Horse Racing

Malathaat's unbeaten record and versatile running style makes her an odds-on favorite to win the Grade 1 CCA Oaks at Saratoga. (Image: Jamie Newell/TwinSpires.com)

Where Did Everyone Go? Malathaat Scares Off Would-Be CCA Oaks Rivals

If you remember back in May, the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks is the race that Todd Pletcher put on Malathaat’s calendar. This was the race Pletcher and owner of the undefeated 3-year-old circled – as they were crossing off any Belmont Stakes plans. Now, because of Malathaat’s considerable […]

Love won last year's Epsom Oaks by nine lengths. The daughter of the late Galileo and winner of seven of 11 is the 5/2 favorite for Saturday's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot. (Image: Megan Ridgwell)

Top Talent Brings Equine Palace Intrigue to King George Stakes

The storylines in Saturday’s Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes are almost as loaded with intrigue as the field is loaded with talent. And this field for the 1 ½-mile turf trek at Ascot is loaded with talent. But each high-profile contestant comes with his – […]

Flavien Prat rode Going Global to all four of her US stakes victories. That streak goes to the test Saturday in the Grade 2 San Clemente at Del Marl. (Image: Benoit Photo)

Going Global Does Just That, Brings Four-Race Win Streak to Del Mar

Going Global began her racing career finishing fourth, 12th, and 13th in a trio of summer races in her native Ireland. There was nothing distinguishing her from the countless other 2-year-old fillies dotting Irish racetracks. This changed last November when Going Global broke her maiden in an Irish Handicap race […]

One of the most forthright trainers in the game, Kenny McPeek never blinks from a challenge. This is one reason why he's sending start filly Swiss Skydiver into the Grade 1 Whitney Aug. 7 at Saratoga. (Image: Kenny McPeek)

McPeek Sending Swiss Skydiver Against Colts Again in the Whitney

One of the ways Kenny McPeek made his bones as a trainer was to never doubt himself or his charges. This explains one reason why he plans on running star filly Swiss Skydiver in the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes at Saratoga. “Someone brought up the word ‘can’t’ to me the […]

Horses under quarantine after a case of Equine Herpesvirus-1 can train on Saratoga's Oklahoma Training Track after the rest of the barns get their works in. (Image: Francesca Le Donne)

Saratoga EHV-1 Quarantine Set to End Aug. 1 — If No Further Cases

Horses quarantined as a result of an Equine Herpesvirus (EHV-1) case in Saratoga’s Barn 86 will be allowed to race Aug. 1, provided there are no further positive cases. The New York Racing Association made the announcement on Tuesday, citing the end of a 21-day quarantine in that barn. This […]

Wit breezed to an eight-length victory in Saturday's Sanford Stakes at Saratoga. He vaulted to the front of 2022 Kentucky Derby prospects, winning his two races by a combined 14 lengths. (Image: Susie Raisher/Coglianese Photos)

Wit Shows He’s No Joke as a Promising 2022 Kentucky Derby Prospect

It’s never too early to put promising 2-year-olds on your Kentucky Derby radar screen, which is why it’s time to say hello to one of the most promising juveniles of 2021 – Wit. The Todd Pletcher charge graduated to graded stakes champion on Saturday, capturing the Grade 3 Sanford Stakes […]

After recent workouts didn't meet his approval, trainer Mike McCarthy decided Preakness Stakes winner Rombauer needed a freshening. So he's giving his prize colt the next 60 days off. (Image: Maryland Jockey Club)

Preakness Winner Rombauer Taking a Break, Won’t Race Until 2022

Preakness Stakes winner Rombauer will take the next 60 days off and won’t race for the duration of the 2021 season, according to the Daily Racing Form. Trainer Mike McCarthy told the DRF that Rombauer hadn’t been training “as sharp as he was before the Preakness and Belmont.” That June […]

Mystic Guide (right) lost the Grade 2 Suburban Stakes to Max Player earlier this month. Afterwards, X-rays revealed a bone chip in Mystic Guide's knee that requires surgery. (Image: Elsa Lorieul/Coglianese Photos/NYRA)

Mystic Guide’s Racing Future Uncertain After Impending Knee Surgery

The racing future for standout 4-year-old Mystic Guide has become uncertain after owner-breeder Godolphin announced he would undergo surgery for a knee chip. Noted surgeon Dr. Larry Bramlage of Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky, will perform the surgery. Meanwhile, the Dubai World Cup winner goes on the […]

Hot Rod Charlie (back) finished ahead of Mandaloun by the proverbial nose in Saturday's Haskell Stakes. But the 4/5 favorite was taken down moments later for interfering with Midnight Bourbon. Mandaloun was declared the winner of his first Grade 1 amid questions about New Jersey's no-crop rule. (Image: Bill Denver/EQUI-SPORT)

Controversy, Near-Catastrophe, Marks Haskell Stakes Finish

The inherent danger of riding horses combined with a controversial rule change to create a frightening finish to Saturday’s Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park. Hot Rod Charlie crossed the finish line first, nipping Mandaloun by a nose. That apparently gave him his long-sought first Grade 1 victory. However, the 4/5 […]

Harvey's Lil Goil (right) held off Lemista to win the Grade 3 Beaugay in May. The two tangle again in Saturday's Grade 1 Diana Stakes at Saratoga. (Image: Coolmore Farm)

Can Brown Hunt Down His Sixth Consecutive Diana Stakes Title?

The main storyline coming to you from this year’s Grade 1 Diana Stakes at Saratoga is what Chad Brown can do for an encore – times five. Yes, Brown owns the last five Diana titles and six overall. You expect Saratoga’s premier turf trainer to win Saratoga’s premier filly and […]

Louisiana Derby winner Hot Rod Charlie hasn't finished worse than third in his last six races. He looks for his first Grade 1 victory as the 6/5 favorite in Saturday's Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park. (Image: Jamie Newell/TwinSpires.com)

A Triple Crown Placers War by the Jersey Shore Headlines Haskell Stakes

The first thought that comes to mind when you see Mandaloun, Midnight Bourbon and Hot Rod Charlie lined up as the three headliners for Saturday’s Grade 1 Haskell Stakes is that deja-vu sense of familiarity. You’ve seen these three clash repeatedly, but there’s something else about them that stands out. […]

Saratoga plays integral roles in two Saturday exotic wagers: the Cross Country All Stakes Pick 6 and the Cross-breed Pick 5. (Image: NYRA)

Cross Country Wagering Goes Truly Exotic: Meet the Cross-Breed Pick 5

The New York Racing Association’s Cross Country Pick 6, you’re probably familiar with. But for this Saturday’s busy day, how about a Cross-breed Cross Country Pick 5? NYRA and Monmouth Park joined forces for Saturday’s All-Stakes Cross Country Pick 6. That weekly slate isn’t surprising given it’s Haskell Day at […]

Arklow won his last start, the Grade 3 Louisville, in stakes-record time. He tries for his second Grade 1 win and 10th career victory in Saturday's United Nations Stakes at Monmouth Park. (Image: Coady Photography/Churchill Downs)

Can the Remarkable Arklow Plant His Flag at the United Nations Stakes?

Figuring out the most remarkable element of Arklow’s career takes you on a trip around America’s racetracks in search of the freakish, most bizarre factoid you can find. So, it makes perfect sense that Arklow is one of the favorites for Saturday’s Grade 1 United Nations Stakes at Monmouth Park. […]

Dream Shake ran his career-best 96 Beyer Speed Figure in this maiden debut victory in January. He moves to turf for the first time in Del Mar's traditional summer stakes opener: the Oceanside Stakes. (Image: Benoit Photo)

Del Mar Opens to Sellout Crowd and a Dream Shake Turf Sighting

Last year’s Del Mar summer season opener carried such a weird vibe that Del Mar Thoroughbred Club CEO Joe Harper spent much of it walking around in a surreal, dreamy haze. This year, Harper and the rest of Del Mar’s sold-out, opening-day crowd – and yes, we said “crowd” – […]

Fans returned to Belmont Park for this year's spring/summer meet, albeit in smaller numbers. The track still recorded a 20.6% boost in all-sources handle from 2019. (Image: NYRA)

Belmont Park Reports 20% Boost in 2021 Spring/Summer Meet Handle

Displaying further signs of post-pandemic economic health, Belmont Park boosted its 2021 spring/summer meet handle by 20.6% over 2019 totals, and 63.5% over last year’s handle. The New York Racing Association released the figures Wednesday. They showed the 48-day Belmont spring/summer meet brought in $632,208,251 in all-sources handle. This, from […]

Golden Pal makes his 3-year-old debut on Saratoga's opening day Thursday. The standout sprinter is the 1/2 morning-line favorite in the Grade 3 Quick Call. (Image: Coolmore)

Saratoga’s 2021 Season Opens with Fans, Golden Pal’s Return

The long-anticipated 2021 Saratoga Meet opens Thursday, headlined by a familiar name — Golden Pal — making his seasonal debut. The standout sophomore sprinter anchors a deep field of 3-year-olds in the Grade 3 Quick Call. That 5 ½-furlong sprint on the Mellon Turf Course is one of two stakes […]

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert (left), shown here leaving federal court during a Monday hearing, had his indefinite suspension by the New York Racing Association ruled unconstitutional. A Brooklyn judge said the suspension violated the trainer's due process rights. (Image: AP File Photo/John Minchillo)

Judge Rules Bob Baffert’s NYRA Suspension Unconstitutional

On the eve of Saratoga Race Course’s 2021 opening day, a New York federal judge ruled the New York Racing Association’s suspension of Bob Baffert was unconstitutional. That Wednesday ruling by Judge Carol Bagley Amon opens the gate for the Hall of Fame trainer to run his charges at Saratoga’s […]

Authentic (right) held off NY Traffic to win the 2020 Haskell Stakes. That helped the eventual Horse of the Year claim a $1 million bonus for winning three prestigious races.(Image: Ryan Denver/EQUI-PHOTO)

This $1 Million Bonanza is Easy: Just Win Haskell, Travers and BC Classic

Monmouth Park and BetMakers Technology Group announced a $1 million bounty – the BetMakers Bonanza — to any 3-year-old who wins the Haskell Stakes, the Travers Stakes, and the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Just win three of the most prestigious events in American racing. Simple, right? Actually, one horse collected the […]

True Timber and Kendrick Carmouche won last year's Cigar Mile. Aqueduct's featured race during its Fall Meet is the lone Grade 1 race among its 26 stakes events. (Image: Susie Raisher/NYRA)

Cigar Mile Once Again Headlines Aqueduct’s Fall Stakes Schedule

The New York Racing Association took time out from prepping for Thursday’s Saratoga Meet opener to announce Aqueduct’s stakes schedule for its fall meet. Aqueduct’s 18-day fall meet offers 26 stakes races – 10 of those graded – along with $4.9 million in purses. That meet begins Friday, Nov. 5 […]