In 1998, David Wilkenfeld—who describes himself as “kind of entrepreneurial”– approached his father about starting a business. His father had been in the garment industry for decades, and the then-40-year-old David suggested that they begin selling dresses on the internet. His father agreed, and with a partner, they started an on-line business. “After a year,”…
When racing and government collide, the residents of the state of New York have learned to be patient. We waited for a VLT operator to be named. We waited for a franchise operator to be chosen. We waited for a board to be selected. We wait, still, for NYRA’s next CEO to be appointed. One…
If you think that little of racing note takes place in New York in February these days, imagine a century ago, when, though home to a handful of racetracks, New York didn’t conduct racing in the winter. And in the winter of 1913, racing hadn’t taken place in the state since September of 1910. But…
Gulfstream Park: The Grade II, $400,000 Fountain of Youth at 1 1/16 miles #1 Orb: Homebred has looked good winning his last two for Shug and added blinkers Lasix for his last, a snazzy two-turn optional claimer over the local strip, although runner-up Duke Of The City bombed last week in a similar spot. Improving colt…
The last time a Calumet horse won the Kentucky Derby, Bobby Goldsboro had the #1 song in the country, the National Hockey League had just expanded from six teams to twelve, and a gallon of gas cost about 35 cents. The year was 1968, and the horse was Forward Pass, the last of eight Calumet horses to win America’s…
Fair Grounds: The Grade II, $400,000 Risen Star at 1 1/16 miles #1 Proud Strike: Up-and-coming son of Smart Strike sure looked good blasting a pair of repeat winners in his MSW romp over the track and distance last month and seems like a real comer in the division for Asmussen. Tactical sort should be…
This week, the Stronach Group, which owns Gulfstream Park in Florida, Santa Anita Park in California, and Pimlico Race Course in Maryland, announced the Ms. Racing Queen pageant, the lucky winner of which will “promote thoroughbred racing by representing the Stronach Group” at events like the Florida Derby, Santa Anita Derby, and Preakness—all of which take place at Stronach properties. Ms. Racing…
Late last Wednesday night, Stonestreet Farm announced that 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra had been taken to Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital following complications from foaling. After giving birth to a filly on February 12, the seven-year-old mare was found to have suffered an injury to her colon, resulting in an infection that required a…
Oaklawn Park: The Grade III, $300,000 Southwest at 1 1/16 miles #1 Officer Alex: Son of Officer failed miserably in his acid test when a well-beaten sixth behind several of these in the local Smarty Jones, his two-turn and open company stakes debut. Tactical sort drew well and could improve off that trial run, but…
Horseplayer Now’s Brian Nadeau checks in witha look at today’s Derby prep; he’ll be back later this weekend with analysis of Monday’s Southwest Stakes. Golden Gate Fields: The Grade III, $200,000 El Camino Real Derby at 1 1/8 miles #1 Wildcat Moon: Speedster enters off a fine second last month to fellow rival Zeewat in…
Brooklyn Backstretch 