CYPRESS, Calif. – The first two weeks of July would seem an ideal time to run a Thoroughbred meeting in Southern California. School is out, the Fourth of July weekend looms, and the weather is fine.
But in early July, the countdown is underway for the start of the Del Mar meeting on July 16, and that threatens to overshadow the eight-day Los Alamitos summer meeting, which begins Thursday.
Wise Dan has begun daily galloping at his home base of Keeneland in Lexington, Ky., as trainer Charlie LoPresti begins thinking about a possible next race for the two-time Horse of the Year.
Wise Dan had been on a 30-day schedule of alternating between jogging and galloping until being cleared last weekend by veterinary staff at the Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital to resume full-blown training on the main track at Keeneland.
Embattled trainer Juan Vazquez has been indefinitely barred from the grounds of Delaware Park.
William Fasy, the president of Delaware Park, confirmed on Monday that Vazquez had been barred from the track as of last Thursday. Fasy declined to give a reason why Vazquez, a three-time leading trainer at Delaware, had been barred.
“Juan Vazquez has been barred from Delaware Park but I have no comment on the reason why,” he said.
Vazquez’s attorney, Alan Pincus, said that he was informed that Vazquez had been banned but was also not given a reason why.
FRANKFORT, KY. - A pair of races for jumpers will be added to the Sept. 5 opening day card at Kentucky Downs, following unanimous approval Monday from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.
The $40,000 Sport of Kings Maiden Hurdle for 4-year-old and up steeplechase maidens will be held over 2 1/4 miles on the Kentucky Downs undulating turf course. It will be contested as a non-parimutuel event under the rules of the National Steeplechase Association, and the purse for the race will come from the Kentucky Downs operating account.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Kirk Ziadie, Gulfstream Park’s leading trainer during the 2015 spring meet, may not be able to continue training his horses when the summer session begins Wednesday because of licensing issues with the state of Florida.
With the fiscal year in Florida and the spring meet ending Tuesday, all parimutuel employees must reapply for a new license beginning Wednesday. Ziadie reapplied for his 2015 license in May, but as of Monday the Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering had yet to act on his renewal.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Departing earned an 89 Beyer Speed Figure by winning for the first time in more than a year and for the first time on turf in the closing-night feature, the Grade 2 Firecracker on Saturday at Churchill Downs.
Trainer Al Stall Jr. said Sunday the breakthrough for the 5-year-old gelding on turf means he’ll have more options in considering future starts. “We had a good time watching on the iPad,” said Stall, who was attending the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremonies for retired trainer Frankie Brothers.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Plate Trial winner Danish Dynaformer and Grade 3 Marine Stakes winner Shaman Ghost were among the top contenders who worked here last weekend for Sunday’s 156th running of the $1 million Queen’s Plate at Woodbine.
The post position draw will take place in Woodbine’s walking ring Thursday morning, and as of Monday morning a field of 16 was expected for the 1 1/4-mile race for Canadian-bred 3-year-olds.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Churchill Downs spring meet ended in dramatic fashion Saturday night when jockey Corey Lanerie rallied aboard Love Your Humor to win the final race of the 38-day meet Saturday, allowing him to edge out Julien Leparoux for the riding title.
It was another highly eventful spring at Churchill, highlighted by a victory in the May 2 Kentucky Derby by American Pharoah, who would proceed to become the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years while stabling here during most of the meet.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Santa Anita ended its 39-day spring-summer meeting Sunday with gains in ontrack attendance and all-sources handle, and a decline in ontrack handle, according to a track official.
Average ontrack handle fell 1 percent, but all-sources handle, including from simulcasting and account wagering, rose 2.3 percent over the corresponding meeting in 2014, according to marketing director Nate Newby.
Ontrack attendance rose 12 percent over last year, the first year Santa Anita ran a spring-summer meeting following the closing of Hollywood Park at the end of 2013.
