When Pennsylvania approved casino gaming at its racetracks, it was as if printing money was now legal. There was now lots of cash to go around. To the horsemen, to the racetracks, but unfortunately not the horseplayers.
Richard Eng
At this point last year, American Pharoah was a maiden who won the Del Mar Futurity by nearly five lengths. It was only his second career start.
I start today’s column with this horse racing news: “American Pharoah is STILL racing!”
All eyes in the horse racing world will be on Saratoga on Saturday. That’s when Triple Crown champion American Pharoah will run in the $1.6 million Travers.
Post Time 2:05 p.m.
Legacy is a term more often used with politicians. They are conscious as to how history will view them after they leave office.
This weekend, all eyes are on Arlington Park in the suburbs west of Chicago. The Arlington Million Festival of races will include three Grade 1 turf stakes: the Arlington Million, Beverly D and Secretariat.
The joy of being a sports fan is ingrained in being a “Monday Morning Quarterback.” It’s easy to second guess what an owner, coach, general manager or player should do when you have no skin in the game other than being a fan.
If there were any doubts about the glamour division in horse racing, the question will be answered this weekend.
Today is a very good day for horseplayers. Saratoga opens its six week run and it doesn’t get any better than this.
As you watch the pretty horses running at Del Mar and Saratoga, keep in mind that the fragility of the thoroughbred racehorse was never more evident than the bad news of this past week.
Del Mar is among a few tracks that fits the bill of a boutique meet. And the Southern California track is hoping to attract Triple Crown champ American Pharoah to race there. There is talk of a $5 million bonus for winning the Pacific Classic, Awesome Again and Breeders’ Cup Classic.
American Pharoah looks to have horse of the year locked up. But stakes races — including the Dwyer, Belmont Derby and Belmont Oaks back east and Los Alamitos Derby out west — could provide fireworks on Saturday.
Two logical stakes for American Pharoah are the Haskell on Aug. 2 at Monmouth Park and the Jim Dandy on Aug. 1 at Saratoga. Trainer Bob Baffert might hold him out until the Travers on Aug. 29 or even the Pennsylvania Derby on Sept. 19.