Monthly Archives: April 2010

Brian’s Derby Preps: The Kentucky Derby!

We finally made it. After all the preps, it comes down to the 136th Run for the Roses. This year’s Kentucky Derby once again drew an oversubscribed field that was filed down to 20 3-year-olds Wednesday morning. They’ll head to … Continue reading

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Brooklyn Backstretch Derby Picks, by the letters

It’s here.  It’s Derby weekend.  For weeks the prognostications have been coming; handicappers, analysts, turf writers have weighed in, posited picks, watched workouts.  It’s time to make the call. Later today, Brian will be here with some serious handicapping; but … Continue reading

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Checking in on charity

So here we are, April 29th.  Two days to the Kentucky Derby; two days to the end of the Road to the Roses Backstretch Charity League; two days until the end of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation hay drive. Our league … Continue reading

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The Derby comes to Brooklyn

It starts in the late spring and early summer. You look at the two-year-olds racing in Kentucky and New York. You examine pedigree and performance. You hope that by the following spring, you’ll have found your Derby horse. But sometimes, … Continue reading

Kentucky Derby 2010 | , | | 5 Comments

Highs and lows

Over the weekend, I wrote about the withering of the Withers, about the loss of the historical and contemporary significance of the race: no big-name horses; a short field; an abiding lack of interest from the greater racing world. Just … Continue reading

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The Withers, and Withering

Withers:  “The high part of the back of a horse or similar animal, located between the shoulder blades.” (American Heritage Dictionary, via Wordnik)   Well, that’s certainly appropriate. Withers:  Mr. David Dunham Withers, member of the American Jockey Club and one … Continue reading

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Keeneland Sunday

It’s Sunday morning in Lexington, Kentucky.  Sundays are meant to be a day of rest…but there’s much, much too much to do to rest. On the road to Keeneland for workouts, we end up behind a horse van, and we … Continue reading

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Breaking a Churchill maiden

Monday morning, April 19th:  It’s been quiet for a little while, but at about 8:25, the stirrings begin. The clockers resume their places: binoculars are raised, stopwatches poised. After a morning of commonplace workouts—oh, except for that bullet that Rachel … Continue reading

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Homiletic Handicapping

It’s Sunday morning, and I confirm that yes, mass will be celebrated on the grounds at Keeneland at 10 am. “I call it ‘Our Lady of the Sales Pavilion,’” quips a local acquaintance. The little room off the main sales … Continue reading

Brooklyn Backstretch, Racetrack visits | | | 4 Comments

Brian’s Derby Preps: The Lexington

You know how every week I remind you that you can check out Brian’s handicapping for NYRA races at Horseplayernow.com?  That he participates in a live chat about three-year-olds every Friday at 2pm?  He also participates in chats on Saturdays … Continue reading

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