John Russell lacks an instantly recognizable name, a big reputation or much of an identity among Pittsburgh Pirates fans despite once being the team’s third base coach for three seasons. Despite that, his new bosses are making it clear they expect an awful lot from their new manager, one who must try to achieve what his three most immediate successors couldn’t do: Make a winner out of the…
Efficient unleashed a devastating late sprint to win Tuesday’s 147th running of the Melbourne Cup, Australia’s richest and most popular horse race.
New Zealand-bred Efficient beat Purple Moon by three-quarters of a length Tuesday in the $4.6 million Melbourne Cup, Australia’s richest and most prestigious horse race. Irish-trained Mahler was third in the nearly two-mile race. Ridden by Michael Rodd, Efficient, a 4-year-old gelding, won for the sixth time in 13 starts.
The ruler of Dubai paid $10.5 million to buy Irish-bred Playful Act at Keeneland’s Breeding Stock Sale on Monday, a world record auction price for a broodmare. The bidding was another showdown between two titans of the horse breeding industry, Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum’s Darley Stud and Coolmore Stud of Ireland.
Fans at Churchill Downs who want to light up after picking a winner will have to find another starting gate. A state judge struck down an exemption to Louisville’s ban that allowed patrons to smoke at Churchill Downs. Jefferson Circuit Judge Denise Clayton said in a ruling issued Monday that there was no logical basis for the exemption.
Irish-bred mare Naissance Royale beat Black Mamba by 3 lengths Sunday in the $150,000 Las Palmas Handicap on closing day at Santa Anita. Ridden by Garrett Gomez, Naissance Royale ran a mile on turf in 1:34.14. The victory was the 69th stakes win of the year for Gomez, leaving him one short of Jerry Bailey’s record of 70 heading into the Hollywood Park fall meeting.
Maryfield, the winner of the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint last month, was sold for $1.25 million Sunday at the Fasig-Tipton Selected Fall Mixed Sale. The 6-year-old mare was purchased by Southern Equine Stables LLC, based in Lafayette, La. The stables are owned by Michael Moreno, who co-owns Better Than Honour, the dam of back-to-back Belmont Stakes winners Jazil and Rags to Riches.
Sugar Swirl pulled away for a three-length victory Sunday in the $100,000 Very Subtle Stakes for fillies and mares at Churchill Downs. Sugar Swirl, ridden by Rafael Bejarano, ran six furlongs in 1:09.90 and paid $3.80, $2.60 and $2.10. Generosity returned $7.60 and $4.40, and Country Diva and paid $4.40.
Sugar Shake won the $105,300 Turnback the Alarm Handicap for fillies and mares at Aqueduct on Sunday. The 4-year-old stablemate to Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner Ginger Punch in the Bobby Frankel barn raced with the early leaders before taking charge on the second turn, comfortably posting a 2-length victory over Cindy’s Mom.
Bold Chieftain won the $250,000 Classic by a half-length Saturday, when Russell Baze led racing’s first family to six California Cup victories at Santa Anita. Lava Man, racing’s richest claiming horse with earnings of $5.2 million, faded to sixth as the 8-5 wagering favorite in the Classic. Baze, thoroughbred racing’s winningest jockey, was aboard Bold Chieftain.
Patrick Valenzuela returned to racing for the first time in nearly a year Saturday, riding two winners at Zia Park. Valenzuela hadn’t ridden since sustaining a rib injury in a paddock accident at Hollywood Park on Nov. 26. The 45-year-old jockey won a pair of claiming races Saturday aboard Devil Action and Must Be a Topper.
JAMAICA, New York (Ticker) – Aqueduct Racetrack canceled its horse racing card Saturday afternoon when jockeys refused to ride due to strong winds.