Past performances. Speed figures. Race replays. Expert commentary. To each her own in the handicapping world. And “my own” means that it would be folly to contemplate Derby picks without a serious look at the horses’ names. The 2012 Brooklyn Backstretch Derby picks, by the letters. Alpha: This is a no-brainer, right? His name means…
So here we are. Four months and multiple preps later, the road on which Horseplayer Now’s Brian Nadeau started us makes its stop at Churchill Downs. His analysis of the race follows; my preview comes tomorrow, with an entirely different perspective on the race (hint: it won’t have a lot to do with past performances).…
We in the United States aren’t the only ones looking forward to the first leg of a Triple Crown this weekend. On Saturday at Newmarket, the 2,000 Guineas will be run at the distance of one mile, kicking off Britain’s Triple Crown season. The other two legs are the Epsom Derby, at Epsom Downs on…
During the last week of April in 1994, turf writers were looking ahead to the Kentucky Derby while hockey writers were following the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. On the April 16, the Wood Memorial had been won by the Steven Young-trained Irgun; he beat Go for Gin by a length and a…
Today, we celebrate Shakespeare’s birthday. We don’t know for sure when he was born, but he was baptized on April 26, 1564, and today is the day widely acknowledged as his birthday. Yesterday was closing day at Aqueduct, a sodden, sloppy, chilly day far more redolent of winter than of spring. And the day before…
O for a Muse of fire, that would ascend The brightest heaven of invention… Think when we talk of horses, that you see them Printing their proud hoofs i’ the receiving earth… Prologue to Henry V, William Shakespeare We are just a few days away from the date accepted as Shakespeare’s birthday – April 23,…
Earlier this month, the New York State Racing and Wagering Board issued an emergency rule that would void the claim of any horse that died during racing or on the racetrack following a race; the action was taken as a result of the spate of fatal breakdowns that occurred over Aqueduct’s inner track this winter.…
Oaklawn Park: The Grade I, $1 million Arkansas Derby at 1 1/8 miles Horseplayer Now‘s Brian Nadeau previews this afternoon’s Florida Derby. #1 Cozzetti: Romans charge enters off a closing third in the GII Tampa Bay Derby in his first try over a fast main track and drew well as he tackles by far the…
Keeneland: The Grade I, $750,000 Blue Grass at 1 1/8 miles Brian Nadeau of Horseplayer Now with his weekly analysis of Derby preps… #1 Heavy Breathing: Lightly raced Pletcher colt exits a game front-running effort in the GIII Spiral at Turfway Park, when he set a fast pace and held nicely to be third in…
Santa Anita: The Grade I, $750,000 Santa Anita Derby at 1 1/8 miles, by Brian Nadeau of Horseplayer Now. #1 Creative Cause: The West Coast’s pro-tem divisional leader looked good, albeit in a misbehaving sort of way, when he rallied late to win the local GII San Felipe in his last start and looms every…
Brooklyn Backstretch 