#Rags to Riches

Essential Quality, shown winning the Grade I Travers, is among the favorites in a Breeders' Cup Classic field announced this week. Photo courtesy of New York Racing Association Oct. 29 (UPI) -- It's a week for looking forward as horse racing around the globe nears its annual champion-making events and youngsters get in final licks to make a case…

The Seahawks and 49ers will renew their rivalry in the heart of the NFL playoffs with what promises to be an exciting game. There are plenty of lenses to view this weekend through from a betting perspective, but building a Parlay is where the fun really lies. This NFL week 18+4000 Parlay looks like great value going into Saturday's game. Christian…

Rodney Dangerfield would love these TCU Horned Frogs. It's hard to remember the last time a team got so little respect as these Big 12 champs, who entered the college football championship game against Georgia as massive underdogs. The Bulldogs enter as 13-point favorites, a whopping spread for a contest between the two best teams in college…

With a new distance and a new place on the calendar, this year's Belmont Stakes is unlike any other. A compact field of nine, highlighted by Tiz the Law, is expected for the historic race. Read on for 12 things to know about Saturday's Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park. 1. This year is the first time ever that the Belmont will precede both…

Racing is never short of a storyline and 2022 was certainly no different. Be it the good, the bad or the sometimes ugly, racing can at times resemble a soap opera as much as it does a billion dollar industry. With 2022 now in the rear view mirror we look back at the 30 biggest stories to shape the year with Part 2 today covering 15-1. 15) Melbourne…

A PUNTER who staked all he had on Frankie Dettori riding seven winners at Ascot is now living the high life as a multi-millionaire. Joiner Darren Yates, 56, bet his last £62 - then used his £550823 winnings to build a property and development empire he sold for £20million. Darren recalled his life-changing wager with William Hill on September 29,…

There is no complete Triple Crown at stake this year when the 154th Belmont Stakes is run this Saturday, June 11 (post time 6:45 p.m. ET, NBC). But after missing the Preakness Stakes following his shocking Kentucky Derby win, Rich Strike will return to the field to try to take a non-consecutive second jewel. While Preakness winner Early Voting and…

Maximum Security, the colt disqualified from victory in the Kentucky Derby, returns to the winner's circle Saturday at Belmont Park. Photo courtesy of New York Racing Association Oct. 28 (UPI) -- It was a very good weekend of horse racing for Japan as Lys Gracieux landed the Group 1 Cox Plate in Australia and Almond Eye returned to her dominant…

The Weatherbys Super Sprint was devised by Richard Hannon Snr and Lord Carnarvon as a lucrative prize for two-year-olds who hadn't cost a fortune at the sales. Accordingly, it has been the source of numerous wonderful rags-to-riches stories in its 30-year history. But just because the popular five-furlong dash staged at Newbury each July caters for…

If horseracing could be purely calibrated by a stopwatch and mathematical tables, if you were good enough at the game, you would literally never lose. Every result would be inevitable - and the story of Winx would be a boring one. But that ignores the abilities and character of horses - the fascination with champions of racing has little to do with…

It might sometimes be difficult to believe with the same stables dominating, but fairytales do still exist on the Flat and the story of Pyledriver is proof. Owners Guy and Hew Edwards had limited success in syndicates before purchasing La Pyle to race over hurdles. She beat just five horses home in her five starts for Philip Hobbs before she was…

The history of horse racing is filled with rags-to-riches stories of jockeys, trainers, and horses that rise from humble beginnings to achieve success at the highest levels of the sport. Few such stories can compare with that of the remarkable gelding Lava Man, who went from claimer to Hall of Famer to dominate California horse racing for much of…

Friday's Race Recap from Gulfstream Park: (All odds US) Gulfstream Park: Race 3: 4th@ 4.80/1 Race 7: 7th@ 2.40/1 Race 9: 3rd@ 8.70/1 In Race 3, Silver N Black stalked early and rallied only mildly for fourth. Sainthoodforbrian did not rally mildly in Race 7. As a matter of fact he plummeted to the back of the pack on the far turn after chasing a…

A former film student, Mary Dixon Reynolds, lists her top-rated horse racing films and documentaries. 1983 Before there were Winx and Black Caviar, Australians were transfixed by a big chestnut horse named Phar Lap. The horse reigned during the 1930s depression and gave the nation something its pride. Trainer Harry Telford, played beautifully by…

The history of horse racing is filled with rags-to-riches stories of horses and horsemen rising from unknown beginnings to succeed at the highest levels of the sport. But has there ever been a champion as improbable as Carry Back? His story reads like a fairy tale, a veritable Cinderella story. Retired businessman Jack Price, pursuing a passion for…

One horse won the Kentucky Derby and now faces disqualification (maybe) and banishment (definitely). That would make a second horse the new winner. A third horse won the Preakness. Then there is last year's 2-year-old champion, who lost as the Derby favorite this month, and a filly who has been beating every challenger among her gender and now may…

Sekie and Tsunebumi Yoshihara's Yuugiri (Shackleford) looked in all sorts of bother as she was besieged from either side with time ticking away in Saturday's GIII Fantasy S. at Oaklawn Park, but she refused to lay down and battled her way to a neck defeat of Beguine (Gun Runner). Second choice Bubble Rock () was third in her first try on a…

Rich Strike, the 80-1 shot ridden by Sonny Leon and trained by Eric Reed, mounted a furious and improbable rally to capture the 148th Kentucky Derby on May 7. He was not even in the field until another horse was scratched the day before the race. But after skipping the Preakness Stakes on May 21, forgoing a shot at the Triple Crown, Rich Strike…

It's time for the final leg of horse racing's triple crown this weekend, as the Belmont Stakes, and one thing for sure is there will be no payday like we had in the Kentucky Derby five weeks ago. As usual, this is the smallest field of the three races with only eight horses scheduled to come out of the gate in Elmont, N.Y., on Saturday afternoon at…

Triple Crown veteran Todd Pletcher had simple advice Saturday for jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. before the Belmont Stakes. "Be patient," Pletcher said. "I think you have the best last quarter of any horse in the race." Sometimes, less is Mo. Mo Donegal pulled away down the home stretch and held off filly Nest to win the Belmont Stakes, giving Pletcher a…

By Andy Serling FOX Sports Horse Racing Analyst The field for the 154th Belmont Stakes, the final jewel of the Triple Crown, is scheduled to break from the gate at 6:44 p.m. ET on Saturday at beautiful Belmont Park. All eyes will be on Rich Strike. While not the morning-line favorite, the upset winner of the Kentucky Derby that was held out of the…

By Andy Serling FOX Sports Horse Racing Analyst When the field, projected at eight, breaks from the gate early Saturday evening for the 154th Belmont Stakes, the biggest question will be whether Rich Strike is a genuine player on the biggest stages or a one-hit-wonder. The race was drawn Tuesday morning. Eight horses are entered (Preakness winner…

Notes, Quotes & Photos From G2 Golden Rod Stakes: Hoosier Philly (Hoosier Philly / All Photos by Holly M. Smith) From the Churchill Downs Media Team: The promising 2-year-old filly Hoosier Philly stamped herself as a divisional leader and tantalizing prospect for the Longines Kentucky Oaks as she easily won Saturday's 79 running of the $400000…

Hoosier Philly (Into Mischief) ran to her billing and kept her perfect record in tact Saturday, scoring her third straight win at Churchill Downs in the GII Golden Rod S. A debut winner going 5 1/2urlongs at this oval Sept. 25, the $510000 KEESEP acquisition showed two turns was no problem, charging home to a 7 1/2-length victory in a sloppy…

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The promising 2-year-old filly Hoosier Philly stamped herself as a divisional leader and tantalizing prospect for the Longines Kentucky Oaks as she easily won Saturday's 79 running of the $400000 Golden Rod (Grade II) at Churchill Downs with overwhelming authority by five lengths. Hoosier Philly, who ran 1 1/16 miles over a fast…

The promising 2-year-old filly Hoosier Philly stamped herself as a divisional leader and tantalizing prospect for the Longines Kentucky Oaks as she easily won Saturday's 79th running of the $400000 Golden Rod (Grade II) at Churchill Downs with overwhelming authority by five lengths. Hoosier Philly, who ran 1 1/16 miles over a fast track in 1:43.94…

Nine juvenile colts whose connections harbor Kentucky Derby dreams are expected to go to post Saturday in an intriguing edition of the Grade 2, $400000 Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs. Instant Coffee, a lightly raced son of Bolt d'Oro trained by Brad Cox, is the 5-2 morning line favorite in the 1 1/6-mile race for 2-year-olds, a Derby…

Churchill Downs' Barn Notes: Curly Jack May Set Them Straight In G2 KY Jockey Club (Curly Jack / Photos by Holly M. Smith) From the Churchill Downs Media Team: Michael McLaughlin's $300000 Iroquois Stakes (Grade III) winner Curly Jack headlines a field of nine 2-year-old colts that were entered in Saturday's 96 running of the $400000 Kentucky…

Misty Veil 10.05pm Churchill Downs 1pt each-way Coach 10.35pm Churchill Downs 2pt win The Grade 3 Chilukki Stakes has been won by some lovely fillies and mares over the years including in 2015 when the Brad Cox-trained Spelling Again took the honours. This year the trainer is looking to add to that sole victory with course winner Coach. This…

The only graded stakes on Saturday's racing schedule features distaffers battling under the twin spires. Coach is the 9-5 morning-line favorite for the Grade 3, $300000 Chilukki Stakes. Post time from Churchill Downs is 5:35 p.m. EST, with FS2 showing the one-mile race for 3-and-up fillies and mares. The Chilukki is part of a November Churchill…

Good Morning Bloodstock is Martin Stevens' daily morning email and presented online as a sample. Here, he talks to Bjorn Nielsen about his very generous incentives to breeders who use Stradivarius. S ubscribers can get more great insight from Martin every Monday to Friday. All you need do is click on the link above, sign up and then read at your…

World Series Winner Now a Winner at Churchill Downs, Too (Alex Bregman, of the Houston Astros, gets a win at Churchill Downs / Coady Photography) From the Churchill Downs Media Team: Two-time World Series-winning third basemen Alex Bregman of the Houston Astros became a winning horse owner Wednesday at Churchill Downs when his family's 2-year-old…

Kueber Racing's two-time stakes-winning filly Coach will attempt to collect her first victory in graded stakes company as the headliner in Saturday's $300000 Chilukki Stakes (Grade 3) at Churchill Downs. The one-mile Chilukki Stakes for fillies and mares will go as Race 10 of 11 with a post time of 5:35 p.m. (all times Eastern). First post is 1…

Nest takes a shot against males in the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes on Saturday for trainer Todd Pletcher, a man who has won this race with the filly Rags to Riches in 2007. Even though Nest belongs in the Belmont, choosing the filly requires faith that the 1 1/2 miles elevates her to a new level. On previous form alone in normal route races, Nest…

For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record If there's a new sprinting superstar in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes on the final day of Royal Ascot, it's probably Sceptical, the £2800 Godolphin cast-off who has rocketed himself to favouritism for this Group One following three wins this year after only…

The Queen's runner King's Lynn was third in the Wokingham (5.00pm). Dream Of Dreams won the feature Diamond Jubilee Stakes as Ryan Moore celebrated a treble The Queen just missed out on a winner as she attended Royal Ascot's final day. Making her first appearance at the big meeting this week, the reigning monarch arrived to a round of applause from…

The 154 running of the Belmont Stakes will take place Saturday at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. While the Triple Crown won't be on the line, Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike will be part of the eight-horse field. Post time for the race is set for approximately 6:49 p.m. In last year's edition of the race, favorite Essential Quality came in…

Initially, I didn't need any race form for this project. Weights and measures count, like times and ratings, breeding, management and navigation. But racehorses appeal simply as individuals. Watching them run, walk, parade or simply stand is one of life's pleasures - and educations. Winston Churchill once said, "There is something about the outside…

This week marks the beginning of the College Football Playoff rankings. Whereas before we used the AP Poll as the ranking system for our teams, we will now be deferring to the CFP poll for the rest of the season - seeing as that determines what will be the national championship game. Last week, we saw Michigan reclaim the Paul Bunyan trophy, a huge…

The brilliantly fast Gamine, a dual Grade 1 winner owned by Michael Lund Petersen and trained by three-time Oaks-winning trainer Bob Baffert, has been installed as the even-money favorite for Friday's $1.25 million Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs. The 3-year-old daughter of Into Mischief drew post position 5 for the 1 1/8-mile race with Hall of…

In the first segment of his two-part Breeders' Cup analysis, Graham Dench casts his expert eye over the European challenge for Future Stars Friday Turf courses in the US tend to be sharper with shorter straights than the Europeans are used to - but Keeneland has the advantage of providing more suitable climate and underfoot conditions than are…

After bumping with a rival into the first turn, Two Phil's tracked a contested early pace down the backstretch and then rolled home to a 5 1/4-length win over Hayes Strike in Sunday's Grade 3, $199800 Street Sense Stakes, the feature on opening day of Churchill Downs' fall meet. Jareth Loveberry rode the winner for trainer Larry Rivelli and owners…

Churchill Downs' Newsstand: Jace's Road Returns in Sunday's G3 Street Sense Stakes (Trainer Brad Cox conditions Jace's Road / Photos by Holly M. Smith) From the Churhcill Downs Media Team: Albaugh Family Stables and West Point Thoroughbreds' Jace's Road, an impressive debut winner and recent third-place finisher in the $300000 Iroquois Stakes…

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Spendthrift Farm has announced stud fees for its roster of 27 stallions set to stand at the Lexington-based farm for the upcoming 2023 breeding season, led again by North America's reigning three-time champion General Sire, Into Mischief who will stand for $250000 S&N. Spendthrift has added four new stallions including 2022…

Live Racing Returns to Churchill Downs on Sunday for 19-Day Fall Meet (Churchill Downs / Photos by Holly M. Smith) From the Churchill Downs Media Team: Thoroughbred racing in Kentucky shifts from Keeneland to Churchill Downs on Sunday as the home of the Kentucky Derby readies to open its 133 Fall Meet with an 11-race program - all for promising…

ELMONT, NY - The kid from Queens got his GI Belmont Stakes. Carrying the royal blue-and-orange, New York Mets-inspired silks of Middle Village native Mike Repole, Donegal Racing and Repole Stable's Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo) delivered an authoritative, three-length victory as the 5-2 favorite before an announced crowd of 46103 in Saturday's GI Belmont…

There are less than seven days to go until this year's Melbourne Cup, which will be run in the early hours of Tuesday morning at Flemington. But plans for next year's race that stops the nation started coming together at Tattersalls on Wednesday as day three of the Autumn Horses in Training Sale was topped by Fancy Man at 675000gns. The classy…

Mo Donegal is the winner of the 154th Belmont Stakes in an official time of 2:28.28. This is Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher's fourth time winning the Belmont. Pletcher's previous victories at Belmont Stakes were with Rags to Riches in 2007, Palace Malice in 2013 and Tapwrit in 2017. Saturday was a terrific day at the racetrack for him, as his…

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Spendthrift Farm has announced stud fees for its roster of 27 stallions set to stand at the Lexington-based farm for the upcoming 2023 breeding season, led again by North America's reigning three-time champion General Sire, Into Mischief who will stand for $250000 S&N. Spendthrift has added four new stallions including 2022…