Santa Anita plans to reopen on Friday
ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) — Anticipating approval by the California Horse Racing Board, Santa Anita plans to reopen for live racing on Friday for the first time since it was shut down following the deaths of 22 horses. The track on Sunday issued a revised stakes schedule that includes the $600,000 Santa Anita Handicap to be […]
Cutting Humor wins Sunland Derby to enter Ky Derby picture
HOBBS, N.M. (AP) — Cutting Humor edged Anothertwistafate by a neck to win the US$800,000 Sunland Derby and enter the picture for the Kentucky Derby. Ridden by John Velazquez, Cutting Humor ran 1 1/8 miles in a track-record 1:46.94 on Sunday at Sunland Park. The colt earned 50 qualifying points for the first Saturday in […]
Champion mare Winx makes it 32 wins in a row
SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) - Champion Australian mare Winx extended her record-breaking win streak to 32 on Saturday in what is widely expected to be the penultimate race for the world's top-rated turf horse. Trained by Chris Waller, the best galloper on the planet comfortably won the 1500m weight-for-age George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill Gardens in […]
By My Standards a surprise winner of US$1M Louisiana Derby
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — By My Standards passed three horses down the stretch to win the US$1 million Louisiana Derby at the Fair Grounds Race course Saturday. The winner went off at 22-1 in what is one of the major prep races for the Kentucky Derby, and galloped past Todd-Pletcher-trained Spinoff to win by nearly […]
Whipping Issue: CHRB Ready To Take Matter Into Its Own Hands
That the whipping of horses during a race may soon be barred at Santa Anita represents a seismic shift in the history of American horse racing but has largely been buried under the torrent of news coming out of California relating to breakdowns, The Stronach Group’s (TSG) efforts to end all raceday medication and the […]
Baltimore sues to block move of Preakness Stakes
BALTIMORE (AP) — Baltimore has ratcheted up a bitter dispute with the owners of a historic racetrack in an effort to seize a nearly 150-year-old course and block the move of one of America's premier horse races out of the city where it was first run in 1873. Under state law, the Preakness Stakes — […]
Lester Piggott: ‘A lot of people know I’m going to turn 80 – but I wish they didn’t’
The racing great, who will be guest of honour at Ascot on Saturday, looks back on the highs and lows of his remarkable career and gives his opinion of the horses of today. Lester Piggott, a dapper yet gaunt man, ghosts across the cold marble floor of a hotel in Mayfair with a vaguely haunted […]
Sire of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah dies at 13
VERSAILLES, Ky. (AP) — WinStar Farm says that stallion Pioneerof the Nile, sire of 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, has died. Owner Ahmed Zayat confirmed the death of the 13-year-old to the Associated Press on Monday and said he was "like a family member." WinStar stated on its web site that Pioneerof the Nile […]
Santa Anita set to resume racing on March 29
ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) — Santa Anita plans to resume racing on March 29, pending approval of new safety and medication rules by the California Horse Racing Board. Racing has been suspended since March 5 at the track, where 22 horses have suffered fatal injuries since Dec. 26. Limited training is being allowed on the main […]
Long Range Toddy wins Rebel Stakes No. 1
With Improbable forced four-wide around both turns, Long Range Toddy tracked him down to score one for the locals Saturday in the first division of split runnings of Oaklawn Park's Grade 2, US$750,000 Rebel Stakes. Under jockey Drayden Van Dyke, Improbable swung past fellow California shippers Extra Hope and Galilean off the turn, looking like a […]