LEXINGTON, Ky. - Gloomy weather and an earlier disqualification couldn't keep Robby Albarado down. But really, what can these days? Six days removed from the richest victory of his career aboard Curlin in the Dubai World Cup, Albarado was at it again Friday when he booted home the winner of the Grade 3 Transylvania Stakes, highlight of the opening-day card at Keeneland.
Turfway Park's gross business was down about 10 percent in both all-sources and ontrack handle on live races at the winter-spring meet that began Jan. 1 and ended Thursday, according to figures released by the Florence, Ky., track.
Gross all-sources handle on 62 days of Turfway racing totaled nearly $150.7 million, while ontrack handle totaled just over $7.9 million. Those figures were down 9.6 and 10.4 percent, respectively, from 60 days in 2007. The daily average figures for this year's longer meet were down about 12 percent both ontrack and total.
William T. "Buddy" Bishop III, the longtime legal counsel for Keeneland Racecourse, The Jockey Club, and several large Kentucky farms, died on Thursday at his home in Lexington, Ky., Keeneland announced. He was 64.
The cause of death was not announced.
Bishop was one of the more well-known attorneys in Kentucky to specialize in equine practice. He represented Claiborne Farm, Godolphin Racing, Juddmonte Farms, Mill Ridge Farm, and Darley Stud.
ARCADIA, Calif. Trainer Gary Sherlock reached a milestone when Intangaroo won the Grade 1 Santa Monica Handicap at Santa Anita in February. The prestigious sprint for females was Sherlocks first stakes win at that level.
Intangaroo starts in Sundays $150,000 Las Flores Handicap and her presence in the race is even more meaningful to Sherlock. Earlier this week, the 62-year-old trainer underwent a procedure to have stents placed in two blocked arteries.
Sherlock was at home Friday, and ready to return to the barn on Saturday. He was eagerly anticipating Sundays race.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Of all the local riders who were active over the winter, none put in more air miles than Emma-Jayne Wilson and Eurico Rosa Da Silva.
Wilson began her "off" season at the Fair Grounds in late December and had relocated to Hong Kong by the beginning of February.
"It was a life-altering experience, to take up and go somewhere where you're completely new," said Wilson. "It was a unique environment for me to develop as a rider and as a person."
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Hey Byrn's quest for a potential spot in the Kentucky Derby field may not be over yet.
Despite finishing a disappointing fourth in the $1 million Florida Derby, Hey Byrn may get one more opportunity to earn enough graded money to still qualify for one of the 20 starting positions in this year's Kentucky Derby. That chance could come in Saturday's Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes, which offers a $150,000 purse.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame approved significant changes in its nomination and election procedures at its annual general meeting here at Woodbine on Thursday afternoon.
The nominating committee will now put up three candidates in four categories for both Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds. The new categories will be male horse; female horse; jockeys; trainers or drivers; and veterans/builders.
Previously, nominees were split into only two categories horses and people and the veteran inductees were elected by a special committee.
With rain falling in the New York area, Aqueduct management has canceled Friday's card in order to ensure the best racing surface possible for Saturday's Wood Memorial program.
"The main track is tight, in good shape, but factoring in that it only opened for racing two days ago and that we have Aqueduct's best day of racing tomorrow, we are doing everything we can to ensure optimum racing conditions for our big Wood Memorial Day card," said New York Racing Association racing secretary P.J. Campo.
CALGARY, Alberta Beths Best Bet will be in front and Beau Spirit will be trying to catch her in Saturdays seventh race at Stampede Park, a $19,300 allowance race that drew a field of six 4-year-old fillies.
The six-furlong sprint is a good place to start out the year for this group before they tackle older foes later in the stand.
SAN MATEO, Calif. - The defending champion, two of the quickest horses in Northern California, and a runner nearing the million-dollar mark in earnings add up to an intriguing running of the $100,000 California Turf Sprint at five furlongs on the turf Saturday at Bay Meadows.
It's a race filled with questions.
If Tribesman can dominate the pace, as he did in five straight starts before he was beaten last out in the Grade 3 Bay Meadows Sprint, the race could be over early. But Tribesman has never run on turf.