being held for the first time ever at America’s Track– Saratoga Race Course. The 2024 Belmont Stakes drew an extremely competitive field … Continue reading Who Wins The Belmont Stakes?
It’s still the Belmont Stakes. It’s still the third and final jewel in the Triple Crown. But the setting, that’s what makes the 2024 Belmont Stakes so special. For the first time ever, the Triple Crown will merge with the magic of Saratoga Race Course, at Saturday’s Belmont at the Spa. It is was with this noteworthy horseracing moment in mind, that the Saratoga Cool Beans coffee … Continue reading The Belmont Brew
Last year was the 50th anniversary of SECRETARIAT Winning the Triple Crown. Big Red was moving like a tremendous machine that afternoon at Belmont Park, his Winning margin a whopping 31 lengths. So, with the Belmont Stakes being held at Saratoga this year it’s fitting to recall when the superstar horse came to The Spa in the summer of 1973. SECRETARIAT arrived in town the … Continue reading Secretariat Heartburn At The Spa
The Belmont Stakes is the oldest of the Triple Crown races. That said, the contest has seen it’s fair share of upsets throughout its 155 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, only to have their bids for immortality denied. The 156th Belmont Stakes is June 8th, being … Continue reading Belmont Stakes Upsets
