There was a column written recently about the “decline” of the American superstar and the “ascendancy” of the English superstar. According to the column, America’s “liberal use of drugs” is the culprit for the U.S. decline, while the exportation to England of young horses with Northern Dancer blood was...

Smarty Jones 2004 Undefeated Smarty Jones became a fan favorite when he won the Derby. That was a great day for racing, but, the weather was less than ideal. It was all about keeping your cameras as dry as possible. Camera raincoats were in demand. Aquatech provided the high end raincoats, OpTechUSA...

As I do many times when my family and friends come in from out of town, I took my uncle and his family over to the good folks at Three Chimney's Farm as part of our July 4 th weekend. Being from Philly, they were very anxious to meet Smarty Jones. Although it was a Sunday on a holiday weekend, Three...

Courtesy of Esther Marr Last month I was presented with the opportunity to host a series of videos featuring all the past Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winners still residing in Kentucky. As a staff writer who has never considered a career in television, I was nervous at first about being on camera, but in...

Courtesy of Becky Johnston Over the last 25 years, Kentucky Derby winners have finished their last prep race with an average placing of 1.96 (if you factor in Alysheba’s finish before his subsequent disqualifcation that figures drops to 1.88). No Derby winner has finished worse than fourth in their prior...

Seattle Slew was a heck of a racehorse. He started only three times at 2 and had just six races prior to winning the 1977 Kentucky Derby (gr. I). He went on to win the Preakness (gr. I) and Belmont (gr. I) Stakes and remains, 31 years later, the only unbeaten horse to win the Triple Crown. Big Brown...

Now that the Triple Crown run is over and more than five weeks have passed since the Eight Belles tragedy, I thought it would be a good time to pick the brain of Larry Jones. Thought of by many as not only one of the most talented, but most respected trainers in the sport, Jones gave his take on a few...

If you haven't seen the latest comments from Rick Dutrow Jr. regarding Smarty Jones and what he feels was questionable training by John Servis leading up to the 2004 Belmont Stakes, here they are: "I think maybe the way they trained that horse for that race going up to the Belmont had a lot to do with...

So you are going to try to beat Big Brown huh? Me too. Short of hitting the superfecta or Pick 4, there is no way to make any significant money in this race if Big Brown wins. With that in mind, here is one longshot to consider in the Belmont: Anak Nakal. Anak Nakal? I know, he hasn't been better than...

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...