Horse Racing News

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.

A shipper from Florida and a pair of fillies from Southern California have spiced up the Saturday stakes double at Oaklawn, where the Razorback Handicap and the Azeri will be run as preps for next month's Oaklawn Handicap and Apple Blossom Invitational.

Despite winning stakes on turf and dirt and holding his own against the likes of Jackson Bend last year, Bim Bam never really received the respect he deserved coming into his 3-year-old campaign.

The New York stewards have suspended trainer Cody Autrey 30 days and fined him $1,000 for the finding of a banned substance in one of his horses who raced at Aqueduct in December. Autrey has appealed the suspension and was granted a stay.

There is no shortage of big name 3-year-olds stabled at Gulfstream Park this winter. Three of them -- stablemates Noble's Promise and Beautician and Eclipse Award winner She Be Wild -- worked here on a frigid Friday morning.

Eightyfiveinafifty, who imploded as the 1-4 favorite in the Whirlaway Stakes on Feb. 6, returned to the work tab on Thursday, breezing five furlongs in 1:00.03 over the inner track. The move was the fastest of 11 at the distance.