A HALF-SEASON FULL OF STORIES.Byline: KEVIN MODESTI HORSE RACING horse racing, trials of speed involving two or more horses. It includes races among harnessed horses with one of two particular gaits, among saddled Thoroughbreds (or, less frequently, quarterhorses) on a flat track, or among saddled horses over a turf course with Barbaro's fight for life is only the grimmest of 10 big stories that could go either way in the second half of the thoroughbred racing season, which begins with the major circuits' moves from Hollywood Park Hollywood Park may be several places:
Belmont Elmont - a town on Long Island in New York; site of Belmont Park to Saratoga on Wednesday. Barbaro: A week after the Kentucky Derby Kentucky Derby One of the classic U.S. Thoroughbred horse races. It was established in 1875 and run annually on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs track in Louisville, Ky. With the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes, it makes up U.S. racing's coveted Triple Crown. winner's chief veterinarian veterinarian /vet·er·i·nar·i·an/ (vet?er-i-nar´e-an) a person trained and authorized to practice veterinary medicine and surgery; a doctor of veterinary medicine. vet·er·i·nar·i·an n. in Pennsylvania pronounced his survival chances ``poor'' because of complications from his Preakness injuries, Barbaro was termed ``stable'' on Thursday. Although the efforts to save Barbaro have given the sport a weird sort of positive publicity, his death would put a long face on the general public's humanitarian concerns, which have only intensified in light of Arlington Park's troubles. A consultant hired by Illinois authorities to investigate the fatal breakdowns of 17 horses in races since Arlington's meet began May 5 reported this week there is nothing unsafe about the main oval. So, no easy answers. That's not good news. Meanwhile, on the first two days at Del Mar, Blazing Sunset was injured in the second division of Wednesday's Oceanside Stakes and had to be euthanized, and four horses were reported injured in the first five races Thursday. Arlington and Del Mar are showpieces that give many their first close-up looks at racing. Breakdowns are not what the game wants to show them. Lava Man: If there's an antidote to the Barbaro gloom, it's a horse with similar dirt-and-turf versatility who's still racing and winning at the highest levels at age 5. The question now is how much more Lava Man must do to become the first gelding gelding castrated male horse. since John Henry to earn the Horse of the Year title. Here's the most intriguing scenario. Lava Man wins the Aug. 20 Pacific Classic, which would be his fourth Grade I victory in California this year, then is beaten by a good eastern horse in the Nov. 4 Breeders' Cup Classic The Breeders' Cup Classic is a Grade 1 Weight for Age thoroughbred horse race for 3 years old and older run at a distance of 1¼ miles (2012 m) on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup. at Churchill Downs. We'd see how voters feel about a horse who's winless outside his native state. Headcounts: The Santa Anita Handicap The Santa Anita Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in the late winter at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. It is a Grade I race for horses three years old and up, and is considered the most important race for older horses in North America during drew 49,089 fans, and the Hollywood Gold Cup The Hollywood Gold Cup is a Grade I stakes race for thoroughbred horses inaugurated in 1938 at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California. It was run as a handicap race until 1997 when it was switched to weight-for-age conditions. drew 8,308. They were equally prestigious races, both featuring Lava Man. The Santa Anita meet raised hopes in the local racing industry, then Hollywood Park revived the pessimism. It's harder than ever to tell where this thing is going. 3-year-olds: Unless the sentimental vote carries Barbaro, the 3-year-old championship race is wide open. Preakness winner Bernardini has the inside track as the healthiest of the division's leaders aims to start his summer with the July 29 Jim Dandy at Saratoga. More 3-year-olds: No 3-year-old has won the Breeders' Cup Classic since Tiznow in 2000, the division's longest such drought. They face an uphill battle again because of the ailments of Barbaro, Belmont winner Jazil (bruised right hind cannon bone cannon bone the 3rd metacarpal (metatarsal) of the horse, or the 3rd and 4th metacarpals (metatarsals) of ruminants. ), Santa Anita Derby The Santa Anita Derby is an American Grade 1 thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds run each April at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California and carries a purse of $750,000. winner Brother Derek (virus), and Arkansas Derby winner Lawyer Ron (bone-chip surgery). Jockeys: Del Mar looms as a battle of old guard (Victor Espinoza, Patrick Valenzuela, Alex Solis) and young up-and-comers (Martin Garcia, Juan Ochoa, Norberto Arroyo) as the local continues its first full year without a single Hall of Famer. More jockeys: The selection of sports agent and rare-coins collector Dwight Manley to run the Jockeys' Guild -- with the Rev. Jesse Jackson serving as a consultant -- only raises the intrigue as an important organization tries to regroup re·group v. re·grouped, re·group·ing, re·groups v.tr. To arrange in a new grouping. v.intr. 1. To come back together in a tactical formation, as after a dispersal in a retreat. . Trainers: At one point recently, the No. 2 and 3 trainers on the national money list were under sanction because of medication violations, Steve Asmussen suspended until January and Doug O'Neill forced to run his horses out of a detention barn. Get the idea racing faces some image problems right now? Hall of Fame: National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers. officials in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., took a survey to see what's wrong with the voting procedure after none of the horses, jockeys and trainers on this year's ballot received the 75 percent needed for induction. If they need a survey, they're beyond hope. Gone Hollywood? Hollywood Park is spending millions on improvements this off-season, installing a synthetic main track and put in a second infield chute for 6-furlong turf races. But its future may depend on the success of a bill, due for its first legislative hearing in Sacramento next month, that would allow California tracks to install machines for gambling on videotaped races and use the revenue to pump up purses. The weekend: Giacomo (Mike Smith riding) continues to seek his first win since the 2005 Kentucky Derby when he faces seven horses in Saturday's San Diego Handicap The San Diego Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. The race is open to horses, age three and up, willing to race one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt. The race carries a purse of 300,000. at Del Mar, the major prep for the Aug. 20 Pacific Classic. Del Mar's major turf races feature defending champions, Amorama in Saturday's John C. Mabee for fillies and mares, and Sweet Return in Sunday's Eddie Read. Right turn: Every 100 years or so, somebody in horse racing shows the imagination that Calder racetrack promoters are using this weekend to put on an ``Extreme Day'' card featuring a 1 3/8-mile turf race to be run clockwise. heymodesti(AT_SIGN)aol.com (818) 713-3616 CAPTION(S): box Box: OUT OF THE GATE -Kevin Modesti |
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