Zito wants to keep dirt tracks
In response to the recent PETA suggestion that horse racing go to all-synthetic tracks, Hall of Fame triner Nick Zito said: “My purpose … is to protect the dirt surfaces as good as we can,” he said. Zito made the point that he and his wife, Kim, work daily with a horse shelter to r... read more
Preakness Stakes preview
Saturday’s 133rd Preakness Stakes is all about two horses: One who will run in the race and one who won’t. Of course, the horse most everyone will be watching is Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown, who drew the No. 7 post in a field of 13 and is the overwhelming morning-line betting favorite at 1-2... read more
Big Brown gets in a mile
Big Borwn jogged a mile over a sealed racetrack that was listed as muddy at Churchill Downs on Monday. Exercise rider Michelle Nevin was in the saddle as Big Brown exercised under the gaze of trainer Rick Dutrow. “He’s good,” Dutrow said. “He came out of the race good and he&... read more
Tale of Ekati to run in Belmont
Tale of Ekati, who finished fourth in the Kentucky Derby will enter the Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the Triple Crown, on June 7 at Belmont Park in New York. Jack Werk, a bloodstock agent in California who manages Fipke’s stable, said that trainer Barclay Tagg and Fipke decided that coming... read more
Gayego entered in Preakness
Gayego, who finished 17th in the Kentucky Derby on May 3, was added to the Preakness field Tuesday. He will be the only one of the 19 horses beaten by Big Brown in the Derby to seek a rematch Saturday at Pimlico Race Course. Gayego won the Arkansas Derby in his first race on the dirt, yet the colt e... read more
Smooth Air pointed toward Ohio Derby
Smooth Air, who finished 11th behind Big Brown in the Kentucky Derby, is next being pointed by trainer Bennie Stutts Jr. to the $300,000 Ohio Derby (G2) at Thistledown on May 31. “He got off badly and was checked twice in the race,” Stutts said of the Derby run. “The chart says he broke 15... read more
UPS signs deal with Big Brown
Shipping giant UPS is trying to capitalize on Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown, whose minority owner named the horse in the company’s honor. The company said Friday it has signed a marketing agreement with jockey Kent Desormeaux and Big Brown’s owners. UPS, also known as United Parcel Ser... read more
Recapturetheglory out of Preakness
Recapturetheglory, fifth in the Kentucky Derby, has been declared out of the Preakness Stakes after showing a fever Friday night. “We took his temperature last night (Friday),” assistant trainer Lara Van Deren said Saturday morning from Louisville. “He just wasn’t acting righ... 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
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