In 2011, the British Horseracing Authority adopted a new rule, in which a jockey in a flat race was not permitted to hit a horse more than seven times and no more than five times in the final furlong....
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The journey of a lifetime is often measured by the amount of obstacles one must overcome, and that is why American Pharoah's thrilling victory in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) brought such a wave of raw emotion from the Zayat family, ranging from tears to unbounded jubilation. ...
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Ok, the time has finally come to try to answer the burning questions that make Kentucky Derby 141 one of the most intriguing Thoroughbred events seen in a very long time....
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Well, we got through the post position draw, and several interesting scenarios have emerged. The most intriguing is not American Pharoah drawing post 18, but fellow Zayat Stables runner Mr. Z, who has had problems with erratic running this year, drawing post 17, And that's a long run from the gate to the first turn....
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Not only were Frosted and Upstart the last two Derby horses to arrive, their plane was delayed about three hours in Florida. But both arrived safe and sound Tuesday evening and were out on the track this morning and feeling good in their respective strong gallops....
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The crowds are beginning to mass on the backstretch, and on Tuesday were treated to a whirlwind of Derby horses training, including new faces Carpe Diem, and mystery horse Mubtaahij. ...
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Following Sunday's rainy, chilly morning, the sun was out Monday morning and the Derby horses were out in full force, including three arrivals from California -- Dortmund, Firing Line, and Bolo -- all of whom looked terrific, as you will see in the photos below. ...
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Not many people who watched American Pharoah breeze five furlongs this morning could believe it when they were told he had worked five furlongs in :58 2/5. The likely Kentucky Derby favorite looked as if he was on cruise control all the way, and the final time and gallop-out seemed to contradict what everyone was seeing....
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Come on, people, forget all these big-name horses and their gaudy records and brilliant performances, it's May 2, it's Mayweather - Pacquiao, it's a knockout. You get it? I repeat, Itsaknockout....
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Images from Steve Haskin from Friday, April 24 at Churchill Downs, which featured a flurry of workouts....
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Peter Beagle wrote in The Last Unicorn, "Great heroes need great sorrow and burdens, or half their greatness goes unnoticed. It is all part of the fairy tale."...
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Mubtaahij, runaway winner of the UAE Derby, was scheduled to fly to the United States tonight, April 15 (early Thursday morning Dubai time), with a stopover in Amsterdam....
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It would take volumes upon volumes to capture the essence of Allen Jerkens, as there were so many aspects of his personality, his horsemanship, and his genius it is difficult to know where to begin....
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Don't act bewildered when your freakishly fast Bellamy Road finishes up the track on the first Saturday in May and a "slowpoke" like Giacomo comes charging by you in the stretch....
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Major steppingstones, such as the Florida Derby, Santa Anita Derby, Wood Memorial, and Arkansas Derby are now just one of many ways of getting to the winner's circle on the first Saturday in May....
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Why is Shared Belief beginning to remind me of a pint-sized Forego, a Black Stallion version of Kelso, and a warrior that rivals John Henry?...
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Keeneland is now back on dirt and that means the Blue Grass Stakes is back to being a major prep for the Kentucky Derby and no longer a haven for grass and synthetic horses looking to back door it into the Run for the Roses....
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Steve Haskin revisits the story of how Tiznow helped inspire a dynasty. ...
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It has been 30 years since a blazingly fast 3-year-old named Spend a Buck changed the face of the Triple Crown....
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This column seemed to be well-received by Secretariat fans last year, so I thought I would reprint it as an annual Birthday present to Penny and all Big Red 's fans who might have missed it last year. Mrs. Chenery celebrates her 93rd birthday on Tuesday, Jan. 27. So let's return to her party one year later....
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This was a time of filled grandstands and of sound and healthy horses, most of whom were coming off much-needed vacations of their own....
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If California Chrome is voted Horse of the Year, it is inconceivable to think that none of his connections will even be an Eclipse finalist....
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Many racing fans today who have lived through nine Triple Crown sweep attempts since 1997 take for granted the 3-year-old media star who reaches out to mainstream America to capture the attention and the hearts of the general public. ...
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There is little doubt that Ahmed Zayat is determined to own Thoroughbreds. And there is no greater qualification when it comes to horse ownership than determination and perseverance, especially in the face of adversity....
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If there is one rewarding aspect of Thoroughbred racing today, it is the number of horses whose lives were changed for the better because of people who cared and their determination to make a difference and prevent a horse from meeting an unfortunate fate....
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