JC / Railbird - Thoroughbred racing news and notes

I met Marc Subia today and he told me the story of his amazing autograph jacket. "It's my most prized possession." Marc started coming to Del Mar with his dad in the 1970s. It's his home track. And he's been collecting jockey autographs for decades ...

Grand Jete keeping an eye on me as I take a picture of Rushing Fall's #BC17 garland. #thoroughbred #horseracing #delmar

Another #treasurefromthearchive — this UPI collage for Secretariat vs. Sham. #inthearchives #thoroughbred #horseracing

Thanks, Arlington. Let's do this again next year. #Million35

That's a helmet. #BC16 #thoroughbred #horseracing #jockeys

Lady Eli on the muscle. #BC16 @santaanitapark #breederscup #thoroughbred #horseracing

Noted: May 3

– Trainer Dave Hofmans may not have a starter in the Derby, but he does have the favorite in the Oaks.
– “Magna Entertainment Corp., Frank Stronach’s labour of love in the sport of kings, warned yesterday that its ability to continue as a going concern is in ‘substantial doubt’ amid high debt, poor cash flow and delays in a key asset sale.”
– “A new generation of jockeys positions itself for the next run toward household fame.”
– Giacomo gets his own casino chip.

Posted by JC in News on 05/03/2006 @ 10:45 am / Follow @railbird on Twitter

Kentucky Derby Notes

– In the lead up to the Derby, trainers Bob Baffert and Dale Romans are playing a game of my horse is faster than your horse:

Let’s hear first from Bob Baffert, checking in from California where he’ll load three Derby hopefuls on a plane today, including faster-than-sound Sinister Minister.

This, from Baffert: “He’s just a runaway train. He’s going to be on the lead.”

Back at Churchill Downs, trainer Dale Romans has a word for Baffert if Baffert thinks Sinister Minister can wire this field.

Romans to Baffert: You’re not in Lexington any more. No more sailing around the track unpressured and winning the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes by nearly 13 lengths.

Folks, meet Sharp Humor. He’s the horse that Romans, his trainer, says will look Sinister Minister in the eye.

This could get ugly.

“I don’t think anybody is faster than mine,” Romans said.

– If Baffert does win — if not with Sinister Minister, then Point Determined or Bob and John — Derby officials won’t be unhappy. “The party takes on the personality of the people,” said Laura Rink, a former public relations manager for The Kentucky Derby Museum, where the postâ€“Derby celebration takes place. “We like it when Baffert wins.”
– Trainer Barclay Tagg earned a reputation as a curmudgeon during the 2003 Triple Crown season and as a pragmatic horseman who wouldn’t bring a horse to the Kentucky Derby without a compelling reason. “Therefore, his expected presence in Louisville on Saturday is significant,” writes Andrew Beyer. “Tagg’s instincts are telling him that Showing Up belongs in the Derby.” Yes … but he’s had only three career starts. That’s a pretty big negative, regardless of Tagg’s confidence.
– More Derby news >

Posted by JC in Racing on 05/02/2006 @ 4:00 pm / Tagged Kentucky Derby / Follow @railbird on Twitter

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.

Posted by JC in News on 05/02/2006 @ 1:00 pm / Follow @railbird on Twitter

← Before After →