Massive response to US$20 million Saudi Cup – 140 horses provisionally entered
Stakes nominations for the US$20 million Saudi Cup February 29 and the supporting program in Saudi Arabia were released today (Jan. 14), topped by 32 group or grade 1 winners for the signature race, the richest in the world. More than 140 horses were initially entered for the centrepiece from 16 countries. Nominations to the featured […]
US RACING: Calumet Farm top breeder in 2019
Calumet Farm has topped the individual breeders list in North America in 2019 with US$12,545,854 in earnings, according to statistics released today by The Jockey Club Information Systems. Calumet Farm bred 410 starters with 332 wins, 310 seconds, and 323 thirds out of 2,435 starts. Kenneth L. Ramsey & Sarah K. Ramsey was second with earnings of […]
US RACING: Trainer Bob Baffert dominates Santa Ynez Stakes at Santa Anita with Bast
With his three fillies making up half the field, including the top three betting choices, Bob Baffert knew that Sunday’s Santa Ynez Stakes was his to lose. “You know, I was sort of nervous before the race because I thought, ‘What if I don’t win this?’ I’m going to have to do the low crawl […]
US RACING: Authentic gives trainer Bob Baffert Ky Derby contender with Sham victory
ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) — Authentic led all the way in winning the $100,000 Sham Stakes by 7 3/4 lengths at Santa Anita, giving five-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Bob Baffert another contender for the first leg of the Triple Crown. Ridden by Drayden Van Dyke, Authentic ran a mile in 1:37.57 on Saturday. The colt was […]
US RACING: 17 horses named to participate in Pegasus World Cup
Gary and Mary West’s Florida Derby (G1) winner and disqualified Kentucky Derby first-place finisher Maximum Security leads a list of 17 horses formally invited Sunday to the $3 million Pegasus World Cup (G1) at Gulfstream Park. But with him expected to bypass the event, it's Fox Hill Farm’s Omaha Beach, a three-time Grade 1 winner and the Kentucky Derby […]
US RACING: Triple Crown winner Justify is now a dad
The former home of America’s first Triple Crown winner also claimed the first foal on the ground by the most-recent horse to sweep the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes. Audley Farm, located in Berryville, Va., on Saturday published photos of a Justify filly out of the Exchange Rate mare Foreign Affair. In a sign […]
Horse euthanized after breaking down in race at Santa Anita
ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) — A horse broke down in the last race at Santa Anita on Wednesday, the track's first racing death of the winter-spring meet after a spate of deaths last year. Golden Birthday took a bad step in the stretch and jockey Victor Espinoza fell off while trying to pull up the 4-year-old […]
US RACING: Jockey Mike Smith is number one
Santa Anita Park's opening day was certainly a memorable one for jockey Mike Smith. In the process of winning four of seven stakes races on the card, Smith surpassed Jerry Bailey as the all-time leader among jockeys for Grade 1 wins in North America. Smith tied Bailey at 216 when he brought Hard Not to […]
Santa Anita season off to a good start
Should the racing gods ever decree that the consummate book be written on the glory that is Santa Anita Park, the final chapter is poised for history. It was written December 28, when everything that makes Santa Anita great was in full flower, frenetic yet tranquil, in all its natural splendour. Scenic mountains, verdant palms, […]
Easy win for Omaha Beach in Malibu Stakes as Santa Anita gets underway
Soaking in another victory Saturday by Omaha Beach, trainer Richard Mandella joked that he should have had the colt gelded before he became such a superstar. That's about all that would have stopped the 3-year-old's path to his next career at stud, which came a step closer after Omaha Beach waltzed to a 2 3/4-length win […]