BloodHorse.com

Looking at proposed changes being considered for the multiple medication violation penalty system (MMV), it's not readily clear how these changes—when you just look at factors like reduced points for some infractions—would play out in the real world. But a hypothetical BloodHorse examination that applied the changes being considered ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman When the Breeders' Cup is over, Thanksgiving has passed, and December has begun, racing fans know what time it is--it's time to start thinking about the Kentucky Derby! Every year at this time, I start looking for lightly-raced, up-and-coming young colts that have yet to run in ...

As we flip to the last calendar page of 2016, naturally our focus turns to something we haven’t thought about for quite a while—elections. In the world of Thoroughbreds, it’s time to collect our thoughts and mull over the year that was as we prepare to crown Eclipse Award winners via the ballot box. Thankfully, many of the eventual champions ...

Just when you thought you’ve heard it all. Every year, with the conclusion of the Thanksgiving weekend stakes at Aqueduct and Churchill Downs, the racing portion of the brain shuts down until Derby Dozen kicks in sometime in January. But because racing occupies such a large portion of my brain, there is still room for a few leftover ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman As one of the last grade I races for older horses left to be run in 2016, the $500,000 Clark Handicap (gr. I) at Churchill Downs has drawn a remarkably deep and competitive field, and the nine-furlong event promises to be one of the highlights of a fantastic Thanksgiving week of ...

Spend some time at any Thoroughbred sale and there’s no telling what you will hear. The recent Keeneland November sale left us with an earful. The following are some select sound bites. Whether the sale was good or bad for any particular seller, the overall mood was pretty solid. High-end mares and high-end weanlings brought high-end ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitte: @J_Keelerman With its $1,000,000 purse, the Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes (gr. III) at Delta Downs would be a major race even if it didn't have Kentucky Derby implications, but as an official Kentucky Derby prep race--offering 10 qualification points to the winner--the Jackpot has even more ...