Battle of the Blue Grass – The Thoroughbred Edition

Keeneland's Summer Meet will continue spectator free for the Blue Grass Stakes.
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I do admire the beauty of Admire, winner of Keneland's 7th race on opening day of The Summer Meet.
I do admire the beauty of Admire, winner of Keeneland’s 7th race on opening day of The Summer Meet.

In Kentucky, The Bluegrass State, the Battle of the Bluegrass is a title that is used to describe many competitive activities and sport events. This weekend, in The Horse Capitol of the World, The Battle of the Blue Grass is reserved for an important graded stakes race on The Road to the Kentucky Derby. The long overdue, 96th edition of the Blue Grass Stakes will race this Saturday!

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Summer Stakes from the Safety of Home: Keeneland’s First Summer Meet

The Summer Meet at Keeneland: 2020 print by Kayla W. Nord
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Off to the Races is now Home for the Races for Keeneland's first Summer Meet
Off to the Races is now Home for the Races for Keeneland’s first Summer Meet.

It has been way too long since I last saw Keeneland or a live Thoroughbred horse race. As the COVID-19 pandemic swept the world, Keeneland shuttered their grounds to visitors and cancelled their epic Spring Meet. In a splendid effort to keep fine racing alive Keeneland was able to put together their first ever Summer Meet. To continue to take the highest precautions for safety, the races are spectator free. Fortunately, with careful planning, we can now enjoy Keeneland’s Summer Meet, #KeenelandatHome!

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Test Of The Champion To Tip Off The Triple Crown

Seattle Slew's Belmont Stakes Tray, 1977 Triple Crown winner
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Affirmed's Blemont Stakes Plate, 1978 Triple Crown Winner
Affirmed’s Belmont Stakes Tray, 1978 Triple Crown Winner.

In a year rife with changed and cancelled plans it has been a comfort to me that Thoroughbred horse racing has managed to continue, though in an altered manner . Looking for the silver lining in life, it brings me pleasure to remember these silver platters, the Belmont Stakes Trays. The winner Of the Belmont Stakes receives the August Belmont Trophy for a year but the trays that they receive, depicting the name of every winning Belmont Stakes horse, is theirs to keep forever. May racing go on forever too! In the spirit of that optimism, 2020 will feature all three legs of the Triple Crown. In the “New Normal” these races are quite a bit different. For the first time in the history of Thoroughbred racing, the Belmont Stakes inaugurated in 1867 will tip off the Triple Crown.

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Derby Day at Oaklawn: The Arkansas Derby Double Feature

Crypto Cash races in his first start at age 2 at Ellis Park!
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Silver Prospector and Santana, Jr. win at Keeneland!
Silver Prospector and Santana, Jr. win at Keeneland!

When the 2019 Kentucky Derby resulted in a disqualification I thought that racing could not be more historically different and I felt a sense of disappointment. Never would I have imagined that different and disappointment would become what is often referred to as, “The New Normal.” Sometime, in the winter of 2019 a novel virus began sweeping the world and changed everything. Horse racing, an American tradition since the 1600s, slowed but did not, will not stop. Following an altered path on “The Road to the Kentucky Derby”, Grade 1 racing returns with such enthusiasm that it gathered 2 divisions! On the first Saturday in May, when the KY Derby traditionally takes place, we may instead enjoy two Arkansas Derby races, before the KY Derby resumes, scheduled for September 5th.

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Keeneland: Fall Stars Weekend is First

Keeneland kicks of the Fall Meet with Fall Stars Weekend.
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The Fall Meet at Keeneland is a great place to experience the beauty of the "Horse Capital of the World"!
The Fall Meet at Keeneland is a great place to experience the beauty of the “Horse Capital of the World”!

The Keeneland Fall Meet begins today! To witness “Racing As It Was Meant To Be” look to Keeneland Race Track October 4th – 26th, 2019! First up, is Fall Stars Weekend. Keeneland will host 10 stakes over the three day weekend, 9 of which are “Win and You’re In” berths into next months, Breeders’ Cup World Championships. The purse for just this weekend alone is $3.95 million dollars.

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The Travers Twelve

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Horse racing at Saratoga, Summer 2019!

My favorite race of the summer is set for this Saturday. Saratoga Race Course will host the 150th edition of the Travers Stakes. Twelve talented Thoroughbreds take to the track to triumph in the Travers!

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Saratoga Presents: Pillars of the Turf

James E. Tedd Bassett, III is a 2019 Pillar of the Turf inductee.
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James E. Tedd Bassett, III is a 2019 Pillar of the Turf inductee.
James E. Tedd Bassett, III is a 2019 Pillar of the Turf inductee.

Saratoga Springs Race Track is “The Summer Place!” This weekend and into the next week, Saratoga is sensational with stakes, sales and ceremony. Racing at Saratoga boasts the second leg of each division of the new Turf Triple Series as well as Marylou Whitney Day and many other graded stakes. Fasig-Tipton will host “The Crown Jewel of North American Yearling Sales”, The Saratoga Sale. Moreover, the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame inducted the class of 2019!

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Everything is Escalating at Ellis Park

Christmas Sky wins for Tyler Baze and Steve Asmussen at Ellis Park.
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Christmas Sky wins for Tyler Baze and Steve Asmussen at Ellis Park.
Christmas Sky wins for Tyler Baze and Steve Asmussen at Ellis Park.

Thoroughbred racing is hot and happening at Ellis Park Race Course. After 97 years, this track is making moves to really stand out as “The Play to Play Since 1922.” If you are looking for some of the most well known names in racing, look no further than Ellis Park this summer. Ellis Park is hosting a record number of stakes with the highest purses ever offered there and well recognized jockeys and trainers. Here is everything that is escalating at Ellis Park.

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Brief on the Belmont

War of Will wowed at the morning workouts ahead of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.
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War of Will peeks out from his stable at Keeneland before shipping to New York for the Belmont Stakes.
War of Will peeks out from his stable at Keeneland before shipping to New York for the Belmont Stakes.

Bring on the Belmont Stakes! It has been a Triple Crown series full of surprises and I expect there will be plenty of twists for the ten who compete in “The Test of the Champion.” Who will that champion be? We shall soon see. For the time being, here’s the brief on the Belmont.

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The Preakness Prep List

Bourbon War at home in Kentucky as a yearling.
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Bourbon War at home in Kentucky as a yearling.
Bourbon War lived in Midway, KY as a yearling, years before his Preakness Stakes entry.

It definitely doesn’t seem like it has been nearly two weeks since the Kentucky Derby but here we go, it is time for the 144th edition of the Preakness Stakes. The results of the Kentucky Derby were different and unexpected. We will not have an opportunity for a Triple Crown winner this year. Fortunately, there is a large field of fantastic talent entered in this Preakness, which may still be one of the greatest races. Get ready for one of the best and oldest, classic Grade 1 races, the Preakness Stakes!

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