A Fair Grounds stakes recap (Hodges Photography photos): New Orleans (December 4, 2021) – In a field full of speed, the late turn of Castleton Lyon’s Brooke Marie proved best in Saturday’s $75,000 Pan Zareta Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. Elle Z led every step of the way except the last inch, as she was corralled by […] Continue Reading
Oaklawn Park press release (Oaklawn Park/Coady photos): HOT SPRINGS, AR (Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021) – Trainer Phil Bauer has had Saturday’s $150,000 Mistletoe Stakes circled on his calendar for a while and his plan came together perfectly when Rigney Racing LLC’s Mariah’s Princess drew off to win the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-old fillies impressively. Ridden confidently by Martin Garcia […] Continue Reading
A Churchill Downs/Turfway Park press release (above: rendering of Turfway Park’s future grandstand/gaming facility, which won’t be open for this meet): FLORENCE, Ky. (Monday, Nov. 29, 2021) – Thoroughbred racing on the Kentucky circuit shifts from Churchill Downs in Louisville to its sister track Turfway Park Racing & Gaming, 94 miles to the northeast in Florence, on Thursday, Dec. 2 […] Continue Reading
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021) — Lucky 7 Stable’s Mike Mackin, horse owner/celebrity bettor Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale and Kentucky Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer are among the guests as Kentucky Racing Spotlight presented by the Kentucky HBPA debuts Friday. The weekly radio program will air 6-7 p.m. ET Fridays through March 4 on Louisville’s ESPN 680/105.7, the […] Continue Reading
Above: Jason Barkley and partner Shelbi Kurtz at Trackside training center. Jennie Rees photo LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021) — A trio of thirty-something trainers has been elected as newcomers to the Kentucky HBPA board with the addition of Jason Barkley, Norm Casse and Bentley Combs. Rick Hiles was re-elected as Kentucky HBPA president, with Frank Jones re-elected as […] Continue Reading
Churchill Downs press release (Churchill Downs/Coady Photography photo of Smile Happy): LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021) – With the Kentucky Derby still 23 weeks away, the pari-mutuel field of “All Other 3-Year-Old Colts and Geldings” closed as the 3-5 favorite in Pool 1 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager (KDFW) and Smile Happy was the 8-1 second choice. Smile […] Continue Reading
Churchill Downs stakes recap (Coady Photography photos): Video: Interviews with Mike Mackin and Kenny McPeek LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021) – Trainer Kenny McPeek had to scratch Tiz the Bomb, the 3-1 morning line favorite in Saturday’s 95th running of the $400,000 Kentucky Jockey Club (Grade II) because of a minor ailment, but Plan B worked out just fine […] Continue Reading
Churchill Downs stakes recap (Coady Photography photos): Video: Jose Ortiz and Darley/Godolphin USA’s Michael Banahan Video: Brendan Walsh on Maxfield LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Friday, Nov. 26, 2021) – Multiple graded stakes winner Maxfield, one of the top older horses in North America, capped his racing career in style Friday at Churchill Downs as the 4-year-old colt swept past favorite Midnight Bourbon […] Continue Reading
A Fair Grounds stakes recap by Kevin Kilroy (Photo above of Just Might winning the Thanksgiving Classic by Hodges Photography): New Orleans, LA (November 25, 2021) – The outside draw gave jockey Colby Hernandez options, but seeing Just Might’s effort in The 97th running of the $150,000 Thanksgiving Classic, it didn’t seem to matter. There was no asking needed—only the […] Continue Reading
Oaklawn Park’s barn notes authored by Robert Yates (Coady Photography photo of Whitmore winning Oaklawn’s 2020 Count Fleet Stakes), with Kentucky horsemen, horses prominent: Whitmore won Oaklawn’s Hot Springs Stakes for older sprinters a record four times and if the feisty 8-year-old gelding cooperates, he’ll be leading the field again in 2022. Whitmore has returned to Arkansas, but instead of […] Continue Reading
English
Spanish