Note: This blog is non-commercial and was developed for my own personal use to organize my racing viewing activity. Your comments as to its usefulness to you would be appreciated. Thanks!
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GENTILDONNA TAKES THE ARIMA KINEN, or the JAPAN GRAND PRIX, in stylish fashion as her final farewell before going off to stud. Well done! Race replay in English. Final result and write-up - click here
Revamped stakes schedule highlights Santa Anita winter-spring meet
ARCADIA, Calif. – Happy holidays – settle in and get comfortable.
There is a holiday for Southern California racing fans in late December – the opening day of the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting on Friday.
California Chrome, the winner of both the 2014 Kentucky Derby and Preakness, has been selected to receive the 2014 Secretariat Vox Populi, or “Voice of the People,” Award. The award recognizes the horse whose popularity and racing excellence best resounded with the American public and gained recognition for Thoroughbred racing.
California Chrome, who basked in the national spotlight throughout the year and built a coast-to-coast fan base of “Chromies,” was the clear favorite among the record number of voters in the Vox Populi online poll. He was one of a select group of nominees submitted by the Vox Populi Committee and Mrs. Penny Chenery, owner of beloved Triple Crown champion Secretariat in whose name she established the award in 2010. More...
Time ordered list of races with links to the race cards. After a race is completed, go back to the CARD for a replay via BloodHorse results page.
Note: This blog is non-commercial and was developed for my own personal use to organize my racing viewing activity. Your comments as to its usefulness to you would be appreciated. Thanks!
Pre-race coverage: The Longines Hong Kong International Races, also known as the Turf World Championships, have become recognised in this millennium as one of the pre-eminent race meetings of the world alongside Royal Ascot, the Arc Day, the Melbourne Cup, the Breeders' Cup and the Dubai World Cup.
The Longines Hong Kong International Races meeting is one of the most important fixtures for the world's leading horses, jockeys, trainers and owners. Tens of thousands of racing fans from around the world are attracted each year to Sha Tin for this premier Hong Kong sporting event.
One reason is the prize money: a colossal HK$83 million (about $11 Million USD) divided between the four International G1s.
The Longines Hong Kong Cup was originally run as the Hong Kong Invitation Cup on 24 January 1988 when overseas entries were restricted to those from Malaysia and Singapore. Since then the number of countries and regions competing has increased significantly to include Australia, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Macau, New Zealand, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates and the United States of America. The LONGINES Hong Kong Mile, Longines Hong Kong Vase and Longines Hong Kong Sprint were added in subsequent years to create the 4-race world event we have today.
Recognized as the “Turf World Championships”, the Longines HKIR races offer some of the world’s richest race prizes while attracting the world’s leading horses, trainers and jockeys to compete here annually.
International stars such as: CIRRUS DES AIGLES, MILITARY ATTACK, CALIFORNIA MEMORY, ABLE FRIEND, GOLD-FUN, AMBITIOUS DRAGON, SOLE POWER, LUCKY NINE, SPALATO, FLINTSHIRE, RED CADEAUX, will be on hand looking for the four Group 1 events. Some of the world's top jockeys and trainers will also be on hand.
There is a 13-hour time difference between New York and Hong Kong, so The Hong Kong Cup, Sprint, Mile, Vase are the 4 main races for the day with a post time at 1:00 a.m. EST Sunday for the Vase (Race 4). I watch these races on TwinSpires that live streams the races, in English. You do have to set up an account, however, you do not have to bet, and you will love the interface. There are other services I'm sure that will air coverage, including I believe HRTV, and check with TVG to see what they will do.
TDN: 'Power' to attempt to go one better in Sprint
Earlier this week, Sabena Power’s Sole Power (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}) was named the Horse of the Year in Ireland. This coming Sunday, the 7-year-old will look to improve off a runner-up effort in last year’s G1 Hong Kong Sprint.
Brittlyn Stable’s Sunbean will look to become only the sixth millionaire in the history of Louisiana-bred thoroughbreds on Saturday when the 4-year-old gelding defends his title in the $150,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic against 4 other charges. If he does so, it will be his third added-money victory in just six weeks.
“He’s doing really good right now,” said trainer Ron Faucheux. “We have every reason to run him. He’s training really well and we can probably give him about two months after this to freshen him. We’re going to go for it.” Read more
A couple of races for two year olds: the G1 STARLET on Saturday for 2 year old fillies, and the KING GLORIOUS on Sunday for 2year old colts. D. Wayne Lukas' Breeders Cup G1 Juvenile Fillies winner and recent winner of the G3 Delta Downs Princess, TAKE CHARGE BRANDI is entered in the STARLET on Saturday.
Matt Bernier and Dan Illman handicap the STARLET, with this being TAKE CHARGE BRANDI'S push for end of year honors. She faces some good competition in FEATHERED, who has shipped in to challenge Brandi's position atop the Juvenile fillies division.
REMINGTON PARK
The $250,000 SPRINGBOARD MILE at Remington Park on Sunday for two year olds, with the $100,000 TRAPEZE for 2 year old fillies.
For North American races, as well as the Hong Kong races on Sunday, return to the CARD after the race has completed for a video replay. May be a delay before the replay is posted.
Note: This blog is non-commercial and was developed for my own personal use to organize my racing viewing activity. Your comments as to its usefulness to you would be appreciated. Thanks!
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In the lead up to the 2015 Kentucky Derby, Jeff Siegel, among others will be making predictions based on the experience to date of the many runners who will be vying for post positions come the first Saturday in May 2015. I enjoy having the information at hand to review the records of various horses. This post will attempt to organize available information, including providing links to more sites. These horses have all been added to the Horses To Watch blog: Horses To Watch blog
Note: This blog is non-commercial and was developed for my own personal use to organize my racing viewing activity. Your comments as to its usefulness to you would be appreciated. Thanks!
TWO YEAR OLDS still have time to work on getting a foundation and avoiding the Apollo Curse*. This weekend will see a number of contests both maiden and graded stakes for two year olds to help them sharpen their skills for the Derby Trail ahead. On Saturday, among the races for juveniles are the G2 REMSEN at Aqueduct, CORONATION FUTURITY at Woodbine, and the G2 KENTUCKY JOCKEY CLUB at Churchill Downs. On Sunday, the two year old turfers can test the grass at Del Mar in the CECIL DE MILLE stakes. The FILLIES have a few options as well with the G2 DEMOISELLE at Aqueduct, the G2 GOLDEN ROD at Churchill Downs, and the G3 JIMMY DURANTE at Del Mar.
On Friday, the SEABISCUIT HANDICAP on the turf at Del Mar will see MR. COMMONS (8/1) try to break his dry spell against 5/2 favorite TOM'S TRIBUTE and others that include ZA APPROVAL, PURE TACTICS, and BIG BANE THEORY.
The $300,000 Grade 1 MATRIARCH for 3+ fillies and mares on Sunday at Del Mar includes a cross-entry by Lexie Lou, however, she is expected to run in the Hollywood Derby.
Now for the Marquee Events for the weekend:
The $500,000 Grade 1 CLARK on Friday represents an opportunity for the sophomores to meet their elders in a renewal that dates back to the opening of Churchill Downs, where it was first contested in 1875. HOPPERTUNITY and CONSTITUTION are co-favorites at the morning line odds of 7/2. Others expected to have a say in the outcome are DEPARTING and PRAYER FOR RELIEF.
The G1 $500,000 CIGAR MILE Saturday at Aqueduct will feature SECRET CIRCLE (2/1), PRIVATE ZONE (3/1), ITSMYLUCKYDAY (5/1), TRANSPARENT (6/1), VYJACK (8/1) as the single-digit favorites, with 4 others expected to complete the 9-horse lineup.
Sitting atop the weekend fare is the much anticipated clash of dual Classic winner, CALIFORNIA CHROME, and the Canadian QUEEN'S PLATE winner, LEXIE LOU meet 4 others in the $300,000 G1 HOLLYWOOD DERBY at Del Mar.
INTERNATIONAL: Sunday, Group 1 JAPAN DERBY
The 34th Japan Cup, the richest race of the Japan Racing Association -- about $4 Million USD -- fetched 19 nominations, including three from abroad – Trading Leather, Ivanhowe and Up With the Birds – and 13 Grade 1 winners. While past results in the Japan Cup have been near even with the hosts winning 19 times and the visitors 14, Japanese horses have owned the 2,400-meter competition in recent years, having won the last eight races. Alkaased, under Lanfranco Dettori, was the last champion from overseas in 2005 when he set the race record of 2 minutes, 22.1 seconds which still holds today. Top Japanese horses include the world's top ranked horse, JUST A WAY, GENTILDONNA (2 time winner of Japan Cup), HARP STAR, DENIM and RUBY, ISLA BONITA, SPIELBERG. Read more at source...
*Since 1882, no horse has won the Kentucky Derby who did not run as a Juvenile. Named for the last horse to accomplish that feat, it has been known ever since as the "Apollo Curse".
Note: This blog is non-commercial and was developed for my own personal use to organize my racing viewing activity. Your comments as to its usefulness to you would be appreciated. Thanks!
DELTA DOWNS JACKPOT DAY
The Delta Downs Jackpot is the centerpiece of an 11-race program that will feature eight stakes races, two graded stakes and more than $2.3 million in total purse money.
Mr. Z, who hails from the barn of Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, has been installed as the 5-2 morning line favorite for the 12th running of the track's signature event. Fifth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile most recently, the Malibu Moon colt has finished second in three graded stakes this year, including the Grade 1 Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland two starts back. Paco Lopez will pick up the mount. Read more at source
From TDN: The three most recent Horses of the Year in Hong Kong, as well as almost every other important horse in the region, will prep for the Longines Hong Kong International Races in Sunday’s course-and-distance trial races at Sha Tin, a program sponsored by BOCHK Wealth Management.
In the G2 Jockey Club Cup over the 2000 meters, reigning Horse of the Year DESIGNS ON ROME (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) will look to move forward off an eighth-place effort behind 2012-13 Horse of the Year MILITARY ATTACK (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}) in the Sha Tin Trophy H. Oct. 26, where he finished a one-paced eighth as the even-money favorite. Last year’s Hong Kong Derby and G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup winner had some things against him, however, as the 1600-meter trip was shy of his best and the pace never materialized, blunting his normally strong finish. To be fair, Military Attack is also best over 10 furlongs, and, despite racing first-up in the Sha Tin Trophy, carried Zac Purton to victory at 13-1. He should come on for the effort while trying to save something for the big day in a little more than three weeks.
The race has also attracted two-time G1 Hong Kong Cup hero CALIFORNIA MEMORY (Highest Honor {Fr}). In the Jockey Club Mile, GOLD-FUNGold-Fun (Ire) (Le Vie dei Colori {GB}) and one-time HOY AMBITIOUS DRAGON (NZ) (Pins {Aus}) will square off looking to improve on their second- and third-place finishes in the Sha Tin Trophy last time out. Gold-Fun was runner-up in last year’s G1 Hong Kong Mile, while Ambitious Dragon, winner of the latter event in 2012, was having his first run for 18 months after nearly being retired with a tendon injury. If either of those stub their toe, ABLE FRIEND (Aus) (Shamardal) should be there to pick up the pieces.
Japan: Kyoto Racecourse will feature the Group 1 Mile Championship on Sunday, which has drawn a field of 18 runners, and boasts six G1 winners, including previous Mile Championship winners Sadamu Patek (in 2012) and Tosen Ra, NHK Mile Cup champions Grand Prix Boss and Mikki Isle. The field of 6 Deep Impact-sired runners is topped by Fiero and Tosen Ra.
*********************************** For North American races, return here after a race has been run for replays at the CARDS. Many of the international races will have replays at their sites - follow the links for the cards.
Note: This blog is non-commercial and was developed for my own personal use to organize my racing viewing activity. Your comments as to its usefulness to you would be appreciated. Thanks!
News Classic cheat sheet American Pharoah scratch from Juvenile Magician scratch from Turf Free as a Bird scratch from Turf Sprint
**************************** TV COVERAGE The 2014 Breeders' Cup World Championships will be broadcast live on NBC Sports:
Friday, October 31: 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. ET on NBCSN
Saturday, November 1: 3:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. ET on NBCSN
Saturday, November 1: 8:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. ET on NBC
BreedersCup.com will live stream all races on Friday and Saturday. The live stream will begin at 2:00 p.m. ET on Friday, October 31 and 12:45 p.m. ET on Saturday, November 1.
Breeders' Cup National Coverage in Canada:
Oct. 31: 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. (TSN2)
Nov. 1: 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. (TSN2)
LET'S GO TO THE RACES
