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  The video below is a trailer for Steven Spielberg's new movie War Horse. I was pleasantly surprised, because I feel like the past few horse bonding movies, outside of Secretariat and Hidalgo, are very much aimed at kids or the female audience. Maybe I should also throw in True Grit or western themed movies with good horse presence. A ...

We’ve all heard or used the expression, “No one would have beaten him today.” Throughout history, there have been numerous horses who, for one or two races, turned in performances so extraordinary, you can’t imagine anyone beating them. Often, these horses were meant for great things, but were hampered by a variety of problems, such as ...

If in 1863 John Morrissey didn’t believe that change was necessary, Saratoga horse racing fans would be watching harness races and looking into the north at horses running instead of the south.  The sun set in the west on another year of splendid Saratoga thoroughbred sport, the third season of 40 long days in its history and ...

A woman from New Jersey, who’ll remain nameless, waited until the fourth race to redeem her coupons for free long-sleeved tee-shirts.  At 11:30 am, the lines wound from the top of the stretch to the finish line and back again to one redemption outpost and from Big Red Spring to the far eastern grandstand entrance gate and back again to the ...

Earlier this year, Larry Jones decided to prepare his barn help for what seemed to be the inevitable. Many talented horses have passed his way, but the one he wanted to discuss with them was different. This one could be a life changer and he felt he had to share that with his crew. Jones’ life had already taken a dramatic turn when he returned ...

Maggie Wolfendale, the NYRA broadcast analyst, doesn’t actually see the horses at the same time she describes them.  She prefers a remote area in the paddock to present her observations, one away from distractions.  The other day, in describing a horse, she uttered the awkward remark, “He looks bigger, upwards-wise.”  On Saturday, ...

Life returned to the racecourse on a day NYRA hung a skeleton in the grandstand and parked a hearse out in front.  The Abby Todd Dancers of Albany, NY performed “Thriller” between races.  Their dance began with a pile of humans pretending they were dead.  Children wore costumes as if it was Halloween.  It was pretend ...

I recently ventured out to Antebellum Farm in Lexington, KY for the Antebellum Combined Test with a couple of co-workers to watch another of our colleagues, The Horse news editor Erica Larson, compete with her off-the-track Thoroughbred (OTTB), Dorado. (I will have a feature on Erica and Dorado soon) Anyway, the purpose of the trip was to support ...

The racing on Monday felt strange in several ways. First off, the main track was fast – this after Irene had toppled oaks on Broadway, flooded the Hudson and caused power outages the day before.  Then, of course, the isolation of a single day of action between two dark days left visitors in limbo.  It was hell on Sunday, heaven on Monday ...

It’s hard to make your mark in the world of sports, but veteran jockey Tammi Piermarini has done just that. The 44-year-old mother of three won career race No. 2,000 Aug. 22, placing her among a select group of just five female riders to record that many victories.The win came aboard Sugar Trade in the third race at Suffolk Downs. It was fitting ...