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We’re all aware by now that Game On Dude controls his fate when it comes to Horse of the Year. It’s pretty simple: win the Breeders’ Cup Classic and you are Horse of the Year. Even a good second could nail down the honors. A sound defeat and it’s up for grabs. Then you can turn your attention to the Distaff and the Mile, where Royal Delta, ...

In a rare moment of social media accord, it was mostly agreed upon that the Breeders' Cup Classic fields from either 1998 or 2004 were the best not only for the Western Hemisphere's richest race but also in the history of the North American Turf! I'll muddy the waters a little bit and include 2009 in the discussion because of the international ...

We've always thought that having the right stallion for the prevailing environment is a major key to success, and that's well illustrated by Cause to Believe, who is tearing it up in British Columbia this year. Cause to Believe was represented by only nine first-crop foals in 2010, but seven of them have reached the track and all seven are ...

Don’t be surprised if the Keeneland paddock crowd around the tree listing “number six” is a bit thick before the Sycamore Stakes (gr. III) Thursday, Oct. 17.That tree will be the temporary home of 9-year-old Rahystrada, who will try to secure a Keeneland stakes win for the first time in his eight seasons of racing in the 1 1/2-mile turf test for ...

An interesting statistic came out of the International Simulcasting Conference held earlier this month in Lexington. Hank Zeitlin, president and COO of Equibase, reported that due to the shrinking foal crop the number of starters in Thoroughbred races in 2016 is projected to be about 39% less than it was in 2003.Based on racing through the ...

The breeding maxim ''Return to the sire the best blood of his dam'' has been attributed to longtime Darby Dan Farm manager Olin Gentry. Gentry wasn't the first to suggest this breeding theory, indeed there is evidence to suggest that it first came into livestock management via the Bedouins in upgrading Arabian stock centuries ago. The theory is ...

Point of Entry wins the Gulfstream Park Turf (Photo: Adam Coglianese) The program was set up with the idea that it would have to be aggressive, with only one goal—the Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT)—in mind. For any other runner it would have been a tall task, but five-time grade I winner Point of Entry sailed along his road to recovery from a ...

“Winner’s circle; Ken Ramsey speaking.”Ken Ramsey’s greeting on the phone shortly after Kitten Kaboodle’s victory in the Jessamine Stakes pretty much summed up the amazing run of victories he’s been on this year, especially the last four months.It’s as if Disney has made a feline version of “1001 Dalmatians.” Racing has been literally overrun by ...

By the numbers, Ken and Sarah Ramsey had a pretty good 2012 as Thoroughbred owners with 117 wins, 98 seconds, and 79 thirds from 555 starts. Ken Ramsey walks Kitten's Dumplings into the winners circle. Photo: Georgia Keogh For the 12 months, their stable accounted for earnings of $4.83 million with average earnings of $8,717 per start. Their ...

You think there is a lot riding on Ed Stanco’s decision whether or not to run Princess of Sylmar in the Distaff? If he doesn’t run, she’ll most likely still be the favorite for the Eclipse Award for 3-Year-Old Filly regardless of what Beholder does, having beaten her fair and square in the Kentucky Oaks. Her status supposedly will be decided ...