LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The official start of summer was Friday, and the change of season signals an impending change of venues for many horsemen at the Churchill Downs spring meet, which runs through July 6.
Some are making plans for Saratoga, Arlington, or elsewhere. As always, Ellis Park will be a destination, although many trainers simply will keep their horses stabled at Churchill while sending them on the 2 1/2-hour westward van trip to Ellis in Henderson, Ky.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Ginger Brew and Jungle Brew represent an atypical pair of Queen's Plate entrants for trainer Brian Lynch, who runs the Stronach Stable operation here.
Ginger Brew is not only a filly facing colts but is coming back just two weeks after winning the 1 1/8-mile Woodbine Oaks, which goes against Lynch's general modus operandi.
Jungle Brew, a maiden after just two starts who is now taking the plunge into stakes company, also is a Lynch anomaly.
Horses dictate circumstances, however, and Lynch is comfortable with his Brew Crew.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Owner Bob Cheema said poor track conditions at Stampede Park in Calgary, Alberta, last weekend were the main reason Dancing Allstar wasn't entered in the $125,000 Alberta Derby.
Dancing Allstar probably would have been slightly favored over what appeared to be a weak field of colts and geldings in the Alberta Derby. Instead, she's going to be a prohibitive favorite in the fillies division of the CTHS Sales Stakes at Hastings on Saturday.
CALGARY, Alberta - Daily average handle from all sources for the 46 days of live racing at Stampede Park this spring was $208,638, down 3.7 percent from 2007, and average live handle ontrack was $89,315, down 7.25 percent from last year.
With four fewer days of racing, total ontrack handle of $4,108,493 dropped 14.7 percent. Four cards were canceled because of bad weather and track conditions.
Full-card simulcast handle during the 86 calendar days from March 21 to June 15 totaled $11,144,516, up 5.4 percent from a similar 86-day sample last year.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Not Bourbon, winner of the 1 1/8-mile Plate Trial in his last start here June 1, will break from post 13 and has been made the 3-1 morning-line choice for Sunday's $1 million Queen's Plate.
A field of 15, the largest for the 1 1/4-mile Queen's Plate since 16 Canadian-bred 3-year-olds went postward in 2000, was announced at a special ceremonial draw in the trackside tent here Friday.
The two-tiered draw system was used, with connections first drawing for their order of selection and then choosing their post positions.
Extra Sexy Psychic led throughout in the $71,250 Cozy Lace at Presque Isle Downs on Wednesday evening and drew off to win by 6 1/2 lengths. Sent off as the 6-5 second choice in the field of four, Extra Sexy Psychic dueled early with favorite Reatas Quick Punch before drawing clear on the turn.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Zaftig, the impressive winner of the Grade 1 Acorn Stakes here June 7, will be forced to miss the Grade 1 Mother Goose on June 28 due to a bruised foot, trainer Jimmy Jerkens said Wednesday.
Zaftig's defection eliminates what would have been an intriguing matchup between her and the Kentucky Oaks winner, Proud Spell.
Jerkens said Zaftig has just walked the shed row since last weekend after the bruise was diagnosed.
"We pulled the shoe and soaked the foot and it looks like now it's just subsiding," Jerkens said.
Keeneland Race Course announced Wednesday that its live television coverage and limited simulcasts will be provided in high definition at the fall meet in October.
Keeneland will become the first track in North America to go high-def to such an expansive degree. Races will be broadcast in HD on the infield's LED tote board, ontrack monitors, and certain HD-compatible network telecasts, such as those produced by ESPN.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Trainer Bret Calhoun felt the pressure before sending out his stable star, Mr. Nightlinger, in the featured eighth race Wednesday at Churchill Downs - but not just because the colt was an odds-on favorite.
Calhoun had given a leg up to jockey Jamie Theriot, who already had won with five of six mounts. So after Mr. Nightlinger ran off to a 2 1/4-length victory in the $50,400 turf sprint, Calhoun smiled and feigned a gesture to suggest the weight of the world had been lifted from his shoulders.
Wheels Up at Noon ($21), capitalizing on a turf course that favored speed, scored a front-running 1 3/4-length victory in Tuesday's $60,700 Eight Thirty Stakes at Delaware Park. Stay Close finished fourth as the even-money favorite in the 1 1/8-mile race.