06/05/04 - Birdstone upsets Smarty Jones
Oh no, not again! We were once more denied a 12th Triple Crown winner when Birdstone collared Smarty Jones in the stretch to win the Belmont by a length at odds of 36-1. Results, charts, and more photos here.
06/05/04 - Belmont Undercard Results
Results and photos for the other six stakes races on the Belmont day card.
06/04/04 - Acorn Stakes Results
The Acorn Stakes is the Belmont equivalent of the Kentucky Oaks, and the runner-up there, Island Sand, finally got her big win over favorite Society Selection on Friday. Get the results, charts, and photos here along with the Flash Stakes for juveniles.
06/03/04 - Triple Crown Spoilers
A look at all the previous horses who stopped Triple Crown possibilities and the path they took to get there.
06/03/04 - Failed Triple Crown Attempts
A history of all the horses who won the first two and fail to win the third race in the Triple Crown.
05/30/04 - Analyzing the Belmont Contenders
An analysis of the eight horses currently most likely to start in the Belmont Stakes to determine which best fits the profile of a Bemont winner.
05/29/04 - Belmont 101
A basic introduction the the third and final jewel of the Triple Crown. How it began, basics of picking a winner, and how to attend in person.
05/20/04 - Belmont Weather Forecasts
Currently it looks like it will be clear and mid-70's, but keep checking!
05/19/04 - Top Belmont Contenders
Lots of info about the horses planning to enter the Belmont on June 5th.
05/15/04 - Smarty Jones wins the Preakness
He came one step closer to becoming the 12th Triple Crown winner with his 11 1/2 length victory over Rock Hard Ten and Eddington. Results, charts, and photos here.
05/14/04 - Pimlico Special Results
Southern Image won his 6th race from seven starts with a victory over Midway Road in the Pimlico Special Friday. Results, charts, and photos here.
05/08/04 - Review: Handicapping 101
Finding the Right Horses and Making the Right Bets by Brad Free. This is an excellent book for the novice handicapper in particular.
05/03/04 - Top Preakness Contenders
Lots of info about the horses planning to enter the Preakness on May 15th.
05/02/04 - The Story of Smarty Jones
Where he came from and how he almost died before ever getting to race, plus the stories of his connections.
05/01/04 - Smarty Jones wins the Kentucky Derby
He collared pacesetter Lion Heart at the head of the stretch then drew off to win by over 3 lengths. Imperialism closed from far back to get third behind Lion Heart. Details, charts, and photos here!
05/01/04 - Kentucky Derby Undercard Results
There were five other stakes on the card Saturday with 4 of them graded. Results, charts, and photos for all 5 races here.
04/30/04 - Ashado wins the Kentucky Oaks
Ashado ran down pacesetter Madcap Escapade to win the Kentucky Oaks as the lukewarm favorite. Longshot Island Sand rallied for second while Madcap Escapade finished third. Results, charts, and photos here.
04/30/04 - Oaks Undercard Stakes Results
There were 5 other stakes on the card Friday with 3 of them graded. Gets the results, charts, and photos for all 5 races here.
04/30/04 - Derby Barn Photos
More photos from Thursday afternoon and Friday morning.
04/29/04 - Thursday Morning Derby Works
With only two days before the Derby, many of the contenders were out to stretch their legs.
04/27/04 - Analyzing the top Derby Contenders
An analysis of 16 top Derby contenders to determine which best fit the profile of a Kentucky Derby winner.
04/26/04 - Review: Handicapping for Bettor or Worse
A Fresh Perspective for Betting the Races by John Lindley. Written in easy to understand terms and allows those who may have become too accustomed to one method of handicapping to see what other methods are used and how incorporating them may lead to more profitable bets in the future.
04/26/04 - Review: "Impact Values Lead to Derby, Preakness & Belmont Winners & Longshots"
by Stanley Caris. It is a well-known fact that the Kentucky Derby is the world's most over-analyzed race. No other race is placed under the microscope more than the Run for the Roses. Here is a collection of these various angles with their validity quantified through research.
04/21/04 - Tapit Works on Press Day at Tapeta
Wednesday was press day for Tapit at Michael Dickinson's Tapeta Farm in Maryland. Tom Sporney was there for us to take pictures.
04/18/04 - Review: Triple Crown Handicapper 2004
by Jim Mazur. This stats bible gives you the strategies for finding the longshot winners in the large and competitive fields that make up the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes.
04/17/04 - Opening Day at Woodbine
Chris's Bad Boy won the first stakes of the year, the Jacques Cartier Stakes, in near track record time to increase his win streak to five.
04/17/04 - Lexington Stakes Results
The last chance for the Derby hopefuls to pick up some graded earnings was Saturday in the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland. Quintons Gold Rush shipped in from California to win for new trainer Steve Asmussen.
04/10/04 - Big 3 Pick 3 Race Results
The last of the big Triple Crown preps were held this weekend as part of the Big 3 Pick 3 national wager. This time the longshots didn't rule the day as Tapit won the Wood (left), The Cliff's Edge took the Blue Grass, and Smarty Jones remained undefeated the Arkansas Derby.
04/07/04 - Big 3 Pick 3 Entries
The Kentucky Derby is only three weeks away, so this weekend is the when most of the top contenders will make their final start before the big day to try and pump up their graded stakes earnings. Get the entries and past performances here.
04/05/04 - Derby Contenders Graded Stakes Earnings
Since only 20 horses can enter the Kentucky Derby, earnings in graded stakes are used to determine who can get in the gate. Here is a list of the top earners updated through 4/18.
04/05/04 - Kentucky Derby & Oaks Future Wager Pool 3
Pool Three of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager is now closed. The field remained the favorite for the Derby once again after no horses who were individual betting interests won any of the weekend preps. The Oaks picture is a bit clearer with Halfbridled still the favorite at 4-1.
04/03/04 - Triple Crown Prep Results
30-1 longshot Castledale won the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby over Rock Hard Ten who was disqualified for cutting off Imperialism who was moved up to 2nd. Pollard's Vision was an easy winner in the Illinois Derby.
03/30/04 - Late Triple Crown Nominees
The final nomination period closed with 14 addtional nominees at a cost of $6000 each, bringing the total number of nominees up to 444.
03/28/04 - Seabiscuit Equine Actor Retires
Rich in Dallas, one of the seven horses who played the stakes winner Seabiscuit in the movie of the same name, arrived in Lexington, KY at the Blue Grass Airport on March 25 in response to a grassroots effort to retire this movie star racehorse.
03/27/04 - Dubai World Cup Results
Pleasantly Perfect and Medaglia d'Oro gave a replay of their Breeders' Cup Classic battle with Pleasantly Perfect and Alex Solis again coming out on top in the $6 million Dubai World Cup.
03/26/04 - Big 3 Pick 3
This annual national pick 3 is coming up on April 10th with the Wood Memorial, Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, and Arkansas Derby.
03/21/04 - San Luis Rey Handicap Results
Meteor Storm was a mild upset winner in the 1 1/2 mile turf marathon on Saturday over Labirinto and Gene de Campeao. Bonus coverage of the first baby race of the year at Santa Anita.
03/20/04 - Weekend Triple Crown Prep Results
In the Gotham, Saratoga County wins while favorite Eddington could only manage third after a poor start. The biggest shocker was probably Bird Town's poor performance in the Lane's End where he finished fifth behind 16-1 Sinister G. Local hero Smarty Jones won the Rebel at Oaklawn over favorite Purge.
03/15/04 - Santa Anita Weekend Stakes Results
Silent Sighs wins the Santa Anita Oaks over Halfbridled and A.P. Adventure. Preachinatthebar upsets in the San Felipe. Adoration returned to the winner's circle in the Santa Margarita Invitational.
03/14/04 - Tampa Bay Derby Results
This year Dogwood Stable's Limehouse was the winner of the Derby over Mustanfar and Swingforthefences in Tampa Bay Downs signature event.
03/13/04 - Florida Derby Results
Friends Lake scored a big upset in the Florida Derby over Value Plus and The Cliff's Edge while Read the Footnotes and Tapit finished out of the picture. Wynn Dot Comma upset the Swale and gave jockey Edgar Prado his 5000th career victory while Madcap Escapade continued her winning ways in the Forward Gal.
03/10/04 - Florida Derby Entries
Read the Footnotes will seek his fourth straight graded stakes win and undisputed leadership of the 3-year-old division Saturday when he goes off the favorite in the $1 million Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park.
03/09/04 - Kentucky Derby & Oaks Future Wager Pool 2
Pool 2 of the Derby and Oaks Future Wagers opens at noon EST on Thursday March 11th and closes at 6:30pm EST on Sunday March 14th. Get the fields, odds, and free past performances here. Updated with final odds now.
03/07/04 - Big Cap Weekend Results
Santa Anita held their signature race, the $1 million Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap, on Saturday along with three other stakes races. Southern Image won his second million dollar race of the meet with his 1 1/4 length victory over the filly Island Fashion in the Big Cap. Other winners for the weekend were Imperialism in the San Rafael, Sweet Return in the Kilroe Mile, and Pico Central in the San Carlos.
03/07/04 - Weekend Triple Crown Prep Results
With most of the Triple Crown hopefuls only a couple of races away from the Kentucky Derby, there were two key preps this weekend: the San Rafael at Santa Anita and the Louisiana Derby at the Fair Grounds.
03/03/04 - Thoroughbred Corp. Dispersal Sale
It was the end of an era Tuesday night at the Barretts auction in southern California as the last of the late Prince Ahmed bin Salman's Thoroughbred Corporation horses were dispersed.
03/02/04 - Kentucky Oaks Nominees
Halfbridled and A.P. Adventure head a group of 145 3-year-old fillies nominated to compete in the 130th running of the $500,000-added Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs.
02/29/04 - La Habra Stakes Results
Very Vegas sprinted to a clear early lead and held off favored Aspen Gal in the stretch for a neck victory in the La Habra Stakes for 3-year-old fillies Sunday at Santa Anita Park.
02/29/04 - Triple Crown Prep Results
With just nine weeks to go before the first Saturday in May, most Triple Crown hopefuls are only a couple of races out from their Derby starts. Five stakes races for 3-year-olds were contested this weekend. Get the results and photos here.
02/29/04 - "NTRA Super Saturdays" to Debut June 12
"NTRA Super Saturdays," five shows of horseracing coverage airing on ABC and ESPN, will debut on June 12. These monthly telecasts, all two hours in length, will average 5 races a program for a total of 25 live races as well as a recap of the Royal Ascot meeting in England.
02/23/04 - Buena Vista and Las Flores Handicaps
There were two big races for the fillies at Santa Anita this weekend. Get all the details and photos here.
02/23/04 - Bullish Luck wins the CSL Hong Kong Gold Cup
A stunning season for trainer Tony Cruz and jockey Felix Coetzee continued Sunday at Sha Tin as Bullish Luck stormed through late to snatch the HK$8 million (about US$1,029,000) Group 1 CSL Hong Kong Gold Cup.
02/20/04 - Review: "The Best of Thoroughbred Handicapping"
Leading Ideas and Methods by James Quinn pays homage to the sport's most innovative handicappers with 49 essays summarizing and simplifying the works of 21 different authors and 27 books and articles.
02/16/04 - Kentucky Derby & Oaks Future Wager Pool One
Pool One of the Derby and Oaks Future Wager is now closed. The field wound the heavy favorite in the Derby future while Halfbridled was favorite in the Oaks future. Pool two will be in March. Get all the betting interests, opening and closing odds, and free past performances here.
02/16/04 - Santa Maria and San Luis Obispo Handicaps
The special President's Day card at Santa Anita included two graded races, the Santa Maria for the older fillies and mare and the San Luis Obispo for the turf horses. Get all the results, charts, and photos here.
02/15/04 - Las Virgenes and La Canada Stakes Results
The fillies took the spotlight at Santa Anita on Saturday and Sunday when A.P. Adventure won the Las Virgenes Stakes for the 3-year-olds and Cat Fighter won the La Canada for the 4-year-olds.
02/15/04 - Risen Star Results
On Sunday the Triple Crown Trail made its way back to the Fair Grounds in New Orleans for the Grade 3 Risen Star Stakes at 1 1/16 miles where second favorite Gradepoint held off favorite Mr. Jester to win in 1:45.36.
02/14/04 - Triple Crown Prep Results
Saturday at Gulfstream Park several major Kentucky Derby contenders made their next starts on the Triple Crown Trail. In the Fountain of Youth (right), Read the Footnotes beat Second of June by a neck while Limehouse upset in the Hutcheson Stakes. Get all the details here.
02/09/04 - Jockey Mike Rowland loses his fight for life
Jockey Michael Rowland, injured in an accident at Turfway Park last Wednesday, February 4, died about 12:30 a.m. Monday morning at University Hospital in Cincinnati as a result of those injuries. He was only 41 years old.
02/08/04 - Weekend Triple Crown Prep Results
This weekend there were 8 prep races from coast to coast. Here are results for the more important ones: Master David's win in the Sham Stakes at Santa Anita (right), Little Matth Man in the Whirlaway at Aqueduct, Imperialism in the San Vicente at Santa Anita, and Silver Minister in the WEBN Stakes at Turfway. Get all the details here.
02/08/04 - Donn Handicap and Strub Stake Results
Two of the early major races for the handicap division were contested on Saturday, the Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park and the Strub Stakes at Santa Anita. Get all the details here.
02/08/04 - 2004 George Woolf Award
Robby Albarado was honored as the winner of the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award in a winner's circle ceremony at Santa Anita Park on Saturday, Feb. 7. He was among five finalists nominated for the honor with a nationwide vote of jockeys determining the winner.
02/08/04 - Book Review: Go for the Green
Turf Racing Made Easy by Bill Heller. If you like to play turf races, you should read this book. Heller set out to demonstrate how turf racing is the "final frontier" and he did an admirable job doing so.
02/01/04 - San Antonio and Palos Verdes Handicaps
Santa Anita hosted two Grade 2 handicaps this weekend for the older horses. On Saturday, Breeders' Cup Classic winner Pleasantly Perfect (right) made his 2004 debut winning the San Antonio Handicap. Get all the details and photos here.
02/01/04 - 2004 Triple Crown Nominees
434 horse have been nominated to this year's Triple Crown series during the early nomination period. Todd Pletcher leads all trainers for the third year in a row with 35 nominations. Check out the full list sorted by name, sire, trainer, or owner.
01/31/04 - Kentucky Derby Future Wager
Dates have been set for this year's Derby and Oaks future wager, with both having three pools this year. First pool opens on February 12 and each race will have 24 betting interests as usual. Get all the details and dates here.
01/31/04 - Top Stars Invited to Dubai World Cup
Pleasantly Perfect, Funny Cide, Candy Ride, and Medaglia D'Oro top the list of American horses invited to the 2004 Dubai World Cup on March 27th at Nad Al Sheba racecourse. There were 986 nominations from 25 countries for the seven race card worth a total of US$15,250,000.
01/31/04 - Top Kentucky Derby Prospects
Derby Fever is heating so check out the latest list of Kentucky Derby contenders. Each horse has a full profile with photo, dosage, and other information. Updated at least weekly.
01/27/04 - 2003 Experimental Free Handicap
The rankings for 2-year-olds of 2003 have been released with three co-topweights this year: Action This Day, Cuvee, and Ruler's Court. Get the full list for both colts and fillies with the dual qualifiers marked.
01/26/04 - 2003 Eclipse Award Winners
Mineshaft (right) dominated the voting for Horse of the Year with 209 votes while Jerry Bailey and Bobby Frankel repeated as top jockey and trainer. Get all the details about the winners with photos here.
01/26/04 - NTRA "Moment of the Year"
Fans voted Funny Cide's Kentucky Derby win as the "Moment of the Year" at the NTRA website with the Breeders' Cup Turf dead heat finishing second.
01/25/04 - Santa Monica Handicap Results
Island Fashion upsets Sightseeker and Got Koko in the first Grade 1 race of the year. Get the results and lots of photos here.
01/25/04 - Patrick Valenzuela suspended again
Jockey Patrick Valenzuela has been suspended indefinitely by Santa Anita stewards for failing to appear for a mandatory drug test.
01/25/04 - Sunshine Millions Santa Anita Results
The Florida-breds won the second annual battle for supremacy between California and Florida with 45 points vs. 27 for the Cal-breds. Florida-bred Southern Image took the marquee event, the $1 million Barretts/CTBA Sunshine Millions Classic.
01/25/04 - Sunshine Millions Gulfstream Park Results
Four of the Sunshine Millions races were held at Gulfstream Park in Florida with the feature being the $500,000 Franks Farm Turf Stakes which was won by Florida-bred Proud Man.
01/22/04 - Jockey C.C. Lopez wins 3000th race
Jockey Chuckie "C.C." Lopez joined the 3,000- victory club Thursday afternoon at Aqueduct Racetrack, when he brought home Sunnyridge Sam in the seventh race.
01/21/04 - Sunshine Millions on Saturday
This second annual battle for supremacy between California and Florida with millions of dollars at stake before a national television audience is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 24, at Santa Anita and Gulfstream Parks.
01/21/04 - Breeders' Cup Ticket Applications Available
Ticket applications are now available for the 2004 Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships with prices for tickets available to the general public ranging from $25.00 to $125.00.
01/15/04 - 2004 Triple Crown Trail
Woodbine Entertainment has announced the launch of HPIBET.com, the first and only Web site in Canada to legally offer Internet wagering to horse racing fans.
01/13/04 - W.T. Young 1919 - 2004
Prominent owner and breeder W.T. Young, founder of Overbrook Farm, died Monday at his home in Gulf Stream, Florida, at age 84.
01/05/04 - 2003 Eclipse Award Finalists
The finalists for the 2003 Eclipse Awards were announced Monday, January 5. These annual championship awards for North American racing are voted on by the NTRA, DRF, and National Turf Writers Association and will be awarded on January 26.
01/02/04 - Belmont Stakes and Saratoga Ticket Prices
NYRA has announced the reserved seat and parking prices for Belmont Stakes day and Saratoga in 2004. Applications need to be submitted as soon as possible as the Saratoga seat lottery closes on February 15. Get the details here.
01/01/04 - 2004 Triple Crown Trail
The first derby of the year has already been run at Calder, so check out the rest of the Triple Crown prep schedule for the spring. This will be updated weekly with results for all the races.
12/31/03 - 2003 Year in Review
As we bid farewell to 2003, we look back at what may have been one of the most exciting years in recent memory. Racing was in the public eye more than ever this past year, and long-time followers of this great sport can only hope that the added publicity will lead to sustained interest and new fans.
12/31/03 - Naming a Thoroughbred
All Thoroughbreds, regardless of their actual date of birth, are given an official birthday of January 1st to keep the age groups easily defined for race conditions. They must be registered with the Jockey Club within a year of their actual date of birth and of course given a name.
12/20/03 - Merry Christmas!
I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season and great New Year! Here is a bit of horse racing holiday cheer I gathered that you might enjoy. Some cute and some sentimental, but all worth checking out. Also, don't forget about the equine charities as there is still time to get in a donation and be able to deduct it from your taxes for this year!
12/17/03 - Seabiscuit DVD Review
The new Seabiscuit movie was released on video in several formats on December 16 including the Seabiscuit 2-Disc Ultimate Gift Set DVD.
12/17/03 - Falbrav wins the Hong Kong Cup
Breeders' Cup Turf third-place finisher Falbrav came on strong down the lane to win by 2 lengths in the final race of the World Series Racing Championship. He will now be retired to stud in Japan with eight Group 1 victories to his name. Get the details and results for the other International Races here.
12/10/03 - Our Mims gone
1977 Filly Champion Our Mims was euthanized at Rood and Riddle equine Hospital on December 9, 2003 due to colic. She was 29 years old.
12/09/03 - "Moment of the Year" Voting at NTRA.com
Voting is underway at the NTRA Web site, for the fifth annual "NTRA Moment of the Year." Voters can choose from among 10 images, drawn from the year's racing through the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships.
12/06/03 - 2003 Sovereign Award Winners
Canada gave out their equivalent to the Eclipse Awards on Saturday evening with Horse of the Year honours going to Triple Crown winner Wando as expected. Jockey Todd Kabel won Outstanding Jockey, fulfilling a promise he made to his dying father earlier this year.
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