Now we’re getting serious. The clock ticked past three weeks to go until Opening Day of Saratoga this week and now we’re in the final stages of the biggest countdown of the year. Hard to believe by this time next week we’ll be halfway through 2022. How’s the year going for you so far? Better … Read more
Monday’s Big Apple Showcase Day, which features a five-pack of stakes worth $900,000 and 10 races overall for New York-breds, takes center stage on Memorial Day at Belmont Park. Reprinted with permission from the New York Thoroughbred Breeders website nytbreeders.org. One of the most anticipated days for the Empire State’s breeding and racing program always … Read more
The Magic of Horses, a book edited by ST Publishing and thisishorseracing.com co-founder Joe Clancy and compiled by Thoroughbred owner/breeder Nina Gardner, is among six semifinalists for the 16th annual Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award. The Magic of Horses is an anthology of horse stories written by trainers, veterinarians, riders, etc. about unforgettable horses who changed lives … Read more
Jose Ortiz showed up at Chad Brown’s Belmont Park barn one morning late last fall to breeze an unraced Gun Runner colt the trainer told him might be a good one someday. The first impression went anything but well. “The first time I got on him, I walked in the shedrow at Chad’s, saw him … Read more
Maryland My Maryland. They’ll be singing that tune a little before dusk Saturday at Pimlico Race Course during the post parade for the 147th Preakness Stakes, the second jewel of the Triple Crown. A stakes-filled card awaits fans and horseplayers, topped by the headliner with a field of nine, along with four other graded events … Read more
Preakness Day. At Radnor. Baltimore may be all about the second jewel of the Triple Crown, but suburban Philadelphia goes jumping Saturday with the Radnor Hunt Races on the grounds of the Radnor Hunt Club in Malvern, Pa. The races go to the post for the 91st time at the historic site, home to the … Read more
Joe Clancy, co-founder, owner and editor of ST Publishing Inc. with his brother Sean Clancy, will receive the 2022 Old Hilltop Award from the Maryland Jockey Club for coverage of Thoroughbred racing with excellence and distinction. The award will be presented May 19 at the Alibi Breakfast at Pimlico Race Couse. The Alibi Breakfast began … Read more
Eric Reed and Rick Dawson scoped out some potential claims in a random maiden claimer on a random Friday at last year’s Churchill Downs September meeting and settled on two that might be worth plunking down $30,000 apiece to possibly add to their stable. They dropped two claim slips, won a shake for one and … Read more
D. Wayne Lukas likes to joke that he’s made a career running horses where they don’t belong. Such sentiment only seems half true, perhaps only for the latter parts of the Hall of Fame trainer’s career that includes scores of classic and Grade 1 victories. The 86-year-old Lukas added to his legend Friday in the … Read more
The main event and the day we’ve been waiting for since the start of the year. Maybe even since the horses hit the finish in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic. Kentucky Derby Day always packs a punch and this year’s eight-stakes card topped by the $3 million headliner is no exception. Everyone has an opinion … Read more
Six weeks into the steeplechase season, it’s well past time to reset the table so here goes an attempt as April comes to a close. Where’s the Queen?Breaking news…Breaking news…Breaking news… Well, sort of. The Mean Queen missed a flat start at Loudon Point-to-Point last weekend with what thus far appears to be a minor … Read more
