So I might just have a new favorite network. Yesterday afternoon, as I began to head south after a brief trip to Saratoga, Brother Backstretch sent along the following: The National Hockey League and the NBC Sports Group have reached agreement on a landmark 10-year television and media rights deal, taking the partnership through the…
Last Monday, Hall of Fame trainer John Nerud presented a check for $50,000 to the Belmont Child Care Association. A longtime and loyal donor to Anna House, Nerud visits frequently, sharing the stories of his years on the racetrack with the children. Now 98, he told the children that when he started at the track, he worked as…
Oaklawn Park: The Grade I, $1 million Arkansas Derby at 1 1/18 miles #2 Nehro (5-2): Surprised many with a fine second at big odds in the GII Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds and now tries to prove that wasn’t a fluke while securing some important graded earnings for the Derby. No knock on his…
Keeneland: The Grade I, $750,000 Blue Grass at 1 1/8 miles #1 Newsdad (20-1): Solid third in the grassy GIII Palm Beach at Gulfstream Park behind a pair he meets again here, and he’s got the right kind of late running style to handle this course. Keeps improving with each start, there still seems to…
In February, Ed Martin, president of the Association of Racing Commissioners International, caused quite a stir when he called for the New York State Racing and Wagering Board to review the license of trainer Richard Dutrow, Jr. Martin’s suggestion was greeted with both approbation and skepticism. Dutrow’s record of violations sits uneasily with those seeking…
We heard a lot about Secretariat over the weekend. Secretariat lost the Wood and won the Triple Crown; Uncle Mo’s owner Mike Repole told reporters Saturday afternoon that on Friday night, he watched Secretariat (“It was probably a stupid idea,” he added). I wondered about the reaction to Secretariat’s loss in April of 1973, wondered…
Greetings from Aqueduct! It’s early – 8 am – and I don’t have a lot of company here. The horses have returned to the backstretch after their winter sojourn at Belmont, having given way to the construction crews for a while, but there are few horses on the track, and upstairs, one clocker and I…
Hawthorne: The Grade III, $300,000 Illinois Derby at 1 1/8 miles Trying to upset the apple cart in a very weak race with #5 VOUCH FOR VICTORY, who ran sneaky good in his first two-turn attempt and has every right to move forward with that run behind him; in a race where no one else impresses,…
Santa Anita: The Grade I, $1 Million Santa Anita Derby at 1 1/8 miles #1 Offlee Wild Boys (30-1): Enters off two sharp allowance wins at Golden Gate over the Tapeta surface, and though he drew well here, he’s unproven over conventional dirt. Well-bred runner should get the trip, but this is a huge step…
Aqueduct: The Grade I, $1 Million Wood Memorial at 1 1/8 miles #1 Starship Caesar (50-1 ML): Beaten a country mile in the GIII Gotham, the local prep, and while he drew extremely well tomorrow, there’s no real reason to think he can turn the tables on those who beat him, not to mention that…
Brooklyn Backstretch 