05/15/2008

Wind Water trainer wants horse to make splash early
If 6-year-old gelding Wind Water sticks to trainer Chris Hartman's plan, he will race to an early lead in tonight's $50,000 Ford Express Stakes – and stay there.

Preakness wagering at Lone Star Park
Trainer Nick Zito has a modest goal for Stevil in the Preakness on Saturday.

05/11/2008

Swift finish for El Gato Malo at Lone Star Park

RICKY MOON / Special to DMN

El Gato Malo, with Rafael Bejarano up, narrowly wins the Grade III Lone Star Derby.

Jockey Rafael Bejarano grinned from ear-to-ear as he posed for pictures in the winner's circle. He had reason to be happy after riding El Gato Malo to an impressive victory Saturday in the Grade III, $400,000 Lone Star Derby at Lone Star Park.

05/10/2008

Lone Star Derby goes today
Samba Rooster is the morning line favorite for today's 12th annual Lone Star Derby at Lone Star Park.

05/08/2008

Baffert-trained colt is favored in Lone Star Derby
Samba Rooster is the 9-5 morning line favorite for the 12th annual race Saturday at Lone Star Park.

05/07/2008

NYRA mulls switch to synthetic surfaces
The New York Racing Association is considering replacing dirt with synthetic surfaces at its three tracks, including historic Saratoga Race Course.

05/06/2008

Eight Belles' trainer defends jockey
The trainer of euthanized filly Eight Belles adamantly defended the way jockey Gabriel Saez handled the Kentucky Derby runner-up.

05/04/2008

Kentucky Derby disaster re-opens debate over horse racing

AP

Track personnel try to hold down Eight Belles as jockey Gabriel Saez walks past after the 134th Kentucky Derby on Saturday.

A day after Big Brown blazed across the finish line, the snapshot of Eight Belles down on the dirt set off a raging debate that extended far beyond the Kentucky Derby: Is horse racing now facing an image crisis?
 Tell Us: Is sport doing enough?
 Tell Us: Finished with horse racing?

05/05/2008

Lone Star suspends jockey for six months
Jockey Glen Murphy was suspended Saturday for 180 days by Lone Star Park for having an illegal electrical shocking device at the track.

05/03/2008

Runner-up's injury mars Big Brown's Kentucky Derby victory

AP

Kent Desormeaux rides Big Brown to a victory in the 134th Kentucky Derby.

Big Brown backed up his trainer's boasts with an explosive finishing kick and won the Kentucky Derby on Saturday. Cheers for the winner's decisive victory were cut short when Eight Belles, the runner-up, was euthanized on the track minutes after the race when she collapsed with two broken front ankles.

Kentucky Derby winners
A list of the winners of the Kentucky Derby, the first leg of horse racing's Triple Crown.

Lone Star draws its fourth-highest attendence on Derby day
Lone Star Park drew a crowd of 18,689 on Saturday, its fourth highest attendance.

05/02/2008

Steve Asmussen moving up Kentucky Derby chart

Getty Images

Trainer Steve Asmussen talks to the media during morning training for the 134th Kentucky Derby.

In the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby today (5:04 p.m., Ch 5), Arlington resident Steve Asmussen sends out two starters, Pyro and Z Fortune. At 6-1, Pyro is the third betting choice in the morning line. Z Fortune is 15-1.
  Video: Lone Star wagering

05/03/2008

Kentucky Derby scouting report

05/01/2008

Jockey leads Lone Star Park pack, again
Two-time meet champion Cliff Berry has 20 wins heading into the meet's fourth week

04/30/2008

That's the ticket: Tips for playing the horses

TOM FOX / DMN

Quincy Hamilton (left) is one of Lone Star Park's top jockeys on turf because of his patience.

Not satisfied with picking a horse because of its number or because you like its name? Here's how a professional handicapper, someone who makes a living picking winners from also-rans, uses the standard 20 minutes between races to make a selection.
Video: How to wager at Lone Star Park

Advance Derby wagering available Friday at Lone Star Park
Advance wagering on Saturday's card from Churchill Downs, including the Kentucky Derby, begins at 8 a.m. Friday at the drive-through window at Gate 2. Wagers can be made at the Pavilion beginning at 9 a.m. and the grandstand at 5 p.m.

Lone Star Park to cut overnight purses
Lone Star Park will cut overnight purses by 10 percent, the track announced Tuesday. Drew Shubeck, Lone Star's president and general manager, said a dispute between horsemen and account deposit wagering businesses led to the purse reduction, which is effective May 8.

04/26/2008

Monterey Jazz eases to victory in Lone Star's Texas Mile
Monterey Jazz pulled away from a three-wide race in the first turn and was never challenged in the Texas Mile at Lone Star Park Saturday night. The California horse had the fastest finish since 2001 with time of 1:34.25.

Field full, but Derby favorite hard to find
Let others struggle to pick a winner for Saturday's wide-open Kentucky Derby. There's no doubt in trainer Rick Dutrow's mind – it's unbeaten Big Brown.

04/24/2008

Monterey Jazz seeks redemption at Texas Mile
The Texas Mile offers a shot at redemption for California horse Monterey Jazz.

04/17/2008

Teen jockey joins Shepherd stable at Lone Star Park
There's a new Shepherd in the Lone Star jockey colony.