OZONE PARK, N.Y. - A television crew from Kentucky Educational Television was at Aqueduct on Thursday, filming a variety of activity as part of a one-hour documentary scheduled to air on PBS next spring.
The project is headed by Paul Wagner, who in 1985 won an Academy Award for Documentary Short Subject for "The Stone Carvers." Wagner is co-producing the racing documentary along with Hallie Gay Walden Bagley, sister of former trainer Elliott Walden, now a vice president of WinStar Farm.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - At a time when many racetracks are struggling - with some cutting dates, purses, and stakes, and others fighting for their very existence - business has remained stable at the Woodbine Entertainment Group.
"We have a good business model," said Nick Eaves, president and chief operating officer of the Woodbine Entertainment Group. "We're diversified; we have a balance between a racing and gaming mix."
ARCADIA, Calif. - Jockey Aaron Gryder didn't even have to wait until the race was over to reflect on his career-defining victory last Saturday.
As Well Armed stormed to a 14-length victory in the $6 million Dubai World Cup in the Middle East last weekend, the magnitude of the win was not lost on Gryder.
"At the three-eighths pole, when I turned for home, I said, 'They're not catching me,' " he said on the Santa Anita backstretch Thursday.
Through the lengthy stretch, Gryder knew he was pulling away and was able to enjoy the moment.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Todd Kabel is back, and vows that he is ready to make up for what was essentially a lost year in 2008.
Kabel's quest will begin on Saturday, the opening day of Woodbine's 167-day meeting, when he has mounts in five of the 10 races.
"My body's never felt so good," said Kabel, 43, who won a Sovereign Award in 1986 as Canada's outstanding apprentice and added four straight as outstanding jockey from 2003 through 2006.
Jockey Leslie Mawing suffered compound fractures of the tibia and fibula in his left leg on Wednesday when his mount Pasta Time crashed through the turf course inner rail during the seventh race at Golden Gate Fields, according to track physician David Seftel.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Woodbine, with a lucrative purse structure projected to average more than $500,000 daily, begins its 167-day Throughbred meeting Saturday.
The track received more than 4,300 applications this winter for its 2,170 available stalls. Approximately 250 trainers applied for stalls, and more than 200 were accommodated.
As of last count on Tuesday there were 1,812 horses on the grounds, as opposed to 1,751 at the same time last spring.
STICKNEY, Ill. - Irish import Derek Ryan has won two graded stakes races since he left life as a freelance exercise rider and sometime assistant trainer to train on his own. Emergency Status won the Jersey Derby in 2002, and Musket Man won the Tampa Bay Derby on March 14.
"I'm 2 for 2 in derbies," Ryan said.
Three for three looms a distinct possibility, as well, with Musket Man one of the principal players in Saturday's Grade 2, $500,000 Illinois Derby at Hawthorne. Another big race, and Ryan might find himself in the Derby - the one in Kentucky.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Churchill Downs will conduct racing under the lights for the first time in the track's 134-year history when the track hosts three night programs late in the 2009 spring meet.
Pending approval Tuesday from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, Churchill will start three cards at 6 p.m. and conclude at about 11 p.m. on Friday, June 19; Friday, June 26; and Thursday, July 2.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Dream Empress is the puzzler of the Ashland Stakes. When fans sort through the past performances for the Grade 1 race Saturday at Keeneland, surely more than a few will pause over those of Dream Empress and say, "What the . . ."