LET'S GO TO THE RACES - Mar 10-11

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.

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Zenyatta update: 
IT'S A BOY!!!

VIDEO: HRTV talks to Dottie Shirreffs about Zenyatta and her new foal

VIDEO: HRTV covers announcement of Zenyatta's new foal

DRF: Zenyatta foals 130 pound colt
BloodHorse: Super Mare Zenyatta delivers colt
ESPN: Zenyatta foals Bernardini colt
The Examiner: Zenyatta foals big bay Bernardini colt - Photo and Video
Lexington Herald: Zenyatta fans welcome mare's first
Business Week: 2010 Horse of the Year delivers 130 pound colt
Lexington Herald-Leader: Zenyatta fans welcome mare's first
Ray Paulick checks in with some interesting tidbits

NOTE:  DRF to Live Stream full card for World Cup Preview Day Saturday:
Link for World Cup Preview Super Saturday - 8:30 a.m. ET   World Cup Preview Day - Analysis 
Free Brisnet Past Performances

DRF Live Stream of full cards at Santa Anita, at Gulfstream, and at Tampa Bay.  Don't miss any of the action!

COUNTDOWN TO THE CROWN:  A "must-read" is Jeremy Plonk's weekly rundown on the Road to the Derby.  DRF: Week 10 - March 9, 2012  He covers the week that was as well as looking toward the weekend.  He also digs into some of the undercard action.  Includes videos of last weekend's races.

DRF Mike Watchmaker's Weekend Warrior

Triple Crown Talk: 
DRF: Top 20 for Kentucky Derby
Steve Bailey, TTimes: On the road to the Triple Crown, trainers adjust
DRF Jay Privman: For 2012 Derby, BC Juvenile is looking to be key

Full cards are shown below, listed in time order, all adjusted to ET.

LET'S GO TO THE RACES - Mar 3-4

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.

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THE 75th RENEWAL OF THE SANTA ANITA HANDICAP - AN AMERICAN TRADITION  

It’s the height of the Derby prep season, with races designed to help three-year-old horses get ready for the first leg of the American Triple Crown, the Kentucky Derby the first Saturday in May.  But another race will take center stage this Saturday.  It is a Grade I race for horses four years old and up, and is considered to be the most important race for older horses in North America during the winter racing season.  Of course we are talking about the Santa Anita Handicap, run at ten furlongs with a purse of $750,000.

This Saturday will mark the 75^th renewal of the “The Big ‘Cap”, as it is affectionately known, which will take place at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The first running was in 1935 and with the exception of the war years of 1942-44, it has been run every year in early March at the Classic distance of 1 ¼ miles.  In the early days, it became known as the “Hundred Grander”, since the purse was the then unheard of sum of $100,000.  It is forever associated with Seabiscuit and the race serves as a metaphor for the career of the hard-knocking horse that helped a nation get its mind off the depression of the 1930s. Seabiscuit missed winning the event in 1937 and 1938 in photo-finishes, the second race he gave 30 pounds to the winner, Stagehand.  Preparing for the 1939 running of the race, Seabiscuit was injured and thought to be through with racing.  He overcame the odds again, and the ‘Biscuit made it back in 1940 to beat his stablemate, Kayak II, to win the Hundred-Grander and retire at seven years old as the then richest horse in history.  Read more at Horse Racing Nation - My guest column

LET'S GO TO THE RACES - Feb 25-26

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.

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LOTS OF RACING EXCITEMENT THIS WEEKEND: All eyes on UNION RAGS in his 2012 debut in the FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH at Gulfstream on Sunday.  This will be his first race since losing to Hansen in the Breeders Cup Juvenile in November.  He faces some stiff competition in the unbeaten Algorithms, who took Hansen down a notch when he beat him in the Holy Bull, and in the unbeaten Discreet Dancer. A fly in the ointment might be the shorter stretch distance -- 568 feet.  Need to take that into account when trying to handicap this race.  Many more races, but the other biggie will be the RISEN STAR on Saturday, another Derby Prep, with six of the contenders in the Lecomte running in this one.  El Padrino is the universal favorite, with others hoping to pick up some graded earnings including Mark Valeski, Optimizer and Shared Property.  Read more at Jeremy Plonk's in-depth analysis.

COUNTDOWN TO THE CROWN:  A "must-read" is Jeremy Plonk's weekly rundown on the Road to the Derby.  DRF: Week 8 - Feb 24, 2012  He covers the week that was as well as looking toward the weekend.  He also digs into some of the undercard action.  Videos of last weekend's races.

SPECIAL OFFER FROM BRISNET:  From February 23-29, you can get FREE Ultimate PPs from Brisnet!  Just go to http://www.brisnet.com/ and register.  Free registration, and many of their products are free anytime.  I also have an account with TwinSpires, but, again, the registration is free, you aren't required to place bets, and you won't be hounded to do so.  It is without a doubt the best online horse race viewing experience, and I also have an HRTV account, which is a paid service.  The ability to watch past races for the entries on a race card is great.  You can watch racing all over the world, including Australia and Japan!

Triple Crown talk:
BHorse: Can't Miss Weekend! Triple Crown Talk
Haskin: Red, White and Godolphin Blue
Haskin:  Veni, Vidi, Valor! 
Jennie Rees, Louisville Courier-Journal: Derby Preps starting to get serious
Thoroughbred Times: A menu of all the major races this weekend.

Full cards are shown below, listed in time order, all adjusted to ET.