HRN: 2016 Breeders' Cup: A Photo Essay by Mary Cage

Each time I post a new article on my Horse Racing Nation blog, I post a notice on this blog. These notices include an excerpt from the beginning of that article and a link to the piece. My latest Horse Racing Nation article is. . .

2016 Breeders' Cup: A Photo Essay by Mary Cage

"Hollywood is known for being home to worldwide stars, but this weekend the Los Angeles area hosted an all-star cast of Thoroughbred athletes and horsemen for the 33^rd Breeders' Cup – the ninth one to be held at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. But this year's Breeders' Cup may have presented an especially star-studded cast, pitting multiple champions against one another. This ultimately resulted in showdowns for the ages, making the 2016 Breeders' Cup one to remember. . ."

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HRN: New Golden Era of Racing, Part Two: California Chrome

Each time I post a new article on my Horse Racing Nation blog, I post a notice on this blog. These notices include an excerpt from the beginning of that article and a link to the piece. My latest Horse Racing Nation article is. . .

New Golden Era of Racing, Part Two: California Chrome

"When American Pharoah galloped into history and, like the first rainfall at the end of a long drought, became the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years, racing fans got a taste of “the good ol’ days.” But when he crossed the wire for the final time and captured the Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) at Keeneland, fans had to wonder how long they would have to wait to witness another all-time great.

It turns out that they would not have to wait long; in fact, they had already witnessed the making of a couple greats at that very Breeders’ Cup. As American Pharoah retired to stallion duty at Coolmore’s Ashford Stud, he left the door open for a number of Thoroughbreds to continue what appears to be the modern golden era of American horse racing.

Although American Pharoah accomplished the feat for which the racing world had been waiting nearly four decades, he was not the first all-time great the sport has witnessed in recent years. The twelfth Triple Crown winner came on the heels of the likes of Curlin, Zenyatta, Rachel Alexandra, and Wise Dan. Though all of these horses, American Pharoah included, are now enjoying retirement, this new golden age lives on.

Through the first eight months of 2016, a number of horses have contributed to a brilliant year of racing already. In this brief new series, I will feature these horses individually and separately – the ones that have the potential to be considered all-time greats, or that have even already reached that status.

Part Two: California Chrome

Before there was American Pharoah, there was California Chrome. . ."

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HRN: California Chrome: An Ambassador for California Chrome

Each time I post a new article on my Horse Racing Nation blog, I post a notice on this blog. These notices include an excerpt from the beginning of that article and a link to the piece. My latest Horse Racing Nation article is. . .

California Chrome: An Ambassador for California

"Only four California-breds have won the Kentucky Derby (gr. I). Only five California-breds have won the Preakness Stakes (gr. I). Only two California-breds have won the Belmont Stakes (gr. I). No California-bred has ever won the Triple Crown.

But on Saturday, California Chrome looks to not only put this drought to an end, but the drought so many racing fans have yearned to see end: the 36 years that have passed without a Triple Crown winner. Despite twelve attempts since, a horse has not swept the prestigious series since Affirmed accomplished the coveted feat in 1978. As made evident by the many decades that have passed since a horse has won the Triple Crown, it is an achievement that only a truly great equine athlete can complete. The hopes of America will travel with California Chrome to the Belmont Stakes, but the support of one state in particular will be abounding as the blaze-faced chestnut faces the biggest test of his life in New York. . ."

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HRN: 2014 Preakness Stakes Field Analysis

Each time I post a new article on my Horse Racing Nation blog, I post a notice on this blog. These notices include an excerpt from the beginning of that article and a link to the piece. My latest Horse Racing Nation article is. . .

2014 Preakness Stakes Field Analysis

"As Saturday nears, the focus of racing enthusiasts’ attention rests on California Chrome, the winner of the 140^th Kentucky Derby (gr. I) as he seeks to keep Triple Crown hopes alive in the second leg of the prestigious series, the Preakness Stakes (gr. I). No horse has swept the three races since Affirmed in 1978, leaving fans to yearn for the special horse that is capable of accomplishing a feat that has seemed to become nearly impossible. Could California Chrome be that horse? Before he can chase this coveted achievement at Belmont, he must first conquer his rivals in the Preakness this Saturday at Pimlico. . ."

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HRN: California Chrome: Continuing Swaps' Legacy

Each time I post a new article on my Horse Racing Nation blog, I post a notice on this blog. These notices include an excerpt from the beginning of that article and a link to the piece. My latest Horse Racing Nation article is. . .

California Chrome: Continuing Swaps' Legacy

"A blazing streak of copper, Swaps was dubbed the “California Comet.” He was the king of the West Coast, the Golden State’s pride and joy. With a victory in America’s most revered race – the Kentucky Derby – and multiple world record times to his credit, Swaps offered the state of California hope as he proved wrong the doubts of many racing professionals and enthusiasts from across the nation. . ."

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HRN: California Chrome: A Derby Dream Come True

Each time I post a new article on my Horse Racing Nation blog, I post a notice on this blog. These notices include an excerpt from the beginning of that article and a link to the piece. My latest Horse Racing Nation article is. . .

California Chrome: A Derby Dream Come True

"Goosebumps. Chills. Tears. Smiles. All of these were abundant as the familiar tunes of “My Old Kentucky Home” rang through the air beneath the iconic twin spires of Churchill Downs. 164,906 fans – the second biggest crowd in history – sang along to the classic song as nineteen young Thoroughbreds paraded before the expansive grandstand for America’s oldest continuously held sporting event, the Kentucky Derby.

Somewhere in the grandstand stood 77-year-old Art Sherman. A jockey-turned-trainer, Sherman had been here before – but not as a jockey or trainer. In 1955, he was the exercise rider for Swaps, an eventual Hall of Famer who won that year’s Run for the Roses. A California veteran, Sherman’s name has rarely graced the big headlines. Then a blaze-faced chestnut named California Chrome walked into Sherman’s life. . ."

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HRN: 2014 Kentucky Derby Hopeful: California Chrome

Each time I post a new article on my Horse Racing Nation blog, I post a notice on this blog. These notices include an excerpt from the beginning of that article and a link to the piece. My latest Horse Racing Nation article is. . .

2014 Kentucky Derby Hopeful: California Chrome

For the first time, my Derby Hopefuls will be reaching the pages of Horse Racing Nation rather than the original Past the Grandstand. Derby Hopefuls feature the horses I view as the best contenders leading up to the Kentucky Derby. Each horse spotlighted in a Derby Hopeful will join the 2014 PTG Derby Hopeful roster, found on the right side of this blog (the original Past the Grandstand). Horses will be listed in an order that corresponds to how highly I think of them, with the horse I think most highly of ranking at the top. A horse featured in a Derby Hopeful may be taken off the roster if its performances after its article are published are not up to par or if that horse is taken off the Triple Crown trail, though those articles will remain on my blog.

"Just a few days out from Christmas, citizens across the nation prepared for the holiday, reuniting with family, watching classic holiday movies, embellishing homes with festive decorations, wrapping gifts, and preparing traditional meals. The air was full of joy and anticipation; after all, it was “the most wonderful time of the year.” But on the evening of December 22, 2014, racing fans felt anything but joy.

It was the final day of racing at Hollywood Park, a track that had housed the names of an abundance of great Thoroughbreds, including Affirmed, Citation, Seabiscuit, and Zenyatta. Despite the seventy-five years of fine racing that had taken place at Hollywood Park, the doors would forever close to the Inglewood, California track. Hundreds of stakes races had been held at the track in its rich history, including the inaugural Breeders’ Cup World Championships and seventy-four editions of the Hollywood Gold Cup, but at 5:39 PM on December 22, California Chrome – a stunning chestnut colt conditioned by veteran trainer Art Sherman – galloped to an impressive victory in the final stakes race ever held at Hollywood, the King Glorious Stakes. Now, a month out from the Kentucky Derby, the colt that captured Hollywood’s final stakes race looks to conquer America’s greatest stakes race. . ."

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