Irad Ortiz Jr. broke Gulfstream Park’s Championship Meet riding record with an exclamation point, Saturday, piloting Known Agenda to the Grade 1 Florida Derby title. The victory not only gave Ortiz his first Florida Derby, but gave him 138 victories for the South Florida track’s marquee meet. That sent the […]
Horse Racing
Dubai World Cup: Where Buying American Often Pays Off
The list of Dubai World Cup champions since the race’s 1997 debut include inaugural winner Cigar, Silver Charm, Captain Steve, Curlin, Animal Kingdom, California Chrome and Arrogate. True Thoroughbred stars who commanded attention the moment their names entered a race. This is apt. Saturday’s Group 1 Dubai World Cup comes […]
Greatest Honour Chases Another Honor as Florida Derby Favorite
The only thing standing between Greatest Honour and keeping Spectacular Bid company in the history books is one of the best Kentucky Derby preps on the calendar – Saturday’s Grade 1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. Well, that – and the little matter of getting past 10 other horses in […]
When it Comes to Derby Threats, Jeff Ruby Steaks is Tough to Chew
In its nearly 50-year existence, the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park went under 11 different names. It opened as the Spiral Stakes in 1972 and meandered through a myriad of monikers until arriving at its current name in 2018. But whatever you call the Grade 3 Jeff […]
Fox Sports Buys Share of NYRA Bets, Extends NY Race Coverage to 2030
Fox Sports and the New York Racing Association unveiled an expanded partnership agreement Thursday that extends the regional sports network’s television rights for NYRA races through 2030. The agreement opens up options for a Fox Sports subsidiary to purchase a 25% stake in NYRA Bets, the association’s advance deposit wagering […]
Baffert Directs Spielberg to Florida for Rare Gulfstream Park Start
Bob Baffert may be synonymous with Kentucky Derby prep races, but the Hall of Fame trainer isn’t synonymous with Gulfstream Park or one of the premier prep races on the calendar, the Florida Derby. Until now. Baffert will make his Florida Derby debut on Saturday, sending the ubiquitous Spielberg eastward […]
Essential Quality Opens as KDFW Final Pool Favorite
Essential Quality opened Pool 4 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager as the favorite. Now, the undefeated Tapit colt opens the fifth and final KDFW pool as the 3/1 favorite. Pool 5 of Churchill Downs’ plunge into the Derby futures market opens Friday at 9 am PT and closes Sunday […]
Preakness Gets Some of Its Fans Back, Pimlico Opens Doors for 10,000
The Maryland Jockey Club announced Tuesday it will allow 10,000 fans into the 2021 Preakness Stakes when that second jewel of the Triple Crowns runs on Saturday, May 15 at Pimlico Race Course. This decision came after The Stronach Group officials met with Baltimore-area and Maryland state health officials, who […]
How Hot Rod Charlie Brought One Small Syndicate to the Derby
In October 2019, Greg Helm took a call that changed his horse racing ownership life forever. On the other end was bloodstock agent Dennis O’Neill, brother to trainer Doug O’Neill, with a proposition for Helm and the rest of his small Roadrunner Racing syndicate. “He asked me if I wanted […]
With Life Is Good Out, Baffert Shuffles His Derby Prospects
With Life Is Good off the Kentucky Derby Trail with what’s been diagnosed as an ankle chip, Bob Baffert shuffled his deep bench of Derby contenders. The shuffle means both Medina Spirit and trail newcomer Defunded will run the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 3. Baffert made the […]
Life Is Good Taken Off Kentucky Derby Trail After Leg Injury
Current Kentucky Derby favorite Life Is Good suffered a leg injury during a Saturday morning workout, taking him off the Kentucky Derby Trail. Horse Racing Nation first reported the story, citing WinStar Farm CEO and president Elliott Walden, who texted the outlet that the horse was going to see noted […]
Roadster Returns to a Road Less Traveled: New Orleans
In the summer of 2018, Roadster was one of the hottest juveniles on the Kentucky Derby watch list. He won his debut at Del Mar by 4 ¼ lengths, then won two of his next three races. Through his first four races, Roadster was 3-for-4, with a Grade 1 victory […]
Louisiana Derby Offers Big, Familiar Names in the Big Easy
Yes, the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby has a familiar look to it that goes beyond bringing us familiar names like Mandaloun, Midnight Bourbon, Proxy – and yes, California import Hot Rod Charlie. It’s those first three that give the first of the 170-point Kentucky Derby preps that déjà vu look. […]
Santa Anita Park Reopens to Fans in Time for April 2 Derby
With California relaxing guidelines on allowing limited crowds into sporting venues, Santa Anita Park announced Thursday it will reopen to the public on Friday, April 2. That’s just in time for the following day’s Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby. Track officials didn’t reveal how many tickets they will sell or […]
Dean’s List: British Bettor’s Smart Cash-Out Brings Him £250,000
Almost immediately after favorite Envoi Allen crashed out of the Marsh Novices’ Chase, punters and journalists around the world were calling Paul Dean’s decision the greatest cash-out in the history of wagering. Dean, who stood to win £511,225 if Envoi Allen won the Cheltenham Festival’s Thursday opener, instead took a […]
It’s Clairiere and Travel Column 3.0 in Fair Grounds Oaks
Clairiere and Travel Column. Travel Column and Clairiere. The two 3-year-old fillies are becoming linked in many ways as they prepare for Saturday’s Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks. The two staked their grounds as the top 3-year-olds this spring, seizing attention from last year’s Champion 2-Year-Old, Vequist, along with contenders […]
To Hedge or Not to Hedge: British Bettor Dean’s Six-Figure Decision
Paul Dean is staring at the ultimate hedge on a race with 16 hedges to clear. Will the English bettor take the money and run? Or will he let it ride on the favorite in one of the Cheltenham Festival’s Thursday races? Dean holds a $5, five-race accumulator ticket he […]
Del Mar Officials Plan for Fans at 2021 Summer Meet
Del Mar officials announced Tuesday they will allow a limited number of fans into the seaside track when its summer meet opens in mid-July. Track officials didn’t specify an allotted number of tickets it plans to sell when its 82nd summer meet opens on Friday, July 16. Nor did it […]
Blackmore Makes Cheltenham History on Festival’s Opening Day
In any other year, Rachael Blackmore’s Champion Hurdle victory aboard Honeysuckle would send Cheltenham into delirium. The Gloucestershire city would palpitate with electricity that could power the entire region. But this being anything but an ordinary year, the buzz surrounding Blackmore’s historic feat was saved for the electronic devices used […]
Cheltenham Festival Jumps Into Action Without Customary Crowds
To get a handle on what the Cheltenham Festival is, take the Super Bowl, mix it with the Olympics and the Breeders’ Cup, and add heavy, heavy betting to the brew. Then, spread it out over a four-day, 28-race jumping bacchanalia. Well, hold the bacchanalia this year. This year’s Cheltenham […]