News

Want to see who might be waiting for you at Saratoga Race Course this summer? The horses got a little company from a visitor early Monday morning.

NEW EDITION NOW ONLINE. The June 12 edition of Steeplechase TImes is now available at the ST Clubhouse link. Check it out for news from Fair Hill and Philadelphia Park, plus an update on injured jockey Carl Rafter and some insight into the groundline added to the National Fence. Click on the Current Edition link on the left or the ST Clubhouse link above to access the newspaper. Thanks for reading.

Belmont Park. Seven hours until the Triple Calvin.

The little horse, Mine That Bird, goes for his second win of the Triple Crown. His jockey goes for the Triple Crown. If it wasn’t for Rachel Alexandra . . . the over/under for the Belmont Stakes attendance would be 100,000 instead of 50,000. The game would be alight with tales of the New Mexican gelding turning the Sport of Kings on its bent crown. But, alas, Rachel Alexandra made her Triple Crown cameo appearance and spoiled Mine That Bird’s Triple Crown.

Tod Marks, a regular contributor to ST Publishing newspapers Steeplechase Times and The Saratga Special, won the recent American Horse Publications photo contest and his image will be used on the AHP website and member newsletter for 2009.

Peter Winants, a man who loved sport, sporting literature and art, died May 18, following a long illness. He was 82.

The 134th Preakness. Alcohol ban in the infield. Magna bankrupt. Will this be the last Preakness run in Maryland? It’s a good one, at least, Rachel Alexandra, the Oaks winner against Mine That Bird, the Derby winner, and 11 others. Overcast at 8 in the morning. Hot. No air.

Terry Thompson and Larry Jones met 15 years ago. The jockey and the trainer were doing their best to make a living at the Pea Patch, Ellis Park. Now, they’re sweeping Friday features at Pimlico. They hooked up to win the Black Eyed Susan with Payton d’Oro, a front-running powerhouse who improved her record to 4-for-7. Four in a row.

Though the season is almost two months old little has been decided in terms championship races. With just two weekends remaining on the spring schedule the battle for leading trainer and jockey remains wide open and should ensure a great summer and fall on the circuit.

Recent English import Pierrot Lunaire denied steeplechase champion GoodNight Shirt a shot at history Saturday as the recent English importcame from off the pace to win the $150,000 Iroquois Steeplechase (Gr.I) at Percy Warner Park.

Judy Needham had to do the walk. Co-breeder of longshot, Mine That Bird, Needham wouldn’t miss the Kentucky Derby walk.

Mud on your shoes is worth it.

“You know we bred one of them in here,” Needham said, as she took refuge on the packed dirt near the rail at the seven-furlong chute. She needed to drop the reminder. Being the breeder of 50-1 Mine That Bird wasn’t something that made the 6 o’clock news.