Long before dawn, before the rest of the world stirs, exercise riders head to work. These men and women work outdoors in sun, rain, or snow, on sweltering and bone-chilling days. Some have no days off. Some live on-track. Many move regularly, sometimes with just a day’s notice. 

FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission approved a settlement agreement at a meeting Wednesday that nullifies a stewards’ decision in 2012 to disqualify Sign from the 2012 Pocahontas Stakes at Churchill Downs and order the purse redistributed.

The settlement will restore the winner’s share of the Pocahontas purse to Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider, who co-bred and co-own the filly. The Pocahontas is a Grade 2 race, and the reversal of the disqualification also will restore the black-type win to her catalog page.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The exciting 2-year-old prospect Ride On Curlin will run next in the Saratoga Special on Aug. 11 unless the colt is sold in a private transaction, trainer Billy Gowan said this week from his Trackside training center base in Louisville.

The Maryland Racing Commission on Tuesday adopted temporary rules that will make claims void if a horse dies during a race or in the immediate aftermath of the race.

The rules, which are similar to those recently adopted in California and New York, were adopted following a spate of deaths at Laurel Park this winter, with most of the deaths occurring in claiming races. According to racing records, at least 17 horses died while racing at Laurel Park in the first three months of the year, leading to a racing commission investigation.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Four of five open seats on the board of Breeders’ Cup Ltd. were filled at the close of voting on Tuesday, the organization announced, with the fifth seat being filled after two nominees agreed to draw lots following a tie in the voting.

A group of 18 people who were arrested last week in Louisiana on charges of drug smuggling included several individuals with ties to Quarter Horse racing in the state, according to reports covering the arrests and officials with the state racing commission.

The Kentucky Personnel Board voted unanimously Friday in favor of the firing of former chief state steward John Veitch, according to the board’s executive director, Mark Sipek.

As Saratoga Race Course celebrates its 150th anniversary, racing figures look back on their favorite memories and share what the track and city mean to them.
 

Angel Cordero, Hall of Fame jockey

Nicknamed “the King of Saratoga,” he was leading rider at the track 14 times

Saratoga is the most prestigious meeting in our country. You get the best horses, the best crowds. They don’t boo, even when you have 30,000 or 40,000 people. It’s a very special place.

The Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering filed a complaint Tuesday against a company associated with Gulfstream Park for failing to comply with the statutory requirements for a racing permit that the division issued to the company.

The three winners of this year’s Triple Crown races won’t meet again until the $1 million Travers at Saratoga on Aug. 24.

Preakness winner Oxbow, who arrived in Saratoga on Tuesday, will make his next start in the Grade 1, $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on July 28, trainer D. Wayne Lukas confirmed Wednesday.

The Haskell is run one day after the Grade 2, $600,000 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga, which is the next target for Belmont Stakes winner Palace Malice.