Free Republic

The first Kentucky Derby winner ever disqualified from the race is once again making headlines for the wrong reasons.Maximum Security trainer Jason Servis is one of 27 people indicted by the Southern District of New York in a wide-ranging horse racing doping scheme. Servis is alleged to have administered performance-enhancing drugs “to virtually all the racehorses under his control,” between 2018-20.MORE AT LINK 

Does the winning ever get old? Played a few races today and tonight and POTUS even wins on the race track.

If your vision is anything like mine, you'd probably want to put your reading glasses on in order to better see these graphics I've posted below. I could posted them in higher resolution but figured it would have slowed things down too much.

I have a young protégé who told me that he was going to attend the Belmont Stakes with a group of his friends. I think this will also be his first visit to a racetrack This will be the 54th consecutive Belmont Stakes I have attended. I sent him a copy of the Past Performances earlier in the week, and just now I prepared an analysis of the races for him. I thought some FReepers might be interested in what I sent to him so I reproduce it below. ML/NJ

LNJ Foxwoods' Covfefe separated herself from her 3-year-old rivals in the $150,000 Adena Springs Miss Preakness Stakes (G3) May 17 at Pimlico Race Course, drawing clear by 8 1/2 lengths. She scorched the six furlongs in 1:07.70, taking more than a second off the track mark of 1:09 set by Northern Wolf in 1990.

All About Trump, a first-time starter taried by Mike Machowsky, won Thursday's sixth race - a $32,000 claimer for maidens at 5 1-2 furlongs. Ridden by Tiago Pereira, All About Trump ($9.40) closed from off the pace to take the lead in the final sixteenth, prevailing by 2 1-2 lengths over 21-1 Poppy's C Note. All About Trump was timed in 1:07.52. The colt ran for owners and breeders Tommy Town Thoroughbreds, and was claimed in a three-way shake by trainer Tim McCanna.

When Gusty Wind drew off to win the fifth race at Gulfstream Park July 21 by 3 3/4 lengths, Jerry Bozzo broke his own record as the oldest trainer to win a Thoroughbred race. "It's very gratifying. I wish I could have been there in the winner's circle," said the 97-year-old Bozzo, who watched the victory on his home computer. "That would have pumped me up even more."

Justify’s emergence as the only undefeated Triple Crown champion after Seattle Slew and the 13th horse overall to complete the rare sweep went from a feel-good story to one awash in controversy on Sunday. Queens native Mike Repole, co-owner of fourth-place Vino Rosso and last-place Noble Indy in the field of 10, hopes Belmont Park stewards will question jockey Florent Geroux about his handling of Restoring Hope, Justify’s stablemate, for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert.

Just won the Belmont. 13th Triple Crown winner, first undefeated winner since Seattle Slew in 1977.

Post Horse Trainer Dosage Jockey M/LOdds 1 Quip Rodolphe Brisset 3.00  Florent Geroux 12-1 2 Lone Sailor Tom Amoss 2.71  Irad Ortiz Jr. 15-1 3 Sporting Chance D. Wayne Lukas 2.20  Luis Contreras 30-1 4 Diamond King John Servis 2.60  Javier Castellano 30-1 5 Good Magic Chad Brown 3.40  Jose Ortiz 3-1 6 Tenfold Steve Asmussen 3.00  Ricardo Santana Jr. 20-1 7 Justify Bob Baffert 3.00  Mike Smith 1-2 8 Bravazo D. Wayne Lukas 2.75  Luis Saez 20-1

Since Secretariat won the Preakness in 1973 there have 45 Preakness Stakes ran. Going into the first turn he’s in last place, then like he was playing with the rest of the horses, he passes them all. It was like he said “clear the way boys, here I come.” His winning time is still the Preakness record.

2018 PREAKNESS STAKES ODDS (5/19/18) Post Position Horse *ML Odds 1 Quip 12/1 2 Lone Sailor 15/1 3 Sporting Chance 30/1 4 Diamond King 30/1 5 Good Magic 3/1 6 Tenfold 20/1 7 Justify 1/2 8 Bravazo 20/1 *Morning Line Odds are created by Pimlico Race Course oddsmaker Keith Feustle

The ruler of emirate of Dubai, also the Prime Minister and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, died on Wednesday in Australia. Maktoum, 60, had reportedly suffered from heart problems. "The UAE has today lost a historical leader who dedicated his life to building the nation and doing good for its people," an official statement read. His brother, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who is currently the Defense Minister of the UAE, will replace the former leader as ruler of Dubai, while UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahayan will...

This Breeders' Cup is all about Arrogate Mike Watchmaker, DRF [Daily Racing Form] National Handicapper DEL MAR, Calif. -- I was talking last weekend to a friend of long standing, an outstanding handicapper and avid racing historian, about the Breeders' Cup. Almost immediately, the conversation turned to Arrogate, of whom we were of similar minds. We agreed that Arrogate's four-race run of the Travers, Breeders' Cup Classic, Pegasus World Cup, and Dubai World Cup just blew us away. He raved about how Arrogate shattered the track record in the Travers, running the fastest 1 1/4 miles ever at Saratoga, which...

I don't think I've ever seen something like this ML/NJ

Good Samaritans helped move horses to safety after a fire broke out at a historic race track in Orange County. The fire began after 6 p.m. Wednesday at a barn at the Goshen Historic Track, a registered historic landmark, and quickly spread. Kaufman said there were just seconds to react to get one horse, named Caviar Hall, out. “Caviar Hall was in a burning stall after the fire erupted and it was thanks to one of the horse trainers that he was able to make it out safely,” he said. “The whole stall was full of flames and the horse...

Nonagenarian Jerry Bozzo became the oldest trainer in Thoroughbred history to win a race when he sent out Cotton Tooyah ($5.60) for a 4 ½-length victory in Saturday's second race at Gulfstream Park. Still actively training a small stable at the age of 96, Bozzo surpassed the record of the late Noble Threewitt, who visited the winner's circle for the last time two months after celebrating his 95th birthday. Threewitt, who was born Feb. 24, 1911, was credited with being the oldest trainer to win a race when Threeatonce captured a maiden claiming race at Santa Anita on April 22,...

A devout woman, she credits her personal relationship with Jesus Christ for enabling her to keep competing. “The Lord keeps putting me together – I've broken every bone in my body, I have a titanium leg and I have a plate and screws in my arm,” she said. “I just follow the lead of the Lord and try to be obedient.” And, she added with a smile, “I don't want to retire, and I think I have the mount back on Blue (Haze of Fire).”

Every stallion has a “tell,” says Bridgette Jablonsky, and, in this moment, in a dimly lit barn at Hanover Shoe Farms in Hanover, Pa., Somebeachsomewhere, the legendary Canadian harness racing champion and international Hall of Fame horse, is telling Jablonsky he is ready to perform. Somebeachsomewhere’s readiness is never a certainty. He is a finicky and, at times, apathetic lover. To hasten his readiness Chiptease, a mare in heat, is in the barn, standing idly by as her would-be mate nips at her hindquarters, throws back his head, inhales deeply and, after 10 minutes, starts dancing about on his hooves....