11:10 a.m. Pill Popping The best drama in Louisville today takes place in the racing office on the backside at Churchill Downs. It’s the pill pull to see what order post positions will be drawn later this afternoon in the made-for-television post position show on ESPN. A few minutes after 11 o’clock...
Noon Street Party Between the paddock and the Paddock Pavilion, there’s a “Street” party going. Signing copies of the book “Kentucky Derby” are jockey Calvin Borel , trainer Carl Nafzger , and breeder/owner James Tafel . The team won last year’s Kentucky Derby with Street Sense . Also with them is Churchill...
Most of the crowd had straggled out of Nad Al Sheba Racecourse and there were no other horses in the holding barn behind the grandstand when Curlin returned there from the test barn following the greatest victory of his career. Ears up, eyes bright, he walked with the lilting stride of a horse who surely...
Together, trainer Steve Asmussen, jockey Robby Albarado and owner Jess Jackson have won more than 8,000 races—but none even remotely like the Dubai World Cup (UAE-I). Not only was the winner’s prize of $3.6 million from the $6 million purse the largest on the planet, but they were also able to share...
He’s got the body, he’s got the mind and he’s got the speed. Horse of the Year Curlin seems to have it all, and his racing record more than backs up that assessment. But what is he like to be around every day? What kind of an individual is this sculpted specimen with the fiery red hair? For starters...
There is no doubt that Curlin is the star of the Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) this year, but his nearly white sidekick Pancho has won his share of hearts, too. Some employees of the Dubai Racing Club have posted photos showing both Pancho and Curlin in their offices and have launched an unofficial Pancho...
Not long after dawn broke on Friday morning in Dubai, Scott Blasi decided to change plans with Curlin. Instead of taking the Horse of the Year to the main track at Nad Al Sheba - where Curlin will try to capture the $6 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) on Saturday - he opted to venture to the more secluded...