The final pool of the 2014 Kentucky Derby Futures Wager opens today at noon, offering bettors the last chance to bet in advance of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 3 and to try to get better odds than they will on raceday. The morning line favorite at 5-1 in this fourth futures pool is California Chrome, winner of the…
It’s that time: time to try to bolster your lead or make a move on the leader by adding a couple of horses to your charity league stable. Team Rotondo stalked the pace and took the lead when Chitu won the Sunland Derby, but Dawna Wood is tracking them closely. It’s a few lengths back…
Earlier this month, the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame announced the 10 finalists for its 2014 class of inductees. From 84 candidates suggested by turf writers, Thoroughbred industry participants, and racing fans, the Hall of Fame’s nominating committee had selected four jockeys, four horses, and two trainers whose names would go to the…
Unless you live in the southernmost and westernmost parts of our country, you had a heck of a winter, and you’re glad that in the last few weeks we’ve occasionally been able to string together a few days of above-freezing temperatures. Unless you’re in Saratoga, which is, as I write this at 7:30 am, 30…
Sunland Park: The Grade III, $800,000 Sunland Derby at 1 1/8 miles, by Brian Nadeau of Horseplayer Now #1 Bourbonize: Price player didn’t fire when last seen in Oaklawn Park’s GIII Southwest when he closed mildly to be a well-beaten sixth in his graded stakes debut, and he’ll no doubt have to improve to factor…
Eighty-five points on the line at Turfway Park, in the race won by Animal Kingdom in 2011 and his stablemate Went the Day Well a year later. Not sure how much effect it will have on our Derby charity league, but we’re back again tomorrow with the Sunland Derby, and Brian will have his analysis…
As the long-time home of various Law & Order series, Chelsea Piers is no stranger to lawyers, at the least the fictional kind. But last week, dozens of real-life attorneys took over the sports complex’s two ice rinks, not to ply their trade, but to lace up their skates in a charity hockey tournament to raise money for Ice…
Before Secretariat, there was Cicada. A decade before Secretariat became the first colt in 25 years to win the Triple Crown, Christopher Chenery (father of Helen) campaigned a filly who was setting her own records. At two, Cicada started 16 times, winning eleven races and never finishing worse than third; among her victories that year…
This weekend’s prep takes us to Arkansas, and the presence of horses like Strong Mandate, Kobe’s Back, and Hoppertunity offer plenty of chances to earn points in our Kentucky Derby charity league. Brian Nadeau of Horseplayer Now takes his usual thorough look at the race. Oaklawn Park: The Grade II, $600,000 Rebel at 1 1/16…
There is no sound more exciting to the racetrack customer than the trenchant, nasal exclamation of “They’re off!” by Fred Capossela. With this brief expression, the New York track announcer sums up the promise of clamorous jockeys, flailing whips and eager-to-race horses springing from the starting gate. (Tuite) Capossela was NYRA’s track announcer for 37…
Brooklyn Backstretch 