Sun, 07/13/2025 - 14:22

Changing race calendar frustrates Brown as he seeks spot for Excellent Truth

Barbara D. Livingston
Excellent Truth (right) was given a 102 Beyer Speed Figure for the win in the Diana Stakes on Saturday.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - As elated as Chad Brown was to win the Grade 1 Diana for a record-extending 10th time on Saturday, the five-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer is frustrated at the calendar moving forward in the older female turf division. 

Fri, 07/11/2025 - 17:00

New York vet Galvin suspended for two years, plans to appeal

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority has suspended New York racetrack veterinarian Michael Galvin for two years for failing to submit thousands of records of treatments he administered to horses during 2023 and 2024, according to a ruling posted on HISA’s website.

According to the ruling, Galvin, who has a checkered history with regulators and tracks, did not submit records for “over 3,000 treatments” of horses from a period running from Jan. 1, 2023, to March 7, 2024, the ruling said. In addition to the two-year suspension, Galvin was fined $25,000.

Wed, 07/09/2025 - 14:20

New York notes: Lukas award established; NYRA hires exec

Barbara D. Livingston
An award will be given annually to an assistant trainer who best exemplifies D. Wayne Lukas's core qualities.

The New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association will honor the memory of Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas by establishing the D. Wayne Lukas Award, to be given annually to a New York-based assistant trainer who demonstrates the qualities the late Hall of Fame horsemen exemplified: dedication, a strong work ethic, and a high commitment to excellence.

Tue, 07/08/2025 - 13:49

Journalism likely to run in Haskell

Barbara D. Livingston
Journalism has posted two half-mile drills since his second-place finish in the Belmont Stakes.

Pending a weekend workout, Preakness winner Journalism seems likely to ship to New Jersey from Santa Anita for the Haskell Stakes on July 19 at Monmouth Park.

Sun, 07/06/2025 - 19:44

Remembering John Harris: 'We lost one of the good guys'

Benoit
John Harris was a leading Thoroughbred owner and breeder in California for decades and rose to a prominent leadership position in the sport in his home state.

In late summer 2014, Smiling Tiger had completed his first year as a stallion in California when co-owner Phil Lebherz realized a change was necessary.

Smiling Tiger stood at Lebherz’s Premier Thoroughbreds, near Oakdale, but needed to be at a more prominent farm, Lebherz remembered over the weekend.

“It was too insane,” Lebherz said of managing the stallion. “I decided I needed an expert group of people.”

Lebherz called John Harris and inquired whether Harris Farms in Coalinga could take Smiling Tiger.

Sun, 07/06/2025 - 19:30

All-sources handle for July Fourth Racing Festival jumps 121 percent

Barbara D. Livingston
There were 44 races run at Saratoga over the four days, including a 12-race card on Saturday, during the July Fourth Racing Festival.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - All-sources handle for the four-day July Fourth Racing Festival at Saratoga was $83,634,479, a 121 percent increase over the handle of $37,842,226 during the corresponding four days held at Aqueduct last year.

There were 44 races run at Saratoga over the four days, including a 12-race card on Saturday that handled $26,021,891. Sunday’s 10-race card, with no stakes race, handled $17,679,036. Last year, at Aqueduct, there were 38 races run over the four days July 4-7.

Sun, 07/06/2025 - 15:46

Sweet Azteca could start in Ballerina Stakes as tuneup for BC Filly and Mare Sprint

Benoit
Sweet Azteca was given a 102 Beyer Speed Figure for Saturday's win in the Great Lady M. Stakes.

Sweet Azteca is likely to have only one race before an intended start in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Del Mar on Nov. 1 after winning her first start of 2025 in record time in Saturday’s Grade 2 Great Lady M. Stakes at Los Alamitos.

Trainer Richard Baltas said on Sunday that Sweet Azteca may start in the Grade 1 Ballerina Stakes at seven furlongs for fillies and mares at Saratoga on Aug. 23. The winner of the $500,000 Ballerina Stakes receives a fees-paid berth to the BC Filly and Mare Sprint.

Sun, 07/06/2025 - 15:26

Tip Top Thomas not a Travers horse, Pletcher says

Coady
Tip Top Thomas earned a 95 Beyer Speed Figure for Saturday's victory in the Indiana Derby at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

While Tip Top Thomas showed he could be effective around two turns winning Saturday’s Grade 3 Indiana Derby at Horseshoe Indianapolis, trainer Todd Pletcher does not view him as a 1 1/4-mile horse, so he does not plan on pointing him to the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers on Aug. 23.

Pletcher said he wouldn’t be averse to trying 1 1/8 miles with Tip Top Thomas, and the Grade 1, $1 million Pennsylvania Derby on Sept. 20 could be a long-range goal. That race is at Parx Racing, which has the $200,000 Smarty Jones on Aug. 19 as a prep.

Sun, 07/06/2025 - 15:19

Asmussen glad Magnitude back in form, not ready to commit to Travers

Coady
Magnitude was given a 105 Beyer Speed Figure for Saturday's victory in the Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Magnitude, who made an eye-catching return to the races with a 9 1/4-length victory in Saturday’s $250,000 Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows, was expected to arrive in Saratoga on Wednesday to prepare for his next race, which could be the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers on Aug. 23.

Trainer Steve Asmussen was not ready to commit to a next start just yet when reached by phone Sunday morning, but he was just glad to have Magnitude back.

“See how we do, we’ll celebrate him for awhile,” Asmussen said.

Sun, 06/29/2025 - 19:36

Bonnie Jenne, longtime Washington trainer, dies at 76

Courtesy of the WTBOA
Bonnie Jenne and her husband Wally celebrate her win in the Gottstein Futurity at Emerald Downs in 2010.

Bonnie Jenne, one of the most beloved and tenured trainers in Washington horse racing history, died on June 26 of lymphoma. She was 76.

Jenne's Friendship Stable was a modest family operation. She saddled 15 stakes winners at Emerald Downs since its 1996 inception, including Ladyledue, the state champion filly of 2008; and multiple stakes winner Couldabenthewhisky, who won the Gottstein Futurity and was honored as Washington's champion 2-year-old male in 2010. She finished her career with 472 victories and earnings of $4,183,831.