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Recently as I re-read some of the late humorist Frank Sullivan’s pieces, I thought what a shame it was that this gifted writer never turned his sights on horse racing, a sport he loved. During his 40-year newspaper and New Yorker magazine career, Sullivan was widely read as he poked gentle fun at a variety of subjects in politics, sports, and ...

Machu Picchu is translated to mean “Old Mountain” or “Old Peak.” Discovered on a mountain ridge in Peru in 1911, it is often called “The Lost City of the Incas.” Built around 1450 and abandoned 100 years later, Machu Picchu is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Visiting Machu Picchu affords a traveler a chance to journey back in time; a ...

If Big Brown wins the Belmont and makes it a ''Brown Crown,'' many in the industry will breathe a collective sigh of relief.  ''It's about time,'' they'll say.  ''Racing needs a hero.'' What better tale could be told than that of a 12th winner of the Triple Crown? And after 30 long years!  Books will be penned, scores of ...

With the ink barely dry on the announcement of their sire's retirement from active stud duty, the race to assume the mantle of rightful heir to the great Sadler's Wells in European breeding and racing is well and truly underway. With the classic winner Cima de Triomphe (IRE) (A++ TrueNicks rated) and the classic contenders New Approach (IRE)(A++), ...

By Tom Pedulla, USA TODAY BALTIMORE — For the seventh time in 12 years, a 3-year-old Thoroughbred will take unwavering aim at one of the most difficult feats in sports when undefeated Big Brown advances to the Belmont Stakes on June 7 at New York's Belmont Park. There is one reason to believe that this colt, unscathed through five races in which ...

By Joe Drape, NYTimes.com BALTIMORE — It’s hard to find fault in Big Brown’s performance here in the Preakness. He was barely asked to run by the jockey Kent Desormeaux and buried an overmatched field. Still, between now and the Belmont Stakes, we’re going to hear a great deal about whom Big Brown has beaten, and whether or not he is merely a ...

  So, it's a foregone conclusion, huh? Big Brown is our 12th Triple Crown winner. As we sit here I'm sure Mike Iavarone and Rick Dutrow are planning the outrageous party, Kent Desormeaux is preparing something clever to say in his post-race speech, and thousands of racing fans who would normally stay home are making plans to be in New York ...

While it may not have been rocket science to pick out the winner, you could have had yourself the Trifecta in the Preakness Stakes if you had merely boxed the five horses that were A++ rated by TrueNicks (link to Alan's post). With Macho Again and Icabad Crane filling the place and show, a $2 box for the five horses would have cost you $120 for ...

First, some old business.  The results of last week's poll (''We Are Family'') asked if/when a horse's female family influences your purchase decisions.  Not surprisingly (you're reading a pedigree blog, after all), most of you said the family affects all purchase decisions, and the rest said it affects decisions on specific types of ...