Archive for the ‘Featured Articles’ Category

One cool March morning at Santa Anita’s Clocker’s Corner, Laz Barrera stood at the rail, his gold stopwatch in hand. “I need to fire thees exercice boy, Gordito,” he said to me. “I need to get thees horse to run a mile and a sisteen. Thees water-melon is letting heem run off every morning.”…

For the last two years, I have checked into the Radisson JFK, with prospect of witnessing a Triple Crown winner filling me with anticipation. In 2003, Funny Cide seemed so invincible, and when the track came up gumbo, it made it look even more of a sure thing that history would be made…

What I saw Saturday was the reason my life is intertwined with Thoroughbred racing. A race so spectacular, it had to be seen to be believed…

Finding rock star parking for only $40 on Taylor Street. Women so pretty, their atrocious Tom Petty hats can’t hide their beauty. The weather – 78 with a gentle breeze and no precipitation…

The Preakness (G1) is the Triple Crown’s stepchild. Always a handicapping puzzle, Maryland’s biggest race usually pits the Kentucky Derby (G1) winner against those he or she vanquished at Churchill Downs…

This year’s Derby trail has had more plot twists than a John Grisham novel and most of the current leading contenders have at some point received less respect than Rodney Dangerfield…

Of the four offspring of the Thoroughbred sire, Cozzene, that my dad owned, I noticed that the non-grey horses were just average runners, but the grey was an excellent runner. My hypothesis was that Cozzene’s grey or roan horses will be his better runners…

Thoroughbred ownership most often starts with Derby dreams. Americans especially, long for the champagne toasts and garland of roses that waits at the Churchill Downs finish line. To be realized, those dreams must be forged by faith and perseverance…

Seldom does a horse come along that captures the hearts and imaginations of not only racing fans, but of an entire nation – a horse with that rare and unique blend of charisma, presence, and ability. Legendary icons such as Seabiscuit, Secretariat, and most recently Smarty Jones come to mind…

The First Wives Club syndicate currently owns just one horse, but that one became a winner in her first try and their story is no wives tale…