April is the cruellest month, breedingLilacs out of the dead land, mixingMemory and desire, stirringDull roots with spring rain.–“The Wasteland,” T.S. Eliot Adding myself to the legions who have quoted Eliot’s words out of context, I drove onto the barren grounds of the Oklahoma on Saturday morning. Early balminess had given way to gray chill;…
The Lexington Stakes – Keeneland – Grade II – $325,000 – 1 1/16 Miles, by Brian Nadeau We have arrived. Saturday’s Lexington marks the final prep for the May 2 Kentucky Derby, and anyone with last ditch aspirations for the big race has 1 1/16 miles to show that they belong. The Lexington drew a…
I first became aware of the Belmont Child Care Association around 2005 or 2006—checking Aqueduct results, I saw information on the NYRA homepage about donating items to the Anna House holiday party, at which the children could pick out presents to give to their family members. My relationship with this organization began with that donation.…
Recapping the Blue Grass and Arkansas Derby, by Brian Nadeau And then there was one. With the Arkansas Derby and the Blue Grass Stakes safely behind us, the upcoming Lexington Stakes rates as the last major prep for the Kentucky Derby. This past weekend saw a feel-good story reemerge and the strength of the West…
Back in Brooklyn after two and a half terrific days in Lexington; this was my fourth trip to Lexington and third to Keeneland for live racing, so I hope that no one read my Friday post as anything other than gentle mockery of a superb race track. Keeneland is a different racing world even from…
On Thursday evening, as my friend and I walked back through the Keeneland grandstand at about 5:30 pm, we saw a line of people snaking through the grounds. They had folding chairs and radios, books and decks of cards. They were in for the long haul. What, we asked, were all these people were waiting…
The Arkansas Derby – Oaklawn Park – Grade II – $1,000,000 – 1 1/8 Miles, by Brian Nadeau Captain Cherokee: Wasn’t disgraced in the Rebel and considering that that was his first start against stakes foes, he might be able to build off that run. Still, he meets a deeper cast in here and he’s…
The last big weekend of Derby preps sees the Blue Grass and Arkansas Derby draw deep and competitive fields. Both races figure to send at least a few on to the Derby, so with precious graded stakes earnings up for grabs look for the screws to be tightened on the main contenders. Let’s take a…
As we pulled into Keeneland early Thursday afternoon on a glorious spring day, I was fretting. Having been in the car since dawn, I had dressed for comfort, a wise decision at 6 am, but on the hallowed grounds of Keeneland, perhaps a dubious one. I contemplated my jeans (pretty nice by jeans standards, if…
Reviewing last weekend’s Derby preps, by Brian Nadeau Well, one big weekend down and one to go. The true favorite for the Kentucky Derby has emerged, and judging by I Want Revenge’s performance in the Wood Memorial, it’s going to take a serious horse to beat him. A weird and wacky Santa Anita Derby took…
Brooklyn Backstretch 