Wednesday, January 18 2012
Churchill Downs Announces Dates for 2012 Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks Future Wager Pools
LOUISVILLE, KY. (Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012) – Churchill Downs has set the dates for its trio of three-day betting pools for its 2012 Kentucky Derby Future Wager (“KDFW”) and a single pool for the historic track’s Kentucky Oaks Future Wager (“KOFW”).
Dates for the pools for the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which is now in its 14th year, are:
Tuesday, January 17 2012
Coiuntdown Rolling Toward Saturday Deadline for Early Nominations to 2012 Triple Crown
LOUISVILLE, KY. (Monday, Jan. 16, 2012) – Owners and trainers who wish to make their promising 3-year-old Thoroughbreds eligible to compete in the 2012 Triple Crown series of classic American races have only a few days remaining to complete that task as the early nomination period to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I), the Preakness (GI) and the Belmont Stakes (GI) nears its conclusion.
A payment of $600 must accompany each nomination made during the early phase of early Triple Crown nominations, which will close on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012. A late nomination period that requires payment of a $6,000 nomination fee opens at 12 a.m. (all times Eastern) Sunday, Jan. 22 and will run through Saturday, March 24.
Wednesday, December 21 2011
JULIAN ‘BUCK’ WHEAT, CHURCHILL DOWNS’ ‘MAYOR OF THE BACKSIDE,’ DEAD AT 78
LOUISVILLE, KY. (Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011) - Julian Logan "Buck" Wheat, Churchill Downs' Director of Horsemen's Relations long known as the "Mayor of the Backside" at the home of the Kentucky Derby, died Wednesday afternoon of complications from injuries suffered in a Tuesday fall at his home. Wheat was 78.
The Churchill Downs veteran, whose career at the track in various roles spanned more than 60 years, died at approximately 2:10 p.m. (EST) at University of Louisville Hospital, where he had been treated since he was found unconscious in his home following his Tuesday accident. Family members said Wheat did not appear to be seriously injured following the mishap, but they became concerned when he could not be contacted later in the day. He was rushed to the hospital after family members went to Wheat's home to check on him, but he never regained consciousness.
Friday, December 16 2011
Churchill Downs To Permit Also-Eligible Entries for Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks Starting with 2012
LOUISVILLE, KY. (Friday, Dec. 16, 2011) – Churchill Downs will permit four also-eligible entrants to the $2 million guaranteed Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I), America’s greatest race, and the $1 million guaranteed Kentucky Oaks (GI), the nation’s premier race for 3-year-old fillies, beginning with the respective 138th runnings of those races in 2012.
For the first time in the history of those races, the new system allows as many as four horses to remain eligible to compete in each race beyond the official time of entry and one or more of the “also eligible” horses could be allowed to run in their respective race if members of the original fields for their races scratch from the race within a specified period of time. A maximum of 20 horses is allowed to compete in the Kentucky Derby, the 1 ¼-mile race for 3-year-old Thoroughbreds conducted each year on the first Saturday in May, while the Kentucky Oaks, the Derby’s 1 1/8-mile counterpart for fillies run on the eve of the Derby, is limited to 14 starters.
Monday, November 28 2011
Churchill Downs Closes Memorable Fall Meet Highlighted by Breeders’ Cp, Clark ‘Cap;Field Sizes Decli
LOUISVILLE, KY. (Sunday, Nov. 27, 2011) – Churchill Downs concluded the 122nd Fall Meet in its 137-year history on Sunday, Nov. 27 during which rainy weather failed to dim the highlights of a memorable 21-day racing session highlighted by a record eighth visit by the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, the introduction of a new star in the Grade I Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare, and a sparkling racing session for Bill Mott, the track’s all-time leading trainer.
Other highlights of the Oct. 30-Nov. 27 meet included a successful “Downs After Dark” night racing session on Friday, Nov. 18; the track’s first participation in Movember, a worldwide effort to raise awareness of and research funding for the effort to find a cure for prostate cancer; and a popular renewal of the annual Churchill Downs-Kentucky Thoroughbred Association College Scholarship Day.
A Diehl Closing-Day Feature at Churchill Downs
LOUISVILLE, KY. (Sunday, Nov. 27, 2011) - G. Watts Humphrey Jr.'s A Diehl rallied in-between horses at the top of the stretch, took the lead prior to the eighth pole and held off a late rally from Color Me Blue to win the $51,470 Sunday afternoon closing-day feature at Churchill Downs by 1 ¼ lengths.
Trained by Rusty Arnold and ridden by Freddie Lenclud, A Diehl covered the mile on the sloppy main track in 1:36.72.
CHURCHILL DOWNS BARN NOTES Sunday, November 27, 2011
ASMUSSEN BATTLING FOR ANOTHER ‘LEADING TRAINER’ CROWN, REFLECTS ON SUCCESSFUL FALL MEET – Steve Asmussen has won the last five training titles at Churchill Downs and will wrap up another successful meet at the home of the Kentucky Derby when its fall racing session concludes on Sunday. Entering the final day of the 21-day Fall Meet, Asmussen had saddled 14 winners from 63 starters and trailed Mike Maker by a single victory in his bid to add another “leading trainer” title to his collection.
“We were very fortunate to get a couple of wins at the Breeders’ Cup and we’ve had some really nice 2-year-olds this meet,” Asmussen said via phone Sunday morning. “The meet was everything we could have hoped for.”
Saturday, November 26 2011
GEMOLOGIST FINDS PRECIOUS KENTUCKY JOCKEY CLUB VICTORY
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Saturday, Nov. 26, 2011) – The only time five-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Todd Pletcher and owner Kenny Troutt’s WinStar Farm won the Kentucky Jockey Club with Super Saver, they won the Kentucky Derby the following spring. They hope to duplicate that feat again May 5 after their colt Gemologist wore down favorite 8-5 favorite Ever So Lucky in deep stretch to win the 85th running of the $178,200 Kentucky Jockey Club (Grade II) for 2-year-olds by 1 ¾ lengths on Saturday at Churchill Downs.
Ridden by Javier Castellano, Gemologist broke alertly and sat behind the pacesetter Ever So Lucky and 43-1 outsider Seve as the former led the field of 11 through fractions of :23.98, :47.49 and 1:12.62. On the far turn, Castellano dropped his hands and Gemologist raced three-wide to draw even with Ever So Lucky at the head of the long Churchill Downs stretch. The two matched strides to the sixteenth pole before Gemologist inched clear late for the victory in 1:44.46 for 1 1/16 miles over a “fast” track.
ON FIRE BABY COMPLETES POCAHONTAS-GOLDEN ROD DOUBLE
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Saturday, Nov. 26, 2011) – Anita Cauley’s homebred On Fire Baby became only the seventh filly to sweep Churchill Downs’ fall stakes for 2-year-old fillies when she broke fastest from the gate and never looked back en route to a 6 1/4-length victory over Goldrush Girl in the 68th running of the $169,350 Golden Rod (Grade II) on Saturday at Churchill Downs.
Ridden by Joe Johnson and trained by Gary Hartlage, On Fire Baby clipped off fractions of :24.70, :50.01, 1:14.86 and 1:39.49 before stopping the teletimer in 1:45.98 for 1 1/16 miles over a “fast” main track.
CHURCHILL DOWNS BARN NOTES Saturday, November 26, 2011
WISE DAN IN PERFECT SHAPE MORNING AFTER CLARK ‘CAP VICTORY – Mort Fink’s Wise Dan had an easy morning after his impressive 3 ¾-length victory in the 137th running of Churchill Downs’ $572,500 Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (Grade I). The 4-year-old gelded son of Wiseman’s Ferry walked the shedrow and then grazed for an hour outside trainer Charlie Lopresti’s barn at Keeneland.
“He came out of the race in perfect shape,” Lopresti said. “He’s 100%.”
Musketier Holds off Stablemate to Win W.L. McKnight Handicap (G2) at Calder
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (Nov. 26, 2011) – Stella Perdomo’s 9-year-old German-bred horse Musketier added another Graded stakes victory to his already impressive resume after winning the $150,000 W.L. McKnight Handicap (G2) at Calder Casino & Race Course on Saturday for trainer Roger Attfield. The trainer also saddled the second place finisher, Haras Santa Maria de Araras’ homebred 6-year-old horse Simmard. Winchester, the favorite, finished third.
Ridden by leading Tropical Meet jockey Luis Saez, Musketier covered the mile and a half over firm turf in 2:28.25 and paid $11.60, $5.20, and $2.60. Musketier defeated Simmard by a half-length. It was three-quarters of a length back to Winchester in third.
Wise Dan Scores Smart Victory in Grade I Clark Handicap
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Friday, Nov. 25, 2011) – Mort Fink’s homebred Wise Dan achieved Grade I glory when he kicked clear of Mission Impazible in the final furlong to easily win the 137th running of the $572,500 Clark Handicap presented by Norton Healthcare by 3 ¾ lengths on Friday at Churchill Downs.
Wise Dan gave Fink and trainer Charlie Lopresti a bit of redemption for last year’s Clark in which their Successful Dan was disqualified from an apparent victory. Successful Dan finished a head in front of Giant Oak a year ago, but because of interference with Redding Colliery in the upper stretch, was disqualified and placed third.
