Curlin to Race at Churchill Downs in the Stephen Foster Handicap
Curlin, the horse of the year for 2007, will race for the first time in the USA as a four-year-old on June 14 at the Stephen Foster Handicap. He will be given a 128-pound weight assignment for the race, which trainer Steve Asussen is not happy about. He carried more than that (132 lbs) in the Jaguar... read more
Casino Drive Misses his Chance
Big Brown had a bad day at the Belmont Stakes, but what could have happened in that race had Casino Drive not been scratched? He was going to be ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado, and at 7/2 before being scratched it was a big opportunity for the Japanese horse to make history. But it was no... read more
Last-place finishes by Triple Crown hopefuls at Belmont
With a last-place finish, Big Brown earned the dubious distinction of the worst BelmontStakes finish for a horse that won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. Horse Year Finish Big Brown 2008 9th War Emblem 2002 8th Carry Back 1961 7th Alysheba 1987 4th Canonero II 1971 4th ... read more
Casino Drive out of Belmont
Casino Drive, the unbeaten main challenger to Big Brown in today’s Belmont Stakes, has been scratched because of a hoof problem. Racing manager Nobutaka Tada for Casino Drive’s Japanese connections said the horse was fine during a three-furlong jog early Saturday, but planned to scratch th... read more
June 7 moments in racing history
June 7, 1930: Gallant Fox became the second winner of the Triple Crown after he won the Belmont Stakes under Earl Sande. Gallant Fox subsequently sired another Triple Crown winner, Omaha. June 7, 1941: Whirlaway won the 73rd running of the Belmont Stakes and became the fifth horse to win the Triple ... read more
June 6 in racing history
June 6, 1919: Man o’ War won his first race ever, a five-furlong contest over a straightaway at Belmont Park. He won by six lengths, running the distance in 59 seconds, and went off at odds of 3-5. In each of his 20 subsequent races, Man o’ War was the odds-on favorite. June 6, 1972: In preparat... read more
Funny Cide Retires
2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Champion Funny Cide has been retired at the age of seven. Funny Cide has been one of the most popular horses over the last seven years, and many are surprised to see him retired this year. Trainer Barclay Tagg stated that Funny Cide retires perfectly sound, and they... read more
Small Field for Preakness
After Big Brown’s impressive showing at the Kentucky Derby it appears that there are not a lot of takers for the Preakness Stakes. The field is only expected to have eight horses, with only two of the eight having also run in the Kentucky Derby. Only Big Brown and Recapture the Glory will be retur... read more
Anti-Racing Outcry after Death of Eight Belles
We all felt for the brave filly Eight Belles last Sunday when she had to be put down after breaking both of her front ankles in the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby. It was even harder to see that outcome after she ran such a gallant race for second place. It wasn’t long after the tragedy that ... read more
Don’t overlook Denis of Cork at Belmont
Perhaps one overlooked betting option for Saturday’s Belmont is Denis of Cork, who finished third in the Kentucky Derby behind Big Brown and Eight Belles. Denis of Cork had won three straight races this past winter to emerge as one of the top 3-year-olds. But after a fifth at the Illinois Derby... read more