Rise and shine! It’s another beautiful day in sunny Del Mar, California. The race track will soon be packed with fans from all over the earth to watch the last day of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. Today, the final 9 races will take place where each contending Thoroughbred will stake their place in history.
Share This: American Pharoah at stud following his 2015 Grand Slam in the Breeders’ Cup
Good morning racing fans! Today is the day we have been waiting for. The finale of our 2017 champion racing season is upon us. For 2 days only, we will witness a lucky 13 signature races that will define many of the world’s best champion Thoroughbreds. Welcome to the Breeders’ Cup!
Share This: Zing Zang, competes in a maiden for Steve Asmussen at Keeneland.
Although it seems we have only just begun, Keeneland initiates its final week of the Fall meet today. The meet is brief but jam packed with quality racing. Thoroughbreds took to the track for live racing on October 7th and will continue to race there until the 28th. I will be present for the final two days of action. There have been several stand out horses, trainers, jockeys and owners involved in this October racing season. I met and had my picture made with one of my long time favorite jockeys, Big Money Mike Smith. A stand out trainer I have been following this Fall, at Keeneland, is Steve Asmussen.
Miss Temple City, winner of the 2016 Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland
Alas, Keeneland is open for live racing again. I have long awaited, since the end of April, for live Thoroughbred racing to return to my hometown. Friday, October 6, 2017 at 1:05 PM EDT marks the start of Keeneland’s October meet. Racing continues through the 28th. There are so many fantastic things taking place this meet, including two Win And You’re In Breeders’ Cup races the very first day and so many more to follow. It is hard to know where to begin. I’m pretty interested in the return of Miss Temple City to my hometrack, where she always finishes in the money!
The Scat Daddy fillies are really turning my head. On a mission to find this sire’s beautiful Lady Aurelia, I was wildly entertained by another of his gorgeous daughters, Daddys Lil Darling.
This week started with some sad news. Social media was on fire with reports that Helen “Penny” Chenery, owner of the great Secretariat had died Saturday, 9/16/17, following a stroke. There have been countless stories and posts on her passing. It is wonderful to have this opportunity to reminisce about all the great things Penny did for Thoroughbred racing. It is equally fascinating that the passing of Penny has created an increased focus on women in racing. I am really enjoying all of the focus pieces on unique “Queens” that are important to “The Sport of Kings”. I want to share a bit on the legacy of Lucy Gay Bassett.
Share This: Free Drop Billy at Keeneland’s September Yearling Sale, 2016.
I won’t be home for the holiday as I will be laboring on Labor Day. Despite that, there is hope for the holiday, the Hopeful Stakes to be exact. As Saratoga winds down, the nation’s 2 year-old Thoroughbreds are racing forward.
Saratoga Springs is serving up a sweet stakes on Saturday! The 137th running of the Alabama Stakes posts at 5:40 P.M. EDT tonight and with a competitive field of 9 stakes winners there will be some surprises.
Last Sunday, August 6th, Mohaymen was eased in the Alydar Stakes. The dirt race of 1 and 1/8 miles (9 furlongs) was not the comeback we had hoped for and thus his connections chose to send him home for some rest and relaxation. Home for Mohaymen is Shadwell Farm.
Miss Temple City, winner of the 2016 Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland
