Railbird 2004–2019

News Archive

Tuesday Hit-and-Run

– The Jockeys’ Guild continues to recover from the frayed relationships and depleted coffers of the Wayne Gertmenian era. “It has been difficult,” said jockey Jon Court, one of 27 jockeys elected to the Guild’s Senate last week. “Some people like to hang on. But we were literally able to take that skeleton and throw it out.”
– At Woodbine, 35-year-old apprentice Dean Deverell wins four races in a week.
– Happy Ticket will face top older distaffer Oonagh Maccool on Saturday in the Fleur de Lis Handicap at Churchill Downs. “Obviously, the other mare is awfully good,” said owner Stewart Madison. “But one thing I know for sure is that my horse will definitely show up.”
– In the first Belmont since 2000 without the Derby or Preakness winner entered, the race’s TV ratings dropped 22% from 2005.
– What people really want to know about racing: “The people out there want to know what a horse eats, how a horse exercises, how he lives, what she does when she’s not training or racing. They long to find out about the people on horses’ backs or at their sides. People want to read Michael Matz’ life story. They want to hear what Edgar Prado thinks. They want Peter Brette to tell them what Barbaro feels like when he trots. What does a Kentucky Derby winner trot like? Now there’s something they can identify with at the PTA meeting.”

Posted in Jockeys' Insurance, News on June 13, 2006

Bernardini Will Skip Belmont

– Preakness winner Bernardini will skip the Belmont, said Darley USA president Jimmy Bell. “Bernardini has had three races in quick succession, and Sheikh Mohammed feels that the colt deserves a break before his next target, which will be determined in due course.” Races being considered for the colt include the Haskell and Travers. Without the Derby or the Preakness winners in the Belmont, the last leg of the Triple Crown series will be starless. That’s bad news for TV ratings and NYRA maybe, but good news for horseplayers: This year’s race should be a competitive one.
– Lost in the Fog is headed to Churchill.
– In his first workout since suffering an injury earlier this year, Corinthian breezed three furlongs :38 at Belmont this morning. Trainer Jimmy Jerkens is hopeful that the talented cold will race before the end of the Belmont meet on July 22. As long as there are no setbacks in his training, it’s possible Corinthian could start in the Dwyer on July 4.
– Another possible for the Dwyer is the undefeated Discreet Cat, who would be making his first start since winning the UAE Derby in that race. “The Dwyer is the race we’re kind of pointing for,” said assistant trainer Rick Mattee. “The timing should work out good and it’s a mile and a sixteenth.”
– Balance will have surgery on Saturday to remove a bone chip in her ankle. “They say it’s very small … the way it looks in the x-rays it doesn’t look like she’ll be out too long — maybe 75 days,” said trainer David Hofmans.
– Trainer John Servis and owner Rick Porter split up this week. “I’m all right with it,” said Servis, who declined further comment. “We left on good terms.” The 26 horses that Porter had with Servis will be moved to several other trainers, including Kiaran McLaughlin and Tom Albertrani. Round Pond, winner of the Azeri Breeders’ Cup, will go to Michael Matz’s barn.

Posted in News, Triple Crown on May 25, 2006

Noted: May 9

– Trainer Bob Holthus said Lawyer Ron will likely skip the Preakness because of some inflammation in a hind ankle. “We’re probably going to have to give him a little time off,” said Holthus. “It’s nothing serious but we’re probably going to have to pass up the Preakness.”
– Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Shirocco made an impressive return to racing on Sunday, winning the Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket by 3 1/2 lengths. “This was a good start,” said trainer Andre Fabre. Shirocco is being pointed to the Arc d’Triomphe and may start in the Turf again this year.
– In his first recorded US workout since finishing second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Henny Hughes breezed three furlongs in :37.1 at Belmont on Monday.

Posted in News on May 9, 2006

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 in News on May 3, 2006

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 in News on May 2, 2006