Sean Clancy

And there was one. Final day of the Festival. The British leapt off the canvas Thursday with five wins. Grey Dawning stalked Ginny’s Destiny, jumped sweetly and drew off to win the opener for Dan and Harry Skelton. Monmiral put Skelton’s former boss, Paul Nicholls, on the board in the Pertemps. Protektorat loved a slight … Read more

And that’s why they run the races. Willie Mullins winning three more Wednesday, including his 100th when his son, Patrick, guided Jasmin De Vaux to win the Weatherbys Champion Bumper. But he didn’t win them all. El Fabiolo, bowing out after slithering on his belly at the fifth in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase. … Read more

One in the books. Davy Russell ducked under the rail to get closer for a selfie with a fan. They roared. And asked for three more. Phones came out like lighters at a concert. Out of the saddle a year, still a star. Paul Townend after a surgeon’s ride on Gaelic Warrior pumped his fist … Read more

Well, hello old friend. It’s been far too long. Four years. Four long years. My first was 2002. Two years after I retired and one year after foot and mouth. I stayed in the Hunter’s Lodge, shared a two bunk-bred room with three others, the bathroom down the hall, galloped Pelagos each morning, heard about … Read more

Happy Saturday. We are back with another Saturday Special. Notice a trend? We’re loosening up, warming up, gearing up for spring, steeplechase season, The Belmont Special and of course, our flagship, The Saratoga Special. It’s racing season. And writing season. Sean ventures to Cheltenham for the first time since 2020. Check out his daily reports … Read more

Is this three in a row? We are on a roll. Here’s your Saturday Special.The Coolmore Fountain of Youth anchors a nine-stakes festival at Gulfstream Park. The Busher, Stymie, Tom Fool and Gotham shine at Aqueduct. Turfway Park offers the John Battaglia Memorial. Before you dive into the European races, check the inspections. With threats … Read more

Two weeks in a row. We’re making progress. The Saturday Special is back. The Saudi Cup leads the international buffet (root for Jimmy Jerkens with runners in three races) while Oaklawn Park offers the Rebel for 3-year-olds and three additional stakes. By the Numbers4998: Career wins for jockey Scott Spieth. Based at Tampa Bay Downs, … Read more

Welcome back to The Saturday Special. It’s been a while. Far-too-long a while. We’re back with a look at all the action Saturday and hopefully we’ll be back each Saturday with handicapping, features, recaps, previews, quotes numbers, columns…Joe just nudged me something about under-promising and over-delivering. Enjoy a stellar card at Fair Grounds, a gaggle … Read more

And it comes down to this. The final meet on the final weekend of the steeplechase season. The Aiken Steeplechase pulls the curtain with a five-race card worth $130,000, including the featured $35,000 Holiday Cup for 3- and 4-year-olds. Most of the titles are done and dusted. Irv Naylor secured the owner’s title a month … Read more