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(Originally published in the September 10, 2011 issue of The Blood-Horse magazine. Feel free to share your own thoughts and opinions at the bottom of the column.)  By Lenny ShulmanAs thousands of visitors from around the continent and the world descend on Kentucky for Keeneland’s September yearling sale and October race meeting and ...

Rustin and Juliana Kretz are a little young at 32 and 27, respectively, to have a bucket list. But because they started on the list early with a trip to the 2010 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), they now own about 25 horses. It took only a year for them to experience their first stakes victory when John Johny Jak took the Harry F. ...

The Keeneland September yearling sale is the largestauction of its kind in the world. Because it offers so many horses of so many bodyand pedigree types, it is this country's best gauge of the health of theyearling market. Last year, the auction switched to a new format forits select sessions, which seemed to help boost business in the portion of ...

With her comfortable win against males in last weekend's Woodward, Havre de Grace confirmed her connections' belief that she is on a Horse of the Year path, and took a major step toward a berth in the Breeders' Cup Classic. All that lies between a chance at making it happen is a good showing in the Oct. 1 Beldame, which should set the filly up for ...

If in 1863 John Morrissey didn’t believe that change was necessary, Saratoga horse racing fans would be watching harness races and looking into the north at horses running instead of the south.  The sun set in the west on another year of splendid Saratoga thoroughbred sport, the third season of 40 long days in its history and ...

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 ...