They don’t call him Big Money Mike for nothing. Of the 13 Grade 1 races that will be run this weekend in the Breeders’ Cup, Mike Smith is named on nine of them, three of them favorites. But no matter how he does, even if he goes winless, his Breeders’ Cup records are secure: 126…
Four years ago, London Bridge became the first New York-bred to win a Breeders’ Cup race when he won the $500,000 G2 Marathon at Santa Anita. Bred by Patricia S. Purdy and owned by Waratah Thoroughbreds, London Bridge raced in England and France, making his first and only start in the United States that day.…
As Diversify rounded the final sweeping turn at Belmont Park in Saturday’s $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1), Rodney Paine, perched on a platform above the finish line, started yelling. “Come on, Big D!” he exhorted. “Dig in! Dig in, Big D!” And dig in did the four-year-old son of Bellamy Road. Having led largely…
Four years ago, Ron Lombardi’s Mr. Amore Stables dead-heated for second in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) at Santa Anita. This year, he hopes to return to California and do that performance one better after Firenze Fire won Saturday’s Champagne Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park. The contest is a “Win & You’re In” race for the…
I remember the first time I saw Shakespeare. It was the day of the Jockey Club Gold Cup in 2005, and I’d headed out to Belmont with a couple of fellow English teacher friends, and he, along with English Channel, was running in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational. We bet to win, we bet…
editor’s note: I asked Teresa to write about returning to a summer of racing at Saratoga after a first half of the year that included being diagnosed with–and treatment for–cancer. She was trepidatious at first, but gradually found the words among shared experiences with family and the horses. I’m glad she did. -@EJXD2 My family gathers…
“My lady prioress, and by your leave, So that I knew I should in no way grieve, I would opine that tell a tale you should, The one that follows next if you but would. Now will you please vouchsafe it, lady dear?” “Gladly,” said she, and spoke as you shall hear. (Chaucer’s The Prioress’s Tale)…
At the bottom of the post, you’ll find events that happen daily. Thanks for reading this summer. I hope that you found events you might not have otherwise heard of, learned something about Saratoga or horse racing, discovered a cause or charity that you want to support. If you have suggestions for how to improve…
Daily/weekly events are listed at the bottom of this post. Thursday, August 24 At the races Stakes races: Grade I, $150,000 New York Turf Writers Cup, four-year-olds and up, 2 3/8 miles on the turf (steeplechase) $100,000 Riskaverse for three-year-old fillies, 1 mile on the turf Taste NY, wines, ciders and spirits in the Saratoga…
On Thursday at Saratoga, seven-year-old All The Way Jose will make his fourth start of the year in the Grade 1 New York Turf Writers Cup Handicap. The former flat runner is 8-1 on the morning line, and looking for his first win at the Spa since an allowance race in 2014 when he was…
Brooklyn Backstretch 