There are essentially four significant events of the fall racing season:  this past Saturday (TVG Super Saturday), FallStars weekend at Keeneland, the Thanksgiving weekend card at Aqueduct (Cigar Mile, etc.) and, of course, the Breeders’ Cup.  Each of these days give racing an opportunity to make an impact in a fall sporting landscape otherwise dominated by football, baseball pennant chases, the Ryder Cup and even whatever is going on in NASCAR.  In light of the precious few opportunities available this time of year, as well as the fact that the races this weekend and next build the sport’s World Championships, we think it’s fair to ask whether the sport in general is making the most of its opportunities.

Continue reading Using Breeders’ Cup Preview Days to Engage the New Fan →

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As we approach the 31st running of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, each of us will analyze one potential contender per week that we think, based on their campaign and resume, fit the profile of a Breeders’ Cup winner.

In anticipation of Saturday’s Homecoming Stakes at Churchill Downs, this first BC Profile examines the morning line favorite for that race, and Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile hopeful, Carve.

Continue reading Breeders’ Cup Profile: Carve, Dirt Mile. →

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 You may have heard – California Chrome is racing in the Pennsylvania Derby on Saturday at Parx Racing. And that’s not all – Untapable is seeking to solidify, if not clinch, the 3YO fillies title in the Cotillion when she takes on StopchargingMaria and Sweet Reason. Both races are for $1 million purses and, for one day at least, Parx Racing in Bensalem, Pennsylvania will stand at the center of the racing universe.

 All of that is great, and it certainly is a coup both for Parx and mid-Atlantic racing in general to have the Derby winner and the Oaks winner racing in for big purses in key Breeders’ Cup preps. But we think it’s also fair to ask – what’s the point? specifically, what is Parx seeking to accomplish with the PA Derby and the Cotillion? Continue reading Racing’s Big Day Business Model at Smaller Market Tracks: Is Parx Prepared for Primetime? →

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In honor of Tom Durkin’s retirement from race calling on August 31, we are taking a look back at 40 of his most memorable calls–one for each day of the 2014 Saratoga meet.

As the final day of Durkin approaches, we give you the call that many consider the the highlight of two of the most impressive careers in horse racing. The 2009 Woodward brought together Rachel Alexandra, a fan favorite filly taking on the boys for the 3rd time in her 3 year old season, and Tom Durkin who was about to call one of the most important and best races of his life.

Both Durkin and Rachel were already considered champions. Rachel had decimated the Kentucky Oaks, came back to win the Preakness against the boys two weeks later and beat the boys again in the Haskell. Durkin had called many big races, Derbys and Breeders Cups before this Woodward, but never had a horse in recent memory with  a nationwide following come to the races with so much to prove.

Rachel Alexandra, a 3 year old filly, had proven herself against 3 year old males already, a sign of a champion filly and making her a strong candidate for horse of the year. But her connections were not satisfied, they wanted to prove that she was without a doubt the best horse in he country and the only way to do that was to take on older males.

Rachel’s followers backed her strongly at the window, but any savvy horse fan knew that her 1-4 odds were by no means a lock. At the break she took her usual place at the front of the pack, but as Durkin noted the field gave her “no free ride”, forcing her to go :22 4/5 for the first quarter.

Rachel maintained her lead throughout the backstretch, with each horse giving her a run. As she made the top of the stretch she had already turned back three runners best efforts, but Macho Again and Bullsbay, that year’s Whitney and Stephen Foster winners respectively, still had shots to take at the big filly.

Bullsbay came first, making a move in mid-stretch. However Rachel repulsed it. But Macho Again, who benefitted from the fast fractions, was making a huge run from last. He approached Rachel just outside the 1/16th pole. Calvin Borel implored Rachel for her best run and she responded. You can hear the desperation in Durkin’s voice, as he and the crowd held their collective breath all wanting to see the great filly do the impossible.

At the line “it was going to be desperately close” as Macho Again was relentless but Rachel proved her champion status. She held off Macho Again in a dramatic stretch drive for the ages. It was the loudest crowd and applause I had ever heard at Saratoga. Bigger than any Travers winner, it did indeed “raise the rafters at the Spa”. The applause continued throughout the winner’s circle presentation, and did not end she was well down the stretch on her way to her barn.

The race, visually impressive, allowed Durkin to display all of his dramatic talents. Watch it, enjoy the race. But to truly appreciate all that is Durkin, just listen to the call. Don’t watch the race. Let him paint you the picture. His voice tells the whole story.

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In honor of Tom Durkin’s retirement from race calling on August 31, we are taking a look back at 40 of his most memorable calls–one for each day of the 2014 Saratoga meet.

In many ways, it’s almost unfair to designate the 1987 Breeders’ Cup Classic as one of Durkin’s greatest calls. The plot lines were obvious and dramatic.  The race involved the last two Kentucky Derby winners, Alysheba and Ferdinand. The latter was ridden by the legendary Bill Shoemaker, 56 years old at the time of the race, and in the twilight of his career.   At stake was the world’s richest purse.  More importantly, the race far exceeded the storylines as Ferdinand finally assumed the lead in the final sixteenth but had to hold off the younger Derby winner, Alysheba, who was closing with every stride as they reached the shadow of the wire.

As Durkin admitted in an article with DRF,  “There was a lot to work with in that race, but that stretch drive! That stretch drive! No announcer could have ever had it fall into his lap any better than when you get to say…’two Derby winners hit the wire together.’”

While it may be true that Durkin had the perfect set up for this race (similar to being lone speed in a six furlong sprint at Calder), he still had to deliver.  And true to form, he did, with arguably the most iconic one liner in the sport’s history (with apologies to “He’s moving like a tremendous machine.”).

“Ferdinand has the lead.  Alysheba, a final surge! And the two Derby winners, hit the wire togetherrr!”

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Only three days left in Durkin’s historic career.  We encourage everyone to visit the Spa or tune in remotely to watch these final 30 plus calls.

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