#Saudi Cup

Knicks Go, seen winning the Grade I Pegasus World Cup in January, is favorite for Saturday's Grade I Whitney at Saratoga. Photo courtesy of Gulfstream Park Aug. 6 (UPI) -- Rich purses drew some top foreign talent for the Saratoga Derby and Oaks on Saturday and Sunday on the upstate New York turf to highlight a big weekend of Thoroughbred…

In what will go down as the most surreal week in sports since 9/11, racing got a double spoonful of distasteful medicine. As the sports world - and the real world - come to grips with the spreading coronavirus, the horse world must also sort out the impact of the criminal bombshell that dropped Monday. Rival trainers Jason Servis and Jorge Navarro,…

Horse racing owners, trainers and jockeys will try to get their hands on the most valuable trophy in American sports on Saturday when they compete for the Woodlawn Vase, which will be presented to the winner of the 2020 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course. Standing 34 inches and weighing 29 pounds, 12 ounces, the elegant silver vase was…

It is sometimes called the most important turf meeting in the U.S. this side of the Breeders' Cup. But is the Arlington Million card really all that? The ingredients are certainly there. Impressive purses for three Grade 1 races that have endured for more than three decades. Horses from around the world representing the sport's biggest powerhouse…

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…

Largent, shown winning the 2020 Fort Lauderdale Stakes, returns from an 11-month layoff to contest Saturday's Tropical Turf at Gulfstream Park and could be considered for the Grade 1 Pegasus Turf with a good effort. Photo by Ryan Thompson, courtesy of Gulfstream Park Jan. 7 (UPI) -- A potential prep for the Pegasus World Cup Turf in Florida, a…

A busy weekend of racing in Ireland is highlighted by a quintet of Breeders' Cup Challenge Series races. Among the prospective starters are Mishriff, Saffron Beach, and Highfield Princess, a trio of Group 1 winners whose connections have mentioned the Breeders' Cup among their possible year-end targets. Let's dive in and explore the upcoming…

The Bob Baffert-trained six-year-old was partnered by the Italian to glory in the Dubai World Cup in March last year, and Dettori was reunited with the son of Tonalist when he kicked off his spell riding in Santa Anita on Boxing Day. Country Grammer could hardly have looked better in landing short odds in the Grade Two San Antonio Stakes, on a…

With a £600000 purse both reflecting and reinforcing its status as a rising international fixture, Friday's fourth running of the Bahrain International Trophy (G3) has attracted a quartet from Godolphin, along with classy Irish mare Insinuendo and a new French recruit for the home team in Dilawar. You can watch and wager on the Friday morning…

It is the great story of the understudy getting that one shot to step in for the star. One shot to step into the spotlight. And maybe even stay there. When Drew Bledsoe got hurt, in came Tom Brady. Wally Pipp was replaced by Lou Gehrig. Phil Fulmer less elegantly for Johnny Majors. On the other hand, sports are full of one-hit wonders like Jeremy…

When a horse is purchased for $1.1 million, expectations are high. Baffert trains Shaaz, who has won two of four career starts but finished third going a mile against Grade 3 rivals last time out. His victory at Santa Anita in April was impressive. Cutting back to one turn may help Shaaz. That said, he is facing some veteran horses who know a thing…

That the third running of the $20-million Saudi Cup, with a post time of 12:30 p.m. ET (8:30 p.m. Riyadh) on February 26, has drawn a patchwork quilt of talent and also-rans out of the woodwork to its full field of fourteen was widely expected, since the one-turn race is - right now, until some other promoters cook up a brighter idea - the horse…

History awaits Mishriff in the third running of the $20 million Saudi Cup, where victory would make him the sport's leading prize-money earner of all time. With a cool $10m (£7.5m/€9m) to the winner, a repeat Saudi Cup win would take him clear of global giants Winx, Arrogate and Almond Eye at the top of the money list and cement his legacy among…

While opening day of the Santa Anita winter/spring meet is traditionally scheduled on the 26th of December, it is also considered the ceremonial start of the next year. If Monday's festivities are a harbinger of what is to come, 2023 should be a pretty good year. Under a perfect southern California winter sky, a massive, enthusiastic crowd of…

Zandon, shown winning the Grade I Blue Grass Stakes, runs in Saturday's Grade I Cigar Mile at Aqueduct. Photo courtesy of Keeneland Dec. 2 (UPI) -- Triple Crown contenders from the past three seasons will battle it out in a field of seven for one of this weekend's top races, the Grade I Cigar Mile at Aqueduct, where 2023 Kentucky Derby hopefuls…

Dec. 27 (UPI) -- Trainer Bob Baffert celebrated Christmas a day late with five winners on Santa Anita's Opening Day program Monday, likely boosting one of those horses to an Eclipse Award and perhaps setting up another for a repeat raid on the rich races in the Middle East. It was a star-studded day in front of a big crowd at Santa Anita, as Juan…

Country Grammer, reunited with Frankie Dettori for the first time since winning the G1 Dubai World Cup in March, strode home an easy winner of the GII San Antonio S. at Santa Anita Monday. Sent off the 3-5 favorite, Country Grammer was hustled from his outside post by Dettori, but was unable to match the speed of his inside rivals and was caught…

While much of the country is suffering through extreme cold and winter storms, officials at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., are preparing for their traditional day-after-Christmas opening on Monday, Dec. 26. Temperatures are expected in the upper 70s and there is no rain in the forecast for Monday, though a storm is expected to roll into…

Not only will Tiz the Law try to keep his hopes for the Triple Crown alive on Saturday in the 2020 Kentucky Derby, he'll also attempt to redeem himself on the track on which he suffered the only loss of his career. After winning his first two starts, the three-year-old finished third at Churchill Downs in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes on Nov. 30,…

Sodashi, shown winning the Sapporo Kinen in her last start Aug. 22, returns in Sunday's Grade 1 Shuka Sho at Hanshin Racecourse. Photo courtesy of Japan Racing Association Oct. 15 (UPI) -- As American horse racing enters its pre-Breeders' Cup "calm before the storm" this weekend, the international contingent ably plugs the gap with the world's…

The richest event on the horse racing calendar begins Saturday, when some of the finest thoroughbreds in the world compete in the Saudi Cup. Held at the King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the inaugural edition of the race carries the significant incentive of a $20 million dollar prize pool-which makes it the most lucrative event in…

Champion miler Baaeed will set a very high standard when he bids to extend his unbeaten run to seven races in Saturday's Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes at Newbury, in which he will start a strong odds-on chance in a field of nine. Newbury's one-mile showpiece, which forms part of the 35-race QIPCO British Champions Series, has attracted a deep line-up,…

Last year's Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Knicks Go is the early favorite at 5-2 for the $3 million Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, Jan. 23 (NBC, 4:30-6 p.m. ET). He is trained by Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer finalist Brad Cox and will be ridden by Joel Rosario, a finalist for the Eclipse Award for Outstanding…

Dec. 19 (UPI) -- Practical Move upset three of trainer Bob Baffert's 2-year-olds in the weekend's feature race, the Grade II Los Alamitos Futurity, adding his name into the mix of candidates for the 2023 Kentucky Derby. Things went a bit more to expectations among the Japanese 2-year-olds as the three favorites reported 1-2-3 in Sunday's Grade 1…

Down On Da Bayou blitzes her rivals in Thursday's UAE Oaks at Meydan, and now is headed for the Saudi Derby. Photo by Erika Rasmussen, courtesy of Dubai Racing Club Feb. 21 (UPI) Weekend horse racing features a dash of Kentucky Derby, Saudi Derby, Hong Kong Derby, Qatar Derby and even the Winter Derby with action from the Far East to the Middle…

Defending race champion Mishriff will once again take on a strong group of American shippers when he tops a field of 14 entered for Saturday's $20 million Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racetrack. Mishriff is well proven on dirt, but has done all his recent running on the turf. Trained by John and Thady Gosden, the 5-year-old son of Make Believe has…

From Florence, Kentucky to Hallandale Beach, Florida to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, a blockbuster day of racing is on tap Saturday, allowing fans and handicappers to tune in and show off their wagering acumen. The $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1) is the richest race of the day, featuring an international 14-horse field with four U.S.-based…

A TOP racehorse owner is said he is OK with losing £8MILLION - if it means no more doping in racing. Gary West says he will not object if his horse Maximum Security is stripped of his win in the 2020 Saudi Cup - the world's richest race. Maximum Security was trained by Jason Servis, the disgraced US trainer who last week pleaded guilty to doping…

The 2022 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Series comes to Gulfstream Park on Saturday, Jan. 29 (4:30-6 p.m. ET, NBC, Peacock). Both winners of last year's marquee events return to Florida in the hopes of defending their titles. Knicks Go leads the 2022 Pegasus World Cup (G1) field with 6-5 odds despite drawing the far inside post position. The likely…

California Spangle holds off Golden Sixty in Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Mile Photo courtesy of Hong Kong Jockey Club HONG KONG, Dec. 12 (UPI) -- A super day for Hong Kong highlighted weekend horse racing with action-starved fans emerging from pandemic lockdowns to cheer on some new heroes from the Sha Tin Racecourse grandstand. Two-year-old filly…

Frankie Dettori teams up with the Bob Baffert-trained Country Grammar in the Dubai World Cup. Life Is Good is the hot favourite in the betting for the valuable contest at Meydan "The best I've ever ridden" was Frankie Dettori's verdict on the great Dubai Millennium. His first winner in the 2000 Dubai World Cup broke new ground for Godolphin in…

Flip a coin when deciding which was more surprising Saturday at Del Mar - Japanese trainer Yoshito Yahagi winning two Breeders' Cup races or his 5-year-old mare, Marche Lorraine, scoring a shocking 49-1 upset in the $2 million Distaff. The Distaff, traditionally one of the most formful of the Breeders' Cup races, was hardly that on this day as…

Coming in off huge victories in the Pegasus World Cup (G1) and Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1), Life Is Good will look to conquer new worlds when he headlines a field of 11 older males set for Saturday's $12 million Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse. A son of Into Mischief, trained by Todd Pletcher, Life Is Good will not only be making his first…

Frankie Dettori believes favourite Life Is Good will be a "very tough nut to crack" in the Dubai World Cup. The top jockey has f our rides on the Meydan card, including one of market leader's opponents Country Grammer. Dettori has won the $12 million race on Dubai Millennium (2000), Moon Ballad (2003) and Electrocutionist (2006). "The favourite,…

Zandon, shown winning the Grade I Blue Grass Stakes, runs in Saturday's Grade I Cigar Mile at Aqueduct. Photo courtesy of Keeneland Dec. 2 (UPI) -- Triple Crown contenders from the past three seasons will battle it out in a field of seven for one of this weekend's top races, the Grade I Cigar Mile at Aqueduct, where 2023 Kentucky Derby hopefuls…

The 153rd Run for the Carnations is getting set to go as eight horses will load in the gates at 6:49 p.m. ET on Saturday for the 2021 Belmont Stakes. Essential Quality is the 2-1 favorite in the latest Belmont Stakes 2021 odds, but being the favorite hasn't always translated to success in recent races. From 2010-19 -- as last year's postponed race…

Jockey Joel Rosario will try to break his own Preakness Stakes curse when he hops aboard the favored Epicenter in the 2022 Preakness Stakes on Saturday at Pimlico Race Course. The 37-year-old Rosario, who last year won the Eclipse Award as the country's most outstanding jockey, is 0-for-7 in the Preakness Stakes. Rosario's mount, Epicenter, is the…

Instead, Lemaire and Cafe Pharoah stayed the course, exhibiting patience and fortitude. As the horses galloped and made the turn toward the final stretch, Cafe Pharoah sat in fourth place. But not for long. Urged on by Lemaire, the bay colt kept pushing ahead. Air Almas' lead dwindled as Cafe Pharoah inched closer toward the front. Making his move…

Horse of the Year honors could be on the line Saturday when the country's top dirt horses square off in North America's richest race, the 2020 Breeders' Cup Classic. Saturday's race features three of the top four horses in the National Thoroughbred Racing Association's Top Thoroughbred Poll: No. 1 Improbable, No. 2 Maximum Security and No. 4 Tom's…

The 2000-meter Dubai World Cup concluded the day's festivities at Meydan Racecourse, with American trainer Bob Baffert's Country Grammer, ridden by Italian Frankie Dettori, securing a 1¾-length victory over Hot Rod Charlie in 2 minutes, 4.97 seconds. Country Grammer returned to competition after a nine-month layoff following the Saudi Cup in…

Wet racetracks can create confusion for horse racing handicappers, and all week long it has appeared that Churchill Downs would be a sloppy mess for Saturday's 2020 Kentucky Derby. Instead, the 146th Run for the Roses will be contested under sunny skies and on a dry track. Does that mean overwhelming favorite Tiz the Law has a better chance at…

Life Is Good, shown winning the Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park in January, is favored in Saturday's Grade I Whitney at Saratoga. Photo courtesy of Katsumi Saito Aug. 5 (UPI) -- Life is Good and Olympiad square off in the heavyweight match that is Saturday's Whitney Stakes at Saratoga, just one race after an international Group I rematch on…

The list of 2022 Kentucky Derby contenders is filled with horses from the Bluegrass State, but several have roots elsewhere in the country. Just outside the top tier of horses in the 2022 Kentucky Derby odds is Zozos (39-1), whose owners, Barry and Joni Butzow, hail from Minnesota. Zozos will be their first Kentucky Derby entry after more than 30…

The 2022 edition of the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown will have an international feel to it after Jean-Claude Rouget's Prix du Jockey Club winner Vadeni was supplemented on Monday St Mark's Basilica ridden by Ryan Moore (left) winning the 2021 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown Vadeni is aiming to become the first French-trained winner of the Coral-Eclipse Stakes…

Unbeaten superstar Flightline is the main attraction on Saturday at the Breeders' Cup, while Doncaster hosts the November Handicap meeting, all live on Sky Sports Racing. It will be all eyes on Flightline as the Breeders' Cup reaches a crescendo with the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (9.40) at Keeneland. John Sadler's superstar is five from five…

Swiss Skydiver's wild cross-country tour continues on Friday when she leaves the starting gate in the 2020 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs. In seven starts this year, this Ken McPeek trainee has raced at seven different tracks: Tampa Bay Downs, New Orleans Fair Grounds, Gulfstream Park, Oaklawn Park, Santa Anita, Keeneland, and Saratoga. She has…

The final leg of an unforgettable Triple Crown is set for Saturday, as 11 three-year-old colts will take the starting gate for the 2020 Preakness Stakes. As was the case with the Belmont Stakes and Kentucky Derby, no fans will be in attendance at Pimlico Race Course due to COVID-19 concerns. While Belmont winner Tiz The Law is not in the 2020…

Eleven of the world's top horses, including the No. 1-ranked horse in the world, will battle in the 2022 Dubai World Cup on Saturday at Meydan Racecourse. The Dubai World Cup has been won by some of racing's greats, including Cigar, Silver Charm and Arrogate. The 2022 Dubai World Cup field includes Life Is Good, the No. 1-ranked horse in the world;…

For the first time since 1926, the 2020 Belmont Stakes was run at a shorter distance than its traditional mile-and-a-half length. COVID-19 not only led to the temporary shuttering of numerous tracks, but it also created disruptions in horses' training schedules and support staff's ability to work around each other. The decision was made to run the…