For the first time in 17 years, Thoroughbred racing will be held at Sam Houston Race Park in the month of December, as the season will kick off Dec. 18. Closing day of the Thoroughbred season will be April 3.
Item overcomes all kinds of trouble to snatch victory on the line from Almaqam in an International Stakes (G1) Aug 19 at York Racecourse that departed dramatically from the script.
Belmont Oaks (G1T) winner Kensington Lane heads an international field of 3-year-old fillies taking dead aim on the $300,000 Del Mar Oaks (G1T) as part of the Aug. 22 Pacific Classic program.
Luis Rivera Jr. made the most of his opportunity in the Philip H. Iselin Stakes (G3) at Monmouth Park. Riding the 6-year-old Bishops Bay for the first time, Rivera earned the first graded stakes victory of his riding career.
In this week's Porter on Pedigrees, Luster, who rolled to victory in the Aug. 15 King's Plate Stakes at Woodbine, is from the first crop of 2021 Horse of the Year and champion older dirt male Knicks Go.
Quotes of interest include NTRA's Tom Rooney on the SAFE Act; trainer Josie Carroll on King's Plate Stakes winner Luster; and owner, handicapper Bob Hansen on computer-assisted wagering.