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  We're now a little more than five weeks into the Breeders' Cup season and the divisions are beginning to take shape. The continuing story thus far is how the male division seemingly gets more ordinary every day while the female division continues to get more exciting. Unless this Big Brown-Curlin thing actually happens, there is no doubt ...

The introduction of exogenous anabolic steroid testing at a number of Thoroughbred auctions has been a positive development. It addresses an issue that has become a major controversy in sports and it also discourages sellers from attempting to artificially enhance the appearance of a young horse beyond what is natural. But on the horizon is a ...

TrueNicks is delighted to welcome Millenniums Farms Kentucky, which has become the latest farm to give users complimentary ratings with its sires. Millennium Farms is currently home to six stallions, but the roster will be extended in 2009 with the recently-announced addition of Student Council (TrueNicks, SRO). A winner on dirt, all-weather, and ...

Breeders will now have access to complimentary TrueNicks ratings for the stallions standing at one of Florida's leading stallion stations, Brent Fernung's Journeyman Stud. Journeyman stands six young sires at their Ocala facility. The roster is headlined by the Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (gr. I) winner Wildcat Heir (TrueNicks, SRO). A son ...

Walking the streets of Manhattan Aug. 9 past the $5 watches, $10 framed prints, and $20 purses, we saw two young men selling compact discs of recently released music.Judging by the prices, and their low overhead storefront, it was highly possible their inventory did not come from music publishers. Several years ago, a CNN/USA TODAY/Gallup Poll ...

There's no question that there are some unpleasant aspects of the Thoroughbred world. Breakdowns and drugs are getting headlines these days (and let's hope that the attention results in some positive changes).  Stories about slaughter and abuse receive a lot of attention. Another sometimes-ugly part of the racing industry -- ...

Whoever is scheduling the races is obviously not impressed with the North American tradition of placing the stakes race near the end of the card.  On Sunday, the Yaddo Handicap was run as the fourth race and the West Point Handicap as the seventh.  There were 11 races in all.On Monday, the $80,000 Troy Stakes for 4-year-olds and upward ...

It wouldn't be November at the sales without at least a couple of true blue-blooded mares walking through the ring. This year, we have the opportunity to see some real standouts in the wake of the Southern Equine - Hill 'n' Dale dispersal (full story here) at Fasig-Tipton.  Of special note are the Deputy Minister mare Better Than ...

Sgt. Jeff Cohen, a retired New York City police officer who recently began a second career as a postal delivery employee, is able to come to Saratoga Race Course only once or twice a week.  Often, he brings his young son Artie along, and Artie, an admirably polite red-haired lad, spends the day eating popcorn and ice cream while his father ...

Stella Thayer didn’t make it to the post-race dancefest at Siro’s beer tent.  She probably had to rush home to squeeze into her blue jeans for the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame’s “Ride the (mechanical) Bull” party. Nevertheless, the gathering at Siro’s was wall-to-wall.  The three-day fly-mating season was over, and the ...