In a shade over a week we’ll be sipping an icy cold mint julep, and singing the emotional “My Old Kentucky Home” lyrics. – The crowds will be dressed to the nines, and players from around the globe will be chomping at the bit to wager into the swelled Derby pools. – This may be the […]
I’ve been on the “D.L.” for a few days, and I’m back in full form. Or, at least back in training. But I digress. – I missed some of the live action this […]
With Uncle Mo installed as the 5-2 morning line favorite for Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Classic, there is a lot of pressure on this horse to run the race of his life. Never mind that as a 3-year-old he’ll be running against older and more experienced horses – Uncle Mo has also had to overcome a […]
Fifteen Breeders’ Cup contests, one more than last year, is just too many to wager on even if they’re spread over two days. Like 2010, I will concentrate on classy horses with good recent form and wager on seven races. The weather could be a factor, at least on Friday, but the forecasters have been […]
The main track at Churchill Downs, which hosts a record eighth Breeders’ Cup Nov. 4-5, is different from any dirt surface in the nation. Most tracks are comprised of limestone with dirt on top. The Louisville venue has no such base while the track is mixed with a deep layer of soil, clay and organic […]
Last Friday marked the start of the 143rd summer meet at Saratoga Race Course. For the next six weeks horse racing fans from all over the country will be focused on what many believe to be the highest quality racing meet in North America. On tap at the Spa will be a total of 17 […]
I have been a fan of racing for a few moons now… Well, maybe a little longer than that. I have known many riders over the years, and the highs and lows they have faced. Like every athlete, they could be playing for a championship team this season, and traded the next. Sadly, when they […]
This is one tough Kentucky Derby to figure out, sort of like 2009. And there’s a good chance of rain on Saturday for the 137th edition. Remember over the past three decades only four favorites have won — all in the 21st Century. Big Brown was the last in ’08; Street Sense,’07; Smarty Jones, ’04; […]
If you’re thinking about the horse-for-the-course angle in the Kentucky Derby, better have something more in your handicapping toolbox. More than two dozen horses that previously won as a 2-year-old at Churchill Downs failed in the Derby. The average finish of about 50 runners with at least one race on the main track was off […]
Scores of upsets in major preps and injuries have muddled my Top 10 Kentucky Derby contenders. But here’s my final list from the bottom to the top: Stay Thirsty: Although the son of Bernardini ran poorly in the Florida Derby, he did defeat Wood Memorial victor Toby’s Corner in the Gotham. On April 24, he […]