When the gate opened for Wednesday's second race, it began with a six-furlong race for California-bred maiden fillies and mares. This is a group that, on conventional dirt, might have run in the 1:10 to 1:11 range. But when the clock finally stopped after the race, the board read 1:13.95. It's a new era all right, for horses and handicappers.
The fractions for the race were 22.68 seconds for the opening quarter, 47.09 for a half-mile, and 1:00.29 for five furlongs. It took 26.86 seconds to complete the final quarter-mile. Special Smoke ($6.60), who had raced once previously, was favored. She was ridden by Jon Court and is trained by Ray Bell.
Del Mar's opener is one of the highlights of the Southern California racing calendar, and is one of the premier social events for those who live in and around San Diego. Befitting the day's importance, a slew of popular local athletes were scheduled to be in attendance, including Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson, last year's most valuable player in the National Football League.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Triple Crown - Belmont Stakes
The Belmont Stakes had three straight Triple Crown bids starting in 2002. Each of those races attracted more than 100,000 fans, including the Belmont Park record of 120,139 pulling for Smarty Jones in 2004. Last year’s Belmont Stakes race, with no Triple Crown on the line, drew only 61,168.
Curlin won the Preakness Stakes by beating the Kentucky Derby winner. To win the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, Curlin will have to beat the Kentucky Oaks winner, and five other challengers. Derby winner Street Sense won't be around for the 1 1/2-mile Belmont. Will this affect the crowd numbers this year?
Curlin won the Preakness Stakes by beating the Kentucky Derby winner. To win the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, Curlin will have to beat the Kentucky Oaks winner, and five other challengers. Derby winner Street Sense won't be around for the 1 1/2-mile Belmont. Will this affect the crowd numbers this year?
Friday, June 1, 2007
Dettori for the Derby?
Britain's bookmakers are in a £40million sweat as Frankie Dettori goes in search of his first Vodafone Derby winner on red-hot favourite Authorized at Epsom on Saturday.
The ever-popular Italian has won every other Classic on the calendar more than twice, but 14 previous rides in the biggest one of them all have been to no avail.
The legendary Sir Gordon Richards had to wait until his 28th ride in the race before he finally broke his Derby duck at the age of 49.
Dettori has said on many occasions he will have his feet up as he approaches his 50th birthday and this is seen by many as the best chance he will ever have.
But with the 36-year-old having such a huge following - due in no small part to him riding all seven winners on an unforgettable day at Ascot in 1996 - the bookmakers are bracing themselves for an almighty gamble.
"Frankie fever has got us in a right sweat. It's a one-horse race as far as the punters are concerned. All the money is for Frankie's horse Authorized," said Damian Walker of totesport.
"The weight of money we've seen for Authorized will ensure he starts one of the shortest-priced Derby favourites for years.
"But the last three odds-on favourites in the Derby have all been beaten and you have to go back 1981 when 10-11 favourite Shergar won, so we are not without hope.
"It's now or never for Frankie. He's never really had the perfect Derby ride, but this time he's on the best horse, the ground will be perfect and Authorized's trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam knows what it takes as he won the race in 1992 with Dr Devious.
"If Frankie doesn't do it this year then he knows he probably never will."
Dettori had a slight scare ahead of the race after he was unshipped at Goodwood last week and injured his knee.
However, he has been having intensive physiotherapy all week, and despite giving up his rides on Wednesday, he is confident he will do himself justice.
"It's improving every day. I've had a good physio team working on me morning and night and it's holding up quite well," said Dettori.
"But three days ago I had my son in my arms going up the stairs when I tripped and because I didn't want to let him go I pulled my knee a little bit. I'm OK now.
"I can't wait for the race now. He goes on soft, we didn't want very heavy ground. Good to soft is good enough. Now it's a matter of going there and doing it," Dettori told BBC Sport.
Heading the opposition to Authorized is a team of eight from Aidan O'Brien's powerful Ballydoyle stable in Ireland.
Due to the size of his squad, O'Brien has called upon the services of a few relatively unknown jockeys, one being Wayne Lordan, who partners Chester Vase winner Soldier Of Fortune.
"He was beaten by Passage Of Time in France but he has been stepping up since then. I'm sure he'll run a good race," said Lordan.
"I haven't sat on the horse before but I've watched him plenty of times. He looks straightforward.
The ever-popular Italian has won every other Classic on the calendar more than twice, but 14 previous rides in the biggest one of them all have been to no avail.
The legendary Sir Gordon Richards had to wait until his 28th ride in the race before he finally broke his Derby duck at the age of 49.
Dettori has said on many occasions he will have his feet up as he approaches his 50th birthday and this is seen by many as the best chance he will ever have.
But with the 36-year-old having such a huge following - due in no small part to him riding all seven winners on an unforgettable day at Ascot in 1996 - the bookmakers are bracing themselves for an almighty gamble.
"Frankie fever has got us in a right sweat. It's a one-horse race as far as the punters are concerned. All the money is for Frankie's horse Authorized," said Damian Walker of totesport.
"The weight of money we've seen for Authorized will ensure he starts one of the shortest-priced Derby favourites for years.
"But the last three odds-on favourites in the Derby have all been beaten and you have to go back 1981 when 10-11 favourite Shergar won, so we are not without hope.
"It's now or never for Frankie. He's never really had the perfect Derby ride, but this time he's on the best horse, the ground will be perfect and Authorized's trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam knows what it takes as he won the race in 1992 with Dr Devious.
"If Frankie doesn't do it this year then he knows he probably never will."
Dettori had a slight scare ahead of the race after he was unshipped at Goodwood last week and injured his knee.
However, he has been having intensive physiotherapy all week, and despite giving up his rides on Wednesday, he is confident he will do himself justice.
"It's improving every day. I've had a good physio team working on me morning and night and it's holding up quite well," said Dettori.
"But three days ago I had my son in my arms going up the stairs when I tripped and because I didn't want to let him go I pulled my knee a little bit. I'm OK now.
"I can't wait for the race now. He goes on soft, we didn't want very heavy ground. Good to soft is good enough. Now it's a matter of going there and doing it," Dettori told BBC Sport.
Heading the opposition to Authorized is a team of eight from Aidan O'Brien's powerful Ballydoyle stable in Ireland.
Due to the size of his squad, O'Brien has called upon the services of a few relatively unknown jockeys, one being Wayne Lordan, who partners Chester Vase winner Soldier Of Fortune.
"He was beaten by Passage Of Time in France but he has been stepping up since then. I'm sure he'll run a good race," said Lordan.
"I haven't sat on the horse before but I've watched him plenty of times. He looks straightforward.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Will Street Sense Win Preakness
Larry Jones, trademark Stetson in place, led the best horse he has trained off a van and into the stakes barn at Pimlico Race Course yesterday, took two laps around the shedrow and introduced the Kentucky Derby runner-up to the stall in which he will await the chance to turn the tables on Street Sense in Saturday's 132nd Preakness.
"Easy haulin'," the one-time Kentucky farmer said after the 90-minute ride from Delaware Park, where his stable is based. Ten days after a grueling 10 furlongs at Churchill Downs, there was spring to Hard Spun's step as he surveyed the unfamiliar terrain. "Don't even need a bath," Jones said.
The 50-year-old Jones, who came into racing as owner of a horse he bought out of a $2,000 claiming race in 1980 and eventually gave up commercial farming to launch a training career, was largely unknown outside Kentucky before Hard Spun. Until moving to Delaware last year, he raced primarily in Kentucky and Arkansas, where he gained a reputation for finding inexpensive yearlings at auction and developing them into productive racehorses and for his unconventional approach to training. Hard Spun is an example.
"Easy haulin'," the one-time Kentucky farmer said after the 90-minute ride from Delaware Park, where his stable is based. Ten days after a grueling 10 furlongs at Churchill Downs, there was spring to Hard Spun's step as he surveyed the unfamiliar terrain. "Don't even need a bath," Jones said.
The 50-year-old Jones, who came into racing as owner of a horse he bought out of a $2,000 claiming race in 1980 and eventually gave up commercial farming to launch a training career, was largely unknown outside Kentucky before Hard Spun. Until moving to Delaware last year, he raced primarily in Kentucky and Arkansas, where he gained a reputation for finding inexpensive yearlings at auction and developing them into productive racehorses and for his unconventional approach to training. Hard Spun is an example.
Monday, May 14, 2007
Preakness Stakes
A much smaller field awaits Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense than the one he faced at Churchill Downs, as eight colts have been confirmed as starters for Saturday's Preakness Stakes.
Along with Street Sense, Derby runners also slated to take a shot at the second jewel of racing's Triple Crown are runner-up Hard Spun and third-place finisher Curlin. The five newcomers are C P West, Flying First Class, King of the Roxy, Mint Slewlep and Xchanger.
Along with Street Sense, Derby runners also slated to take a shot at the second jewel of racing's Triple Crown are runner-up Hard Spun and third-place finisher Curlin. The five newcomers are C P West, Flying First Class, King of the Roxy, Mint Slewlep and Xchanger.
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