Opinion

Monday morning. Waiting as the farm truck gets serviced. Typing, emailing, handicapping, scouting, thinking. As I writer, I try to collect words and phrases I can use to describe a horse in a race. There are only so many ways to describe a closing kick, a rough trip or a patient ride. I have a … Read more

Quiet week at This is Horse Racing. Gearing up for Saratoga, less than a month away. Tom, Joe and I shake the trees, sending emails and packages instead of writing columns and features. Our ledes aren’t nearly as captivating, our finales not nearly as memorable. Sales pitches – send, wait, get shot down, rise up … Read more

Last year, I caught up with Wesley Ward after he raided Royal Ascot with No Nay Never. A year later, the American-based trainer has already won one at the meet and has more chances over the next three days. Here’s what Ward said last year about the challenges of Royal Ascot. “I try to target … Read more

Thought we could use a little poetry on Monday morning. In celebration of Royal Ascot’s opening Tuesday, we found Henry Birtles’ poem about the five-day festival. I’ll admit, poetry usually doesn’t resonate with me, but a racing poet, writing about Royal Ascot…loud and clear. ROYAL ASCOT Upon this striking Heath a joyful throng shall once … Read more

Now that Steve Coburn has apologized for his outburst on NBC, it seems appropriate for everyone to apologize for everything that happened over the five-week Triple Crown. Here goes…   – Dear California Chrome, Sorry about stepping on your foot, I don’t even know why I was next to you. I was thinking allowance race, … Read more

Nothing’s changed. In five weeks, California Chrome has looked the same, acted the same, trained the same. The Derby and Preakness winner has kept his composure, his cool and his color from Churchill Downs to Pimlico to Belmont Park. Trainer Art Sherman returned to Belmont Park and thought he had grown. He certainly hasn’t gotten … Read more

Just walked in the door after a weekend home, for a nephew’s high-school graduation party. Nothing like the perspective of a high-school graduation. Rocco and Jack off to college. Boys, now men. Oh, to have another chance. Now walking out the door. Belmont Park calls, looms, beckons…promises. There are no promises. California Chrome goes for … Read more

Memorial Day cut the week by a day and after finally taking a few minutes to wind down Friday night it seemed like an extra day would have helped this week.

We used to write editorials about the issues/problems/snafus of steeplechasing. Every two weeks, spring and fall, in Steeplechase Times. Some were easy, some were difficult, some incited riots, some cost us advertising, some cost us jobs. Wow, I miss those editorials.  For old time’s sake…  The High Hope Steeplechase returned to the NSA schedule this … Read more