In an exhibition of pure sprinting prowess, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum's Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) brought all his power to bear on his rivals on Friday to register back-to-back successes in Goodwood's G2 King George Qatar S. Despite the contrasting ground conditions to the easy turf he encountered 12 months ago and the obvious questions posed by defeat in the June 19 G1 King's Stand S. at Royal Ascot, the bay attracted heavy support as the 8-11 favourite and was in front before he had raced two...
The 17th edition of the Claiming Crown, held Saturday at Gulfstream Park, generated total handle of $10,118,000--up 0.57% from 2014 despite rainy conditions which caused four races to be taken off the turf. Gulfstream was hosting the event for the fourth year. "We're extremely pleased with the success of Saturday's Claiming Crown," said P.J. Campo, General Manager of Gulfstream Park and Vice President of Racing for The Stronach Group. "We had big fields and tremendous participation from horsemen throughout North America. We're confident the numbers would have been even more...
Stepping into the shedrow of Laurel Park's Barn 22 late in the morning on a dark day, all is relatively quiet. Outside of the office, a groom rakes up loose pieces of straw as the horse residing in the first stall peers out inquisitively, all the while his neighbor to the left lies curled up in freshly tossed bedding. Further down, a wheelbarrow sits parked outside of the fifth stall, which is where you'll find trainer Henry Walters as he finishes mucking out. After setting aside the pitchfork and giving...
New Jersey racing has not had it easy, and has not had it easy for a long time. Monmouth was in such dire straits that, after the end of the 2025 meet, there was so little money in its coffers that the track wasn't able to pay horsemen money that was owed to them for months. That problem arose despite the fact Monmouth was receiving an annual $10-million subsidy from the state to supplement purses. Worried that the subsidy, never a sure thing, might go away under the newly elected...
It was a bit of an unusual scene on the Monmouth Park backside just before 7:00 a.m. as a crowd began to form outside of trainer Kelly Breen’s Barn 12. Onlookers leaned around each other and ducked under rails to try and get a glimpse of the great American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) being saddled for his morning gallop. At 7:20 a.m., with 10 minutes to go until the Triple Crown winner was expected to enter the track, the rail and trackside viewing stands were already lined with media and...
Zayat Stables’s American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) drew post four in what will be his first start since his historic sweep of the Triple Crown in Sunday’s GI Willliam Hill Haskell Invtiational S., which is a "Win and You’re In" event for the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland Oct. 31. Monmouth Park’s oddsmaker Brad Thomas has installed the champion as the 1-5 morning-line favorite in this field of eight. "He’s holding his form and that’s the whole key after all he’s been through," said Hall of Famer Bob Baffert,...
Just minutes before Triple Crown hero American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) arrived at Monmouth Park, the Oceanport, N.J. oval announced a $750,000 purse increase to Sunday’s GI William Hill Haskell Invitational S., which was previously worth $1 million. "The Haskell has been called the fourth jewel of the Triple Crown," said Bob Kulina, president of Darby Development LLC, operators of Monmouth Park Racetrack. "With the Derby purse at $2 million and the Preakness and Belmont going to $1.5 million, it’s only fitting that we join in that mix for our...