The Sam F. Davis Stakes has become a favourite part of my racing calendar. In this piece at Brisnet.com I talk about why, and talk about some of the most memorable moments of Saturday's Festival Preview Day.
the career maiden – #36
In 2016 and 2017, I wrote a newsletter called The Career Maiden. In May of 2017, I resurrected it today. In my latest issue, I discuss my thoughts about both the hiatus and my recent writing life more broadly. And then, just as I always did, I share some links to my writing, some links... Continue Reading →
Maiden Win Trends Among Kentucky Derby Starters
Most people who follow two-year-old races have a general idea of what kinds of maiden races to follow in order to find potential Kentucky Derby contenders. Though baby races begin in March and April, the real excitement begins to build through the summer with the loaded maiden special weights at Saratoga and Del Mar, and... Continue Reading →
Horseplayer Confessions: Just Say No To Lifetime Losers
Over at Brisnet, I make my first visit to the Horseplayer Confession booth, and think about a stern reminder not to play horses who don't win races.
Frontier Red
Frontier Red a bay more brown than blood when shrouded by sweat and twilight only occasionally sparkling when she passes under the burning floodlights most of the time the winner trots back easily, head held high a quarter-mile victory stroll she laboured back, dragging her empty rear hooves behind her hanging her head, bobbing it... Continue Reading →
building Catholic Boy’s foundation
When I think of Catholic Boy, I think of the unheralded hard work that goes into building a great horse's foundation. I think of running in circles, measured circles, incessant circles. In the week and a half leading up to the Breeders' Cup last year, I spent the mornings trackside, radio clipped to my side,... Continue Reading →
Canadian Triple Crown Trifectas
As soon as Wonder Gadot, Aheadbyacentury, and Cooler Mike crossed the wire 1-2-3 in the Prince of Wales, I wondered whether they were the first repeat trifecta in the first two races of the Canadian Triple Crown. They are. Never before yesterday had the trifecta repeated itself in the Queen's Plate (or the King's Plate,... Continue Reading →
The Underground Man, two times two, and Justify
So said Fyodor Dostoevsky in his masterpiece "Notes from Underground": With the ant-heap the respectable race of ants began and with the ant- heap they will probably end, which does the greatest credit to their perseverance and good sense. But man is a frivolous and incongruous creature, and perhaps, like a chess player, loves the... Continue Reading →
for McKinzie, poetic justice
Sometimes, the only justice you find is poetic justice. And, so it is with McKinzie. He came into the San Felipe Stakes with an undefeated record, clouded by a great big asterisk. After all, he didn't cross the wire first in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G1) last year. He ran on well enough inside in... Continue Reading →
Thoroughbred Insider: Withers
In my latest piece for the Thoroughbred Insider Facebook page, I did a little something different: not a Withers Stakes preview per se, but more a piece inspired by a common thread that links the names of so many of the entrants. I don't write enough about horse names...but when I do, it's a lot... Continue Reading →
Thoroughbred Insider: Holy Bull
Today would have been Holy Bull's 27th birthday. On the Thoroughbred Insider Facebook page, I wrote a short piece remembering his career, and remembering his lasting impact on the Thoroughbred breed.
looking back, and looking forward, on Blinkers Off’s fourth birthday
Four years ago today, I started a blog to keep me on top of horse racing through the course of the winter, while Hawthorne wasn't running. It's still here. I'm still here. Every year I look back with amazement at where the last year has taken me, and no year so far was more of... Continue Reading →
final NTRA poll thoughts
I voted in the NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll for the first time this year. Some weeks were more difficult than others, but this week's was the most brain-busting of all. I had assumed all year that it would be the easiest. After all, Breeders' Cup is the big ending, and it's the last poll of... Continue Reading →
A Day At the Races: Presque Isle Downs is the Cheers of racetracks
Of course, the sport on people’s minds was horse racing, not baseball. Deep, stained wood lined saddling stalls, not a bar. People sat in lawn chairs or at picnic tables, not stools. But, just like a cozy corner watering hole, the apron at Presque Isle Downs was where people went to catch up with friends... Continue Reading →
thank you, The Pizza Man
I'm glad The Pizza Man is being honoured at Arlington on Woodbine Mile day. It fits. With what turned out to be his final career win, on Mile day last year, the Pizza Man gave me a hug when I needed it most. On one of Woodbine's flagship days of racing, a pair of familiar... Continue Reading →
