Kentucky Derby Time Prompts Memories of Fast Eddie
By GREG MELIKOV
I first saw George Edward Arcaro on July 4, 1948. He was riding Triple Crown winner Citation in the Stars and Stripes Handicap at old Arlington Park. Thanks to my dad, this 13-year-old was introduced to the world of thoroughbreds.
Citation whipped 20 or 21 older horses, including his classy stablemate Armed. It was one of 19 races my favorite thoroughbred won that championship season. He only lost once and, unfortunately, it was Arcaro’s debut on the son of Bull Lea.
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Eskendereya Not Among The 2010 Kentucky Derby Starters
Zayat Stable’s Eskendereya will not be one of the Kentucky Derby starters next week, race horse trainer Todd Pletcher announced on Sunday morning after the discovery of filling in the colt’s left leg.
The Wood Memorial and Fountain of Youth Stakes winner was the probable morning-line favorite for the Kentucky Derby 2010, first jewel of the Triple Crown, on May 1 at Churchill Downs.
Number 21 on the graded stakes earnings list Homeboykris may now make the Kentucky Derby field with Eskendereya off the Derby trail.
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How Much Kentucky Derby Trivia Do You Know?
By GREG MELIKOV
A little Kentucky Derby trivia music please: “The sun shines bright on my old Kentucky Home.”
With more than 13 decades to draw upon, here are 13 multiple-choice questions to test your Kentucky Derby knowledge. Get 10 or more correct and you go to the head of the class. Answers are at the end.
1) Which of these famous horses didn’t win the Kentucky Derby?
a) Seattle Slew
b) Whirlaway
c) Gallant Fox
d) Seabiscuit
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Winning Kentucky Derby Favorites: It’s an On-and-Off Cycle
By GREG MELIKOV
The Kentucky Derby isn’t the easiest race to handicap. The trend of winning favorites has been an off-and-on phenomenon dating back to the 1880s when only two scored. Six won during the following decade.
You get the idea. Four favorites scored in the ’30s and ’40s, including one of the two lowest Kentucky Derby odds-on choices in modern times: ’48 Triple Crown champ Citation, my favorite thoroughbred that I saw whip 20 older horses in the Stars and Stripes Handicap at Arlington Park at age 13. The other: Count Fleet five years earlier.
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Early Birds May Catch Big 2010 Kentucky Derby Payoff
By GREG MELIKOV
The first of three Kentucky Derby 2010 future wager pools opens Friday and runs through Sunday for the 136th renewal of America’s Race on the first Saturday in May.
The pools were shortened a day to three because little betting was conducted on Thursdays. Exacta wagering introduced with last year’s second pool will be available in all three along with the standard win bet.
The future wager covers 23 individual 3-year-olds, with some pretty good odds, and a 24th betting interest that includes other runners.
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A Tale of Track Surfaces: Dirt vs. Synthetics
By GREG MELIKOV
A fairly new American saying describes Santa Anita Park: What goes around comes around.
Is it really a case of justice served? I believe the more accurate interpretation is the status of Santa Anita‘s main track is returning to its original surface after completing some sort of synthetic cycle.
The startling announcement came from Santa Anita race track president Ron Charles during a barrage of heavy rains that began Jan. 17 and forced cancellation of three racing days during that week…
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Which Leading Lady Should Reign as Horse of Year?
By GREG MELIKOV
“It’s a two-horse race” applies off the track between two talented ladies this season. At stake: 2009 Horse of the Year.
In this corner, Rachel Alexandra, the top 3-year-old that won the middle jewel of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes, and beat the boys three times, going undefeated in eight outings on conventional dirt.
In the other corner, Zenyatta, top older horse that became the first female to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic, unbeaten in five races on synthetic surfaces, that retired a perfect 14 for 14.
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Eclipse Awards Finalists Announced
Horse racing superstars Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra, who dominated thoroughbred racing, were the only horses receiving votes for Horse of the Year, however, there were 3 finalists in each of the other 16 Eclipse Award categories.
Eclipse Award winners will be announced on January 18 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.
Either Rachel Alexandra or Zenyatta will become the first female to win the Horse of the Year honor since Azeri in 2002. They are virtual locks to win divisional championships.
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Select 2010 Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks Tickets Sold Out In 48 Minutes
Churchill Downs‘ exclusive online offering of 3,000 Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks reserved seat packages which went on sale at 12 p.m. EST Wednesday were sold out in 48 minutes.
The limited number of 2-day ticket packages, which ranged in price from $172 for individual first floor grandstand bleacher seats to $6,390 for a 6-seat box in the third floor clubhouse with daily access to the exclusive Secretariat Lounge, were made available exclusively at Churchill Downs’ new online box office, http://tickets.churchilldowns.com.
“The demand for both Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks tickets is truly exceptional,” Churchill Downs Racetrack President Kevin Flanery said.
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New York Racing Association Announces Anti-Slaughter Policy
The New York Racing Association (NYRA) is calling for harsh penalties for horsemen who directly or indirectly sell a horse for slaughter.
The policy announced by NYRA on Thursday also asks horsemen to support horse rescue, adoption initiatives and to find humane ways of dealing with horses unable to continue racing.
Owners or trainers would have their stalls permanently revoked from NYRA tracks Aqueduct, Belmont Park and Saratoga if it is determined their horses ended up being sold for slaughter.
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