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.Curlin Has Final Work For Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park September 27
Posted on Monday, September 22nd, 2008
Reigning Horse of the Year Curlin had a “perfect” workout Monday morning in his final move before attempting to become the first American race horse to break the $10 million mark in Saturday’s 90th running of the $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational (G1) at Belmont Park.
Under regular exercise rider Carlos Rosas, the 4-year-old Stonestreet Stable colt covered a half-mile in an easy 51.85 on the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga. Curlin went in fractions of 13 and 25.70 while galloping out five furlongs in 1:06.15 over the fast training track.
The 2007 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Curlin, who enters the 1 1/4-mile Jockey Club Gold Cup with earnings of $9,796,800, is on the verge of breaking the legendary Cigar’s money-earning record of $9,999,815, which has stood for 12 years. The Jockey Club Gold Cup winner’s share of $450,000 would vault him past Cigar with a total bankroll of $10,246,800.
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Kentucky Derby Creates New Qualifying Race, Kentucky Derby Challenge Stakes
Posted on Thursday, September 18th, 2008
Churchill Downs has partnered with Kempton Park Racecourse in England to create the $150,000 Kentucky Derby Challenge Stakes, a 1 1/8-mile race over Kempton’s synthetic surface that will guarantee the winner a spot in next year’s Kentucky Derby.
The move is a departure from the usual Triple Crown nominating process. The entrants to the Kentucky Derby have traditionally been selected on graded stakes earnings. The winner of the Kentucky Derby Challenge will get an automatic spot in the Kentucky Derby field if the owner agrees to pay the entry fee and shipping costs.
The only foreign-based horse to win the Kentucky Derby was Canonero II in 1971, and overseas challengers have been few and far between in recent years.
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Jockey Club calls for Kentucky Derby field study
Posted on Sunday, August 17th, 2008
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP)–A Jockey Club panel will study whether the number of horses allowed into the Kentucky Derby poses a safety risk.
The annual Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs regularly draws 20 horses to the race. Typically, other races are limited to just more than a dozen.
Stuart Janney, head of the Jockey Club’s Thoroughbred Safety Committee, says the panel will be looking at the Kentucky Derby’s size.
The panel was created after the death of filly Eight Belles in this year’s Kentucky Derby.
The panel also has recommended a standard nationwide system for drug testing race horses.
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Horse Trainer Larry Jones Claims Eight Belles Wasn’t On Drugs
Posted on Tuesday, May 6th, 2008
Larry Jones, the trainer for the fallen filly Eight Belles, on Tuesday ordered drug testing as part of a necropsy in order to prove that his horse was not on performance-enhancing drugs.
Horse trainer Larry Jones left little doubt that tests would come back negative on filly Eight Belles, who was euthanized on the track after breaking both front ankles following her second-place finish in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) also have been critical of jockey Gabriel Saez, calling for his suspension. The group has claimed that Saez should have known that the horse was in trouble and that he went to the whip too often.
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Connections of Filly Eight Belles Saddened by Her Loss
Posted on Monday, May 5th, 2008
Big Brown, who is headed for the 2008 Preakness Stakes, made Kentucky Derby history as he became the first horse since the filly Regret in 1915 to win off just 3 career starts and the second to win from post position number 20. The joyous event, however, was marred because of the tragedy which occured when runner-up Eight Belles broke down after crossing the finish line and had to be euthanized on the track.
Eight Belles jockey in the 2008 Kentucky Derby, Gabriel Saez, said Monday he was unaware that anything was wrong with Eight Belles prior to her going down in the Run for the Roses.
“I remain heartbroken over Eight Belles, and I want to let her many fans know that she never gave me the slightest indication before or during the race that there was anything bothering her,” jockey Gabriel Saez said in a statement Monday.
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2008 Kentucky Derby Results: Big Brown Wins; Eight Belles Collapses
Posted on Saturday, May 3rd, 2008
Big Brown remained unbeaten as he pulled away to a 5-length victory in the $2,211,800 Kentucky Derby on May 3 at Churchill Downs.
The lone filly in the 2008 Kentucky Derby, Eight Belles finished second but collapsed with broken front ankles and had to be euthanized on the track.
The breakdown brought back memories of the 2006 Preakness Stakes, when Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro shattered his right rear leg yards into the start. Barbaro was euthanized months later after developing laminitis.
Trained by Richard Dutrow Jr. and ridden by jockey Kent Desormeaux, Big Brown covered the Kentucky Derby distance of 1 1/4 miles in 2:01.82 and paid $6.80, $5 and $4.80. Eight Belles, under jockey Gabriel Saez, returned $10.60 and $6.40. Denis of Cork with jockey Calvin Borel aboard was 3 1/2 lengths behind and paid $11.60 to show.
Kentucky Derby payouts: $2 exacta (20-5) will pay $141.60 while $2 trifecta (20-5-16) will pay $3,445.60.
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My Kentucky Derby Picks: Four Horses in Exotic Bets
Posted on Friday, May 2nd, 2008
By GREG MELKOV
Hours of research on the 134th Kentucky Derby failed to single out a horse that I feel comfortable betting to win. This is the first time in years that I must throw a dart at the bullseye on the wagering board.
However, I have come up with several 3-year-olds I believe have the best chance to hit the board. Here are the thoroughbreds I’ll be using in exactas, trifectas and a Pick 3.
If any Kentucky Derby contender has a big shot to win it all, it’s Colonel John. The son of Tiznow, who won the first of his two Breeders’ Cup Classics in 2000 at Churchill Downs, captured both preps at 1 1/8 miles. In six career starts, he never was more than three lengths behind in the stretch and won four times and was runner-up twice.
Granted this will be his first start on the dirt, but he took to the main track, firing a bullet 57 4/5 for five furlongs – the best of 62 works on Sunday. The last two winners of the Kentucky Derby posted bullet works: Street Sense last year and Barbaro in ‘06.
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