Full Field of 20 for Kentucky Derby Betting Belmont Stakes belmont stakes betting online

As expected, the names of 20 colts and geldings were dropped into the entry box for Saturday's $2-million Kentucky Derby (gr. I) at Churchill Downs. The connections of Bandini will be the first to pick a post position, while the connections of Buzzards Bay will go last.Post positions will be selected at 5 p.m. EDT Wednesday. The process will be covered live on ESPN Sportscenter. The order of selection was determined Wednesday morning in the Churchill Downs racing office when entries for the Derby were taken.Here's the order of post selection for the 3-year-olds entered in the Derby:1--Bandini (John Velazquez)2--Afleet Alex (Jeremy Rose)3--Greeley's Galaxy (Kent Desormeaux)4--Flower Alley (Jorge Chavez)5--High Limit (Ramon Dominguez)6--Giacomo (Mike Smith)7--Noble Causeway (Gary Stevens)8--Wilko (Corey Nakatani)9--Greater Good (John McKee)10--Bellamy Road (Javier Castellano)11-Andromeda's Hero (Rafael Bejarano)12--Spanish Chestnut (Joe Bravo)13--High Fly (Jerry Bailey)14--Don't Get Mad (Tyler Baze)15--Coin Silver (Pat Valenzuela)16--Sun King (Edgar Prado)17--Closing Argument (Cornelio Velasquez)18--Sort It Out (Brice Blanc)19--Going Wild (Jose Valdivia Jr.)20--Buzzards Bay (Mark Guidry)Trainer Nick Zito has the most Derby entrants with five. They are, in post-selection order, Noble Causeway (seventh), Bellamy Road (10th), Andromeda's Hero (11th), High Fly (13th), and Sun King (16th).

Kentucky Derby Beefing Up Drug Testing Betting Belmont Stakes belmont stakes betting online

Thoroughbred racing is joining the crackdown on drug cheats. The 20 horses expected to start in Saturday's Kentucky Derby will be scrutinized for illegal substances as much if not more so than their human counterparts in other sports. All horses at the Derby will undergo pre-race blood tests for alkalizing agents called "milkshakes" that help alleviate fatigue, and then a "super test" to screen post-race urine samples, which can detect about 140 different drugs. The second test will also be used at the two other Triple Crown races, the Preakness and Belmont Stakes. It was administered at last year's Breeders' Cup. No horse tested positive."Racing has a serious drug problem, and a huge perception problem that is especially bothersome in a sport that depends on public confidence for our main revenue stream," C. Steven Duncker, chairman of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association's Graded Stakes Committee, said Monday. Starting Thursday, the Churchill Downs barns of Derby horses will be watched by an independent team of investigators from the Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau and the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority. Also patrolling the grounds will be local police, sheriff's deputies and private security guards hired by the track. The stricter post-race testing was mandated by the graded-stakes committee, and applies to the Derby as well as all the other major races in the United States. "It's been a long, hard haul to get here because each state sets it own policy," Duncker said, "but it seems like the industry is getting serious very quickly about this issue." Officials are not worried that "juiced up" horses will go out and run in record times, they just want to reassure fans that no horse has an unfair advantage. Triple Crown winner Secretariat, for example, still holds the Derby record for 1 1/4 miles at 1:59 2/5 in 1973. Only one other horse, Monarchos in 2001, has broken 2 minutes. A total of 13 racing jurisdictions have agreed to the uniform guidelines of the "super test" and another 13 are expected to follow by the end of the year.

Afleet Alex and High Limit early favorites in Stakes Races Betting Belmont Stakes belmont stakes betting online

Afleet Alex was made an early 2-1 favorite Wednesday for the $1 million Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park.Greater Good, the winner of the Southwest Stakes and the Rebel, opened as a 5-2 choice for Saturday's 1 1-8 mile race.Greater Good will start from the outside post position, while Afleet Alex will be in the six post in the 10-horse field.Batsons Challenge, third in the Rebel, will start on the rail. Rockport Harbor was second in the Rebel but later developed a blood clot. He will skip the Arkansas Derby and instead run next week at Keeneland.Meanwhile Undefeated High Limit will begin as the 9-5 favorite for the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland. Track oddsmaker Mike Battaglia on Wednesday gave the Louisiana Derby winner a slight nod over Sun King, who will start at 2-1 on the morning line. Consolidator will start at 7-2 and Bandini at 4-1. All four horses are considered Kentucky Derby probables. Seven horse betting are entered in Saturday's 1 1-8-mile Grade I race.High Limit, trained by Bobby Frankel, won both of his starts as a 2-year-old before his four-length win in the Louisiana Derby on March 12. His regular jockey, Ramon Dominguez, will ride the son of Maria's Mon in the Blue Grass Stakes. Frankel won the 2003 Blue Grass with Peace Rules. Sun King is one of five Derby hopefuls trained by Nick Zito, who has won the Blue Grass a record-tying three times, including last year with The Cliff's Edge. Sun King has won three of six starts, including a 3 1-4-length decision in the Grade III Tampa Bay Derby on March 19. Edgar Prado will ride Sun King. Consolidator, trained by D. Wayne Lukas, is the most experienced horse in the field. The son of Storm Cat will be making his 10th career start. He won the Grade II San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita in his last start and won his last start at Keeneland, the Grade I Lane's End Breeders' Futurity last October. Bandini, trained by Todd Pletcher, was second in the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park in his last start. Bandini's sire is 2000 Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus. The other horses in the field will be Closing Argument (10-1), Spanish Chestnut (15-1) and Mr Sword

Steinbrenner to Attend Kentucky DerbY Betting Belmont Stakes belmont stakes betting online

New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner plans to attend the May 7 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) to watch his Bellamy Road compete.The big bay colt trained by Nick Zito was dazzling in a 17 1/2-length victory April 9 in the 1 1/8-mile Wood Memorial (gr. I) at Aqueduct. The race is New York's major prep for the Derby."I'm going to go up for it," Steinbrenner said Wednesday.The Florida-bred Bellamy Road was purchased for $87,000 last year at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s April 2-year-olds in training sale. The son of Concerto won the Miller Genuine Draft Cradle Stakes (gr. III) at River Downs last year, and won his only other start this year--an allowance race at Gulfstream Park--by 15 3/4 lengths.Bellamy Road will be Steinbrenner's fifth Derby horse. His first starter, Steve's Friend, was fifth in 1977. Diligence, in 1996, and Concerto, in 1997, both finished ninth, while Blue Burner was 11th in 2002.

'Alex' Impresses in Morning Workout Betting Belmont Stakes belmont stakes betting online

Arkansas Derby (gr. II) winner Afleet Alex displayed his affinity for the track at Churchill Downs when he zipped five furlongs in :59 Tuesday morning in preparation for the May 7 Kentucky Derby (gr. I). The move, in fractions of :12 2/5, :24, :35 2/5, and :46 3/5, with a six-furlong gallop-out time of 1:12 2/5, pleased trainer Tim Ritchey and jockey Jeremy Rose. The move was the fastest of 29 horses working the distance Tuesday and a full 1 2/5 seconds faster than the second-fastest work. But Ritchey and Rose agreed it wasn't unusually fast and was a typical work for the son of Northern Afleet who races in the colors of Cash Is King Stable. "Everything was exactly what we wanted," Ritchey said. "He started out easy and finished up well. He does it easy. He has a nice fluid action. He really was not breathing that hard (after the work). He is a fit horse. We have him right where we want him and just need to keep him together for the next two weeks." With the likelihood of 19 or 20 starters in the Derby, Ritchey said he believes there will be sufficient early speed in the race to set it up for Afleet Alex to stalk the early pace before making his move. "You can get him to relax but he also has natural speed," Ritchey explained. "The work was perfect," Rose said. "This is the way he works every time. He is the fastest--the coolest horse. He is an iron horse. He is so athletic." Rose agreed with Ritchey's assessment of how the Derby could set up for Alex to win. The goal will be to have the colt relaxed at first and then unleash his speed when needed. "You can put him wherever you want, and when a hole opens, he can get there before anyone knows he's there," Rose said. With the forecast rain holding off until mid-morning, the breeze by Afleet Alex was the only workout at Churchill by a Derby contender.

CDI Secures $1 Million Policy for Jockeys Betting Belmont Stakes belmont stakes betting online

Churchill Downs Inc. has finalized agreements with AIG Insurance to provide $1 million in on-track insurance coverage for jockeys who compete at CDI racetracks located in states where jockeys are not currently covered by workers' compensation programs.
The CDI-operated tracks now offering $1 million in on-track major medical coverage include Arlington Park, Calder Race Course, Churchill Downs, Ellis Park, Fair Grounds Race Course, and Hoosier Park. Jockeys competing at Hollywood Park, CDI's racetrack in the Los Angeles area, are already covered by California's workers' compensation program.
The increased major medical coverage, with $1 million in lifetime benefits, replaces the $100,000 in coverage CDI racetracks previously provided jockeys through an agreement with the Thoroughbred Racing Associations, a professional organization representing more than 40 North American racetracks.
CDI will cover the majority of the cost for the new insurance premium and is working with horsemen's groups in Florida, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, and Louisiana to set up funding mechanisms through which racehorse owners will contribute to the cost of the increased coverage. The funding mechanisms implemented may vary by state or racetrack. CDI's ability to offer $1 million in on-track coverage is contingent upon horsemen's participation.
"While racetracks do not employ jockeys, they are important contributors to our live racing product, and Churchill Downs Incorporated is committed to funding the lion's share of the cost for the $1 million in on-track coverage," said Andrew G. Skehan, executive vice president and chief operating officer. "This is an industry-wide issue that requires an industry-wide response, and we look to our horsemen to assist us in paying for the added cost of this increased coverage."

Churchill Downs Asks Judge to Prohibit Jockey Walkout Betting Belmont Stakes belmont stakes betting online

With the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) less than four weeks away, Churchill Downs is asking a judge to ensure the Jockeys' Guild does not direct a Derby walkout.
Churchill sued the guild last month, claiming it violated antitrust laws by orchestrating walkouts last fall at the track and at Churchill-owned Hoosier Park near Indianapolis over on-track accident insurance. The guild, a 1,200-member organization based in Monrovia, Calif., has denied it directed the walkouts.
The Churchill motion says it believes the guild will focus on Derby week activities.
"The Guild knows that a boycott on or around May 7 represents a highly effective strategy for gaining leverage by causing irreparable harm to Churchill," it says.
The March 29 filing in U.S. District Court asks for a prompt hearing. The case has been assigned to Judge John G. Heyburn II, but a hearing on the motion has not been scheduled.
Churchill cited a 1979 case stemming from a group of jockeys in Puerto Rico who attempted to get a higher cut of purse money from horse owners and refused to race when their demands were not met.
The riders were subsequently sued for breaking antitrust laws. A district court ruled against the jockeys. An appeals court supported the lower court's decision, determining the riders were independent contractors, and directed them not to boycott races.
Churchill argues the guild's actions mirror those of the Puerto Rican jockeys.
"It has contracted or conspired with the jockeys in an illegal effort to control prices through concerted action. It deserves the exact same result: an injunction against its illegal activities," Churchill said.
Kentucky is not among five states that provide workers' compensation coverage for jockeys. Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher has asked a panel to study the issue and recommend a workers' comp solution for jockeys, exercise riders, and apprentice jockeys at Kentucky tracks and training facilities by Sept. 1.
In the meantime, the state racetracks have agreed to raise their on-track accident coverage from $100,000 to $1 million. Churchill Downs will have its new policy in place by the start of the track's spring meet April 30, spokesman John Asher said.