BloodHorse.com

We could sense it from the moment we opened the doors to the Keeneland sales pavilion for Book 1 of the September yearling sale. While the feeling wasn’t exactly the crackling, electric atmosphere of the old days of the July yearling sales in the 1980s or of certain nights when the power of suggestion takes over at Saratoga at the Humphrey S. ...

Having been involved in horse racing for 50 years, 48 of them professionally, I naturally have amassed many memories, from the magnificent champions to the spectacular and heart-pounding victories. Witnessing the grace, power, brilliance, and most of all courage of the Thoroughbred is a gift that should be cherished. But there is one aspect ...

Winning a grade 1 event with a juvenile is no small feat. For the same connections to win the same race three times in the span of nine years means there’s more at play than happenstance. Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas and owners Robert Baker and William Mack turned the triple Sept. 4 at Saratoga when their Sporting Chance beneath Luis Saez ...

In speaking with consignors and buyers as they hustle to get ready for the start of the 12-session Keeneland September sale, we were reminded of a series in The Blood-Horse that ran before the September sale in 2000. The concept—dubbed “Reflections”—was simple: gather a handful of the great sale consignors, put them in a room with a recording ...

Rachel Alexandra was led out of her barn, her coat glistening and dappled and a bit lighter than when she was racing. As she stood placidly in the morning sun, she was not bothered in the slightest by the two visitors fawning over her. She has held her weight extremely well, and she still has that same bright eye her fans remember during her ...

Watching Saratoga’s Aug. 19 Alabama Stakes (G1) from afar, we were reassured to see a healthy crowd in upstate New York taking in a delightful summer day of racing. The swells filled America’s grandest grandstand and watched as venerable Claiborne Farm, with partner Adele Dilschneider, took the day’s top prize in the $600,000 race with homebred ...

August is among the busiest months in the Thoroughbred world. This past week alone saw the two-night run of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select sale reach new heights, which was followed by the two-session Fasig-Tipton New York-bred sale of selected yearlings. On Aug. 13 The Jockey Club hosted the 65th annual Round Table Conference on Matters ...

Why spend a million dollars on an untried yearling with an uncertain future when you can buy a piece of history that will endure forever? We’re not talking just any piece of history, but items that represent three superstars of The Turf, Secretariat, Dr. Fager, and Arts and Letters. These items will be unveiled for display at Equestricon in ...

The Automotive industry has been a key component of the U.S. economy for nearly a century, and one of the biggest trends over the last two years has been the demise of the sedan. Lower oil prices and the feeling that a larger “crossover,” SUV, or pick-up truck are safer are a few of the reasons new buyers are walking past the traditional four-door ...