Kentucky Derby points will be up for grabs this Saturday in both Florida and California when the Holy Bull Stakes is presented at Gulfstream Park and the Robert B. Lewis Stakes is run at Santa Anita Park. The Holy Bull is a Grade III race at 1 1/16 miles, as is the Lewis. Nine […]
Read more
The horses are entered and post positions have been drawn, which means the stage is set for Gulfstream Park’s Grade I Pegasus World Cup Invitational. The $3 million race will be contested at 1 1/8 miles Saturday. NBC will telecast the Pegasus World Cup Invitational and Pegasus World Cup Turf from 4:30-6 p.m. ET. […]
Read more
Though it has been run only four times, Gulfstream Park’s Pegasus World Cup Invitational has firmly established itself as an important event on the American racing stage. It has become a prime early-year target. This year’s 1 1/8-mile Pegasus will be held on Jan. 23. With a purse of $3 million, it is one […]
Read more
I first had the honor of voting for Eclipse Awards in 1976. My choice for Horse to the Year was Forego. One of the greatest geldings of all time, Forego was elected Horse of the Year in 1974, 1975 and again in 1976. Forego’s victory in the 1976 Marlboro Cup at Belmont Park […]
Read more
The Eclipse Awards were created in 1971 to recognize outstanding achievements in North America by Thoroughbreds and individuals. The three organizations responsible for determining Eclipse Award recipients are the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), Daily Racing Form and National Turf Writers and Broadcasters. To help celebrate 50 years of the Eclipse Awards, the […]
Read more
Inspired by Pool 1 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager (KDFW), which closed last Sunday, I have put together a very early Top 10 for the 2021 Run for the Roses. Here it is: Essential Quality Life Is Good Highly Motivated Hot Rod Charlie Keepmeinmind Fire At Will Jackie’s Warrior Caddo River Mandaloun Dr. […]
Read more
Our horse racing fantasy league held its annual draft this past Monday. It’s called the Fantasy Stable League (FSL). Daily Racing Form handicapper Michael Hammersly started this league all the way back in 1986. I joined it in 1990 when I was working for the DRF. I have been the league’s commissioner since 2000. […]
Read more
VENUE: Keeneland on Nov. 6-7. Main Track: dirt, fast Friday and Saturday; Turf Course: good Friday and for Saturday’s BC Turf Sprint, firm for Saturday’s BC Filly & Mare Turf, BC Mile and BC Turf. $6 MILLION CLASSIC (NOV. 7) Results: (1) Authentic, who paid $10.40, (2) Improbable, (3) Global Campaign. Winner: Owned by Spendthrift […]
Read more
BREEDERS’ CUP SELECTIONS Xpressbet.com Column It’s Post Time by Jon White (Nov. 4, 2020) $1 MILLION JUVENILE TURF SPRINT (FRIDAY) 1. GOLDEN PAL (8-5 on the morning line) Believe he wins despite post 14; Ward praises him 2. BODENHEIMER (8-1) Lone loss by WA-bred came on soft ground 3. AFTER FIVE (6-1) Maiden by The […]
Read more
REVISITING KEENELAND’S PREVIOUS BC CLASSIC Xpressbet.com Column It’s Post Time by Jon White (Oct. 28, 2020) This year will be the 11th time that the Breeders’ Cup has been held in Kentucky. Prior to 2020, there have been nine Breeders’ Cups at Churchill Downs (1988, 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2006, 2010, 2011 and 2018) and […]
Read more
The Southern California racing community received a one-two punch of bad news in recent days when learning that retired trainers Gary Jones and Barry Abrams had died. Jones was 76. Abrams was 66. In recent years, Jones’ failing health included the onset of dementia. He died Sunday at his home in Del Mar, where he […]
Read more
The coronavirus pandemic has wreaked considerable havoc throughout the world this year. But in a year in which it seems there have been so many more lowlights than highlights, a ferocious equine tussle all the way down the stretch in the 145th Preakness Stakes became a welcome diversion for Thoroughbred racing fans during these troubled […]
Read more
Trends or angles sometimes can grab one’s attention when it comes to sports in general or horse racing in particular. How about this trend? Prior to last Saturday’s game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggetts, whenever the Lakers had the lead going into the fourth quarter in a playoff game, their win-loss record […]
Read more
“He’s the real deal.” That’s what Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert wrote in response to my text congratulating him for his record-tying sixth Kentucky Derby victory last Saturday with Authentic. Come to think of it, how could a horse with the name Authentic be anything but the “real” deal, right? Baffert has now won […]
Read more
KENTUCKY DERBY SELECTIONS AND ANALYSIS Xpressbet.com Column It’s Post Time by Jon White (Sept. 2, 2020) The 156th running of the $3 million Kentucky Derby will be contested Saturday at Churchill Downs. Tiz the Law no doubt will be an odds-on favorite in the field of 18 entered in the 1 1/4-mile classic. This is […]
Read more