ARCADIA, Calif. - European import Snowflake arrived in the United States with a glowing reputation and all her conditions.
The filly had raced 11 times in Ireland and England, but was still a maiden late last year when she reached the barn of trainer Ron McAnally. "Just like Bonapartiste; he was a maiden when he got here," McAnally said.
JAMAICA, N.Y. - Tuesday, on a summer-like morning at Belmont Park, a groundbreaking ceremony took place for a child-care center, the country's first on-site facility for the children of backstretch employees.
Work on the 7,500-square foot building, which will cost $1.2 million to construct, will be completed over the summer, with the center opening in the fall. At full capacity, the year-round facility, located adjacent to
LEXINGTON, Ky. - If nothing else, Charles "Chuck" Simon learned well. A longtime former assistant to Hall of Fame trainer Allen Jerkens, Simon has demonstrated with his work - not his words - that his horses can run with anyone's.
"That's the way 'The Chief' does things, and the way I prefer to conduct my business, too," said Simon, referring to Jerkens's nickname and silent-but-strong demeanor. Simon worked for Jerkens for 5 1/2 years.
SAN MATEO, Calif. - Trainer Art Sherman hopes his hot streak will continue when he saddles Milagra in Thursday's feature race at Bay Meadows.
Milagra needed 12 starts to win her maiden but now has won two straight races. She will try to make it three in a row in Thursday's six-furlong $40,000 optional claimer against five other older fillies and mares.
Milagra is owned by Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Moss, who have begun sending horses to Sherman.
"The last three I've run for them have won," Sherman said.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - The youngest stakes winner in the country will be crowned here Friday when 2-year-olds go three furlongs in the $75,000 Valid Appeal Stakes.
Four of the 14 nominees for the Valid Appeal have already earned their diplomas, including the filly Shelby's Angel, who beat 11 rivals handily on April 4.
JAMAICA, N.Y. - Trainer James Bond has waited nearly 28 years to get to Louisville for the Kentucky Derby with a horse. Another two weeks won't matter.
While Medaglia d'Oro and Sunday Break, the second- and third-place finishers in Saturday's Wood Memorial, were scheduled to be flown Tuesday from New York to Louisville for the May 4 Kentucky Derby, Bond said he would keep Wood winner in New York for the next two weeks.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - In the end, Bobby Frankel still might consider the Kentucky Derby for Royal Gem. After all, with two spectacular come-from-behind wins in as many starts, Royal Gem has accomplished more than some other horses whose connections have been overcome by Derby fever.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Oaklawn Park had gains in attendance and handle during its 52-day meet that ended Saturday.
Daily attendance for the meet averaged 11,980, a six percent increase over the 11,251 average in 2001. Average handle was $4.8 million, up 11 percent from $4.3 million a year ago. The biggest growth was offtrack, as outlets handled $3.7 million a day on races from Oaklawn, compared with $3.3 million a day in 2001.
CALGARY, Alberta - Alberta crowned its 2001 champions at Stampede Park Saturday, with trainer R.K. "Red" Smith there to accept the Horse of the Year award for Fancy As, who captured the imagination of Western Canada fans with eight victories and $431,941 in earnings in a memorable 3-year-old campaign.
Fancy As, a unanimous selection for the horse of the year, also was named winner of the 3-year-old male division. Smith took home a third trophy, as leading trainer.