SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - What Dancing Forever has accomplished at age 5 is a testament to the perseverance and patience of his trainer, Shug McGaughey.
That Dancing Forever even exists is due in large part to the persistence of his owner and breeder, Ogden Phipps, the skill of several doctors in Pennsylvania, and the tender, loving care given the horse's mother by a married couple who run a rehabilitation farm in Kentucky.
DEL MAR, Calif. - Storm Mesa won the prep race, the San Clemente Handicap. Satan's Circus was second in the American Oaks. And Lethal Heat is being wheeled right back after a win against the boys on Friday in the Real Good Deal Stakes.
The leading contenders for the Grade 1, $350,000 Del Mar Oaks for 3-year-old fillies on Saturday are fairly well established. But there is a mystery horse whom trainer John Shirreffs is hoping stacks up with them.
Two barns at Calder Race Course were placed under restriction on Tuesday for precautionary reasons after a horse died from unknown causes the previous afternoon.
According to track officials, remains from the deceased horse were sent to the state lab at the University of Florida in Gainesville to determine the cause of death. Results from those tests were expected to be made available on Wednesday morning.
AUBURN, Wash. - There are few things more exciting for an owner or a trainer than to have a 2-year-old win first time out. That goes double if the debut win comes in a stakes, and the excitement goes off the charts if the margin of victory threatens to go into double-digit lengths and the time is a stakes record.
Another daylong deluge Monday was the perfect backdrop for the final card of the first half of Saratoga's 140th meet.
With rain the theme of the first 18 days of racing, Saratoga has experienced double-digit declines in attendance, ontrack handle, and all-sources handle compared with this point of last year's record-setting meet.
John Sabini, until recently a state senator from the New York City borough of Queens, has taken over the top spot on the New York State Racing and Wagering Board after a confirmation hearing in the state senate on Friday.
Sabini, who replaces Dan Hogan as chairman of the wagering board, stepped down from his senate seat on Friday so that the Democratic Party in Queens could find another candidate for what is expected to be a tough election battle this fall. He was nominated as chairman of the wagering board by Gov. David Paterson, and will serve a six-year term.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Mother Nature postponed Curlin's first-ever visit to Saratoga's main track on Monday, but the reigning Horse of the Year still got in an important workout that keeps him on schedule for the Grade 1, $500,000 Woodward Stakes here on Aug. 30.
Working over a sloppy Oklahoma training track in the second set after the first renovation break - approximately 8 a.m. - Curlin drilled six furlongs in 1:14.62, going in company with the 4-year-old Hawaii Calls, who finished a neck in front at the wire.
OCEANPORT, N.J. - Trainer Larry Jones hasn't had the time to plot a next race for Maren's Meadow following her front-running victory last Saturday in the Grade 3, $150,000 Monmouth Oaks.
Jones, based at Delaware Park, has his hands full running horses throughout the region, including Kentucky Oaks winner Proud Spell, who is heading to Saratoga for the Grade 1 Alabama on Saturday.
When the dust settles after next weekend, Jones hopes to catch his breath and map out a schedule for his two talented 3-year-old fillies.
DEL MAR, Calif. - When the Best Pal Stakes was made official on Sunday at Del Mar following a lengthy inquiry, it was all over but for the shouting. And the fighting.
Boos emanated from the stands from those who disagreed that Kelly Leak should have been disqualified from victory in favor of Azul Leon, and jockey Victor Espinoza, the rider of Kelly Leak, got into a scrap with Rafael Bejarano, the rider of Azul Leon, in the jockeys' room after the race.
