If you have not called all your friends and personally made plans to go to Gulfstream Park, your local racetrack, your local simulcast facility or OTB outlet this Saturday afternoon then YOU NEED YOUR HEAD EXAMINED!! Restaurant reservations, reserved seating arrangements, or just a spot at your preferred hangout with a cold one waiting should be made immediately!

The official launch of the East Coast version of that great American tradition, the quest for horseracings Triple Crown will take place this Saturday afternoon. In town to personally perform the ceremonial ribbon cutting, champagne bottle breaking launch is none other than The King himself, Mr. D.Wayne Lukas. Several other men of high class and stature will accompany the King; jesters are advised to stay at home.

Required materials will be both an AM and PM edition of the Daily Racing Form, Gulfstream edition of Thorograph and Full-Card Simulcasting edition of Thoroquick. Anything less and substitute with a blindfold and a box of darts. For those attending the races at Gulfstream the Thorograph products can be found at the Daily Racing Form stand at the Clubhouse gate. Those who can’t wait that long just use your online account or open one up. The instructions are really quite simple. If your still not sure what to do then call the Thorograph customer service number 1-800-CHILUKKI. Just kidding, call 1-800-331-3778.

With a slight breeze coming from the north the scent of the soon-to-be run Gotham Stakes, Arkansas Derby, Blue Grass Stakes and Wood Memorial will be in the air. Early weather predictions call for a ton of S. Fla sunshine (forecasts are for 80 degrees), a bunch of fast horses (preferably eleven full gates) and a boat load of surgically-enhanced females (those scantily clad move to the front of the crowd please). A definite Trifecta box if I’ve ever seen one. Handicapping concentration levels will be put to the ultimate challenge so do your homework early.

The scheduled races are as follows:

First Race.
Maiden Claiming Three Year Olds ($62,500) going 6 Furlongs for a purse of $24,000.

Second Race.
Maiden Three Year Olds going 6 Furlongs for a purse of $34,000.

Third Race.
Claiming Race 4YO and up ($57,500-62,500) on the grass going 1 mile and 1/16. Purse of $32,000.

Fourth Race.
Maiden Three Year Olds going 1 mile and 1/16 for a purse of $34,000.

Fifth Race.
Allowance for 3YO which have not won one other than going 6 Furlongs. Purse of $36,000.

Sixth Race
Allowance 4YO and up which have not won three other than going 1 mile and 1/8. Purse of $40,000.

Seventh Race.
Allowance for 3YO which have not won one other than going 1 mile and 1/16 for a purse of $36,000.

Eighth Race.
The Hutcheson Stakes-Grade II going 7 furlongs for the fastest 3YO in the east. Purse of $150,000.

Ninth Race.
Allowance for 3YO which have never won two other than going 1 mile and seventy yards. Purse of $38,000.

Tenth Race.
The Fountain of Youth-Grade I. Distance of 1 mile and 1/16th for 3 YO. Purse of $200,000.

Eleventh Race.
Allowance for fillies and mares 4YO and up which have never won a race other than going 1 mile and ½ on the turf. Purse of $36,000.


As the late Hall of Fame trainer Woody Stevens said, “If I aint thinkin of a Derby horse, then I aint thinkin of nothin.


Woody, I couldn’t agree more.