Brian’s Derby Preps: The Florida Derby

Gulfstream Park: The GI, $1 million Florida Derby at 1 1/8 miles #1 Shanghai Bobby: The reigning 2yo champ enters off a two-month break after suffering his first career defeat when second to fellow rival Itsmyluckyday in the local GIII Holy Bull and will try to prove he’s got the stamina to be a top…

Brian’s Derby Preps: The Louisiana Derby

Fair Grounds: The GII, $1 million Louisiana Derby at 1 1/8 miles #1 Hip Four Sixtynine: Recent MSW winner going six furlongs over the track looked like a new horse with blinkers removed, but steps way up and seems completely overmatched in this deep GII. Stretch runner was a well-beaten fifth in his lone route…

“…the revival of racing is at hand”

Through the last week of February 1913, racing fans waited with hope. Earlier in the month, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court had upheld a 1912 New York State Supreme Court ruling that a man making a private bet at a racetrack was not breaking the law, and that race track operators could not…

Planes, Trains, and ABRVs

Earlier this month, the vehicle with the catchy moniker hit to the road to kick off its 2012 campaign. The ABRV (get it? ABR + RV?) headed to Austin, Texas, where it, along with the ABR brand ambassadors, would set up shop at SXSW, the centerpiece of a major fan outreach initiative funded in large…

Brian’s Derby Preps: The Spiral

Turfway Park: The Grade III, $550,000 Spiral at 1 1/8 miles A wide-open renewal of the Spiral will certainly give handicappers trouble as several promising, albeit unproven, runners meet the starter. On paper there’s enough pace to think it sets up well for a stalker/closer, so let’s see if #8 GENERAL ELECTION can build on…