Horse Racing News

In a highly anticipated clash, Moonlight Cloud easily wore down elite sprinter Lethal Force and stormed to a Deauville course record August 4 in winning the Larc Prix Maurice de Gheest for a third time.

Overlooked at odds of 10-1, Lady of Fifty found redemption as she took the overland route under Corey Nakatani to capture the $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes Aug. 3 at Del Mar.

Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider's Departing was the first horse nominated to the $750,000 West Virginia Derby and the first horse entered when entries were taken July 30.

GoldMark Farm's Cross Traffic sprung a wire-to-wire upset in the $750,000 Whitney Invitational at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 3, kicking away to a ¾-length victory at odds of 7-2 while 2012 winner Fort Larned finished fifth.

A federal judge in New Mexico Aug. 2 issued a restraining order that will keep two horse slaughterhouses from opening as planned the week of Aug. 4.

For the second year in a row, many of horse racing's top owners have pledged to race their juvenile starters without race-day medication.

Two-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey Garrett Gomez has been cleared to ride again as soon as Aug. 7 after meeting with stewards at Del Mar, provided he tests at acceptable levels for drugs he has been taking.

Repole Stable's Overanalyze will seek to bounce back after a couple of uncharacteristic efforts when he faces eight other 3-year-olds in the $750,000 West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort Aug. 3.

Janis Whitham's 2012 Breeders' Cup Classic winner Fort Larned was assigned post 3 and installed as the 7-5 morning-line favorite during a July 31 draw for the $750,000 Whitney Invitational Handicap to be run Aug. 3 at Saratoga Race Course.

Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider's Departing and Repole Stable's Overanalyze are among the expected starters for the $750,000 West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort Aug. 3.