BloodHorse.com

By Frank Vespe Ran into my pal the usher the other day at Laurel. That is, the ex-usher. Because Laurel -- besieged by nearby tracks with slots-infused purses and battling the collapsing national economy -- no longer needs ushers on normal days.  And so my friend is an ex-usher.  After 50 years. Once, a track like Laurel employed ...

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Just a few weeks ago, this column opined that some stud fees were coming down in 2009, but it was not enough. They needed to be reduced more.Since then, the Keeneland November sale has come and gone, the nearly 50% drop in gross clearly illustrating the global economic downturn has not only reached the Thoroughbred industry, but had a clear effect ...

With the tragic epilogue to Wanderin Boy’s career causing many a heavy heart in the racing world, I feel gratified to have been able to tell this courageous horse’s story in a previous blog.Still reeling from the sadness of seeing Wanderin Boy break down, as well as the brilliant young filly Springside, I will take one final look back in history, ...

We talked a bit about German stallion Monsun in a previous post about 3-year-old sensation Kamsin (GER).  Kamsin Since then, Kamsin has gone on to capture two German group I contests - both at the same 1-1/2 miles as his Deutsches Derby (Ger-I) win in July.  He fell short in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I) in October -- won ...

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By Teresa Genaro of Brooklyn BackstretchRace fans are a flagellating group; click on almost any racing website, open almost any trade publication, and you’ll find a host of people dissatisfied with some element of the sport:  the betting opportunities; the medication rules; the trends away from the track and to the breeding shed.But in the ...

By HandrideDear Members of TOBA & the AGSCThe job of the AGSC is to maintain the integrity of the sales catalogue:Integrity - an undivided or unbroken completeness or totality with nothing wanting.Provided this definition, the job of the sales catalogue is to provide all the information needed to make an informed decision when buying a ...

Although I have never been openly outspoken against synthetic surfaces since they began making their way onto American racetracks a few years ago, when the subject of horse safety comes up I have always asked the same question: Why do the powers that be place so much emphasis on racing safety but continually ignore the issues of unwanted horses ...