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2006/12/07
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AUTUMN horse, Cheveton, looks well worth a bet in the second of the three sprint handicaps at Nottingham.
Richard Price’s nine-year-old has gained his last five wins in the final two months of the season – the last three of them on soft or heavy.
As CHEVETON (5.20) is on a lower mark than 12 months ago and has the best of the draw in stall 17, it will be disappointing if he does not come up trumps this afternoon.
I will be at Lingfield where I saw OUTBACK TRAVELLER (2.00) keep the race after crossing over to the rail and winning a maiden there last month.
William Buick was a naughty boy that day, as the rules of racing require jockeys to keep to their draw, and he most certainly did not.
“He was a real professional and once you get that rail it’s a big advantage,” Buick told me in the winner’s enclosure.
Ryan Moore takes over for my tip’s first run on Polytrack and I can see the former champ using his mount’s early speed to get to the inside rail from stall four and making all.
The form horse, Sefaat, is drawn wide in 12 but for which he would have been the selection. The race of the day is the Epilepsy Centre Handicap in which six of the 10 runners hail from Newmarket.
Our Newmarket man is keen on David Simcock’s Cafe Society but I am going for his stablemate EDWYN RALPH (4.05).
Simcock has more winners than most on Polytrack, with 100 of his 283 successes in the last five years coming at Lingfield, Kempton, and Wolverhampton.
Edwyn Ralph returns to the scene of his first win, back in February, and he has since won a Southwell handicap by three lengths from Royal Skies, who has gone on to win at Ascot, Pontefract and Musselburgh.
LONG WAVE (5.00) should maintain Charlie Longsdon’s good run at Wetherby.
Tony McCoy’s likeliest winner is TEMPLE LORD (2.50) in the two-mile chase.
The time is right to place a bet on Cheveton | Horse Racing | Sport | Daily Express
Richard Price’s nine-year-old has gained his last five wins in the final two months of the season – the last three of them on soft or heavy.
As CHEVETON (5.20) is on a lower mark than 12 months ago and has the best of the draw in stall 17, it will be disappointing if he does not come up trumps this afternoon.
I will be at Lingfield where I saw OUTBACK TRAVELLER (2.00) keep the race after crossing over to the rail and winning a maiden there last month.
William Buick was a naughty boy that day, as the rules of racing require jockeys to keep to their draw, and he most certainly did not.
“He was a real professional and once you get that rail it’s a big advantage,” Buick told me in the winner’s enclosure.
Ryan Moore takes over for my tip’s first run on Polytrack and I can see the former champ using his mount’s early speed to get to the inside rail from stall four and making all.
The form horse, Sefaat, is drawn wide in 12 but for which he would have been the selection. The race of the day is the Epilepsy Centre Handicap in which six of the 10 runners hail from Newmarket.
Our Newmarket man is keen on David Simcock’s Cafe Society but I am going for his stablemate EDWYN RALPH (4.05).
Simcock has more winners than most on Polytrack, with 100 of his 283 successes in the last five years coming at Lingfield, Kempton, and Wolverhampton.
Edwyn Ralph returns to the scene of his first win, back in February, and he has since won a Southwell handicap by three lengths from Royal Skies, who has gone on to win at Ascot, Pontefract and Musselburgh.
LONG WAVE (5.00) should maintain Charlie Longsdon’s good run at Wetherby.
Tony McCoy’s likeliest winner is TEMPLE LORD (2.50) in the two-mile chase.
The time is right to place a bet on Cheveton | Horse Racing | Sport | Daily Express
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2006/12/07
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Keeneland is many things to many people. It is one of the finest racetracks in the world, and it is a place you go to see and be seen. However, on Make-A-Wish Day, the racetrack works with surrounding farms to elevate itself beyond horse racing.
On October 10, the Kentucky horse industry put competition aside in an effort to bring smiles to the faces of children who have had to deal with more than their fair share of struggles. Since 2008, each year on Make-A-Wish Day, the thoroughbred industry and Keeneland team up to grant the wishes of nine Kentucky children battling life-threatening medical conditions.
It is a day of VIP treatment from beginning to end. Each child spends the morning getting a personal tour of his or her sponsoring farm and then spends the afternoon at Keeneland. As guests of honor, the wish families meet the Keeneland jockeys in the paddock and watch their sponsor's race from the winner's circle. At the end of each race, the wish kids present the trophy for the race named after the sponsoring farms.
"It is Kentucky farmers helping Kentucky children," said John Greely IV, co-owner of Wintergreen Stallion Station and one of the driving forces behind the event. "Whether we are having good times or bad times in the horse business, we all realize we are very lucky to live the lives that we have led.
"This year, I believe eight of the nine families had never been to Keeneland for a horse race, and for them to be able to see it in the capacity they are seeing it is really special. Not only do they get their wish granted, but they get to have another special day together."
Anyone who reads this will surely pause to think, "Oh, that is nice," but it was observing this day in its entirety that reminded me of the depth, breadth and importance of such a simple word in such a complicated world.
Christian is 15 and he is battling medulloblastoma, a highly malignant primary brain tumor. On Make-A-Wish Day, he was all smiles when he got to meet three-time Kentucky Derby winning jockey Calvin Borel. Earlier in the day, Christian had bonded with 2010 Kentucky Derby runner-up Ice Box while feeding the stallion a carrot.
The teenager was also grinning as he presented the winning trophy to the connections of Key to Fame, who had won "his" race at odds of 18-1. Amid all the smiles and handshakes and joy, his mom was standing off to the side hastily wiping away tears. Less than 24 hours after that moment, her son would be back at the hospital to receive chemotherapy.
It's humbling to have a 15-year-old look you in the eyes and tell you it's OK. That chemotherapy, for him at least, is easier on the body than the radiation he has also gone through.
Then there is 8-year-old Sophia, who has Batten disease, which is a rare neurodegenerative disorder. Sometimes it is very hard for Sophia to hold still, but this mattered not to the kind person dressed up as Keeneland's mascot, Buckles, who was endlessly patient while encouraging Sophia (and all the younger children) to come in close for a hug.
Rebecca is 18, stylish and confident. She also has Ewing's sarcoma, a rare bone cancer. She, her mom, and her sister decided it would be fun to bet a trifecta, so they each picked a horse and put their picks all together. Rarely has a $1 trifecta ticket brought so much joy when it came in.
Even some of the horses seemingly picked up on the enormity of it all. Prior to the second race, trainer Joe McSorley allowed Baily, age 6, to come pet his horse, the appropriately named Highlight. This isn't a backyard pony. This was an athlete tacked up, circling a busy paddock getting ready to compete.
Highlight stood stock still, ears pricked while Baily daintily patted his nose with one hand while clutching a prized gifted horseshoe in another. The little girl has neuroblastoma, a cancerous tumor that develops from nerve tissue.
Each child has a story and each one deserves better than the hand fate has dealt them. A day at the races can't fix that, but it is the hope of everyone involved that it can relieve the stress and anxiety for just a little while.
"I think this is something bigger than all of us as individuals, and it is important," said Gemma Freeman, the industry relations manager at Stonestreet Farm. "It is a fantastic day, and we are happy and proud to be part of it."
From those at Stonestreet letting 7-year-old Makenzie feed 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra peppermints, to leading jockey Rosie Napravnik bending down to be at eye level for better conversation with Baily just before riding in a race, there is something about the day that reminds you that the simplest acts can have far-reaching results. Studies have been done to back what the eyes and heart already know. A 2011 Make-A-Wish impact study showed that 89 percent of doctors, nurses and health professionals surveyed believed a wish experience can influence wish kids' physical health, while 99 percent of parents reported that the wish experience gave their children increased feelings of happiness and 96 percent said the wish experience strengthened their families.
Sponsors of Make-A-Wish Day at Keeneland this year included Three Chimneys Farm, Shadwell Farm, Ashford Stud/Coolmore Farms, Lane's End, Darley, The Frizzy Foundation, Gainesway, Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital and Stonestreet Farm.
"Days like this are really cool because farms that are competitors on the track, in the breeding shed and at the sales are all coming together to support an initiative that is bigger than themselves," said Alex Riddle of Rood & Riddle. "We are just really happy to be a part of it. The horse industry has always been really good at charitable work inside of itself, and it is a great time to reach outside of itself and do things to help the whole community."
This spirit of giving went beyond just the day's original sponsors. After the final race of the day, a man walked up to the Make-A-Wish Foundation
On October 10, the Kentucky horse industry put competition aside in an effort to bring smiles to the faces of children who have had to deal with more than their fair share of struggles. Since 2008, each year on Make-A-Wish Day, the thoroughbred industry and Keeneland team up to grant the wishes of nine Kentucky children battling life-threatening medical conditions.
It is a day of VIP treatment from beginning to end. Each child spends the morning getting a personal tour of his or her sponsoring farm and then spends the afternoon at Keeneland. As guests of honor, the wish families meet the Keeneland jockeys in the paddock and watch their sponsor's race from the winner's circle. At the end of each race, the wish kids present the trophy for the race named after the sponsoring farms.
"It is Kentucky farmers helping Kentucky children," said John Greely IV, co-owner of Wintergreen Stallion Station and one of the driving forces behind the event. "Whether we are having good times or bad times in the horse business, we all realize we are very lucky to live the lives that we have led.
"This year, I believe eight of the nine families had never been to Keeneland for a horse race, and for them to be able to see it in the capacity they are seeing it is really special. Not only do they get their wish granted, but they get to have another special day together."
Anyone who reads this will surely pause to think, "Oh, that is nice," but it was observing this day in its entirety that reminded me of the depth, breadth and importance of such a simple word in such a complicated world.
Christian is 15 and he is battling medulloblastoma, a highly malignant primary brain tumor. On Make-A-Wish Day, he was all smiles when he got to meet three-time Kentucky Derby winning jockey Calvin Borel. Earlier in the day, Christian had bonded with 2010 Kentucky Derby runner-up Ice Box while feeding the stallion a carrot.
The teenager was also grinning as he presented the winning trophy to the connections of Key to Fame, who had won "his" race at odds of 18-1. Amid all the smiles and handshakes and joy, his mom was standing off to the side hastily wiping away tears. Less than 24 hours after that moment, her son would be back at the hospital to receive chemotherapy.
It's humbling to have a 15-year-old look you in the eyes and tell you it's OK. That chemotherapy, for him at least, is easier on the body than the radiation he has also gone through.
Then there is 8-year-old Sophia, who has Batten disease, which is a rare neurodegenerative disorder. Sometimes it is very hard for Sophia to hold still, but this mattered not to the kind person dressed up as Keeneland's mascot, Buckles, who was endlessly patient while encouraging Sophia (and all the younger children) to come in close for a hug.
Rebecca is 18, stylish and confident. She also has Ewing's sarcoma, a rare bone cancer. She, her mom, and her sister decided it would be fun to bet a trifecta, so they each picked a horse and put their picks all together. Rarely has a $1 trifecta ticket brought so much joy when it came in.
Even some of the horses seemingly picked up on the enormity of it all. Prior to the second race, trainer Joe McSorley allowed Baily, age 6, to come pet his horse, the appropriately named Highlight. This isn't a backyard pony. This was an athlete tacked up, circling a busy paddock getting ready to compete.
Highlight stood stock still, ears pricked while Baily daintily patted his nose with one hand while clutching a prized gifted horseshoe in another. The little girl has neuroblastoma, a cancerous tumor that develops from nerve tissue.
Each child has a story and each one deserves better than the hand fate has dealt them. A day at the races can't fix that, but it is the hope of everyone involved that it can relieve the stress and anxiety for just a little while.
"I think this is something bigger than all of us as individuals, and it is important," said Gemma Freeman, the industry relations manager at Stonestreet Farm. "It is a fantastic day, and we are happy and proud to be part of it."
From those at Stonestreet letting 7-year-old Makenzie feed 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra peppermints, to leading jockey Rosie Napravnik bending down to be at eye level for better conversation with Baily just before riding in a race, there is something about the day that reminds you that the simplest acts can have far-reaching results. Studies have been done to back what the eyes and heart already know. A 2011 Make-A-Wish impact study showed that 89 percent of doctors, nurses and health professionals surveyed believed a wish experience can influence wish kids' physical health, while 99 percent of parents reported that the wish experience gave their children increased feelings of happiness and 96 percent said the wish experience strengthened their families.
Sponsors of Make-A-Wish Day at Keeneland this year included Three Chimneys Farm, Shadwell Farm, Ashford Stud/Coolmore Farms, Lane's End, Darley, The Frizzy Foundation, Gainesway, Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital and Stonestreet Farm.
"Days like this are really cool because farms that are competitors on the track, in the breeding shed and at the sales are all coming together to support an initiative that is bigger than themselves," said Alex Riddle of Rood & Riddle. "We are just really happy to be a part of it. The horse industry has always been really good at charitable work inside of itself, and it is a great time to reach outside of itself and do things to help the whole community."
This spirit of giving went beyond just the day's original sponsors. After the final race of the day, a man walked up to the Make-A-Wish Foundation
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2006/12/07
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The remarkable seven-year old gelding is hot favourite to recapture the Qipco Champion Stakes now that rain has softened the royal turf in his favour.
Having gained a reputation for fairy-tale results, she insists: “If you don’t believe in miracles, they don’t arrive.”
Cirrus looked in great shape on his regular evening stroll around the Barande-Barbe yard at Chantilly this week.
Having maintained the excellent French strike rate in the Champion Stakes in 2011 – The French don’t send many across the Channel yet have won 15 of the last 40 runnings – he had the misfortune to encounter that unbeaten colossus Frankel in his repeat bid 12 months ago.
Yet he forced Sir Henry Cecil’s colt to work hard for his 14th and final victory.
“If only his pacemaker had set a stronger pace,” she muses.
“We might have gone much closer, but they were worried about his stamina on the softer ground.” Now known as “Champion” in his yard, Cirrus had won 18 of his 51 races, and would bring his career earnings to an astonishing £5million by winning today.
Three victories have been in the Longchamp’s Prix Dollar and, according to his trainer, it should have been four, as he tends to pull up when he thinks he’s done enough.
“Two years ago he wasn’t winning so easily and Byword came past to beat him. His jockey Franck Blondel was furious!” she recalls.
Injuries have certainly played their part, and that’s when her earlier interest in yoga comes in handy.
“It helps me with the pressure when I’m angry or worried,” she says.
“If you breathe deep and relax you can do more each day.”
Yet she reckons that periods of convalescing have stopped Cirrus getting any older!
“When he had a little problem he just walks in the morning and afternoon and I wait until he’s perfect again. He tells me when – he’s very clever,” she insists.
“In 2010 he went to Cagnes for the Grand Prix de la Riviera, but he pulled up lame and he was out for a long time. Next year was his best year, even though he had a little problem in June.”
The cruellest blow was last year when he flew out to Hong Kong for his fourth attempt at winning a Group One at Sha Tin.
“He probably put his foot in a hole because it pulled a ligament. He had to quit the race and it was such a shame, having run so well against states.
“So I don’t either. They told me he would be off for six months, so I kept him walking to keep the ligaments supple and he came back in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.”
He was beaten there and again in the King George at Ascot, behind German ace Novellist. But the Barande-Barbe explanation is simple.
“Both times he ran over a mile and a half, which is a bit far for him. He’s better over 10 furlongs off a fast pace. Now with another impressive went for the Champion Stakes in 2011. People told me that he’d done been beaten in the Dollar and they told me he was tired and I must give him a break.
“I said ‘No, it’s a good preparation’ and winning was really great. It was his first Group One victory.”
The day was tarnished when jockey Christophe Soumillon was banned and fined his share of the prize money under controversial new whip rules.
“I thought that was really unjust,” she says.
“But I was confident justice would be done and it was when the punishments were lifted.
“We have now called a horse, who is not so good, Whip Des Aigles – just to remind us!”
Horse Racing: French ace Cirrus Des Aigles champing at the bit to regain Ascot crown | Racing | Sport | Daily Star. Simply The Best 7 Days A Week
Having gained a reputation for fairy-tale results, she insists: “If you don’t believe in miracles, they don’t arrive.”
Cirrus looked in great shape on his regular evening stroll around the Barande-Barbe yard at Chantilly this week.
Having maintained the excellent French strike rate in the Champion Stakes in 2011 – The French don’t send many across the Channel yet have won 15 of the last 40 runnings – he had the misfortune to encounter that unbeaten colossus Frankel in his repeat bid 12 months ago.
Yet he forced Sir Henry Cecil’s colt to work hard for his 14th and final victory.
“If only his pacemaker had set a stronger pace,” she muses.
“We might have gone much closer, but they were worried about his stamina on the softer ground.” Now known as “Champion” in his yard, Cirrus had won 18 of his 51 races, and would bring his career earnings to an astonishing £5million by winning today.
Three victories have been in the Longchamp’s Prix Dollar and, according to his trainer, it should have been four, as he tends to pull up when he thinks he’s done enough.
“Two years ago he wasn’t winning so easily and Byword came past to beat him. His jockey Franck Blondel was furious!” she recalls.
Injuries have certainly played their part, and that’s when her earlier interest in yoga comes in handy.
“It helps me with the pressure when I’m angry or worried,” she says.
“If you breathe deep and relax you can do more each day.”
Yet she reckons that periods of convalescing have stopped Cirrus getting any older!
“When he had a little problem he just walks in the morning and afternoon and I wait until he’s perfect again. He tells me when – he’s very clever,” she insists.
“In 2010 he went to Cagnes for the Grand Prix de la Riviera, but he pulled up lame and he was out for a long time. Next year was his best year, even though he had a little problem in June.”
The cruellest blow was last year when he flew out to Hong Kong for his fourth attempt at winning a Group One at Sha Tin.
“He probably put his foot in a hole because it pulled a ligament. He had to quit the race and it was such a shame, having run so well against states.
“So I don’t either. They told me he would be off for six months, so I kept him walking to keep the ligaments supple and he came back in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.”
He was beaten there and again in the King George at Ascot, behind German ace Novellist. But the Barande-Barbe explanation is simple.
“Both times he ran over a mile and a half, which is a bit far for him. He’s better over 10 furlongs off a fast pace. Now with another impressive went for the Champion Stakes in 2011. People told me that he’d done been beaten in the Dollar and they told me he was tired and I must give him a break.
“I said ‘No, it’s a good preparation’ and winning was really great. It was his first Group One victory.”
The day was tarnished when jockey Christophe Soumillon was banned and fined his share of the prize money under controversial new whip rules.
“I thought that was really unjust,” she says.
“But I was confident justice would be done and it was when the punishments were lifted.
“We have now called a horse, who is not so good, Whip Des Aigles – just to remind us!”
Horse Racing: French ace Cirrus Des Aigles champing at the bit to regain Ascot crown | Racing | Sport | Daily Star. Simply The Best 7 Days A Week
Join:
2006/12/07
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A law allowing online wagering on races at Illinois horse tracks is set to expire Jan. 31. Without an extension and an agreement to pony up more funds, racing dates would be either eliminated or deeply slashed at tracks.
Illinois lawmakers could take up the issue when they convene for the fall veto session next week, or discussions could be rolled into a debate over a larger gambling expansion package that has languished in the General Assembly for years.
A hearing on a gambling expansion plan, which would add five new casinos and allow slot machines at race tracks, is set for Wednesday.
“We don’t know what’s going to happen,” said Steve Brubaker of the Illinois Harness Horseman’s Association.
The situation is reminiscent of last spring when the law allowing Internet-based gambling on horse racing expired, and lawmakers failed to renew the law for several months.
In reaction to the uncertainty, the racing board last month approved four alternative racing schedules for 2014, including one doomsday scenario that would cut the number of racing days to 87, down from this year’s 466 days, if the law is not renewed and no money is made available.
In the most optimistic plan advanced by the racing board, the General Assembly would renew the Internet betting law and give the agency access to $725,000 to cover a shortfall leftover from the temporary expiration of the law last spring.
The House and Senate begin the six-day fall veto session Tuesday.
Horse racing worries about end of online gambling law
Illinois lawmakers could take up the issue when they convene for the fall veto session next week, or discussions could be rolled into a debate over a larger gambling expansion package that has languished in the General Assembly for years.
A hearing on a gambling expansion plan, which would add five new casinos and allow slot machines at race tracks, is set for Wednesday.
“We don’t know what’s going to happen,” said Steve Brubaker of the Illinois Harness Horseman’s Association.
The situation is reminiscent of last spring when the law allowing Internet-based gambling on horse racing expired, and lawmakers failed to renew the law for several months.
In reaction to the uncertainty, the racing board last month approved four alternative racing schedules for 2014, including one doomsday scenario that would cut the number of racing days to 87, down from this year’s 466 days, if the law is not renewed and no money is made available.
In the most optimistic plan advanced by the racing board, the General Assembly would renew the Internet betting law and give the agency access to $725,000 to cover a shortfall leftover from the temporary expiration of the law last spring.
The House and Senate begin the six-day fall veto session Tuesday.
Horse racing worries about end of online gambling law
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2006/12/07
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Conan O'Brien will be behind the mic on Friday, just not at his desk on the set of his late-night talk show.
The funny man will call a horse race at Santa Anita under the watchful eye of long-time track announcer Trevor Denman. O'Brien will describe the second race at the host track for next month's Breeders' Cup, the richest event in thoroughbred racing.
Denman says his advice to O'Brien will be "keep it simple and try and have fun with it."
O'Brien hosts "Conan" weeknights on TBS.
The funny man will call a horse race at Santa Anita under the watchful eye of long-time track announcer Trevor Denman. O'Brien will describe the second race at the host track for next month's Breeders' Cup, the richest event in thoroughbred racing.
Denman says his advice to O'Brien will be "keep it simple and try and have fun with it."
O'Brien hosts "Conan" weeknights on TBS.
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2006/12/07
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THE curtain came down on Bath's season halfway through their final fixture of the year yesterday.
Following an earlier deluge, which caused the going to change to heavy, sewerage backed up in the drains under and around the main Victorian grandstand.
The failure of the drainage system to cope meant that jockeys and valets were unable to prepare for the fifth race.
The stewards and the Clerk of the Course, Keith Ottesen, heard from a deputation of jockeys headed by the chamion Richard Hughes and reluctantly agreed to call racing off as the horses were being led round the paddock for the 3.35.
The official statement read: "Due to localised flooding affecting the weighing room, it was no longer possible for the jockeys and valets to prepare for the scheduled races. It has been decided to abandon the meeting."
The owners and trainers of the horses in the paddock ahead of the fifth race were the last to know - Jim Crowley being the only jockey to keep his owners informed.
Trainer James Bethell was disappointed that an announcement was not made until 20 mins after the scheduled time of the race.
"Bobs Her Uncle came down on the near five-hour trip from Middleham yesterday, so it is very disappointing not to get a run," said the trainer.
"We will get £100 from the ROA but that does not cover the costs.
"It would have been nice to have been told what was going on in the weighing room but no we were in the dark until the official announcement by which time many jockeys were already in the car park."
Richard Hughes pulls plug on Bath | Horse Racing | Sport | Daily Express
Following an earlier deluge, which caused the going to change to heavy, sewerage backed up in the drains under and around the main Victorian grandstand.
The failure of the drainage system to cope meant that jockeys and valets were unable to prepare for the fifth race.
The stewards and the Clerk of the Course, Keith Ottesen, heard from a deputation of jockeys headed by the chamion Richard Hughes and reluctantly agreed to call racing off as the horses were being led round the paddock for the 3.35.
The official statement read: "Due to localised flooding affecting the weighing room, it was no longer possible for the jockeys and valets to prepare for the scheduled races. It has been decided to abandon the meeting."
The owners and trainers of the horses in the paddock ahead of the fifth race were the last to know - Jim Crowley being the only jockey to keep his owners informed.
Trainer James Bethell was disappointed that an announcement was not made until 20 mins after the scheduled time of the race.
"Bobs Her Uncle came down on the near five-hour trip from Middleham yesterday, so it is very disappointing not to get a run," said the trainer.
"We will get £100 from the ROA but that does not cover the costs.
"It would have been nice to have been told what was going on in the weighing room but no we were in the dark until the official announcement by which time many jockeys were already in the car park."
Richard Hughes pulls plug on Bath | Horse Racing | Sport | Daily Express
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The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission on Tuesday approved a 2014 racing calendar with only minor changes from this year.
Churchill Downs in Louisville will keep the September meet, which had more than double the betting handle ($46.3 million this year versus $20.5 million last year) over the 2012 meet at Turfway Park in Florence.
Kentucky Downs in Franklin had requested an additional Saturday of racing in September, with more days as "host" track, which would mean more revenue. But the track conceded to Churchill.
Turfway Park will add seven days of racing in its winter/spring meet, bringing total racing days for Kentucky Thoroughbred tracks to 194 days in 2014. The Red Mile in Lexington will cut seven days, leaving total harness dates at 58.
Read more here: Kentucky horse racing dates approved for 2014 | Daily Business Report | Kentucky-com
Churchill Downs in Louisville will keep the September meet, which had more than double the betting handle ($46.3 million this year versus $20.5 million last year) over the 2012 meet at Turfway Park in Florence.
Kentucky Downs in Franklin had requested an additional Saturday of racing in September, with more days as "host" track, which would mean more revenue. But the track conceded to Churchill.
Turfway Park will add seven days of racing in its winter/spring meet, bringing total racing days for Kentucky Thoroughbred tracks to 194 days in 2014. The Red Mile in Lexington will cut seven days, leaving total harness dates at 58.
Read more here: Kentucky horse racing dates approved for 2014 | Daily Business Report | Kentucky-com
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2006/12/07
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There is concern about the future of Illinois' horse racing industry. The state racing board is asking lawmakers for hundreds of thousands of tax dollars to make up for money lost last year when online betting was suspended for months.
Balmoral Park is the only racetrack in the state that is operating Wednesday night. The track runs year-round, but the schedule could be dramatically changed without action from the state legislature.
It's an exciting race down the stretch to the finish line in the first race of the night at Balmoral Park.
Some in the racing industry are worried Illinois horse racing may be nearly finished. The racing board needs $750,000 because the legislature delayed approving online wagering last year. The industry also needs lawmakers to extend legislation to allow online wagering for the coming year.
"It's critical for the racing industry, there's a lot of jobs at stake," said Marc Laino, Illinois Racing Board.
Marc Laino runs the Illinois Racing Board. He just returned from Springfield Wednesday night after the legislature ended the session without taking action to provide funding.
Without that money, the racing dates for next year for the two harness racing tracks in the state would be reduced from 252 dates this year to just 13 next year.
"The fiscal cliff is here, and it really is here for 2014," said Tony Somone, Illinois Harness Horseman's Association.
Thoroughbred tracks including the most profitable, Arlington Park, would face similar cuts without action from lawmakers.
Experts say most tracks are barely hanging on financially hoping the legislature will allow slot machines at tracks which they hope would provide a big cash infusion.
"We all know the Illinois horseracing industry needs slots at tracks, we need to compete with other states that already have it," said Mike Belmonte, Balmoral Park.
There are four different schedules possible for Illinois horse racing tracks, depending on how the legislature decides to fund them.
Is the Illinois horse racing industry nearly finished? | abc7chicago-com
Balmoral Park is the only racetrack in the state that is operating Wednesday night. The track runs year-round, but the schedule could be dramatically changed without action from the state legislature.
It's an exciting race down the stretch to the finish line in the first race of the night at Balmoral Park.
Some in the racing industry are worried Illinois horse racing may be nearly finished. The racing board needs $750,000 because the legislature delayed approving online wagering last year. The industry also needs lawmakers to extend legislation to allow online wagering for the coming year.
"It's critical for the racing industry, there's a lot of jobs at stake," said Marc Laino, Illinois Racing Board.
Marc Laino runs the Illinois Racing Board. He just returned from Springfield Wednesday night after the legislature ended the session without taking action to provide funding.
Without that money, the racing dates for next year for the two harness racing tracks in the state would be reduced from 252 dates this year to just 13 next year.
"The fiscal cliff is here, and it really is here for 2014," said Tony Somone, Illinois Harness Horseman's Association.
Thoroughbred tracks including the most profitable, Arlington Park, would face similar cuts without action from lawmakers.
Experts say most tracks are barely hanging on financially hoping the legislature will allow slot machines at tracks which they hope would provide a big cash infusion.
"We all know the Illinois horseracing industry needs slots at tracks, we need to compete with other states that already have it," said Mike Belmonte, Balmoral Park.
There are four different schedules possible for Illinois horse racing tracks, depending on how the legislature decides to fund them.
Is the Illinois horse racing industry nearly finished? | abc7chicago-com
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A cracking renewal of the Racing Post Trophy looks well up to scratch and Kingston Hill can take what is the final Group One of the year to be staged in Britain.
The Doncaster showpiece is invariably won by a smart horse, and the list of recent winners to have gone on to Classic or other big-race success is a long one.
An attractive grey colt who made a striking debut at Newbury last month, the son of Mastercraftsman took a step up in class in his stride when coming from last to first to see off Oklahoma City on Future Champions Day at Newmarket.
That form is solid, as the runner-up had been a shade closer to stablemate and leading Derby fancy Geoffrey Chaucer in the Beresford Stakes and had also been victorious in a big sales event at Newmarket.
Ability with cut in the ground is an added bonus for supporters of Roger Varian’s runner and he does not hail from a yard that would throw around the £17,500 it needed to add him to the field lightly.
Jamaican Bolt is given another chance in the Bet Through The Racing Post Mobile App Handicap.
A proven mudlark and not seen during the summer, Geoff Oldroyd’s gelding returned at Yarmouth in September and was never really a factor in finishing third, although he was very much entitled to need it on his first start since March.
Last time out at York the ground might have been a little too quick, but he loves it at Doncaster and is now just 2lb higher than when narrowly beaten by Jack Dexter in this race last year.
It will take a good performance to lower the colours of Night Of Thunder in the Scott Dobson Memorial Doncaster Stakes.
From a family that excels on soft ground, he looked potentially smart when trotting up in similar conditions in his maiden at Goodwood.
Invincible Strike makes plenty of appeal at Newbury in the Worthington’s Whizz Kids Stakes.
Horse Racing: Hill to rule over Trophy rivals - The Star
The Doncaster showpiece is invariably won by a smart horse, and the list of recent winners to have gone on to Classic or other big-race success is a long one.
An attractive grey colt who made a striking debut at Newbury last month, the son of Mastercraftsman took a step up in class in his stride when coming from last to first to see off Oklahoma City on Future Champions Day at Newmarket.
That form is solid, as the runner-up had been a shade closer to stablemate and leading Derby fancy Geoffrey Chaucer in the Beresford Stakes and had also been victorious in a big sales event at Newmarket.
Ability with cut in the ground is an added bonus for supporters of Roger Varian’s runner and he does not hail from a yard that would throw around the £17,500 it needed to add him to the field lightly.
Jamaican Bolt is given another chance in the Bet Through The Racing Post Mobile App Handicap.
A proven mudlark and not seen during the summer, Geoff Oldroyd’s gelding returned at Yarmouth in September and was never really a factor in finishing third, although he was very much entitled to need it on his first start since March.
Last time out at York the ground might have been a little too quick, but he loves it at Doncaster and is now just 2lb higher than when narrowly beaten by Jack Dexter in this race last year.
It will take a good performance to lower the colours of Night Of Thunder in the Scott Dobson Memorial Doncaster Stakes.
From a family that excels on soft ground, he looked potentially smart when trotting up in similar conditions in his maiden at Goodwood.
Invincible Strike makes plenty of appeal at Newbury in the Worthington’s Whizz Kids Stakes.
Horse Racing: Hill to rule over Trophy rivals - The Star
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Conan O'Brien brought his humor to the announcing booth on Friday at Santa Anita, calling a race that likely left fans wondering exactly which horse had won.
The late night comic took over from veteran caller Trevor Denman for the second race. O'Brien didn't have to pronounce any tongue twisters among the six horses running a mile on the dirt. He even smoothly handled the favorite's name, Sarangani.
That was the easy part.
Squinting through binoculars to describe what was unfolding proved much tougher in a sport that has its own unique lingo.
"I'm seeing a bunch of horses following Blue Collar Boy," O'Brien shouted. "All horses look alike when you're not around horses a lot."
He described the starting gate as "the white thing."
Later, he breathlessly told the crowd, "I'm not seeing too well because my eyelashes are up against the binoculars and it's blocking my view."
O'Brien admitted that he was thoroughly confused trying to identify the horses by the color of the jockeys' silks or "costumes," as he called them.
"If you're going to have idiot celebrities come in and call a race, you can't have two guys in all blue and two guys in all white," he said. "It's not fair."
O'Brien said he had prepared by memorizing the numbers on the horses' saddle cloths. Denman told him minutes before the race that isn't how it's done.
"I had to completely forget everything," he said. "It's like being told seconds before the SAT that it's going to be in German. I was horrified."
O'Brien also got thrown for a loop when he was informed that his call would be broadcast overseas to tracks that carry Santa Anita's races, including Britain.
"We've angered them again," he joked. "They're already mad about the NSA (National Security Agency) and now they're mad about this."
During the race he told the crowd, "The jockeys' bottoms are in the air, which is the way that jockeys ride horses. Bottoms high, that's the way to go, boys."
He taped the bit to air later on his TBS show, "Conan."
Denman had his small booth overtaken by O'Brien's camera crew, and after they departed, he straightened a picture on the wall that had been knocked askew.
"It's unique," he said of O'Brien's performance. "You will never, ever get any race call like that in the history of horse racing."
It was an exciting two-horse race to the finish line, with Knucklebuster beating Blue Collar Boy by a half-length. He paid $18 for a $2 win bet.
A member of O'Brien's crew said he held two winning tickets on the race, and figured they were worth about $280.
Conan O'Brien Calls Horse Race at Santa Anita - ABC News
The late night comic took over from veteran caller Trevor Denman for the second race. O'Brien didn't have to pronounce any tongue twisters among the six horses running a mile on the dirt. He even smoothly handled the favorite's name, Sarangani.
That was the easy part.
Squinting through binoculars to describe what was unfolding proved much tougher in a sport that has its own unique lingo.
"I'm seeing a bunch of horses following Blue Collar Boy," O'Brien shouted. "All horses look alike when you're not around horses a lot."
He described the starting gate as "the white thing."
Later, he breathlessly told the crowd, "I'm not seeing too well because my eyelashes are up against the binoculars and it's blocking my view."
O'Brien admitted that he was thoroughly confused trying to identify the horses by the color of the jockeys' silks or "costumes," as he called them.
"If you're going to have idiot celebrities come in and call a race, you can't have two guys in all blue and two guys in all white," he said. "It's not fair."
O'Brien said he had prepared by memorizing the numbers on the horses' saddle cloths. Denman told him minutes before the race that isn't how it's done.
"I had to completely forget everything," he said. "It's like being told seconds before the SAT that it's going to be in German. I was horrified."
O'Brien also got thrown for a loop when he was informed that his call would be broadcast overseas to tracks that carry Santa Anita's races, including Britain.
"We've angered them again," he joked. "They're already mad about the NSA (National Security Agency) and now they're mad about this."
During the race he told the crowd, "The jockeys' bottoms are in the air, which is the way that jockeys ride horses. Bottoms high, that's the way to go, boys."
He taped the bit to air later on his TBS show, "Conan."
Denman had his small booth overtaken by O'Brien's camera crew, and after they departed, he straightened a picture on the wall that had been knocked askew.
"It's unique," he said of O'Brien's performance. "You will never, ever get any race call like that in the history of horse racing."
It was an exciting two-horse race to the finish line, with Knucklebuster beating Blue Collar Boy by a half-length. He paid $18 for a $2 win bet.
A member of O'Brien's crew said he held two winning tickets on the race, and figured they were worth about $280.
Conan O'Brien Calls Horse Race at Santa Anita - ABC News
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SOME will argue that they have been better jump jockeys than Tony McCoy but nobody can dispute his commitment to the game as he nudges towards 4,000 winners after riding a treble at Aintree yesterday. Grey beards will no doubt trawl up Fred Winter as the undisputed best ever.
Richard Dunwoody will get plenty of votes and as will Ruby Walsh.
But punters will not shy away from AP - the 18-times champion.
With regularity he gets one up on the line when victory seem an impossibility.
Following his five-timer at Carlisle on Thursday, he remarked: "I ask myself why I cannot ride five winners every day - I must try harder."
McCoy, 39, now 13 winners shy from an unprecedented 4,000 winners for a jump jockey, has always shunned talk about retirement.
But he has made it clear that he wants to beat his former boss Martin Pipe's training record of 4,183.
After McCoy's victory astride Josies Orders at Aintree, winning trainer Jonjo O'Neill said: "AP lifted him home. I couldn't believe what I was seeing.
Following McCoy's win on Shutthefrontdoor, O'Neill added: "I think he only made one mistake and that was the jockey's fault - If you believe that you'll believe anything!" The treble was completed when Conquisto came late to snatch victory.
At Doncaster, Kingston Hill put himself in the frame for next year's Derby following his impressive victory in the Racing Post Trophy.
In the last 12 years, four winners of the race have gone on to win the Derby.
Ladbrokes cut Kingston Hill to 8-1 from 20s for the 2,000 Guineas, while Paddy Power went 10-1 about his chance in the Guineas and Derby.
Ladbrokes spokesman David Williams said: "Kingston Hill confirmed his reputation as a genuine first-rate colt but we see him more of a Guineas horse."
Tony McCoy close to landmark after riding treble at Aintree | Horse Racing | Sport | Daily Express
Richard Dunwoody will get plenty of votes and as will Ruby Walsh.
But punters will not shy away from AP - the 18-times champion.
With regularity he gets one up on the line when victory seem an impossibility.
Following his five-timer at Carlisle on Thursday, he remarked: "I ask myself why I cannot ride five winners every day - I must try harder."
McCoy, 39, now 13 winners shy from an unprecedented 4,000 winners for a jump jockey, has always shunned talk about retirement.
But he has made it clear that he wants to beat his former boss Martin Pipe's training record of 4,183.
After McCoy's victory astride Josies Orders at Aintree, winning trainer Jonjo O'Neill said: "AP lifted him home. I couldn't believe what I was seeing.
Following McCoy's win on Shutthefrontdoor, O'Neill added: "I think he only made one mistake and that was the jockey's fault - If you believe that you'll believe anything!" The treble was completed when Conquisto came late to snatch victory.
At Doncaster, Kingston Hill put himself in the frame for next year's Derby following his impressive victory in the Racing Post Trophy.
In the last 12 years, four winners of the race have gone on to win the Derby.
Ladbrokes cut Kingston Hill to 8-1 from 20s for the 2,000 Guineas, while Paddy Power went 10-1 about his chance in the Guineas and Derby.
Ladbrokes spokesman David Williams said: "Kingston Hill confirmed his reputation as a genuine first-rate colt but we see him more of a Guineas horse."
Tony McCoy close to landmark after riding treble at Aintree | Horse Racing | Sport | Daily Express
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Fiorente is in to clear outright favourite for the Melbourne Cup after the six-year-old's brave third in Saturday's Cox Plate.
Fiorente was by far the best runner of any of those with Cup intentions, enduring a wide early run, coming under pressure before the turn when eventual winner Shamus Award kicked clear, before finding again down the straight and being beaten less than a length.
Assuming Fiorente recovers well from a tough run, Gai Waterhouse will likely have the favourite in the $6 million handicap to be run on Tuesday week, with Sportsbet listing him as the only horse in single figures at $5.50.
"Fiorente still looked to have a bit in the tank at the Cox Plate and his run was pretty impressive. He was already favourite for the Melbourne Cup and after that run today he is clearly the one to beat,” said sportsbet-com.au’s Shaun Anderson.
Long-time favourite Pussiance De Lune is now out to $21 after an inglorious run when 12th in the Cox Plate as a $5 second favourite.
Seville is now into $16 for the Cup after a strong finish when sixth in the Cox Plate, while Masked Marvel drifted out to $21 after finishing 13th.
The only other significant mover in Melbourne Cup markets on Saturday was the Bart Cummings trained Precedence, who moved from $201 to $101.
Market courtesy of sportsbet-com.au
Melbourne Cup
(Prices in brackets from Friday 25 October)
$5.50 Fiorente (in from $7.00)
$10 Dandino (steady)
$10 Hawkspur (steady)
$11 Mount Athos (steady)
$13 Voleuse De Coeurs (steady)
$13 Verema (steady)
$15 Sea Moon (steady)
$16 Seville (in from $21)
$21 Masked Marvel (out from $17)
$26 Royal Empire, Simenon, Tres Blue, Brown Panther, Jet Away
$34 Fawkner, Dear Demi
$41 Dunaden, Silent Achiever, Moriarty, It’s A Dundeel, Green Moon
$51 Mourayan, Kesampour, Red Cadeaux
Horse Racing News | Fiorente now clear Melbourne Cup favourite
Fiorente was by far the best runner of any of those with Cup intentions, enduring a wide early run, coming under pressure before the turn when eventual winner Shamus Award kicked clear, before finding again down the straight and being beaten less than a length.
Assuming Fiorente recovers well from a tough run, Gai Waterhouse will likely have the favourite in the $6 million handicap to be run on Tuesday week, with Sportsbet listing him as the only horse in single figures at $5.50.
"Fiorente still looked to have a bit in the tank at the Cox Plate and his run was pretty impressive. He was already favourite for the Melbourne Cup and after that run today he is clearly the one to beat,” said sportsbet-com.au’s Shaun Anderson.
Long-time favourite Pussiance De Lune is now out to $21 after an inglorious run when 12th in the Cox Plate as a $5 second favourite.
Seville is now into $16 for the Cup after a strong finish when sixth in the Cox Plate, while Masked Marvel drifted out to $21 after finishing 13th.
The only other significant mover in Melbourne Cup markets on Saturday was the Bart Cummings trained Precedence, who moved from $201 to $101.
Market courtesy of sportsbet-com.au
Melbourne Cup
(Prices in brackets from Friday 25 October)
$5.50 Fiorente (in from $7.00)
$10 Dandino (steady)
$10 Hawkspur (steady)
$11 Mount Athos (steady)
$13 Voleuse De Coeurs (steady)
$13 Verema (steady)
$15 Sea Moon (steady)
$16 Seville (in from $21)
$21 Masked Marvel (out from $17)
$26 Royal Empire, Simenon, Tres Blue, Brown Panther, Jet Away
$34 Fawkner, Dear Demi
$41 Dunaden, Silent Achiever, Moriarty, It’s A Dundeel, Green Moon
$51 Mourayan, Kesampour, Red Cadeaux
Horse Racing News | Fiorente now clear Melbourne Cup favourite
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I'm going to try and keep this short and sweet... ah, who the hell am I kidding; sit back and relax - we're going to be here for a while. (Kudos for those of you that caught the Eddie Vedder reference in that.)
I was up at my local bar tonight doing my first and second pass through the Breeders' Cup PPs. It's pretty much a routine for me at this point: Pull the PPs, take a first pass highlighting and underlining key data that I like to focus on. Take a second pass and make notes on things I want to research further. Take a third pass and watch replays or do chart review. And then make some decisions on top choices, value plays, etc.
The first two passes almost always occur while I'm out of the house since time is of the essence; I need to squeeze in my early handicapping stages whenever I can.
So, tonight I'm at my bar with my highlighters, red and blue pens, and a stack of PPs. It's Breeders' Cup week and we're getting down to the serious business of allocating the final big bankroll of the year with the hopes of cashing a nice score to close out 2013. And as I'm sitting at the bar I'm reminded how much I love big race days, not simply for big betting but because of big horses.
I'll be the first to admit that I'm a degenerate gambler; you get me out at the track and I'm firing bets off in all directions all day long. The action is fantastic and the rush when the horse you pick is rolling down the stretch out in front... it's like nothing else in the world. But, you know what, that's not why I love horse racing. For me, it goes just a bit deeper.
Despite the cynical nature of a large segment of today's sports commentators (including some on this very network), I firmly believe that the sport of horse racing is fantastic and a truly unique spectacle in today's American sporting world. Yeah, I know, there's the lazy sports fan that thinks horse racing is simply a bunch of crooked gamblers yelling at jockeys, along with clueless women talking about "beautiful horses"; but those are truly the lazy observers. (And to be fair, our sport isn't "only" about yelling at jockeys, it just seems that way.)
The desire to breed the perfect horse is a centuries long endeavor within our sport. Ask any breeder, trainer, owner or jockey what their ultimate goal is and invariably they'll say that they want that one superstar horse. That one Secretariat. That one Man o'War. That one Citation.
Perhaps the best thing about our sport of horse racing is that greatness doesn't come around but once in a blue moon. Some will claim that fact is a downfall of our game, that a Triple Crown winner will somehow cure all that ails us. I say "nonsense". The thing that will cure what ails us is a general sports fan and population enjoying the sport on its most basic level and not "only" when the best of the best are finally present. Gimmicks and fleeting glory are just that - fleeting.
I follow the sport because I love to watch these high-class, highly-bred animals run at their very best. Humans have been breeding thoroughbreds for over three hundred years in an attempt to discover the perfect blend of speed and stamina that will set one horse apart from all of his peers. And every once in a while we see greatness. Not often, but once in a while.
So, Joe Sportsfan, go ahead and make fun of our sport. Talk about the so-called lack of intelligence of the animals or deride those that appreciate the beauty of the equine athlete. Marginalize the sport to whatever gives you comfort. Personally, I'll be watching every second of this year's Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita Park because I know I'm watching the best of the best compete at the highest level. I know that there's a chance, just a chance, that I'll see something extraordinary and unexpected.
At the end of the day, there is not another sport in the world that causes a shiver down my spine that can match what I felt at Newmarket in May of 2011 when Frankel destroyed the field in the English 2,000 Guineas. No other sport can capture the power of the grandstand attempting to will Zenyatta past Blame at Churchill Downs in the Breeders' Cup Classic. No other sport can match the unleashed anticipation of Sunday Silence versus Easy Goer at Gulfstream Park in 1989. No other sport can give us the heartbreak of Spectacular Bid, Smarty Jones, Silver Charm and all the others that failed at the most difficult accomplishment in sports (whether by humans or animals).
Every time I watch a horse race, I have the possibility of witnessing unknown greatness; a greatness that is unbeknownst to the trainer or the jockey or the owner. And when you're fortunate enough to witness a truly exceptional performance - for me - it makes everything worthwhile.
As we head into the final major weekend of the 2013 horse racing season I'm filled with my typical sense of optimism (cause I gotta pick at least one winner, right?), but also a sense of pride.
I'm a horse racing fan through and through. And while the rest of the country may consider my favorite sport a "niche" or "insignificant", I know there is nothing insignificant when these wonderful animals - animals that are bred to run for us - perform at their highest level.
Happy 2013 Breeders' Cup and... good luck!
Breeders' Cup 2013: Why I love horse racing - And Down The Stretch They Come
I was up at my local bar tonight doing my first and second pass through the Breeders' Cup PPs. It's pretty much a routine for me at this point: Pull the PPs, take a first pass highlighting and underlining key data that I like to focus on. Take a second pass and make notes on things I want to research further. Take a third pass and watch replays or do chart review. And then make some decisions on top choices, value plays, etc.
The first two passes almost always occur while I'm out of the house since time is of the essence; I need to squeeze in my early handicapping stages whenever I can.
So, tonight I'm at my bar with my highlighters, red and blue pens, and a stack of PPs. It's Breeders' Cup week and we're getting down to the serious business of allocating the final big bankroll of the year with the hopes of cashing a nice score to close out 2013. And as I'm sitting at the bar I'm reminded how much I love big race days, not simply for big betting but because of big horses.
I'll be the first to admit that I'm a degenerate gambler; you get me out at the track and I'm firing bets off in all directions all day long. The action is fantastic and the rush when the horse you pick is rolling down the stretch out in front... it's like nothing else in the world. But, you know what, that's not why I love horse racing. For me, it goes just a bit deeper.
Despite the cynical nature of a large segment of today's sports commentators (including some on this very network), I firmly believe that the sport of horse racing is fantastic and a truly unique spectacle in today's American sporting world. Yeah, I know, there's the lazy sports fan that thinks horse racing is simply a bunch of crooked gamblers yelling at jockeys, along with clueless women talking about "beautiful horses"; but those are truly the lazy observers. (And to be fair, our sport isn't "only" about yelling at jockeys, it just seems that way.)
The desire to breed the perfect horse is a centuries long endeavor within our sport. Ask any breeder, trainer, owner or jockey what their ultimate goal is and invariably they'll say that they want that one superstar horse. That one Secretariat. That one Man o'War. That one Citation.
Perhaps the best thing about our sport of horse racing is that greatness doesn't come around but once in a blue moon. Some will claim that fact is a downfall of our game, that a Triple Crown winner will somehow cure all that ails us. I say "nonsense". The thing that will cure what ails us is a general sports fan and population enjoying the sport on its most basic level and not "only" when the best of the best are finally present. Gimmicks and fleeting glory are just that - fleeting.
I follow the sport because I love to watch these high-class, highly-bred animals run at their very best. Humans have been breeding thoroughbreds for over three hundred years in an attempt to discover the perfect blend of speed and stamina that will set one horse apart from all of his peers. And every once in a while we see greatness. Not often, but once in a while.
So, Joe Sportsfan, go ahead and make fun of our sport. Talk about the so-called lack of intelligence of the animals or deride those that appreciate the beauty of the equine athlete. Marginalize the sport to whatever gives you comfort. Personally, I'll be watching every second of this year's Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita Park because I know I'm watching the best of the best compete at the highest level. I know that there's a chance, just a chance, that I'll see something extraordinary and unexpected.
At the end of the day, there is not another sport in the world that causes a shiver down my spine that can match what I felt at Newmarket in May of 2011 when Frankel destroyed the field in the English 2,000 Guineas. No other sport can capture the power of the grandstand attempting to will Zenyatta past Blame at Churchill Downs in the Breeders' Cup Classic. No other sport can match the unleashed anticipation of Sunday Silence versus Easy Goer at Gulfstream Park in 1989. No other sport can give us the heartbreak of Spectacular Bid, Smarty Jones, Silver Charm and all the others that failed at the most difficult accomplishment in sports (whether by humans or animals).
Every time I watch a horse race, I have the possibility of witnessing unknown greatness; a greatness that is unbeknownst to the trainer or the jockey or the owner. And when you're fortunate enough to witness a truly exceptional performance - for me - it makes everything worthwhile.
As we head into the final major weekend of the 2013 horse racing season I'm filled with my typical sense of optimism (cause I gotta pick at least one winner, right?), but also a sense of pride.
I'm a horse racing fan through and through. And while the rest of the country may consider my favorite sport a "niche" or "insignificant", I know there is nothing insignificant when these wonderful animals - animals that are bred to run for us - perform at their highest level.
Happy 2013 Breeders' Cup and... good luck!
Breeders' Cup 2013: Why I love horse racing - And Down The Stretch They Come
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Ron the Greek, the morning line choice for the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic, was scratched from the race on Thursday because of a hoof injury, his Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott has said.
"Unfortunately, we're going to have to scratch him," Mott said in a statement. "He had an abscess that broke open in his foot.
"It's not a major problem, but it's all a matter of timing and he won't be able to run on Saturday."
Ron the Greek was fourth in the 2012 Classic and was in good form having produced a smashing effort on September 28 to win the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park.
The five-year-old has won nine career races, including two this year.
The abscess in his right front foot was discovered on Wednesday.
"When he came out to walk is the first we recognized any problem," said Mott, who won the 1995 Breeders' Cup Classic with Cigar and the 2011 race with Drosselmeyer. "That horse has been doing fine. He's never had foot issues before in his life.
"He had a strong gallop yesterday and he must have just bumped the heel of his foot wrong and he got an abscess in the bulb of his heel.
"We soaked him and it opened up and relieved some of the pressure late yesterday afternoon but he was still sore on it this morning and I just made the determination that we couldn't have him good enough to run on Saturday."
Horseracing - Ron the Greek scratched from Breeders' Classic | Reuters
"Unfortunately, we're going to have to scratch him," Mott said in a statement. "He had an abscess that broke open in his foot.
"It's not a major problem, but it's all a matter of timing and he won't be able to run on Saturday."
Ron the Greek was fourth in the 2012 Classic and was in good form having produced a smashing effort on September 28 to win the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park.
The five-year-old has won nine career races, including two this year.
The abscess in his right front foot was discovered on Wednesday.
"When he came out to walk is the first we recognized any problem," said Mott, who won the 1995 Breeders' Cup Classic with Cigar and the 2011 race with Drosselmeyer. "That horse has been doing fine. He's never had foot issues before in his life.
"He had a strong gallop yesterday and he must have just bumped the heel of his foot wrong and he got an abscess in the bulb of his heel.
"We soaked him and it opened up and relieved some of the pressure late yesterday afternoon but he was still sore on it this morning and I just made the determination that we couldn't have him good enough to run on Saturday."
Horseracing - Ron the Greek scratched from Breeders' Classic | Reuters
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With just eight more needed and so many of his better class horses returning to action, McCoy should seal the achievement over the next week or so. It includes winners in both Britain and Ireland.
McCoy was visiting Northern Ireland's premier track for the first time since 2008, but his first ride, Dear Boss, finished tailed off behind impressive The King Of Brega in the Allianz Handicap Hurdle. On that previous visit, he rode Jezki's half-brother, the ill-fated Jered, to win the WKD Hurdle.
though bookmakers Jezki was more "jet ski" in taking the Grade Two at odds of 2-9, though bookmakers were fairly unimpressed. Paddy Power even knocked the triple Grade One winner out to 7-1 from 6s for the Champion Hurdle.
Knowing he would have to make the running, McCoy took full control. They started at a crawl and he gradually opened the throttle as they approached the third flight.
Skimming over his hurdles, he was always moving a shade better than Fred Winter Hurdle winner Flaxen Flare. But after the turn into the straight it was Ruby Walsh, reunited with Paul Nicholls, who came between horses for a challenge on Caid Du Berlais. Yet Jezki pinged the last and pulled three and a quarter lengths clear.
"I'm originally from not far from here," said a smiling McCoy. "This was probably the first racecourse I was at when I was a child.
"It's great to be back and ride a nice horse for Jessie Harrington. There was no-one else going to make the running and the ground was a bit dead so I was worried about him having too hard a race.
and I was very impressed with him. He would love a nice "From half way he kept quickening the pace and I was very impressed with him. He would love a nice gallop and a lead.
"Hurricane Fly has won 16 Grade Ones and two Champion Hurdles and is probably the best we've seen since Istabraq. Until then we're all pretenders."
Asked about his other Champion contender My Tent Or Yours, who was second, just ahead of Jezki in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, he said: "I'm lucky to have them both to ride. Hopefully, if they get there unbeaten and in one piece, I'll have a very tough decision to make!" This was McCoy's first attempt on Jezki and Robbie Power, the rider he displaced, earlier launched a Harrington, inset, double by winning the Lough Construction Mares' Novices' Hurdle on impressive Gambling Girl.
Horse Racing: Jezki joy for magic AP McCoy on his return | Racing | Sport | Daily Star. Simply The Best 7 Days A Week
McCoy was visiting Northern Ireland's premier track for the first time since 2008, but his first ride, Dear Boss, finished tailed off behind impressive The King Of Brega in the Allianz Handicap Hurdle. On that previous visit, he rode Jezki's half-brother, the ill-fated Jered, to win the WKD Hurdle.
though bookmakers Jezki was more "jet ski" in taking the Grade Two at odds of 2-9, though bookmakers were fairly unimpressed. Paddy Power even knocked the triple Grade One winner out to 7-1 from 6s for the Champion Hurdle.
Knowing he would have to make the running, McCoy took full control. They started at a crawl and he gradually opened the throttle as they approached the third flight.
Skimming over his hurdles, he was always moving a shade better than Fred Winter Hurdle winner Flaxen Flare. But after the turn into the straight it was Ruby Walsh, reunited with Paul Nicholls, who came between horses for a challenge on Caid Du Berlais. Yet Jezki pinged the last and pulled three and a quarter lengths clear.
"I'm originally from not far from here," said a smiling McCoy. "This was probably the first racecourse I was at when I was a child.
"It's great to be back and ride a nice horse for Jessie Harrington. There was no-one else going to make the running and the ground was a bit dead so I was worried about him having too hard a race.
and I was very impressed with him. He would love a nice "From half way he kept quickening the pace and I was very impressed with him. He would love a nice gallop and a lead.
"Hurricane Fly has won 16 Grade Ones and two Champion Hurdles and is probably the best we've seen since Istabraq. Until then we're all pretenders."
Asked about his other Champion contender My Tent Or Yours, who was second, just ahead of Jezki in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, he said: "I'm lucky to have them both to ride. Hopefully, if they get there unbeaten and in one piece, I'll have a very tough decision to make!" This was McCoy's first attempt on Jezki and Robbie Power, the rider he displaced, earlier launched a Harrington, inset, double by winning the Lough Construction Mares' Novices' Hurdle on impressive Gambling Girl.
Horse Racing: Jezki joy for magic AP McCoy on his return | Racing | Sport | Daily Star. Simply The Best 7 Days A Week
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Gary Stevens had never won the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic in his long career. Kathy Ritvo came close a year ago with Mucho Macho Man only to settle for second.
The veteran jockey and the trainer who got another chance at life after a heart transplant in 2008 teamed up with the hard-knocking horse to win by a whisker Saturday.
Mucho Macho Man edged Will Take Charge in a photo finish decided by a nose, making Ritvo the first female trainer to win North America's richest race at a Breeders' Cup that began tragically with the death of a horse in the first race.
"I didn't know the photo was as close as it was," said Stevens, who was 0-for-14 in the Classic.
Stevens capped his comeback at 50 in stellar fashion, surviving a photo finish in the Classic after winning the $2 million Distaff with Beholder on Friday for a sweep of the biggest races at the two-day world championships at Santa Anita.
Ritvo became the fifth female trainer to win a Breeders' Cup race and got to celebrate a year after seeing Mucho Macho Man finish second by a half-length to winner Fort Larned.
"Thrilling," she said.
First, though, Ritvo had to sweat out the results.
Mucho Macho Man stretched his neck to hold off Will Take Charge, trained by 78-year-old Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas.
"I was just hoping he got it," Ritvo said. "When I saw Gary shake his stick, I was confident. He ran a fantastic race."
Game On Dude, the 8-5 favorite who was 5-0 this year, finished ninth on his home track for trainer Bob Baffert and co-owner Joe Torre, the retired Dodgers and Yankees manager.
Baffert had an up-and-down day. His filly, Secret Compass, broke her leg in the opening Juvenile Fillies race and had to be euthanized. Then he won two races before Game On Dude lost as the favorite for the second straight year.
"When I saw him going real fast on the backstretch, I knew I was in trouble," he said. "Then when Mike (Smith) asked him, there was nothing there. You always feel bad when you get beat, but I feel worse for the horse."
Fort Larned wound up fourth.
Mucho Macho Man ran 1 ¼ miles in 2:00.72 and paid $10, $4.60 and $3.60 as the 4-1 second choice. The victory likely earned him champion older male honors and may get him consideration for Horse of the Year honors, which Game On Dude could have wrapped up with a win.
Current Horse of the Year Wise Dan repeated in the $2 million Mile, winning by three-quarters of a length under Jose Lezcano, a late replacement for Velazquez. He paid $3.60 to win as the 4-5 favorite.
Will Take Charge returned $7.20 and $4.80.
"It's just a heartbreak that he lost," said Lukas, who won his only Classic in 1999 with Cat Thief. "He did everything right. The jump after the wire we got him."
Declaration of War was another head back in third and paid $4.80 to show.
Stevens and Mucho Macho Man started moving on the outside around the stretch turn and went after the leaders. They got in front coming out of the turn for home, with Stevens urging the 5-year-old Mucho Macho Man on with a right-handed whip.
"They give me a free roll around the far turn," he said. "I think that might have been the winning move."
Ritvo, a 44-year-old mother of two, waited six months for a new heart in 2008. Mucho Macho Man first put her in the national spotlight two years ago when he ran in all three Triple Crown races, including third in the Kentucky Derby.
"Kathy Ritvo is one of the most underrated trainers in the thoroughbred industry," said Finn Green, racing manager for Mucho Macho Man's owners Dean and Patti Reeves.
Lukas put Stevens on Oxbow in the Preakness in May, and they won.
"Gary is riding in a zone," the trainer said. "I think we jump-started him in the Preakness pretty good."
Last Gunfighter was fifth, followed by Palace Malice, Paynter (trained by Baffert), Flat Out, Game On Dude, Moreno and Planteur.
The 30th Breeders' Cup got off to a troubling start, with a rare disqualification in the opening race and Secret Compass euthanized because of a broken leg.
The $2 million Juvenile Fillies went from strange to tragic over several minutes. The DQ was announced after a green screen went up in a spot approaching the final turn to shield injured Secret Compass from the crowd.
"When you lose a horse like that, it just took all the wind out of our sails," Baffert said. "I've never had something like that happen on a big day. We're all still in shock."
John Velazquez, who rode Secret Compass, had emergency surgery to remove his spleen after internal bleeding was discovered shortly before he was to be released from a Pasadena hospital.
Ria Antonia finished second but was declared the winner of the 1 1/16-mile race after She's a Tiger was disqualified by the stewards.
They ruled that She's a Tiger and Stevens drifted out late, bumped Ria Antonia and Javier Castellano, slowing her momentum.
It was the first DQ of a winner since the inaugural 1984 Juvenile Fillies race in which Fran's Valentine won and later was placed 10th.
"This is heartbreaking," said Jeff Bonde, who trains She's a Tiger.
Sent off at 32-1 odds, Ria Antonia paid $66.60, $29.80 and $17.40. The winning time was 1:43.02 and the margin was a nose.
She's a Tiger returned $6.40 and $4.80. Rosalind paid $6.80 to show.
Running third at the time, Secret Compass' front legs collapsed, slamming Velazquez hard into the dirt. Baffert's 2-year-old filly was euthanized after sustaining a lateral condylar fracture, according to on-call veterinarian Dr. Wayne McIlwraith.
"It is the worst type of injury we get, unfortunately," he said.
Velazquez was to ride in all nine Breeders' Cup races, but he was replaced by other jockeys.
Baffert was smiling later when 10-1 shot New Year's Day rallied on the rail to win the $2 million Juvenile by 1 ¼ lengths. The colt paid $23 to win, with jockey Martin Garcia earning his first Cup victory.
But the trainer's emotions were
The veteran jockey and the trainer who got another chance at life after a heart transplant in 2008 teamed up with the hard-knocking horse to win by a whisker Saturday.
Mucho Macho Man edged Will Take Charge in a photo finish decided by a nose, making Ritvo the first female trainer to win North America's richest race at a Breeders' Cup that began tragically with the death of a horse in the first race.
"I didn't know the photo was as close as it was," said Stevens, who was 0-for-14 in the Classic.
Stevens capped his comeback at 50 in stellar fashion, surviving a photo finish in the Classic after winning the $2 million Distaff with Beholder on Friday for a sweep of the biggest races at the two-day world championships at Santa Anita.
Ritvo became the fifth female trainer to win a Breeders' Cup race and got to celebrate a year after seeing Mucho Macho Man finish second by a half-length to winner Fort Larned.
"Thrilling," she said.
First, though, Ritvo had to sweat out the results.
Mucho Macho Man stretched his neck to hold off Will Take Charge, trained by 78-year-old Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas.
"I was just hoping he got it," Ritvo said. "When I saw Gary shake his stick, I was confident. He ran a fantastic race."
Game On Dude, the 8-5 favorite who was 5-0 this year, finished ninth on his home track for trainer Bob Baffert and co-owner Joe Torre, the retired Dodgers and Yankees manager.
Baffert had an up-and-down day. His filly, Secret Compass, broke her leg in the opening Juvenile Fillies race and had to be euthanized. Then he won two races before Game On Dude lost as the favorite for the second straight year.
"When I saw him going real fast on the backstretch, I knew I was in trouble," he said. "Then when Mike (Smith) asked him, there was nothing there. You always feel bad when you get beat, but I feel worse for the horse."
Fort Larned wound up fourth.
Mucho Macho Man ran 1 ¼ miles in 2:00.72 and paid $10, $4.60 and $3.60 as the 4-1 second choice. The victory likely earned him champion older male honors and may get him consideration for Horse of the Year honors, which Game On Dude could have wrapped up with a win.
Current Horse of the Year Wise Dan repeated in the $2 million Mile, winning by three-quarters of a length under Jose Lezcano, a late replacement for Velazquez. He paid $3.60 to win as the 4-5 favorite.
Will Take Charge returned $7.20 and $4.80.
"It's just a heartbreak that he lost," said Lukas, who won his only Classic in 1999 with Cat Thief. "He did everything right. The jump after the wire we got him."
Declaration of War was another head back in third and paid $4.80 to show.
Stevens and Mucho Macho Man started moving on the outside around the stretch turn and went after the leaders. They got in front coming out of the turn for home, with Stevens urging the 5-year-old Mucho Macho Man on with a right-handed whip.
"They give me a free roll around the far turn," he said. "I think that might have been the winning move."
Ritvo, a 44-year-old mother of two, waited six months for a new heart in 2008. Mucho Macho Man first put her in the national spotlight two years ago when he ran in all three Triple Crown races, including third in the Kentucky Derby.
"Kathy Ritvo is one of the most underrated trainers in the thoroughbred industry," said Finn Green, racing manager for Mucho Macho Man's owners Dean and Patti Reeves.
Lukas put Stevens on Oxbow in the Preakness in May, and they won.
"Gary is riding in a zone," the trainer said. "I think we jump-started him in the Preakness pretty good."
Last Gunfighter was fifth, followed by Palace Malice, Paynter (trained by Baffert), Flat Out, Game On Dude, Moreno and Planteur.
The 30th Breeders' Cup got off to a troubling start, with a rare disqualification in the opening race and Secret Compass euthanized because of a broken leg.
The $2 million Juvenile Fillies went from strange to tragic over several minutes. The DQ was announced after a green screen went up in a spot approaching the final turn to shield injured Secret Compass from the crowd.
"When you lose a horse like that, it just took all the wind out of our sails," Baffert said. "I've never had something like that happen on a big day. We're all still in shock."
John Velazquez, who rode Secret Compass, had emergency surgery to remove his spleen after internal bleeding was discovered shortly before he was to be released from a Pasadena hospital.
Ria Antonia finished second but was declared the winner of the 1 1/16-mile race after She's a Tiger was disqualified by the stewards.
They ruled that She's a Tiger and Stevens drifted out late, bumped Ria Antonia and Javier Castellano, slowing her momentum.
It was the first DQ of a winner since the inaugural 1984 Juvenile Fillies race in which Fran's Valentine won and later was placed 10th.
"This is heartbreaking," said Jeff Bonde, who trains She's a Tiger.
Sent off at 32-1 odds, Ria Antonia paid $66.60, $29.80 and $17.40. The winning time was 1:43.02 and the margin was a nose.
She's a Tiger returned $6.40 and $4.80. Rosalind paid $6.80 to show.
Running third at the time, Secret Compass' front legs collapsed, slamming Velazquez hard into the dirt. Baffert's 2-year-old filly was euthanized after sustaining a lateral condylar fracture, according to on-call veterinarian Dr. Wayne McIlwraith.
"It is the worst type of injury we get, unfortunately," he said.
Velazquez was to ride in all nine Breeders' Cup races, but he was replaced by other jockeys.
Baffert was smiling later when 10-1 shot New Year's Day rallied on the rail to win the $2 million Juvenile by 1 ¼ lengths. The colt paid $23 to win, with jockey Martin Garcia earning his first Cup victory.
But the trainer's emotions were
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The 73-year-old owner clinched his fourth Melbourne Cup last year on the back of the Robert Hickmott-trained Green Moon but his hunger for Australia's richest and most famous thoroughbred trophy shows little sign of abating.
Green Moon, who defied 22-1 odds and a field of quality European stayers to win the gruelling two-mile handicap, returns to Flemington Racecourse to bid for back-to-back Cups, but the seven-year-old stallion is among the less fancied of Williams' sextet.
Sea Moon, Fawkner and Seville are all highly backed to win, with Masked Marvel and Mourayan rated rough chances to salute in front of an expected crowd of more than 100,000.
With all prepared by Williams' trusted trainer Hickmott and only Mourayan drawing outside barrier 10, the tycoon's powerful bid has proved controversial, with English trainer Ed Dunlop raising concerns that the race could be manipulated.
"I hope Mr. Williams isn't allowed to boss this race," Dunlop, who has entered eight-year-old gelding Red Cadeaux for a third tilt, told local media.
"It is not ideal, let's not beat about the bush. We are drawn wide. I think the most interesting thing is Lloyd Williams' horses are all very well drawn."
The reclusive Williams hit back at Dunlop's 'team orders' comments on Monday, describing them as "extremely poor manners".
"Twelve months ago this Friday, I put plans in place for eight horses to be aimed at the Melbourne Cup and six have made it," Williams, known for his meticulous management of his horses, told The Australian newspaper.
"Racing is like business, you have got to have a plan."
Dunlop's comments have touched a raw nerve with Australia's racing community, which has bemoaned the rising strength of foreign-prepared entrants and happily adopted a siege mentality hyped up by local media.
Australian racing has also been hit by a string of corruption scandals in recent years and last year's race was tarnished when stewards allowed jockey and former winner Damien Oliver to ride despite being embroiled in an illegal betting probe.
Having served a 10-month ban for placing a bet on a rival horse, Oliver returns to ride on the Gai Waterhouse-trained Fiorente which most agencies had installed as a 7-1 favourite on the eve of the race.
Runnerup last year, Fiorente was Waterhouse's third second-placing after Te Akau Nick in 1993 and Nothin Leica Dane in 1995.
"It's probably made me keener and hungrier than ever," Oliver said of his ban, which pundits criticised as lightweight for not precluding him from Australia's richest spring racing season.
"I'm very keen to reward Gai and hopefully share in her first Melbourne Cup."
Of the nine foreign-prepared entrants, Mount Athos is rated the strongest chance to win and give trainer Luca Cumani a maiden Melbourne Cup after runnerup finishes with Purple Moon in 2007 and Bauer the following year.
The powerful Godolphin stable, also chasing a first Cup triumph after 15 fruitless years, has entered a single challenger in Saeed Bin Suroor-trained Royal Empire, a five-year stallion to be ridden by former winner Kerrin McEvoy.
Former England striker Michael Owen has also flown to Melbourne as part-owner of the Tom Dascombe-trained Brown Panther.
Australia's holy grail of racing has never fallen into English hands, and Owen was guarded about the chances of the six-year-old stallion breaking the drought.
"To be the first would be a huge honour. (But) we're not getting too carried away," he said.
Horse Racing - Six-shooter Williams guns for fifth Melbourne Cup - Yahoo Eurosport UK
Green Moon, who defied 22-1 odds and a field of quality European stayers to win the gruelling two-mile handicap, returns to Flemington Racecourse to bid for back-to-back Cups, but the seven-year-old stallion is among the less fancied of Williams' sextet.
Sea Moon, Fawkner and Seville are all highly backed to win, with Masked Marvel and Mourayan rated rough chances to salute in front of an expected crowd of more than 100,000.
With all prepared by Williams' trusted trainer Hickmott and only Mourayan drawing outside barrier 10, the tycoon's powerful bid has proved controversial, with English trainer Ed Dunlop raising concerns that the race could be manipulated.
"I hope Mr. Williams isn't allowed to boss this race," Dunlop, who has entered eight-year-old gelding Red Cadeaux for a third tilt, told local media.
"It is not ideal, let's not beat about the bush. We are drawn wide. I think the most interesting thing is Lloyd Williams' horses are all very well drawn."
The reclusive Williams hit back at Dunlop's 'team orders' comments on Monday, describing them as "extremely poor manners".
"Twelve months ago this Friday, I put plans in place for eight horses to be aimed at the Melbourne Cup and six have made it," Williams, known for his meticulous management of his horses, told The Australian newspaper.
"Racing is like business, you have got to have a plan."
Dunlop's comments have touched a raw nerve with Australia's racing community, which has bemoaned the rising strength of foreign-prepared entrants and happily adopted a siege mentality hyped up by local media.
Australian racing has also been hit by a string of corruption scandals in recent years and last year's race was tarnished when stewards allowed jockey and former winner Damien Oliver to ride despite being embroiled in an illegal betting probe.
Having served a 10-month ban for placing a bet on a rival horse, Oliver returns to ride on the Gai Waterhouse-trained Fiorente which most agencies had installed as a 7-1 favourite on the eve of the race.
Runnerup last year, Fiorente was Waterhouse's third second-placing after Te Akau Nick in 1993 and Nothin Leica Dane in 1995.
"It's probably made me keener and hungrier than ever," Oliver said of his ban, which pundits criticised as lightweight for not precluding him from Australia's richest spring racing season.
"I'm very keen to reward Gai and hopefully share in her first Melbourne Cup."
Of the nine foreign-prepared entrants, Mount Athos is rated the strongest chance to win and give trainer Luca Cumani a maiden Melbourne Cup after runnerup finishes with Purple Moon in 2007 and Bauer the following year.
The powerful Godolphin stable, also chasing a first Cup triumph after 15 fruitless years, has entered a single challenger in Saeed Bin Suroor-trained Royal Empire, a five-year stallion to be ridden by former winner Kerrin McEvoy.
Former England striker Michael Owen has also flown to Melbourne as part-owner of the Tom Dascombe-trained Brown Panther.
Australia's holy grail of racing has never fallen into English hands, and Owen was guarded about the chances of the six-year-old stallion breaking the drought.
"To be the first would be a huge honour. (But) we're not getting too carried away," he said.
Horse Racing - Six-shooter Williams guns for fifth Melbourne Cup - Yahoo Eurosport UK
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THE All-Weather Championships continue with an exciting twilight fixture at Kempton Park on Wednesday, November 6. A field of seven go to post for the £37,000 Floodlit Stakes (7.00pm), a Listed race over 12 furlongs.
Brian Meehan puts blinkers on Great Hall for the first time, despite the three-year-old winning twice without them. "He is in good form and ran a nice race in the St Leger when the ground was too soft for him,'' Meehan said.
"We have put the blinkers on just to help him because Kempton will be the sharpest track he has run at.
"The surface will be fine for him and I wouldn't have any concerns about the drop back in trip." Great Hall's rivals include Urban Dance, a three-year-old Street Cry half-brother to Masterstroke, who will be aiming to give Godolphin a fifth consecutive win in the Floodlit Stakes after victories for Spring Of Fame (2012), Prince Bishop (2011), Mastery (2010) and Once More Dubai (2009). Urban Dance's trainer Charlie Appleby was successful at the Breeders' Cup in America on Friday with Outstrip.
John Gosden will be represented by 2012 Royal Ascot hero Gatewood, partnered by William Buick. Glorious Goodwood scorer Pether's Moon also brings good form to the table.
Smart mare Jehannedarc, Opera Box and Aussie Reigns complete the septet.
Horsted Keynes is the headline act in the seven-furlong Class Three £11,500 Betdaq 1st UK Race Commission Free Handicap (7.30pm, 11 runners) as he goes in search of a four-timer. Roger Varian's three-year-old has a 6lb penalty for winning a similar contest at Lingfield last Thursday.
Outlook's Great for Kempton | Horse Racing | Sport | Daily Express
Brian Meehan puts blinkers on Great Hall for the first time, despite the three-year-old winning twice without them. "He is in good form and ran a nice race in the St Leger when the ground was too soft for him,'' Meehan said.
"We have put the blinkers on just to help him because Kempton will be the sharpest track he has run at.
"The surface will be fine for him and I wouldn't have any concerns about the drop back in trip." Great Hall's rivals include Urban Dance, a three-year-old Street Cry half-brother to Masterstroke, who will be aiming to give Godolphin a fifth consecutive win in the Floodlit Stakes after victories for Spring Of Fame (2012), Prince Bishop (2011), Mastery (2010) and Once More Dubai (2009). Urban Dance's trainer Charlie Appleby was successful at the Breeders' Cup in America on Friday with Outstrip.
John Gosden will be represented by 2012 Royal Ascot hero Gatewood, partnered by William Buick. Glorious Goodwood scorer Pether's Moon also brings good form to the table.
Smart mare Jehannedarc, Opera Box and Aussie Reigns complete the septet.
Horsted Keynes is the headline act in the seven-furlong Class Three £11,500 Betdaq 1st UK Race Commission Free Handicap (7.30pm, 11 runners) as he goes in search of a four-timer. Roger Varian's three-year-old has a 6lb penalty for winning a similar contest at Lingfield last Thursday.
Outlook's Great for Kempton | Horse Racing | Sport | Daily Express
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It's no coincidence that some of the world's most prolific writers have Bovada Sportsbook in there list of what I feel to be the Nr: 1 greatest sports books ever.
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That Gold Cup win was Estimate's third from as many starts at Ascot - she also won the Queen's Vase and Sagaro Stakes at the track - and she has been cut by bookmakers for victory in Saturday's Long Distance Cup.
Estimate was shortened to 2-1 (from 5-2) by both Ladbrokes and Coral while she is 9-4 (from 5-2) with William Hill and 5-2 (from 11-4) with Betfred.
David Stevens, spokesman for Coral, said on Tuesday: "With two big Ascot wins to her name so far in 2013, and form on soft ground, it's not surprising Estimate has proved popular with punters. She looks sure to be sent off a red-hot favourite for the Champions Day opener."
Ryan Moore will have the responsibility for riding the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Estimate at Ascot and said on Tuesday that he was looking forward to the ride.
"She's improved every run of her career," Moore said on At The Races. "We're quite happy with her. Very soft ground is a bit of an unknown but hopefully she'll handle it and run a big race."
Ascot's going remains good to soft, soft in places, after a dry day, and clerk of the course Chris Stickels reckons it is unlikely to be significantly worse on Saturday.
He said: "After 5mm of rain on Monday we've had a nice dry day, with a bit of a breeze. The going remains good to soft, soft in places, with most of the soft places on the downhill run and round Swinley Bottom. The straight course is mainly good to soft."
Estimate backed to be crowned Long Distance queen | Horse Racing News | Racing Post