Nothing says winter in the horse racing world like the opening day at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. That day is this Saturday, December 1 - the launch of a 61 race stakes program! The highlight of Opening Weekend is the start of the 14th running of the $850,000 Claiming Crown, a program of seven races for horses that have competed at least once in claiming races. Gulfstream Park gets the Claiming Crown for the first time and it kicks off opening weekend, Saturday, Dec. 1, Day 1 of the 90-date meeting that will run through April 5. More than 200 trainers have descended on Gulfstream for the Claiming Crown.
The Road to the Kentucky Derby is in full swing and this past weekend welcomed two new contenders into the mix - Victories by Overanalyze in the Remsen at Aqueduct and Uncaptured in the Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs Nov. 24 propelled the 2-year-olds into the numbers four and five positions, respectively, in the standings. The new points system replaces the old system in which contenders would gain berths into the May Classic on the basis of purse earned in graded stakes action.
Betfair Hollywood Park will be the scene of the Grade 3 Native Diver Handicap this Saturday, December 1. Horses three years old and upward will go 1 1/8 miles on Hollywood Park's all weather track as they chase their share of the $250,000 purse.
Thanksgiving weekend is over and so is another insane weekend of graded stakes action. Top notch horse races took place all over North America this weekend with huge races at Aqueduct, Betfair Hollywood Park and even north of the border at Woodbine. Let's review some of the action starting at Aqueduct.
Betfair Hollywood Park will host a pair of Grade 1 races this Sunday, November 25. The first is the Matriarch Stakes which will feature fillies and mares three years old and upward as they go 1 mile on Hollywood's turf track in search of their share of the $250,000 purse.
The Grade 1 Hollywood Derby comes our way this Sunday November 25 from Betfair Hollywood Park. Three year olds will go 1 1/4 miles on Hollywood Park's turf track as they chase the winner's share of the $250,000 purse.
The Grade 2 Generous Stakes is on tap for this Saturday, November 24 from Betfair Hollywood Park. Some of the finest two year olds in the land will be featured in the one mile turf race as they race for their share of the $100,000 purse.
Woodbine Race Track in beautiful Toronto, Ontario will be the scene of the Grade 3 Bessarabian Stakes this Saturday, November 24. Fillies and mares three years old and upward will dash seven furlongs on Woodbine's main track in search of their portion of the $150,000 purse.
The first race in the new "Road to the Kentucky Derby", the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes is on tap for this Saturday, November 24 from Aqueduct. Some of the finest juveniles around will be featured as they go 1 1/8 miles on Aqueduct's main track as they chase their share of the $250,000 purse.
The Grade 1 Cigar Mile will go this Saturday, November 24 from Aqueduct in the great state of New York. Horses three years old and upward will be featured as they go one mile on Aqueduct's dirt track for a nice $350,000 purse.
