Monthly Archives: November 2008

A good-news announcement this evening from Hollywood Park, which has lost a lot of betting because out-of-state fans haven’t been able to bet on-line and by phone on the Inglewood track this season: Hollywood Park announced that as a result … Continue reading →

Break out the cash, there’s a huge pick-six carryover at Hollywood Park tonight. The pick six runs on races three through eight, with first post for the third scheduled for approximately 8 p.m. Here’s who I like: 3rd — Ringmaster. … Continue reading →

Here in Southern California, harness racing is 400 miles away (at Cal Expo in Sacramento) and big-time harness racing is even more distant, so it’s easy to forget about that branch of the sport. Here’s some unintended drama surrounding the … Continue reading →

Our racetracks’ schedules for next year have been set by the California Horse Racing Board. The Southern California slate: Santa Anita — Dec. 26 (2008)-April 19 Hollywood Park — April 22-July 19 Del Mar — July 22-Sept. 9 Fairplex Park … Continue reading →

One of the niceties of the Southern California racing season is the annual presentation of the George Woolf Award to a jockey who has impressed his peers on and off the track. Many of the past winners show up at … Continue reading →

I don’t like a lot on today’s card at Hollywood Park, but the first and last races did catch my eye. I think Sunset Tijuana (8-5 morning line) and Stormy Racer (4-1) are live in the opener and I’d play … Continue reading →

This may come as a shock to those who watched Raven’s Pass and Henrythenavigator run 1-2 in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, but there was a better-regarded European horse this year. LONDON (AP) — Zarkava, the unbeaten filly who defeated the … Continue reading →

In a statement distributed to the media late Saturday night, Jess Jackson, majority owner of reigning Horse of the Year Curlin, announced that the 4-year-old colt will be retired to stud in 2009 but could race one more time if … Continue reading →

Let’s update our ratings for the local jockeys after three weeks at Hollywood Park. As I explained recently, I give a rider a point for each win, award a bonus point for each long-shot win (10-1 or higher) and each … Continue reading →

Great to see the Daily Racing Form’s Marty McGee’s glowing account of Michael Wrona’s audition for the Churchill Downs announcer job. I think Wrona, formerly of Hollywood Park, is the best in the business. McGee begins: LOUISVILLE, Ky. — No … Continue reading →