Author Archives: Art Wilson

It’s believed Acclamation, a 5-year-old son of Unusual Heat, became the first horse in America this year to win three Grade I stakes after he went gate to wire under Patrick Valenzuela to take the $1 million Pacific Classic at … Continue reading →

Thoroughbred Owners of California president Lou Raffetto fired back at the newly formed California Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association on Saturday afternoon after the CTHA announced earlier in the day it had submitted more than 1,100 signatures to the California Horse Racing … Continue reading →

Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said Saturday morning at Del Mar that his champion 4-year-old filly Blind Luck will stay home and possibily run in the $1 million Pacific Classic on Aug. 28. She could also wait and race next in the … Continue reading →

The Thoroughbred Owners of California can’t say they weren’t warned. The California Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, formed in late March, announced Saturday morning it has submitted more than 1,100 signatures to the California Horse Racing Board calling for an election to … Continue reading →

Consider this: * There was $390,684 in the pick five pool Sunday at Del Mar. This is a bet that carries a low 14 percent takeout. It’s also a bet that, according to one representative of the Thoroughbred Owners of … Continue reading →

There is absolutely no doubt that Creative Cause, 1 3/4-length winner of Sunday’s $150,000 Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar, is a very nice colt. He’s been much the best in both of his starts and, seeing as though he’s … Continue reading →

It was a good first two weeks during the Del Mar meet. The seaside oval was up 4.8 percent in average daily on-track attendance and all-sources handle was down only 0.3 percent. Nothing to dance about, but solid numbers considering … Continue reading →

There are some in the industry who think the Horseplayers Association of North America is a group of crying bettors who should just shut up, wager and be happy with the status quo. Apparently, track management is not among them. … Continue reading →

Two quick points — (1) I’m glad there’s a quality race horse out there that was named after Bobby Frankel, one of the three or four greatest trainers I’ve ever seen; (2) the 3-year-old colt Frankel is an outstanding horse. … Continue reading →

Here are a few of the highlights concerning the opening week of Del Mar’s 72nd season: * Victor Espinoza’s spill in Sunday’s ninth race could have been a lot worse than it turned out. Espinoza was down for quite a … Continue reading →