
Slam Dunk Racing Gets the Ball Rolling in 2021
With 80 horses in its stable and a bevy of stakes winners lined up for their 2021 debut, Slam Dunk Racing has plenty to look forward to in the new year.
With 80 horses in its stable and a bevy of stakes winners lined up for their 2021 debut, Slam Dunk Racing has plenty to look forward to in the new year.
This year's Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale has achieved its highest ever trade, surpassing the Victorian benchmark set in Melbourne in 2017.
Godolphin's 2-year-old champion male and winner of the Southwest Stakes (G3) Essential Quality was made the 7-2 morning-line favorite in the field of 24 betting choices for Pool 4 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which will open March 5.
Weekly photo feature
Porter on Pedigrees
Mark Schwartz's Brooklyn Strong has emerged from the winter season stronger than ever following a brief illness that kept the colt from running in the first of the year's preps for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1).
The son of Paynter became the fifth Maryland-bred to win a Breeders' Cup World Championship race when he won the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1).
Cheltenham Festival-winning amateur rider Rob James has confirmed he is the individual sitting on a dead horse in a video circulating on social media.
The Indiana Horse Racing Commission met March 2 and approved several changes for the upcoming 2021 racing season at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino.
Cheveley Park Stud had no option but to remove eight horses, including superstar Envoi Allen, from trainer Gordon Elliott due to the "shocking" photograph of the trainer sitting on a dead horse.
Owners and trainers planning to compete at Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino in Altoona, Iowa this year should take note of a number of important dates and deadlines for the 2021 season that begins on April 30.
Essential Quality and Greatest Honour command the 1-2 spots this week on the Derby Dozen, while Hot Rod Charlie and Spielberg join the rankings.
A loosening of restrictions statewide will allow the track to open April 23.
The transition from age 2 to 3 proved no issue for Godolphin's homebred champion Essential Quality as the son of Tapit captured his seasonal bow this past weekend in handy fashion.
It's rapidly approaching a year since the last time the general public has been allowed on the grounds of a New York Racing Association racetrack. Yet in the condition book for the ongoing winter meet at Aqueduct, you'll see some surprising numbers.
The New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. (NYTB) is pleased to announce Thoroughbred breeders and owners Patricia Generazio and her late husband Frank Generazio.
Ciaron Maher believes the rise of the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale is a sign of things to come for a Victorian breeding industry in the midst of a re-invigoration.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has few mountains left to climb in the racing world but the tallest of his yet-unconquered peaks is the Kentucky Derby Sponsored by Woodford Reserve (G1).
Japanese trainer did not renew his license for the first time in 21 years
Studs and stallion masters have already thrown their hat into the ring in a bid to secure the breeding rights to Mishriff, winner of last week's $20 million Saudi Cup.
The British Horseracing Authority will prevent Gordon Elliott from saddling runners in Britain while the Irish authorities investigate the photograph of the leading trainer sitting on a dead horse that appeared on social media over the weekend.
Keeneland released plans March 1 to offer fans a limited number of ticket packages for dining, reserved grandstand seating, and general admission for the 2021 Spring Meet, to be held April 2-23.
Multiple graded stakes winner Horologist has been named 2020 New Jersey-bred horse of the year and champion older female by the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association of New Jersey.
Collaborate was among three notable winners at Gulfstream Park this week, while seven others of note won at tracks across the country.
Registrations are still being accepted for the Thoroughbred Owner Conference, which begins March 2, at 2 p.m. ET as the first of a series of 10 virtual panels that will be held on the first Tuesday of every month for the duration of the year.
A 28-year-old native of Veracruz, Mexico, Juan Hernandez notched his 2,000th career win aboard the Peter Miller-trained Bedrock in the seventh race Feb. 28 at Santa Anita Park, a $25,000 claimer at six furlongs on turf.
Shortleaf Stable's 4-year-old homebred The Mary Rose added to trainer Brad Cox's growing tally of victories for the weekend when she pulled off a late-running drive and got up to win the $150,0000 Downthedustyroad Breeders' Stakes at Oaklawn Park.
The change in date of the $150,000 Dixie Belle Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Oaklawn Park appeared to be a blessing in disguise for Fox Hill Farms' lightly-raced Windmill.
Following Essential Quality's successful return Saturday in the $750,000 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn, two-time champion and stablemate Monomoy Girl also scored decisively, winning the $250,000 Bayakoa Stakes (G3) Feb. 28 in her seasonal debut.
Late-running Senor Buscador, winner of last fall's Remington Springboard Mile Stakes, is off the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) trail with a minor ligament strain, according to owner Joey Peacock.
Candy Man Rocket, winner of the Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs Feb. 6, is expected to head a large field for the $400,000 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2) March 6.
After winning three graded stakes Feb. 27, topped by a victory from Essential Quality in the $750,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park, Godolphin has its eye on another rich prize: the $400,000 Santa Anita Handicap (G1) March 6.
Champion Essential Quality emerged in good order from his victory in the Southwest Stakes (G3) for 3-year-olds Feb. 27 at Oaklawn Park, the unbeaten colt's trainer, Brad Cox, said Sunday morning.
One of Australia's most respected and highest-profile yearling buyers has helped the Inglis Melbourne Premier achieve a seven-figure milestone for just the second time in the sale's history after a colt by remarkable stallion Written Tycoon.
Two of the biggest riding talents of their generation will launch a new racing venture next week as Darryll Holland prepares to embark on a second career as a trainer, with no less a man than Kieren Fallon as his assistant.
Cesario, who won grade 1 races on two continents and has the distinction of producing three stallion sons at stud in Japan, died at Northern Farm Feb. 27 aged 19.
The son of 2020 leading sire Atta Boy Roy was a stakes winner at both Keeneland and Prairie Meadows last year. He is trained, as was his sire, by now Kentucky resident Valerie Lund.
Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable, and Swilcan Stable's Vequist, the champion 2-year-old filly of 2020, emerged from her ninth-place finish in Saturday's $200,000 Davona Dale (G2) at Gulfstream Park in overall good order, according to trainer Butch Reid.
Three Chimneys Farm and e Five Racing Thoroughbreds' 3-year-old colt Collaborate, an eye-catching maiden winner on Saturday's Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) program at Gulfstream Park, may venture onto the Triple Crown trail.
A small field of about seven potential starters is forming for the March 6 Gotham Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack, the third of four monthly preps in New York for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1).
William Stacy Patterson, a prominent Lexington businessman and Thoroughbred breeder/owner, died Feb. 25. He was 88. He bred, or co-bred two grade 1 winners and raced several graded stakes winners.
Rock Your World, who stretched out off an impressive debut, rallied powerfully late and left no doubt about who was best in the $100,000 Pasadena Stakes at Santa Anita Park, prevailing by a widening 2 1/4 lengths under Umberto Rispoli.
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert said Feb. 27 he plans to run both Life Is Good and Medina Spirit in the March 6 San Felipe Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park.
Midway on the final turn of the $300,000 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes, trainer Shug McGaughey's nerves were as jumpy as the legion of fans who had bet Greatest Honour down to an even-money favorite.
The $200,000 Davona Dale Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park shone a spotlight on an unexpected contender: Wholebodemeister, who ran away with the mile test at odds of 52-1 as champion Vequist faltered.
Multiple grade 1 winner Got Stormy held off a furious late bid from graded stakes winner Zofelle by a nose to make a triumphant 6-year-old debut Feb. 27 in the $125,000 Honey Fox Stakes (G3T) at Gulfstream Park.
Con Lima went from bridesmaid to bride in the $100,000 Herecomesthebride Stakes (G3T) at Gulfstream Park.
Godolphin's Essential Quality, the champion 2-year-old male of 2020, impressed in his first start at age 3, defeating Spielberg and Jackie's Warrior in the $750,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park Feb. 27.
He might have brought a lackluster record in grade 2 stakes into the $200,000 WinStar Gulfstream Park Mile Stakes (G2), but Fearless has been peerless at the race's namesake oval.
The Great British Bonus's final registration deadline for 2-year-old fillies arrives Feb. 28 and, with numbers up on the 2018 crop, a landmark figure of £2 million paid out in prizes is likely to be reached within a year of the scheme's launch.