horseracing

No Triple Crown: Oxbow upsets Orb at Preakness

BALTIMORE (AP) — Right from the start, a horse trained by one not so over-the-hill Hall of Famer and ridden by another took control of the Preakness. The result: a huge upset and the end of any hopes for a Triple Crown attempt at the Belmont Stakes.

By Associated Press , May 19, 2013

I'll Have Another wins Preakness, Triple try next

BALTIMORE (AP) — I'll Have Another had Bodemeister in his sights again, a shot at the Triple Crown hanging in the balance.

May 20, 2012

Borel won’t ride Derby winner

Calvin Borel has complete confidence his horse will win the Preakness, the kind of certainty expected from the Kentucky Derby-winning jockey.

By By BETH HARRIS, AP Racing Writer , May 16, 2009

Racing Commission official vows to get along

A legislative committee that had proposed eliminating the state Racing Commission won’t be forwarding such a bill to the 2009 Legislature. After listening to the current Racing Commission chairman, former Fargo attorney Pat Weir, who now lives at Medora, the Legislature’s Administration Rules Committee on Thursday failed on a tie vote to move forward with the bill.

By By Janell Cole, N.D. Capitol Bureau , September 12, 2008

Auditors can’t settle Racing Commission law

A state auditors’ report legislators hoped would settle a debate over how the state Racing Commission spends its funds has left the issue unresolved. An attorney general’s opinion is needed, says the report made public Wed-nesday.

By By Janell Cole, N.D. Capitol Bureau , July 03, 2008

No triple crown for Big Brown

When Big Brown turned for home, something wasn’t right. Jockey Kent Desormeaux knew the big bay colt was finished. Trainer Rick Dutrow Jr., who guaranteed racing’s first Triple Crown in 30 years, knew it, too.

June 09, 2008

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Bearing down on the Triple Crown

Rick Dutrow Jr. insisted there was no special motivation to wear this specific hat. The cap was simply available for the trainer’s trip to the barn. Still, the message on his hat conveyed the same thought on the minds of all those racing fans who saw Big Brown dominate the Preakness: Triple Crown.

May 19, 2008

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Big Brown gets royal treatment

Like any true A-lister, he kept the masses waiting for hours. Then Big Brown made his grand entrance. Accompanied from the airport by a police escort with sirens flashing, the dazzling colt pulled into the Pimlico Race Course shortly after 8 p.m. Wednesday and headed for the prime spot of real estate on the grounds — the corner barn occupied each year by the winner of the Kentucky Derby. For added flair, two UPS trucks flanked the convoy as it rolled through the gates, Those boxy, brown trucks had never made a delivery quite like this one.

May 17, 2008

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Big Brown wins Derby

Big Brown was pulling away from the field, accelerating with every powerful stride toward the finish line in the Kentucky Derby. The crowd of 157,770 was on its feet and cheering as the big, unbeaten, muscular bay crossed the line first, 4¾ lengths ahead of the filly Eight Belles.

May 05, 2008

Big Brown gets his chance

All week, the chatter along the Churchill Downs backstretch has been about Big Brown running away with the Kentucky Derby. The talk ends Saturday and the real running begins in 1¼-mile Derby, where the unbeaten 3-year-old colt has plenty to prove, history to buck and perhaps a wet track to overcome.

May 03, 2008

Unbeaten Big Brown picked as Derby favorite

Big Brown’s all in and so is the filly Eight Belles, a perfect combination for an intriguing 134th Kentucky Derby. Unbeaten in three career starts, Florida Derby winner Big Brown was stamped the 3-1 favorite for Saturday’s 1¼-mile Derby after drawing the far outside No. 20 post position. Eight Belles, taking on the boys for the first time, drew the No. 5 post and was 20-1 on the morning line set by Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia.

May 01, 2008

Commission to continue controversial stands

The state Racing Commission voted Thursday to defend and pursue its positions on two issues that have caused controversy with legislators and some horsemen. The commission is asking for an attorney general’s opinion on whether it can use money from its breeders’ fund to supplement purses at the Belcourt and Fargo horse track seasons. The 2007 Legislature passed a bill that prohibits the transfer of breeders’ fund money to augment purses, but the commission contends it can still do so and says what it is doing is not a “transfer.”

By Janell Cole, N.D. Capitol Bureau , April 25, 2008

Racing Commission meeting is argumentative

The state Racing Commission, in a meeting filled with arguments, has decided to ask the Legislative Council to consider its proposals covering payouts to horse breeders. The new general manager of the Fargo horse park, Heather Benson, agreed to help mediate disputes among commissioners, breeders and the state racing director. She recommended Monday that members of the Thoroughbred Association, Quarter Horse Association and Harness Racing Association hold formal meetings and take formal votes on issues. “Democracy works,” Benson said.

April 02, 2008

Racing Commission gets ultimatum to do its job

Legislators are threatening to dissolve the state Racing Commission, saying it refuses to abide by a 2007 law meant to preserve a horsemen’s premium fund. The Administrative Rules Committee voted unanimously Wednesday to draft a bill for the 2009 session abolishing the commission and splitting its duties between the Agriculture Department and the attorney general’s Gaming Division.

By Janell Cole, N.D. Capitol Bureau , March 14, 2008

Grants to race tracks shrink to match dwindling coffers

Horse Race North Dakota will trim back the length of its summer racing season at the Fargo track after the state Racing Commission granted it half the amount of promotion funds it requested for this year.

By Janell Cole , February 13, 2008