Barn Notes

By Mike Henry —- OLDSMAR, FL. – Tampa Bay Downs trainer Juan Carlos Avila was 17 when he got a racetrack job at La Rinconada Hippodrome in his hometown of Caracas working for prominent Venezuelan trainer Gustavo Lopez. Avila spent six years observing Lopez’s daily routine...

By Jasmine Torrez —- SANTA ANITA PARK’S TRADITIONAL OPENING DAY BEGINS FRIDAY, DEC. 26 FEATURING GRADE I RACING, WALL CALENDAR GIVEAWAY, CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL AND MUCH MORE ARCADIA, CA (Dec. 19, 2025) – A tradition dating back 91 years, Santa Anita Park’s 2025-2026 racing...

Racing Updates Compiled by Robert Yates Contact: Chris Ho Vice President of Marketing cho@oaklawn.com, 501-623-4411 ext. 420 Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025 The promising Zero Sugar recorded his second workout this season at Oaklawn, covering five furlongs in 1:02.40 Wednesday morning...

strong>Racing Updates Compiled by Robert Yates Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025 Roll On Big Joe is eyeing three Oaklawn sprint stakes for older horses early next year, following his victory in Saturday’s $150,000 Ring the Bell Stakes, the gelding’s trainer, Bob Hess Jr., said Tuesday...

By Mike Henry —- PROCTOR, BRADDY TURN BACK THE CLOCK WITH QUICK STARTS TO MEET OLDSMAR, FL. – A pair of familiar names are off to quick starts in the training ranks this season. Tom Proctor, who trains for Glen Hill Farm, sent out his fourth winner from seven starters in...

By Kevin Kilroy —- Double-Barreled for Gun Runner, McPeek Discusses Road to Derby Kickoff Day Stakes Entries Cross-entered Miss Call to run in Untapable NEW ORLEANS (Dec. 17, 2025) — With four stakes entries on Road to the Derby Kickoff Day at Fair Grounds Race Course...