Bob Mann

Bob Mann

Horse Racing Columnist  |  LAS VEGAS

Muck Rack profile

Bob Mann (1950-2019) was a professional journalist for more than 35 years, working as a reporter and in news management for the Chicago Tribune, National Enquirer, and CNN. Upon settling in Las Vegas, he founded Nevada Parlay Cards, a betting supply company that gave him an insider's understanding of sportsbook operations. For OG News, he was our man at the track, covering his horse racing passion. Read more about Bob Mann's life here.

Heavy favorite Mr. Money clears the field June 15 in the Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs (Image: Coady Photography)

Hot Horse Mr. Money Hits the Road for $500K Indiana Derby

Mr. Money is a surprise visitor to Indiana this weekend to contest the $500,000, 1 1/16 mile Indiana Derby. He’s the ultra-impressive winner of two straight stakes – Pat Day Mile, Matt Winn Stakes – both at Churchill Downs, his home track. Regular rider Gabriel Saez will be in the […]

Del Mar's paddock will be packed on opening day, July 17, but top trainer Jerry Hollendorfer will be missing Image (Del Mar Thoroughbred Club)

Del Mar the Latest to Give Legendary Horse Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer the Boot

The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club reportedly is banning trainer Jerry Hollendorfer from its facilities. Del Mar, a hugely popular summer stop on Southern California’s horse racing circuit, follows Santa Anita operator The Stronach Group (TSG) and the New York Racing Association (NYRA) in barring the 73-year-old Hall of Fame trainer […]

The Triple Crown trophy went unclaimed this year and US racing handle suffered, (Image:AP)

No Triple Crown Contender, Santa Anita Deaths Dampen US Horse Betting Numbers

Overall wagering handle on all US Thoroughbred races in June 2019 fell back by 6.99 percent, according to newly released figures from Equibase. Equibase is the sports statistical record keeper for entries, results, breeding and a wide variety of other analytics related to the sport. Statistics further reveal a 3.01 […]

Rested and Ready Game Winner may come back Saturday in Los Alamitos Derby. (Charlie Riedel/AP)

Horse Racing’s Three-Year-Old Division Readies for a Shake Up

Rumblings out of Southern California – not the earthquake variety – indicate Triple Crown winning trainer Bob Baffert may be rolling out his three-year-old star Game Winner Saturday at Los Alamitos. Baffert has yet to confirm his exact plans. Entries for the race are taken Wednesday. If he runs, expect […]

Top turf trainer Chad Brown has four aces to play in Saturday's Belmont Derby. (Getty Images/Michael Reaves)

Trainer Chad Brown Holds Top Hand in Saturday’s Belmont Derby

Belmont Park soon passes New York’s Thoroughbred torch to Saratoga Race Course, upstate. But, before that happens fans and bettors Saturday will be enjoying the track’s Stars and Stripes Racing Festival. That’s the highly competitive and extremely lucrative stakes series for top runners on both turf and dirt. The Saturday […]

Increasing equine safety top priority as Del Mar begins 80th season. Image: (Alex Ashlock/Here & Now)

Where Turf Meets Surf: Del Mar Prioritizes Equine Safety in New Season

Del Mar Thoroughbred Club (DMTC) is now undertaking extensive new safety initiatives. The popular seaside race meet in Northern San Diego County starts on July 17. Track leaders say they’ll build on the track’s series of safety protocols and initiatives from previous years. They’ll do this by adding additional layers […]

Saratoga opens July 11, but is now closed to Hall-of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer (Image: NYRA)

About Face: New York Racing Association Turns Against Hollendorfer

Hall of Fame Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer is now banned from stabling or entering horses at New York Racing Association (NYRA) racetracks. The move marks a reversal of NYRA’s previous position allowing the trainer to compete in New York. The Belmont meeting ends Sunday. The Saratoga summer season starts July 11. […]

Will she or won't she? Can Vaslika the outstanding turf mare get into the Breeders' Cup if her trainer is banned at Santa Anita. Many question about the event still remaining. (Image: Melanie Martines)

Breeders’ Cup Officials Decide Santa Anita is Safe Enough for Now

The 2019 Breeders’ Cup World Championships is remaining at Santa Anita Park. That’s the decision Thursday from Breeders’ Cup officials. But, they are expecting to continue grappling with the extensive fall-out from the Los Angeles-area race track’s outbreak of training and racing mishaps. Thirty horses have succumbed from racing or […]

Jockey John Velazquez holding the Queen's Plate Trophy after filly Wonder Gadot's 2018 triumph. (Image: AP)

We the North: All Eyes on Canada Saturday for Historic Queen’s Plate

The $1 million Queen’s Plate, Canada’s most important horse race, is being contested for the 160th time Saturday at Woodbine Racetrack, near Toronto. It’s the oldest continually run race in North America, dating back to 1860. A full field of 14 are contesting the race. The early 5/2 post time […]

Southern California's troubled Thoroughbreds merry-go-round shifts to Los Alamitos this week. (Image:Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register)

California Legislature Boosts Horse Racing Board’s Regulatory Muscle

The California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) will soon have increased authority over Thoroughbred racing in the state. The State Legislature unanimously approved a bill (SB 469) Monday newly empowering the regulatory body with the ability to suspend or move racing days without a 10-day public notice period. The Senate version […]

Top trainer Jerry Hollendorfer excluded from Santa Anita and Golden Gate. )Image: AP)

Santa Anita Bans Top Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer After Latest Horse Death

Jerry Hollendorfer, the Hall of Fame Thoroughbred trainer, has been ruled off at Santa Anita and all Stronach Group tracks. This, after a horse under his care became the 30th equine fatality at the Los Angeles-area track during the Winter/Spring season concluding Sunday. The death is the fourth horse from […]

Equine caregivers rally at Santa Anita seeking job security. (Image: AP)

Santa Anita Equine Work Force: “Protect Our Horses, Protect Our Jobs”

Backstretch employees at Santa Anita Park are asking to be heard. The beleaguered Thoroughbred racing plant is wrapping up a truncated winter/spring racing season on Sunday. Backstretch workers, largely Latinos, rallied Thursday. They’re asking to be part of the conversation when animal activists and politicians call for a halt or […]

Historical racing machine revenues from Churchill's Derby City venue helping to boost Kentucky Derby purse. (Image: Louisville Business First)

Historical Horse Racing Machine Legality Heads Back to Kentucky Supreme Court

The Kentucky Supreme Court says it is again examining the legality of historical horse racing machines. The move follows an appeal from the Kentucky Family Foundation. The organization seeks to overturn a lower court decision on the slot machine-like terminals. An opinion is expected to be fast tracked. But, exactly […]

Statue of trainer Charlie Whittingham. His racing wisdom still applies. (Image: Santa Anita)

Sir Winston, Global Campaign Join Horse Racing’s Growing Injury List

Racing’s growing injury list is bringing to mind the late trainer Charlie Whittingham. This time of year, the oft-quoted truism from the late Hall of Fame conditioner is never far from recall in the zany world of Thoroughbred racing: “They (horses) are like strawberries, They spoil very easily.”   That’s […]

Stanley Hough's Global Campaign, an easy winner in at Gulfstream earlier this year heading to Buckeye State Saturday. (Image: Lauren King)

Ohio Derby at Thistledown: Hough Horse Global Campaign Ready to Fire

The Ohio Derby at Thistledown Saturday is coming up big with the appearance of Peter Pan winner Global Campaign. He’s the horse last seen just a week after the Kentucky Derby, May 11 in New York besting Belmont Stakes victor Sir Winston at 1 1/8 miles. Because dominance in the […]

Mr. Money, under Gabriel Saez, romping home and easy winner in the Matt Winn Stakes Saturday under the Twin Spires at Churchill Downs.

Chaos Abounds in Horse Racing’s Three-Year-Old Division

Things aren’t going as planned for Maximum Security or Country House. These are the equine combatants at the center of this year’s Kentucky Derby controversy. New contenders, such as Mr. Money, Mucho Gusto and King for a Day, are now clearly ready to take advantage of the upheaval in Thoroughbred racing’s […]

Cal. Gov. Gavin Newsom pushing for increased equine safety at Santa Anita. Image: Rich Pedroncelli/AP

Ramping Up Safety Measures at Santa Anita as Deadly Meet Nears End

When racing resumes at Santa Anita a new set of enhanced safety measures for horses will be in place. Only six racing days remain on the track’s winter/spring schedule. Racing concludes June 23. The track, with the support of various horsemen’s groups, are declining Gov. Gavin Newsom’s request that the track […]