JC / Railbird

Miscellany Archive

Headlines: May 3

– Owner Michael Gill to leave racing. Again. (BH)
– Magna posted a $4.1 million loss for the first quarter of 2005 (DRF), but chairman Frank Stronach sees a payoff of $12 billion annually within 10 years if US racing regulations are relaxed. “We know that the upside is incredible,” said Stronach. (Mail)
– Horses trained on Keeneland’s Polytrack surface made 28% more starts and won 85% more races at Turfway this winter than they did a year earlier. (WSJ — sub. req.)
– Trainer Richard Dutrow, Jr. will begin serving a 60-day suspension on June 1 and pay a $5,000 fine, as a result of two medication positives and a claiming rule violation. Dutrow will saddle likely favorite Sis City for the Kentucky Oaks on Friday. (DRF)
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Posted in Miscellany on May 3, 2005

Headlines: May 2

– A little history: “There have been numerous East-West Derby showdowns, most recently Sunday Silence-Easy Goer in 1989, but the first — and the best — matched future Hall of Famers Swaps and Nashua in 1955.” (CJ)
– The inside track isn’t where you want to be at Lone Star. “For the last two days … no winner has run along the inside, close to the inner rail, for most of the race. Being close to the rail, in fact, has been a conspicuous disadvantage.” (ST)
– Lawyers for Marty Wygod have subpoenaed CHRB executive director Ingrid Fermin to give a deposition regarding the CHRB complaint against Wygod following the Santa Anita Derby. Wygod won’t say that he’s planning to sue the board, but did tell Bill Christine, “There was a conspiracy to get me.” (LAT)
– Throughbred Thank You Fund sends 400 soldiers to Derby. (BCT)
– More Kentucky Derby news …
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Posted in Miscellany on May 2, 2005

Headlines: May 1

– Scrappy T wins the Withers at Aqueduct, and could be headed to the Preakness. The first three favorites in the race, B.B. Best, Survivalist, and Proud Accolade, all finished off the board. (TT)
– The newly-renovated Churchill Downs opened to throngs on Saturday. More than 15,000 fans turned out, wagering more than $1.7 million on opening day races. (CJ)
– More on Belmont’s first 100 years (includes slideshow). (NYT)
– What will likely be a record number of foals are being born in Pennsylvania this year, as breeders anticipate bigger purses and bonuses for state-breds in coming years. (Call)
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Posted in Miscellany on May 1, 2005