Horse Racing
Saratoga Race Course, often referred to as the "Graveyard of Favorites," has always held a special place in the hearts of racing enthusiasts. This historic venue, which has witnessed countless moments of glory and heartbreak, added another illustrious chapter to its storied legacy with the hosting of the 2024 GI Belmont S. As someone who has been attending races at Saratoga since 1962 and has had the privilege of witnessing numerous Triple Crown events, Breeders' Cup races, and other remarkable moments in horse racing history, I can unequivocally say that...
Beginning Saturday, July 20, FOX Sports and the New York Racing Association, Inc., will highlight six consecutive weeks of racing upstate with FOX Saratoga Saturday, the network said in a Wednesday release. The broadcast schedule concludes with the 155th GI Travers S. on Saturday, Aug. 24. 2024 Fox Saratoga Saturday Schedule: (All Times ET) July 20: GI CCA Oaks, 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. July 27: GII Jim Dandy S., 3:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. Aug. 3: GI Whitney S., 3:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. Aug. 10: GI Fourstardave H., 3:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. Aug. 17:...
The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association will hold the 39th annual TOBA National Awards Dinner on Saturday, Sept. 7 at Fasig-Tipton in Lexington, Ky, the organization said in a release Wednesday. The National Awards Dinner honors owners and breeders from 21 states and Canada. Also recognized are the National Owner of the Year, National Breeder of the Year and a number of other honors will be handed out. "We are thrilled to showcase the TOBA National Awards Dinner at Fasig-Tipton again this year," said Dan Metzger, president of TOBA. "Thoroughbred...
Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country. Among this week's rulings, trainer Adolfo Macias has been suspended 18-months and fined $12,500 for the possession of levothyroxine, a banned substance under HISA. Levothyroxine is a synthetic thyroid hormone used to treat ailments like hypothyroidism. Due to its metabolic properties, levothyroxine is believed to aid recovery in performance horses and help weight loss. There is also a possible link between levothyroxine and equine sudden cardiac death. There is currently no detailed...
On the heels of a clean Triple Crown season, the first quarter of 2024 (Jan. 1-Mar. 31) witnessed an approximate 38% decrease in racing-related fatalities year-over-year, according to a new Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) metrics report, which the organization released on Wednesday. The reduction by over a third took place at racetracks operating under HISA's rules. During this year's first quarter, tracks reported 0.84 racing-related equine fatalities per 1,000 starts, compared to 1.35 racing-related equine fatalities per 1,000 starts in the first quarter of 2023. Excluding Rillito Park...
'Woodbine: Free Rein', a documentary series produced about womens' experiences in horse racing, has taken top honors at the Hashtag Sports Awards in New York, according to a release from the Woodbine communications office. Woodbine's content team, including producers Alanna Nolan and Nathan Riddell and director Jake Thompson, were recognized in the 'Best Women's Sports Content' category for episode four of 'Free Rein', entitled, The World-Class Women of Woodbine. The episode focused on the unique nature of horse racing, where women jockeys compete head-to-head with their male counterparts as well...
Highlighted by a 17-1 upset victory by Dornoch (Good Magic) in the $2-million GI Belmont S., the four-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival drew better than 120,000 racing fans to Saratoga for the unprecedented event, approximately double the attendance for the two most recent runnings at Belmont Park. Thursday's opening day of the Festival featured a pair of $150,000 stakes for the 2-year-old males and females and the first of the weekend's 14 graded stakes, the GII Belmont Gold Cup. In front of an announced crowd of 22,027, renowned Australian commentator...
Craig Bandoroff, proprietor of Denali Stud, D J Stables' Jon Green, L&N Racing racing manager and part-owner Michael Levinson and trainer Todd Pletcher have been added to the HISA Horsemen's Advisory Group, the organization said Monday. The new members replace the outgoing Mark Casse, Tom Drury, Jr., Linda Gaudet, Fred Hertrich III, David Ingordo and Tom Robbins. The Horsemen's Advisory Group is a group of racing industry participants formed in 2022 to provide formal feedback to HISA's executive team and Standing Committees. "I want to thank all of the members...
Over the next fortnight, board members of the Organization of Racing Investigators (ORI) will participate in a new exchange program, which features an intensive tour of hallowed racing sites in Ireland and England. "The new program is a continued effort by the ORI to exchange tradecraft and weigh how integrity is protected in different countries across the world," said ORI's immediate past chairman Jason Klouser. The small group, which includes Klouser, Tyler Durand, J.C. Jaramillo, Juan Estrada and David Duncan, will make stops at The Curragh, Leopardstown and Coolmore. Fellow...
With a spring in his step down the lane, it was 'TDN Rising Star' Parenting (Justify) who won his first black-type in the Affirmed S. at Santa Anita Park on Sunday. The colt made his debut a success when he won by 2 3/4 lengths at 'The Great Race Place' Apr. 26. That effort earned him 'TDN Rising Star' honors. Trying two turns and against much tougher company here, Parenting was backed at 80 cents on the dollar. The Bob Baffert trainee got down to business heading into the first...
Society Man capped a big weekend for trainer Danny Gargan and Hill 'n' Dale stallion Good Magic with a powerful victory in the GIII Matt Winn S. at Churchill Downs Sunday. Like his GI Belmont S.-winning stablemate Dornoch (Good Magic), Society Man was making his first start since the May 4 GI Kentucky Derby, where he was 16th. The chestnut gelding was unhurried and settled near the back of the pack while racing along the rail and avoiding traffic on the first turn. Favored Who Dey rushed between foes to...
Edited Press Release Saturday's blockbuster Belmont Stakes Day card, highlighted by Dornoch's victory in the 156th running of the GI $2-million Belmont S. presented by NYRA Bets, generated all-sources handle of $125,748,941, a New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) record for a non-Triple Crown year. The 2024 all-sources handle figure is an increase of more than 6.3% over the previous non-Triple Crown record of $118,283,455, which was set in 2023. On-track handle for the 14-race Belmont Stakes Day card, which included six Grade 1 races among nine total stakes, was...