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On 27 Jul 2010 8:46 PM, John writes: ''Why does Rachel Alexandra get an A++, while Zenyatta gets just an A+? Am I missing something?'' Ian's response: Hi John, Thanks for your question. TrueNicks is a sire line nicking program that measures how well a sire line/broodmare sire line cross has fared at producing stakes winners. TrueNicks is a ...

A colleague recently pointed out an interesting story from the July 2010 issue of Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder Incorporating Pacemaker. In a profile of breeders Eric and ''Budgie'' Moller, Jeremy Early explains that the Moller's foundation broodmare, Horama – a 2,100 guineas yearling purchase who won four races at five furlongs – became ancestress ...

(Originally published in the July 31, 2010 issue of The Blood-Horse magazine. Feel free to share your own thoughts and opinions at the bottom of the column.)  By Eric MitchellMonmouth Park’s great experiment may all be for naught. The Jersey Shore racetrack was told last year it needed to do something bold to prove that ...

The Report of the Governor’s Advisory Commission on New Jersey Gaming, Sports and Entertainment dropped like a thud in the middle of a lovely vacation in Sandbridge Beach, Va. It didn’t spoil the retreat, but reading the document did keep me out of the pool for a little while. After re-reading it later—again and again in search of things of ...

We’ve mentioned before that it’s not exactly clear what constitutes the Filly Triple Crown. The Kentucky Oaks (gr. I), Acorn Stakes (gr. I), Mother Goose Stakes (gr. I), and Coaching Club American Oaks (gr. I) would seem to be the primary candidates, which might place the Alabama Stakes (gr. I) as a filly counterpart to the Travers Stakes (gr. ...

  Stacy Hindt posted a wonderful update on Arrrrr's Facebook page July 21st. She has decided to start paperwork for an equine rescue operation. The recuse will be named Arrrrr Equine Rescue, after none other than Arrrrr. She says '''Morgan' is my poster boy.'' By Morgan, the barn name/nickname Stacy has given Arrrrr, she is relating his ...

Rumors abounded on Monday morning that the jockeys were planning to play a ringer in Wednesday evening's basketball game between the New York Horsemen and them.  Word has it that one of the Siena College Final Four tournament team members - a 7-footer - will suit up on the side of the 5-footers.  If that's the case, Las ...

The Personal Ensign Stakes (gr. I) will be run Sunday, August 29th – the day after the Travers Stakes (gr. I) – at Saratoga Race Course. Already pointing to the race is Life At Ten (TrueNicks A), who is riding a six-race win streak that includes the Ogden Phipps Handicap (gr. I) and a powerful score in the 10-furlong Delaware Handicap (gr. II). ...

Four judges, all wearing fancy millinery, awarded prizes to contestants in three categories at the 19th annual ''Hat's Off to Saratoga'' hat contest. A hat at the track is no longer the choice for many women.  Yet, when dressing the part of the main attraction contributes to the whole of the afternoon, you will see some. Cindy Franco, a ...

It’s people like Barbi Moline that are the true saviors of the Thoroughbred world and what it represents. Moline was recently named the winner of this year’s Dogwood Dominion Award, which celebrates the “unsung heroes of the racing industry,” and will be recognized for her efforts in spearheading a plan to fund Pure Thoughts Horse Rescue in South ...