INGLEWOOD, Calif. - It would be a stretch to call the American Oaks an institution. Three years of history is barely a decent news cycle. But of all the racing innovations that have been floated over the past few decades, the Oaks stands out as truly deserving institutional status.
NEW YORK - The 76-page preliminary report issued last week by Friends of New York Racing thoughtfully analyzes the industry's problems, suggests alternative business models for the future, and documents how similar changes have succeeded in other jurisdictions.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - In almost any other way of life, Noble Threewitt, Warren Stute, and Leonard Dorfman would be spending Sunday afternoon dozing on a front porch swing, sipping cool lemonade, and enjoying the sight of the grandchildren playing ball on the lawn.
NEW YORK - June 29 was Wacky Wednesday at Belmont Park, one of those cards where it seems like there's a new oddity every half-hour. There was a race where a loose horse interfered with the field for the entire race; a couple of summer squalls that changed the footing in a matter of moments; two victories for jockey Chantal Sutherland, previously 0 for 44 at the meet; and the case of the poor bridge-jumper who unloaded to show on a 2-5 shot who finished fifth, beaten 17 1/2 lengths, in an 11-furlong grass maiden race where the first three finishers all paid more than $20 to show.
TUCSON, Ariz. - Racing's best hope of getting uniform drug-testing penalties and finding tests for currently undetectable drugs - the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium - met in Chicago this week.
It made progress in its task of cleaning up racing, working on funding formulas, uniform penalties, and research proposals.
Fourteen states so far have adopted all or part of the model rules proposed by the Consortium. Another nine are in the rule-making process, and that could be done by fall or the end of the year.
And then there is Kentucky.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Like all great performers, Megahertz left her audience longing for more after her light-hearted victory in the 1 1/4-mile Beverly Hills Handicap last Saturday afternoon.
If she broke a sweat, no one noticed, despite the fact that Alex Solis turned in Oscar-winning work to make it look as if Megahertz was sorely tested to beat Winendyneme, a proven miler, by just three-quarters of a length.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Business will never be "usual" for Tim Ritchey again, at least not as long as he is remembered as the man behind Afleet Alex. But even the most powerful media tides ebb and flow, and so it was on Friday morning, 13 days after the Belmont Stakes, that Ritchey finally made it as late as 10 o'clock before someone rang for the latest word on America's favorite racehorse.
"Nobody called," Ritchey said. "I was really worried."
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - After upsetting the Californian Stakes last weekend with Lava Man, accomplished while spending a brief holiday in the Hawaiian sun, trainer Doug O'Neill must feel invincible.
And why not? Deep into the meet, O'Neill is sitting pretty for his second summer title, topping the Hollywood charts in both wins and money. He has serious candidates for most of the remaining major events on the stakes calendar, including Lava Man for the Hollywood Gold Cup and Milady Handicap winner Andujar for the Vanity Handicap.
NEW YORK - Before the 2005 Triple Crown disappears from the rearview mirror, there is a flip side worth noting to Afleet Alex's ultimate domination of the series. While this year's Triple Crown will rightly be best remembered for Afleet Alex's excellent efforts in the Preakness and Belmont, it also may have showcased the worst collective performances by the opposition in recent history.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - It is the eternal question over which mankind has puzzled since climbing over each other to escape the primordial ooze, a question best posed by the anthropological comedian Billy Crystal in his "Saturday Night Live" role as Latin heartthrob Fernando Lamas:
"Qui es mas macho?"
First case, Thoroughbred jockeys or Formula One drivers. Qui es mas macho?
