2017 Year in Review
Arrogate became the new top money earner of all time with his win in the 2017 Dubai World Cup.
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Major Races in 2017
- Highland Reel victorius in the 2017 Longines Hong Kong Vase
- Beauty Generation takes the 2017 Longines Hong Kong Mile
- Mr Stunning knocks them out in the 2017 Longines Hong Kong Sprint
- Zac Purton wins the 2017 Longines International Jockeys' Championship
- 2017 Cigar Mile Day Results
- Hollywood Derby (G1), Native Diver (G3), and Jimmy Durante (G3) Stakes
- Pink Lloyd wins the Kennedy Road Stakes (G2) for 8 in a row
- Dream Tree wins the Desi Arnaz Stakes
- Greyvitos takes the Bob Hope Stakes (G3)
- 2017 Breeders' Cup Saturday
- 2017 Breeders' Cup Friday
- 2017 Pattison Canadian International (G1)
- E.P. Taylor Stakes (G1), Nearctic Stakes (G2), and Ontario Derby (G3)
- 2017 Flower Bowl (G1) and Frizette Stakes (G1)
- 2017 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) and Hill Prince (G3)
- Champagne (G1) and Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational
- 2017 Grey Day at Woodbine
- Beldame (G1) and Vosburgh (G1) Stakes results
- Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1) and Pilgrim Stakes (G3) Results
- Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" Day at Santa Anita
- Pennsylvania Derby (G1)
- Cotillion Stakes (G1)
- Summer (G2) and Natalma Stakes (G1)
- 2017 Woodbine Mile (G1)
- Northern Dancer Turf (G1), Canadian Stakes (G2), and Bold Venture Stakes (G3)
- 2017 Super Derby
- 2017 Del Mar Futurity (G1) Day
- Del Mar Debutante Stakes (G1)
- Woodward Day at Saratoga
- Canadian Millions Sales Stakes Day at Woodbine
- 2017 Travers (G1)
- Travers Undercard Stakes Results
- Pat O'Brien Stakes (G2)
- 2017 Pacific Classic (G1) Day at Del Mar
- Breeders' Stakes and Sky Classic Stakes (G2) results
- Arlington Million (G1)
- Beverly D (G1)
- Secretariat Stakes (G1)
- Best Pal Stakes (G2)
- Yellow Ribbon Handicap (G2)
- Whitney Stakes (G1)
- Test Stakes (G1), Waya Stakes (G3), and Lure Stakes Results
- 2017 Super Derby Prelude Day
- Bing Crosby Stakes (G1)
- Haskell Invitational (G1)
- 2017 Haskell Undercard Stakes
- Jim Dandy (G2) and Amsterdam Stakes (G2)
- Alfred Vanderbilt (G1) and Bowling Green (G2) Handicaps
- Prince of Wales Stakes
- San Clemente Handicap (G2)
- San Diego Handicap (G2)
- Belmont Derby (G1), Belmont Oaks (G1), and Belmont Sprint Championship (G2)
- Suburban Handicap (G2) and Dwyer Stakes (G3)
- 2017 Queen's Plate
- 2017 Queen's Plate Undercard Stakes
- Capri wins the 2017 Irish Derby (G1)
- 2017 Dominion Day, Ontario Damsel, and Zadracarta Stakes
- Stephen Foster Handicap Night
- 2017 Pepsi North America Cup Night at Mohawk
- 2017 Belmont Stakes (G1)
- Belmont Undercard Stakes Results
- 2017 Belmont Festival Friday Stakes Results
- Intercontinental (G3), Wonder Again (G3), and Astoria Stakes
- Charles Whittingham Stakes (G2)
- Gold Cup at Santa Anita Day
- 2017 Preakness (G1)
- Preakness Undercard Stakes Results
- Black-Eyed Susan Day Results
- Man O'War (G1) and Beaugay (G3) Stakes Results
- Ruffian (G2) and Peter Pan Stakes (G3) Results
- 2017 Kentucky Derby (G1)
- Kentucky Derby Undercard Stakes Results
- 2017 Kentucky Oaks (G1)
- Kentucky Oaks Undercard Stakes Results
- Arkansas Derby (G1)
- Oaklawn Handicap (G2)
- Apple Blossom (G1)
- Santa Anita Derby (G1) Day
- Wood Memorial (G1) and Bay Shore Stakes (G3)
- Carter Hcp. (G1), Gazelle (G2), and Excelsior (G3)
- Louisiana Derby (G2) day at The Fair Grounds
- Florida Derby (G1) day at Gulfstream Park
- JACK Cincinnati Casino Spiral Stakes (G3)
- Dubai World Cup (G1)
- Dubai World Cup Undercard Stakes
- Rebel Stakes (G2)
- 2017 Santa Anita Handicap Day
- Honeybee Stakes (G3)
- Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) and Davona Dale (G2)
- Fountain of Youth Undercard Stakes Results
- Busher Stakes
- Risen Star Day at the Fair Grounds
- 14th Louisiana Premier Night at Delta Downs
- Withers Stakes (G3)
- Pegasus World Cup (G1)
- Pegasus World Cup Undercard Stakes
- "Road to the Derby" Kickoff Day at the Fair Grounds
- San Gabriel (G2) and Santa Ynez (G2) Stakes weekend at Santa Anita
- American Oaks (G1) day at Santa Anita
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Date: 12/31/2017
As everyone celebrates the holidays, it is time to bid farewell to 2017 and the exciting racing which we enjoyed. This year had some outstanding horses and great feats by both equine and human athletes, but we also had some sad losses to mourn. Here's a look back at the best and worst of the 2017 racing season.
The 2017 racing year could be split into two halves, the first half belonging to Arrogate and the second belonging to Gun Runner. As we rang in the new year (a year ago), 2016 Breeders' Cup Classic winner Arrogate looked unbeatable and all set to run the table in 2017, but found Del Mar to be his "Waterloo". Kicking off the season, Arrogate and 2016 Horse of the Year California Chrome hooked up one last time, in the newly created Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park. Billed as the world's richest horse race (with its $12 million purse fully funded by the $1 million nomination fees), California Chrome looked to extend his lead as the all-time leading earner in his final start before retirement. However, racing's torch had already been passed at the Breeders' Cup, and Arrogate left no doubt of that by romping by 4 3/4 lengths over Shaman Ghost, while Chrome was never in it and finished 9th.
Arrogate after winning the Pegasus World Cup |
Despite the "new" big race at Gulfstream, the first "big day" of racing in the world racing scene was the 22nd renewal of the Dubai World Cup at Meydan, where once again the world's richest purses were up for grabs. Despite the "desert" venue, rains downgraded the main track to muddy and the turf to yielding, which hadn't happened since 1997 when the race was postponed. The usually front-running Arrogate broke last of all and had to change his running style, but jockey Mike Smith rode him in a manner reminiscent of Zenyatta as Arrogate rallied to win by 2 1/4 lengths over Gun Runner. The win pushed him ahead of California Chrome on the earnings list. On the undercard, Vivlos won the Dubai Turf, Jack Hobbs won the Sheema Classic, Mind Your Biscuits won the Golden Shaheen, and Thunder Snow won the UAE Derby. Thunder Snow would ship to Louisville for the Kentucky Derby but spooked soon after the start and had to be pulled up after just 1/8 mile.
After his Dubai World Cup win in March, trainer Bob Baffert gave Arrogate a long layoff. Steve Asmussen-trained Gun Runner took over the summer headlines, winning the Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs followed by the Whitney and Woodward at Saratoga. Arrogate returned to the track in late July to make his last 3 career starts at Del Mar, and despite winning an allowance there last year, never took to the surface, finishing 4th in the San Diego Handicap and 2nd in the Pacific Classic. The colt that once looked invincible was anything but, going into the Breeders' Cup Classic.
Always Dreaming wins the Kentucky Derby |
After several Triple Crown "near misses" and then American Pharoah's sweep in 2015, racing fans were disappointed yet again and are left wondering, will we have to wait another 37 years? The Kentucky Derby Championship Series may have eliminated no-hopers from the big dance, but it has also had an unwanted effect in the eyes of horseplayers: winning favorites. 9-2 favorite Always Dreaming didn't disappoint his backers, winning the Kentucky Derby by 2 3/4 lengths over Lookin at Lee and Battle of Midway. Two weeks later in Baltimore, Always Dreaming bounced in the worst way, finishing 8th in the Preakness beaten 14 lengths, as Cloud Computing defeated Classic Empire and Senior Investment. Arguably the weakest Belmont Stakes field in recent memory assembled 3 weeks later on Long Island, as Tapwrit defeated favorite Irish War Cry, with Patch in third, in a race passed on by both Derby and Preakness winners.
Holy Helena wins the Queen's Plate |
With the American Triple Crown completed, our focus moved north of the border for the Canadian Triple Crown, with the Queen's Plate celebrating its 158th running as the oldest continuously-run stakes race in North America. Frank Stronach's homebred filly and Woodbine Oaks winner Holy Helena romped by 3 1/2 lengths as the 2-1 favorite, over Tiz a Slam and Inflexibility. Holy Helena's connections opted to bypass the rest of the Triple Crown, leaving the rest of the series wide open. 14-1 longshot Cool Catomine defeated favorite Aurora Way in the Prince of Wales Stakes, and then switching to the turf for the Breeders' Stakes, favorite Channel Maker held off Final Copy in a photo finish, with King and His Court third.
Gun Runner winning the Breeders' Cup Classic |
The Breeders' Cup World Championships were held at Del Mar for the first time, and the track called "Where the Turf meets the Surf" by founder Bing Crosby, proved to be a deserving, long-overdue host. On Friday, Personal Ensign winner Forever Unbridled held off Kentucky Oaks winner Abel Tasman in the Distaff, while favorite Elate was fourth. Saturday was highlighted by the Classic, where Gun Runner defeated Collected by 2 1/4 lengths, with West Coast third, and favorite Arrogate finishing in a dead heat for 5th with Gunnevera. Talismanic upset Beach Patrol and Highland Reel in the Turf, Woodbine Mile winner World Approval won the Mile, and local hero Roy H won the Sprint. The most exciting race all weekend arguably was the Filly and Mare Sprint, when 18-1 longshot and Canadian heroine Ami's Mesa was caught in the final strides by 66-1 outsider Bar of Gold, with 20-1 Carina Mia third. The 2018 Championships will be held at Churchill Downs, which also marks the debut of a slightly "updated" Breeders' Cup logo, the original cursive script replaced with all upper case Times Roman characters. At time of writing, no site has been announced for 2019 onward.
Down the stretch at Aqueduct in the Cigar Mile with Sharp Azteca in the lead |
Change was definitely the theme at the New York Racing Association. After racing moved to Belmont Park this spring, the inner dirt track was replaced by a "new" outer turf course, returning The Big A to its original layout, while the existing main dirt track was "winterized" similar to the training track at Belmont Park. Later in the year, NYRA announced redevelopment plans for Belmont Park, including updates to the grandstand building, lights for night racing, possibly an inner dirt track inside the inner turf course, and a new home arena for the New York Islanders NHL team, to be built in the parking lot. The Islanders left Nassau County for Brooklyn's Barclays Center in 2015, but poor attendance at a venue far from their traditional fan base led team management to "return home".
Similar discussions have come up at Woodbine in Canada, and hints dropped last year were confirmed this year. The current Woodbine harness season will be the last time standardbreds will race in Toronto, as the move to Mohawk Racetrack (soon to be renamed "Woodbine at Mohawk Park") in the spring will mark the beginning of year-round racing at the Campbellville oval, home to the Pepsi North America Cup. Woodbine's 7f stonedust harness track will be converted back to turf during the summer of 2018. In addition, a new master plan was unveiled with much of the unused land surrounding the track being developed into gaming, residential, entertainment, and retail uses. However, this writer remains skeptical after the "Woodbine Live" plans unveiled over a decade ago failed to materialize. We continue to wait for the first holes to be dug...
Time Warp wins the Longines Hong Kong Cup |
Foreign racing, besides the Dubai World Cup, continues to attract more and more attention in North America with increased availability of betting outlets and TV coverage. In the Melbourne Cup, the "race that stops a nation" stopped a different nation, Ireland. Rekindling, trained by Joseph O'Brien, defeated Johannes Vermeer, trained by Joseph's father Aidan, who this year won 27 Grade/Group 1 wins, breaking the late Bobby Frankel's old record. The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, run at Chantilly one more time before returning home to the rebuilt Longchamp, was won by jockey Frankie Dettori aboard Enable for Juddmonte Farm. The year closed out with the Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin, with local hero Time Warp winning the Cup, Beauty Generation taking the Mile, Mr Stunning winning the Sprint, and favorite Highland Reel capturing the Vase, before 94,560 fans on hand.
Screen capture from a YouTube video of the fire by Leo Tapia |
Of course, with all the excitement and joy the sport brings, there are always losses each year. 2017 ended on the saddest of notes in the racing community, as the Lilac fire in San Diego County in early December spread much too quickly for the horses stabled at San Luis Rey Downs, engulfing the training center. Many horses were evacuated to Del Mar but unfortunately, 46 horses perished, either trapped in their barns or through smoke inhalation when let loose while some survivors suffered serious burns. Many horsemen and backstretch workers were injured and/or lost everything to the fire as well and are still recovering. You can watch a video from the backstretch during the fire here.
Once again many horses lost their lives due to injury while others succumbed to illness or old age. Here are some of the notable losses in 2017, both human and equine, with links to articles about each. If I missed someone, please let me know.
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People
Thoroughbred
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Standardbred
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David Cassidy (center)
Charles Cella
Penny Chenery
Beverly Lewis (right)
Lynn Whiting
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California Diamond
Archipenko
Calgary Cat
It's Tricky
Giant Oak
Fanciful Angel
Shillelagh Slew
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Horses
Thoroughbred
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Standardbred
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Ben's Cat
Better Talk Now
Diamond Stripes
Effinex
Holy Bull
Gorella
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Roman Ruler
Royal Delta
Pontchatrain
El Padrino
Irap
Mach Three
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As other places put their year end recaps online, I will add links to them here.
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