When the first thoroughbred race since 2013 is held at Colonial Downs Racetrack this August, one person in particular will breathe a sigh of relief. Track superintendent Ken Brown, who began his second stint at the New Kent, Va., track in April, is in charge of bringing its two highly regarded racing surfaces back to life after years of inactivity. The last Thoroughbred race was held there in July 2013 and the last Standardbred race took place over the dirt track in October 2014.
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Golden Gate Fields Winter/Spring Meet Sees 7.4% Increase In Handle
Golden Gate Fields saw another strong increase in all sources handle at its 2018-19 Winter/Spring Meet, which concluded on Sunday, June 9. The 94-day meeting, which began on Dec. 26, was highlighted by a successful edition of the inaugural Gold Rush Weekend in April, and track management and horsemen look forward to continued positive trends and numbers heading into the next live race meet which begins August 15th.
Bayern Gets His First Winner
I always liked Bayern as a race horse, as I’m a sucker for big, handsome guys, and he was one of the biggest—to the point that his trainer, Bob Baffert, went to measure Zenyatta, sure that his guy was every bit as huge as the supermare. He wasn’t, but he sure came close. And big handsome guys who win the Breeders’ Cup Classic-G1, along with the Haskell-G1, at three, and earn over $4.4 million? How could you not be a fan?
A Week of Daredevilry
With the freshman sire race warming up, a new entrant has jumped to number seven in the top ten list: Winstar’s Daredevil, a precocious son of More Than Ready whose first foals were pictured in a memorable advertising campaign featuring them photoshopped into dramatic activities demonstrating their, well, daredevilry.
Horseracing Integrity Act of 2019 Introduced
The Coalition for Horse Racing Integrity (CHRI) today announced its strong support for the Horseracing Integrity Act of 2019, introduced in the U.S. Senate earlier today by Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Martha McSally (R-AZ). The bill would create a private, independent horse racing anti-doping authority, the Horseracing Anti-Doping and Medication Control Authority (HADA), responsible for developing and administering a nationwide anti-doping and medication control program for horseracing.
Adena Springs’ Senior Citizens Rule Belmont Day
Right now, it appears that 2020 will be a battle of the geriatric tyrannosaurs, old Trump versus old Biden. Yawn. Belmont S.-G1 day, however, was a triumph for the senior citizens of Adena Springs, with the Belmont being won by Sir Winston, a son of Awesome Again, and the Acorn S.-G1 being won by Guarana, a daughter of Ghostzapper (in only her second start), a granddaughter of Awesome Again. You can’t count these old boys out.
Pedigree Review: Epsom Derby Winner Anthony Van Dyck
Much has been made of the domination of the Galileo line in both the entries in the Epsom Derby-G1 and the winning order, and it is indeed impressive, and of trainer Aidan O’Brien and owners/breeders that are the usual Coolmore suspects lock on the race. No mention, though, has been made of the influence of North American breeding in the pedigree of Anthony Van Dyck, the brilliant winner.
Breeders Cup Mile Winner Karakontie
When Gainesway debuted Karakontie in 2017, standing for $15,000, it was a fascinating and bold move. Bred in Japan, the young stud had an impeccable race record of Grade/Group 1 wins in France and North America, including the Breeders’ Cup Mile-G1, and earnings of just under two million dollars.
Honey Bunny and Monomoy Girl – Tapizar’s Girls
Rejoice, “Pulp Fiction” fans! Honey Bunny won the Winning Colors S.-G3 at Churchill Downs on May 25! The five-year-old mare by Tapizar, claimed in 2018 for $16,000, has now won her last five races in a row, and her first graded stakes, making her Tapizar’s fourth graded stakes winner.
Stud Notes: Gio Ponti Climbs The Ranks
After looking at a list of leading fifth crop sires, the first three were a roundup of the usual suspects: Uncle Mo in the lead, of course, who stands at Ashford for $125,000; Twirling Candy in second, who stands at Lane’s End for $25,000; Trappe Shot third, standing at Claiborne for $7500. But I’d wager you’d never guess what stallion is firmly in fourth place: Gio Ponti, the only stallion standing at Castleton Lyons Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, for only $5000.