ALBANY, Calif. (May 17, 2015) – Northern California Yearling and Horses of Racing Age Sale graduate Papaclem’smidnight won the seventh race at Golden Gate on Sunday, a maiden special weight for fillies and mares. Papaclem’smidnight is a 3-year-old filly by Papa Clem, out of the Bold Badgett mare Midnight Mango, was bred by SLU Inc., consigned by Harris Farms, is owned by GCCI and trained by Cliff Delima. She sold for $18,000 at the 2013 Northern California Yearling and Horses of Racing Age Sale. Papaclem’smidnight ran the five furlongs in :58.92 and won by three-quarters of a length at odds of 7-1. This year’s Northern California Yearling Sale will be held Aug. 11 at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton. ...

ARCADIA, Calif. (May 17, 2015) – Stakes winner Home Journey is the lone California-bred entered in Friday’s $75,000 Mizdirection Stakes for fillies and mares at Santa Anita. Home Journey is by Good Journey, out of the Came Home mare Goodtobehome, was bred by Mark and Daryle Ann Giardino & John Elick, is owned by GGG Stables and Russell Sarno and is trained by Mike Puype. She has five wins in 12 starts, earnings of $279,920 and is coming off a win in the Apr. 11 Las Cienegas Stakes. ...

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (May 17, 2015) – No Tricks for Jack is the lone California-bred entered in Saturday’s $55,000 Albuquerque Distaff for fillies and mares at Albuquerque Downs. No Tricks for Jack is by Jackpot, out of the Mazel Trick mare Swift Trick, was bred by Vessels Stallion Farm, is owned by J. Kirk and Judy Robison and is trained by Henry Dominguez. She has 14 wins in 45 starts, earnings of $208,232, and is coming off a May 1 optional claiming win. ...

By UTSandiego.com DEL MAR, Calif. (May 17, 2015) — Del Mar was banging the drum loudly Wednesday about its reduced environmental footprint thanks to its use of recycled water and the recycling of all waste off its backstretch. Considering the shortage of potable water in California due to the fourth year of drought and the state’s constant concern for the environment, what Del Mar and the 22nd District Agricultural Association are doing with water savings and a recycling program for backstretch waste is worth crowing about. Del Mar will use even less recycled water this year thanks to a switch back to a dirt track that will require far less water than the old synthetic Polytrack, which had to be watered constantly to keep the temperature of the surface down and the materials manageable. Del Mar recently completed installation of a new dirt track, El Segundo sand imported from the Los Angeles Airport area, and it will be maintained with recycled water. “We had our first horses on the new dirt... ...

From Golden Gate Publicity ALBANY, Calif. (May 10, 2015) — The 6-year-old California-bred mare Central Heat extended her winning streak to four races and earned her first stakes victory Saturday when she out-kicked Theatre Star and Sing and Tell in the final sixteenth of a mile to capture the $61,615 Golden Poppy Stakes at Golden Gate Fields.      Central Heat, who is undefeated under jockey Russell Baze, defeated Theatre Star and jockey Frank Alvarado by a neck in the 1 1/16-mile turf race for fillies and mares.  Sing and Tell, who nearly stole the race at odds of 12-1 under Abel Cedillo, finished third, a half-length behind Theatre Star.      Central Heat charged from fifth in a field of eight to earn her eighth victory in 11 starts for trainer Bill Delia, who privately purchased the California-bred daughter of Unusual Heat after she finished second in a modest $8,000 starter allowance race in February 2014. Central Heat was bred by Abrams, Huston Racing, Matties Racing and Auerbach.  ... ...

From CHRB SACRAMENTO, Calif. (May 7, 2015) — The California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) announced Thursday that all horses stabled at or en route from Turf Paradise will be denied access to California racetracks and other facilities within the Board’s jurisdiction due to the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) determination that a horse at Turf Paradise was confirmed to have vesicular stomatitis (VS). In fact, horses from confirmed VS premises are not allowed by the CDFA into California. Horses previously stabled at Turf Paradise that already have entered CHRB-controlled facilities have been placed under special surveillance and health monitoring. VS is a contagious viral disease that affects horses, cattle and pigs. It can be transmitted by insects or through animal-to-animal contact.  While human infection is not common, the virus can produce flulike illness in people. Additional information is available at the CDFA website. ...

By Bloodhorse.com E. W. “Buddy” Johnston, a major California breeder who headed his family’s Old English Rancho, died May 5 in his sleep. He would have turned 78 May 6. Old English Rancho and the Johnston family’s racing roots trace to 1939, when Johnston’s father, E.B., also known as “The Pie Man”, bought his first horse. More recently, Old English bred and raced Acclamation, champion older male of 2011. Acclamation stands at Old English in Sanger, Calif., and his first foals are yearlings. Buddy Johnston was born into the business. Though E.B. founded Old English, his son worked side-by-side with his father throughout his youth. Buddy and his wife, Judy, took over day-to-day operation of the farm in 1957. Buddy’s father died in 1981, and his mother, Betty, who was also instrumental in the family business, died in 2000. The Johnstons first established Old English in Chino, Calif., with partner Ted Tepper. They later moved it to nearby Ontario and eventually to Sanger. The ranch was named the nation’s top breeding... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (May 3, 2015)–Lightly raced Spanish Queen attended the pace, saved ground and accelerated through an opening two paths off the rail turning for home to register an impressive 1 ½ length win under Brice Blanc in Sunday’s Grade II, $200,000 Honeymoon Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, covering 1 1/8 miles on turf in 1:47.24. Trained by Richard Baltas, the California-bred daughter of Tribal Rule came off a close second at the distance in the Grade III Providencia Stakes April 4 and got her first stakes win Sunday and her second win from just three starts. “She has a helluva turn of foot,” said Baltas. “Brice made a good move there at the top of the lane. I thought he was going to go around, which probably wouldn’t have mattered, but he did make a helluva move there splitting horses…If she comes out of the race good and she really wants to go, then maybe we go in the American Oaks (Grade I, 1 ¼ miles... ...

ARCADIA, Calif. (May 2, 2015) – Richard’s Boy rallied between horses to win Saturday’s $92,500 Desert Code Stakes for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita. Richard’s Boy is by Idiot Proof, out of the Cee’s Tizzy mare Marissa’s Joy, was bred Harold and Pamela Tillema, is owned by Rockingham Ranch and trained by Peter Miller. Richard’s Boy has four wins in five starts, earnings of $187,840 and was coming off a third in the Apr. 4 Echo Eddie. He ran the about 6 ½ furlongs down the hill in 1:14.61 and won by a neck as the 9-5 favorite in the field of seven. ...

BENSALEM, Pa. (May 2, 2015) – Bluegrass Singer, a Kentucky-bred son of California stallion Bluegrass Cat, won Saturday’s $75,000 Parx Derby for 3-year-olds at Parx Racing. Bluegrass Singer has four wins in 11 starts, earnings of $217,135 and was coming off a fourth in the Mar. 7 Swale Stakes. ...

ALBANY, Calif. (Apr. 26, 2015) – La Fiera rallied through the stretch to win Sunday’s $100,210 Campanille Stakes for Golden State Series eligible 3-year-old fillies at Golden Gate. La Fiera is by Comic Strip, out of the Roar mare Ms. Booty, was bred by owners Dr. & Mrs. William Gray and is trained by Greg James. She has three wins in five starts, earnings of $82,607 and was coming off a third in an Apr. 4 optional claimer. La Fiera ran the mile on turf in 1:38.92 and won by two lengths at odds of 5-1 in the field of eight, with Ashley’s Sassy second and Niassa third. “The trainer told me to try to stay close because last time she was too far back,” said jockey Juan Hernandez.  “She broke really good and then she got behind horses and I was just trying to save ground.  Around the (far) turn I got her out and she started picking it up.  When I started asking her in the stretch she... ...

ALBANY, Calif. (Apr. 26, 2015) – Grazen Sky, going two turns for the first time, won Sunday’s $100,000 Silky Sullivan Stakes for Golden State Series eligible 3-year-olds at Golden Gate. Grazen Sky is by Grazen, out of the Sky Mesa mare Sky Marni, was bred by owner Nick Alexander and is trained by Steven Miyadi. He has three wins in six starts, earnings of $176,800 and was coming off a second in the Apr. 4 Echo Eddie. Grazen Sky ran the mile on turf in 1:38 and won by 1 ¼ lengths as the 6-5 favorite. Pulmarack was second and Cardiac third in the field of six after morning-line favorite Richard’s Boy scratched. After conceding the early lead to Cardiac, Grazen Sky moved up to challenge the pacesetter at the top of the lane and then took command in the final sixteenth of a mile. “At first I didn’t think he was handling the turf that good,” said jockey Ricardo Gonzalez.  “He was actually just kind of hanging in there.... ...

By The Grand Island Independent GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (Apr. 25, 2015) — He said the key was how Joy Boy opened up the lead on the second turn. “When they came around the corner here, he saws that corner off,” Hulse said. “He put two lengths between them coming down the back stretch. That’s his signature. Any time you’re watching him, if you bet on him when he does that, go to the window. “He’s much faster around the corners. That’s what makes him good on a bullring.” Hulse also noticed in previous races Saturday that some very good times were being put up. He saw that as a positive for his horse. “When the track tightened up and I saw the speed a couple of times, I got a little more confidence,” Hulse said. “Diamond Joe, he keeps you honest. We keep each other honest.” Joy Boy — bred in California by Dr. and Mrs. William Gray — paid $6.80, $3.60 and $2.40 to win. Diamond Joe paid $5.40... ...

From Golden Gate Publicity ALBANY, Calif. (Apr. 25, 2015) — California-bred G. G. Ryder dealt stablemate Summer Hit his third consecutive tough defeat in the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile when he won the $100,000 turf stakes by a half-length Saturday at Golden Gate Fields.      Bred by Eagle Oak Ranch and ridden by Ricardo Gonzalez, G. G. Ryder ran down front-running Summer Hit and jockey Russell Baze in the final yards to give trainer Jerry Hollendorfer the exacta in the top grass race of the spring meeting.       The SF Mile was contested on rain-dampened course rated “soft” and G. G. Ryder prevailed in 1:37.87.  Summer Hit, who lost the 2013 SF Mile by a neck to Tigah and last year’s running by three-quarters of a length to Pepper Crown, took third by three-quarters of a length over Are You Kidding Me and jockey Brice Blanc.      Defending champ Pepper Crown finished fourth under apprentice David C. Lopez.      G. G. Ryder broke from... ...

From Golden Gate Fields ALBANY, Calif. (Apr. 25, 2015) — Jockey Dennis Carr, who suffered a head injury in a starting gate incident on April 19 at Golden Gate Fields, was released from Highland Hospital Friday evening and plans to return to his home in the Saratoga Springs area of New York next week.      “Dennis’ progress continues to be excellent,” said Dr. David Seftel, track physician at Golden Gate Fields.  “He plans to complete his recuperation in New York in the company of his wife, Alisa, and their dogs.” ...

By Bloodhorse.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Apr. 23, 2015) — The Stronach Group announced April 23 that senior vice president Tom Ludt has been appointed to spearhead a key company initiative, the purpose of which The Stronach Group is expected to reveal at a later date. Effective immediately, Ludt will assume control of the creation and implementation of the new national project under development within the company.As president of Santa Anita Park, Ludt oversaw a successful 68-day winter meeting, which concluded April 19.  In a meet that opened Dec. 26, the track posted a 3% year-over-year increase in overall pari-mutuel handle and a 4% year-over-year hike in on-track attendance.  As a result of his new appointment, Ludt will no longer oversee the day-to-day operations at Santa Anita.  Keith Brackpool, chairman of The Stronach Group’s West Coast operations, will assume control of Santa Anita’s day-to-day management, effective opening day of the track’s spring meeting, which begins April 24.“We very much appreciate Tom’s stewardship of the Santa Anita Park operations over the past two years and... ...

By Bloodhorse.com DEL MAR, Calif. (Apr. 23, 2015) — Del Mar‘s change from a synthetic surface to dirt on its main track is nearly complete, with horses expected to train on it starting in mid-May.About 31,000 tons of dirt has been put down on the mile oval to replace the Polytrack surface that was in place for eight years. The same dirt, referred to as “El Segundo sand,” is currently used at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif.Crews are expected to be done reinstalling the main track’s inner rail by April 24. They will then adjust the outer rail, with some sections being extended upward by nearly a foot to meet safety standards. The winner’s circle was also raised to adjust for the new surface.Track superintendent Richard Tedesco says horses will be able to train on the surface by May 15.Del Mar opens its summer meet July 16. Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/91465/del-mars-switch-to-dirt-nearly-complete#ixzz3YBOODnvO ...

From Oak Tree Racing PLEASANTON, Calif. (Apr. 23, 2015) — For complete information on the Oak Tree at Pleasanton meet, click: http://oaktreeracing.com/sites/all/themes/oaktree/pdfs/2015/oaktreeflyer.pdf ...

By Bloodhorse.com SARATOGA, N.Y. (Apr. 20, 2015) – California-bred champion Lava man, trainer King Leatherbury, the late jockey Chris Antley and female sprinter Xtra Heat will receive the sport’s highest honor as the 2015 class of the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame. The electees will be inducted during ceremonies at 10:30 a.m., Friday, Aug. 7 at the Fasig-Tipton sales pavilion in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Trained by Doug O’Neill, Lava Man won seven grade I races, to date more than any other California-bred in history. With a career record of 17-8-5 from 47 starts with earnings of $5,268,706, among California-bred horses only Hall of Famers Tiznow   and Best Pal and 2014 Horse of the Year California Chrome have higher career earnings. Lava Man won three consecutive editions of the Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) from 2005 through 2007, matching a feat Hall of Famer Native Diver accomplished from 1965 through 1967. Lava Man also won back-to-back runnings of the Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) in 2006 and 2007. Lava Man (Slew City Slew—L’il Ms. Leonard,... ...

By Brisnet.com BALTIMORE, Md. (Apr. 18, 2015) — California-bred Bodhisattva’s (Student Council) efforts to wire Saturday’s $100,000 Federico Tesio S. at Pimlico were derailed a bit when Noteworthy Peach (Read the Footnotes) headed him in the stretch, but the chestnut colt battled back on the inside of that rival to take command once again and this time draw off for the 1 1/2-length win.Trained by owner Jose Corrales and ridden in the 1 1/16-mile contest by Trevor McCarthy, Bodhisattva set splits of :24 4/5, :49 and 1:13 3/5 as Noteworthy Peach kept in close contact just to his outside. All Hands (Unbridled’s Song), the full brother to Eight Belles, was sent off the 6-5 favorite in this spot after breaking his maiden by seven lengths on March 15 at Aqueduct and saved ground on the inside just behind those two on the backstretch. All Hands couldn’t keep up as Noteworthy Peach began his move, ranging up to run in tandem Bodhisattva in the lane. Those two battled it out to the wire,... ...

                ARCADIA, Calif. (Apr. 17, 2015) – The condition book for the 2015 Oak Tree at Pleasanton meet is now online. http://www.calfairs.com/data/cbooks/pleasanton.pdf?utm_source=Overnight&utm_campaign=93615d936e-Oak_Tree_at_Pleasanton_Condition_Book4_17_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_ac79a58603-93615d936e-79120121 More than $1.7 million in purses will be available and six stakes races will be run in the 12-day meeting at the Alameda Fairgrounds. Trainers making between five and nine starts will receive a $500 bonus on the last day of the meet. Trainers making 10 or more starts will receive $1,000. Shipping horses to the meet?  Call the racing office for relocation assistance at 415-271-4613. ...

By DRF.com ALBANY, Calif. (Apr. 16, 2015) — The Thoroughbred racing calendar for Northern California in September and October was altered at Thursday’s California Horse Racing Board meeting, interspersing county fair meetings in Stockton and Fresno with the months-long Golden Gate Fields meeting in Albany. Under dates previously allocated, Golden Gate Fields was scheduled to start its summer-autumn meeting Aug. 21 and run through Sept. 13 before pausing for race meetings in Stockton and Fresno in late September and early October. Golden Gate would have resumed racing Oct. 15. Under the new calendar, Golden Gate Fields will open its summer-autumn meeting Aug. 21 and run through Sept. 7 before taking a two-week break while the San Joaquin County Fair meeting in Stockton is held Sept. 11-20. Stockton was originally scheduled to race Sept. 18-27. The new calendar will have Golden Gate Fields resume racing from Sept. 24 through Oct. 4 and then take another break to allow for the Big Fresno Fair meeting Oct. 8-18. Fresno was allotted racing dates... ...

ARCADIA, Calif. (Apr. 14, 2015) – Mike Mitchell, the winningest trainer in Del Mar history who won 20 training titles in Southern California, died on Tuesday of the effects of  a brain tumor diagnosed in 2012, according to friends of the family. Mitchell was 66. Mitchell retired from active training last April, turning over his stable to longtime assistant Phil D’Amato. Mitchell took a lesser role in the stable through the rest of 2014 and into this year and frequently attended races and morning workouts. He was an occasional visitor at Santa Anita in the mornings earlier this year but was in hospice care at his home near the racetrack in recent weeks. Mitchell began training in 1974 and won 2,678 races, mostly in Southern California. His runners earned $67,206,392. Mitchell won a career-best 127 races in 1983 and set a career high for earnings in a season with $4,571,184 in 2008, when his stable had 108 wins. “He’s a Hall of Fame trainer in my mind,” D’Amato said Tuesday.... ...

By Thoroughbredracing.com Wallpapering floor to ceiling all four sides of his office at Santa Anita in a dusty and time-worn collage of photographs spanning decades are nearly all of trainer Bruce Headley’s 120-plus stake race victories during a career that has lasted a trifling 55 years.  The oldest is a grainy sepia-tinged win picture dated 1962 – Poonastar’s victory in the Junior League Stakes at Hollywood Park, a young, sandy haired Headley with a touch of James Dean about him. The most recent is of Street Boss winning G1 Bing Crosby Handicap in 2008, the trainer’s sandy hair decidedly thinner, admittedly, but the young man from 46 years before still visible behind softened edges. The effect Headley’s office has on first time eyes is two-pronged. The first is to be led through a pictorial journey over the last 50 or so years of racing in California – the shadowed peaks of Santa Anita’s San Gabriel Mountains and Hollywood Park’s bulging grandstand captured at different lights, years, and seasons in the... ...

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Apr. 13, 2015) – William Bianco Jr, a former racing commissioner and horse owner, who spent most of his life giving to others, suffered a stroke and passed away April 11 in San Jose at the age of 75. A self-made man, lacking a formal education, Mr. Bianco taught himself chemistry and eventually co-founded Kinetic Systems Inc, which provided process systems for the semi-conductor, biotech, pharmaceutical, and food industries, most notably containment systems and chemicals for the start-up company Intel in the early 1970s. After Mr. Bianco sold his company in 1998, he increased his involvement in thoroughbred racing and partnered in Fog City Stables, an ownership group with 35 horses. He and one of his sons, William Bianco III, bred and raced Cal-bred horses as Sunset Stables. Then-Governor Gray Davis appointed Mr. Bianco to the California Horse Racing Board in March 2001. He served six years as a racing commissioner through January 2007, including one year as vice chairman in 2005. During his years on the Board,... ...

By Jay Hovdey, DRF.com There has been plenty of uninformed speculation about California Chrome’s English adventure and whether it will turn out to be excellent or not. Just for a change of pace, how about a little informed speculation on the subject? John Gosden knows the American racehorse better than any top British trainer working today. After all, he had to deal with them for the first decade of his career, during which time he trained champions Royal Heroine, a European transplant, and Bates Motel, who was American through and through. Back in his native Britain, Gosden has won the Epsom Derby, the Epsom Oaks, the 1000 and 2000 Guineas (for a total of 3,000 Guineas), two runnings of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, and four runnings of the English St. Leger. He was champion trainer there in 2012, and in 2014 he campaigned a pair of Cartier champions: the 3-year-old filly Taghrooda and the 3-year-old colt Kingman, who was also Horse of the Year. Both Kingman... ...

ALBANY, Calif. (Apr. 10, 2015) – Northern California trainer William J. Morey, Jr., a member of the California Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Hall of Fame (class of 2014), died Friday morning at a rehabilitation facility in Los Altos after a long battle with cancer.  Mr. Morey was 74.   A native of San Francisco, Mr. Morey grew up in San Carlos and attended the races at Bay Meadows with his father.  As a teenager, Mr. Morey got a job as a hot walker at the now defunct San Mateo racetrack.   Mr. Morey received his official trainer’s license in 1970 and won his first race that year at Pleasanton with Crimson Flag.  Mr. Morey would go on to become a mainstay in Northern California racing and, according to Equibase, amassed the following career statistics: 7,885 starts, 1,347 wins, 1,290 seconds, 1,180 thirds, and $22,415,416 in earnings.   Mr. Morey won 67 stakes, including eight graded events.  Mr. Morey’s top stakes stars were millionaires Dixie Dot Com (winner of four graded stakes... ...

ALBANY, Calif. (Apr. 9, 2015) – California-breds won all seven races at Golden Gate on Thursday. The winners were Beautiful Desert, bred by Harris Farms; Sourdough Sam, bred by John Nicoletti; Fancy Brandi, bred by Gloria Morton; Spending Plan, bred by Harris Farms; Double Switch, bred by Joseph P. Morey Jr. Revocable Trust; Tribal Delight, bred by Pam & Marty Wygod; Himalaya Star, bred by Kullminderpal Gill. ...

ALBANY, Calif. (Mar. 31, 2015) – The California-bred Turf Extravaganza will be held Sunday, Apr. 26 at Golden Gate. The inaugural event features two stakes races and two allowances races with purses totaling nearly $275,000: $100,000 Campanile Stakes for Golden State Series eligible 3-year-old fillies at one mile on turf. $100,000 Silky Sullivan Stakes for Golden State Series eligible 3-year-olds at one mile on turf. $37,000 Turf Allowance for Cal-bred or Cal-sired fillies 3-and-up. $37,000 Turf Allowance for Cal-bred or Cal-sired 3-and-up. Come and join us to celebrate Cal-breds in the beautiful and private Directors’ Room. The Directors’ Room offers all the amenities of the Turf Club with the addition of a private dining area, private restrooms, delicious buffet, private auto tote wagering and a private bar. Guests of the Directors’ Room are also treated to a welcome glass of champagne to begin your day at the races in style. The price of the party is $100 per person or tables of four or six are available. The price includes... ...

From Ballena Vista Farm DUBAI, UAE (March 28, 2015) — Dual Breeders’ Cup champion Secret Circle struck the front three-wide with a quarter mile to race, and gamely held off a late challenge to win the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen-G1 by a head. With the victory, the 6-year-old son of California stallion Eddington collected $1.2 million, increasing his lifetime earnings to $3,670,790, and further embellishing a superb record of eight wins, six seconds and one third in 16 starts for owners Mike Pegram, Paul Weitman and Karl Watson. His time of 1:10.64 for the 1,200-meter event established the track record for the new Meydan dirt track and gave trainer Bob Baffert and Victor Espinoza their first victories in the Grade I event. ...

From Barretts ARCADIA, Calif. (Mar. 25, 2015) — As part of a pilot out-of-competition testing (OOCT) program, the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) will be collecting hair, urine and blood samples from horses to be sold at this year’s Barretts May Sale. This pilot program will not impact the Conditions of Sale for the May venue, and efforts will be made to minimize the inconvenience to both horses and consignors. The test results will not affect the sale of any horses at this auction. “We are pleased to be working closely with the CHRB as it explores a new OOCT standard for the sales industry” said Barretts General manager Kim Lloyd. “The preservation of the integrity and credibility of sales programs is a top priority. Barretts will assist the CHRB with the process of introducing and implementing the OOCT pilot protocols at the upcoming May Sale.” ...

By Bloodhorse.com MEXICO CITY, Mexico (Mar. 24, 2015) — Enrique Cantarell Diaz’s Amanecer Serrano was a convincing 2 1/4-length victor March 21 at Hipodromo de las Americas in Mexico and became the first winner for California-based freshman sire Sierra Sunset. The Mexico-bred chestnut colt was guided by William Antongeorgi III and was timed in :27.80 for the 2 1/2-furlong contest that drew seven contenders. His dam is Big Daddy’s Lady, by The Daddy. Sierra Sunset, a 10-year-old son of Bertrando out of Toot Sweet, by Pirate’s Bounty, stands for a 2015 fee of $2,500 at Paradise Road Ranch in near Tracy, Calif. He has 30 2-year-olds in his first crop. Winner of the 2008 Rebel Stakes (gr. II) at Oaklawn Park among four stakes winners overall, including the 2007 California Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita Park, Sierra Sunset compiled a 5-3-1 career line from 14 starts and bankrolled lifetime earnings of $459,696. Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/90866/colt-first-winner-for-ca-based-sierra-sunset#ixzz3VMaaZ5v6 ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (March 22, 2015)–Odds-on favorite Wild in the Saddle made short work of three California-bred or sired fillies and mares in taking Sunday’s $100,000 Dream of Summer Stakes for Golden State Series eligible by 6 ¼ lengths under Rafael Bejarano. Trained by Richard Baltas, the 6-year-old mare by Silic was attentive to a fast pace and took charge midway around the far turn en route to getting a flat mile in 1:36.73. Ridden by Elvis Trujillo, Sudden Sunday, who broke from the inside, was hustled to a narrow advantage over the winner into and around the Club House turn, but Wild in the Saddle opened up leaving the quarter pole and the Dream of Summer was over. “The trainer told me to go to the lead, but when I saw Sudden Sunday rushing too much into the first turn, I just decided to let her go,” said Bejarano. “My horse doesn’t have to be on the lead and the way she was going I didn’t... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (March 21, 2015)–In his first-ever graded stakes assignment, California-bred Ashleyluvssugar out-dueled heavily favored Finnegans Wake to win Saturday’s Grade II, $200,000 San Luis Rey Stakes by 2 ¼ lengths under Gary Stevens. Trained by Peter Eurton, Ashleyluvssugar bested seven other older horses in negotiating 1 ½ miles on turf in 2:25.78. Well back in fifth position into the Club House turn, Ashleyluvssugar, who came off of an allowance win going 1 1/8 miles on turf Feb. 5, raced as a team with the favorite three-wide around the far turn and when Stevens went to his left handed stick at the furlong pole, the 4-year-old gelding by Game Plan seemingly found another gear and spurted clear. “I watched his last race, when Mike (Smith, who was away today to ride at Turfway Park) was on him and he battled back then too,” said Stevens. “Those were different kinds of horses but he really came back for Mike when he went left handed with the whip.... ...

LAUREL, Md. (Mar. 21, 2015) – Eddy Gourmet, a Maryland-bred daughter of California stallion Eddington, won Saturday’s $83,500 Conniver Stakes for fillies and mares at Laurel Park. Eddy Gourmet has six wins in 25 starts, earnings of $289,110 and was coming off a Feb. 8 optional claiming win. This was her stakes debut. She ran the seven furlongs in 1:23.50 and won by 7 ¾ lengths at odds of 7-2. ...

By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Mar. 20, 2015) — A good horse can come from anywhere, and have any kind of pedigree. But good horses occur far more rarely from unfashionable pedigrees than from those replete with the heavy black type of graded stakes winners. That is why the California Chromes of our small, insular world make such wonderful, populist stories. It also is why we must celebrate the Grade 1 success of horses such as Warren’s Veneda, winner of the Santa Margarita Handicap on March 14 at Santa Anita. Warren’s Veneda is the best horse bred by California businessman Benjamin C. Warren, who was once the largest Thoroughbred breeder in California. He bred more than 100 foals per year in the first decade of the 21st century but got out of the breeding business in 2012. Warren’s Veneda comes from the penultimate crop of horses bred by Warren, and her pedigree is typical of the cheaply bred horses his operation generally produced. Her sire, Affirmative, was once believed to be... ...

Ag Day photo gallery: SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Mar. 18, 2015) – Ag Day at the California Capitol was held Wednesday and California Thoroughbred Breeders Association was there, representing breeders and offering legislators information on the vital role the Thoroughbred industry plays in the state’s agricultural economy. CTBA past Presidents Sue Greene and Leigh Ann Howard, along with event coordinator Christy Chapman promoted the sport and educated visitors to the CTBA booth on general horse facts and Thoroughbred racing and breeding in California. Among the legislators that visited the booth were Assemblymembers Jim Frazier, Matt Harper, Brian Maienschein, Chad Mayes, Brian Jones, Marc Levine and Rudy Salas; Senators Tom Berryhill, Mike Morrell, Ted Gaines, Frank Bigelow, Jim Nielson; Speaker of the House Toni Atkins; Secretary of Agriculture Karen Ross and CTBA lobbyist Robyn Black. Legislators were able to visit with an 18-day-old orphan by Eddington, out of the mare Mistical Bel, being nursed by 20-year-old surrogate mare Rollete.   ...

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Mar. 19 2015) — John McGary is returning as the track announcer for the California Authority of Racing Fairs in 2015. McGary, who called races on the fair circuit from 2000-05, will be in the booth for the Alameda County Fair (Pleasanton), California State Fair (Sacramento), Humboldt County Fair (Ferndale),  San Joaquin County Fair (Stockton), and Big Fresno Fair (Fresno). He will also prepare the morning lines for each meet and host handicapping seminars. “I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the fairs and consider myself very fortunate to be able to return,” McGary said. “I’m excited to be back.” McGary currently serves as track announcer at Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course in Ohio and has more than 20 years experience as a racetrack announcer, publicity professional, odds maker, and paddock race analyst at several tracks including Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino, where he worked from 2005-14. “We are pleased to introduce John as the voice of the Northern California racing fair circuit,” said Christopher Korby, executive... ...

By Jay Hovdey, DRF.com CYPRESS, Calif. (Mar. 18, 2015) — With the mixed feelings of a man about to plunge into the dark unknown, Art Sherman bade a temporary farewell to California Chrome on Tuesday morning at Los Alamitos while keeping clear of the crew loading the 2014 Horse of the Year onto a van parked in a remote corner of the stables. “I get too nervous with all that kind of stuff,” Sherman said. “It’s for the best if I just stay out of their way. Otherwise, it might be contagious.” Sherman was dealing with what was merely the first leg of a long journey to Dubai, where California Chrome will compete in the 20th running of the $10 million Dubai World Cup on the evening of March 28, Dubai time (11 hours later than Pacific time). California Chrome will be running a counterclockwise 2,000 meters over a recently installed sand-based main track. The money needs no conversion, although the 2,000 meters was a different story. “Just a shade... ...

By Bloodhorse.com DEL MAR, Calif. (Mar. 12, 2015) — An incentive program to attract out-of-state horses to race in California that has had success over the past four seasons at Del Mar will expand to the entire Southern California racing circuit April 2. The “Ship and Win” program will apply to horses that have not raced in the past 12 months in California. At Santa Anita Park, Los Alamitos Race Course, and Del Mar, the program will guarantee a $1,000 appearance fee and a 30% enhancement to all purse money earned in the horse’s initial start in the state. Funding for the program will come from the three Southern California racetracks, the Thoroughbred Owners of California, and the California Marketing Committee, which is tasked with promoting racing in the state. “Horse recruitment and increasing field size are top priorities for TOC,” TOC president Joe Morris said. “We supported the ‘Ship and Win’ program at Del Mar for the last four years and believe it will be equally successful as a... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (March 8, 2015)–Underrated Harlington’s Rose rallied from off the pace to win Sunday’s Grade III, $100,000 Las Flores Stakes by three quarters of a length while covering six furlongs in 1:09.64 under Joe Talamo. Trained by Steve Knapp and bred in California by Y-Lo Racing Stables, the Harlington filly broke from the rail and lacked room while full of run into the far turn. Next to last, about three lengths off the lead at the quarter pole, she wheeled three-wide turning into the stretch to gradually inch away from runner-up Meinertzhageni inside the sixteenth pole. “I didn’t really want the rail,” said Knapp. “As you could see, she got pinched at the three eighths pole and Joe had to stand on her. He had enough horse that he could go in between and go around, but it is what it is. “She has developed. When she was two and three, she wanted to run off. Now, she’s learned how to relax behind horses and this has made... ...

By Sacramento Bee SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Mar. 8, 2015) — On a thoroughbred ranch in Vacaville, a 3-week-old foal gallops close to its mother. Their bond seems natural, but it didn’t start out that way. When the foal was born, it completely ignored its mother and refused to nurse. University of California, Davis veterinary specialist John Madigan intervened moments after the birth with a novel treatment he calls “the squeeze.” It’s attracting attention from researchers studying autism in children, who see a possible parallel between Madigan’s work with horses and a similar technique — called kangaroo care — that’s often used on pre-term infants. “The phenomenon that Madigan has observed in foals is interesting and dramatic,” said David Stevenson, professor of pediatrics at Stanford University. Over the past five years, a dozen foals at Victory Rose Thoroughbreds in Vacaville have been born with neonatal maladjustment syndrome, or NMS, in which they are emotionally detached from their mothers. In each case, horse farm owner Ellen Jackson called Madigan, a UCD veterinary professor and... ...

By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Mar. 7, 2015) – Singing Kitty, claimed for $32,000 at Los Alamitos in December, won her second consecutive stakes in Saturday’s $91,650 China Doll Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on turf at Santa Anita. Singing Kitty ($41.60) closed from fourth in a field of eight to win the one-mile turf race by 1 1/2 lengths over Curlin’s Fox, the even-money favorite. She’s a Big Winner, who set the pace, finished third, a nose behind Curlin’s Fox. Singing Kitty, bred by Tommy Town Thoroughbreds, was timed in 1:35.09. She’s a Big Winner set fractions of 23.07 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 47.34 for a half-mile. She was challenged in early stretch by Singing Kitty, who is trained by Matt Chew. Singing Kitty races for Chris Aulds and Peter Jeong. A California-bred by Ministers Wild Cat, Singing Kitty won a $32,000 claimer at Los Alamitos on Dec. 11, when she was claimed. She finished seventh in the Blue Norther Stakes on turf Jan. 1 but rebounded to win the California... ...

By Bloodhorse.com OZONE PARK, N.Y. (Mar. 7, 2015) — Salutos Amigos, a Kentucky-bred son of California stallion Salute the Sarge, continued to show he’s the top sprinter in New York with a powerful victory in the $200,000 Tom Fool Handicap (gr. III) at Aqueduct Racetrack March 7 (VIDEO). Sent off as the 3-5 favorite, Salutos Amigos rallied from third, easily going by second-choice Dads Caps in the stretch to post his fourth straight stakes victory. The 5-year-old by Salute the Sarge is now a perfect 3-for-3 over Aqueduct’s inner dirt track. Owned by David Jacobson and Southern Equine Stable, Salutos Amigos rated kindly in third under Cornelio Velasquez, as Dads Caps and 24-1 longshot Green Gratto battled from the start through a half-mile in :46.24 over the muddy track. As they turned for home, Velasquez began to ask on Salutos Amigos and the bay gelding responded, taking command from Dads Caps just inside the eighth-pole before posting the four-length score. The final time for the six furlongs was1:09.61. “Very impressive,”... ...

From Harris Farms COALINGA, Calif. (Mar. 5, 2015) – Clubhouse Ride, the son of Candy Ride, has been retired and will enter stud for 2015 at Harris Farms for an introductory fee of $2,500. Campaigned by Six-S Racing Stable and Bonnie and Nikolas Petralia, and trained throughout his career by Craig Lewis, the chestnut earned $1,341,132 in 43 starts including victories in 2013 and 2014 Californian Stakes. A graded-stakes performer from ages 2 through 5, Clubhouse Rideplaced in nine additional graded stakes, including the Santa Anita Handicap, Santa Anita Gold Cup, Cash Call Futurity, Charles Town Classic, San Antonio Stakes and the Daytona Stakes. He ran eight triple-digit Beyers numbers in 2013-14. Clubhouse Ride co-owner Rick Seidner commented, “He was a great horse with a huge heart that ran on all surfaces. I was thrilled to witness every race. We’re looking forward to his second career.” Lewis said, “Clubhouse Ride was a top athlete, with a great mind. He was all racehorse.” John Harris of Harris Farms said, “I thought... ...

By Bloodhorse.com SARATOGA, N.Y. (Mar. 2, 2015) — The 10 finalists on this year’s National Museum of Racing’s 2015 Hall of Fame ballot are jockeys Chris Antley, Victor Espinoza, Corey Nakatani, and Craig Perret; Thoroughbreds Black Tie Affair, Kona Gold, California-bred Lava Man, and Xtra Heat; and trainers King Leatherbury and David Whiteley. Four jockeys, four Thoroughbreds, and two trainers comprise the 10 finalists on the ballot, as selected by the Museum’s Hall of Fame nominating committee. Espinoza, Nakatani, Black Tie Affair, Lava Man, Leatherbury, and Whiteley are first-time finalists. Hall of Fame voters may select as many candidates as they believe are worthy of induction to the Hall of Fame. The four candidates with the highest vote totals will be elected. The voting results on contemporary candidates will be announced Monday, April 20. The induction ceremony will be at the Fasig-Tipton sales pavilion in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., on Friday, Aug. 7, at 10:30 a.m. The ceremony is free and open to the public. The finalists were selected by the... ...

By DRF.com SANTA YNEZ, Calif. (Feb. 25, 2015) — Jerry Lambert, best known for riding Hall of Famer Native Diver in the 1960s and for winning a celebrated match race aboard Convenience against Typecast in 1972, was found dead Monday at Magali Farms in Santa Ynez, Calif., where he had been working, according to a release put out Tuesday by Santa Anita. Lambert was 74. Lambert, nicknamed “Clyde” after the city in Kansas where he was born, rode Native Diver to consecutive victories in the Hollywood Gold Cup from 1965-67. In 1972, he won a match race at Hollywood Park aboard Convenience, who just held off the late charge of Typecast and Bill Shoemaker. “He was a great rider,” Don Pierce, the Hall of Fame rider who retired in 1984, told the Santa Anita publicity department. “I rode with him from the time he came to California in 1961 until I retired. Any time he was in a race, you had to deal with him because he didn’t make mistakes.... ...

POMONA, Calif. (Feb. 24, 2015) – Four California-breds brought six-figure prices at Monday’s Barretts’ 2-Year-Old in Training Sale. A Heatseeker filly out of the Capote mare Cinema Paradisa, was consigned by Brocklebank Training & Sales, agent for Dimple Dell Farms & D Legacy Farms, was purchased by Legacy Ranch for $185,000. A Lucky Pulpit filly out of the Rock Hard Ten mare Fantasy Rocks, consigned by Havens Bloodstock, agent, was purchased by Three Amigos for $180,000. A Gio Ponti colt, out of the Is It True mare Ring True, consigned by Havens Bloodstock, agent, was purchased  by Point Richmond Bloodstock for $140,000. An Aragorn colt, out of the Indian Charlie mare Tavern on Rush, was consigned by Havens Bloodstock, agent, was purchased by Ryan or Liedel or Auerbach for $100,000. Falling just shy of six figures was a Slew’s Tiznow colt, out of the Unusual Heat mare Presidential Heat, consigned by Checkmate Thoroughbreds, agent, and purchased by Barnabus Molle for $92,000. ...

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 17, 2015)  – Highly respected longtime Southern California trainer Leonard Dorfman passed away peacefully early Sunday evening at his daughter’s home in Round Rock Texas. The affable Dorfman, a decorated World War II combat veteran who lied about his eyesight to enlist in the Army at age 19, would have been 93 on June 22. Best known as the conditioner of multiple stakes winners Biggs, Travel Orb, Minnesota Chief, Joni U. Bar and McCann’s Mojave, Dorfman gravitated to the track at an early age and one of his first jobs was grooming horses at movie mogul Louis B. Mayer’s farm in Hemet, Calif., circa, 1939 at age 15. A native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, Dorfman emigrated to Los Angeles with his mother at the age of 7 and soon thereafter cultivated a lifetime love affair with horses. “He was such a kind and gentle man,” said retired Hall of Fame jockey Donald Pierce, from his home in Encinitas. “He was without a doubt... ...

From Golden Gate Publicity ALBANY, Calif. (Feb. 16, 2015) — A front-running victory aboard 3-2 California-bred favorite Marino’s Wild Cat in the $60,460 Lost in the Fog Stakes highlighted a four-victory afternoon for jockey Silvio Amador at Golden Gate Fields Monday.      Marino’s Wild Cat sped to the lead soon after the start of the six-furlong sprint for older horses and set fractions of 22.78 and 45.17 while being tracked by come-backing Exit Stage Left, who entered the race undefeated in three starts – all stakes victories.      Marino’s Wild Cat held Exit Stage Left at bay through the length of the stretch and scored by 1 3/4 lengths in an impressive 1:08.92.  Exit Stage Left, making his first start since winning the California Derby on Jan. 18, 2014, took second by a length over 15-1 outsider Giant Sandman.     “I was very happy the race went the way I thought it would,” said Amador.  “It was good that nobody came out to fight me on the... ...

From DMTC Publicity DEL MAR, Calif. (Feb. 16, 2015) — After clearing away all of the synthetic Polytrack material that made up the main track surface for the past eight years, crews have almost completed removing the stone sub-base of the main track. Those two-inch blue granite stones, approximately 15,000 tons worth, are earmarked for recycled uses on the 350-acre fairground.   A large rock crusher has been assembled to grind or break the stones into three products – rock dust, pea gravel and three-quarter-inch rock. The rock dust will make up a portion of the new track’s sub-base; the pea gravel will be used to line the track’s inside drainage channel, and the three-quarter-inch rock will be employed on several additional maintenance projects on the fairgrounds. Digging for the inside drainage channel – which measures approximately a foot wide and 18 inches deep — began this past Monday. Water that drains down through the main track will use the existing perforated drainage pipes hooked into a new main pipe... ...

From Santa Anita Publicity  ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 14, 2015)–Although she was caught wide around both turns, Warren’s Veneda rallied from off the pace to an emphatic 2 ¾ length win in Saturday’s Grade II, $200,000 Santa Maria Stakes at Santa Anita, as the California-bred daughter of Affirmative covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.18. Trained by Craig Lewis and owned by her breeder, Benjamin C. Warren, Warren’s Veneda, who notched her second win in a row and got her first graded stakes victory, was the second choice in a field of eight older fillies and mares at 9-5 and paid $5.60, $3.40 and $2.60. “I was on her when she broke her maiden a couple of years ago and I knew she was a nice filly then,” said Baze. “Going into the first turn I thought about taking her back and dropping her in, but I told myself to just have confidence and I knew she was the best in the field. I lost a little ground, which I really don’t... ...

By Art Wilson, Pasadena Star News ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 13, 2015) — Got about an hour? Maybe two? That’s how long it will take for Bruce Headley to tell you about all the standout California-bred horses he’s trained during his 56-year career. The old-school Headley, who believes hay, oats and water are the only ingredients a horse needs to be successful, received the highest honor a local horseman can receive Monday night at the Pasadena Westin when he was inducted into the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association Hall of Fame. According to his daughter, Karen, his acceptance speech brought down the house. Not surprising, since Headley can be as delightful off the track as he is lethal on it. “There are a lot of great men in there, in that Hall of Fame, that I learned from, so to be in there with the guys I learned from is quite an honor,” said Headley, who discovered at a young age that if you’re good to the horses, they’ll be good to... ...

To view the presentation of 2014 Horse of the Year at the CTBA Annual Awards Dinner, click http://bit.ly/1KQ9kLr ...

By Bloodhorse.com OCEANPORT, N.J. (Feb. 10, 2015) — Monmouth Park Racetrack has announced that Frank Mirahmadi will become its new track announcer when the 2015 racing season kicks off on Saturday, May 9. “Frank is an exceptional talent and we’re delighted that he will be joining the Monmouth Park team,” Bob Kulina, president of Darby Development LLC, operators of the racetrack, said in a release. “His style and accuracy will be a perfect fit for Monmouth and I’m sure everyone on-track and those listening worldwide will be equally delighted with his race calls.” A veteran of the announcer’s booth for nearly 20 years, Mirahmadi got his start at Hialeah Park in 1996. Since then he’s called the races at Louisiana Downs, Turf Paradise and for the last nine years the Northern California fair circuit. He’s currently the announcer for Oaklawn Park and Los Alamitos Racecourse and works for TVG as a racing analyst and with their sales department. In addition, Mirahmadi has voiced race calls for the movie “Seabiscuit” as... ...

By Bloodhorse.com OZONE PARK, N.Y. (Feb. 7, 2015) – Salutos Amigos, a Kentucky-bred son of California stallion Salute the Sarge, wouldn’t be denied Feb. 7, rallying through the stretch to take the $147,000 Toboggan Stakes (gr. III) at Aqueduct Racetrack by 1 3/4 lengths over Dads Caps. Sent off as the 3-4 favorite in the field of five competing over a fast inner track, Salutos Amigos overcame a four-length deficit in the stretch to reel in 9-5 second-choice Dads Caps. With Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard, Salutos Amigos won his third straight stakes race and fourth stakes in the past five starts. “He’s just getting better and better,” said Jacobson, who also trains the 5-year-old Salute the Sarge gelding. “(Dads Caps) is a tough horse to run down and beat.” Dads Caps, wearing blinkers, went right to the front and set the pace under Jose Ortiz, covering the half mile in fractions of :23.08 and :45.30 while Salutos Amigos raced fourth, over six lengths behind the speedy front-runner. Turning for home,... ...

By Bloodhorse.com ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 6, 2015) — Promising California-bred 3-year-old Acceptance, who suffered his first defeat in four starts when fourth as the 1-2 favorite in the California Cup Derby Jan. 24 at Santa Anita Park, has been turned out at Old English Rancho in Sanger. “He left today (Feb. 6),” said Kenny Black, assistant to trainer Don Warren. “He’ll be freshened to deal with some shin issues.” Warren conditions the homebred son of Vronsky for Bud and Judy Johnston, who own the dark bay colt in partnership with Robert Riggio. Acceptance won the first three starts of his career, including stakes victories last year in Santa Anita’s Golden State Juvenile and the King Glorious at Los Alamitos Racecourse. Heavily favored in the Cal Cup Derby, his 2015 debut, Acceptance set the pace while under pressure from eventual winner Mischief Clem before dropping back in the homestretch to lose by 12 1/4 lengths. Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/90008/acceptance-turned-out-with-shin-issues#ixzz3R0TDK2J8 ...

VINTON, La. (Jan. 17, 2015) – Hip Four Sixtynine, a Kentucky-bred son of California stallion Southern Image, won Saturday’s $70,000 Fremont Stakes at Delta Downs. Hip Four Sixtynine is out of the Mt. Livermore mare Gentle Wave. He ran the mile in 1:38.95 and won by 3 ½ lengths at odds of 7-2. He has six wins in 22 starts and earnings of $238,827. ...

SUNLAND PARK, N.M. (Jan. 19, 2015) – California-breds Urgraceisenough and Wackett are entered in Sunday’s $50,000 El Paso Times Handicap for fillies and mares at Sunland Park. Urgraceisenough is by Ministers Wild Cat, out of the Lord Carson mare You Life Me Up, was bred by owner Tommy Town Thoroughbreds and is trained by Johnny Nall. She has one win in six starts, earnings of $11,605 and is coming off a fourth in a Nov. 22 allowance. Wackett is by Bushwacker, out of the Half Term mare Spring Term, was bred by Terry Lovingier, is owned by Jeff and Sally Bustamante and is trained by Jeff Bustamante. She has one win in eight starts, earnings of $15,755 and is coming off a sixth in an Oc. 23 claimer. ...

By DRF.com LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 16, 2015) — Respondents to an online poll conducted by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association overwhelmingly tabbed California Chrome’s Kentucky Derby win last year as the “Moment of the Year,” according to a release from the NTRA. Of the approximate 2,000 voters, 30.5 percent chose the Derby as the “Moment of the Year,” outpolling Wise Dan’s win in the Bernard Baruch at Saratoga in the two-time Horse of the Year’s first start after emergency colic surgery, which received 20.1 percent of the vote. The NTRA allowed voting on 10 specific moments. California Chrome, who is being pointed to the San Antonio Handicap at Santa Anita on Feb. 7, was one of the most popular horses to compete in the Triple Crown in a decade. He won the 2014 Derby as the 5-2 favorite, extending his winning streak to five races. In third place was Tom Durkin’s final race call and emotional farewell ceremony in the Saratoga winner’s circle on Aug. 31. The nominee received 17.5... ...

By DRF.com TEMECULA, Calif. (Jan. 15, 2015) — Galway Downs in Temecula, Calif., was approved as an auxiliary stabling venue to replace Fairplex Park, which is closing in February. Joe Morris of the TOC and Alan Balch of the California Thoroughbred Trainers association told the racing board that up to 400 horses can be accommodated at Galway Downs, but that considerably fewer are expected to be based there in coming months. Most horses in training in Southern California are based at Los Alamitos, Santa Anita, and the San Luis Rey Downs training center in northern San Diego County. Those four venues will give Southern California racing capacity for 3,400 to 3,500 horses. The Galway Downs license approval was contingent on the completion of several technical issues, such as receiving clearance from local fire officials, emergency protocols, and completing security arrangements. The facility is expected to open by Feb. 4. Fairplex Park will close for year-round stabling next month, but will continue to operate as an off-track betting site. Fairplex Park... ...