Saturday’s Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes drew a field of eight 3-year-olds that will face the 1 1/4-mile distance at Saratoga. Here’s a look at the field: 1. CYBERKNIFE [ML 7-2] Trainer: Brad Cox. Jockey: Florent Geroux. Has Won four out of his last five races with the only loss coming in the Kentucky Derby (G1) when he beat only two horses to the wire. Among his … Continue reading Who Wins The Travers?
Saratoga Race Course has a vivid history in all things horse racing. But perhaps The Spa is most well-known for this: it’s the racetrack where favorites lose and longshots score the biggest Victories of their lives. MAN O’ WAR and SECRETARIAT lost at Saratoga. A horse named JIM DANDY Won the 1930 Travers Stakes over that year’s Triple Crown Winner GALLANT FOX at amazing odds of 100-1. … Continue reading Travers Upsets
The historic $1.25 million dollar, Grade 1 Travers Stakes dates all the way back to 1864, which means it’s older than the any of the Triple Crown races. The 1 ¼-mile contest annually attracts some of the best 3-year-old Thoroughbreds in the country and is often referred to as the Mid-Summer Derby. The Travers can be a tricky race to handicap. Its rich purse and great prestige … Continue reading Travers Trends
The .50 cent late Pick 5 at Saratoga on Friday paid $6,752 dollars. The Pick 5 is one of the best wagers on the menu at any race track in the country. With its low 15% takeout rate and .50 cent minimum bet, the Pick 5 can be a lucrative wager for beginners and experts alike. This particular wager has become immensely popular. At Saratoga Race … Continue reading Winning A Pick 5
The name is back and the purse is restored but, otherwise, the renewal of the Arlington Million (G1), this Saturday bears little resemblance to the event that ushered in the era of seven-figure Thoroughbred purses. The most obvious change is the venue. Arlington International Racecourse where JOHN HENRY famously defeated THE BART in the inaugural Million in 1981, is no more. Churchill Downs Inc., which owns the … Continue reading The Arlington Million
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. The Daily Racing Blog often refers to track conditions and the amount of moisture held by dirt and turf (grass) racing surfaces. If you’ve ever got confused by all the track condition lingo, no worries. Here are the explanations in … Continue reading Know The Track Conditions
Wednesday marks the beginning of the third week of racing at Saratoga Race Course, and the second visit to the Spa for the Daily Racing Blog. It is day 15 of a season of 40 racing cards, at a track where top horses, trainers, and jockeys congregate, for some of the best racing action all year long. Saratoga is universally considered one of the premier … Continue reading Some Saratoga Horse Sense
Saturday is the 58th running of the Jimmy Dandy Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. This race originated in 1964, and is for horses three years-old and up. It is raced at a mile and an eighth, on dirt, and classified as a Grade 2 Stakes race with a purse of $600,000 dollars. The track record for this race dates back to 1996 when LOUIS QUATORZE (that years … Continue reading The Jim Dandy Stakes
Harvey Pack was a pioneer in the field of on-air racing personalities. His curmudgeonly personality and dry sense of humor made him a favorite among New York horseplayers. Harvey passed away last summer at his New York city apartment, due to complications from cancer. He was 94 years of age. Mr. Pack always comes to mind this time of year (Saratoga) as there are many … Continue reading Memories Of Harvey
The $1 million dollar, Grade 1 Haskell Stakes is Saturday at Monmouth Park. The prestigious 1 1/8-mile contest annually draws some of the best 3-year-old Thoroughbreds in the country, including alumni from the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes. The race serves as a Win and You’re In qualifier to the November 5th Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland. It’s worth noting that three of the … Continue reading The Haskell Stakes
