Benefits set up for Gerry Carwood
Tragedy struck Central Kentucky’s Bluegrass region last Friday when eight horses died in a barn fire just outside the gates at Keeneland Race Course on Rice Road.
Tom Law
Trattoria at the Lodge opens for season
The Trattoria at the Lodge kicked off its 2014 season May 1 and two days later the restaurant with strong ties to the racing community was packed with familiar faces for a Kentucky Derby Day fundraiser benefiting Old Friends at Cabin Creek.
Be prepared
All racehorses get beat. Ok, so maybe that’s not entirely true. I’ve got a semi-dusty Thoroughbred Times Racing Almanac circa 2009 that contains a list of “Leading Unbeaten Racehorses” to prove the above statement incorrect. So perhaps it’s more accurate to say nearly all racehorses get beat.
Special edition of “The Special” on tap
The publishers of The Saratoga Special and This Is Horse Racing will team again with the New York Thoroughbred Breeders Inc. to produce “The Showcase Special” newspaper in advance of the Big Apple Showcase and the other two programs for registered New York-breds later this summer and fall.
Monday Morning Trainer: Catching Up
Ah, the weekend between the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness. A time to catch up, unpack and pack again, drop off and pick up the dry cleaning, try to get some rest, pay bills, get things done around the house, watch youngsters head off to the prom and of course, celebrate Mother’s Day.
The world’s best?
Former co-worker and current Team Valor International PR man Jeff Lowe used to ask if I did some undisclosed promotional work on behalf of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities.
Through the eyes of a Derby firster
As controversy and doubt surrounded the industry on the first Saturday in May, last weekend reassured me that racing isn’t going anywhere just yet.
Derby second not so bad
Erin Finley was in tears. Terry Finley did his best Jim Valvano, walking around looking for someone to hug and high five. Dallas Stewart and Shaun Bridgmohan stood proud on the track, holding court first for television cameras then to Turf writers. Somewhere in the stands Tom Bellhouse celebrated in a way only he can.
When it’s time
Lifelong Kentuckian and unabashed Kentucky Derby enthusiast Ken Ramsey stood just inside the outside rail a little more than 15 minutes removed from the last of 19 horses – which unfortunately happened to be a colt he owned – and watched a scene unfold.
Celebration for brothers Espinoza
Jose Espinoza couldn’t sleep. Minutes were ticking off the clock Friday night and the hour was past 11, barreling down on midnight. Quite late by racetracker standards, even for a veteran jockey not riding, dealing with the reality of retirement and nursing with a head injury that keeps him out of the saddle.
