BloodHorse.com

The way rule changes are implemented is every bit as important as the changes themselves. California's recent adoption of stricter whip use guidelines July 1 is a laudable example of how long-term planning and cooperation can produce positive changes for racing. The most recent debate over whip use in racing dates back to 1998 when the then-New ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') @J_Keelerman In what promises to be one of the most exciting races of the summer, the top-notch pair of Divisidero and Bolo will square off in a battle for supremacy in the $1,250,000 Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes (gr. I), a ten-furlong turf race at Belmont Park that is expected to provide a clear-cut ...

Though the numbers certainly can't be considered robust, average field size at racetracks in five states in the Mid-Atlantic region and neighboring New York is up from the comparable period in 2014. It's a surprise given the continued impact from smaller Thoroughbred foal crops and a glut of racing dates in a compact region in which shipping from ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (“Keelerman”) @J_Keelerman A terrific Saturday of racing awaits on June 27th, highlighted by 11 graded stakes races across the U.S. and the prestigious Irish Derby (Ire-I) across the waters in Ireland. Each one promises to be an exciting race, but in terms of great betting races, it’s hard to top the $500,000 Gold Cup at ...

When does a yearling consignor know how good his or her prospects are for upcoming sale? Consignors spend so much time prepping these horses or monitoring their progress on another’s farm, one might expect a good benchmark would be known weeks, if not months, ahead of time. Oh, no. The life of a young Thoroughbred is an ever-changing landscape. ...

Current Standings 1 Lola - 7992 Eric Rickard - 6983 Betty S - 6914 fitzpony - 6725 Porter - 6716 Curlin08 - 6707 The Don - 6578 Secretariat - 6349 Keelerman - 63310 Magnoliagirl - 62911 Thomas McDonald - 62712 Akita Girl - 62313 English Pete - 60414 Aluminaut - 60014 The ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') @J_Keelerman It will be a Triple Crown reunion of sorts in the $500,000 Ohio Derby on Saturday at Thistledown, a race that has drawn six starters from the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. Although it’s not technically a graded stakes, there’s no doubt that this race is of that quality in every other ...

Joe De Francis understands like few others the tough decision being weighed by the Maryland Jockey Club over the future of Pimlico Race Course.“From a purely business point of view, it does not make a lot of sense to pour your resources into two racetracks,” De Francis said recently during a lunch break at the inaugural Pan American Conference in ...

 With the announcement June 15 of Steve's resignation from Blood-Horse to pursue other opportunities, I found the first column he did for the magazine. In this ''Final Turn'' column from the Dec. 26, 1998, issue, Steve talks about his transition at the time from his longtime association with The Morning Telegraph and Daily Racing Form. It ...

 Triple Crown winner American Pharaoh returned to the race track for the first time since winning the June 6 Belmont Stakes. ORDER THIS PHOTO   ORDER THIS PHOTO Based in Barn 33 at Churchill, American Pharoah went to the track lead by Jimmy Barnes with Jorge Alvarez up. D. Wayne Lukas stopped by to chat with Bob Baffert while the ...