These days are no different then when grandpa played the races. The younger riders are considered to not have enough experience. Tell that to Steve Cauthen, or Ronnie Franklin. I was just interviewed by phone. On the other end was a college reporter asking about the age of Joe Talamo. I would have initially thought […]
Every horse race has a winner; that’s a fact. And just because a horse wins an otherwise important race, that does not make that horse particularly special, other than it may have been the best (that day) of an average field of Thoroughbreds. Greatness must be earned—gauged against the clock, measured against the history books. […]
“I’d love to win it, not just because of the prestige of the race but because it was Sid’s dream. It was really his goal in life in racing. I’d ask him what would you most like to do and he would say, ‘Win the Kentucky Derby.’ “ “I get emotional just thinking about it. […]
Every year, the Derby has more stories than any book in the library. The people involved, the letdowns, and the turns of fortune are incredible. I wanted to see Quality Road run. He had the look of something very special, and his turn of foot in Florida made me think that they were already etching […]
Bill Mott, Churchill Downs’ all-time winningest trainer, believes track surface is the biggest aspect in trying to put horses in races they can win, with distance a close second. He saddles Hold Me Back, the Lane’s End winner and Blue Grass runner-up, in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby, and is confident the 1 1/4 miles won’t pose […]
Rain is in the forecast for Ohio. It is stretching from far South to the Great Lakes. There are plans for rain even at the Twin Spires. But, even in the rain, winners get their picture taken. Let us take a look at River Downs 4/28 Race #8. We find our focus on the top […]
I have a friend who loves the Derby. The race that comes once a year not only brings him fond memories, but time he spent with his father. Those are the times that matter. For the best two-minutes in sports, these two fans will be forever connected. His father was a longtime fan. He was […]
The most dramatic changes at the historic South Louisville track: a three-night experiment in racing under the lights late in the meet (June 19 and 26 and July 2), and a new announcer with a British accent (Mark Johnson). While many horsemen are not thrilled with the night-racing concept — by the time horses in […]
As we draw closer by the day and hour, Derby fever is working into many. Owners are listening to trainers, trainers are listening to horses, and players should take it all in. I am getting away from the “jinx” drama. I just don’t believe there is one method to wearing the roses. I have followed closely, […]
More than 5,000 wins and 35 years later, jockey Tim Doocy still loves his summer job. When Prairie Meadows begins its 50-day thoroughbred meet at 6:30pm tonight, Doocy, 53, will be back in the saddle in a riding career that started in 1974. Doocy grew up in Humboldt, Ia., and moved to Glenwood when he […]