By Eliza McGraw
The phrase “walkover” refers to any uncontested or easy win. In politics, a walkover occurs when there is only one candidate for a given election, or when the others have defaulted or are so far behind as to be entirely non-competitive. The term comes, however, from horse racing. Traditionally, in British racing, even if only one horse appeared for a certain race, that horse still had to “walk over” the course.
Walkovers are uncommon these days. There was a walkover last year in England, but it was more a protest … Read More >
By Chris Rossi
Betting on horses is a funny business. Even when one can identify that vulnerable favorite to bet against, there’s still that little bit of business of finding the actual winner. So it went in the Queen Elizabeth II at Keeneland on Saturday (replay). The chatter before the race was near universal among respected handicappers that Winter Memories wasn’t just … Read More >
By Jessica Chapel
The first ever British Champions Day is this Saturday at Ascot, and organizers couldn’t have dreamed of a splashier inauguration for the new year-end fixture when they announced it last fall. Undefeated Frankel headlines. The Queen will attend. And advance wagering on the richest day of British racing in history has already topped $47 million.
With five stakes races worth approximately $4.6 million, the six-race card is designed to be an emphatic ending to the British flat racing season and to evolve into a championship extravaganza that can rival the Breeders’ Cup or Arc day as a draw for … Read More >
By Dana Byerly
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 >
By The Editors
Happy Belmont Stakes day! We’ve asked our contributors to share their thoughts on the graded races on the Belmont Stakes card along with the replays and links to the results charts.
G1 Acorn Stakes
1 Mile 3-year-old Fillies
Race 6 | 2:34 PM ET
By Teresa Genaro
On paper, the Acorn looks like a veritable walkover for Turbulent Descent. She’s the only Grade 1 winner in the field; she’s won two at that level and finished second in a third, while only one other starter, Her Smile, has even started in a Grade 1, and she finished 11th in the Kentucky Oaks.
But … Read More >
By Valerie Grash
First contested in 1780, the 1 1/2 miles Epsom (now Investec) Derby has produced some of the greatest sires in racing history, including Blenheim II, Hyperion, Mahmoud, Sir Ivor, Nijinsky, Mill Reef, Roberto, and Galileo. In 2009, Sea the Stars became the second Derby winner produced by the great mare Urban Sea, herself winner of the prestigious Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Last year, Workforce captured the Derby-Arc double, the former in course record time.
This year’s field of 13 colts features a clear favorite, Carlton House (Street Cry), owned by The Queen. Already a winner over 10 furlongs, Carlton … Read More >
By The Editors
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 >
Posted on: 05/24/2011
Filed Under:
Racing
By The Editors
Happy Preakness Day! We’ve asked our contributors to share their thoughts on the graded races on the Preakness card. We’ll add replays as they become available (Dixie and Preakness replays are available below).
G3 Allaire DuPont Distaff Stakes (8.5F)
Race 4 | 12:16 PM ET
By Dana Byerly
As is the case with several other graded races on the card, there is an overwhelming favorite that towers over the competition. Life At Ten plays that role here. She came off the bench last month in an allowance race at Gulfstream Park, making her first start since the Breeders’ Cup fiasco in which she should … Read More >
By The Editors
By The Editors
Our thoughts on the 2011 Kentucky Derby card
Happy Kentucky Derby day! We’ve asked our contributors to share their thoughts on the graded races on the Kentucky Derby card. We’ll add replays as they become available.
Roundup of links, quotes, photos and videos
2011 Kentucky Derby Replay
2011 Kentucky Derby Results Chart courtesy of Brisnet.com (pdf)
G3 Twinspires Turf Sprint Stakes (5F)
Race 6 | 1:19 PM ET
By Adam Wiener
If you like speed, this is your race.
Obvious favorite Chamberlain Bridge (2-1) is just three races removed from his impressive BC Turf Sprint win last November. In a G3 prep last time out, he was … Read More >
