BloodHorse.com

As part of the Blood-Horse's 100th anniversary issue on Aug. 6, I have been asked to list (with links) my 15 favorite Hangin With Haskin blogs. This was an extremely difficult task, as it's like choosing which of your children you like the best. Here are the 15 I have come up with, in no particular order, and the reasons why each was ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman Although opening weekend at Saratoga was excellent, the racing action really heats up this Saturday, with four graded stakes races on the agenda. Two of the most intriguing from a handicapping perspective are the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (gr. I) for older sprinters and the Jim ...

We haven’t seen anything quite like this in a long time…at least the beginnings of it. But on Aug. 20, California Chrome and Dortmund, who put on quite a show in Saturday’s San Diego Handicap, which could signal a terrific rivalry in the making, will hook up again, with the towering Dortmund trying to avenge his tough head defeat at the hands ...

It can’t be a very old adage because it only applies to the commercial era of horse racing, not to the time when it was the Sport of Kings. “Keep your best horses in the worst company,” the saying goes. Loosely translated the theory means that owners and trainers can better pad their bottom lines by racking up victories while not overexerting ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman After months of waiting, racing has finally returned to Saratoga! The meet will begin on July 22nd and continue with a terrific card on July 23rd, led by two graded stakes races. We'll focus our attention on the Saturday card, starting with the Diana Stakes for fillies and mares. ...

Traditionally stakes races have been the benchmark of quality in Thoroughbred racing.Earnings are important, too, with the accepted criteria for ranking the leading sires year to year continuing to be the purse money earned by their progeny. But when assessing a horse’s status as an athlete or its potential to be a successful stallion or ...

As part of the Blood-Horse's 100th anniversary issue on Aug. 6, I have been asked to list (with links) my 15 favorite Hangin With Haskin blogs. This was an extremely difficult task, as it's like choosing which of your children you like the best. I am posting one of those blogs to introduce the upcoming “15 favorites” blog, which will be posted on ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman I hope you're ready for another great weekend of racing action! We've got an impressive slate of stakes races on the schedule, including the $750,000 Delaware Handicap (gr. I), and on Friday, the much-anticipated summer meet at Del Mar will begin. Plus, I've found a first-time ...

The more people I come in contact with the more I discover how many are not aware of the history of Saratoga. They love the ambiance, the beauty, and the overall feeling they get being there and can perhaps sense a small portion of the track’s and the city’s history. But few know the sheer depth of it.So, for those who are planning on visiting the ...

Those who say they’re retiring from Thoroughbreds are kidding themselves. The latest example of that came over the last few days with the news of the re-sale of Wimborne Farm near Paris, Ky., and its former owner, Diane Perkins, winning the Arlington Handicap (gr. IIIT) July 9 in Chicago with her homebred Kasaqui.Perkins was enjoying herself the ...