Richard R. Gross, Author at Horse Network

The 2019 Dubai World Cup in Photos

At day at the races, Dubai style. [caption id="attachment_28334" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Training begins early for horse and rider. ©Richard R. Gross[/caption] [caption id="attachment_28332" align="alignnone" width="1200"] The Dubai World Cup day...

Thunder Snow Nose Victory In The Dubai World Cup

Thunder Snow overcame a wide number 12 gate position, a fast pace set by North America and eventual runner up Gronkowski—and history—to win the 24th Dubai World Cup by a...

North America’s Dubai World Cup Hopes Ride On A Little Luck

"Catching a bad break" is North American slang for having poor luck. That's exactly what happened to North America, the horse, when he completely missed leaving at the start from...

North America Gains First Choice In Dubai World Cup Draw

Gaining first choice in the random draw, trainer Satish Seemar chose post position 3 for North America, winner of the Maktoum Challenge Rounds 1 and 2 and a favorite in...

Stronach Group Bans Race-Day Medication At California Tracks

Stronach Group chairman and president Belinda Stronach announced Thursday that all race-day medication will be banned for horses at its two owned California tracks, Santa Anita Park and Golden Gates...

22nd Fatality Reported Following Wednesday’s Reopening of Santa Anita Track

It is being reported that three-year-old maiden filly Princess Lili B broke both forelegs following the end of a half-mile workout Thursday morning at Santa Anita Park and was euthanized,...

Santa Anita Cancels Racing Indefinitely Following Tuesday Fatality

Racing has been cancelled indefinitely at Santa Anita Park following the fatal injury sustained by four-year-old filly Lets Light the Way during training on the main track Tuesday morning. This...

Santa Anita Park Sees 20 Fatal Breakdowns in Two Months Following Historic Rainfall

It's the West Coast Cathedral of racing, as Belmont is to the East Coast and Churchill Downs is to Kentucky. It has hosted racing legends historic and recent, male and...

John Henry, The People’s Champion

In his most famous poem cycle, T.S. Eliot writes: "The naming of cats is a difficult matter…" So, too, with the naming of a Thoroughbred foal who someday may carry...

Churchill Downs Community Mourns Death of Veteran Exercise Rider

Just a week after a triumphant staging of the 2018 Breeders' Cup, the Churchill Downs community and racing fans nationwide were reminded the sport can deal tragedy in equal measure...

“Championship Saturday” Was All That…and More!

The Breeders' Cup increasingly is becoming as anticipated an event as the Kentucky Derby. This edition had the added benefit of taking place at Churchill Downs, and that site's historic...

Horses Not the Only Ones that Have to Beat Breeders’ Cup Odds

A full field of 14 horses will enter the gates at Churchill Downs at approximately 6:05 pm EDT to compete in the 35th running of the Breeders' Cup Classic. The...

Championship Saturday brings Quality, Diversity and Uncertainty to Churchill Downs

Horseracing is commonly referred to as "The Sport of Kings." But Breeders' Cup Championship Saturday at Churchill Downs features more diversity than the current British Royal Family in both its...

The Breeders’ Cup Preview to End All Previews: “Future Stars Friday” Edition

After five days of countless early morning exercise rides, media events, Louisville partying rivaled only by Kentucky Derby Week, a mint julep (or two if you wisely designated a driver),...

Breeders’ Cup Post-Position Draw Highlights Star-Studded International cast

It would be a pretty exciting day at the races if... Hronis Racing's Accelerate, current two-time consecutive Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) Champion filly Enable, Qatar Racing Limited's Roaring...

The “Head” That Made The Modern Thoroughbred

To understand modern Thoroughbred racing and particularly breeding industries in the U.S. as they extend their reach abroad, you have to start with—Canada, and a head. Much of the entire...

Catholic Boy Travers Win Scrambles HOY Race

With his four-length Travers Stakes win over Mendelssohn Saturday, Catholic Boy reaffirmed Saratoga's reputation as The Graveyard of Champions. The first three choices, 7-5 Good Magic, 3-1 Gronkowski and 5-1...

No Need To Justify A Loaded Travers Stakes

Fans who feared this year's Travers Stakes at Saratoga, also called "The Midsummer Derby," would be diminished by the absence of retired Triple Crown Champion Justify need not fear. This...

Justify Is Retired From Racing

American Triple Crown winner Justify has been retired from racing. The announcement came Wednesday following several weeks of speculation about his racing future after disclosure the three-year-old son of Scat...

Jockey Victor Espinoza Expected to Recover from Fractured Vertebra UPDATED

Hall of Fame jockey Victor Espinoza is expected to fully recover after suffering a fracture of his C-3 neck vertebra and what his agent Brian Beach described as a "stinger"...

Author Archives: Richard R. Gross