Marquis Downs will welcome back live racing on Friday with an eight-race card which attracted a total of 66 horses.
I thought for a first card it was very good; the winter here s been terrible, said Rick Fior, racing manager for the Saskatoon, Saskatchewan oval.
We already have about 300 sets of papers in the office and I think by mid-June we ll be close to 350 to 400 horses to run two days a week.
Ruidoso Downs will jump into its mixed meet on Friday with 17 trial races for the Grade 1, $500,000 Ruidoso Futurity for Quarter Horses. The stakes is one of three major 2-year-old races at the meet, along with the $625,000 Rainbow and $2 million All American Futurity. The rich series has long made the 62-year-old track a mecca for top Quarter Horses as well as a summer tradition in the mountain-top town of Ruidoso Downs, N.M.
"When you mention horse racing here, people's eyes light up," said Ann McGovern, president and general manager of Ruidoso Downs.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - The training track turf course was open for business for the first time this season on Wednesday morning and trainer Roger Attfield, as usual, was one of the best customers. Attfield, whose barn is located adjacent to the dirt and turf training tracks here, sent out eight horses over the seven-furlong grass strip, including three who should be seeing stakes action here this weekend.
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Song of Navarone will be looking to win his fifth straight race Monday at Lone Star Park, but whether he runs in the Grade 3, $400,000 Lone Star Park Handicap or the Grade 3, $200,000 Dallas Turf Cup had yet to be decided as of Wednesday.
"We've got our options open," said Henry Dominguez, who trains Star of Navarone. "We're going to try and make the best decision we possibly can."
Smokin Again was one of the best 2-year-olds to come out of the Louisiana Downs meet a year ago, and last Saturday she picked up right where she left off with a clear allowance win over fillies and mares in a turf route. The performance has set her up for a return to local stakes competition.
Charles Hukill, who trains Smokin Again, said she is now being pointed for the $50,000 Top Corsage at 7 1/2 furlongs on the grass on June 13. The race is designed as a stepping-stone to the $75,000 River Cities on the Super Derby Day card Sept. 19.
AUBURN, Wash. - Gordy Jarnig bought his first racehorse in 1972; his friend Eric Schweiger has been in the game almost as long. They've shared countless laughs and won a few races since joining forces about 10 years ago, but they've never had a runner as good as the one they have now.
Her name is Reba Is Tops, a 5-year-old Washington-bred mare with a quick turn of foot and a strong affinity for the turf. In her latest race, last Friday, Reba Is Tops sped to a track-record victory on the grass in the $62,460 Lawndale Stakes at Hollywood Park.
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - It's a Bird has established himself as one of the top older horses in the country this year, and on Monday he will be looking for his third major stakes win in his last four starts when he runs in the Grade 3, $400,000 Lone Star Park Handicap.
Long Island Rail Road train service from Penn Station in New York City directly into Belmont Park is expected to be restored next Thursday, May 28, pending Metropolitan Transit Authority board approval the day before, the New York Racing Association said in a release Tuesday.
The "Belmont Special" had been eliminated as part of a series of budget cuts and proposed fare hikes by the MTA, parent agency of the LIRR.
MIAMI - Dave Vivian needed someone to step up and help pay the bills while his big horse Soldier's Dancer gets some well-deserved rest and relaxation this summer. Along came Grand Cash to fill the void.
Grand Cash, a 3-year-old son of Belong to Me, looked like the spitting image of his older stablemate on Sunday, rallying from dead last to post a half-length victory over Cinnamon Road in the Lord Juban overnight stakes.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Everyone should have their plans come together so well. After nine months of waiting, hoping, and plotting, trainer Greg Fox watched with delight Sunday at Churchill Downs as Tizdejavu made his first start since surgery a successful one by capturing a $57,780 turf allowance under Julien Leparoux.
"I'm thrilled," Fox, a former practicing equine veterinarian who turned to training four years ago, said Tuesday. "The colt came out of the race in perfect shape."
