Bruce Swihart will retire as chief executive officer of Fonner Park on July 31, the Nebraksa track announced Wednesday. Swihart, 67, has worked for Fonner for 43 years. His father, Al Swihart, was the track’s general manager from 1956 until his death in 1983.
Chris Kotulak, who last year was brought on as chief operating officer of Fonner, will take over as CEO following Swihart’s departure, according to a press release from Fonner.
Casey Lambert and his father, Cliff Lambert, are in a tight race for the Thoroughbred training title at Ruidoso Downs. The Lamberts have followed identical career paths in racing, competing as jockeys before turning to training. Both will be active at the New Mexico track on Father’s Day.
Casey Lambert, 53, leads the standings with a 7-for-31 record through Thursday and will saddle Wilmas Irish Rover in the $30,000 Ruidoso Sprint Handicap. Cliff Lambert, 82, ranks third in the standings with a 5-for-12 record and will send out Eyesa Flashy Jess in the sixth race Sunday.
ARCADIA, Calf. – Glen Hill Farm is taking its horses out of California and will not have a stable at the upcoming Del Mar meet, according to owner Craig Bernick.
In a phone interview this week, Bernick cited the uncertainty surrounding California racing as the primary reason.
Glen Hill has had runners this meet at Santa Anita, which has made national news this year after a series of equine fatalities since late December.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – By My Standards, the Louisiana Derby winner who most recently was placed 11th in the Kentucky Derby, has resumed a new work pattern and could make his next start in the July 5 Iowa Derby or July 13 Indiana Derby, said trainer Bret Calhoun.
By My Standards was scheduled to breeze again this weekend at Churchill, marking his third work since getting a brief freshening. His next race will depend largely on what Calhoun decides is next for Mr. Money, who is the morning-line favorite for the Matt Winn Stakes here on Saturday Night.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – When Sir Winston rallied to win the Belmont Stakes last Saturday, the form of Global Campaign suddenly looked even better than it already was.
It was on May 11 in the 1 1/8-mile Peter Pan at Belmont Park that Sir Winston finished second by 1 1/4 lengths behind Global Campaign, a Curlin colt who has won three of four starts for Sagamore Farm and WinStar Farm. The results of the 1 1/2-mile Belmont clearly flatter Global Campaign, although trainer Stan Hough is not sure when the colt will be fully prepared to take on the elite of the 3-year-old division.
ELMONT, N.Y. – Vekoma, the Grade 2 Blue Grass Stakes winner who finished 12th in the Kentucky Derby, will miss the Grade 3 Dwyer Stakes on July 6 due to a foot injury, trainer George Weaver said.
Weaver said his new target is the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens, a seven-furlong race at Saratoga on Aug. 24.
Weaver said Vekoma tore part of his hoof off, an injury known as grabbing a quarter, on the inside part of his right front foot coming off the track about two weeks ago.
ELMONT, N.Y. – Master Fencer, who finished fifth in the Belmont Stakes, was scheduled to leave New York on Thursday to return to Japan.
But on Wednesday, his connections had a change of heart, and Master Fencer has remained in New York to point to the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Derby, a 1 1/4-mile turf race here July 6.
According to Mitsuoki Numamoto, part of the team that has been with Master Fencer in New York, owner Katsumi Yoshizawa wanted to run in the Belmont Derby.
Master Fencer made his first two career starts on turf, finishing second and fourth.
ELMONT, N.Y. – A surface switch, the addition of blinkers, and perhaps just maturity had Breaking the Rules developing into a nice grass horse for trainer Shug McGaughey.
Then came the Grade 1 Turf Classic last month at Churchill Downs, where Breaking the Rules finished last of 13. Perhaps it was the off going that proved his undoing, but it was certainly a setback for the well-bred son of War Front.
ELMONT, N.Y. – In addition to sharing the same mother, half-sisters Holiday Disguise and Midnight Disguise share similar profiles in running style, race record, and rate of success.
Saturday, the two females out of the dam Thin Disguise will race against each other for the first time in the $100,000 Dancin Renee for New York-bred females going six furlongs at Belmont Park.
The $150,000 Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park on Sunday took on added significance Thursday when trainer Jason Servis entered Florida Derby winner Maximum Security in the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds. The Pegasus will be the first start for Maximum Security since he crossed the finish line first in the Kentucky Derby and then was disqualified to 17th following a 22-minute review of the race by the stewards.
