John Rotz, Hall of Fame jockey, dead at 86
“Gentleman John” Rotz, the retired Hall of Fame jockey and former Jockey Club steward in New York, died July 12 at the age of 86 at his home in Warrensburg, Illinois. Rotz’s riding career spanned […]
Dr. Fager
Remembering Hall of Famer Bimelech
Had Keeneland’s spring meet gone forward, we might have seen unbeaten Maxfield launch his comeback in the Blue Grass (G2). Instead I’m finding refuge in the past, and a perusal of the Blue Grass honor roll led me to back to Hall of Famer Bimelech (1940). […]
Unconventional candidates emerge as early Horse of the Year contenders
The end of the Triple Crown series on Saturday unofficially brought to a close the first half of the racing season and, unlike the landscape 12 months ago, we have ourselves a race for Horse […]
Five historical disqualifications that remain controversial
What DQs in horse racing have stood the test of time? The decision that awarded Saturday’s Kentucky Derby (G1) victory to Country House will be talked of for years to come. While they did not […]
Yesterday and Today: Opening Week at Saratoga
The highly-anticipated racing season at Saratoga begins Friday with an abbreviated four-day week that runs through Monday. While the day-in, day-out racing remains the best in the country, in some ways it’s a far cry […]
Manny Ycaza, Hall of Fame jockey, dead at 80
Manny Ycaza, the Hall of Fame jockey who was among the first generation of Latin American riders that came to dominate the upper echelons of the sport and whose colorful and aggressive riding style endeared […]
Best of Hanson 2017: An Anthology
The end of another year is upon us, thus time to anthologize some of my better (IMHO) takes and features published throughout 2017 at Brisnet.com. (you can find my “Best of” collections for 2015 and […]
Fifty years on from the “Race of the Century,” the Woodward has an entirely different look
The official anniversary is a month away, but with Saturday’s renewal of the Woodward (G1) will come remembrances of the clash that occurred in the same race 50 years ago, a showdown often dubbed “The […]
Phantom Ro, Go Astray wire Dr. Fager, Desert Vixen Florida Sire divisions at Gulfstream
Neither Phantom Ro nor Go Astray was favored in Saturday’s Florida Sire Stakes divisions at Gulfstream Park, with the former taking the Dr. Fager as the 3-1 third choice and the latter romping in the […]
Dr. Fager, Desert Vixen kick off Florida Sire Stakes at Gulfstream Park
The 2017 Florida Sire Stakes begins Saturday at Gulfstream Park with the $100,000 Dr. Fager and Desert Vixen divisions going six furlongs. The annual series for juveniles sired by nominated stallions standing in Florida continues […]