LET'S GO TO THE RACES AUG 24-26

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. 

www.FollowHorseRacing.com

www.helloracefans.com/

www.cleanhorseracing.com

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SIX GRADE 1 RACES  Friday, Saturday and Sunday! 

BALLERINA STAKES (G1) - Saratoga, Friday: With It's Tricky's defection in favor of running in the Personal Ensign on Sunday, TURBULENT DESCENT assumes favorite status in the Grade 1 BALLERINA at Saratoga on Friday. The Ballerina is a Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In race, offering a fees-paid berth to the BC Filly and Mare Sprint and a $10,000 travel allowance.

KING’S BISHOP (G1)- Saratoga, Saturday: CURRENCY SWAP and TRINNIBERG split their first two meetings and will square off in the rubber match as part of a highly competitive field of 10 3-year-old sprinters set to go seven furlongs in Saturday’s $500,000 King’s Bishop at Saratoga.

THE TRAVERS (G1) - Saratoga, Saturday: If there has been one constant in the 3-year-old division this year – aside from injuries and premature retirement – it has been the success of the horses based in Southern California. ALPHA (5-2), NONIOS (4-1), STREET LIFE (5-1), LIAISON (8-1) all have a legitimate shot to bring home this time-honored race.

THE TEST (G1) - Saratoga, Saturday: CONTESTED, cutting back in distance, racing over what should be a fast track, and drawn toward the outside, would appear to have all factors in her favor when she heads a 10-horse field in Saturday’s Grade, 1 $500,000 Test Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Saratoga.

PERSONAL ENSIGN (G1) - Saratoga, Sunday: The Personal Ensign, a Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" race for the Ladies' Classic, could serve as the fourth meeting between ROYAL DELTA and IT’S TRICKY and the first match between the two in 2012. In 2011, Royal Delta was third to It's Tricky in the TVG Coaching Club American Oaks (gr. I). Royal Delta defeated It's Tricky in both the Alabama and the Ladies' Classic.

PACIFIC CLASSIC (G1) - Del Mar, Sunday: DULLAHAN was sent west last weekend by trainer Dale Romans, who’s having the best year of his career. Dullahan’s task will not be easy, because this Pacific Classic has a deep field of top-class older horses. In addition to GAME ON DUDE, who has won four of his last six starts, the race includes two-time Pacific Classic winner RICHARD’S KID, South American hotshot SUGGESTIVE BOY, hard-hitting veteran, RAIL TRIP, and Chilean invador, AMANI.

LAST HORSE STANDING!!

This year's Eclipse awards may come down to whichever horses are left standing, especially in the three-year-old division!  Don't mean this to sound flip, but, the recent rash of injuries and premature retirements are enough to make the average fan withdraw back to the periphery of the sport and the safety of his slots and other inanimate gambling opportunities.  Since I'm not the average fan, I'm not going anywhere, but it doesn't make losing to active racing some of the brightest stars in the racing sky:  Bodemeister, Hansen, Zo Impressive, Union Rags, and I'll Have Another, along with some sophomores and older horses, including Winter Memories, etc., etc., etc.

Just want a simple list of the races, time ordered?  Click here
How about a Time Ordered list with the Entries?    Click here 

DON'T FORGET:  Even if you can't watch the U.S. races live, you can come back here after the race has run, click on the CARD listed under the race, and watch a REPLAY!  Let's go to the races!

LET'S GO TO THE RACES - August 18-19

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. 

www.FollowHorseRacing.com

www.helloracefans.com/

www.cleanhorseracing.com

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HIGHLIGHTS:

SIX GRADE 1 RACES IN THE U.S. Three at Arlington Park, two at Saratoga and one at Del Mar.

THE ALABAMA:  
Since the powers of summertime racing decided to hold their marquee events for 3-year-old fillies on the same warm August afternoon, why not compare and contrast.

The Alabama Stakes at Saratoga is a mile and one-quarter test on the main track for a purse of $600,000, with $360,000 to the winner.

The Del Mar Oaks at Del Mar is a mile and one-eighth on the grass course for a purse of $300,000, with $180,000 going to the winner.

The Alabama was first run in 1872, at a time during which the real state of Alabama was in the throes of the turbulent Reconstruction Era following the failed rebellion by the South.

The Del Mar Oaks was not unveiled until 1957, better known as the dawn of the Space Age, when the U.S.S.R. launched its first unmanned Sputnik satellite.

The Alabama is named in honor of William Cottrell, a captain in the Confederacy and horse breeder from Mobile who stood the stallion Daniel Boone, a full brother to Kentucky, winner of the first Travers Stakes in 1864. When asked if the top filly race of the meet could carry his name, Capt. Cottrell supposedly demured in favor of his home state. William Travers, who was born in Maryland and owned Kentucky (the horse), was not quite so shy.

The Del Mar Oaks is named for a tree.  Read more at source...

AMERICAN ST. LEGER - NEW STAKES UNVEILED AT ARLINGTON PARK

With the dearth of true marathon distance events in North American racing, Arlington Park enhanced its International Festival of Racing program in 2012 by inaugurating the $400,000 American St. Leger at 1 11/16 miles on the turf Aug. 18.

Judging by the response at the entry box for Saturday’s event with 12 runners, the new race looks to be a hit.  Read more at source...

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Just want a simple list of the races, time ordered?  Click here
How about a Time Ordered list with the Entries?    Click here 

DON'T FORGET:  Even if you can't watch the U.S. races live, you can come back here after the race has run, click on the CARD listed under the race, and watch a REPLAY!  Let's go to the races!

LET'S GO TO THE RACES - August 3-5

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. 

www.FollowHorseRacing.com
www.helloracefans.com/
www.cleanhorseracing.com
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FLASH!   DRF LIVE STREAMING Saturday's card at Mountaineer - Click here

Also, check your local listings for FOX SPORTS, which will cover the West Virginia Derby between 5-6 pm EDT.

NYRA Mid-week report - Andy Serling, Richard Migliore recap last weekend's racing action.  Click here

HIGHLIGHTS:

FOUR GRADE 1 races highlight this weekend's racing activity:

SATURDAY: First, at Saratoga, the Grade 1 PRIORESS will feature most of the players from the Victory Ride Stakes at Belmont last month, including the surprise 39-1 winner, EMMA’S ENCORE. Along with this filly will be TU ENDIE WEI, who was third in their last meeting, and AGAVE KISS, who will be trying to overcome her shocking 5^th place finish in the Victory Ride, suffering her only loss in a 7-race career.

Next, also at Saratoga, the Grade 1 WHITNEY INVITATIONAL HANDICAP, featuring many recognizable names, including RON THE GREEK, who won the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap and the Grade 1 Stephen Foster is the morning line favorite; CAIXA ELETRONICA, who won the Charles Town Classic and the True North; FLAT OUT, HYMN BOOK, RULE, ENDORSEMENT, FORT LARNED, TRICKMEISTER, all are capable of turning in a winning effort.

The Grade 1 CLEMENT L. HIRSCH Stakes at Del Mar will see SWITCH (Quiet American) return to two-turns in the 1 1/16 mi Grade 1 race, after her impressive win in the A Gleam last month. STAR BILLING, the Dynaformer filly trained by John Shirreffs, is co-highweight with AMANI, the Chilean sensation, who won 10 of 11 starts in Chile, and will be making her U.S. debut in the Hirsch. Now trained by Neil Drysdale, Amani won stakes at distances ranging from six furlongs to 1 3/8 miles. INCLUDE ME OUT, who won the Santa Margarita Invitational S., the La Canada S., and the Marjorie L Everett H., with a second in the Vanity, all this year.

SUNDAY: The Grade 1 ALFRED G. VANDERBILT will see SHACKLEFORD try 6 furlongs for the first time, in a prep for the Forego Stakes. While Shackleford is clearly the horse to beat, others who could challenge himinclude JUSTIN PHILLIP (half-brother to Algorithms), and JERSEY TOWN.

Also on Saturday, MOUNTAINEER has an all-stakes card, including the Grade 2, WEST VIRGINIA DERBY, featuring the Juvenile Champion HANSEN, who will be ridden for the first time by Hall of Fame jockey, Mike Smith. Complete with his blue-tipped tail, Hansen will face some competition in HERO OF ORDER, LE BERNARDIN, MORGAN’S GUERILLA, Z CAMELOT, MACHO MACHO, BOURBAN COURAGE, and three others in what promises to be an exciting race. As the only Grade 1 winner in the race, Hansen is eligible for a $150,000 bonus with a win.