Veteran trainer Pat Kelly announced his retirement this week. The backstretch won’t be the same. Here’s one of my favorite Cups of Coffee, Cans and Carrots, written July 29, 2016. Pat Kelly parked his bike, a spray-painted, no-brand beater with a fading Free John Veitch bumper stick, a trash bag on the seat, a brass … Read more
We’re back and just in time for the start of the holiday season. Thanksgiving, a day to celebrate with family and friends and of course to give thanks for all of the year’s blessings. We’re thankful for another solid Saratoga season, and all that goes into making that happen from advertisers to supporters, fans and … Read more
The end. Here we are, the final National Steeplechase meet of the season goes to the post Sunday with the Charleston Steeplechase at Stono Ferry in Hollywood, S.C. The day starts at 1 p.m. and includes five races – a training flat to get things going and four hurdle races. Some years, the finale helps … Read more
Todd Pletcher walked away from a small group of reporters covering last month’s Juddmonte Spinster Stakes on FallStars Weekend at Keeneland and made his way through the tunnel to the Trustees Room for a champagne toast honoring Malathaat. Pletcher walked like he always does, shoulders square, head high, eyes forward. And perhaps with a little … Read more
Saratoga in the fall. The locals will debate that it’s the best time of the year in the upstate New York city. They’d probably put June in the mix, too. Both have their positives – occasional summerlike weather without the swelter of July, vibrant energy throughout town without the occasional obnoxiousness of tourists. Think less … Read more
John Sadler – and so many others – can’t say it enough when it comes to Flightline. “Brilliant is his normal,” Sadler said this week as the days became hours leading up to the $6 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland Race Course. Naysayers discounted the statement, made as the unbeaten 4-year-old son of … Read more
The 39th Breeders’ Cup World Championships kicked off in style on a summer-like day Friday and continues in earnest Saturday with the main event at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington. Championship Saturday features nine Breeders’ Cup races, headlined by the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic. Flightline headlines the headliner, looking to make it 6-for-6 in … Read more
Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher walked out of the winner’s circle with Irad Ortiz Jr. after they teamed to win Friday’s $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile with Forte and joked with the likely-one-day Hall of Fame jockey. “That was good but let’s see how you do from the 13 post,” Pletcher told the three-time … Read more
The leaves have changed, the sun sets before 6 p.m., the horses might even be starting to grow winter coats – yes, the steeplechase calendar has reached its thin days and the second-last weekend of the year features three meets in Georgia, Virginia and Pennsylvania. The crowded schedule – two meets Saturday, one Sunday – … Read more
The wait is over. The Breeders’ Cup is here. At least the start of the Breeders’ Cup, with a stacked Future Stars Friday card at Keeneland Race Course amidst glorious fall weather that feels more like early summer in the Bluegrass. Five Breeders’ Cup races are on tap and we’ve again enlisted the services of … Read more
Back in the Carolinas. It’s been awhile, and it must be autumn (don’t say fall around the steeplechase people) because the NSA circuit goes south for Saturday’s Aiken Steeplechase in Aiken, S.C. It’ll be the second trip around the new course used in March for the first time, and the first fall meet in town … Read more
