ELMONT, N.Y. – A little later than usual and with fewer race days than has been typical, Belmont Park’s fall meet, chock full of important stakes races, gets underway Friday with a 10-race card.
:: Enhance your handicapping with DRF’s Belmont Clocker Report
The popular one-eyed gelding Finnick the Fierce, who was scratched from last Saturday's Kentucky Derby the day before the race, will get a month off from training after being diagnosed with a minor suspensory strain that is not career-threatening.
Ahmed Zayat, whose racing stable is currently being sued by an investment company that loaned him tens of millions of dollars, has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, according to a court filing.
The filing, which was first reported by Thoroughbred Daily News, lists assets of approximately $2 million and liabilities of nearly $20 million. Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which is also known as liquidation bankruptcy, generally requires the disposition of nearly all assets from the debtor in order to pay off creditors.
DEL MAR, Calif. - Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux has been suspended 15 calendar days and denied access to the state’s racetracks during that time after using a racial slur in an altercation with a Black camerman at an RV park on Del Mar property in late July.
In a ruling issued by Del Mar stewards Grant Baker, Luis Jauregui and Kim Sawyer on Monday, Desormeaux was cited for disorderly conduct related to racial slurs and aggressive behavior.
The one-eyed gelding Finnick the Fierce has been scratched from Saturday's Kentucky Derby, leaving an expected field of 16 starters.
Veterinarian Arnaldo Monge, who owns Finnick the Fierce with trainer Rey Hernandez, said that the gelding typically "carries himself a little funny," and that this week official veterinarians had been keeping a close eye on the horse. Finnick the Fierce lost his right eye as a foal.
The Jockey Club has elected five new members, including Dr. Mary Scollay, the executive director and chief operating officer of the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium, and Fred Hertrich III, the chairman of the Breeeders’ Cup.
Also elected were the bloodstock agent Gatewood Bell, the owner-breeder James McIngvale, and the consignor, breeder, and owner John Sikura.
The rescheduled Preakness Stakes at Baltimore Race Course on Oct. 3 will be run spectator-free, the track’s parent company confirmed on Wednesday afternoon.
The Preakness, which will be the third leg of the Triple Crown this year, anchors the third of three live racing days scheduled for Pimlico Oct. 1-3. With the announcement that the event will be held without spectators, all three Triple Crown races this year will take place without any fans in attendance due to the coronavirus pandemic.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – With the arrival of the heavy favorite and the post-position draw both set for the following morning at Churchill Downs, Max Player was sent through his final pre-race workout early Monday ahead of the 146th Kentucky Derby.
A field of nine 3-year-old fillies has been entered for Friday's 146th running of the Grade 1, $1.25 million Kentucky Oaks. However, much of the attention in recent weeks has been around just two of those -- the dazzling Gamine and the rock-solid Swiss Skydiver, who could find themselves eyeing each other for the first time heading into the first turn of Friday's filly classic.
