Thu, 10/19/2023 - 19:14

Jockey Herrera has surgery after mount flips leaving tunnel on way to track

Jockey Gustavo Herrera underwent surgery Thursday to address a cracked tibia sustained in a Wednesday night riding accident at Remington Park.

“It went well,” agent Erik McNeil said of the surgery.

Herrera was injured when his mount in the fourth race, Princess Ball, flipped and landed on top of the rider leaving the tunnel area for the racetrack. Herrera was transported to the University of Oklahoma Medical Center in Oklahoma City, where he remained Thursday.

Thu, 10/19/2023 - 14:27

Lone Star to host similar schedule for 2024

Lone Star Park’s racing schedule for next season will be similar to this year’s after the track received Texas Racing Commission approval for its 2024 calendar on Wednesday.

Lone Star will race 41 dates for Thoroughbreds from April 18-July 14. The track will race on a Friday through Sunday schedule most weeks of the meet. There is a special Monday card on May 27, and there are Wednesday and Thursday cards July 3-4. Lone Star opens on a Thursday, which is a longstanding tradition. There will be less Thursday cards than the 2023 meet, which featured 44 race dates.  

Wed, 10/18/2023 - 17:54

Lanerie rides 5,000th winner

Corey Lanerie win No. 5000 at Keeneland on I Feel the Need Oct 18 2023
Coady Photography
Corey Lanerie, a 48-year-old native of Louisiana, has been riding since 1991. His mounts have earned close to $160 million.

Corey Lanerie earned the 5,000th win of his riding career on Wednesday at Keeneland, piloting I Feel the Need to a 3 1/2-length victory in a claiming race for trainer Chris Hartman.

Lanerie, 48, is the 38th North American jockey to reach the milestone. He had to wait a few weeks to join the club, after notching win No. 4,999 on Oct. 1 at Churchill Downs.

Wed, 10/18/2023 - 16:29

Keeneland to embark on $93M renovation, the most dramatic in its history

KEE.scenic02.10-13-21.CO.jpg
Coady Photography
The planned renovation will transform Keeneland's paddock, walking ring, and main entrance. It will include a three-story structure with a rooftop patio.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Keeneland will build a permanent structure overlooking its paddock and walking ring that will transform its main entrance and provide new dining, seating, and viewing areas, including a rooftop patio, the track announced on Wednesday.

Wed, 10/18/2023 - 15:31

Sam Houston approved for 43 days of Thoroughbred racing

Coady Photography
Sam Houston Race Park has been approved for 43 days of Thoroughbred racing and 25 days of Quarter Horse racing.

Sam Houston Race Park will race 43 dates for Thoroughbreds from Jan. 5 through April 7 next year after receiving approval for the calendar during a Texas Racing Commission meeting on Wednesday, the Houston track announced.

Sam Houston was also granted a 25-date meet for Quarter Horses from April 19-June 15.

Wed, 10/18/2023 - 15:15

Purses from Santa Anita, Los Alamitos to be redistributed

More than $175,000 in purses from 12 races run at Santa Anita and Los Alamitos from June 2 to July 4 were recently ordered redistributed by Santa Anita stewards for medication violations following rulings issued earlier this year by the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit.

The horses involved including eight runners trained by Milton Pineda, three by Peter Miller, and one by Cesar DeAlba. The affected purses involved included eight winners, including seven trained by Pineda, two second-place finishers, a fourth-place runner and a seventh-place runner.

Tue, 10/17/2023 - 14:37

Woodbine hires former politician McNaughton to industry post

ETOBICOKE, Ontario—Woodbine Entertainment has announced the appointment of former politician Monte McNaughton as Executive Vice President of Industry Relations and People Experience.

McNaughton, who was most recently Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development for Ontario, served in public office for more than 15 years and was a Member of Provincial Parliament since 2011 for the Progressive Conservative party.

Mon, 10/16/2023 - 14:10

Off strong QEII second, Lindy considered for Breeders' Cup

Coady Photography
Lindy (left) is too late to catch Mawj (right) in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup, but she could make it to the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf.

Lindy probably earned a trip to the Breeders’ Cup with a closing second-place finish Saturday in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup.

The French-bred filly, second in the Group 1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (French 1000 Guineas) before being sent to trainer Brendan Walsh in America, was coming hard at pacesetting Mawj in the QE II, and while her rally fell a half-length short in that 1 1/8-mile race, Lindy earned a strong 99 Beyer Speed Figure.

Mon, 10/16/2023 - 14:10

Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint: Cox undaunted by Caravel's second in Franklin Stakes

Coady Photography
First Mission made his first start back since being scratched from the Preakness a winning one Saturday. He now could be headed to the Grade 1 Clark at Churchill on Nov. 24.

Despite finishing second as a heavy favorite on Sunday in the Franklin Stakes at Keeneland, Caravel will ship to Santa Anita late this month with designs on a repeat victory in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.

Caravel’s intended participation brings to eight the number of trainer Brad Cox’s expected Breeders’ Cup starters, just one fewer than the number of Breeders’ Cup winners he has sent out from a mere 31 starters, an exceptional strike rate in races as competitive as these.

Mon, 10/16/2023 - 14:00

Rosario, Lezcano to serve careless riding suspensions

Joel Rosario at AQU Oct 8 2023
Barbara D. Livingston
Joel Rosario will serve a three-day suspension beginning Thursday.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Jockeys Jose Lezcano and Joel Rosario will be serving three-day careless riding suspensions Thursday through Saturday while jockey Javier Castellano has appealed a three-day suspension handed him by the track stewards.

Rosario was handed his suspension for his ride aboard Spirit Prince in the Grade 2 Pilgrim Stakes on Oct. 4. Spirit Prince came in and bumped Fulmineo, who finished second while Spirit Prince was declared to be in a dead heat for third with Liam’s Journey.