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In recent years I have been fortunate to make three trips to the winter Quarter Horse meet at Hialeah Park, where even though the breed changed, the walls-adorned with famous silks and photos of famous people-still told stories. And those walls echoed with new stories, specifically cheers of young fans enthusiastically encouraging horses, ...

Gathered by the field gate, mares and foals wait for the 7:10 a.m. arrival of Clarkland Farm staff. First, the staff lead the mares and foals into their stalls in the barn. Leslie's Lady, 2016 Broodmare of the Year, is among the herd that resides at Fred and Nancy Mitchell's Clarkland near Lexington. Leslie's Lady and her 2017 Medaglia d'Oro ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman With the Del Mar and Saratoga meets scheduled to begin next week, this coming weekend is essentially the ''calm before the storm'' of top-class racing just around the corner. However, that doesn't mean that this weekend is lacking in excitement, for there are several notable graded ...

In a game marked by incredible highs and insufferable lows, there’s something to be said for consistency in the Thoroughbred industry. A year ago in this space we discussed the life and times of Diane Perkins, a longtime breeder, owner, and trainer of Thoroughbreds in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. She, along with trainer Ignacio Correas ...

When Diane Nelson passed away on July 5 at age 54, her days riding regularly on the tough New York circuit were long forgotten by many. But those who followed racing in the Big Apple on a daily basis remember her as a top rider, who like so many females before her, was never given the opportunity to ride world class horses and compete in ...

By: Erin Shea, @BH_EShea''Thoroughbreds are too high-strung.'' ''Thoroughbreds have horrible habits from being in so many places.'' ''Thoroughbreds are too big and can't make tight turns.'' Those quotes are just a sample that riders of off-track Thoroughbreds have heard while revealing their mounts' former lives. But those who know ...

Could it be that we actually saw the Travers winner, or at least a major threat in the Midsummer Derby, compete on Saturday? Hmm, let’s see, could it be the Dwyer winner Practical Joke, who ran a sensational race, or the 43-1 runner-up Tale of Silence? How about the impressive Iowa Derby winner Hence, who was equally impressive when he won ...

It didn't take long for value-conscious horseplayers to see the benefits of the NYRA Bets Pick 5 rolled out July 4 for players at the advance-deposit wagering site, as well as on-track and in-state players. The winning 50-cent payout was $8,181.75. A look at the comparable win-bet parlay return for the five races involved--$1,620--reveals the ...

Racing fans, in their own innocent and well-meaning way, can be selfish. And when I say racing fans, I am covering a broad spectrum, from the casual fan to the media. When we choose our icons, it is usually from the heart as much as it is performance and the perception we have of greatness, for which we all have our own criteria. My ...