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Black-Eyed Susan Day stakes picks

Triple Crown season rolls north this week for all the traditions of Maryland, with a twist of course. Nobody will say Hi Ho Pimlico this year, with the action shifting to Laurel Park during the ongoing construction project in Baltimore. Black-Eyed Susan Day kicks things into gear with a strong stakes-heavy card on tap led … Read more

Rhetorical scoops top honors at NYTB Awards Dinner

Rhetorical earned New York-bred Horse of the Year honors and led a haul for his breeders Mallory and Karen Mort Monday evening during the New York Thoroughbred Breeders’ Inc.’s Annual Awards Ceremony at the Hall of Springs at the Saratoga Spa State Park in Saratoga Springs. Bred by the Morts and campaigned by Gary Barber, … Read more

Kentucky Derby Day stakes picks

The main event. All the talk, all the predictions, all the top 10 lists, all the guessing, it all comes down to today. Derby Day. There’s nothing like it. The 152nd Kentucky Derby takes center stage and headlines a stellar card at Churchill Downs to lead off the 2026 Triple Crown. The Derby also signals … Read more

Kentucky Oaks Day stakes picks

Welcome to the new Kentucky Oaks Day. Technically day will fold into night by the time the 152nd running of the Oaks goes to post, set to run in prime time for the first time under the lights at Churchill Downs. A sign of the times and what could loom down the road for the … Read more

Hall call: Shirreffs, Clement, Kona Gold finally secure spots

The late John Shirreffs, who trained Zenyatta throughout her Hall of Fame career; the late trainer Christophe Clement, who conditioned the winners of  286 graded stakes races; and champion sprinter Kona Gold headline the 11 new members elected to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame for 2026. Shirreffs joins the late trainer … Read more

Picks & Preview: Middleburg, Grand National, Loudoun Hunt

The steeplechase season stays in high gear this weekend with a tripleheader on tap in Maryland and Virginia. Saturday features major hurdle players on the usual deep program at Glenwood Park for the Middleburg Spring Races while Maryland timber horses take center stage at the Grand National in Butler. Sunday’s action goes down at Morven … Read more

Saratoga Special at Santa Anita … Read On

Don’t be fooled by the headline – it’s not even close to April Fool’s Day – but there are facts with the words Saratoga Special and Santa Anita in the same sentence. Last summer in The Saratoga Special (the publication), we introduced you to Saratoga Special (the filly) around Whitney weekend and sales week. The … Read more

Guest Commentary: Housed by many, home to one

By Taylor Barraclough Racehorses are often remembered for their speed figures wins, and earnings. What happens to these athletes after their final start is frequently overlooked, but for I Love Jaxson, retirement marked the start of his second success story. I Love Jaxson was bred, foaled and raised at Saratoga Glen Farm. In 2017, my … Read more

Catching a new career: OTTB Raven Rahy returns to the track

By Kenzie Johnson Within the narrow confines of a racetrack, Cassandra Elder has grown accustomed to quick, sweeping interceptions of loose or adrenaline-filled horses and the split-second decisions required to safely reach them. And while much of her ability to guide these athletes relies on her own expertise, the pressure also rests on the capabilities … Read more

Monster night for Team Sovereignty

Sovereignty and his connections dominated the 55th annual Resolute Racing Eclipse Awards ceremony Thursday night at The Breakers Palm Beach in South Florida. Godolphin’s homebred Into Mischief colt took home Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old male honors by wide margins. Sovereignty also paved the way for Godolphin to collect its ninth outstanding owner … Read more