Wednesday, September 07 2011

OWNERS DAY STAKES

Stanton, Del., September 6, 2011 — The DTHA (Delaware Thoroughbred Horsemen Association) Governors Day Stake and the George Rosenberger Memorial highlights the Owners Day card at Delaware Park this Saturday. The 19th annual Owners Day card has attracted a total of 126 horses on the 12-race card, with purses totaling $505,000. Post time for the first race is 1:15 p.m.

Sunday, August 21 2011

Eve Giselle takes Endine Stakes

Wilmington, Del., August 20, 2011 — Bean Counter Stables’ Eve Giselle won the $151,050 Grade III Endine Stakes at Delaware Park.

With Javier Santiago aboard, the 4-year-old daughter of Five Star Day posted a length victory and returned $4.40 as the favorite in the field of eight. Sassy City, with Ramon Vazquez, finished second 5-lengths in front of Ms Vanenzza, with Jeremy Rose, in third.

Wednesday, August 17 2011

Bronx City Girl peaking at right time for Endine Stakes

Stanton, Del., August 17, 2011 — Farnsworth Stables’ Bronx City Girl has been winless in her last nine outings, but the 4-year-old daughter by Yankee Gentleman could be peaking just at the right time as she tops the $150,000 Grade III Endine Stakes at Delaware Park this Saturday. The six-furlong affair for fillies and mares has attracted a field of 10.

Since being claimed for $50,000 last year at Churchill Downs, the Kentucky-bred conditioned by Martin Wolfson has been stakes placed but has yet to notch a victory in nine outings. In her most recent, she ran second, beaten a head in the six-furlong $101,000 Regret Stakes at Monmouth Park on July 31. Previously, she finished third in the six-furlong $76,000 Blue Sparkler at Monmouth Park on June 26. She has a career record of five wins, six seconds and five thirds from 22 starts, with earnings of $282,739.

Monday, August 15 2011

Delaware Park family saddened with news of Carl Hanford’s passing

Stanton, Del. , August 15, 2011 — The Delaware Park family was deeply saddened upon hearing the news of the passing of legendary trainer Carl Hanford on Sunday. The Hanford family has been a fixture at Delaware Park for decades.

“We are very sad to hear the news about Carl (Hanford),” said John Mooney, the Executive Director of Racing at Delaware Park. “He proved himself as a trainer. He was a very thorough horsemen and he was very knowledgeable about racing. He went on to become a highly respected and accomplished steward and racing official. In every facet of his life and career, I remember him most for his thoughtfulness and fairness. He was an exceptional man with an exceptional family. He will be missed.”

Carl Hanford, trainer of Kelso, dies at 95

Stanton, Del. , August 15, 2011 — Carl Hanford, trainer of five-time Horse of the Year (1960-64) Kelso, died peacefully with family and friends by his side at his Delaware home early Sunday morning. He was 95.

The native of Fairbury, Nebraska started his career in racing as a jockey and rode the winner of the first race ever run at Suffolk Downs on July 10, 1935. After his riding career, Hanford turned his attention to training. His training career was briefly interrupted by World War II, as Hanford served five years in the Army Remount Corps. But he was best known for conditioning Bohemia Stable’s Kelso. Hanford guided Kelso to 38 of his 39 victories and all 31 of his stakes wins, including five consecutive renewals of the Jockey Club Gold Cup. In 1966, Kelso retired as racing’s all-time leading money earner with a bankroll of $1,977,896.

Thursday, July 28 2011

Joe Rocco Jr. equals record for most wins on a card at Delaware Park

Stanton, Del., July 27, 2011 — Joseph Rocco, Jr., the current leading jockey at Delaware Park, won six races today which equals the record for most victories in a single day by a jockey at Delaware Park.

The 29-year-old native of Hollywood, Florida, won aboard his first five mounts on the day starting in the third with Pit Viper ($3.80). He followed with victories in the fourth with Bridgemix ($6.20), the fifth with Cash McCool ($3.80), the sixth with Settling for Gold ($5.80) and in the seventh with Like Candy (8.40). Rocco Jr., who notched his first career win at Tampa Bay Downs in 1999, did not have a mount in the eighth race, but in the ninth he scored aboard the Michael Matz trained Christmas Cove ($23.80) to notch his sixth winner.

Friday, July 22 2011

LIVE RACING AT DELAWARE PARK CANCELED FOR SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011

Upon advice of the Commission's Chief Veterinarian, John T. Peters and after consulting with Delaware Park's Executive Director of Racing, John Mooney, a decision was made to cancel the live racing program scheduled for Saturday, July 23, 2011 due to extreme temperatures in our area that would pose a health risk to horses and participants.

Sunday, July 17 2011

Blind Luck wins Delaware Handicap by nose over Havre de Grace

Wilmington, Del., July 16, 2011 — It was a thrilling stretch battle to the end, and in the end Blind Luck had her nose in front of Havre de Grace on the wire in the Grade II Delaware Handicap at Delaware Park. Mark DeDomenico, John Carver, Peter Abruzzo and Jerry Hollendorfer’s Blind Luck, the 3-year-old filly champion of 2010, earned a spot in the Breeder’s Cup Ladies Classic, to be run at Churchill Downs on November 4, as the filly and mare classic is a “Win and You’re In” Breeders’ Cup Challenge race.

Mr. Ryder takes Sussex Stakes

Wilmington, Del., July 16, 2011 — Brushwood Stable’s Mr. Ryder notched his first career stake victory in the Sussex Stakes at Delaware Park today. With Ramon Dominguez aboard, the 4-year-old son of Giant’s Causeway posted a neck victory over Bim Bam, with David Cohen. It was another 3 ¼-lengths back to Mikoshi, with Garrett Gomez, in third. Mr. Ryder returned $5.00 as the favorite in the field of six and covered the mile and a sixteenth over a firm turf course in 1:40.82.

Alma d’Oro by a nose over In the Juice Carpenter

Wilmington, Del., July 16, 2011 — In a thrilling stretch battle, Bourque Goldstein Thoroughbreds’ Alma d’Oro, with Ramon Dominguez, scored a nose victory over In the Juice, with Wesley Ho, in the $100,000 R.R.M. Carpenter Memorial Stakes at Delaware Park today. It was another 2 1/2-lengths further back to Nacho Friend, with Garrett Gomez, in third.

Thursday, July 14 2011

Blind Luck arrives at Delaware Park for Saturday’s Delaware Handicap

Newark, Del., July 13, 2011 — The California invader Blind Luck, last year’s 3-year-old filly champion, arrived at Delaware Park at approximately 4 p.m. today for her engagement in the $750,000 Grade II Delaware Handicap. The Kentucky-bred conditioned by Jerry Hollendorfer is slated to square off against the leading filly and mare in the country this year, Havre de Grace, and the defending Delaware Handicap champion, Life At Ten, in the mile-and-a-quarter filly and mare summer classic this Saturday.

In her final workout for the Delaware Handicap at her home base of Hollywood Park, the 4-year-old daughter Pollard’s Vision went four furlongs handily in :48.20 yesterday.

Wednesday, July 13 2011

DELPARK STAKE ADVANCES - SUSSEX & CARPENTER

Alma d’Oro tops R.R.M. Carpenter Jr. Memorial

Stanton, Del., July 12, 2011 — Bourque Goldstein Thoroughbreds tops the $100,000 R.R.M. Carpenter Jr. Memorial at Delaware Park this Saturday. The mile-and-a-sixteenth affair for 3-year-olds and upward has attracted a field of seven.

In his latest, the 5-year-old son of Medaglia d’Oro finished third in the Grade II Brooklyn Handicap at Belmont Park on June 10. Previously, the Kentucky-bred conditioned by Todd Pletcher ran fourth in $60,000 One Count at Belmont Park. He sports a career record of six wins, three seconds and four thirds from 21 starts with earnings of $261,038. At Delaware Park, he has a record of two wins, two seconds and a third from six starts.