The Belmont Stakes is referred to as ‘The Test Of Champions’, and rightfully so.  It is the longest of the Triple Crown races at a mile & a half.  If there are aspirations of horse racing immortality one must win three races in a five week span.  A grueling schedule considering these animals perform at their optimal best with 3-5 weeks rest between races. Since … Continue reading Belmont Upset?

Here are a few more definitions to help you decode the not-so-secret language of horseplay.  It’s only a matter of time before you’re walking around the paddock area with a program in your hand claiming; “He looks good.  Had a bullet workout last week.  There’s an equipment change as he added blinkers, plus he’s light today because the bug-boy is riding him.”  If that sounds … Continue reading Track Talk Continued

It has come to the attention of DRB that some of the verbiage or horse-racing lingo used here is sometimes hard to grasp when talking about the races and/or wagering on them.  A special shout-out to regular readers of DRB, M. Lawrence & J. Gosney, both of Binghamton, NY for suggesting that perhaps everyone doesn’t know what a trifecta key, or a pick-3 or pick-4 is, or how … Continue reading The Language Of Racing

The pursuit of The Triple Crown continues- barely.  JUSTIFY won the second jewel of horse racing’s Triple Crown yesterday in The Preakness Stakes.  He held off a furious late charge by 2nd place finisher BRAVAZO and TEN FOLD, who got up to beat GOOD MAGIC for third in the foggy, sloppy going at Pimlico Race Track.  JUSTIFY paid $2.80 to Win.  BRAVAZO $7.60 to Place, … Continue reading JUSTIFY Wins The Preakness

The estimated post time for the 2018 Preakness Stakes is 6:20 Saturday afternoon.  NBC will be covering the event, and when they come on the air the scene will be reminiscent of two weeks ago at Churchill Downs.  If the forecast holds true (100% chance of rain both Friday and Saturday) the first thing you’ll see is a racetrack with standing water and ankle deep … Continue reading Preakness Profiles & Predictions

When the bell rings and the gate springs open for Saturday’s Preakness Stakes, jockey Mike Smith will attempt to become the oldest rider to win the event in its 143 year history.  At 52 years of age ‘Money Mike’ will try to best Gary Stevens, who was 50 in 2013 when he rode OXBOW to an upset victory.  Smith will be aboard post-time favorite and … Continue reading Profile: Mike Smith

Now that the dust has settled (or more appropriately mud has dried) on the 2018 Kentucky Derby we of the horse racing world turn our attention to The Preakness Stakes.  Held next Saturday, the 19th of May at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, MD.  Estimated post time is 6:20. It is a quick turnaround for the connections who choose to run-back their horses two weeks … Continue reading The Preakness

At 65 years old he is widely recognized as one of the most successful trainers in the history of horse racing.  One could easily justify that. (sorry)  He has 2,800 career wins, including 13 Triple Crown Races;  2 in The Belmont Stakes, 6 in The Preakness, and with JUSTIFY winning The Kentucky Derby last week, he has 5 victories in that event.  In 2015 the … Continue reading Profile: Bob Baffert

The Pimlico Thoroughbred Race Track is located at 5201 Park Heights Avenue in Baltimore, Maryland.  The track has been the home of The Preakness Stakes since it’s inception in 1870.  The track in it’s current form is a one mile dirt oval, which surrounds a seven furlong turf course.  The capacity of the grounds, including the infield is 120,000 people. The Preakness is a Grade … Continue reading Pimlico Race Course

It was 2015 and thoroughbred horse racing had not had a Triple Crown winner in 37 years, which was AFFIRMED in 1978.  AMERICAN PHAROAH won the KD in 2015 and went on to win The Preakness and Belmont Stakes to end that drought.  Fast forward three years to 2018, it had been 136 years since a horse named APOLLO was not raced as a two … Continue reading JUSTIFY WINS THE DERBY