Ken McPeek

When longtime friends and business partners Greg Back and Al LaRose sold their Special Logistics trucking company three years ago, they decided to give racehorse ownership a try. The fledgling racing stable made it to the winner's circle Sunday when longshot Back in Charge (Will Take Charge) scored a dramatic late-running debut victory at Gulfstream Park. "It was very exciting for us," Back, who watched the race from his Texas home said. "We knew she had it in her, but first time out, you just never know." LaRose was at...

Sixteen prominent Thoroughbred trainers have expressed their support for the Horseracing Integrity Act via an open letter "to the Thoroughbred Community" sent out Friday. The trainers who signed on are: Tom Albertrani, Christophe Clement, Ben Colebrook, Gary Contessa, Arnaud Delacour, Janet Elliott, Mark Hennig, Kiaran McLaughlin, Shug McGaughey, Ken McPeek, Tom Morley, Graham Motion, Todd Pletcher, John Sadler, George Weaver and Nick Zito. The letter reads: "Horse racing is at a pivotal moment in its long history in the United States. The past six months presented a string of events...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY - The countdown to next year's inaugural Saudi Cup officially began Wednesday evening with a gala organized by the race's officials in the walking ring at the Fasig-Tipton sales grounds in Saratoga. The race, scheduled to be run next Feb. 29 at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh, will be run over 1800 meters of the dirt track and will be worth $20 million--making it the world's richest race. The field will have a maximum of 14 runners, with $10 million going to the winner. Hosted by television...

A Curlin colt out of Chilean champion & MG1SW Wapi (Chi) (Scat Daddy) brought $1.5 million from Aquis Farm Aus and Let's Go Stable to lead the way Tuesday evening at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling Sale. He was bred in Kentucky by Don Alberto Corporation and Three Chimneys Farm. Wapi brought $1.05 million from Don Alberto Corp. & Three Chimneys carrying this colt in utero at the 2017 KEENOV Sale. Hip 153 was consigned by Denali Stud, Agent V. Wapi had a Gun Runner colt earlier this year. It's been...

When Joe Murphy purchased the 350-acre Stoneleigh Farm 13 years ago, the Lexington businessman admitted the land was mostly for "relaxation," but the operation hit the big time as the breeder of multiple Grade I winner Exaggerator (Curlin) and again when selling that star's half-sister by Medaglia d'Oro for $1.3 million at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale last August. Murphy returns to Saratoga next week with a yearling full-sister to Exaggerator who sells as hip 206 through the Warrendale Sales consignment during Tuesday's second session of the auction. Murphy, who owns...