This Saturday, in the 25 minutes it takes to put on two races from paddock to finish line, Charles Cella will get the answer hes been looking for. Make that less of an answer and more of a reassurance; a guarantee that, provided these races go off without a hitch, his carefully orchestrated plan to [...]
The Kentucky Derby is seven weeks away, but horseplayers will get a sneak peek at three of its highest-profile candidates when Lookin At Lucky, the champion 2-year-old of 2009, and Grade 1 winners Dublin and Nobles Promise meet Saturday in the Grade 2 Rebel at Oaklawn Park. The trio makes for perhaps the strongest Derby [...]
Sam Thomas was airlifted to hospital yesterday after a horrifying schooling fall at the Somerset yard of Paul Nicholls, the champion trainer. The jockey, cursed by drama and dismay since his Gold Cup victory two years ago, suffered a cracked vertebra and will miss the Cheltenham Festival. This latest crushing setback for Thomas came after [...]
Henry de Bromhead tried to flee his calling with no success. Office walls are prison cells to the man who might have qualified as an accountant. And when he sought the happy medium of Tattersalls, the Newmarket auctioneers, he lasted only three months. There was nothing for it. De Bromhead returned to Coolmore Stud, where [...]
Davy Russells profile has changed beyond recognition in the past two years. He is outwardly still the same: courteous, engaging, and as honest about his shortcomings as when he returned to Ireland after a chastening stint with Ferdy Murphy in 2004. The difference is in his status. The wide-eyed novice from Co Cork has finally [...]
This could be the penultimate year of the traditional Tuesday start to Cheltenham. The idea of a Saturday climax to the Festival, previously deadbatted by the organisers, was given fresh momentum yesterday when Edward Gillespie, the managing director, indicated it was very possible in 2012. Gillespie ascribes the development to Racing For Change. Saturday is [...]
A six-day delay of the $250,000 Southwest Stakes caused trainer Jim Barnes to look for a new jockey, and some new clothes, before the rescheduled race on Saturday. None of those changes affected Conveyance one bit. Conveyance surged out to an early lead and never looked back to win at Oaklawn Park on Saturday. “It [...]
Sidneys Candy soared back into the Kentucky Derby picture Monday night with a victory over Tiny Woods and Classical Slew in Santa Anitas 69th running of the seven-furlong $150,000 San Vicente Stakes for 3-year-olds. Ridden by Joe Talamo, Sidneys Candy matched strides early with trainer Bob Bafferts Tiny Woods before leaving his rival behind 4 [...]
Oaklawn Park postponed the $250,000 Southwest Stakes because of freezing conditions Monday, putting off the Kentucky Derby prep race until this weekend. Track announcer Terry Wallace said the mile race for 3-year-olds will be held Saturday. It will be redrawn on Thursday and entrants on the card Monday could opt out. He said there could [...]
Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra is scheduled to make her first start of the year on March 13 at the Fair Grounds in a new race called the New Orleans Ladies. The 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares will have a $200,000 purse, and will be used as a prep for Rachel Alexandras [...]