We’re jumping ahead a few days with a look at this weekend’s racing; an evening school event on Thursday followed by a departure for opening weekend at Keeneland might mean that posting will be light as we head towards the weekend, so I look forward to—and back at—the Champagne. First run in 1867, the race…
Some follow-ups from the weekend: An entirely accidental series of clicks led me to the following information about Pappy’s Double H. Pappy’s Double H was named in honor of Charles R. Wood by his daughter Charlene.Charlie Wood was co-founder with Paul Newman of the Double H Ranch a Hole inthe Wall Gang Camp for critically…
Is it just me, or do the skies have an unerring tendency to open up just before a big stakes race? The first raindrops on Saturday fell with about 15 minutes to post before the Beldame. It rained off and on through the late afternoon, actually ceasing for a bit at times, but just as…
My favorite day of the year. What used to be known as Breeders’ Cup preview day now has five Grade I races that always have major implications on both the Breeders’ Cup and the championship picture. If you’re anywhere near Belmont, it’s well worth making the trip over, not only to see some world-class racing…
Out of town guests; a family event; a bout of food poisoning; and a domestic disaster have all conspired since late last week to keep me away from the races and away from the keyboard, despite any number of interesting events in the racing world. Those who read the articles that I wrote for the…
Race 7: $22,000 claimer for 3&up at 6 furlongs on the inner turf (N2L). 1. Khan Of Khans: Toss that run in the slop in June and his form isn’t bad at all. The only problem is that this will be his first try against winners and he had to defeat cheap claimers to get…
Beautiful Belmont Park lived up to its name on Saturday—absolutely gorgeous late summer weather here, and while the sun-deprived apron and seats were chilly, the backyard and paddock areas were bathed in sunshine and plenty warm enough. We added layers to watch the races, and shed them to go to the paddock. Race 4 was…
Race 7: $23,000 claimer for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles on the inner turf (N2L). 1. Live On The Edge: Seems like the logical next step for a runner that just broke his maiden over claimers at the Spa. Faces a much tougher group today, but several in here have shown they aren’t…
On opening weekend of Saratoga, I engaged in a Backstretch family tradition during morning workouts: breakfast with the nephews. Not the buffet breakfast on the ground floor of the clubhouse, but bagels and coffee upstairs in the boxes. Part of the tradition is a wander out to the clubhouse entrance, where a circle of jockeys…
As first reported to me by a West Point Thoroughbreds owner and then reported by David Grening in the Daily Racing Form, Kiaran McLaughlin will no longer be training for that ownership partnership, so that he is able to concentrate on the increased number of number of horses in his care owned by Darley and…
Brooklyn Backstretch 