horseracing
Kentucky Derby will have full field of 20 horses
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Twenty-one horses have been entered for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby, one more than the maximum field of 20. The entry box closed Wednesday morning, with the draw to determine post positions set for later in the afternoon. The field is limited to the …
Kentucky Derby: Top 10 picks
Doug O’Neill is gearing up for a Kentucky Derby repeat. A year after winning the Derby with I’ll Have Another, the trainer is going for another — this time with Goldencents.
Departing wins Illinois Derby
Race favorite Departing came on strong at the head of the stretch to win the Grade III $750,000 Illinois Derby by 3º lengths Saturday at Hawthorne Race Course. Ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr., Departing ran 1 1/8 miles race in 1:50.78 on the fast track. …
Equine virus resurfaces at Hawthorne Race Course
An equine virus that has caused the deaths of at least four horses and forced a quarantine at Hawthorne Race Course might have claimed another horse last weekend. The latest case comes several weeks after the virus appeared to have run its course after manifesting …
Fort Larned’s Classic stunner tops upset-filled weekend in Breeders’ Cup
ARCADIA, Calif. — Bob Baffert got beat again in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic. Bill Mott settled for half of a repeat sweep in the weekend’s two biggest races. The Hall of Fame trainers could only wince as 9-1 long shot Fort Larned won …
Bill Mott juiced about potential double double in Classic races
ARCADIA, Calif. — Bill Mott is in position to duplicate the ultimate daily double. The Hall of Fame trainer swept the $2 million Ladies’ Classic and $5 million Classic at last year’s Breeders’ Cup. He could do it again this weekend, with Royal Delta defending …
Going wire-to-wire, Little Mike captures the Arlington Million for the Vaccarezzas
Priscilla Vaccarezza was born in Chicago, grew up in Carol Stream and attended Glenbard North High School. But she never had been to Arlington Park until Saturday, when her horse Little Mike won the 30th running of the Arlington Million over British invader Afsare in …
Local hope Helicopter takes aim at $400,000 American St. Leger
When the 12-race International Festival of Racing begins Saturday at Arlington Park, it won’t just be about who will win the three Grade I stakes races: the $500,000 Secretariat Stakes, the $750,000 Beverly D. and Arlington Million. This year, the festival features the inaugural running …
Local hope Willcox Inn will give it a shot in Arlington Million
There’s no aspect of the 30th running of the Arlington Million that Marty Nixon hasn’t enjoyed. The Palatine native is the owner, along with Lael Stable and All In Stable, of Willcox Inn, who drew the seventh post position during the unveiling Wednesday of the …
Legal problems mounting for jockey Robby Albarado
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Jockey Robby Albarado was fined $500 on Tuesday for a misdemeanor assault conviction stemming from a scuffle with his former girlfriend, but the Preakness-winning rider’s legal problems aren’t behind him yet. At the sentencing, Judge Ann Bailey Smith set a Nov. 14 …
Frank Martin, trainer of Sham, dies at 86
Hall of Fame trainer Frank “Pancho” Martin, who oversaw 1973 Kentucky Derby and Preakness runner-up Sham, has died. He was 86.
I’ll Have Another was reportedly ailing before Belmont
NEW YORK — Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner I’ll Have Another was ailing well before he was retired from racing with a tendon injury the day ahead of his bid to win the Belmont Stakes and become the first Triple Crown champion in 34 years. …
Jockey Rosemary Homeister Jr. balancing motherhood with racing career
It couldn’t have come at a more inopportune time. Jockey Rosemary Homeister Jr. found out she was pregnant at the peak of her career. ‘‘The week before I found out, I rode six races and won five,’’ Homeister, 39, said. ‘‘I was stunned, and I …
Union Rags rides rail to victory in Belmont Stakes
NEW YORK — Union Rags picked up where I’ll Have Another left off, coming from behind to catch a Bob Baffert-trained horse at the finish in a Triple Crown race. Union Rags rallied through an opening on the rail Saturday to edge Paynter by a …
Union Rags nips Paynter to win Belmont Stakes
NEW YORK — Union Rags picked up right where I’ll Have Another left off, coming from behind to catch a Bob Baffert-trained horse at the finish in a Triple Crown race. In Saturday’s Belmont Stakes, it was another photo finish decided by a neck. Just …
