Horse Racing News

Rachel Alexandra had her final work for Saturday's New Orleans Ladies at Fair Grounds, going a half-mile in 49 seconds there Monday. A few hours later, she drew post 2 in a field of five fillies and mares in the 1 1/16-mile race.

Zenyatta had just completed a six-furlong workout at Hollywood Park on Friday morning when trainer John Shirreffs looked at his stopwatch and grinned.

Regardless of whether time is measured in decades or years, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert has been waiting for a horse like Misremembered and a race such as Saturday's $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap for a long time.

Careless Jewel, among the dominant members of last year's crop of 3-year-old fillies despite a disappointing performance in the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic in her season finale, is getting closer to her return.

Mike Machowsky has seen enough.

Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Vale of York failed in his return to the races at Meydan on Thursday night as he faded to fifth in the listed $250,000 Al Bastakiya, a course and distance prep for the 1 3/16-mile UAE Derby.

As part of its objective to cut $4.3 million in stakes purses from last year, the New York Racing Association trimmed a total of approximately $1.4 million from its stakes program for the Belmont spring/summer and Saratoga meetings.

Brutal winter weather and a brutal economy has translated into brutal betting figures on Thoroughbred racing in the U.S.

Even in the mornings, Life Is Sweet can be overshadowed by her undefeated stablemate Zenyatta.

With Rachel Alexandra pointed to return in next Saturday's New Orleans Ladies, the race is shaping up as an intimate affair, with five fillies or mares likely to run.