Noted: May 2
– A full field of 14 will start in the Kentucky Oaks this Friday, including Ashland upset winner Bushfire and morning line favorite Balance.
– “Officials of Breeders’ Cup Limited and the National Thoroughbred Racing Association have announced that total purses for the Breeders’ Cup World Championships have been raised to $20 million, an increase of $6 million from last year.” That’s not bad, but the increase still falls $1 million short of the world’s richest day of racing, the Dubai World Cup. As Alan observes over on Left at the Gate, “Wouldn’t you think they could scrape up another million or two to match Dubai? Seems kinda like Barry Bonds getting to 754 homers and then going, ‘ah, that’s enough.'”
– TVG is launching 11 new shows and revamping its onscreen graphics beginning May 10.
– Trainer Todd Pletcher has 175 horses in his stable, a third of them three-year-olds, which means Pletcher has more three-year-olds in his barn than most trainers have total horses. “I feel like it’s probably the most powerful stable ever assembled,” said WinStar farm vice president Elliot Walden. “What makes him special is that he’s as young as he is. He has a chance, no question about it, if he stays sober and doesn’t get divorced, to be the all-time greatest.”
– “Eureka Downs is fading away, and the town that supports it might not be far behind.”
– A freak accident kills New York stallion Gold Token and leaves another in critical condition.
