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English Events Horse Happenings

SANTA ANITA-BASED ‘PHAROAH’ TO RETURN HOME ON THURSDAY MORNING FROM LOUISVILLE

      ARCADIA, Calif. (June 17, 2015)—Triple Crown Champion American Pharoah, who will return to his Santa Anita base Thursday morning, will make a public appearance between races at The Great Race Place on Gold Cup at Santa Anita Day, Saturday, June 27, it was announced today.

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English Events Horse Happenings

Triple Crown hopeful American Pharoah is ‘all systems go’ for G1 Belmont Stakes

ELMONT, N.Y. – All systems go.

That was the pronouncement by Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert after he watched Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner American Pharoah gallop on the main track Thursday morning in preparation for Saturday’s Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the elusive Triple Crown to be contested as part of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival presented by DraftKings.

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English Events Horse Happenings

Triple Crown Hopeful American Pharoah Gets Acquainted with Belmont Main Track

ELMONT, N.Y. – Triple Crown hopeful American Pharoah went out onto a sloppy Belmont Park main track for the first time this morning to stretch his legs and become acclimated with his new surroundings as he prepares for Saturday’s Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes as part of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival presented by DraftKings, and perhaps a date with destiny.

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English Events Horse Happenings

NYRA Reminds Fans to Purchase Belmont Stakes Day Tickets in Advance

ELMONT, N.Y. – The New York Racing Association (NYRA) today reminded fans to purchase their Belmont Stakes Day tickets in advance, in order to guarantee their place for Saturday’s Triple Crown bid by Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner American Pharoah.  No tickets will be sold at Belmont Park on Saturday, June 6.

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English Events Horse Happenings

The Truth or Else Joins Belmont Stakes Mix

ELMONT, N.Y.– Trainer Kenny McPeek, who upset War Emblem’s bid for a Triple Crown with Sarava in 2002, said Thursday morning that he will more than likely point The Truth or Else towards the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes on June 6.

The Truth or Else, who had picked up 11 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby earlier this year, is coming out of a 1 ½-length allowance victory over the local track on May 22, which, according to McPeek, was a major deciding factor heading into the Belmont Stakes, in which American Pharoah will be bidding to become racing’s first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978.

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English Events Horse Happenings

American Pharoah Gallops in the Slop at Churchill Downs

YouTube video of American Pharoah’s May 25 gallop: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FktMyy55BmQ

AMERICAN PHAROAH GALLOPS IN THE SLOP AT CHURCHILL DOWNS;
BAFFERT WILL BE AT BARN 33 TUESDAY MORNING TO CHECK ON CHAMPION

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Monday, May 25, 2015) – Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) and Preakness Stakes (GI) winner American Pharoah continued his training for the June 6 Belmont Stakes (GI) by galloping 1 ¼ miles over a sloppy Churchill Downs main track on Monday morning at 8:30 a.m. ET with Jorge Alvarez up.

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English Events Horse Happenings

Preakness Stakes a Favorite for Familiar Face Bob Baffert

Hall of Fame Trainer Seeks 5th Win with American Pharoah, Dortmund

BALTIMORE – Though he’ll be on a mission to win Saturday’s 140th running of the Preakness Stakes with either Kentucky Derby winner American Pharoah or Derby third-place finisher Dortmund, Bob Baffert won’t be all business when he arrives at Pimlico Race Course Wednesday.

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English Events Horse Happenings

Owner-Trainer Considering Preakness for Tesio Winner Bodhisattva

Laurel Park based owner-trainer Jose Corrales has not ruled out a possible start in the Preakness for Federico Tesio winner Bodhisattva.

            Bred in California, Bodhisattva is a sophomore son of multiple graded stakes winner Student Council, whose Grade 1 wins include the 2008 Pimlico Special, also run at the Preakness distance.

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English Events Horse Happenings

Maryland Racing Shifts to Historic Pimlico Race Course Thursday, April 2

 March 31, 201

Maryland Racing Shifts to Historic Pimlico Race Course Thursday, April 2

$1.5 Million Preakness (G1) May 16 Highlights 37-Day Spring Meet

 Pick 5 with Industry Low Takeout; 10-Cent Rainbow 6 Comes to Pimlico

 21 Stakes Including Black-Eyed Susan (G2) and Pimlico Special (G3)

 Eclectic Music Events and Ultimate Girls Day Out Preakness Weekend

BALTIMORE – Championship racing returns to historic Pimlico Race Course onThursday for the opening of its 37-day spring meet, highlighted by the 140th renewal of the $1.5 million Preakness Stakes (G1) May 16.

The middle jewel of the Triple Crown, the 1 3/16-mile Preakness, will anchor an eight-stakes card that includes the Longines Dixie (G2), Gallorette Handicap (G3) and Maryland Sprint Handicap (G3).

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English Fashion Horse Happenings

6th Annual “Hats off to the Horses: The Road to the Derby” Continues with a Chapeau Inspired by Williamstown

GEORGETOWN, KY – FEBRUARY 3, 2015

The online fashion auction, “Hats off to the Horses: The Road to the Derby”, continues today with a fifth handcrafted Derby chapeau on the virtual auction block to raise money for Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Facility in Georgetown, KY.

 This new hat was inspired by Old Friends retiree Williamstown­, the 25-year-old son of Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew who has been pensioned at Old Friends since 2007. A graded stakes winner, Williamstown captured the Withers Stakes at Belmont Park in 1993 and marked one of the fastest miles in the history of the oval.

For the Old Friends campaign, the beautiful chapeau is modeled in accompanying photos and behind-the-scenes video by leading jockey Rosie Napravnik along with her husband, trainer Joe Sharp.
This is the sixth consecutive year that Old Friends has joined with acclaimed milliner Sally Faith Steinmann of the Massachusetts-based Maggie Mae Designs® to auction off six exclusive Derby hats between November and April, each inspired by one of the non-profit organization’s 150 retired racehorses.
Bidding on “The Williamstown” ends at 8 pm on February 11th.  Interested bidders can go to the Old Friends website at www.oldfriendsequine.org and follow the link.
A wide-brim hat made of rich dupioni silk and various layers of organza, The Williamstown is adorned with the colors of his former racing stable: three yellow rose curls spill down along the hat’s 22-inch brim, each nesting in a medley of textured plum organza leaves.
For a final touch, eight long and curvaceous silk “feathers” are set behind each rose in such a way as to gently frame the wearer’s face.

 

As always, strand of the stallion’s tail hair have been braided and woven into the trim for a physical remembrance.
For more information and additional photos of the hat please visithttp://www.maggiemae.com/OldFriendsAuction-Hat-Williamstown.htm.   For a behind-the-scenes video of Napravnik’s and Sharp’s photo shoot please visit  http://vimeo.com/117009595

For additional information contact Maggie Mae Designs® at sally@maggiemae.com

For more information about Old Friends see their website at www.oldfriendsequine.org or call the farm at (502) 863-1775.

Maggie Mae Designs® Custom Millinery offers magnificent hats for all occasions – from glamorous racing events such as the Kentucky Derby and the Royal Ascot to stunning bridal wear and handsome cocktail fashions. Every hat is carefully handcrafted by milliner Sally Faith Steinmann from her home base in South Harwich, MA. Salons of her fashions can been seen on her website atwww.maggiemaedesigns.com

 PHOTO CAPTIONS Rosie Napravnik and Joe Sharp with Williamstown.  Rosie models the Williamstown hat. Dress by Bella Rose Boutique, photo © and courtesy of EquiSport Photos