NEW YORK - With the wire coming up quickly on 2006, what were the year's most important stories in the world of racing?
5. Invasor, Bernardini, and the sheikhs
A mere 364 days ago, Invasor was unknown outside Uruguay and Bernardini was an unraced maiden. Ten months later, they were the nation's top older horse and 3-year-old, and settled the Horse of the Year title in a classic Breeders' Cup Classic showdown.
TUCSON, Ariz. - As 2006 fades in its waning hours and a new year arrives, here is where horse racing in North America finds itself:
* The leading Thoroughbred trainer in money won, Todd Pletcher, is under suspension for illegal medication.
* The leading Thoroughbred trainer in races won, Scott Lake, is under suspension for illegal medication.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Dan McFarlane wasn't sure how his Dec. 2 claim of the 3-year-old colt Refinery would turn out, but for $50,000 of owner Les Blake's money, he was going to try to make sure it was money well spent.
So he vetted him and gelded him and took him back to McFarlane's home base at Turf Paradise, where Refinery was entered for the $24,200 Last Chance Derby on New Year's Eve.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Even while holding fast to the rule that "once is chance, twice is coincidence," it is hard not to get just a little bit psyched about the young colt just now emerging from the same corner of the world that brought forth Lost in the Fog.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Ron Warren has to remind himself sometimes that both legs belong to the same body. The left is strong and true, still rippling with muscles that belong to a professional athlete. The right leg is, well, another story - a pretty grim story, in fact, and one that is still unfolding nearly two years after it was shattered in an accident at Golden Gate Fields.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Time to clean off the desktop and sweep the stables. The 2006 racing season, in limbo since the Breeders' Cup, is now officially finished. Hats off to the leaders of the pack - in particular Garrett Gomez, Julien Leparoux, Invasor, and the mega-stables of Todd Pletcher and Scott Lake - and condolences to those who fell short of expectations. In case no one has noticed, it's a very tough game.
ARCADIA, Calif. - It was late on the afternoon of Nov. 26, as Nuno Santos beamed at the sight of Price Tag being led into the winner's circle after taking the Matriarch Stakes at Hollywood Park. He had good reason. As one of Bobby Frankel's top exercise riders, Santos has had his hands on more than his share of good horses, and Price Tag had become one of them.
Even so, as the Matriarch ceremonies unfolded, Santos could not help letting his thoughts stray to another of his morning partners, a 3-year-old filly who had recently come from France.
NEW YORK - Should the target of an ongoing corruption investigation, uncharged with any crime, be allowed to continue working while the authorities pursue their case? In most of walks of American life, the presumption of innocence dictates that the target is either allowed to pursue his livelihood until he is formally accused or, at worst, placed on some form of paid leave until his situation is resolved.
NEW YORK - The battle for the future control of New York racing took yet another interesting turn this past week with the filing of a 155-count complaint by the incumbent New York Racing Association against the state of New York and several government officials.
There was nothing surprising in the portion of the complaint devoted to NYRA's longstanding contention that it, rather than the state, is the legal owner of Aqueduct, Belmont Park, and Saratoga. That assertion is a