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There are moments along the Triple Crown trail that remain forever etched in our minds. For this writer, one of those was April 27, 1978. Prior to the Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) at Keeneland, then run just nine days before the Run for the Roses, Jorge Velasquez slowly walked local favorite Alydar from the post parade and toward the outside rail. ...

This is a blog, and indeed TrueNicks is not supposed to be a handicapping service - but we are seriously going to have to reconsider this after the win of Sebring in the Golden Slipper Stakes (Aus-I) on the weekend! It was back on the 20th of January, some 13 weeks ago, that we first mentioned the then-non stakes-winning Sebring as a likely ...

Back in February 2006, I purchased a barren Broad Brush mare at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky mixed sale. I did some research, tried to select a good match for her, and sent in a mare nomination form. The next month, I brought her to Ashford Stud for a date with Honour and Glory (on SRO). They danced, my mare came back to the farm and gestated ...

That remarkable California sire, Unusual Heat, was represented by another graded stakes winner when his daughter, Lightmyfirebaby, won the Las Cienegas Handicap (gr. III) last week, her first victory in a race at that level. Lightmyfirebaby is the fifth graded winner by Unusual Heat, following 2008 grade I winner Golden Doc A, Tucked Away, ...

That Pivotal (GB) is one of Europe's best stallions is not exactly news. However, Cheveley Park Stud's Nureyev grandson recently enjoyed a day that was special, even by his standards. At Kempton on Saturday, April 12, there were three black type events and offspring of Pivotal won all three, with a one-two in one race. First up was the ...

According to a press release, Animal Planet is launching several new series including one entitled ''Jockeys.'' The series is reality TV, with a ''real world meets the equine industry'' feel. I am actually really interested to see the first episode and to see how they will portray jockeys and the horse industry.I think it could bring a lot of new ...

  Big Truck. Bob Black Jack. Denis of Cork. El Gato Malo. For the past couple months we have all heard talk of and read about each of these colts as possible Kentucky Derby starters and/or contenders. The problem is, as of now, all of them are on the outside looking in based on graded earnings. Taking a look at the top 20 earners ...

In an increasingly commercial world it is becoming more and more evident that particular sire lines - and more specifically, one stallion and his sons - can, at least from a commercial sense, quickly dominate the broodmare population of a given country. It then becomes a race for the next sire line - one that fits the dominant sire and his sons ...

[image url=''http://cdn.bloodhorse.com/images/content/shaskin_large.jpg'']Steve Haskin[/image] With the Derby preps nearly complete, and the field for the Run for the Roses coming into focus, it's time for Blood-Horse senior correspondent Steve Haskin to do his annual Derby Preview on Talkin' Horses. Haskin is an award-winning Turf writer ...

Readers of this blog are encouraged to register for the free online introduction to TrueNicks to be conducted Wednesday, April 23 at 2 p.m. During the Webinar, Alan Porter and Byron Rogers will explain nicking theory, the proprietary TrueNicks calculation, and benefits for breeders and owners. Please pre-register for the session by providing ...