horseracing
Going wire-to-wire, Little Mike captures the Arlington Million for the Vaccarezzas
Priscilla Vaccarezza was born in Chicago, grew up in Carol Stream and attended Glenbard North High School. But she never had been to Arlington Park until Saturday, when her horse Little Mike won the 30th running of the Arlington Million over British invader Afsare in …
Local hope Helicopter takes aim at $400,000 American St. Leger
When the 12-race International Festival of Racing begins Saturday at Arlington Park, it won’t just be about who will win the three Grade I stakes races: the $500,000 Secretariat Stakes, the $750,000 Beverly D. and Arlington Million. This year, the festival features the inaugural running …
Local hope Willcox Inn will give it a shot in Arlington Million
There’s no aspect of the 30th running of the Arlington Million that Marty Nixon hasn’t enjoyed. The Palatine native is the owner, along with Lael Stable and All In Stable, of Willcox Inn, who drew the seventh post position during the unveiling Wednesday of the …
Legal problems mounting for jockey Robby Albarado
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Jockey Robby Albarado was fined $500 on Tuesday for a misdemeanor assault conviction stemming from a scuffle with his former girlfriend, but the Preakness-winning rider’s legal problems aren’t behind him yet. At the sentencing, Judge Ann Bailey Smith set a Nov. 14 …
Frank Martin, trainer of Sham, dies at 86
Hall of Fame trainer Frank “Pancho” Martin, who oversaw 1973 Kentucky Derby and Preakness runner-up Sham, has died. He was 86.
I’ll Have Another was reportedly ailing before Belmont
NEW YORK — Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner I’ll Have Another was ailing well before he was retired from racing with a tendon injury the day ahead of his bid to win the Belmont Stakes and become the first Triple Crown champion in 34 years. …
Jockey Rosemary Homeister Jr. balancing motherhood with racing career
It couldn’t have come at a more inopportune time. Jockey Rosemary Homeister Jr. found out she was pregnant at the peak of her career. ‘‘The week before I found out, I rode six races and won five,’’ Homeister, 39, said. ‘‘I was stunned, and I …
Union Rags rides rail to victory in Belmont Stakes
NEW YORK — Union Rags picked up where I’ll Have Another left off, coming from behind to catch a Bob Baffert-trained horse at the finish in a Triple Crown race. Union Rags rallied through an opening on the rail Saturday to edge Paynter by a …
Union Rags nips Paynter to win Belmont Stakes
NEW YORK — Union Rags picked up right where I’ll Have Another left off, coming from behind to catch a Bob Baffert-trained horse at the finish in a Triple Crown race. In Saturday’s Belmont Stakes, it was another photo finish decided by a neck. Just …
Belmont buzz breaks down as I’ll Have Another retires
NEW YORK — Bummer. Belmont Park was prepping for a big ol’ party Saturday, about 100,000 people ready to roll in by the trainloads for a shot at cheering on the first Triple Crown winner since 1978. They would’ve come from the towering skyscrapers of …
LeBron James didn’t prove anything with Game 6 performance
AFTERNOON SPORTS CLUB: LeBron James didn’t win anything Thursday night. Except the right to play another game. He didn’t shut anybody up. He didn’t exorcise any demons. He didn’t change anybody’s mind after a magnificent 45-point, 15-rebound performance against the Celtics in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Triple Crown hopeful I’ll Have Another retires from horse racing
I’ll Have Another’s bid for the first Triple Crown in 34 years ended shockingly in the barn and not on the racetrack Friday when the colt was scratched the day before the Belmont Stakes and retired with a swollen tendon.
I’ll Have Another trainer was not only drug user at Belmont
LOS ANGELES — The affable man with the horse that may become the first Triple Crown winner in more than a generation can’t seem to outrun his unflattering nickname: “Drug” O’Neill. But Doug O’Neill is far from the only trainer in Saturday’s Belmont Stakes with …
Why I’ll Have Another will not win the Triple Crown
AFTERNOON SPORTS CLUB: Everyone – even the Taliban – wants a Triple Crown winner. It last happened 34 years ago. But this Saturday in New York, I’ll Have Another will turn into I’ll Have Another Disappointment.
Triple Crown would give racing a bump
NEW YORK — By Saturday night, the horse racing world will know if a chestnut colt named I’ll Have Another has done what 11 other contenders have failed to do since 1978: Win the Triple Crown. But even if he beats his competitors in the …
