Churchill Downs: The GIII, $150,000 Matt Winn at 1 1/16 miles (Kentucky Derby qualifying points: 50-20-10-5) by Brian Nadeau. Brian handicaps at Capital OTB and Horseplayer Now, and he’ll offer analysis and selections of Derby points races, hoping to make us all a little money as we head to the Belmont Stakes. Follow him on Twitter here. We promised…
Churchill Downs: The GI, $3 million Kentucky Derby at 1 1/4 miles #1 War of Will (15-1): The reported inside speed drew worst of all, but, because of the two defections, he will at least get to move over one stall and not actually break from the extremely disadvantageous rail, though being inside in the…
Churchill Downs: The GI, $2 million Kentucky Derby at 1 1/4 miles #1 Firenze Fire (50-1): Arguably the longest shot in the field danced every dance this winter in New York with the sole purpose of accumulating qualifying points to get into the gate in Louisville, and while the mission was accomplished, it doesn’t mean…
Happy 10th anniversary to the Brooklyn Backstretch Charity League. It’s taken several forms over the year, inspired by the Saratoga Special Derby fantasy league, run by Brian Nadeau, way back in the days of yore. Last year we raised just under $1,900 for racing charities across the country, donated by our top three finishers with the…
Brian Nadeau is back this year to offer insight and analysis on this year’s road to the Kentucky Derby. A handicapper at Horseplayer Now and Capital OTB, he’ll analyze every official Derby points race and the three Triple Crown races, back at Brooklyn Backstretch for the sixth year. Churchill Downs: The $2 million GI Kentucky Derby…
by Brian Nadeau of Horseplayer Now and Capital OTB TV. Churchill Downs: The GI, $2 million Kentucky Derby at 1 1/4 miles #1 Trojan Nation (50-1): Gigantic longshot almost blew up the board at 81-1 when he came up the inside in Aqueduct’s muddy GI Wood Memorial to run second, beaten just a head by fellow rival Outwork,…
She’s as closely associated with Churchill Downs as the twin spires, but though she’s been a proud resident of the bluegrass for decades, Jill Byrne is a product of Virginia, her childhood spent at one of the Mid-Atlantic’s premier racing facilities, the pedigree of which might even challenge that of the historic track in Louisville…
Just in time for the Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs is offering the chance to become involved in Thoroughbred ownership, ordinarily a pricey endeavor, for the low, low price of $500. Churchill announced last week the creation of theChurchill Downs Racing Club, a partnership in which 200 people would become members—not owners—for a one-time fee of…
Churchill Downs: The Grade I, $2 million Kentucky Derby at 1 ¼ miles #1 Ocho Ocho Ocho (50-1): Decided longshot was up against it even before they drew post positions and then was essentially eliminated when he drew the dreaded rail, which would have compromised even the best’s chances. Son of Derby winner Street Sense…
At the close of the second Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit in March 2008, the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation and The Jockey Club, underwriters and hosts for the event, released eight recommendations, developed by the working groups that participated in that summit held in Lexington, Kentucky. Recommendation #7 reads: “Find solutions for unwanted…
