Georgian Downs Heads for Success

Canadian horse racing track Georgian Downs battled against a number of adverse conditions in their spring racing season. As was the case with a number of other tracks in the country, Georgian Downs had to deal with low entry numbers due to ten percent fewer horses being supplied. The track still offered a wide range of classes but only the lower classes garnered a full field, resulting in a drop in average daily purses. For example, purses averaged $76,000 with 119 entries in April, with May's purses dropping to $70,000 with 102 entries. However, track authorities took action, and working diligently with the Implementation and Monitoring Group (IM Group), Georgian Downs started to recover, and by August the worrying downward trend was successfully turned around.

Frankel Shines at British Champions Day

Punted as the richest day in British horse racing, the inaugural British Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday 15 October attracted close to 27,000 spectators, many of whom were eager supporters of as yet unbeaten Frankel. The three-year-old colt lived up to his growing reputation by winning the one-mile Qipco Queen Elizabeth II stakes by four lengths, followed by Excelebration and Immortal Verse. Rated by the British Horseracing Authority as the best racehorse in the world, Frankel has been victorious in nine consecutive races, earning his owner, Saudi Prince Khalid Abdullah, no less than £567,000.

Union Rags Headed for Riches

It was an exciting day at Belmont Park this past Saturday (8 October 2011), with an unforgettable performance by Union Rags in the Champagne Stakes. The talented 2-year-old colt won the stakes race in spectacular fashion and is now headed for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, where he is likely to be the favorite. Union Rags' victory on Saturday has also set him on course for the Kentucky Derby in 2012.

Turallure Victorious in Woodbine Mile

Turallure, son of Canadian Triple Crown winner Wando, set the field alight on Sunday, 18 September 2011, as he stormed across the finish line to win the Ricoh Woodbine Mile. It was an amazing victory for trainer Charles Lopresti, as this was the New Yorker's first venture into Canada. The win has also secured Turallure a place in the prestigious Breeders' Cup on 5 November 2011.

Havre de Grace Wins Woodward, Aims for Beldame

Horseracing enthusiasts no doubt remember the 2009 Woodward Stakes at Saratoga, where Rachel Alexandra thundered over the finish line becoming the first filly to take the number one spot for this event. Girl-power ruled as the filly entered the winners circle, with female supporters, young and old, sporting Rachel Alexandra pins. The $750,000 Woodward Stakes event on the Labor Day Weekend turned into a battle of the sexes once more, with filly Havre de Grace crossing the finish line in first place – ending off the Saratoga horse racing season in grand style.

2011 Travers Stakes

The historical Travers Stakes was inaugurated in 1864 and was named after the then Saratoga Racing Association president, William R. Travers. Not only was the race named after him but his horse by the name of Kentucky won the very first Travers Stakes. It is a thoroughbred horse race for colts, geldings and fillies that are three years of age, and is a Grade 1 event. In 1999 the purse was increased to $1 million and it is one of the most anticipated races of the Saratoga Racecourse season. This year, the 142nd event was held on Saturday, 27 August 2011.

Acclamation Reigns Supreme

The Del Mar Racecourse in California is the host of the annual running of the Pacific Classic Stakes, which is an event for horses that are three years old, or older. It was inaugurated in 1991, and has a purse amount of $1 million. This is one of the most anticipated races of the year, and before this year's event, which was held on Saturday, 27 August 2011, all involved in the career of Acclamation were confident that he was ready to make an impact on the Pacific Classic Stakes. The race is especially important as it forms part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge, which means that the winner of the race is automatically entered into the Breeders' Cup Classic, an event that is hosted at Oak Tree Racecourse.

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