Sean Clancy

Iroquois entries are out. Trainers called, texted, emailed with 65 entries on the seven-race card, the finale to the spring season. Yes, a summer finale to a spring season.  Snap Decision rides his win streak to his most arduous test, the 2 3/4 mile Iroquois against Semmes winner Galway Kid, Arkle winner Footpad, gallant veteran … Read more

Quiet around TIHR this week. Joe on an island somewhere. Tom hiking in the woods. I’m farmed out, or in, whichever way you want to look at it. The Saratoga lull, keeping our powder dry.  Royal Ascot come and gone for another year. Firm ground at the beginning, heavy ground at the end. Brilliant moments … Read more

Following 26 millimetres of rain since racing yesterday, and with a few false patches of ground which means the ability to race may be marginal, an inspection has been called for 12.45pm.   We are also looking at options to re-align the rail to avoid these areas.   And so it goes.   Firm Tuesday. … Read more

How about Love? Off a 10-month layoff, on the lead, swarmed by a Breeders’ Cup winner. Never in doubt.  Owned by Coolmore, ridden by Ryan Moore and trained by Aiden O’Brien, Love garnered the Group 1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes to highlight day two. Making her 4-year-old debut, the 1000 Guineas, Oaks and Yorkshire Oaks winner … Read more

A few years back, Joe asked me about my schedule and I said, “Well, I have Royal Ascot next week.” He said, “You’re going…?” I said, “No, but I’m watching.” I’m watching again.  Poetic Flare just galloped in the Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes. Bred, owned and trained by Jim Bolger, the 3-year-old colt … Read more

It’s the perfect storm. The adrenaline rush. The fast lane. The highs and lows. The risk. The urgency. The vibrancy. The gamble. The concussions.  I found myself and still do sometimes saying, “Oh, I’ll be all right because I have that horse running Saturday. If he wins, it’ll make everything OK.”  I’m sure you can … Read more

Overcast. Brisk. Rain-sodden ground. We needed the rain, we got it. Good for the garden. Off the turf for Make A Stand at Pimlico yesterday, off the turf at Delaware today, off the turf around the Mid-Atlantic, it’s the Upperville Horse Show, of course, it rained this week. A timeless tradition.  Royal Ascot looming next … Read more

In the Room with Steve Cauthen. Three Eclipse Awards in one season. The Triple Crown. Three-time British Champion jockey. The Hall of Fame. Sports Illustrated’s Sportsman of the Year.  Last week, I had the honor to talk to Hall of Fame jockey Steve Cauthen for In the Room on HRRN.  “That’s probably the most pressure … Read more

And it’s over. Miles’ Little League career has come to a close. And what a close.  First playoff game, Tigers vs. Orioles, Wednesday night. Round Hill Center Field #1. We had met the Orioles, the best team in the league, twice this season. Both games were called. The slaughter rule. Down 12 after three innings, … Read more

Once a week (or at least that’s the goal), we have been producing “In the Room” on HRRN. Mike Penna, a longtime friend/colleague, came up with the idea when his flagship show, the Equine Forum, stretched to three hours every Saturday. It’s been a fun, albeit, time consuming, project, interviewing the likes of Ramon Dominguez, … Read more