“A wall of horses before the favorite…English Channel will have to try to squeeze through on the inside…oh, it’s so tight! English Channel has just muscled his way to victory…” Standing on the rail just before the winner’s circle, I couldn’t believe my eyes…or my ears. What a call by Durkin (read the wrong way,…

And the winner is…

What a great, great day to be at the races. There was a nice crowd, though the announced attendance of 19,000 included those who showed up for the folding chair giveaway and then left; shockingly, I saw spinners for the first time at Belmont: people going through the turnstile multiple times to get multiple chairs.…

Super Sunday at Belmont

Today’s the biggest day of the Belmont Fall Meet, with four Grade I races, all with “Win and You’re In” Breeders’ Cup implications. Knowing that that alone will not be enough to draw people to the races on a Sunday, NYRA is also giving away green folding chairs. I’m embarrassed to admit that I’m looking…

Saturday at the races

Got to catch the Kentucky Cup Classic from a video link in The Blood-Horse online–maybe it felt different live, but it didn’t seem all that dramatic to me. I guess it was always possible that Street Sense could have blown by Hard Spun, but Hard Spun looked so in control and confident that it looked…

SHOWdown…and out

Oh, me of little faith! Couldn’t confidently pick The Leopard because of the distance and change in surface; couldn’t confidently pick Angelic Aura off a week’s layoff. The Leopard won; Angelic Aura won. Indian War Dance was fourth, and thus, we are SHOWdown and out.

A quick peek at Saturday

Just got back from a pre-season Rangers’ game, and in some good if insignificant NY sports news, the Blueshirts beat the hated Islanders 5-2. But please, please, please don’t ask me about the Mets. Please. So I’m just dipping a toe into Saturday’s races. Things that caught my eye: In the fourth race, Todd Pletcher’s…

Synthetic vs. Dirt

I titled this post deliberately, because I feel like the conversation about track surfaces has devolved into little more than a dichotomy: Us vs. Them. Synthetic vs. Dirt. Equine Lovers vs. Heartless Gamblers. It’s been a big couple of months in the world of track surfaces; here are some of the highlights: Ahmed Zayat throws…

The weekend upcoming

Lots of news today about how the weekend at Belmont is shaping up.Dave Grening in the Daily Racing Form reports that Ginger Punch, winner of the Darley Test at Saratoga and the Ruffian, is a go for the Beldame, though no decisions have been made about the Breeders’ Cup. He also notes that Take D’Tour…

The Duchess

In today’s New York Post, John DaSilva comments on Duchess of Rokeby’s race yesterday: 6TH RACE – As the field awaited the start, both 46-1 Wind in the Forest and 26-1 Duchess of Rokeby broke through the gate. After being checked out by the vet, both were allowed to run. Wind in the Forest showed…

The Sunday Wrap-Up

I love this photo of Evening Attire on his way to the track at Saratoga. He was fourth in the MassCap yesterday at Suffolk, and even though he hasn’t won a race since last March, I love that he’s still out there. Thanks to the folks at Alex Brown Racing for bringing this article from…