Since Doug O’Neill, I’ll Have Another, and Lava Man arrived on the Belmont backstretch, they have not lacked for visitors. Writers, photographers, fans, and visitors have flocked to their barn, and by all accounts, O’Neill has been an affable and friendly host, handling the crush with aplomb. Last week, Team O’Neill welcomed the children of…
Researchers of racing’s history have been spoiled for choice over the last couple of years: The entire New York Times archive going back to 1851 is digitized and online, much of it for free, more of it available to subscribers or for a fee. Equibase offers free access to charts going back to 1991. The…
Like many immigrants to this country, the men and women who work on the backstretch at our racetracks are often invisible. We see them walking horses to and from races, and we see them in winner’s circle photographs; we almost never learn their names or hear their voices. They are seldom profiled in turf publications.…
On Monday night, as the Memorial Day weekend wound down, as cars snaked their way back into New York and revelers bid a wistful farewell to the holiday, New York racing could be seen tilting back in its rocking chair on its front porch, raising a glass, and taking a long, cool drink of the…
Around this time 18 years ago, I developed some chronic stomach troubles. I had no appetite, and when I did eat, I felt ill. I felt queasy almost all the time. I was sure that I was developing some serious gastrointestinal ailment, and, to be honest, I was a little worried. Fortunately, the distress was…
Brian Nadeau of Horseplayer Now returns with his analysis of today’s Preakness Stakes… Pimlico: The Grade I, $1 million Preakness at 1 3/16 miles #1 Tiger Walk (30-1): Underrated sort quietly ran big in Aqueduct’s GI Wood last time out while finishing fourth in a breakthrough run and will add blinkers today to coax…
Would you believe that I planned last week to write a post for today about what’s going on at the New York Racing Association? No, I probably wouldn’t either, if I were you, but it’s true. Starting at the beginning of Derby week, when the New York Times reported that New York State alleged that…
On May 3, the New York Times reported that the New York State Attorney General is suing the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, alleging financial mismanagement and neglect of the horses in its care. I have long been a supporter of the TRF and link to the organization several places on this site; in the summer of…
Earlier this week, I was happy to announce the winner of this year’s Brooklyn Backstretch Road to the Roses charity league, and that one of the recipients of Matt Shifman’s donations is the Belmont Child Care Association, which oversees Anna House, the day care and education center located on the backstretch of Belmont Park. The…
Over the last week, I’ve had multiple opportunities to feel grateful. In addition to the everyday reasons to be appreciative, for family and friends and health, for a home and a job, I am grateful for having the chance to cover the Kentucky Derby, and grateful to be at Madison Square Garden last night for…
Brooklyn Backstretch 