Bob Hill
Staff writer
Tracksideview.com

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Mike Smith is brave enough to get aboard thoroughbred race horses almost every day of his life.  It is dangerous business that requires athleticism, strength, courage and skill.  When he broke into tears in the press room following the heart stopping Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs he shed tears for all of us who love the sport he represents.  He realized how close he had been to being part…

(Edited Keeneland Association Inc. report)

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Goldikova’s owners, Alain and Gerard Wertheimer said at Keeneland Monday that 5-year-old old race mare would remain in training in 2011 and return to defend her Breeders’ Cup Mile title. Goldikova would be seeking an unprecedented fourth consecutive victory in the Grade 1 race in 2011.

“That’s the only real objective that she has,” said Alain Wertheimer of the Breeders’ Cup four-peat, who also bred the mare along with his brother.

“We…

Jenny Kellner
NYRA/Saratoga Race Course

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – With Barbara Banke, wife of co-owner Jess Jackson, looking on from Saratoga Race Course’s historic grandstand, reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra turned in a strong six-furlong move over the main track this morning in preparation for the Grade 1, $300,000 Personal Ensign on Aug. 29.

Jeff Newton
Del Mar Thoroughbred Club

Throngs  of exuberant racing fans poured in shortly after 11:30 last Saturday morning, almost seven hours before super mare Zenyatta made her way onto the track at Del Mar.  The turnstiles finally stopped spinning after she had captured her third consecutive Grade I Clement Hirsch Stakes in front of 32,536 mesmerized onlookers.

(Edited NYRA/Saratoga Race Course report)

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – With jockey Shaun Bridgmohan in the irons, reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra continued preparations for the Grade 1, $300,000 Personal Ensign at Saratoga Race Course, breezing a strong six furlongs in 1:12.96 shortly after 6 a.m. Monday morning over the Oklahoma training track.

(Edited Del Mar Thoroughbred Club and Tracksideview.com report)

DEL MAR, Calif. – Tuscan Evening, the winner of the Grade 3 Modesty Handicap at Arlington Park on July 17 in her most recent start, died of an apparent heart attack after a workout at Del Mar on Sunday, according to Del Mar officials.

The five-year-old daughter of the English stallion Oasis Dream won six stakes for turf females this year and was a leading contender for the Eclipse Award as outstanding…

(Edited Del Mar Thoroughbred Club report)

DEL MAR, Calif. – Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Moss’ unbeaten equine phenomenon Zenyatta continued her march toward Thoroughbred racing immortality Saturday as she won her 18th consecutive race with a narrow but convincing  victory in the Grade I $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes before an admiring audience of 32,536.

(Edited Monmouth Park report)

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Lookin at Lucky, who won Sunday’s $1 million IZOD Haskell Invitational (G1) with a tour de force performance, remained in his stall at Monmouth Park Thursday morning after running a temperature in the days following the race.

(Edited Monmouth Park report)

OCEANPORT, N.J. – IZOD Haskell Invitational winner Lookin At Lucky will miss the Aug. 28 Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course in upstate New York after the Smart Strike colt developed a fever Aug. 3, two days after the most impressive race of his young career, trainer Bob Baffert said Wednesday.

Gene Williams
Del Mar Thoroughbred Club

DEL MAR, Calif. – Do you remember where you were when … ???

It’s always been a popular pastime for Americans in recalling momentous occasions, and in Thoroughbred racing where wagering is a major factor, jockey Mike Smith is betting he can place thousands, maybe millions, where they were and what they were doing on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009.
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Benoit Photo
Zenyatta and jockey Mike Smith parade before one…