Monthly Archives: June 2009

A Southland racing official who didn’t want to be identified because he’s not authorized to speak on the subject, told me today he wished Frank Stronach, chairman of Santa Anita’s parent company Magna Entertainment Corp., had stood up to Richard … Continue reading →

Jess Jackson, co-owner of Rachel Alexandra, has such disdain for synthetic surfaces that he won’t even call them by their name. On a conference call Wednesday with national turf writers, Jackson continually referred to artificial tracks as “plastic.” He was … Continue reading →

Looks like the voters in the NTRA’s weekly poll of the nation’s top thoroughbreds had a change of heart this week and put Rachel Alexandra back in the top spot where she deserves to be. The two switched spots, with … Continue reading →

The sensational Rachel Alexandra, who counts a record 20 1/4-length victory in the Kentucky Oaks and a win over the boys in the Preakness Stakes among her impressive accomplishments in 2009, worked four furlongs in 49.80 seconds at Churchill Downs … Continue reading →

Part of the price you must pay when you own a brilliant mare that’s unbeaten in 10 career races is that she has to carry a lot of weight as she continues to mow down the opposition. Such is the … Continue reading →

What a great race for the jockey title at Hollywood Park! Rafael Bejarano, trying for an unprecedented seventh consecutive SoCal riding crown, led Joel Rosario 53-52 heading into today’s 10-race card. So far through the first seven races, Bejarano and … Continue reading →

There’s a $522,957 pick six carryover at Hollywood Park tonight, and I think I’ll take a stab at it despite the fact the eighth race is one of the worst of the meeting. I mean, it’s got to be one … Continue reading →

When the NTRA released its latest top 10 rankings this week, Zenyatta had supplanted Einstein as the No. 1 horse in America. Incredible. Not that Einstein slipped to fourth, but because Zenyatta has raced only once in 2009 and as … Continue reading →

Steve Schuelein of the Hollywood Park publicity office reported today that the brilliant filly Life Is Sweet might race against the boys in the $700,000 Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup on July 11 rather than tackling the unbeaten Zenyatta again … Continue reading →

Churchill Downs will be the latest American race track to take the plunge into night racing when the track holds its first card ever under the lights. Should be interesting to see how they fare. As we all know, they … Continue reading →