INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Oh terrible fates, it's happening again. Prepare the sackcloth and ashes. Brace for bitter disappointment. In case you haven't heard, fellow Californians, another one of those bright and shining sons of the Golden State is on the grounds at Churchill Downs, flaunting his West Coast r?sum? and acting as if he might have something to do with the outcome of the 132nd Kentucky Derby on Saturday.
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DRF Past Performances
For those who believe in fate, or at least in the reasonably predictable consequences of lifelong behaviors, it seemed only a matter of time before Dan Hendricks sustained some kind of serious injury while playing one of his games of physical chance.
At the same time, for those who have witnessed his consistently impressive work as a trainer of high-stakes Thoroughbreds, it is absolutely no surprise at all that Hendricks has his hands on the likely favorite for America's most famous race.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Gold Rush Day at Hollywood Park on Sunday offers Hollywood Park's answer to the California Cup races during the Oak Tree meeting. The intention is to salute the breeding industry and offer a display of its better wares.
It is a fact of life, however, that unless some ambitious sponsor or corporate owner comes along with a disproportionately large purse - like the $1 million dumped by Magna into the Sunshine Millions Classic along with its $500,000 supporting features - chances are the finest representatives of the local breed will be pointed elsewhere.
NEW YORK - Everyone will be looking for a Kentucky Derby winner this week in the past performances, morning workouts, and news accounts preceding next Saturday's gaudy event. Most of the leading hopefuls this year come accompanied by dramatic "human interest" stories sure to be told over soaring violins and poignant piano tinkling on NBC's Derby telecast, giving viewers a choice of heart-tugging tales for which to root.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Just for a moment, put yourself in Fred Duckett's place:
You're 80 years old and stuck in a hospital bed, still going one-on-one with the melanoma that has been after you for a year. You can't golf, even though you would dearly love to pick up the sticks one more time, and you can't throw a line in the water, somewhere off the San Diego coast, because right now one of those big fellas would probably pull you in.
ARCADIA, Calif. - In terms of tough acts to follow, unveiling a racing meet after the socko-boffo, just-concluded Santa Anita season is kind of like coming onstage with spinning plates and a kazoo after Madonna has just brought down the house.
ARCADIA, Calif. - The "invitational" part of Santa Anita's closing day San Juan Capistrano Invitational Handicap was taken very seriously. Thirteen entered, glad to be asked, representing such far-flung Thoroughbred outposts as Brazil, Argentina, England, France, and Australia, not to mention Kentucky, Florida, Pennsylvania, and New York. Apparently, the Irish and the Californians had other plans.
NEW YORK - The decision by Keeneland's board of directors Wednesday to replace its dirt track with Polytrack beginning with its October meeting was a bold and innovative move. That does not, however, mean that every other track in the country should rush to follow suit - at least not yet.