This week, the Stronach Group, which owns Gulfstream Park in Florida, Santa Anita Park in California, and Pimlico Race Course in Maryland, announced the Ms. Racing Queen pageant, the lucky winner of which will “promote thoroughbred racing by representing the Stronach Group” at events like the Florida Derby, Santa Anita Derby, and Preakness—all of which take place at Stronach properties. Ms. Racing…
Late last Wednesday night, Stonestreet Farm announced that 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra had been taken to Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital following complications from foaling. After giving birth to a filly on February 12, the seven-year-old mare was found to have suffered an injury to her colon, resulting in an infection that required a…
Oaklawn Park: The Grade III, $300,000 Southwest at 1 1/16 miles #1 Officer Alex: Son of Officer failed miserably in his acid test when a well-beaten sixth behind several of these in the local Smarty Jones, his two-turn and open company stakes debut. Tactical sort drew well and could improve off that trial run, but…
Horseplayer Now’s Brian Nadeau checks in witha look at today’s Derby prep; he’ll be back later this weekend with analysis of Monday’s Southwest Stakes. Golden Gate Fields: The Grade III, $200,000 El Camino Real Derby at 1 1/8 miles #1 Wildcat Moon: Speedster enters off a fine second last month to fellow rival Zeewat in…
Stonestreet Farm reported late Wednesday night that 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra had been taken to Rood and Riddle Equine Clinic in Lexington, Kentucky following foaling complications. Rachel Alexandra foaled a filly early Tuesday morning, reported by the farm to have weighed 140 pounds, the biggest foal of the year so far at the farm. The…
The graded stakes run earlier this month at Aqueduct have been around for a while: the Toboggan was first run in 1890, the Withers in 1874. When racing came back to New York in 1913, both were renewed, both at Belmont Park. The Withers was run on May 31, the day after racing returned for…
Early February brings Punxsutawney Phil, the Super Bowl, and a wagering opportunity that gets a little less attention than those two: the first round of the Kentucky Derby future pool. This year’s Kentucky Derby is on May 4, and between now and then, Churchill Downs will offer three opportunities to bet on the race: this…
In 1913, racing returned to New York State after a nearly three-year absence. In 1913, Rock View won the Travers, Whisk Broom II won the Met Mile, and Prince Eugene won the Belmont. And in 1913, John Nerud was born. A Hall of Fame trainer, Nerud worked for most of his 44-year career for Tartan…
When the connections of Revolutionary entered their three-year-old in the $200,000 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack, they hoped the lightly raced colt would take a step forward and show them enough to warrant his staying on the Kentucky Derby trail. While Revolutionary did just that in a neck victory on Saturday afternoon, the connections got…
Santa Anita: The Grade II, $200,000 Robert Lewis at 1 1/16 miles #1 Little Jerry: Baltas colt impressed when rallying from far out of it in his debut over the Cushion Track at Hollywood Park in November, then was beaten up in the GI CashCall there in December. Sire Candy Ride was a long-distance freak…
Brooklyn Backstretch 