Sunshine Millions and Holy Bull this Weekend

If you haven’t made it out to Gulfstream Park this season, this weekend would be a great time to start. The weekend kicks off Saturday with the $1.8 million Sunshine Millions, a series of six races run at Gulfstream and Santa Anita featuring the country’s top Florida and California bred horses. Gulfstream and Santa Anita will each play host to three races, with Gulfstream running the $500,000 Classic, $300,000 Filly & Mare Turf, and $200,000 Filly & Mare Sprint.

On Sunday, Gulfstream will host two major stakes. Many of the country’s top Triple Crown contenders will go to post in the one mile Holy Bull, and the country top 3-year-old fillies will race in the seven furlong Forward Gal.

If all of that is not enough, Disney’s coming to town. Actors will be on hand for autographs and giveaway’s promoting the release of Secretariat the movie. So come out and join us for a weekend of fun.

For more details click here

La Penta/Zito faceoff over where to run Icebox next

Ice Box’s owner Robert La Penta is still baffled by his loss in the Kentucky Derby to Super Saver. In his quest for a “crown” victory, he is pushing Zito to run in the Preakness. Zito would rather wait, freshen his horse, and run back in the Belmont. No word yet on the verdict–but I’m sure we’ll know soon.

For more on this subject, visit NTRA

SECRETARIET: THE MOVIE: TRAILER

At a time when the whole world turns an eye to the racing industry…

The trailer has arrived on Disney’s youtube page–sorry guys, no embed allowed. But follow the link–it will warm your heart; enough to send tears down my face at 7:30 in the morning…can’t wait for this one…it’s about time!

Watch the trailer at:

youtube.com/secretariet

Derby Festival Events

Derby Festival Events Wednesday, April 28

Riverboat Rivalry:

DERBY FESTIVAL GREAT STEAMBOAT RACE PRESENTED BY TURNER CONSTRUCTION COMPANY. 4:45 PM – 5:40 PM boarding. 5:45 PM departure. Race begins at 6 PM. Awards presentation immediately following at the Chow Wagon in Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville. Tickets on the Belle of Louisville $130 (limited availability). Tickets on the Belle of Cincinnati $75. For tickets call (502) 584-FEST. Free spectator viewing at Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville and along the banks of the Ohio River. Sponsor: Turner Construction Company. Contributing Sponsors: Captain’s Quarters Riverside Grille, Four Roses Bourbons, and Lite 106.9 WVEZ.

GREAT STEAMBOAT RACE AWARDS CEREMONY. Approximately 8 PM. The main stage at the Chow Wagon. The captain and crew of the winning vessel will receive the Silver Antl …

Grape Escape:

DERBY FESTIVAL WINEFEST. Wine tasting sessions daily 5 PM – 9 PM. Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville on the Waterfront. Tickets: $35, includes wine tastings, etched souvenir wine glass and WineFest pin. Tickets are available online at www.kdf.org OR purchase tickets at The Melting Pot in Louisville and receive FREE valet parking for the event. Contributing Sponsors: The Melting Pot, Today’s Woman and Lite 106.9 WVEZ.

The party continues Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville on the Chow Wagon:

KROGER’S FEST-A-VILLE ON THE WATERFRONT. Open TODAY 1! AM – 11 PM. Waterfront Park. ULTIMATE ENTERTAINMENT EXPERIENCE featuring concerts with national talent, family fun, food, kids’ inflatable playground and more. Admission is free with a 2010 Pegasus Pin. (NO COOLERS, CANS, BOTTLES OR PETS). Sponsor: Kroger. Contributing Sponsor: Miller Lite.

DERBY FESTIVAL CHOW WAGON Open TODAY 11 AM – 11 PM. Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville on the Waterfront. Outdoor food & live music venue. Sponsors: Kroger and Miller Lite. Featuring the Miller Lite Music Stage. Admission is free with a 2010 Pegasus Pin. (NO COOLERS, CANS, BOTTLES OR PETS).

Wednesday Concert:

DERBY FESTIVAL WEDNESDAY EVENING CONCERT FEATURING JAMES MCMURTRY. 8 PM Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville on the Waterfront. Admission is free with a 2010 Pegasus Pin®. Contributing Sponsor: 91.9 WFPK. (No coolers, can, bottles or pets.)

Find out more at Kentucky Derby Festival

This Is Derby Week!!

To all equine enthusiasts out there–get ready, Derby is this Saturday. Ladies, go get the biggest, brightest hat you can find, and put on a new pretty dress. Men, come on–buy that one spring suit that you may just wear once in your life–please–no black or navy suits allowed!

If your not in the greater Louisville area, here is where you can check it out:

Gulfstream Park: Watch and wager on the Kentucky Derby Saturday, May 1 in unequalled comfort at Gulfstream Park. What better place to see America’s Race than South Florida’s home of championship thoroughbred racing, where heroes are made and records are broken every year?

Enjoy Mint Juleps and other drink specials, Vegas-style slots, fine dining, no-limit poker, and evening entertainment.

Or, watch at home.

“Kentucky Oaks: Ladies First”

Friday, April 30
5-6 p.m. EDT
Bravo

Enjoy live coverage of the Grade I Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs along with a look at all of the Oaks Derby “Ladies First” festivities, including the second PINK OUT at the track, the First Lady of Fashion contest and the Survivors Parade, which highlights 136 breast cancer survivors and their supporters. The Kentucky Oaks is an official partner of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.
ESPN Coverage of the Kentucky Derby Undercard

Saturday, May 1
11 a.m. to 4 p.m. EDT
ESPN

Don’t miss any of the exciting racing leading up to Kentucky Derby 136. ESPN provides race-to-race coverage of the Kentucky Derby Day undercard, including prestigious stakes races such as the Eight Belles (GIII), Churchill Downs (GII) and Humana Distaff (GI).
“Access at the Kentucky Derby / Kentucky Derby Red Carpet Special”

Saturday, May 1
4-5 p.m. EDT
NBC

Join Access Hollywood and NBC hosts as they interview celebrities arriving on the Kentucky Derby Red Carpet and get a behind-the-scenes look at the fabulous fashion, food and social scene that leads up to the “Run for the Roses.”
“Kentucky Derby 136”

Saturday, May 1
5-7 p.m. EDT
NBC

Who will claim the garland of roses and a spot in horse racing history? NBC Sports provides live coverage of Kentucky Derby 136 and showcases the fascinating equine and human competitors chasing fortune and glory enroute to the Derby Winner’s Circle. The two-hour telecast also highlights the fantastic spectacle behind “The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports” at the iconic Churchill Downs Racetrack in Louisville, Ky.

Find out more at kentuckyderby

Equine/Inmate Rehabilitation?

Shake You Down is part of the Marion County Correctional Facility program New Beginnings, which connects inmates with retired thoroughbreds to care for them after their racing career has ended. The program is intended to provide skill, hope and …rehabilitation to both horse, and inmate.

Here is the story.

Women inmates find hope and skills caring for retired thoroughbreds. Watch videos of inmates telling their stories.
By Dave Joseph

There’s a single barn at the Lowell Correctional Institution; a single barn made from the wood of old Tartan Farm and the sweat of inmates.

It’s inside that barn where Tiffany Molina finds herself, staring past the stall of Breeders’ Cup participant Shake You Down and across rolling pastures here filled with retired thoroughbreds.

“Every woman wants to take care of something,” said Molina, serving time for grand theft robbery. “We don’t have our kids, we don’t have our families and we can’t take care of our husbands. So we have the horses who love us.”

for more on this story, visit viewfromtherail

WOW:Eskendereya to Be Sold Under Zayat Plan

By Ron Mitchell
Updated: Sunday, April 18, 2010 10:33 AM
Posted: Sunday, April 18, 2010 9:17 AM
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Zayat Stables has agreed to sell all of grade I winner and probable Kentucky Derby favorite Eskendereya this year under a bankruptcy reorganization plan that projects all creditors will be paid in full by the end of 2014.

As part of the voluminous reorganization plan filed in New Jersey federal bankruptcy court April 16, Zayat Stables and its managing member and officer, Ahmed Zayat, project various income and expense scenarios under which creditors will be paid.

The documents project Zayat will have income from the sale of horses of $16.8 million, $15.2 million, $10 million, $11 million, and $11 million in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014, respectively.

“The projections assume that the debtor will sell a sufficient number of horses, including 100% of Eskendereya in 2010…A non-refundable deposit of $2 million is assumed to be received in September 2010 from the sale of Eskendereya, with the remaining Eskendereya proceeds assumed to be received in December 2010.”

Read more at Bloodhorse.com

“Diary” of ICEBOX

Look for me on tonight’s episode of “Pursuit of the Crown” tonight for the “Diary of Icebox”. This airs at 8:00 pm est.

Zenyatta Faces Only Four in Apple Blossom

By Jason Shandler
Updated: Wednesday, April 7, 2010 1:17 PM
Posted: Tuesday, April 6, 2010

There is no getting around it: Compared to what it was supposed to look like, the field for the April 9 Apple Blossom Invitational Handicap (gr. I) is a major disappointment.

A field of only five, led by undefeated two-time champion Zenyatta, was drawn for the nine-furlong Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park. The race was supposed to have been a showdown between Zenyatta and Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandrauntil the owner of the latter announced last month that she would not be racing. Had the two sensational females met in the Apple Blossom, the purse would have been $5 million, the field likely would have included 10, and it would have been one of the most anticipated races in many years.

Read more at Bloodhorse.com

SANTA ANITA DERBY “FIGHT”???

Jockey Victor Espinoza

Here’s the story from the NY Times:

Sports Briefing | Horse Racing
Santa Anita Derby Incident Leads to Penalties for Jockeys
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: April 4, 2010

Jockey Victor Espinoza was suspended for three days for his riding in the Santa Anita Derby on Saturday, and jockey Garrett Gomez was fined $750 for punching Espinoza afterward.

At the five-sixteenths pole during the race, Gomez had to slow his colt, Lookin at Lucky, and shuffled him back midway on the turn when Espinoza’s horse, Who’s Up, angled to the rail while running second.

Gomez lost his chance at winning, but rallied to finish third, beaten by six lengths by Sidney’s Candy. Who’s Up finished ninth in the 10-horse field. The stewards conducted an inquiry but took no action.