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On the same day Zenyatta seeks to run her unbeaten streak to 16, words arrives of the death of Personal Ensign, who retired undefeated in 13 starts following one of the greatest races of all time. Those who jump up and down about Zenyatta becoming the first to beat males in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) have every right to beat the drum ...

One thing that is apparent following the March 10 conviction of horse owner and breeder Ernie Paragallo of animal cruelty charges is that he hired the right attorney. Paragallo claimed he had no way of knowing the horses were not being cared for. His attorney, Michael Howard, was quoted after the verdict as saying, “This requires a horse owner ...

I started to write this column a month ago but several friends said take it easy on Santa Anita after the Feb. 6 card was canceled. That amount of rain, they said, might have caused racing to be canceled at any track. But after the Feb. 27 program was scratched, it is time to say this: If you are a California trainer with an aspiring 3-year-old in ...

When the nominations were received for the Sunland Derby, to be run March 28 at Sunland Park in New Mexico, there were some impressive names on the list. And for good reason. For one thing, the race is worth $800,000, making it the second richest prep race in North America (the Arkansas Derby, gr. I, is worth $1 million) for the Kentucky Derby ...

When Oaklawn Park owner Charlie Cella announced he would ante up $5 million in an attempt to lure Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta to the April 3 Apple Blossom (gr. I) we all knew it was a longshot at best. Everyone wondered aloud, “How can Rachel be ready by then?” On Feb. 10, Jess Jackson, co-owner of Rachel Alexandra, answered our question: “She ...

Rick Porter is a man of the sea: he likes to take his boat out and feel the wind; hear the waves; taste the salt. But when his latest Kentucky Derby hopeful, Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III) winner Winslow Homer, was discovered this past weekend to have a slab fracture, Porter said of the news, “It takes the wind right out of your sails.” The Kentucky ...

I voted for Rachel Alexandra for Horse of the Year because I thought she accomplished more in 2009 than Zenyatta. Those that voted for Zenyatta made a solid, well-informed decision. Who can argue with someone who voted for a mare that was unbeaten during the year and won the Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I)? I can’t, but I do disagree—vehemently and ...

Living in Kentucky, I don’t often attend the races in California. But I certainly see many simulcast races. And I definitely have my opinion on synthetic surfaces. Attending the 2009 Breeders’ Cup, I found myself dumbfounded by how much water was being put on the track between races. I thought having a synthetic surface meant less maintenance and ...