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  Kentucky still has some hurdles to clear, but it looks as though the historical electronic racing game, called Instant Racing, is going to be the industry’s only weapon against the gaming-enhanced purses offered by surrounding racing states.Considering all the effort exerted in the pursuit of casinos, it would be ironic if Instant Racing ...

By Nicole Sauer Trying to pinpoint which of the newest crop of sires will be most successful is a difficult proposition for even the most skilled horsemen. At this point in a stallion's career, there are few statistics that can reliably isolate the leading contenders. The size of the first foal crop, first-crop CI, and first-crop CPI are three of ...

1 Top Billing Shug McGaughey Curlin—Parade Queen, by A.P. Indy He had virtually no chance to win the Fountain of Youth on that speed-biased track and shortened stretch, but did everything you want to see in a Derby horse except pick up enough points to feel secure. And he was beaten by two very fast and talented horses. He can’t afford to ...

The pride that breeders feel for the foals they raise and nurture escalate with every hurdle they clear in their young lives. To see the foals grow into classy, strong, sound, correct, and healthy individuals is a gift in itself and brings great feelings of satisfaction. To see buyers at the sale show interest in them and bid big bucks to get them ...

I’m rarely a one-factor handicapper, but sometimes a particular factor is so glaring and the corresponding price so generous that analysis beyond that one variable just seems like platitude. In the case of Rise Up in the Risen Star Stakes on Saturday at Fair Grounds Race Course (click the stakes name for FREE Brisnet.com Ultimate Past ...

It's well-established the National Handicapping Championship has grown substantially in recent years, so much so that some horseplayers have begun taking a closer look at how it all works, and where the money goes. My experience is limited to local contests at Keeneland, which does a very good job for a very reasonable fee. I don't keep track of ...

Saturday, Gulfstream Park, Race 11, Local Post Time 5:31pm ETThe G2 Fountain of Youth Stakes, 1 and 1/16 miles, Dirt, 3YOBy Alan MannThe Grade 2 Fountain of Youth is the final prep for the Florida Derby, an actual prep (finally) for the Kentucky Derby.  It will be run at a mile and a sixteenth with a short run to the first turn and a ...

By J. Keeler JohnsonIt's an age-old handicapping question—what do you do when the horse you like has drawn a poor post position?Attempting to answer this question is the key to unlocking the winners of the Risen Star Stakes (gr. II) and Besilu Stables Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II), both of which feature well-regarded contenders trapped in far ...

I'm going to do something a bit different from the norm with this blog. Since I'm now handling stud news for the magazine, I attended stallion open houses at Darley, WinStar, Castleton Lyons, and Gainesway in November and January to see some of these guys in person that I write about each week. While I was there, I took a ton of pictures ...