With the Breeders’ Cup looming in two weeks as Keeneland’s worldwide close-up, the Lexington, KY, track ended its Fall Meet Saturday with a modest 7.5% drop in all-sources handle from 2019. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Keeneland ran its 17-day Fall Meet without spectators. Yet the track recorded $148,229,708 in […]
Horse Racing
Saudi Cup Day Adds Pegasus World Cup Events as Automatic Qualifiers
The Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia announced Friday that four races in the US and Japan will serve as “Win and You’re In†events for next year’s Saudi Cup Day races. Heading the list is the Grade 1 $3 million Pegasus World Cup. That race, one of the richest in […]
From One Eye, Mighty Heart Sees a Path to the Canadian Triple Crown
Many eyes on Saturday will be on one-eyed Mighty Heart, focused to see if the small 3-year-old can run to his name and become the first Canadian Triple Crown winner in 17 years. Mighty Heart, your even-money favorite, headlines Saturday’s Breeders’ Stakes from Woodbine Racetrack outside Toronto. The 1 ½-mile […]
Baffert Team Disputes Gamine’s Failed Kentucky Oaks Drug Test
After news broke late Thursday that a Kentucky Oaks horse tested positive for a Class C medical violation, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert confirmed in a statement that his star filly, Gamine, was the culprit. The New York Times, citing two sources, reported Thursday evening that Gamine tested positive […]
Del Mar Lowers its Pick Six Minimum to 50 Cents For Upcoming Fall Meet
Following their summer lead with other wagers, Del Mar plans on lowering its Pick Six from $2 to 50 cents when the seaside, San Diego-area track opens its fall meet on Oct. 31. This comes after Del Mar lowered its Pick 4 and Pick 5 to 50 cents for its […]
He’s Back: Two-Time Grand National Champ Tiger Roll is on the Prowl
Over the past decade, Tiger Roll illustrated he has his jump counterparts by the tail. Now, the two-time Grand National champion returns to flat racing for the first time in 4 ½ years on Thursday, taking on nine other horses in the Flower Hill Maiden at Navan. The keyword in […]
Kentucky Horse Racing Industry Goes on Offensive for HHR Machines
The Kentucky Thoroughbred Association petitioned to file an amicus brief this week, seeking a return of the historical horse racing (HHR) machines recently outlawed by the Kentucky Supreme Court. The petition comes on the heels of an amicus brief filed last week by the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce illustrating the […]
Lone Horseplayer Finds Gold with $249,204 Rainbow 6
A single bettor picked the lock of Gulfstream Park West’s 20-cent Rainbow 6 Sunday, cashing the lone winning ticket for $249,204. This followed on the heels of Gulfstream Park West’s sister track – Santa Anita Park – yielding a nearly half-million dollar Rainbow 6 last week. The Gulfstream Park West […]
No. 1-Ranked Ghaiyyath Retires, Won’t Run Breeders’ Cup
Ghaiyyath, the No. 1-ranked turf horse in the world, retired from racing Monday after his connections discovered muscle soreness in his legs after a routine workout. Godolphin, the international racing conglomerate that owns Ghaiyyath, announced the retirement in a statement. The sudden retirement means Ghaiyyath won’t run next month’s Breeders’ […]
Decorated Invader Looking for More Wins at Less Distance in Hill Prince
Those extra three-sixteenths of a mile Decorated Invader tackled in his last race apparently did what few other horses could do to the standout 3-year-old — slow down the son of noted sire Declaration of War. This explains why Decorated Invader cuts back to a mile for Sunday’s Grade 2 […]
Single Bettor Hits Santa Anita Park’s Rainbow 6 for $450,706
A horse named New Heat brought new riches to one lucky ticket holder who held the lone winning ticket for $450,706.96 in Friday’s Santa Anita Park 20 cent Rainbow 6 Jackpot. New Heat went off at 14/1 in the maiden special weight eighth race. The 3-year-old, Cal-bred daughter of Unusual […]
Undefeated Nadal Heading to Japan to Begin His Stallion Career
Undefeated 3-year-old multiple stakes winner Nadal will head to Japan for his stud career, Japanese breeding farm Shadai Stallion Station announced Wednesday. The announcement ended speculation on where the $700,000 Blame progeny would stand after his once-promising racing career prematurely ended in May. The one-time Kentucky Derby points leader, Nadal […]
Stradivarius Searches Again for the Right Note in Long Distance Cup
The British Champions Long Distance Cup is where dominance ended for Stradivarius last year. And after his seventh-place finish in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, the British Champions Long Distance Cup is where Stradivarius seeks to regain it this year. And bettors think he will. The standout Irish stayer […]
Three Kentucky Derby Preps Headline Fair Grounds’ 2020-21 Stakes Cards
Three key Kentucky Derby prep races headline Fair Grounds Race Course’s 51 stakes schedule for the 2020-21 season, which begins Thanksgiving Day. Those stakes on the Louisiana track carry a combined purse of more than $7 million over the 76-day meet, which runs through March 28. What’s interesting about the […]
Circa Sports Makes Improbable the Breeders’ Cup Classic Futures Favorite
One day after opening the first domestic Breeders’ Cup Classic futures board, Circa Sports puts Improbable as the favorite to capture the $6 million Breeders’ Cup’s marquee event on Nov. 7 at Keeneland. Improbable opened at +380, then moved up slightly to +410. His best odds overseas are 4/1. The […]
Gulfstream Park Will Allow Limited Fans Inside for Championship Meet
Gulfstream Park announced Monday it will allow fans inside for its Championship Meet, which begins Dec. 2 at the South Florida track north of Miami. Bill Badgett, the executive director of Florida racing for track owner The Stronach Group, told Thoroughbred Daily News Gulfstream Park will cap attendance at 50% […]
Two-Time Horse of the Year Champion Enable Retires
Record-breaking mare Enable retired on Monday when her Juddmonte Farms connections announced she would begin her breeding career next year. The announcement came in a written statement from Juddmonte Farms early Monday. The statement announced that Enable’s first date next spring is with the stallion Kingman. “After consulting her trainer […]
Serengeti Empress, McKinzie Take Different Paths to Breeding Shed
Serengeti Empress has one more race before the breeding shed awaits. McKinzie is headed to stud immediately. And so drops the curtain on two of the more prominent Thoroughbreds of the last three years. Serengeti Empress will make her final start in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint Nov. […]
Decorated Tacitus Seeks Elusive Grade 1 Win in Jockey Club Gold Cup
Once again, even-money Tacitus is your favorite in a Grade 1 race – the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park. And once again, Tacitus enters a Grade 1 favored – without a Grade 1 victory. In this race, he has plenty of company in the latter category, even if […]
Champagne Stakes Uncorks Juvenile Horses in Vintage Race
The Champagne Stakes dates to 1867, making this a vintage race if there ever was a non-American Classic vintage race. Yet, it holds its vintage status while turning loose 2-year-olds upon the racing world. Call it a vintage race with fledgling racers. But while you’re at it, call Saturday’s Grade […]