Close

Category: Byron King

Keith Desormeaux Celebrates Confidence Game’s Kentucky Derby Entry

louisianathoroughbred

“We’re all celebrating what we love,” Desormeaux said.

 

When trainer Keith Desormeaux arrived at Churchill Downs in 2016 to prepare Exaggerator , his first starter in the Kentucky Derby (G1), he admits he was on edge around his barn, unaccustomed to a stable area drawing so much activity from media and observers.

Desormeaux grew frustrated when he felt they infringed upon his colt’s space, though he and his horse weathered the circus. Exaggerator performed well on Derby Day before a crowd of 167,227, running second to Nyquist  .

Two weeks later, Exaggerator captured the Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course under the trainer’s brother, Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux. The colt would then complete the Triple Crown series for 3-year-olds with an 11th-place finish in the Belmont Stakes (G1).

Read BloodHorse Article

 

Keith Desormeaux<br> Horses training at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., on April 29, 2023.
Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt

Trainer Keith Desormeaux at Churchill Downs

Asmussen Makes History With 10,000 North American Wins

louisianathoroughbred

Hall of Fame trainer made history for a second time Feb. 20.

 

Steve Asmussen became the first trainer to win 10,000 Thoroughbred races in North America when Bet He’s Ready won the fifth race at Oaklawn Park Feb. 20.

Asmussen also has two additional wins overseas, including Curlin  ‘s victory in the 2008 Dubai World Cup (G1).

A Hall of Famer, Asmussen became the winningest trainer in North American history on Aug. 7, 2021, when Stellar Tap  won a maiden race at Saratoga Race Course, giving him his 9,446th win and pushing the late Dale Baird into second. Since then, Asmussen has continued to win races at a high rate, drawing ever closer to the latest milestone.

Read BloodHorse Article

Fair Grounds Suspends Turf Racing

louisianathoroughbred

The Louisiana track entered its meet with plans to begin with limited turf racing.

Officials at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots this week suspended turf racing through at least late December to allow the track’s grass to recover from damage to the inner portion of the course. The New Orleans track entered its meet that began Nov. 18 with plans of a reduced schedule of turf racing, utilizing only its outermost running lane.

According to Gary Palmisano, executive director of racing for Churchill Downs Inc., which owns Fair Grounds, the course did not experience its customary growth this fall. Amid dry conditions, a well the track used for watering the grass was intruded with salt water when the Gulf of Mexico pushed into city freshwater supplies due to drought across much of the areas surrounding the Mississippi River, he said. Saltwater can kill grass.

Initial use of another water source and recent rainfall in the area has allowed officials to irrigate the turf, he added.

 

Read BloodHorse Article

Texas Congressman Introduces Legislation to Delay HISA

louisianathoroughbred

HISA is responsible for creating and implementing uniform safety and integrity rules.

Rep. Lance Gooden, a Texas Republican, introduced legislation Oct. 4 in the United States House of Representatives that would delay the implementation of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act until Jan. 1, 2024, according to a release distributed by the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association.

Some portions of the federal program created by the Act took effect in July, including the Racetrack Safety Program. HISA’s Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority’s Anti-Doping and Medication Control Program is scheduled for implementation Jan. 1, 2023.

Groups from Texas and from a handful of other states are among those challenging the legality of HISA in court. Rulings from judges involved in separate legal cases are anticipated in the coming weeks or months.

 

Read BloodHorse Article

Out-of-State Wagering on Lone Star to Suspend July 1

louisianathoroughbred

HISA is scheduled to take effect at the start of next month.

 

Following through on a previously issued memorandum defying compliance with the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, Lone Star Park has been denied approval to export its racing signal out-of-state beginning July 1, Texas Racing Commission executive director Amy Cook confirmed June 15.

HISA is scheduled to take effect at the start of next month, although implementation of medication rules and enforcement will be delayed pending either adoption or rejection of the rules by the Federal Trade Commission after a public comment period.

The Lone Star Park Thoroughbred season concludes July 17.

 

Read BloodHorse Article

Lanerie Pursues Elusive ‘Big One’ in Kentucky Derby

louisianathoroughbred

By

 

Like most jockeys riding in the May 7 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) at Churchill Downs, Corey Lanerie has not yet tasted success in the 1 1/4-mile classic. But he has an inkling of the euphoria he might experience after threatening to win the 2017 race.

Riding the rail on late-running 33-1 longshot Lookin At Lee  , Lanerie grew excited on the second turn as his mount picked off rivals from the back of the pack to pull into second in early stretch, with only Always Dreaming   to catch.

 

Read BloodHorse Article

 

 

Un Ojo Out of Kentucky Derby, Ethereal Road Makes Field

louisianathoroughbred

Rebel Stakes (G2) winner came up with bruised left fore foot after April 30 work.

 

Dreams of a Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) victory were dashed for some and sprang to life for others May 2 when Un Ojo  was declared out of the race because of a bruised left front foot, allowing Ethereal Road  to make the body of the 20-horse field.

Un Ojo’s trainer Ricky Courville confirmed the news to BloodHorse Monday.

“He came out of that work Saturday with a bruised foot and it’s just not the right thing to do to run him; he’s still a little tender on it,” Courville said. “We’ll let the dust settle … He might go to the farm here in Kentucky; he might come back home (to Louisiana), or if he’s better in a week, we might find something else for him.”

 

Read BloodHorse Article

CHRB Unanimously Backs Collecting HISA Fees

louisianathoroughbred

Betting is up marginally in the state and equine fatalities are down.

 

The California Horse Racing Board unanimously approved a motion in a board meeting April 21 to “opt-in” and remit Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority fees upon it receiving the necessary statutory authority.

The board’s actions follow recent similar moves by regulators in Kentucky and Minnesota, CHRB executive director Scott Chaney said. Elsewhere, regulators in New Jersey, Maryland, and Texas chose not to collect HISA assessments, with some citing conflicts with existing state laws.

If regulators decide not to collect and remit HISA assessments, the duty falls to covered racetracks. Federal regulation of the Thoroughbred racing industry under HISA begins July 1.

 

Read BloodHorse Article

Graham ‘s Cruiser First Winner for Hard Aces

louisianathoroughbred

Hard Aces, by Hard Spun, won the 2015 Gold Cup at Santa Anita Stakes (G1).

 

 

Graham ‘s Cruiser  became the first winner for Louisiana stallion Hard Aces  when he won a state-bred maiden race at Delta Downs Feb. 11.

The 3-year-old raced in fourth for the first three-eighths of a mile before gaining on the leaders and taking the lead in the final furlong. He won by three-quarters of a length, racing five furlongs in 1:00.78 under C. J. McMahon. He earned $22,800 for winning the $38,000 race.

Hard Aces was retired after running 11th in the Berkeley Handicap (G3) at Golden Gate Fields in November 2017 and went to stud the following year at Averett Farm in Louisiana. He currently stands there for a $2,000 fee.

 

Read BloodHorse Article

Texas Racing Commission Suspends Hair Drug Testing

louisianathoroughbred

Hair testing in racehorses began last May in Texas.

 

The Texas Racing Commission has suspended hair testing of racehorses in the state, the regulator announced Jan. 14.

Amy Cook, executive director of the TRC, wrote in an email to BloodHorse that the move was “a response to the concerns raised by Texas Horsemen’s Partnership that needed to be addressed.” She noted that “specifically, the way the commission implemented the hair testing procedure in May 2021 did not provide adequate notice and transparent procedures to participants.”

Along with existing blood and urine testing, some tracks, organizations, and regulators have added hair testing in recent years. In Texas, shortly after hair testing began last May, the Sam Houston Futurity for Quarter Horses was run as a non-wagering event after the majority of the 10 finalists failed hair tests for either albuterol or clenbuterol.

 

Read BloodHorse Article

Back to top
%d bloggers like this: