HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ZENYATTA!
April 1, 2004, "Little Tige" was born, by Street Cry out of Vertigineux
And, she lived happily ever after!
**********************************************************************************
**********************************************************************************
LET'S GO TO THE RACES - Mar 31 - Apr 1
A quick reference tool meant to help the newer fan (like me!)
NOTE: AFTER A RACE HAS BEEN RUN, you can return here, click on the CARD to view the Results and watch a REPLAY.
******
BIG RACING WEEKEND ON TAP!
This is a huge racing weekend, and for the next couple of weeks, the races get pricier and more important for those three year olds who might want a spot in the starting gate the First Saturday in May for the Kentucky Derby!
What's up this weekend, and what makes it even more fun, is WORLD CUP DAY, where the richest race in the world, the WORLD CUP, along with 7 other races, will be run in Dubai for a LOT of big purses, including the richest, the WORLD CUP, which will be for a whopping $10,000,000! That means you don't even have to win to take home a big paycheck! About the World Cup Dubai World Cup guidebook
Some American horses hoping to bring home the big prize include a filly, ROYAL DELTA! She's a Grade 1 winner and is considered one of the favorites to win the coveted WORLD CUP, run at 1 1/4 miles, and she has already won at the distance. In addition, Bob Baffert's GAME ON DUDE, is also listed as a favorite for this race. Game On Dude barely missed winning the Breeders' Cup Classic last fall, when he was surprised at the wire by Drosselmeyer to wind up in a strong second. Bob Baffert's THE FACTOR is considered one of the favorites to win the Dubai Golden Shaheen, a sprint at 6 furlongs.
Another Breeders' Cup graduate, ST. NICHOLAS ABBEY, trained by world class conditioner, Aidan O'Brien, will contest the 1 1/2 mile DUBAI SHEEMA CLASSIC. O'Brien's son, Joseph, will be in the saddle, and together they won at the distance last fall at the Breeders' Cup.
The eight World Cup races will be LIVE STREAMED by the DRF, so anybody with a computer can watch the races! It will also be telecast on other horseracing television and internet sites. Details about these races are listed below, in time order. In the U.S., we will be watching these races on Saturday morning from 8:10 a.m. to the last race with a post time of 1:40 p.m., New York time. Links below will take you to other sites with more details, including Past Performances, full cards for each race.
In the U.S. several RACES FOR THREE YEAR OLDS, including three important races for FILLIES: the Grade 1, $300,000, SANTA ANITA OAKS, at Santa Anita; the Grade 2, $300,000, GULFSTREAM OAKS; and the Grade 2, $500,000 FAIR GROUNDS OAKS, all are considered "preps" FOR 3 YEAR OLD FILLIES. Some of the entries will no doubt be running in the Kentucky Oaks the day before the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. There could even possibly be a filly or two with dreams of running in the Kentucky Derby itself, as has happened on a few occasions in the past.
TWO DERBY PREPS: The Grade 1 FLORIDA DERBY and the Grade 2 LOUISIANA DERBY, each with purses totaling $1,000,000, which will certainly pad the bank accounts for those colts needing graded earnings to qualify for the Kentucky Derby. Over 400 horses have been "nominated" to the Kentucky Derby, and since there are only 20 slots, graded earnings are used to qualify the top 20. For a list of the horses with graded earnings, click here
Under the race descriptions below you will find a "CARD" for each race. If the race is in the U.S. you can come back here after the race and click on that Card to watch a race replay. Replays of the World Cup races will be available at many sites, including YouTube.
