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Sometimes, the true spirit of horse racing is not what happens on the racetrack, but what happens in one’s heart off the racetrack. Was the enduring memory of Zenyatta’s Breeders’ Cup Classic victory her dramatic run from last to first or the frenzy of emotion and flowing tears in the grandstand? Was the memory of Rachel Alexandra’s ...

JUVENILE TURF SPRINT – Although one might think this race is a vehicle for longshots, that doesn’t seem to be the case this year. Wesley Ward is holding a strong hand with the undefeated Futurity winner Four Wheel Drive and the filly Kimari, who has won stakes at Saratoga and Keeneland, on the front end and rallying from ninth, and was ...

CLASSIC – Regardless of how many horses I feel have a shot to win, I am going to stick with VINO ROSSO. It doesn’t make sense to turn back now after a year and a half of supporting this horse, first as my top ranked Kentucky Derby horse and now as my BC Classic horse. He looks like he finally is peaking, and at the right time, especially ...

There’s a lot on the line as the Thoroughbred industry approaches the 36th running of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, held this year for the 14th time in Southern California and for the 10th time at Santa Anita Park. There was a lot on the line, too, in 1984 when the first Breeders’ Cup was held at a refurbished Hollywood Park. It’s ...

For a Bob Baffert-trained horse who will be the likely favorite for the Breeders’ Cup Classic, you would think that McKinzie would have a stronger fan base, especially considering Baffert won three consecutive Classics from 2014-16 and this year’s Breeders’ Cup is being run at his home track. But many of the experts still have reservations ...

Pre-entries for the Breeders’ Cup have been announced, and the World Championships are just days away (Nov. 1-2) at Santa Anita Park. It should be a cause for celebration and anticipation. However, the lead-up to this year’s Breeders’ Cup is high on apprehension and not on handicapping and breeders’ awards. It’s been that kind of year. The ...

In the 2010 Breeders' Cup Classic, Mike Smith was devastated when he just got beat on Zenyatta, ending the great mare's 19-race unbeaten streak. Smith was in tears afterward, feeling he gave her a poor ride and let her down. The following year, he was back in the Classic on a 14-1 pick-up mount named Drosselmeyer, a come-from-behind horse ...

There’s no question that the Thoroughbred racing business is a risky proposition. The stories published in the general media these days focus on the number of equine fatalities and not the snappy comments a trainer makes in the winner’s circle after a major stakes event.  However, there are positive signs. In the last few weeks we’ve ...

Once upon a time there were two young horses frolicking about in the field at Glennwood Farm in Versailles, Ky. They were both the same color, both had excellent parentage, and both were headed to the Keeneland September yearling sale. One sold for $410,000 and the other for $500,000, giving John and Tanya Gunther, who operate Glennwood Farm, ...

On the final weekend of “Win and You’re In” races across the country, and in Europe, a lot of talent earned their way to Santa Anita Park for the Nov. 1-2 Breeders’ Cup World Championships. While it’s certainly an accomplishment for an owner to get a horse to the big dance at year’s end, having multiple starters is a longshot at best. Don’t tell ...