Horse Racing News is the source of thoroughbred racing information with horse racing odds, betting tips, racing picks, race results, and handicapping. Latest news and articles on top horse racing contenders, jockeys, trainers, three-year-olds, race tracks, and major stakes races such as the Triple Crown races: the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes as well as the Breeders' Cup horse races.Seven Horses Euthanized at Del Mar
Posted on Monday, July 31st, 2006
DEL MAR, Calif. (AP) — Seven horses were euthanized after being injured in competition or training during the first week of Del Mar’s summer meeting, prompting track officials to seek answers.
Horses named Esroh and Bonus Pack were injured racing Wednesday and were put down. Six of the fatal breakdowns occurred in races and one in training.
During its 43-day meeting in 2005, Del Mar had seven horses die in races and 11 others die in workouts. As a result of the breakdowns, Del Mar announced it was adding sand to the composition of its main track.
There is speculation that the racing surface has been affected by increased morning workout traffic caused by the temporary unavailability of Hollywood Park and Santa Anita for training.
"We can’t put our finger on any one thing," Joe Harper, Del Mar’s president, CEO and general manager, told the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Harper said an X-ray and sonar examination of the main track’s base found no unevenness that could explain horses taking bad steps.
Harper said the injuries have been varied, although there seems to be a number of front leg sesamoid bone fractures, according to the newspaper.
Last week, the California Horse Racing Board’s medication committee discussed ways to help reduce injuries.
Dr. Rick Arthur, the racing board’s incoming equine medical director, said he wants to develop a better system of reporting injuries and identifying horses that are at risk, including making surprise barn visits.
In an effort to provide better footing, the racing board has ordered that California’s six major thoroughbred racetracks install synthetic surfaces by Jan. 1, 2008, at a cost of about $8 million per track.
Hollywood Park will be the first to do so, replacing its main dirt track in time for its autumn meeting that begins Nov. 1.
Synthetic surfaces are made of mostly fiber, recycled rubber and wax-coated sand.
At Chicago’s Arlington Park, 17 horses have sustained fatal breakdowns in the first half of the track’s four-month racing season. An independent consultant found no common cause.
Filed under Del Mar Race Track, Hollywood Park, Horse Racing Industry, Horses, Race Tracks News, Santa Anita Track, USA Horse Racing | 1 Comment »
Bernardini Takes Jim Dandy Stakes
Posted on Monday, July 31st, 2006
The brilliant 3-year-colt, Bernardini, outclassed the field in the $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday, proving to just about everyone that his victory in the Preakness Stakes was no fluke.
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Saratoga Updates: Scat Daddy Wins Sanford; Bernardini Tops Jim Dandy Field
Posted on Friday, July 28th, 2006
Favorite Scat Daddy blasted to the front with a late run and beat Teuflesberg by a neck Thursday to give trainer Todd Pletcher his third career victory in the $150,000 Sanford Stakes at Saratoga Race Course.
Meanwhile, on Saturday’s Jim Dandy Stakes, 3-year-old colt Bernardini makes his first start since winning the May 20 Preakness Stakes, a race everyone remembers as the one in which Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro shattered his right hind leg in the opening strides.
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Pletcher’s Cotton Blossom Wins Saratoga Opening Feature
Posted on Thursday, July 27th, 2006
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (AP) — Todd Pletcher-trained Cotton Blossom rallied in the stretch to win the 88th running of the $100,000 Schuylerville Stakes for 2-year-old fillies Wednesday, opening day at Saratoga Race Course, New York.
Cotton Blossom settled in good position early, stalking the leaders along the backstretch. She made a big move on the far turn and fought to a hard-earned lead to take the first stakes win of her career. She was 1 3/4 lengths in front of Desire To Excel in the field of seven.
He said Cotton Blossom will be pointed toward the $250,000 Spinaway on Sept. 3.
Ridden by John Velazquez, the bay filly ran six furlongs in 1:11.63, paying $18.60, $6.90 and $4.70. Desire To Excel returned $3.20 and $2.50 under Mike Smith, while Chief Officer and jockey Cornelio Velasquez paid $3.20 to show.
Cotton Blossom, a Dogwood Stable runner, is a daughter of Broken Vow out of For Dixie.
Frances G fell just before the wire but got up again after lying on the track for several minutes. She was taken off the track in a van. Her condition wasn’t immediately known. Her jockey, Calvin Borel, walked off the track.
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Edgar Prado 2006 Venezia Awardee
Posted on Monday, July 24th, 2006
Jockey Edgar Prado, who led Barbaro to the win in the 2006 Kentucky Derby, won the 2006 Mike Venezia Award on Friday.
Prado, received the honor based on the votes of fellow jockeys, turf writers and fans. The award honors jockeys “who exemplify extraordinary sportsmanship and citizenship,” in the memory of Mike Venezia, who was killed in a spill at Belmont Park on Oct. 13, 1988.
In addition to his riding skill, Prado has been an active backer of “Anna’s House,” Belmont’s day care center for the children of backstretch workers.
Prado will receive his award during Belmont’s fall meet.
Past winners include Richard Migliore, Gary Stevens, Laffit Pincay, Jr., Pat Day, Jerry Bailey, Angel Cordero, Jr., Chris McCarron and Bill Shoemaker.
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Giacomo Wins San Diego Handicap
Posted on Monday, July 24th, 2006
Giacomo won for the first time since last year’s Kentucky Derby on Saturday, beating Preachinatthebar by a head in the $300,000 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar. Ridden by Mike Smith, the 4-year-old colt covered 1 1-16 miles in 1:42:15 and paid $11.60, $5 and $3.40.
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Giacomo Tops Field at San Diego Handicap
Posted on Friday, July 21st, 2006
2005 Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo takes the spotlight in Saturday’s co-featured grade II, $300,000 San Diego Handicap in a field of older horses going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Del Mar. It will be run as the eighth race on the card.
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