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A woman from New Jersey, who’ll remain nameless, waited until the fourth race to redeem her coupons for free long-sleeved tee-shirts.  At 11:30 am, the lines wound from the top of the stretch to the finish line and back again to one redemption outpost and from Big Red Spring to the far eastern grandstand entrance gate and back again to the ...

Earlier this year, Larry Jones decided to prepare his barn help for what seemed to be the inevitable. Many talented horses have passed his way, but the one he wanted to discuss with them was different. This one could be a life changer and he felt he had to share that with his crew. Jones’ life had already taken a dramatic turn when he returned ...

Maggie Wolfendale, the NYRA broadcast analyst, doesn’t actually see the horses at the same time she describes them.  She prefers a remote area in the paddock to present her observations, one away from distractions.  The other day, in describing a horse, she uttered the awkward remark, “He looks bigger, upwards-wise.”  On Saturday, ...

The long summer polo season, which began July 8, headed into the final two days with The Celebrate Saratoga Cup in direct competition with the racecourse.  A 2:30 pm late post time caused the 5:30 pm polo match to begin as the horses entered the track for the seventh race, a 5-1/2 furlong $42,000 sprint on the turf for New York ...

This is one time logic should be thrown out the proverbial window. Yes, it makes more sense for Uncle Mo to point for the Kelso mile and Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. But if he does go that route, then all one can say is, big deal.Be honest now, can you name off the top of your head the four previous winners of the Dirt Mile? How about three or even ...

It's Havre de Grace versus the boys in the Woodward Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga. Will she take it? If not, then who? How will the others finish? Need more information about the Woodward? Read the race preview, or watch That Handicapping Show. writeRanker(''http://i.bloodhorse.com/xml/ranking/2011WoodwardOrder.xml''); To participate, use ...

The focus of attention at Saratoga was not on the racetrack but in a room at the City Center. CEO Charlie Hayward and Turnberry Consulting’s Paul Roberts, who was hired in 2008 to help NYRA envision the future, laid out several ideas before the public about how capital improvement money could be spent once it’s generated from Aqueduct casino ...

It’s been awhile since I’ve done a retired Thoroughbred spotlight, and when I heard the story of Nikki Egyed’s Flying Cayman, I thought he was a perfect candidate. Egyed owns and operates a successful riding stable called Silver Shadow Training Services in San Luis Obispo, Calif., and Flying Cayman, a 9-year-old chestnut gelding by Fly So ...

In addition to internationally known speakers on Thoroughbred pedigrees and genetics, next week's 2011 Thoroughbred Pedigree, Genetics & Performance Conference will feature experts on equine physiology and biomechanics, and how these elements relate to performance. The conference will be held at the Marriott Griffin Gate hotel in Lexington, Ky., ...

Life returned to the racecourse on a day NYRA hung a skeleton in the grandstand and parked a hearse out in front.  The Abby Todd Dancers of Albany, NY performed “Thriller” between races.  Their dance began with a pile of humans pretending they were dead.  Children wore costumes as if it was Halloween.  It was pretend ...