A year ago, Tenfold came within three-quarters of a length of winning the Preakness Stakes, finishing just behind Justify and Bravazo. It was that race that trainer Steve Asmussen had in mind when he pointed the dark bay/brown colt to the Pimlico Special (G3) on Friday, and Tenfold once again showed his affinity for Old…
The New York State Gaming Commission Sept. 24 passed several rule amendments related to equine medication, including further restrictions on the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and a total ban on stanozolol, an anabolic steroid. The NYSGC also amended rules regarding the role of veterinary technicians on the backstretch and a requirement for continuing education…
Kentucky Derby 140 is in the books, and now the talk of the first Triple Crown winner since 1978 begins. But before we move on to Baltimore to see if California Chrome can head to Belmont Park on June 7 to make racing history, let’s wrap up Kentucky Derby weekend. The story of California Chrome has…
Last Friday, the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame announced its 2014 induction class. As with most Hall of Fame announcements, in racing and in other sports, the announcement was greeted with both approbation and criticism for who got in and who was left out. In most years, voters choose four inductees from…
Though they seldom get the attention lavished on their 3-year-old male counterparts at this time of year, the 3-year-old fillies are turning in some impressive performances as they prep for the Longines Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on Friday, May 2. An event in and of itself, Oaks Day is much more than the appetizer…
As was likely the case at backstretches across the country last week, conversations at Florida’s tracks and training centers continued to focus on the New York Times’ story on PETA’s undercover investigation at Steve Asmussen’s Churchill Downs and Saratoga barns last year. Public commentary has been plentiful, abundant in insight, in stridency, in commitment, in sanctimony, in determination, in anger,…
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…
The Steve Asmussen barn kicked off the Saratoga meet in a winning way when its second starter, My Miss Aurelia, took the fifth race on opening day, a maiden special weight for two-year-old fillies. The performance earned the filly her own article on the NYRA website. But arriving at the barn after the race, Team…
Day 6 at the Spa dawned cool, dry, sunny, and beautiful; running past the Oklahoma this morning, I watched horses working out in the kind of light foggy sunlight that so many people have captured in photographs of Saratoga. It was sublime. And in my second breeze for the Fasig-Tipton 5K run on August 15th,…
So it’s been a July of suspensions: Steve Asmussen we know about; Rick Dutrow we’ve discussed; and last week Ramon Dominguez served three days for careless riding. Having been in the business for about a decade of assessing infractions and administering consequences, I note these cases with interest. I’ve helped to create discipline policy and…
Brooklyn Backstretch 