Opinion

Doug, I have a client who’s looking for a nice horse to run on flat and/or over jumps and I was wondering about Mr. Hot Stuff. I’m probably crazy but I thought I would ask. Not sure what he’s worth as a stallion but if you wanted to make a switch with him, let me … Read more

It was late Wednesday morning, the morning’s work nearly complete. Tractors were idling, ready to erase the hoof prints. Exercise riders hurried through the tack. Trainers checked legs and finalized tomorrow’s set list. Jockeys headed to the room. Clockers recorded names and times. Water trucks settled the dust on the horse paths. Journalists retreated to … Read more

Sunday morning, George Weaver and Cindy Hutter were back at work.  He was sitting tall in a western saddle, heels down, spurs ready, aboard the stable pony. She was galloping a tough one on the Oklahoma training track. At the barn, at 9:20, there were still two sets to train. Four horses walked on the … Read more

Xavier Perez, better known as the X Man who steered Spicer Club between the gate and the outside rail at Pimlico, stood at the replay screen, watching the Honorable Miss unfold again and again. The 25-year-old Puerto Rico-born jockey took mental notes of Dance to Bristol’s neck win in the $200,000 stakes. Broke well…tracking four … Read more

Charlie LoPresti let out a sigh. “I’m glad that’s over.” The trainer walked toward the gap on the Oklahoma training track, to greet Wise Dan who had just ripped around the Oklahoma turf course. Late on a tranquil morning, alone, a red blur, hovering above the ground, the 2012 Horse of the Year scorched through … Read more

“Classic Mike Smith at Saratoga.” That text came at 3:47, right after Smith guided Posse Attack to upset the sixth. Three races later, Smith did it again, sweeping off the turn to win the ninth. That was “Classic Mike Smith at Saratoga,” too. After the race, Smith, in town to ride Palace Malice in Saturday’s … Read more

Somebody asked me the timeline of The Saratoga Special. That’s easy, we get up at 5 a.m., hit the track by 5:30, back in the office at 10, to the races, to the office and then dance with the deadline until finished around 11. Then we do it again. And again. And again. They said, … Read more

“I think we should haze this new young reporter guy you have. Send him to do a story to a barn # that doesn’t exist.” So came the text on the first day of the meet. Haze him? Come on, that’s not hazing. That’s like sending him to find the saddle stretcher, key to the … Read more

The clapping in the paddock before the race, perhaps that was too much. The “Eddie…Eddie…Eddie” chant after the race, definitely too much, but endearing at the same time. Princess of Sylmar brought a crowd of revelers to Saratoga for Saturday’s Coaching Club American Oaks. Partners, fans, friends, bandwagon hitchhikers – they were excited before the race. … Read more

Bret Calhoun looked back at his notes for Hip 1336 at Keeneland September 2012. “Fine-boned, small. OK.” Clients Larry Hirsch and Wayne Sanders took Calhoun’s stamp of approval and bought the Elusive Quality filly for $62,000. Out of a stakes-winning daughter of Glitterman, she looked fast in September and stayed fast, at least through July. … Read more