Befitting its name, Hidden Brook Farm may not be the flashiest Thoroughbred nursery in the Bluegrass, yet it turns out a steady stream of top-level Saturday performers. Its commitment to top-tier horsemanship is being proven once again with the emergence of Dr. Venkman , who seeks his first grade 1 victory July 26 in the Bing…
The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) today announced that the precautionary quarantine of Barn 28 at Saratoga Race Course has been lifted by the New York State Department of Agriculture (NYSDA) effective immediately. As a result, all horses stabled in Barns 28 are once again permitted to enter races, as of today, Wednesday, July…
William Buick has been confirmed as the rider of Field of Gold in the July 30 Sussex Stakes (G1) at Goodwood and enjoyed a first feel of the classy Juddmonte-owned grey on the Newmarket gallops on Wednesday morning. The two-time champion jockey has headed a list of possible replacement riders for the suspended Colin Keane,…
Stewards in New Jersey issued jockey Umberto Rispoli a one-day suspension and fined him $6,000 for exceeding the permitted number of riding-crop strikes in riding Journalism to victory in the July 19 Haskell Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park. The violation was first reported July 22 by Daily Racing Form, and the ruling was posted to…
Irad Ortiz, Jr.’s travel schedule included Finger Lakes on Monday for a win in the New York Derby then back to his base of Saratoga where on Friday he won the Shuvee (G2). A day trip to Monmouth Park on Saturday yielded a win in the Matchmaker (G3) returning to Saratoga on Sunday for the…
By J. Keeler Johnson (“Keelerman”) Twitter: @J_Keelerman The field for Saturday’s $500,000 Jim Dandy (G2) at Saratoga is small, with only five horses in the entries. But quality runs deep—very deep—in the 1 1/8-mile contest for three-year-olds. Two of the entrants are Grade 1 winners, including a duel classic winner. Two…
The July Digital Sale closed July 22 with 137 horses sold for $4,808,500. The sale averaged $35,098, with a median of $15,000. The clearance rate was 81%. The catalog offered horses of racing age, racing/broodmare prospects, 2-year-olds in training, breeding stock (including broodmares with foals at foot), and yearlings. Spectacular Grey (Hip 30), a 7 3/4-length…
A generous $100K match from Ken Freirich will kick off Breeders’ Cup Charities’ Annual Day of Giving, doubling donations received on July 23 up to $100K. The fundraising program puts key Thoroughbred industry charities in the spotlight 100 days out from the Breeders’ Cup World Championships Oct. 31-Nov. 1 at Del Mar. Fans and…
Five-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown will send out two fillies—Play With Fire and Lavender Disaster in the $175,000 Lake George Stakes (G3T) July 26 at Saratoga Race Course. Brown has had great success in the 1 1/16-mile race, having sent out seven winners in the last 10 years with five consecutive wins from 2019-23. Brown’s…
Oaklawn will offer the highest stakes purses for both fillies and colts on the road to Kentucky for the upcoming 2025-2026 racing season. The purse for Oaklawn’s Fantasy Stakes (G2), which launched the campaign of 2024 Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna , will increase to $1 million, and the Honeybee Stakes (G3) increases for the…
