Racing News

When I finally sat down this week to watch the first three episodes of “Horseplayers,” the reality-television show about handicappers that debuted on the Esquire Network on Jan. 21, I expected to despise it. An hour a week of listening to a bunch of bettors proclaim themselves the world’s greatest handicappers sounded like a recipe for headache and annoyance, and given the genre’s propensity for fakery and inaccuracy, I figured it would get everything wrong to boot.

Instead, I was pleasantly surprised. The horseplayers of “Horseplayers” have plenty of annoying moments, but they also are a likeable and realistic reflection of the game’s most serious players, adding up to a watchable show with the potential to change public perception of those who wager on Thoroughbred racing and the attraction of the game.

Blingo came from off the pace for his first graded stakes score as heavily favored Game On Dude andBlueskiesnrainbows flamed out in the $300,000 San Antonio Stakes (gr. II) Feb. 8 at Santa Anita Park (VIDEO).

Seven-year-old Game On Dude was an eager beaver at the start of the 1 1/8-mile San Antonio and it cost the 3-10 favorite dearly as he battled speedy Blueskiesnrainbows through swift quarter mile fractions of :22.75, :46.25, and 1:10.17 on a fast track. 

By the time they reached the far turn, both front-runners were in deep water as outsider Imperative, ridden craftily by Kent Desormeaux, challenged at the rail and Majestic Harbor ranged up on the outside. 

Chriselliam, winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (gr. IT) and a finalist for an Eclipse Award, was euthanized Feb. 7 in Newmarket, England, as a result of a foot infection, according to Racing Post.

The Post reported Europe's champion 2-year-old filly was being treated for a poisoned off hind foot for a couple of weeks and reports last month indicated that the infection was under control.

The filly was sent to Newmarket Equine Hospital Feb. 5.

Not just anyone can come back in 52 days from hip replacement surgery to drive a car, let alone drive a racehorse, but that is exactly what The Bionic Man, Tim Tetrick, did on Thursday (Feb. 6).

Not only did he drive, he won his first race back at the Meadowlands, guiding Eagle Say to a score in the third race Filly & Mare C-2 Trot in 1:58.

Amira's Prince, owned by Wachtel Stable and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, attempts to extend his U.S. unbeaten streak to five when he comes off a 10-month layoff in $300,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (gr. IT) at Gulfstream Park Feb. 9.

The former Irish-trained son of Teofilo—Twice the Ease by Green Desert came to the States having established himself as hard-knocking, consistent handicapper. He won under 131 pounds and was beaten a nose in his final European start carrying 135 pounds for trainer David Wachman.

At the beginning of 2013—heck, halfway through the season—few expected Will Take Charge to emerge as the best of his generation. What a difference six months can make.

With his 2014 debut in the $500,000 Donn Handicap (gr. I) at Gulfstream ParkFeb. 9, the sky's the limit for the champion son of Unbridled's Song and multiple grade I winner Take Charge Lady. Last season, in addition to emerging from the Triple Crown trail unscathed, he strung together victories in the Smarty Jones Stakes, the Rebel (gr. II), the Travers (gr. I), Pennsylvania Derby (gr. II), and Clark Handicap (gr. I), with a runner-up finish in the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) by a nose. 

Miami Valley Raceway opens Friday night in southwest Ohio and there will be no shortage of talent on the racetrack during the opening weekend.

Among the drivers expected to compete are the three most recent national dash champions: Ronnie Wrenn Jr., Dave Palone and Dan Noble. Wrenn led North America in wins in 2013 with 714 while Palone led in 2012 with 675 and Noble was tops in 2011 with 773.

The new five-eighths-mile harness racing track, located between Dayton and Cincinnati, opens Friday night with an 11-race card. Post time is 6:30 p.m. for the first race.

Not even a three inch deluge of rain could dampen the festive aura at Pompano Park on Wednesday night (Feb. 5) as the South Florida track celebrated its 50th anniversary.

Besides the appearance of hockey's Florida Panthers cheerleaders, the track was well garnished with the appearances of several drivers who appeared during the track's inaugural season in 1964, including Lucien Fontaine, Tom Merriman, Dick Macomber, Lou Rapone and Bill Popfinger.

Modern Family disposed of five rivals en route to a 1:54.1 triumph in the $20,000 Open Handicap Trot over a “good” track on Wednesday (Feb. 5) at Dover Downs.

Daryl Bier guided Modern Family into the lead at the quarter and led throughout the mile, posting his 14th career victory in 39 starts with $283,822 in purses. Bier, Charles Dombeck and Rich Poillucci own the 5-year-old Cantab Hall-Domestic Diva horse.

Allan Davis, driving Enrico AS, closed quickly on the outside to take second while veteran Green Day and Vic Kirby hustled along the passing lane for a close-up third.

Considered one of the top older horses in the world, two-time Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) winner Game On Dudeheads a field of seven in the $300,000San Antonio Stakes (gr. II) in his 2014 debut Feb. 8 at Santa Anita Park.

To be run at 1 1/8 miles, the San Antonio is race 5 at 2:30 p.m. PST on a Saturday program that also includes two other stakes: the 1 1/16-mile Robert B. Lewis (gr. II) for 3-year-olds, and the San Marco (gr. IIT) at 1 1/4 miles on turf for older horses.  

Trained by Bob Baffert, 7-year-old Game On Dude’s primary rival will be Jerry Hollendorfer’s frontrunning Blueskiesnrainbows, who comes off a pair of impressive graded stakes scores. Both are assigned 123 pounds.

Will Take Charge was assigned post 2 as part of an outstanding field of 11 older horses Sunday in the 59th running of the Grade 1, $500,000 Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park.

The 1 1/8-mile Donn marks the first start for Will Take Charge since he ended his 3-year-old season with a dramatic victory over Game On Dude in the Nov. 29 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs, a Grade 1 race that clinched the colt the Eclipse Award for top 3-year-old of 2013.

The Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I) and four other graded stakes will be added to the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) day card in 2014, for a Saturday, June 7 Belmont Park race day that will offer 10 stakes and $8 million in total purses.

The card is expected to be the second-most lucrative in North America, behind only Breeders' Cup Saturday. In 2013, Belmont Stakes day included six stakes events worth $2.95 million.

"We've put together the finest day of racing in Belmont Stakes history," New York Racing Association president Chris Kay said Feb. 7. "We want every serious and casual fan in the area to come out on June 7 and experience the excitement and fun of one of New York's truly signature sporting events."

 The Hippodrome 3R racetrack in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, made the national harness racing spotlight in December when track management announced the revival of one of Canada’s most prestigious race events, the Prix d’Été.

They will hold this special race on Sunday (Sept. 21) with a guaranteed purse of C$200,000 plus a C$50,000 consolation race, making it the richest stakes event in North America for 4-year-old pacers.

Track management is already talking not only with sponsors for the big event, but also with the Quebec Division of Tourism in hopes of making the Prix d’Été a special weekend of fun activities for racing fans and tourists to come out and celebrate the hospitality of the Quebec people and the long history of harness racing in the province.

Thursday’s (Feb. 6) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Dover Downs and Northfield Park.

After a less than satisfying outcome in the Cigar Mile (gr. I) in November, owner Mandy Pope says she couldn't bear to see two-time female sprint championGroupie Doll end her career that way.

As a result, the popular 6-year-old mare, racing in the name of Whisper Hill Farm, finds herself entered in the $200,000Hurricane Bertie Stakes (gr. III) Feb. 9, her first start at Gulfstream Park since March 2102.

Purchased strictly as a broodmare prospect for $3.1 million a few days after she won her second Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I) Nov. 2, the daughter of Bowman's Band was given one more run for her fans in the Cigar Mile Nov. 30 at Aqueduct Racetrack. But the race didn't turn out well at all, with Groupie Doll checking on the inside and bumping at the quarter pole before making a belated rally to finish a well-beaten fourth.

Near The Limit trotted home for his 50th career victory, winning the 11th race at Northfield Park on Wednesday (Feb. 5).

The classy veteran has 222 career starts, winning 50 times, and finishing second and third 28 and 31 times, respectively. Near The Limit (Yankee Glide-Cardinal Lexie) has career earnings of $361,542 and a lifetime mark of 1:54.1 at the Meadowlands at age four.

The trotter’s richest win was for a purse of $23,000 in a $50,000 claiming race at the Meadowlands in 2009. His 50 wins have been spread across 10 different racing surfaces and four different states.

Fourteen horses have been entered for the San Marcos Stakes (gr. IIT) on theSanta Anita Park turf Feb. 8, led by recent San Gabriel Stakes (gr. IIT) winnerJeranimo.

Jeranimo squares off with a number of turf performers well-known to Southern California racing followers, such as two-time San Marcos winner Slim Shadey,Vagabond Shoes, Utopian, and Lucayan. The 1 1/4-mile San Marcos is one of three graded stakes on Saturday program at Santa Anita but shapes up as the best betting proposition. It is the seventh on the program with a 3:30 p.m. PST scheduled post.