“Triumph and tragedy” was how the commentators described this Derby day. Big Brown showed us, all right. With all the speed in the field, and his far-outside starting position, a bad start would have upped the ante for him. As it was, he had a perfect trip and won going away. After the gallop-out, he had enough [...]
Posts under ‘Horse Racing’
Where is Secretariat now that we need him?
At Churchill Downs yesterday, Derby fever was already starting to peak as the Oaks was run before a capacity crowd of 100,000, in pouring rain. As the ladies gave sneak previews of their fabulous hats under umbrellas, ten fillies took on the sloppy track, with Proud Spell romping home in front. The media are working [...]
See you at the races
For people who like any kind of racing the way I do, this is an exciting time of year, with the Triple Crown and the NASCAR Cup Chase both shaping up. Though motorsports track attendance is falling off because of the rising cost of getting to races, the grandstands were packed at Talladega last Sunday. [...]
Is War Emblem gay?
War Emblem won the 2002 Kentucky Derby and is now living the equine life of luxury on a Japanese stud farm. The New York Times reports, though, that the stud is a dud when it comes to hooking up with mares. War Emblem is in therapy. He is isolated from the other studs at Shadai [...]
Big Brown goes bigger
No, guys, Big Brown is not a well-endowed UPS guy. He’s a current favorite among colts pointing at the Kentucky Derby, which is just a month away. But you might take your attention off KOTH for just a minute and catch a look at this spectacular hunk of horseflesh, because the buzz about him is enormous. [...]
Weekend YouTube fun
Some videos for your weekend amusement: → An Australian streaker down the stretch of the horse race. → Behind the scenes at Reggie Bush’s GQ photoshoot. → King of the Hardwood contestant Linus Thornblad with a great high jump. → Hot not to work out your abs – having your friend pound on them with [...]
The Great American (horse) Race
I had fun watching the Daytona 500 on Sunday. Lots of horse races prepares you a little for auto-racing. The strategies are fairly similar. After the horses leave the gate, the drivers — er, jockeys — save their mounts for the final craziness as they’re peeling out of the final turn. So the last 10 [...]
Racin’ in the Rain
Some of the new year’s first big horse-racing action hit two tracks today with the Sunshine Millions series. Sponsors of this mini-Breeders Cup series must have had some pull with the California weather man, because our big Pacific storm cleared just enough today for the Santa Anita half of the races to be held. The Sunshine Millions is designed as an “east coast/west [...]
Not a Sure Bet
Fellow horse-racing enthusiast Craig Brownstein of D.C. emails to tell me of his disgust over the latest anti-gambling wrinkle. Just as he was getting ready to bet on the Breeders Cup, he was notified that horse-betting services had decided to cancel all accounts of bettors living in the District of Columbia. The firms have noted the upsurge of anti-gambling legislation [...]
A Caterer’s Story
At Monmouth Park today, as rain fell straight down, the 2007 Breeders Cup got off to a sentimental start with one of those rags-to-riches stories so loved by this mostly-riches sport. In the opener, a Canadian-bred 6-year-old longshot, Maryfield, made a churning late charge through the mud, past all the famous favorites, to win the $1.1 million Filly & Mare Sprint. One of [...]
Day at the Races
Saturday was races all day on TV. First, Saratoga and some grade 1 stakes. It was a steaming hot day in New York State. In the 138th running of the Travers, my favorite colt, Street Sense, did his usual killer charge. Maybe the heat got to him — over the last furlong, he looked a [...]