(Edited Churchill Downs report)

Mark Johnson, one of the most popular and acclaimed horse racing commentators in Britain, will bring his talents to America in 2009 as the new track announcer for Churchill Downs. The announcement was formally made by track officials during at news conference at the historic Louisville, Ky. racetrack Jan. 15.

NTRA release

The victory by Zenyatta in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic—a win that culminated a perfect seven-for-seven 2008 campaign—has been voted the 2008 National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) Moment of the Year. The connections of Zenyatta will be honored at the Eclipse Award ceremony Monday, Jan. 26, in Miami with the “NTRA Moment of the Year” award. Balloting was conducted at the NTRA Web site, ntra.com, and offered voters 12 different images illustrating a wide range of human emotions…

(Edited racetrack reports)

The first foal reported by 2006 Horse of the Year Invasor was born Sunday, Jan. 11, at Shadwell Farm.

The bay colt is out of the stakes-winning Danehill mare, Abby Road, who is out of a winning half-sister to Leading Sire Unbridled’s Song. Abby Road will be bred back to Shadwell stallion, Daaher.

(Edited Aqueduct Racetrack report)

Live racing at Aqueduct will be conducted Wednesday, Jan. 14,  through Monday, Jan. 19, with the three-day holiday weekend featuring a trio of stakes races beginning with Saturday’s $65,000 Evening Attire for 3-year-olds and up.

(Edited Santa Anita Park report)

ARCADIA, Calif. – Cowboy Cal, second in four stakes races since his last win on New Year’s Day of 2008, withstood an inquiry Saturday to triumph by a nose over 28-1 longshot Informed in Santa Anita’s 72nd running of the Grade 2, $150,000 San Pasqual Handicap while covering 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.26.

(Edited Fair Grounds report)

NEW ORLEANS, La. – Along came Jones – once again – in the $100,000 Grade 3 Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds.

Trainer Larry Jones gave a leg up to jockey Gabriel Saez aboard Vinery Stable and Fox Hill Farms’ Friesan Fire, who went on to post a 1 1/2-length victory in Saturday’s Lecomte for 3-year-olds. Barely a half-hour earlier, Jones sent out wife Cindy’s Just Jenda, who took the $75,000 Tiffany Lass for 3-year-old fillies.

Edited Gulfstream Park report)
 
Owner-trainer Amy Tarrant’s veteran 6-year-old stakes performer Kiss the Kid drove to a hard-fought neck victory over Charles Fipke’s 6-year-old Society’s Chairman to capture the $100,000 Fort Lauderdale Handicap at Gulfstream Park as less than a length covered the first five in a field of 11 at the finish of the 1 1/16 miles turf test.

NTRA release
 
New York — Joe Hirsch, the dean of American turf writers, died Friday morning at St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York. He was 80.

(Edited Gulfstream Park report) 

Hobeau Farm’s 5-year-old homebred Delightful Kiss produced a powerful stretch charge coming from off the pace under jockey Calvin Borel to capture the $100,000 Hal’s Hope Handicap (Grade 3) Saturday at Gulfstream Park by three lengths over Mitchell Farm’s Bullsbay. The winner was timed in 1:36:13 for the one-turn mile run over a fast track.

(Edited Tampa Bay Downs report)

OLDSMAR, Fla. – The 28th renewal of the $65,000 Minaret Stakes was captured today by Dream Rush, a 5-year-old daughter of Wild Rush who ran the six furlongs over the main track in 1:10.73 before a crowd of 4,245 fans.  Dream Rush is under the care of trainer William Phipps, is owned by Minor Stables and was bred in Kentucky by James H. Petrey.  Jockey Daniel Centeno had the return call to ride Dream Rush,…