This is DRB‘s final installment of the colorful language heard, and used at tracks here and around the world.  Speaking of which, I was visiting London not long ago and saw what amounted to a betting parlor of some sort.  Akin to Off Track Betting offices here in the states.  I walked in looked around and saw mostly men watching and shouting at multiple television monitors showing various races … Continue reading Track Terminology

As routine viewers of DRB should be aware, The Racetrack At Saratoga opens up next Friday July 20th.  What might be news to some, is that this year there will be 69 stakes races worth 18.8 million dollars in prize money.  And while there is a feature race (or two) every day of competition, it is the weekend (especially Saturday) that draws the best talent, vying for … Continue reading The Diana

We are two weeks removed from opening day of the greatest track in America.  So we at DRB will continue with some of the basic definitions in the world of horse racing.  It does not matter how long you have been in the thoroughbred game, you can never stop learning.  Absorb all the knowledge you can.  What may seem meaningless now, will hopefully lodge somewhere in … Continue reading Saratoga Speak

DRB is based out of New York state, so while the acronym NYRA is common to us, there may be others who aren’t so familiar with the organization.  For the uninitiated we offer this brief profile as an introduction. The New York Racing Association was founded in 1955, and is headquartered in Jamaica, NY.  It is a not-for-profit that operates the three largest thoroughbred horse racing … Continue reading New York Racing Association

The race course at Saratoga is referred to as “The Graveyard of Favorites”.  But a more apt name might be “The Graveyard of Champions”.  Throughout the history of horse racing, some of the worlds most amazing thoroughbreds have humbly learned how the track earned that sobriquet. One of the earliest unforeseen victories took place in August 1919 when MAN O’ WAR raced as the heavy favorite … Continue reading The Graveyard Of Favorites

There are many so-called rivalries in sports.  But there are few whose status lives on and can stand up to the test of time.  It is one small three letter word that is the barometer for these athletic battles that grow more legendary with each passing generation.  That word?  And.  It’s just that simple.  Whenever you cannot name one participant without the reflexive action of … Continue reading Affirmed & Alydar

The jargon used in or around the horse track can seem like a foreign language to those new to the game or the atmosphere that surrounds it.  But given some time, and due diligence you too can some day talk the talk.  You will overhear someone say;  “I like his chances.  He had a bullet workout here last week, and he’s got the bug-boy riding … Continue reading Race Track Rhetoric Cont…

The latest Triple Crown winner JUSTIFY is taking a well deserved respite from racing.  The question for the thoroughbred racing world is, will he race again this year?  Or at all?  His connections sold his breeding rights to Coolmore Breeders for 60 million, plus an added 15 million dollar bonus for winning the Triple Crown.  So right there you’ve got 75 very large reasons not to … Continue reading Run JUSTIFY Run

What are familiar words and phrases to us at DRB are not as widely known to the casual horse player- or so we’re told.  We’ll pick up where we left off alphabetically last time out in our quest to acquaint track-side tyros. Eased:  A horse pulled up during the course of a race before the finish line.  Usually due to injury. Entry:  Two or more horses owned by the … Continue reading Equine Education Cont…

There will always be thoroughbreds that battle back.  That dig in down the home stretch, and find a reserve of power that propels them across the finish line.  These animals remind us of the exhilaration that one gets from giving everything, and pushing to, and possibly beyond ones limit.  These beautiful stallions sate our hunger for something that was once perhaps grand and noble in … Continue reading Saratoga Race Course