|
Randy Romero (baseball)
Randy Paul Romero (December 22, 1957 – August 29, 2019) was a Hall of Fame jockey in the sport of Thoroughbred horse racing. Born into a family involved with horses, his father Lloyd J. Romero was a Louisiana state trooper who trained American Quarter Horses and later, after a drunk driver crashed into his police car and permanently disabled him, he began training Thoroughbreds for flat racing. The 1978 movie ''Casey's Shadow'' is based on Lloyd Romero and his family. He was elected into the Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame May 27, 2010. Career In 1975, Romero began his professional riding career at Evangeline Downs in Lafayette, Louisiana. Nicknamed the "Ragin' Cajun", in 1983 at Oaklawn Park racetrack in Arkansas Romero suffered a near career-ending injury when he received major burns to two-thirds of his body from a freak fire that erupted while taking a sauna. He had rubbed himself down with alcohol and moved into the sauna in the jockey's room. As he did he accidentally ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Carter Handicap
The Carter Handicap is a Grade I American Thoroughbred horse race for three-years-old and older run over a distance of seven furlongs run annually in early April at Aqueduct Racetrack. Race history First run in 1895, the race was named for Brooklyn contractor and tugboat captain, William Carter, who put up most of the purse money and provided the trophy. The race was hosted by the old Aqueduct race track from 1895 to 1955, except for 1946 when it was held at Belmont Park. It returned to Belmont Park from 1956 to 1959, 1968 to 1974, and again in 1994. In 2020 the event was moved to Belmont Park and held in early June. There was no race held in 1909, 1911–1913, and 1933–1934. It was run in two divisions in 1977 and 1978. Race distance *1895 – miles *1896 – miles *1897 – miles *1898 – about 7 furlongs *1899–1902 furlongs *1903 onwards – 7 furlongs Historic notes The Carter Handicap is the only American Thoroughbred stakes race in which a triple dea ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes
The Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes is a Grade I American thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies over a distance of one and one-eighth miles on the turf held annually in October at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky during the fall meeting. History The race was inaugurated on October 11, 1984, in honour of the British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who attended the Keeneland races, during her private visit to Central Kentucky, and who presented a trophy on that date. The event was held on the dirt track over a distance of miles with Sintra winning in a time of 1:43. The following year the event was moved to the turf track. The Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup was a Listed race in 1984 and 1985, and was upgraded to Grade III status in 1986. The event held this status for two runnings and was upgraded to Grade II. In 1991 was upgraded once more to Grade I. It is an important prep race to the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. Records Time record: * ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gazelle Handicap
The Gazelle Stakes (formerly Gazelle Handicap until 2004) is an American thoroughbred horse race held annually at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, New York. It is a Grade III event run over a distance of miles on dirt that is open to three-year-old fillies. The race was previously run in the Fall at Belmont Park and often used as a stepping stone to the Breeders' Cup Distaff. As of 2013, the race is now run in the Spring at Aqueduct, typically on the same day as the Wood Memorial, and is now used as a prep race for the Kentucky Oaks. Race transition Race name *Gazelle Handicap: 1887–2004 *Gazelle Stakes: since 2005 Grading *Grade I: 1984–2012 *Grade II: 1973–1983 and since 2013 Distance *1987–1900: unknown *1900–1958: 1 1⁄16 miles *1959 and 1960: 1 mile *since 1961: 1 1⁄8 miles Qualification *Three-year-old fillies *Only 1917–1920 Three-years-old and up fillies Venue *Gravesend Race Track: 1887–1916 * Belmont Park: 1956–1959, 1961, 1969–2008 *Aqueduct Ra ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Florida Derby
The Florida Derby is an American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses held annually at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. Since 2005, it has been run five weeks before the Kentucky Derby, which is held on the first Saturday in May. Thus the Florida Derby is currently run either at the end of March or the beginning of April. Added to the racing schedule in 1952, the Grade I race is run at miles on the dirt. The purse was increased to $1 million in 2011 but was reduced to $750,000 for 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The purse was once again increased to $1 million in 2022. History The Florida Derby was first run in 1952. It has long been a prestigious prep race for the Kentucky Derby and since 2013 has been part of the official Road to the Kentucky Derby. The race was originally run in early to mid-March and Kentucky Derby hopefuls would then run in another major prep race in April. In 2005, Gulfstream Park shifted its scheduling to run the rac ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Fall Highweight Handicap
The Fall Highweight Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually near the end of November at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. Currently run at a distance of 6 furlongs (1,207 m), it is open to horses three years of age and older under handicap conditions. The race was given its current Grade III status in 2009 by the American Graded Stakes Committee. As the name implies, the race is known for the unusually high handicap weights assigned to each of the horses. In the past the top-weighted horse was assigned a minimum of 140 pounds (63.5 kg). Although the 140 pound rule is no longer in place, horses still carry more weight than they normally would. The highweight in the 2015 renewal, for example, carried 134 pounds. Run at Belmont Park from its inception in 1914 to 1959 and again from 1963 to 1993, the Fall Highweight was open to horses of any age until 1959 when it was changed to its present format. It was raced on a straight course prior to 1921, from ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bernard Baruch Handicap
The Bernard Baruch Handicap is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three-years-old and older run over a distance of miles on the turf annually in early August at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. The event currently offers a purse of $200,000. History The event is named in honor of Bernard Baruch who was a statesman, an adviser to various Presidents of the United States, and a lover of horses, thoroughbred horse racing, and the life of America's racetracks. The inaugural running of the event was on 12 August 1959 as the Bernard Baruch Stakes for three year old horses over a distance of miles on the dirt and was won by Middle Brother, ridden by Bobby Ussery defeating Howard B. Keck's Bagdad by a neck in a time of 1:49 flat setting a new track record. The event was again held for three year old horses in 1960, but in 1961 the event was moved to the turf. During the early runnings, the event would have many more nominations than would allow to st ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Beldame Stakes
The Beldame Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares three-years-old and up. Inaugurated in 1939, it was run as a handicap prior to 1960. The race is held annually near the beginning of October at Belmont Park and currently offers a purse of $400,000. A Grade I event for most of its history, in 2019 it was downgraded to Grade II. On August 22, 2009, NYRA announced that the purse for the 2009 Beldame Stakes was increased to $1 million to attract a showdown between Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta though ultimately neither horse entered the race. The race is named for the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame mare Beldame who raced between 1903 and 1905. During the 1904 season, she won 12 of 14 starts, beating the best colts of her time, and was voted the Horse of the Year honors. The first New York bred to win an Eclipse Award, Saratoga Dew, won this race in 1992. Run at miles since 1991, the Beldame has been set at various distances: * miles : 1939, 1990 * 1 m ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Astoria Stakes
The Astoria Stakes is a long-lived race for two-year-old Thoroughbred fillies run at Belmont Park in early June during the Belmont Stakes carnival. Originally set at a distance of five furlongs, beginning in the year 1940, the event was increased to five and a half furlongs on the dirt. The race currently offers a $150,000 purse. This race began at Gravesend Race Track in 1902 where it stayed until 1910. It then moved to Aqueduct Racetrack to be contested from 1914 to 1955, and again from 1960 to 1974. It was at Jamaica Race Course 1956, 1958, and 1959. From 1985 through 1994 the Astoria Stakes held Grade III status. Named after a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens, it would have been in its 103rd running in 2009, but due to the Financial crisis of 2007–2008, the Astoria was canceled by the NYRA as they adjusted races to meet the new Grade I standard purse of $300,000. The race was run again in 2014 as an overnight stakes. Records *At 5½ furlongs : 1:02.8 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Woodward Stakes
The Woodward Stakes is an American Grade I stakes race and is one of the premier races for older thoroughbred horses in the United States. It is named for prominent racehorse owner William Woodward. The race was first run in 1954 at Aqueduct Racetrack and then at Belmont Park in late September. In 2006, the Woodward was moved to Saratoga Race Course where it was run on the final Saturday of the meet until 2020. The race was moved back to Belmont Park in 2021. The Woodward was run as a handicap in 1954, 1955, and in 1976 and 1977. From 1957 through 1975 it was a weight-for-age event, and was run as an allowance stakes from 1977 through 1987. The race returned to being a handicap event in 1988, 1989, and 1990 then reverted to a weight-for-age race in 1991. In 2014, it was changed to allowance weights, meaning horses that do not meet certain conditions carry less weight. In 2020, it was returned to a handicap basis. History This race is to honor the memory of Belair Stud's William ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Spinster Stakes
The Spinster Stakes (also known as the "Juddmonte Spinster" with Juddmonte Farms sponsorship) is an American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares aged three or up run annually in early October at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Kentucky. It is set at a distance of one and one-eighth miles and is a Grade I event with a current purse of $600,000. The Spinster, sponsored by Prince Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte Farms beginning in 2005, is a major prep for the Breeders' Cup Distaff and one of the most important weight-for-age stakes races exclusively for fillies and mares. Now part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge series, the winner of the Spinster Stakes automatically qualifies for the Breeders' Cup Distaff. In time for the 2006 edition of the Spinster Stakes, Keeneland replaced its traditional dirt track with the synthetic surface, Polytrack synthetic dirt. In 2014, the Polytrack was replaced by a new dirt surface. Records ;Speed record On new dirt surface: * 1:49.44 – Go ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Queens County Handicap
The Queens County Handicap is an American Ungraded Thoroughbred horse race run annually during the second week of December at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. Open to horses age three years and older, it is contested on dirt at a distance of one and three-sixteenths miles (9.5 furlongs). Inaugurated in 1902, the Queens County Handicap is one of America's oldest races still running. It was hosted by Belmont Park in 1946 and at the old Jamaica Racetrack in Jamaica, Queens, New York from 1956 to 1958. Since inception it has been contested at various distances: * 1 mile, 70 yards : 1902–1903 * 1 mile : 1904–1939, 1959–1963 * miles : 1940–1958, 1993 * miles: 1964–1971, 2012 – present * miles : 1972–1992, 1994–2011 The Queens County is, like many races at Aqueduct, named for a New York City borough. Queens is the borough that includes the Aqueduct race track. It is also the largest of New York City's five boroughs. There was no race run in 1909, and from 1911 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |