Fairgrounds‘ Road to the Kentucky Derby reaches its terminus on Saturday with the running of the 1 million dollar, Grade 2 Louisiana Derby. It is the signature race of the winter-spring meet at Fairgrounds on their final weekend. The 1 3/16-mile contest is an important prep for the May 4th Kentucky Derby, offering a total of 200 qualifying points, distributed to the top five finishers on … Continue reading The Louisiana Derby
As most of you reading this are aware; Thoroughbred horse racing is an outdoor sport and races typically take place rain or shine. That means track conditions can vary widely with the weather. Racing literature in every iteration often refers to track conditions and the amount of moisture held by dirt and turf (grass) racing surfaces. But even for those of us in-the-know, track condition … Continue reading Track Conditions
The Road to the Kentucky Derby runs through Tampa Bay Downs Saturday with the 43rd edition of the Tampa Bay Derby. In addition to the $400,000 dollar purse, the Grade 2 contest offers a total of 105 Derby qualifying points, with 50 going to the Winner, 25 to 2nd, 15 to 3rd, 10 to 4th, and five points to 5th. Here’s a look back at a couple of … Continue reading Tampa Bay Derby OG
The 1 1⁄16-mile Tampa Bay Derby (G3) is Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs. The race has long existed in the shadow of richer Derby preps at nearby Gulfstream Park. But even in the face of fierce competition to attract the best three-year-olds in Florida, the Tampa Bay Derby has more than held its own as a productive prep for the First Saturday in May. First held in 1981, the Tampa … Continue reading The Tampa Bay Derby
The $400,000, Grade 2 Fountain Of Youth Stakes is Saturday at Gulfstream Park. Some of the top 3-year-olds in the country will do battle in this 1 1/16-mile contest. The Fountain of Youth is named after the mythical spring that attracted explorers to Florida in the 16th Century. The race was first held in 1945, and has been run every year since 1953. In 1973, it … Continue reading Stars Of The Past, FOY Edition
SPECTACULAR BID, BET TWICE , THUNDER GULCH and ORB are just a few of the well known, modern-era Winners of the Fountain Of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park. First run in 1945 and currently contested over 1 1⁄16 miles, the Fountain of Youth has been producing Derby contenders for generations. TIM TAM put the race on the map by completing the Fountain of Youth/Kentucky Derby double in … Continue reading Fountain Of Youth Stakes
As March draws near the anticipation for the 2024 Kentucky Derby is ramping up. That said, Saturday the focus will be on Oaklawn Park for the 64th running of the Rebel Stakes. The 1 1/16-mile Rebel is the third of four prep races for the Kentucky Derby held at Oaklawn and offers, along with a hefty $1.25 million dollar purse, a total of 105 qualifying points for the … Continue reading Who Wins The Rebel Stakes ?
This year marks the 150th anniversary of the Kentucky Derby. Nine U.S. presidents have attended the Derby, though only Richard Nixon did so while in office. These facts seem to indicate both the abiding popularity of the race, but also that it was not a matter of political urgency or expediency for presidents to attend. Kentucky Governor Earle Clements invited Harry Truman to the race … Continue reading Presidents Day…At The Races
The competition for qualifying points for the 2024 Kentucky Derby heats up on Saturday with the $400,000 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds. This is the first prep race offering 50 qualifying points to the Winner. That should be enough to secure a spot in the field of 20 for the May 4th Run For The Roses, but coming close can be rewarding as well … Continue reading Who Wins The Risen Star
The 2024 Risen Star has drawn a deep 12-horse field with local runners squaring off against out-of-state challengers. It’s shaping up as a challenging race to handicap but a fun Stakes to bet. Looking at the past 15 years of Risen Star results, you can glean some tips and trends to guide your handicapping: Pace Advantage Typical of most U.S. dirt racing, the Risen Star is … Continue reading Risen Star Trends
