New York Racing Association

Horse of the Year Curlin Makes Saratoga Debut in Woodward
Thursday, August 28,2008
By Jenny Kellner

Curlin Hall of Fame jockey Angel Cordero, Jr., a six-time winner of the Grade 1 Woodward Stakes, put it this way: “The Woodward has been a race that’s always been won by a good horse, and this year will be no different.” ... more

Lucky Island Scared No One Out of Forego
Thursday, August 28,2008
By Francis LaBelle Jr.

Lucky Island Saturday’s 29th running of the Grade 1, $250,000 Forego was to have been a battle royal between Benny the Bull and Lucky Island, who would have put their respective five- and four-race win streaks on the line in this seven-furlong event that is the last major sprint on Saratoga Race Course’s 2008 calendar ... more

Dark Equation Makes His Turn Count in NY Turf Writers Cup
Thursday, August 28,2008
By Francis LaBelle Jr.

Dark Equation Beverly R. Steinman’s Dark Equation bounced back from a loss to his stablemate earlier this meet to take the 67th running of the Grade 1, $159,300 New York Turf Writers Cup Steeplechase Handicap by a half-length over Be Certain. Stablemate High Action, who defeated Dark Equation in the Grade 2 A.P. Smithwick Memorial here on August 7, finished third ... more

Curlin: The Coolest Colt in Creation?
Wednesday, August 27,2008
By Jenny Kellner

Curlin He has been called everything from a “fire-breathing Pegasus” to the “next Big Red.” Long-bodied, with a powerfully muscled neck and a ground-gobbling stride, he is an imposing a presence on the racetrack as LeBron James is on the basketball court. Factor in a gleaming coppery-red coat, a chiseled head and a tail that nearly sweeps the ground, and you have a magnificent-looking thoroughbred that leaves pundits struggling for the right superlative and fans in awe ... more

Woodward Tops Saratoga Grade 1 Grand Finale
Wednesday, August 27,2008
By NYRA Press Office

With 54 runnings to date, the Woodward is a comparative newcomer to the NYRA stakes schedule, but the race quickly established itself as a key stop on the road to championship honors. Named in memory of racing industry leader, Belair Stud’s William Woodward, the race had been run at Belmont Park for most of its history ... more

Benny the Bull Retired with Ankle Chip
Wednesday, August 27,2008
By NYRA Press Office

Benny the Bull Sprinter Benny the Bull, who would have been the favorite for Saturday’s Grade 1, $250,000 Forego Handicap at Saratoga Race Course, has been retired because of an ankle injury, according to IEAH Stables’ Michael Sherack ... more

Curlin Breezes Easy Half-Mile For Woodward
Monday, August 25, 2008
By NYRA Press Office

Curlin In his final prep for Saturday’s 55th running of the Grade 1, $500,000 Woodward at Saratoga Race Course, 2007 Horse of the Year Curlin breezed a half-mile in 49.14 Monday morning over the Oklahoma training track under regular exercise rider Carmen Rosas ... more

Whats Happening at Saratoga - Week 6
Monday, August 25, 2008
Contact: Mark Bardack

Racing from Across the Pond, Saratoga Race Course, 9:15 a.m. Racing fans can watch and wager on the best of British racing from the comfortable confines of Bunbury’s Pub in the backyard of Saratoga Race Course every morning and afternoon from Wednesday through Saturday ... more

Big Week Five Boosts Spa Business
Monday, August 25, 2008
Contact: John Lee

Great weather and full fields during Week Five of the 140th Saratoga Race Course meeting produced increases in attendance and on-track handle over 2007, according to the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA). Attendance was up 3.3 percent and on-track handle increased 2.6 percent compared to the fifth week of the 2007 meeting, with all-sources handle down only slightly at 3.2 percent, in contrast to far greater decreases at other concurrent Thoroughbred meets nationwide ... more

When it Comes to Winning, Vision is ‘Relative’
Monday, August 25, 2008
By Catherine Toner

Relatively Ready It was the second race at Saratoga Race Course on August 20, and jockey Cornelio Velasquez was waiting for a hole to open up on the inside.When he couldn’t wait any longer, Velasquez decided to swing his mount ... more

Saratoga Race Course Notes
Sunday, August 24, 2008
By NYRA Press Office

Colonel John Just before leaving for an 8:30 flight this morning from Albany, N.Y. to Southern California, trainer Eoin Harty checked in at the barn at Saratoga Race Course to see how WinStar Farm’s Colonel John came out of yesterday’s exciting nose victory over Mambo in Seattle in the 139th running of the Grade 1, $1 million Travers Stakes presented by Shadwell Farm. The 1 ¼-mile “Mid-summer Derby” marked Colonel John’s first victory on a dirt surface ... more

A Tangible Reward For Intangaroo in The Ballerina
Sunday, August 24, 2008
By Jenny Kellner

Intangaroo Trainer Gary Sherlock had one thing in mind when he brought Intangaroo from California to Saratoga Race Course: setting her up for year-end honors. Sunday, the 4-year-old filly came through for the third time in as many Grade 1 starts this year, rallying six-wide around the turn and pulling clear to a 2 ¾-length victory over Miraculous Miss in the 30th running of the $250,000 Ballerina ... more

Colonel John Gets Down and Dirty in Travers
Saturday, August 23, 2008
By Francis LaBelle Jr.

Colonel John WinStar Farm’s Colonel John, making only his second start on dirt, got his nose down at the wire after a head-bobbing late stretch duel with Mambo in Seattle at Saratoga Race Course to win Saturday’s 139th running of the Grade 1, $1 million Travers Stakes presented by Shadwell Farm. And, for the second straight year, trainer Neil Howard was thwarted in his bid to win the 1 ¼-mile “Mid-Summer Derby” for three-year-olds ... more

Visionaire Gets NetJets King's Bishop Upset; Garcia Nets Five
Saturday, August 23, 2008
By Jenny Kellner

Visionaire As the field of 10 three-year-olds barreled down the backstretch for Saturday’s Grade 1, $250,000 NetJets King’s Bishop Stakes at Saratoga Race Course, trainer Michael Matz admitted he was a little nervous seeing Visionaire dawdling along in last place. But when the half-mile went in :44.79 and three-quarters went in 1:09.30, Matz started feeling a little better about his chances ... more

Shakis Repeats in Bernard Baruch
Saturday, August 23, 2008
By Francis LaBelle Jr.

Shakis Shadwell Stable’s Shakis got a flawless ride from red-hot jockey Alan Garcia to run past unsuspecting War Monger and go on to a repeat victory in the 50th running of the Grade 2, $200,000 Bernard Baruch Handicap at nine furlongs on the inner turf course at Saratoga Race Course ... more

Porte Bonheur Stops Indyanne's Unbeaten Streak
Saturday, August 23, 2008
By Francis LaBelle Jr.

Porte Bonheur Porte Bonheur won Saturday’s sixth running of the Grade 3, $110,100 Victory Ride for three-year-old fillies at six furlongs, but favored Indyanne may be the ultimate beneficiary, as the experience proved her toughness. In each of her six previous races, Indyanne had everything her own way, winning by an average of better than seven length ... more