The Oklahoma Racing Commission on Thursday adopted new rules defining interference and “dangerous riding” that aligns the state’s regulations with those used in most international racing jurisdictions, an official of the commission confirmed.
Affirmed Success, who had a popular seven-year career, mostly on the New York circuit, that included eight graded stakes wins, was euthanized on Wednesday at Old Friends, the Kentucky retirement facility where he had resided since 2007, according to the farm. The gelding, who suffered from chronic hoof infections, was 28.
It seems appropriate that New Orleans, adopted home of Emeril Lagasse, is the locale where the Road to the Derby kicks it up a notch.
The Risen Star Stakes on Saturday at Fair Grounds is the first race on the road to the 2022 Kentucky Derby on May 7 at Churchill Downs that offers 85 points overall, with 50 going to the winner. To borrow from the Breeders’ Cup, it’s essentially a Win and You’re In for the Derby.
WHO'S HOT
Todd Pletcher, a two-time Kentucky Derby winner, has four of the runners on the inaugural Derby Watch top 20. Other trainers with multiple runners include Steve Asmussen and Chad Brown, with two each, and Kenny McPeek, whose duo includes Smile Happy, the 5-1 favorite on the line for the May 7 Derby authored by Marty McGee of Daily Racing Form. Six of the 20 horses are in the Risen Star on Saturday at Fair Grounds.
WHO'S NOT
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The Jockey Club of Canada announced that Ivan Dalos will be the recipient of the E.P. Taylor Award of Merit during the 47th annual Sovereign Awards ceremony on April 14 in Vaughan, Ontario. Selected unanimously by The Jockey Club of Canada's stewards, the E.P. Taylor Award is a lifetime achievement award honoring those who have made significant contributions to the Thoroughbred industry in Canada and accomplished outstanding individual achievements in Canadian racing.
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has begun the process to examine the suitability of a regulation that prohibits its stewards, staff, and members from issuing statements on licensees who have been accused of rule violations, the commission’s executive director said during a regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday.
The chairman, Jonathan Rabinowitz, said during the meeting that commission staff believed it was “of the utmost importance to get this [regulation] changed.”
LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Kentucky stewards conducted a hearing on Monday with trainer Bob Baffert and his legal counsel to consider a positive test for the regulated anti-inflammatory betamethasone in the post-race sample of Medina Spirit after the horse won last year’s Kentucky Derby, according to one of Baffert’s attorneys.
R Adios Jersey, an unbeaten filly trained by Georgina Baxter, has been disqualified from last year’s Grade 3 Charles Town Oaks after testing positive for the regulated medication flunixin, an anti-inflammatory drug, according to a ruling from the track’s stewards.
R Adios Jersey, who won the $400,000 Oaks Aug. 27 by 3 1/4 lengths as the 5.40-1 second choice, tested well above the permissible limit for flunixin in both her initial sample and a split, according to the ruling, at approximately 1,000 nanograms per milliliter of blood plasma. The permissible level is five nanograms.
The mutuel field, the 24th or “all others” option, finished as the 2-1 favorite in Pool 3 of the 2022 Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which closed Sunday at 6 p.m. Eastern following the customary three-day run.
After the field, the Pool 3 favorites are Smile Happy (8-1), Classic Causeway (13-1), Mo Donegal (14-1), and Emmanuel (15-1).
ARCADIA, Calif. - In an effort to boost field sizes, Santa Anita racing secretary Chris Merz is planning to make minor changes next month to the frequency in which claiming races are offered, conditions for some maiden races, and the duration of condition books detailing proposed races.
The changes will go into effect beginning with the March 11 program.
