Results of the 139th Belmont Stakes

Although the turnout for the 2007 Belmont Stakes was a disappointing 46,870, the results were anything but disappointing. Rags to Riches became the first filly in over one hundred years to win the third leg of the Triple Crown. She ran the 1½ mile race in 2 minutes and 29 seconds (Secretariat holds the record at 2 minutes 24 seconds, run June 9th, 1973).

The filly took home a $1 million purse and paid $10.60.

Win: Rags to Riches
Place: Curlin
Show: Tiago

2007 Horse Racing Hall of Fame Inductees

The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame have elected a class of eight horses, jockeys, and trainers for 2007, making this class the largest since 1978. More than 100 candidates were considered by the 16 members that make up the Hall of Fame Nominating Committee and the 12 member Historic Review Committee.

The Hall of Famers include:

Horses

Results of the 132nd Preakness Stakes

The Preakness, second race of the Triple Crown, ended much like the Kentucky Derby earlier this month. In the mix were Hard Spun, Street Sense, and Curlin. Only this time it was Curlin, the 3rd place finisher in the Derby, that took the crown. And in this case, the crown is $1,000,000.

Win: Curlin
Place: Street Sense
Show: Hard Spun

On a $2 (minimum) bet, Curlin paid $8.80, 3.80, and $2.80. Street Sense, the favorite for the race, paid $3.00 and $2.40. Hard Spun, the hard-running bridesmaid, paid $3 to show.

The Kentucky Derby

On a May afternoon in 1875, about 10,000 horseracing fans, bookmakers and owners gathered in Louisville, Kentucky, at a former stock farm renamed the New Louisville Jockey Club, to watch 15 thoroughbreds compete in the first ever Kentucky Derby. The winning horse that day was a three-year-old chestnut colt named Aristides, and its owner, H. P. McGrath, made $2,850 for the victory. By all accounts, the day was a great success and plans were quickly made to make the event an annual occurrence.

Preakness Preview

The Preakness Stakes is set to start at 6:15pm on May 19, 2007. Shadows of Barbaro, last year’s Kentucky Derby winner, still shroud the track at Pimlico in Baltimore, Maryland. It was this time last year that the undefeated Barbaro shattered his leg in three places after false starting. The thoroughbred was euthanized earlier this year, after several attempted surgeries proved to be futile. In his honor, Pimlico will be launching the Barbaro Stakes this May.

Results of the 133rd Kentucky Derby

The $2 million “Run for the Roses” went off as scheduled Saturday, May 5th, 2007, with all the usual fanfare of the first Triple Crown of the year. The results are as follows:

Win: Street Sense
Place: Hard Spun
Show: Curlin

Street Sense, paying $11.80, $6.40, and $4.60, ended some superstitious talk about the “juvenile jinx” — the colt was the first horse to win both the Juvenile Cup at Churchill Downs (last year) and the Kentucky Derby.

Glossary of Horse Racing Terms

Horse racing terms are an entire language unto themselves. If you spend any length of time at the track or OTB you’ll get the idea that the regulars (bettors or “punters” in the UK) are from another land, or perhaps simply some kind of shady underworld (which is much closer to the truth). Even if you’re well on your way to becoming a grizzled, eccentric racing veteran, you may hear something odd—particularly from a Brit—that you think may be key to enhancing your handicapping abilities.