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While there is plenty of Thoroughbred racing taking place across the country, the opportunities to watch it live are in short supply. Ellis Park, in western Kentucky, started its summer stand July 2 with limited spectators—one has to purchase a seat in advance and provide a phone number for potential contact tracing in the COVID-19 era. Management ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman Could an ordinary allowance race wind up producing the winners of two Road to the Kentucky Derby prep races this week? It might seem unlikely, but this is horse racing, and stranger things have happened. With less than two months remaining until the Run for the Roses, the prep race ...

This reprint from six years ago is to commemorate the 45th anniversary of one of racing's darkest days, the death of the legendary Ruffian. But it is not just about the Ruffian—Foolish Pleasure match race. It is about Ruffian's life and career, partly through personal experience, highlighted by her gut-wrenching battle with ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman There are plenty of horses to consider betting in the $500,000 Metropolitan Handicap (G1) on Independence Day at Belmont Park. That's pretty much standard for the ''Met Mile,'' which has long ranked as one of the most prestigious and productive races on the North American racing ...

The word 'remarkable' is defined as: ''notably or conspicuously unusual; extraordinary.'' The first horse that comes to mind that fits that description is Forego. As you will read, his races, his combination of speed and weight-carrying ability over a prolonged period of time, and his statistics are truly remarkable. On July 4, the one-time ...

For small partnership groups a score at any level is exciting. To land a grade 3 event—one worth $500,000 amid the current pandemic landscape—is a thrill beyond compare. That is just what happened to Brad Rives and company June 26 at JACK Thistledown Racino when Dean Martini, a $50,000 claim May 17, jumped up and won the Ohio Derby (G3). Rives is ...

One thing you have to say for racing today, there is plenty of TV coverage, from TVG and MSG to several of the major networks. And the on-air talent comes not only from the broadcasting industry, but from all walks of the sport.We saw the roots of racing’s TV coverage when trainer Frank Wright and former exercise rider Charlsie Cantey became ...

1. Tiz the Law: Although the competition in the Belmont Stakes (G1) was suspect and several of the leading contenders just didn't show up, he again put on a stunning visual performance, and many trainers have to be figuring out a way how to beat this machine of a horse. So far this colt has exhibited no flaws and always seems to be in the ...

By J. Keeler Johnson (''Keelerman'') Twitter: @J_Keelerman The Road to the Kentucky Derby continues on Saturday with the $500,000 Ohio Derby (G3) at Thistledown, a 1 1/8-mile test awarding 20 qualification points to the winner. The Kentucky Derby points are a nice prize, but the Ohio Derby's main draw is its substantial monetary value. At a ...

There certainly hasn’t been much usual about 2020, and the June 20 Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) was just another example of it. If there were any sense of normalcy, it is that the winner of the Longines Acorn Stakes (G1)—Gamine—and the Belmont winner—Tiz the Law—lived up to their odds-on prices and delivered visually stunning ...