#Eight Belles

Few horses have been able to blend the kind of success that Unbridled enjoyed both on the racetrack and in the breeding shed. A strapping, 17-hand colt with a long, ground-gobbling stride, he was slow to develop at 2 after a promising 10 ½-length victory in his career debut. The son of Fappiano was then plagued by a sore hoof at 4, succinctly…

A decade ago, the word "aftercare" was not part of the industry vernacular when talking about Thoroughbreds leaving the racetrack. There were a handful of nonprofits which had battled the tide of horses retiring from racing for years. The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation launched in 1983, New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program in 1992,…

Titleholder wins Sunday's Takarazuka Kinen, now targeting the Arc d'Triomphe. Photo courtesy of Japan Racing Association June 27 (UPI) -- Tawny Port's victory in Saturday's Ohio Derby serves notice the scramble among U.S. 3-year-olds is far from over while Westover's dominance of the Irish Derby indicates he's not out of the frame, either, despite…

The principal action for Kentucky Derby 148 occurred more than 2000 miles west of Churchill Downs Thursday morning as Santa Anita Derby (GI) winner Taiba worked six furlongs in 1:12.80. "It was very straight forward," trainer Tim Yakteen said. "He worked three-quarters from the five-eighth pole. It was a typical Taiba work and we accomplished what…

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - The New York Racing Association Inc. (NYRA) will host a special cross breed Cross Country Pick 5 on Saturday, featuring Grade 1 thoroughbred action from Whitney Day at Saratoga Race Course and standardbred racing from the Hambletonian card at Meadowlands Racetrack. Free Equibase past performances for the Cross Country Pick…

The Poinsettia Stakes takes place at Oaklawn Park this Saturday, and it is the seventh race on the card. This contest is due off at 4:18 p.m ET, and fillies and mares aged three and older will be involved. A total distance of 5 ½ furlongs will be covered in the race, which boasts a purse of $150000. Eight runners will line up at Oaklawn for the…

Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports Summer spectacle of racing at Saratoga continues this weekend, with the headline action including the Saratoga Derby Four graded races are on the card at Saratoga, including the Test Stakes The excitement of the summer meet at Saratoga continues this weekend, as there are four graded races to look forward to. We…

Flightline wins his third straight race in style in Sunday's Grade 1 Malibu at Santa Anita. Benoit photo, courtesy of Santa Anita Dec. 27 (UPI) -- Epicenter entered the Kentucky Derby picture with a handy win Sunday at Fair Grounds while a sparkling Opening Day program at Santa Anita featured a dazzling performance by budding superstar…

Channel Cat, shown winning the Grade I Man o' War in May, is among the favorites for Saturday's Grade II Red Smith Stakes at Aqueduct. Photo courtesy of New York Racing Association Nov. 19 (UPI) -- High-class graded stakes racing is spread across North America this weekend, with a turf showdown in New York, a tough mile event for fillies and mares…

Sconsin, shown winning the 2021 Winning Colors Stakes at Churchill Downs, tries for a repeat in the Memorial Day renewal. Photo courtesy of Churchill Downs May 27 (UPI) -- The long Memorial Day weekend is not short on racing action with two "Win and You're In" events, one in California amid a flurry on Grade I races and the other in Chile. The…

With the NYRA Racing Festival complete, and Todd Pletcher's 1-2 score in Belmont Stakes now in the record books, it is time to turn our attention to the rest of the Meet. That runs through mid-July, which will in-turn, give way to celebrated Saratoga. There is much left to do in Elmont... so, tune in! Most Likely Winner: (Race 10: Sinfully Sweet…

Churchill Downs' Barn Notes: Sconsin Returns in Sunday's Dream Supreme Stakes (Sconsin / Photos by Coady Photography) From the Churhcill Downs Media Team: Lloyd Madison Farm's growing broodmare band will add another member to their roster with their homebred Sconsin, who has a date with 2017 Horse of the Year Gun Runner in a few months. The…

Moments after crossing the wire second in a field of 20, the big lanky filly Eight Belles collapsed in the dirt with two shattered front ankles. Bone pierced flesh as she struggled to stand but could not. The lather on her dark coat and the blood on her mangled legs glistened under the late afternoon sun. In the charming grandstand of Churchill…

The $1.25 million Kentucky Oaks (G1) at 1 1/8 miles for 3-year-old fillies headlines a loaded 13-race Friday card at Churchill Downs that includes five undercard graded stakes. The Oaks, the filly version of the Kentucky Derby, drew a field of nine, but this one sure looks like a showdown between the talented favorites - Gamine and Swiss…

OZONE PARK, N.Y.- Gary Barber's Grade 1-placed Make Mischief will make her first outing over the grass in Friday's $125000 John Hettinger, a nine-furlong inner turf test for New York-bred fillies and mares 3-years-old and up, at the Belmont at the Big A fall meet. Trained by Hall of Famer Mark Casse, Make Mischief was set to make her turf bow last…

A busy slate of racing at Churchill Downs this week includes numerous maiden special weights for 2-year-olds. Among the notable entrants are siblings to Breeders' Cup winners Mizdirection and Roy H. Let's dive in and explore five of the most promising first-time starters in the fields: Thursday Churchill Downs race 5: Maiden special weight (seven…

Even the most casual sports fan knows the Kentucky Derby. However, this weekend it may not even be the best race at Churchill Downs. That distinction likely belongs to the Kentucky Oaks. Post: 5:51 PM ET; Purse: $1250000 Longines Kentucky Oaks, 1 1/8 Miles on Dirt; Entries: 15 #1 SECRET OATH (6-1) was once a possibility to run against the boys in…