Horse Racing News

The California Horse Racing Board denied a request Thursday from the Oak Tree Racing Association to conduct an autumn meeting at Santa Anita.

Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer compares his filly, Blind Luck, to a former heavyweight champion boxer.

Frank Stronach told a group of about 250 horsemen on Wednesday evening that Santa Anita will replace its existing Pro-Ride synthetic surface with a conventional dirt track after the conclusion of the Oak Tree at Santa Anita meeting Oct. 31.

The same horses pre-entered Friday in the 28th Arlington Million were officially entered Tuesday in an informal racing-office draw at Arlington Park, with the 7-5 morning-line favorite, Gio Ponti, landing post 6 in a 10-horse field.

Kantharos maintained his reputation as the best 2-year-old on the East Coast with a relatively easy 7 1/4-length victory in Monday's Grade 2, $150,000 Saratoga Special at Saratoga.

Makfi handed Goldikova a shocking defeat at Deauville on Sunday as he beat the two-time Breeders' Cup Mile winner by 2 1/2 lengths in the Group 1, $769,000 Prix Jacques Le Marois.

Direct Line upset the showcase race of the Ellis Park meet by nailing an even pricier longshot, West Hope, in the final strides of the Grade 3, $100,000 Gardenia on Saturday.

Goldikova goes in search of what would be a modern European record of 11 Group or Grade 1 triumphs on Sunday, when she renews rivalry with Paco Boy in the $769,000 Prix Jacques Le Marois going a mile at Deauville.

No Such Word won the Grade 3, $200,000 Monmouth Oaks Saturday to give the Jones family a natural hat trick -- three straight victories in the stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Monmouth Park.

Jockey Russell Baze became the first rider in history to score 11,000 victories when he guided first-timer starter Separate Forest to an 11-length victory in a maiden race at the Sonoma County Fair in Santa Rosa, Calif., on Saturday.