Race Track Articles

The decline of East Coast fair racing

 In his 47 years of working at the Maryland State Fair in Timonium, Max Mosner, the fair’s president and general manager, has seen Thoroughbred racing at Maryland fairs, and at other fairs on the East Coast, slow to a crawl.

The advance of Turkish racing on the international scene

 For centuries extending back to the Roman Empire, Turkey and its cosmopolitan center now known as Istanbul have been the crossroads of civilizations, straddling Europe and Asia and connecting the commerce, art and religions of the world. Today Turkey is diligently working to also achieve recognition as a significant new crossroads for horseracing.

Santa Anita - a long and storied history

Remembering Jamaica - 50 years after the last race

Some of the sport’s greatest horses raced at the racetrack during its 56-year history, but 50 years ago this summer, on August 1, 1959, the popular New York venue opened its doors for the last time.

Oaklawn - the first Eclipse Award-winning racetrack

Last fall, ownership of the New York Yankees was passed from George Steinbrenner to his son Hank, ensuring the Steinbrenner stewardship of professional sports’ most prestigious franchise will continue after George’s 35 years.
     That’s a little more than a third as long as the Cella family's astute leadership of Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

Palm Meadows - the best training center in the country

For all the criticism Frank Stronach has received for turning Gulfstream Park from a racetrack into a casino/concert hall/shopping mall that offers racing, he’s received very little credit for developing the best training center in the country, 49 miles north of Gulfstream in Boynton Beach: Palm Meadows.

Tampa Bay Downs - from afterthought to success

Slowly, yet surely, Tampa Bay Downs is evolving from that “other track in Florida” into a viable winter/spring option for good and even great horses and horsemen.  “We were an afterthought,” Tampa Bay Downs Vice-President and General Manager Pete Berube said. “But we’ve been able to dispel that stigmatism the last few years.”

What does the future hold for Great Lakes Downs?

Shane Spiess invested his future in the Michigan Thoroughbred industry nearly a decade ago when Great Lakes Downs opened in Western Michigan.

What’s happening at Hialeah?

There is action on Hialeah in 2007. On e-bay. You can buy a Hialeah glass graced by a pink flamingo for $6.99. Flamingos are also depicted on Hialeah Park linen offered at $7.99. Or maybe you’d prefer three Hialeah post cards for $3.99.