Thu, 11/20/2025 - 14:30

Dr. Venkman will focus on races from seven furlongs to a mile in 2026

Barbara D. Livingston

Trainer Mark Glatt already has his eye on the Churchill Downs Stakes on Kentucky Derby Day for Dr. Venkman.

Dr. Venkman, third in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at six furlongs at Del Mar on Nov. 1, will have a 2026 campaign focused on longer sprints and one-turn mile races.

In the immediate future, Dr. Venkman will not do much, trainer Mark Glatt said on Thursday.

“We’ll give him a little bit of a break and gear him up for the spring,” Glatt said.

Dr. Venkman will be considered for races such as the Grade 1 Churchill Downs Stakes at seven furlongs on May 2, part of the undercard of the Kentucky Derby program.

Wed, 11/19/2025 - 14:51

Overnight purses increased for Santa Anita winter-spring meet

By Steve Andersen

Barbara D. Livingston

This year's Santa Anita winter-spring meeting will offer higher purses in overnight races.

Overnight purses will rise by approximately 6 percent to 7 percent in some categories at the 2025-26 Santa Anita winter-spring meeting from Dec. 26-April 5.

In addition, two $100,000 stakes on turf have been restored to the schedule after not being held this year. The Astra Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/2 miles will be run Jan. 19. The Providencia Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles is scheduled for April 5.

Wed, 11/19/2025 - 14:51

Mika back to Maker after eye-popping win

By Patrick Moquin

Jim McCue/Maryland Jockey Club

Mika's 95 Beyer in his last race race is the third highest earned by any runner at Laurel this meet.

Mika, a runaway allowance winner at Laurel Park on Sunday, will leave trainer Brittany Russell’s barn in Maryland and return to Mike Maker to continue his 3-year-old campaign in New York. Steve Spielman, owner of Nice Guys Stables, said that he could possibly ship to Florida and California in the future.

Wed, 11/19/2025 - 14:07

Capuano thriving like no other with youngsters

By Patrick Moquin

On a list that includes Chad Brown and Bob Baffert, trainer Gary Capuano stands apart. The Mid-Atlantic horseman is currently enjoying a stellar campaign with juveniles, winning 18 of 44 races with 17 horses. His 41 percent strike rate with 2-year-olds is the highest in the country among trainers with at least 40 starts.

“I pinch myself most of the days just thinking, ‘When’s it going to stop?’ ” Capuano said. “But these horses are really doing well and we’re finding some good spots, and things have just been working out for us. We’ll ride the wave as long as we can.”

Wed, 11/19/2025 - 14:05

Civaci targets December return; Snap Decision retired

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Snap Decision retires as the second-leading money earner in U.S. steeplechase history.

Jockey Sahin Civaci, who was thought to have fractured two vertebrae in his back in a spill at Aqueduct on Nov. 13 and was expected to be out a month, is targeting a Dec. 4 return, agent Mike Sellitto said Wednesday.

Sellitto said Civaci was cleared by doctors on Tuesday to resume riding, but Sellitto said he told Civaci to wait until Dec. 4, which is the start of the new condition book. Sellitto added that when a different doctor looked at recent X-rays of Civaci, he said, “It was probably an old injury.”

Wed, 11/19/2025 - 13:56

Carrasco will soon head to Turfway for the winter

By Patrick Moquin

Coady Media

When jockey Victor Carrasco made his stateside debut in the Mid-Atlantic region, he immediately found success at Laurel.

Jockey Victor Carrasco said that he plans to spend a few more weeks at Laurel Park before shifting his tack to Turfway Park for the winter. Barring two meets lost to injury, it will be his first winter racing outside Laurel since his 2013 debut.

The 33-year-old rider said that he was considering making the move to Turfway last winter, but he chose to stay closer to home after his son was born in August 2024.

Wed, 11/19/2025 - 12:58

Friday card canceled due to rain with card added for Monday

By Brad Free

Barbara D. Livingston

Del Mar canceled racing Friday due to rain and will have an all-dirt card on Saturday.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Del Mar canceled racing on Friday due to a pending rainstorm, the second weather-related cancellation at the track in less than a week.

The latest cancellation was announced Wednesday morning after Del Mar officials monitored the updated weather forecast that called for significant rainfall this week.

“All indications are we’re going to have rain Thursday night into Friday, pretty much all day,” racing secretary David Jerkens said. “You’re looking at an inch or more, it looks like significant precipitation.”

Mon, 11/17/2025 - 12:52

Marin back to defend riding title as meet opens

By David Grening

Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO

Samuel Marin rode 116 winners at the 2024-25 Tampa meet, ending Samy Camacho’s four-year run as leading rider.

Samuel Marin stood in the Aqueduct winner’s circle following his victory on Throckmorton in the Awad Stakes on Nov. 9 and was asked about whether he gave consideration to riding in New York this winter.

“I love it here, it’s a dream to be here, but our plan is when Tampa opens, to be there,” Marin said.

Mon, 11/17/2025 - 12:48

After some uncertainty, Fair Grounds ready to kickoff meet

By Marcus Hersh

Barbara D. Livingston

Fair Grounds will host 70 days of racing this year, down from 76 the last two years and 80 in 2022-23.

Fair Grounds commences its 154th racing season Thursday – something that wasn’t assured as recently as June.

In March, the Louisiana Supreme Court ruled that Fair Grounds, owned by Churchill Downs Inc., had to stop using so-called historical horse racing machines it had begun operating alongside the company’s existing video poker terminals. That ruling combined with the Louisiana legislature passing gambling bills that CDI claimed would dilute its video poker revenue led to an exceedingly strong response.

Mon, 11/17/2025 - 11:37

Pick six carryover of $51,879 offers fresh restart

By Brad Free

Barbara D. Livingston

Del Mar's Friday card will have a pick six carryover of $51,879, with well over $300,000 in new money expected.

A Friday pick six carryover at Del Mar will help the track regain momentum after a start-and-stop week of wet weather and the cancellation of the Saturday card. The pick six carryover will pique interest when Del Mar resumes racing.

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