Last year we were guaranteed at least one historical moment in the Breeders’ Cup with the first Breeders’ Cup night race. This year, the only thing guaranteed is the first running of the Juvenile Sprint, but there is at least one potential big moment with Goldikova going for her fourth consecutive Breeders’ Cup win in the Mile. Also a historical first, technically speaking, is the Mile bumping the Turf out of its customary spot preceding the Classic in honor of Goldikova’s potential historical moment.

This year we did some digging through the Breeders’ Cup statistics site to drum up … Read More >

On Tuesday, November 1, 2011 at 3:00 p.m. (Monday, 12 midnight U.S. Eastern), millions of Australians will tune in for the 151st running of the Melbourne Cup—a race so entrenched in Aussie culture that even those who rarely give horse racing a second thought will partake in the obligatory wager.

For Aussie racing fans (not to mention breeders), it will also be a day of much lamenting, as the field of 24 this year is dominated by European-bred and/or raced horses; just three entries (The Verminator, Niwot, Older Than Time) were bred in Australia, and the usual “go-to” country for … Read More >

Those who watched the PBS documentary Thoroughbred: Born to Run that aired in May of this year will surely remember the little foal out of Cerise by Point Given. We watched her life unfold from conception to birth to cutely frolicking in the paddock. The foal, born at Stone Farm, is now a 2-year-old and has been entered in her first race.

Cherry Point is owned by Donnybrook Stables and trained by Tammy Domenosky. She’s entered in the seventh race at Hawthorne this Friday the 14th, a $32,000 maiden special weight going a 1 1/16 miles on … Read More >

It was announced today that 10-year-old gelding Brass Hat would be retired:

Trainer Buff Bradley said he and his father, Fred, made the decision after the horse “did not appear to be as free moving as he once was.

We can’t think of a better way to say thanks to this Omnisurface Star than to watch him in action. Thanks for the memories!

Update: Churchill Downs had a retirement party for Brass Hat on Saturday May 28, here’s a photo gallery.

2010 Sycamore Stakes Replay

2010 Elkhorn Stakes Replay

2007 Mass Cap … Read More >

At least one historical moment will occur for sure this year, the 2010 Ladies Classic Filly & Mare Turf will be the first Breeders’ Cup race to be run under the lights, the rest is up to the entrants. Will Goldikova or Zenyatta become the first horse to win three Breeders’ Cup races? And if Goldikova wins she’ll also be the first to win three consecutive Breeders’ Cup races.

Will Red Desire or Espoir City be the first Japanese horse to win a Breeders’ Cup race? Will Workforce be the first Arc winner to win?

Single year win record holders … Read More >

Now that Breeders’ Cup 2010 is in the books, you can watch all the replays at Hello Race Fans!

 
Are you already suffering from Breeders’ Cup information overload? We can help!

We’ve compiled a list of resources to help you keep up with the barrage of information.

At Raceday 360 / Hello Race Fans!
Here’s what we’ve put together to help make your Breeders’ Cup a little more manageable.

Here are our most popular Breeders’ Cup related tags the Wire:
Raceday 360 Wire > Blame
Raceday 360 Wire > Breeders’ Cup
Raceday 360 Wire > Goldikova
Raceday 360 Wire > Handicapping … Read More >

The 150th running of the Melbourne Cup is set for Tuesday, November 2 at 3:00 p.m. (Monday, 12 midnight U.S. Eastern), and, to put it in the Aussie vernacular, it looks to be a cracker.

As is often the case, the stories swirling around the event are both inspiring and disheartening, including the recent police inquiry involving jockey Damien Oliver, who rides Luca Cumani’s Manighar, and the tragic death of Shoot Out’s jockey Stathi Katsidis. However, no story is bigger than that of legendary trainer Bart Cummings who, along with his fellow octogenarian owner Dato Tan Chin … Read More >

Even geared down, Rachel Alexandra can’t help impressing. In winning the G1 Mother Goose Stakes by 19 1/4 lengths and in a final time of 1:46.33, the filly set two new records: Her winning margin was the largest since the 13 1/2 length romp scored by Ruffian in the 1975 Mother Goose, and her time broke the stakes record of 1:46.40 set by Lakeway in the 1994 renewal.

Rachel Alexandra was also responsible for creating a rare minus win pool of $18,698 ($597,576 of the $726,260 wagered to win on the race was wagered on the filly, who paid $2.10). … Read More >

From the NYRA press office:

The field for today’s 53rd edition of the Grade 1, $300,000 Mother Goose Stakes was reduced to three Saturday morning with the scratches of Don’t Forget Gil and Hopeful Image, leaving Preakness heroine Rachel Alexandra to face only Flashing and Malibu Prayer.

Alan Brodsky’s Don’t Forget Gil was scratched due to an elevated temperature, according to trainer Mark Hennig, while Hopeful Image had not recuperated sufficiently from a mild case of colic she suffered Wednesday evening, said trainer Gerald Procino.

“We did everything we could to keep her in the race, but yesterday, she spiked a temperature and … Read More >

Rudy Gallegos, the first exercise rider to sit aboard both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winners in the same year since Joanne McNamara rode Thunder Gulch and Timber Country for trainer D. Wayne Lukas in 1995, compares Mine That Bird and Rachel Alexandra:

So, if the two Classic winners were sitting in an automobile dealer’s showroom, what models would they be? “Rachel would be a Lamborghini,” Gallegos said. “It would be like when you’d go to shift gears, everything would be so smooth, so precise. Mine That Bird would be a Ferrari, just pure class.”

Lucky man to get a chance … Read More >