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Kentucky Derby contender Goldencents walks off the van with Jack Sisterson (all photos Claire Novak) LOUISVILLE, Ky. (April 27, 2013) -- Moving like a tremendous machine, Team O'Neill arrived at Churchill Downs around 1:20 p.m. on Friday afternoon. They were a year older, perhaps a year wiser, and a year removed from the unbelievable triumph they ...

By Frank Angst LEXINGTON, Ky (April 26, 2013) While Ken Ramsey has reached racing’s heights, including a victory in the 2005 Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) with Roses in May and on April 25 joining a club of just 18 owners who have earned a gold tray from Keeneland for at least eight graded stakes wins at the Lexington track, the ...

The charm of horse racing lies primarily in the animals that do it—their beauty, grace, power and their degree of class. But there is an undeniable attraction to the colorful human beings that make it happen. The purpose of this blog is to share my stories about some of these characters. My requisites in the selection: I had dealings ...

What better way to kick off live Kentucky Derby coverage than with a photo gallery of some of the major players and some early observations. Thursday and Friday have been sort of the calm before the storm, literally, as beautiful crisp weather is expected to turn a bit nasty over the weekend when the majority of final works are scheduled, ...

The Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) name game is something fun that I've done on this blog for the last few years leading up to the Run for the Lilies. I research as many Oaks contenders as I can to find out their name meanings, and I usually get some pretty interesting stories! Following are some of the explanations I received on this year's stellar field ...

Photo: Anne M. EberhardtStorm Cat (1983-2013) News today of the passing of Storm Cat at the age of 30 gave pause to reflect on how a stallion can be a constant presence for half a lifetime (indeed, if you are a member of a younger generation, it must seem as if he's always been there). I first saw Storm Cat back in July 1987 at ...

Will VanMeter at Saratoga with Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird (photo courtesy Will VanMeter) LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 24, 2013) -- The meet may be coming to a close at Keeneland, but training goes on year-round for many who stable here. One newcomer to the scene will be former D. Wayne Lukas assistant Will VanMeter, who earned his license ...

Saturday April 20, 2013 Arson Squad visited Keeneland with Michael Blowen to help raise awareness of Old Friends Retirement facility and educate fans on the importance of Thoroughbred aftercare. [brightcove videoid=''2317212910001''] Aside from the crowd, Michael and I were talking about how Arson Squad was doing and Michael told stories ...

For at least 18 years The Blood-Horse has been providing the industry with its most comprehensive schedule of stakes races in the National Stakes Conditions Book quarterly supplement. We've faced challenges for a couple of years now in compiling the NSCB because racetracks have begun waiting closer and closer to the start of their meets to set ...

(Originally published in the April 23, 2013 issue of The Blood-Horse magazine. Feel free to share your own thoughts and opinions at the bottom of the column.) By Eric Mitchell - @BH_EMitchell on Twitter The Road to the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) points system seems to have survived its inaugural year without generating much controversy. ...