{Friday, July 31, 2009}
SARATOGA HANDICAPPING INSIGHTS Saratoga Race Course opened for the 141st time on Wednesday, and like other years Mother Nature paid her usual visit. The day started out hot and muggy and the

{Thursday, July 30, 2009}   Stuffing Moolah through the Mutuels Veteran racegoers sensed a lack of excitement in the air as Saratoga opened its doors for the start of its 141st season. It may have been the

{Wednesday, July 29, 2009} SARATOGA SET FOR SPECTACULAR SIX-WEEK SUMMER STAND
By Noel Michaels
There is no finer race meet than Saratoga, where the best horses, trainers, and jockeys in the country and, in fact, the

{Tuesday, July 28, 2009} They're Off: Weather Or Not Last summer, the 15th day of the Saratoga Race Course meeting summed up the opening three weeks. Heavy storms burst onto the scene and the rains washed away parts of the backstretch

{Monday, July 27, 2009} Easily Lies This Crown Saratoga Race Course will throw open its gates for the 141st time starting Wednesday, through Labor Day, September 7. The exception from my Spa duties will come Sunday, August 2, a.k.a.

{Sunday, July 26, 2009} Saratoga set for 141st racing season Saratoga Race Course's 36-day meet will get off to a strong start on Wednesday with a card highlighted by full fields on both dirt and turf, two-year-old races, and two stakes,

{Thursday, July 23, 2009} WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN SARATOGA TURF SPRINTS By Noel Michaels Turf sprints have become an increasingly big part of the Saratoga landscape over the past few years. Even if you don't like them, now is about the time

{Wednesday, July 22, 2009} Tracks and Horsemen Learning Less Is More SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY, July 21, 2009--As if they learned from attendance and handle figures released by racing officials at the recently concluded Hollywood Park meeting,

{Tuesday, July 21, 2009} A PRIMER ON DEL MAR TURF SPRINTS
By Noel Michaels Turf sprints are nothing new at Del Mar, but they have become an increasingly big part of the Del Mar condition book over the last couple

{Monday, July 20, 2009} Summer Bird Works Out At Monmouth Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Summer Bird, expected to take on Preakness (gr. I) champion Rachel Alexandra in the Aug. 2 Haskell Invitational (gr. I), worked 1:13 4/5 for six

{Sunday, July 19, 2009} Breeders’ Cup Making Some Progress SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY, July 16, 2009--It’s an odd time of year but the Breeders’ Cup is much in the news these days. Interesting, too, how after a quarter-century “racing’s greatest

{Friday, July 17, 2009} MONMOUTH AIMS FOR MINE THAT BIRD Monmouth Park got Rachel Alexandra, now it wants to get Mine That Bird, too. The New Jersey oval will try to get the three Triple Crown race winners all in the starting gate

{Thursday, July 16, 2009} BUILD SARATOGA BANKROLL BY FINISHING STRONG AT BELMONT
By Noel Michaels
The opening of the much-anticipated Saratoga meet is only two weeks away, but before we divert our attention upstate

{Tuesday, July 14, 2009} Rachel Alexandra works bullet for next start Preakness S. (G1) winner RACHEL ALEXANDRA (Medaglia d'Oro) was back on the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga Monday morning for a more serious workout. Trainer

{Monday, July 13, 2009} Summer Bird continues Haskell preparations Summer Bird, last seen winning the Belmont, will make his return in the Haskell (Debra Kral/Horsephotos.com) Belmont S. (G1) hero SUMMER BIRD (Birdstone) took to

{Sunday, July 12, 2009} Just as Well rallies for Arlington H. victory JUST AS WELL (A.P. Indy) took up the last spot during the early running of Saturday's $200,000 Arlington H. (G3) under E.T. Baird, but was in front when it really mattered

{Friday, July 10, 2009} CALDER PREVIEW Indian Blessing, Benny the Bull stars of Summit of Speed When Calder Race Course introduced the Summit of Speed program in 2000, a major objective was to bring back, in the stifling

{Thursday, July 09, 2009} Gio Ponti faces difficult task in Man o' War stretch out After recording excellent wins in the 1 1/4-mile Manhattan S. (G1) and Frank E. Kilroe Mile H. (G1), GIO PONTI (Tale of the Cat) will stretch out to

{Tuesday, July 07, 2009} Summer Bird, Papa Clem breeze at Monmouth At Monmouth on Monday, Belmont S. (G1) hero SUMMER BIRD (Birdstone) and Arkansas Derby (G2) victor PAPA CLEM (Smart Strike) turned in their first breezes over the

{Monday, July 06, 2009} Closeout shows devastating closing kick in Locust Grove CLOSEOUT (Repriced) was a ring-rusty fifth in the June 6 Mint Julep H. (G3) last time out, but the Glen Hill Farm homebred was back to her best in Sunday's

{Sunday, July 05, 2009} FOURTH OF JULY BELMONT RECAP CAT MOVE SPRINGS TO PRIORESS VICTORY Undefeated Cat Moves became a grade I winner in her stakes debut, outfighting Light Green to capture the $300,000 Prioress Stakes

{Saturday, July 04, 2009} GRADED STAKES FIREWORKS AT BELMONT In one of those serendipitous coincidences, the Fourth of July celebration falls on Saturday this year. Now racing fans can salute America's independence, power up the grill, and

{Friday, July 03, 2009} Presious Passion a tough U.N. king OCEANPORT, N.J. - Presious Passion defends his title Saturday in the $750,000 United Nations Stakes at Monmouth Park, and he won't surrender the crown willingly. "As

{Wednesday, July 01, 2009} Rachel vs. Zenyatta; Dishing Breeders' Cup Dirt; and the Sad State of NY Stewards
By Noel Michaels One of the most compelling story lines to hit horseracing in several years is unfolding this summer as