Though it has been run only four times, Gulfstream Park’s Pegasus World Cup Invitational has firmly established itself as an important event on the American racing stage. It has become a prime early-year target. This year’s 1 1/8-mile Pegasus will be held on Jan. 23. With a purse of $3 million, it is one […]
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Santa Anita Saturday Late Pick 4 Analysis Welcome to 2021! The New Year and the horses are off and running at Santa Anita. Below is one man’s humble handicapping opinion regarding the last four races at Santa Anita Saturday. It’s an interesting collection of puzzles anchored by the second start for what appears to […]
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I first had the honor of voting for Eclipse Awards in 1976. My choice for Horse to the Year was Forego. One of the greatest geldings of all time, Forego was elected Horse of the Year in 1974, 1975 and again in 1976. Forego’s victory in the 1976 Marlboro Cup at Belmont Park […]
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Thankfully, in this year of Our Lord two thousand and twenty, or whatever else you want to call what we’ve experienced since Jan. 1 (expletives permitted), some things remain relatively undisturbed. It’s mid-October, trees have turned or are completely undressed and Breeders’ Cup is on the horizon. Two of racing’s biggest days are scheduled for […]
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The Southern California racing community received a one-two punch of bad news in recent days when learning that retired trainers Gary Jones and Barry Abrams had died. Jones was 76. Abrams was 66. In recent years, Jones’ failing health included the onset of dementia. He died Sunday at his home in Del Mar, where he […]
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Smoke has cleared, literally, and racing at The Great Race Place returns this weekend with gusto. The 11-race Saturday card features 7 stakes races–4 graded and 5 that carry ‘Win and You’re In’ Breeders’ Cup fees-paid berths to respective championship races at Keeneland Nov. 6 & 7. Saturday afternoon’s gem figures to be the Grade […]
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Now that the calendars have been flipped over to July, it’s time for my list of the Top 10 performances by a Thoroughbred in the United States during the first half of 2020. When there were just a handful of tracks conducting live racing for several weeks earlier this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, […]
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This Sunday is Father’s Day. Not only that, it would have been my father’s 91st birthday if he had not passed away on June 1, 2017. I miss my dad so much. I do. My dad loved horse racing. He also loved baseball, basketball and football. But horse racing was his favorite sport. His love […]
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Many, as expected, perceived last Saturday’s Grade I Santa Anita Derby as a two-horse race between 1-2 favorite and 2-1 second betting choice Honor A.P. What happened? They did indeed run one-two. In Santa Anita’s Grade II San Felipe Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on March 7, Authentic won by 2 1/4 lengths. […]
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Now we know why the Kentucky Derby traditionally is run on the first Saturday in May, the Preakness two Saturday’s later and the Belmont on the first Saturday in June. Because that’s how long most 3-year-old stars that have been most successful since Jan. 1 are ripest. And not a moment longer. We were […]
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Saturday is Derby Day. Ok, not that one. This derby will be in Arcadia, Ca, at Santa Anita instead of at Churchill Downs, in Louisville, KY. We’ve got to wait a bit longer for that showdown. At this point, as bat-excrement crazy as 2020 has been, we’ll settle for handicapping and wagering on any derby […]
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Is this Saturday’s Grade I Santa Anita Derby a two-horse race between Authentic and Honor A.P.? Many no doubt are going to see it that way. But viewing a race that way sometimes can backfire. CAUTION: There are times when neither horse wins what many perceive to be a two-horse race. One need only go […]
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Last week’s selection came up a bit short as Laura’s Light got a great trip sitting second and capitalized on the fast pace that Mike Smith set on Parkour to take home the Grade III honeymoon Stakes. Speaking of Mike Smith, he will be the jockey on this week’s play. I will head to the […]
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Last week, in this space we suggested horseplayers take a stand against heavily favored Maxfield in the Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs. We were wrong. Get used to it. If you’re playing the horses, you’re going to be wrong way more often than you’re going to be right. Sports bettors need to back the […]
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The field is taking shape for the 1 1/8-mile Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park on June 20, which for the first time will kick off this country’s Triple Crown series. The 1 1/4-mile Kentucky Derby then will be held at Churchill Downs on Sept. 5. It will be followed by the 1 3/16-mile Preakness Stakes […]
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