Equestsport

By STEVEN GREENHOUSE

With its stately beau monde setting, the Saratoga Race Course is the place to be in August for highbrow horse lovers. But a State Labor Department investigation has found a far less attractive picture for the track’s 1,200 backstretch workers.

The state labor commissioner, M. Patricia Smith, announced on Wednesday that 80 percent of the 110 backstretch workers investigators interviewed — grooms, hot walkers and night watchmen — were not paid minimum wage or time and a half for overtime.

The backstretch workers are employed by individual trainers, who typically train horses for several thoroughbred owners. Some workers told investigators that they were paid just $5.06 an hour, far less than the state minimum wage of $7.15 an hour, Ms. Smith said.

In addition, workers told of being bitten by bedbugs in the racetrack’s dormitories and of eating at soup kitchens because they could not afford the restaurants in Saratoga Springs.

“The violations we uncovered were extensive and significant,” Commissioner Smith said in a telephone interview. “With many workers forced to go to soup kitchens, one can only conclude that the work at the backstretch at Saratoga is a bad bet.”

Racetrack Workers Aren’t Paid Minimum Wage....

By Tom Pedulla, USA TODAY
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Any more questions?
Colonel John ended doubts about his stamina and his ability to win on dirt by grinding out a nose victory against Mambo in Seattle in the $1 million Travers Stakes on Saturday.

The winner of the 139th Travers had run a disappointing sixth after a troubled trip in the Kentucky Derby. He redeemed himself somewhat by gaining a taut decision at Saratoga Race Course in the 1¼-mile race known as the "mid-summer Derby."

"I feel the Travers is certainly the second most prestigious 3-year-old race," said triumphant owner Bill Casner. "It's a race to win, a race for the ages."

No more doubt: Colonel John wins $1M Travers Stakes....

By KEITH BRADSHER

HONG KONG — Four horses and their riders were suspended from Olympic show jumping on Thursday after preliminary tests suggested that the skin of the horses may have been treated with a banned derivative of chili peppers.

Combinations of horses and riders from Brazil, Germany, Ireland and Norway were all suspended after initial tests showed the presence of capsaicin, which is widely used in topical ointments for the treatment of minor horse injuries. The substance is banned at the Olympics because it can also serve as a mild stimulant.

The banned rider Tony Andre Hansen and his horse, Camiro, were part of the Norwegian show jumping team that captured a bronze medal on Monday. The Fédération Equestre International, the sport’s international governing body, deferred a decision on whether to revoke the bronze medal until after final test results were confirmed.

Four Equestrian Riders Suspended for Chili Pepper Derivative....

By Paul Moran

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- Big Brown is off on his own, bound for a grass race in New Jersey that is meaningful to the big picture in no discernable sense, a turf prep in September for the Breeders' Cup Classic, according to his owners, but to most others an evasive maneuver that avoids Curlin at all costs.

While Big Brown prepares to play on the Monmouth Park lawn, most others prominent in the 3-year-old division are assembled here for Saturday's 139th Travers Stakes, which offers a $1 million purse and the most prestigious title available to horses this age beyond the Triple Crown series.

The race known as the "Midsummer Derby" has in each of the last three years gone to the winner of the Jim Dandy Stakes, which bodes well for Macho Again, who last month won a hard-fought battle that put him at the wire a half-length in front of Pyro at the end of a strongly run 9 furlongs.

This year's Travers is significant even without Big Brown....

By Glenye Cain Oakford
Daily Racing Form

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Genuine Risk, one of only three fillies to win the Kentucky Derby and 1980's champion 3-year-old filly, has died in Virginia at age 31.

Genuine Risk died Monday morning at owner Bert and Diana Firestone's Newstead Farm in Upperville, Va., according to a release the Firestones issued Monday.

"Genuine Risk passed away peacefully early this morning shortly after being turned out in her paddock," the release said.

Derby-winning filly Genuine Risk dies at 31....

By JEFFREY McMURRAY – 44 minutes ago

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Curlin is heading back to dirt for his next race — the Woodward Stakes at Saratoga — but his majority owner says that doesn't necessarily mean the turf experiment is over.

Jess Jackson announced Tuesday that the reigning Horse of the Year will next run in the $500,000 Grade I Woodward on Aug. 30.

Curlin made his turf debut last month, finishing second in the Man o' War Handicap at Belmont Park. Jackson said he considered sending Curlin out on another grass track for his next race but decided to keep the horse closer to home and on a more familiar surface — at least for now.

"We decided this is the best place to show his talent," Jackson said. "Race him in America. Race him on a surface he's already a champion, and put it in a historic venue where we can add to his legend."

Curlin has been training at Saratoga in upstate New York this summer.

Curlin to race next on dirt at Saratoga....

By BILL FINLEY

OCEANPORT, N.J. — A new Big Brown showed up Sunday at the Jersey Shore. He was neither the brilliant animal that toyed with his challengers in the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes nor was he the one that bombed in the Belmont Stakes. This was a Big Brown that had just enough in his tank to grind out a one-and-three-quarter-length victory over the 20-1 shot Coal Play in the $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park.

It was a successful return to the races for Big Brown, but not necessarily an overwhelming one.

Coal Play, who was ridden hard from the gate by Joe Bravo to get to the early lead, was pulling away from Big Brown on the far turn. Big Brown was already under a vigorous ride by jockey Kent Desormeaux and was going nowhere. But Big Brown found another gear inside the final furlong and managed to pass Coal Play inside the final 50 yards. While doing so, he was bearing out throughout the stretch, often a sign that a horse is tired or in distress.

Big Brown Is Successful, but Not Overpowering, in His Return to Racing....

By Mike Farrell
Daily Racing Form

Ready Set edged Web Gem by a head Saturday to win the Grade 3, $750,000 West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer Park.

The top two finishers made strong inside moves in the action-filled race.

Recapturetheglory broke through the gate before the start and was quickly reloaded. The obviously eager colt got caught up in the early pace and ultimately faded to ninth.

When Recapturetheglory's bid failed, Cherokee Artist took charge on the final turn and looked poised to take the rich prize in only his fifth start.

In the end, the two colts who saved ground settled the issue.

Jorge Chavez aboard Web Gem filed an objection against Julien Laparoux on Ready Set that was swiftly dismissed by the stewards.

Ready Set ($11.20) earned his fourth win in 11 starts for Team Barbaro: the Lael Stable and trainer Michael Matz.

The time was 1:52.03 for the 1 1/8 miles on the fast track.

Ready Set by a head in West Virginia Derby....

The Associated Press

LEXINGTON, Ky.: Trainers of horses that test positive for anabolic steroids at the Breeders' Cup in October will face a one-year suspension from the event, and three-time violators will be banned for life, according to new rules announced Friday.

The Breeders' Cup will be at Santa Anita in California on Oct. 24-25, and the track will also host the event in 2009.

"We must provide an even playing field for all our equine athletes if we are to continue to offer the best thoroughbred racing in the world," said Greg Avioli, Breeders' Cup president and chief executive officer. "Our number one priority remains preserving the integrity of our competition and protecting the welfare of our athletes."

Breeders' Cup announces new steroid penalties....