Thu, 05/15/2025 - 16:30

Del Mar adds three new bet types for upcoming meet

Barbara D. Livingston

Del Mar has received approval for a 31-day meeting from July 18 to Sept. 7.

Del Mar is adding three new bets to its extensive wagering menu this summer, all of which have been in place at times during the current Santa Anita meeting.

The track will offer a 50-cent middle pick four on the fourth through seventh races, a $3 pick three on the final three races, and a $5 double on the last two races, according to documents submitted to the California Horse Racing Board.

The track received approval from the racing board on Thursday for a 31-day meeting from July 18 to Sept. 7.

Wed, 05/14/2025 - 14:26

After slow start, Laurel sees surge in betting handle

By Matt Hegarty

Jim McCue/Maryland Jockey Club

Handle skyrocketed once Laurel opened its turf course on April 18.

Under new management for the first time in decades, Laurel Park in Maryland started off slowly this year, according to a handle analysis conducted by Daily Racing Form, but wagering figures skyrocketed over the last three weeks of its meet.

Wed, 05/14/2025 - 14:04

Delaware Park cancels opening card due to inclement weather

By Patrick Moquin

Barbara D. Livingston

Delaware Park will now begin its meet Saturday after rain forced the cancellation of racing on Wednesday.

Delaware Park canceled its opening day card on Wednesday due to inclement weather. Though all eight races were scheduled for the dirt, consistent rain in the region was deemed a  hazard for horses and riders.

"Due to unsafe track conditions caused by the inclement weather, Delaware Park has cancelled the Opening Day live racing card scheduled for today," a press release from the track read.

Wed, 05/14/2025 - 12:38

McCarthy looks forward to rematch with Sovereignty

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Michael McCarthy isn't ruling out running Journalism in the Belmont.

While saying he wasn’t disappointed that Sovereignty was not running in Saturday’s Preakness Stakes, Michael McCarthy, trainer of Kentucky Derby runner-up Journalism, said he’d look forward to a rematch at some point in the future.

“Hopefully, Journalism stays healthy and Sovereignty stays healthy, and somewhere down the road, we get to hook up,” McCarthy said. “I think it’d be great for the fans, really great for the sport.”

McCarthy said it’s possible Journalism could run back June 7 at Saratoga in the Belmont Stakes, the race Sovereignty is targeting.

Wed, 05/14/2025 - 12:36

Preakness 2025: Wet conditions the norm this Triple Crown

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Trainer Michael McCarthy thinks muddy conditions might have played a small factor in Journalism's Derby loss.

BALTIMORE – Different venue, same surface.

The sloppy track that was in play for the Kentucky Derby two weeks ago at Churchill Downs has greeted horsemen this week at Pimlico as preparations continued Wednesday morning toward Saturday’s 150th Preakness.

Led by Kentucky Derby runner-up Journalism, seven of the nine horses entered in the Preakness were on the main track Wednesday morning at Pimlico, most going at a controlled pace over an extremely wet surface.

Tue, 05/13/2025 - 18:53

Churchill Downs opposes number of dates awarded to Fair Grounds

By Matt Hegarty

Barbara D. Livingston

A Louisiana Supreme Court ruling has put Churchill Downs at odds with the state's racing commission.

On Tuesday, the Louisiana Racing Commission awarded traditional racing dates to Fair Grounds racetrack in New Orleans despite a warning from an official of the track’s parent company, Churchill Downs Inc., that the track was “unable and unwilling” to commit to a meet without legislative help.

Mon, 05/12/2025 - 19:20

Preakness 2025: Journalism will start from post 2 as strong favorite

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Kentucky Derby runner-up Journalism is one of three horses from the Kentucky Derby back for Saturday's Preakness at Pimlico.

BALTIMORE – Journalism, the Kentucky Derby runner-up, drew post 2 and was installed as the strong favorite in a field of nine entered Monday for Saturday’s 150th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico.

Pimlico linemaker Dan Illman made Journalism the 8-5 favorite, while Daily Racing Form’s David Aragona pegged Journalism as the 6-5 choice. Journalism was the 3-1 favorite in the Kentucky Derby, finishing second by 1 1/2 lengths to Sovereignty.

Mon, 05/12/2025 - 14:07

Wilkes to bypass Belmont for Matt Winn with Burnham Square

By Marcus Hersh

Barbara D. Livingston

Burnham Square will start next in the Matt Winn at Churchill Downs instead of the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga.

Could he have won? At least finished in the top 4? No one ever will know how Burnham Square would have fared in the Kentucky Derby had he not been checked hard before the far turn, dropping back from a favorable spot on the rail to an impossible spot back on his heels before rallying again – gamely, after all chance had been lost – for sixth.

“He was in a great position. Brian [Hernandez Jr.] was ready to let him ease into the race. He said he only had one horse to go around. We may have been on the lead turning for home. . .” trainer Ian Wilkes recalled.

Mon, 05/12/2025 - 13:35

With Pat Day win in hand, Macho Music moves on to Woody Stephens

By Mike Welsch

Barbara D. Livingston

Macho Music wins the Pat Day Mile over a sealed and sloppy Churchill surface on Derby Day.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – After giving Rohan Crichton the first graded stakes victory of his training career with his convincing tally over Madaket Road in the Grade 3 Pat Day Mile on the Kentucky Derby undercard, it will be on to Saratoga and the Grade 1 Woody Stephens for the 3-year-old Florida-bred Macho Music.

Mon, 05/12/2025 - 12:27

$94,783 pick six carryover awaits Friday at Santa Anita

By Steve Andersen

Barbara D. Livingston

After bettors failed to hit the pick six Sunday, Friday's card will feature a carryover of $94,783.

Friday’s program at Santa Anita will begin with a carryover of $94,783 in the $2 pick six.

The bet covers races four through nine on a program that begins at 1 p.m. Pacific.

Track officials project that the pool of new money will surpass $500,000.

Friday’s carryover was clinched in Sunday’s final race with an upset win by Miss Joe’s Curlin, who paid $24.20. Earlier in the sequence, pays ranged from a mere $2.20 on Miss Miche Lada in the fourth race to $53.20 on Tariff in the fifth race.

Subscribe to Track Notes