2012 Triple Crown

138th RUNNING OF THE KENTUCKY DERBY/OAKS

I put this post together to catalog my research about the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks, and to make my review up to the big races easier.  It is divided basically by:

Runners - which focuses on each Derby Horse, his workouts, and replays of his races.
Workouts - Recorded workouts for each hose
Derby Preps - Replays
Handicapper Reports
Kentucky Oaks News (includes individual filly info)
Two Year Old Races (Juvenile history)

Kentucky Derby media schedule
Wall to wall racing coverage over two days -- first time in years!!  Thank you, NBC!

Here's Lenny and Steve giving their final wrap before the Derby, with a "live" audience!


Hope it will be helpful to you. It is a work in progress, and I will be making changes and adding info up to the big races on Friday and Saturday, May 4 and 5. 

THE SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO

                                                                          It's Noor by a Nose over Citation - 1950! 

HISTORIC SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO MARATHON CLOSES OUT SANTA ANITA MEET ON SUNDAY WITH BOURBON BAY SOLID CHOICE FOR REPEAT WIN

April 22, 2012

The SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO is the longest marathon race in the U.S. Can you believe this tremendous test of endurance carries only a $150,000 purse, and it has dropped from a Grade 1 to a Grade 2? This is just shameful in my mind. Just shows how low on the list of quality races marathons have fallen in the U.S. Today's tbs are too fragile and have less stamina than horses of the past. For most of its existence, the race has been run at either 1 1/2 (12 f) or 1 3/4 mi (14 f). Noor won the race in 1950.*

             Noor battles Citation down the stretch

In 1964 it was so over-subscribed that it was run in two divisions!!! The big favorite today, Bourbon Bay, won this race in 2010. It is for horses 4 yyears old and up. Mike Smith will be riding a Bill Mott trainee and Florida shipper, Harrod's Creek, seeking his first stakes win. The only other graded stakes winner in the 6-horse field is another Florida shipper, trained by Graham Motion, Eagle Poise.

Let's pay homage to the tough horses of a bygone era, and to these horses as they run today, because for the mere pittance being offered as a purse, it is strictly an "honor" thing for the horses and their connections! If you can't watch it live, then see the replay after the race: BloodHorse: CARD San Juan Capistrano - Video replay after race (This is the card which will have the replay after the race)
*Noor is famous for many reasons, mainly though, he was Citation's nemesis, beating the TC winner 4 times. Also, he beat Assault, another TC winner, becoming the first (and still only) horse to beat two Triple Crown champions. He raced 10 times in 1950, from 9f to 16f (2 mi), winning 6 times, with 3 seconds and 1 third. His third was the only time he finished behind Citation, who was second! He beat the 1950 HOY, Hill Prince, and he also defeated Ponder, the 1949 KY Derby winner! He is also famous for being owned by Charles Howard, Seabiscuit's owner.

Read more about today's race at:  Santa Anita - Press Release
Read more about Noor at several web sites:  Maggiemae - Noor 
Facebook page:  Noor: In Memory of a Champion
Noor's Wiki page

Brian Zipse on marathon racing in the U.S.

Is this the dawning of a new era in horseracing?

Some random thoughts as I look forward to the First Saturday in May.

Terry Zeitz, a friend on Facebook, had this to say: "I think the Triple Crown series this year is going to be something that we haven't witnessed since the 1970's when Secretariat, Seattle Slew, and Affirmed were the kings of the sport."

Her words gave me pause and caused me to think about whether we could be at the dawning of a new era in the sport. We won't actually know how the 2012 crop will wind up the year until it has played out, and it's a crap shoot as to how they will run in the Derby. And some will go on to the Preakness and the Belmont. Some of our favorites may disappoint in the Triple Crown races but go on to greater glory later this year at the summer and fall races, like Stay Thirsty and a couple others did last year. We could even see a horse challenge the 34 year old dry spell we have had as far as a Triple Crown champion! I'm hoping with all my might!

I've had a few "theories" and have pondered about all of this. Many have decried the 3 year old crop of 2011 -- and as a whole, it was mediocre at best, although a few of those horses are continuing to thrill us on the track this year as 4 yr olds.
But, back to my "theory":