Hockey season is about a month old now, and there’s been nary a syllable written in this space about the Rangers. I’ve gone to fewer games than usual, and after a torrid beginning, the Rangers have settled comfortably into their usual mediocrity. Sean Avery won again the other day—not the one who wears the blue…
As first reported to me by a West Point Thoroughbreds owner and then reported by David Grening in the Daily Racing Form, Kiaran McLaughlin will no longer be training for that ownership partnership, so that he is able to concentrate on the increased number of number of horses in his care owned by Darley and…
Keith of Triple Dead Heat asked yesterday in a comment, “Who’s going to win the Road to the Roses donation?” An excellent question, and one that I can answer with certainty: Not I! Superfecta’s Sleipnir Stables remains in the lead, but the ever-threatening Triple Crown73 is right behind her, in excellent position to swoop in…
An avowed fan of winter racing in New York, I’ve frequently mentioned (including yesterday) that while I understand the logic of a few months off, I’d really miss the opportunity to trek out to the Big A in the depths of winter. That was before yesterday, when it seemed impossible to get—and stay—warm if one…
For a variety of reasons, the last week or so has been a tough one around the Backstretch household. An unexpected death in one of my communities has left many of us shaken, and it’s not every day that a jet lands in the water just a few miles from my home. Though that outcome…
Don’t forget: Toys for Tots at Aqueduct on Saturday! Marines will be on the first floor of the clubhouse accepting unwrapped toys from noon to 2 pm. You can also donate cash; make checks payable to Toys for Tots. And odds be damned, I’ll be rooting for Gary Contessa’s five entries on Saturday, as he’s…
Sunday at Aqueduct features six races in the New York Stallion Series, for horses whose sires are standing in New York State. Three races for the girls, three for the boys; two on the turf; two for two-year-olds; and some personal favorites are making an appearance, some of whom we last saw on New York…
As I wrote about in more detail at The Blood-Horse yesterday, tomorrow is New York Showcase Day at Belmont. With seven stakes races and more than a million dollars in purses available, it’s the premier day of state-bred racing in New York. For the kids, Belmont is offering hay rides, face painting, and pumpkin carving,…
Congratulations to Dana at Green but Game and Superterrific Stables for winning our version of the Take Ten! Derby fantasy game. Full standings are not up, but Dana leads our group, finishing 27th overall. Dana thus gets to choose the equine charity to which I’ll donate $150 in her name. I pledged an original $50,…
Last year’s Wood Memorial (Nobiz like Shobiz) fell on a beautifully sunny but really cold day; I barely ventured outside other than to watch the races, and for some I decided to watch on the televisions in the Manhattan Terrace. The year before that (Bob and John), it rained a miserable, cold, soaking rain. The…
Brooklyn Backstretch 