Racing News

Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots plans a special tribute for four-time leading rider Rosie Napravnik Feb. 21. 

"Rosie Day" will coincide, fittingly, with Louisiana Derby Preview Day presented by Lamarque Ford. Napravnik captured three editions each of the Mineshaft Handicap and Rachel Alexandra Stakes (both gr. III)—including two with subsequent grade I Kentucky Oaks winners Untapable and Believe You Can.

Between 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. CST, up to 500 fans will be able to purchase a commemorative photo for $10 that can be personalized and autographed by Napravnik while supplies last. All proceeds from the sale of autographed photographs will benefit a pair of Napravnik's favorite charities.

On the evening of January 24, The Standardbred Owners Association of New York, in conjunction with the management of Yonkers Raceway, proudly honored the track's leading driver, trainer and owner for calendar year 2014.

Maine native Jason Bartlett came away with his fourth Yonkers' driving title, finding the winners circle 485 times in 2014 from 2,440 starts, thus winning with nearly 1 in 5 of his mounts.

Trainer Ron Burke, who smashed the national earnings record, eclipsing even Thoroughbred trainer Todd Pletcher's earnings mark, also topped all Yonkers conditioners with over $4.6 million in purse earnings. Burke had a Hilltop Oval leading 144 winners in 2014, which was 26 more than the second-leading trainer.

Dave Briggs, writing for Hoof Beats magazine, and Gregg Doyel, writing for the Indianapolis Star, were named winners in the 53rd annual John Hervey Awards for excellence in harness racing journalism, the U.S. Harness Writers Association announced Thursday.

Woodbine Entertainment Group photographer Michael Burns and Mark Hall of Hoof Beats were the winners in the 15th annual George Smallsreed Awards for excellence in harness racing photography.

An insufficient number of entries were received to conduct a contest in the broadcast division, but two features received awards of merit. One feature focused on trainer Casie Coleman’s new professional and personal outlook on life and racing, the other feature on racing in Ireland.

Fiftyshadesofgold has been named the 2014 Texas Horse of the Year as well as the state's champion 3-year-old filly, the Texas Thoroughbred Association announced Jan. 21.

Division winners were determined by a points system based on performances in stakes races. They will be honored by the TTA June 20 at Lone Star Park.

California Chrome, a colt who was running against his fellow California-breds at the beginning of the season, soared through his conditions and emerged Horse of the Year as the annual Eclipse Awards were presented Jan. 17 at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

The brilliant chestnut son of $2,500 stallion Lucky Pulpit   ran a six-race win streak for trainer Art Sherman from Jan. 25—when he rolled by 5 1/2 lengths in the California Cup Derby—to May 17 when he aced the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) after taking the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) off victories in the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) and San Felipe Stakes (gr. II).

Officials are crediting a collaborative effort after Kentucky delivered its safest year on record in 2014 in terms of both number of equine breakdowns in races and rate of equine breakdowns.

In 2014 there were 16 catastrophic breakdowns during races at Kentucky Thoroughbred tracks, which is the lowest number since the state began tracking such statistics in 2007. The 16 fatal breakdowns during races in 2014 is down 30.4% from the 23 such incidents in 2013, and down 65% when compared with the 40 equine fatalities that occurred during Kentucky Thoroughbred races in 2007.

The $100,000 Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf& at Gulfstream Park drew a well-matched field of 11, including several talented shippers, but they will all have to contend with three horses saddled by Marty Wolfson.

Earlier on the card, in the $100,000 Sunshine Millions Turf,Reporting Star, third in the 2014 Northern Dancer Stakes (gr. IT) and fifth in the Canadian International (gr. IT), will face nine opponents—including last year's Presque Isle Downs Mile winner Decisive Moment and Manchurian High, winner of last year's Laurel Turf Cup and a fast-closing third in the recent William L. McKnight Handicap (gr. IIIT) over the Gulfstream turf course.

Second to Horse of the Year hopefulCalifornia Chrome in the Nov. 29 Hollywood Derby (gr. IT) at Del Mar, Queen's Plate winner Lexie Lou heads a field of eight 4-year-old fillies set for the $200,000 La Canada Stakes (gr. II) Jan. 17 at Santa Anita Park.

Mark Casse's highly accomplished runner, an Ontario-bred daughter ofSligo Bay   who races for Gary Barber, will try dirt for the first time in the 1 1/16-mile La Canada.

Horse of the Year California Chrome breezed one mile in 1:41 2/5 at his Los Alamitos Race Course headquarters Jan. 25 as he moves ever closer to his 4-year-old debut in the $500,000 San Antonio Stakes.

Under regular rider Victor Espinoza while wearing blinkers on a cleared racetrack, Califonia Chrome clocked through fractions of :25 3/5, :51 flat, 1:03 2/5, 1:15 3/5, and 1:29 for seven furlongs by Los Alamitos head clocker Russ Hudak.

"He looked good," Hudak said. "He came to the wire under a nice hold."

Champion 2-year-old filly Take Charge Brandi will get a new rider when she makes her sophomore debut Jan. 31 atOaklawn Park, Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas first told Mary Rampellini of the Daily Racing Form.

Willis Horton's newly-turned 3-year-old daughter of Giant's Causeway   was ridden to victory in the 14 Hands Winery Breeders' Cup Juvenille Fillies (gr. I) atSanta Anita Park Nov. 1 and in the Starlet Stakes (gr. I) Dec. 13 at Los Alamitos by Victor Espinoza. Paco Lopez picked up the mount in between when Take Charge Brandi won the Delta Downs Princess Stakes (gr. III) at Delta Downs.

But Espinoza has committments at home in Southern California on the same day as the $100,000 Martha Washington Stakes at Oaklawn, a one-mile test for 3-year-old fillies that will serve as Take Charge Brandi's 2015 debut.

“America, for all that we’ve endured; for all the grit and hard work required to come back; for all the tasks that lie ahead, know this: The shadow of crisis has passed, and the State of the Union is strong.”

That was President Barack Obama last night, addressing a joint session of the U.S. House and Senate in an annual ritual of the American presidency, the State of the Union address.
As the global economy has recovered, so too have many businesses and industries. But not all. One industry that continues to struggle, with both internal and external challenges, is Thoroughbred racing.

Our sport has no president or CEO or commissioner. We have no national rules or ruling body to report on our condition. We do, however, have people with a passion for this game, and the one thing that’s always been true about horse racing is this: People have opinions, for that is what this sport is based on, whether it’s at the mutuel windows, backstretch, or auction ring.

Trainer Art Sherman is making his first visit to Gulfstream Park in nearly 59 years this weekend to attend Saturday evening’s 44th Eclipse Awards banquet.

“When I was driving in this morning, I laughed at how much the place has changed,” said Sherman, whose Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner, California Chrome, is a finalist for 2014 Horse of the Year and 3-Year-Old Male honors. “The last time I was here, where the barns are today used to be all swamp.”

Daniel Dougherty's Ride On Curlinreturned to the races in winning fashion Jan. 15, taking a six-furlong second-level allowance at Oaklawn Park by a head in his season debut (VIDEO).

The 4-year-old son of Curlin   made his 2015 debut and first start since being eased in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) last June with a good late-closing effort after breaking a step slow. He rallied from eighth at the half-mile mark under jockey Jon Court to just get up in the final sixteenth of a mile.

Ride On Curlin passed pacesetter Ali's Birthday while improving his record to 3-3-4 from 13 starts for earnings of $751,287. He returned $4, $3.20, and $2.60 across the board as the even-money favorite in a field of 11.

Back at Gulfstream Park, Wildcat Redappears the one to beat in the $250,000Sunshine Million Classic on Jan. 17.

The 4-year-old son of D'Wildcat   has recorded all five of his career wins at the South Florida oval, including a victory in the $400,000 Besilu Stables Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II) on Feb. 22 of last year.

"I think the track is a factor here that helps him," trainer Jose Garoffalo said. "His speed helps him on this track. The surface is best for him. It's better for him that he doesn't have to ship to race. That's an advantage when you race on your home track and you have a horse that likes the track."

The 2015 Jockey Club Tour on FOX Sports 1 will begin Feb. 7, officials said Jan. 14.

The featured races on the broadcast, which will run from 5:30-7:30 p.m. EST, will be the $500,000 Donn Handicap (gr. I) at Gulfstream Park and the $500,000 San Antonio Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita Park. Both events are for 4-year-olds and up.

The telecast will include the $300,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (gr. I) and the $200,000 San Marcos Stakes (gr. IIT). The Stronach Group, which owns and operates both tracks, will offer a Pick 4 wager covering all four stakes on the telecast.