#UK RACING: Ex-Man Utd boss Ferguson celebrates Aintree hat-trick
AINTREE, United Kingdom (AFP) - Former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson celebrated a notable hat-trick on the opening day of the Aintree Grand National meeting on Thursday, with three of his horses triumphing in Grade One races. The 79-year-old Scot said it was his "best day in racing" after Protektorat, Monmiral and the star of […]
#UK RACING: WINNING THE GRAND NATIONAL SETS YOU APART, SAYS 1996 HERO FITZGERALD
LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) - Mick Fitzgerald says the winning jockey in Saturday's Grand National will experience a life-changing moment -- even if the world-famous steeplechase is not as daunting as it was when he won in 1996. The 50-year-old Irishman's autobiography, "Better Than Sex", encapsulates the thrill he experienced crossing the line first after […]
US RACING: STRONG QUARTER FOR PURSES, HANDLE
What a difference a year makes. In March 2020 protocols to slow the spread of the emerging COVID-19 forced a virtual shutdown of racing but in March 2021 many tracks were beginning to see a return to some level of normalcy as many were beginning to allow the return of limited on-track crowds. The different […]
#US RACING: EASY OPENER FOR GAMINE – WATCH REPLAY
In her first race since she was crowned the female sprint champion of 2020, Gamine looked like she was primed to pull off a repeat. Racing for the first time without Lasix, she was an easy, 5 1/4-length winner against only three rivals in the $100,000 Las Flores Stakes (G3) on another sun-splashed spring day […]
US RACING: BIG BETTING ON SANTA ANITA DERBY DAY
Santa Anita Derby day produced all-sources pari-mutuel handle of US$24,282,400 – the largest Santa Anita Derby day handle since 2007. Fans were allowed at Santa Anita Park for the first time in more than a year, and 8,246 were in attendance, according to a news release from the track. Rock Your World won the Santa […]
#US RACING: IT’S ROCK YOUR WORLD IN SANTA ANITA DERBY - WATCH REPLAY
It does not seem to matter for Rock Your World. Whatever the surface, he is still undefeated in three races. And he is headed to the Kentucky Derby. In his first race on a main track, Rock Your World (5-1) took the lead early and never gave it up Saturday in winning the Santa Anita […]
#US RACING: ESSENTIAL QUALITY 5 FOR 5 AFTER BLUE GRASS VICTORY -WATCH REPLAY
Essential Quality will carry a 5-for-5 record to Churchill Downs next month with a chance to stay unbeaten on racing’s biggest stage. 2020’s champion 2-year-old reigned supreme Saturday in the Grade 2, US$800,000 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland. The Tapit colt outduelled game rival Highly Motivated, winning by less than a length at the wire. […]
#US RACING: BOURBONIC UPSETS AT 72-1 IN WOOD MEMORIAL – WATCH REPLAY
The 72-1 long shot Bourbonic made a late rally down the middle of the track to upset the $750,000 Grade 2 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct. As the final stop on New York’s road to the 2021 Kentucky Derby, Bourbonic earned 100 Derby qualifying points to give the Calumet Farm homebred a spot in the Churchill Downs' starting […]
#UK RACING: 4-TIME CHAMPION JUMPS JOCKEY RICHARD JOHNSON RETIRES
Four-time champion jumps jockey Richard Johnson has announced his retirement. Johnson, 43, announced his unexpected decision after his final ride on Brother Tedd at Newton Abbot on Saturday. “After nearly 30 years in the saddle, the time has come for me to retire," he said. "I have been so extraordinarily lucky to have ridden so […]
#UK RACING: LEGEND TIGER ROLL MISSES IRISH NATIONAL FOR AINTREE CHALLENGE
DUBLIN, Ireland (AFP) - Tiger Roll is to miss Monday's Irish Grand National and run at Aintree later in the week at the meeting where he entered racing folklore winning two successive Grand Nationals. The 11-year-old will run in the Betway Bowl on Thursday seeking to back up his impressive success when winning the Cross-Country […]