Curlin going for Dubai World Cup 2008

The World’s richest horse race with U$6 million at stake is guaranteed to attract global attention, as the 13th edition of the Dubai World Cup gets underway very soon at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse in Dubai.

The world’s richest day’s racing, sponsored by Emirates Airline, will be the highlight of 49 race meetings this season, hosted by the four racing clubs of the United Arab Emirates; the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Dubai Racing Club, Jebel Ali Racecourse and Sharjah Equestrian and Racing Club.

Last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic hero Curlin has arrived at Nad Al Sheba ahead of his Dubai World Cup bid.

Scott Blasi, assistant to trainer Steve Asmussen, expects the four-year-old to get his first taste of the track on Wednesday after completing his 48 hours in quarantine.

“Curlin is pretty smart – he knows he’s here to do something,He’s got quite a bit of pep in his step, so I’ll be anxious to get him to the track.” Blasi said.

37th Eclipse Awards Winners

Breeders' Cup Classic winner Curlin has been named 2007 Horse of the Year in voting by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), National Turf Writers Association (NTWA) and Daily Racing Form (DRF). The honor was announced at the 37th annual Eclipse Awards ceremony at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.

Curlin, winner of last year's Preakness Stakes, was also voted champion three- year-old male for 2007. Trained by Steve Asmussen, the chestnut colt also posted victories in the Arkansas Derby, Rebel Stakes and the Jockey Club Gold Cup.

Category                   Winner
Horse of the Year          Curlin
Two-Year-Old Male          War Pass
Two-Year-Old Filly         Indian Blessing
Three-Year-Old Male        Curlin
Three-Year-Old Filly       Rags to Riches
Older Male                 Lawyer Ron
Older Female               Ginger Punch
Female Sprinter            Maryfield
Male Sprinter              Midnight Lute
Male Turf Horse            English Channel
Female Turf Horse          Lahudood (GB)
Steeplechase Horse         Good Night Shirt
Owner                      Shadwell Stable
Breeder                    Adena Springs
Jockey                     Garrett Gomez
Apprentice Jockey          Joe Talamo
Trainer                    Todd Pletcher

Breeders' Cup 2008 Schedule

Officials of Breeders’ Cup Limited today announced the establishment of three new Breeders’ Cup World Championships races in 2008, increasing the event to a record 14 races and raising total purses to an all-time high of $25.5 million.

The 25th Breeders' Cup will be held on Friday, October 24 and Saturday, October 25 at the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California.

The 2008 Breeders’ Cup will be the second consecutive year that the richest prize money event in sports will be conducted over a two-day format.

The new Breeders’ Cup World Championships races, which will be run on Breeders’ Cup Friday, are:

- $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint; 3-year-olds and up; 6 ½ furlongs (turf)
- $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf; 2-year-old fillies; 1 mile (turf)
- $500,000 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Marathon; 3-year-olds and up; 1 ½ miles

Breeders' Cup Schedule Day 1, Friday, October 24, 2008
Race                                    Distance     Age
$1M Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile             1 Mile        3+
$1M Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint   7 furlongs    3+
$1M Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf         1 mile        2
$1M Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint           6 ½ furlongs  4+
$1M Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf 1 mile (turf) 2
$500,000 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Marathon    1 ½ miles     3+

Breeders' Cup Schedule Day 2, Saturday, October 25, 2008
Race                                    Distance       Age
$2M Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies      1 1/16 miles   2+
$2M Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile 1 1/16 miles 2
$2M Emirates Airline Filly & Mare Turf  1 1/4 miles    3+
$2M NetJets Breeders’ Cup Mile          1 mile         3+
$2M TVG Breeders’ Cup Sprint           6 furlongs      3+
$2M Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Distaff 1 1/8 miles 3+
$3M John Deere Breeders’ Cup Turf       1 ½ miles      3+
$5M Breeders’ Cup Classic               1 ¼ miles      3+

All “dirt” races next year will be run on the synthetic surface Cushion Track, which is in place at Santa Anita. As of Dec. 10, crews at Santa Anita were working to correct drainage problems with the surface, which was first used for racing in September.

Technorati tag: Breeders Cup 2008 Schedule

What is Morning Line

When you look at racecards, you will see ML. ML stands for morning line and it is the closest prediction of post-time odds on each horse that is racing. Morning line is calculated by the track handicapper and it is not live odds.

Tragic Loss of George Washington

George Washington's Breeders' Cup Classic bid ended in tragedy as he suffered a fatal injury in a race won in brilliant fashion by Curlin at Monmouth Park.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained four-year-old showed up handily early in the $5million contest, which was run on mud-splattered dirt track, but soon began to struggle.

As Curlin powered away to beat Hard Spun, George Washington's rider Mick Kinane dismounted his horse, who was quickly attended by racecourse veterinary staff. He could not be saved, however, and the decision was taken to have him humanely destroyed.

O'Brien's wife Anne-Marie was in floods of tears on the rail and was then consoled by her husband as the family walked back into the paddock.

On-course veterinarian and equine joint expert Dr Wayne McIlwraith said George Washington suffered an open fracture of both sesamoid bones.

Dr McIlwraith added: "The decision was made very quickly. The injury was bad and Aidan O'Brien made the request for euthanisation. He was with the horse.