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It was July 20, 1968. The entire racing world was focused on Aqueduct Racetrack, where Damascus and Dr. Fager were meeting for the fourth time in the Brooklyn Handicap, in what was regarded as one of the most volatile and intense rivalries of all time. When Damascus crossed the finish line 2 1/2 lengths ahead of Dr. Fager, I stood in the ...

Usually a handicap race on a Thursday afternoon wouldn’t attract that much interest around the editorial department of Blood-Horse. However, the race Feb. 25 at Meydan Racecourse featured the star attraction California Chrome, 2014 Horse of the Year.The 5-year-old Cal-bred, now owned by Perry and Denise Martin, Taylor Made, and several other ...

1 Mohaymen Kiaran McLaughlin Tapit—Justwhistledixie, by Dixie Union We’ve heard of horses peaking too soon, but this time it looks like the Kentucky Derby may be peaking too soon, with the classic East-West showdown of unbeaten horses taking place in the Florida Derby instead of the first Saturday in May. Bonus or no bonus, that’s a long way ...

You remember the episode of Seinfeld when George Costanza was told the girl he had just dated had missed her period. In a matter of seconds, his face went from shock to revelation to ecstasy: “Oh, my God! I can’t believe it. I’m a father. I did it. My boys can swim!” In some ways, breeders with shares in American Pharoah could be heard ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman When it comes to handicapping races, six-horse fields aren't usually very hard to analyze, but the $400,000 Xpressbet.com Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II) on Saturday at Gulfstream Park could prove to be an exception. The second of three official Kentucky Derby prep races being held ...

1 Mohaymen Kiaran McLaughlin Tapit—Justwhistledixie, by Dixie Union After working a half in :47 3/5, which was faster than McLaughlin was expecting, he had a nice easy half-mile breeze in :49 3/5 as he begins his final preparation for the Feb. 27 Fountain of Youth, where he will take on a number of new faces who are looking to make an impact ...

The growth of Central Kentucky into the country's hub for Thoroughbred breeding is owed in no small part to the arrival 140 years ago of veterinarian Dr. Edward Thomas Hagyard. Hagyard opened a veterinary hospital Feb. 19, 1876, along Short Street in downtown Lexington soon after he'd been called upon to treat a prized shorthorn bull on a farm ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman Although this weekend is a relatively quiet one in terms of major racing action, racing fans will nevertheless be treated to a stellar renewal of the $400,000 Veterans Ford Risen Star Stakes (gr. II) at Fair Grounds, the first Kentucky Derby prep race of the year that will offer ...

With the Hall of Fame Nominating Committee diligently trying to come up with horses worthy to be on this year’s ballot, we could be looking at two of the surest bets in a long time – that Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra will be elected to the Hall in their first year of eligibility. So let’s take a break from the Derby trail and turn the clocks ...