Following the Fine Money

That first race on Sunday at Aqueduct was slated to be a good one: an allowance optional claiming affair, horses trained by, among others, Rick Violette, Kiaran McLaughlin, and Bruce Levine, running for a $50,000 tag and a $44,000 purse. Of all the Sunday first races at Aqueduct in 2010, this one was arguably the…

Florida Follies

It takes exactly 13 hours to drive from Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina to Gulfstream Park. In case you were wondering. It’s 3:00 on Friday afternoon and I rejoice at my luck. Spring break has begun; I am in my car; and I’m going to beat rush hour traffic. I am disappointed that the new date…

Aqueduct: A History of the Inner Track

It was nearly 70 degrees in New York yesterday; warmer temperatures and delayed darkness have many of us thinking spring. And for New York racing fans, there is no surer sign of spring than the return at Aqueduct to the main track. Racing on the inner track generally begins in early December, after the big…

Road to the Roses update

Looks like we’ve had some new stables join the Brooklyn Backstretch charity league—welcome! And congrats to all who earned points in last week’s races. Full league standings are below. Our Road to the Roses SNAFU has been resolved, and it appears that much of the problem was not, in fact, an RttR technical problem. So—apologies…

Weekend wrap-up

Saturday, March 13 (all times approximate) 1:30 Depart greater New York area with summer roommate for whirlwind (nearly literally) Saratoga trip in search of perfect summer rental. Encounter driving rain and vehicle-shaking winds as we wend our way up the Taconic Parkway. 3:00 Confirm with parents dinner plans, synchronized to permit maximize race watching. 5:30…