SLAM! Sports
Horse Racing
COLUMNS
AT THE POST
THOROUGHBRED
HARNESS
BREEDERS CUP
INTERACTIVE
ALSO ON SLAM!
Kentucky a demo Derby if necessary
Responding to complaints that the massive 19-horse cavalry created havoc in this past Saturday's Derby, the Churchill Downs president said the field size will not be reduced.
"It's tough for me to break tradition," Meeker told the Louisville Courier-Journal. "The Derby is a big field breaking from the quarter-pole. It's a chance for everybody to win it.
"It was clearly a rough race in a couple of points, but we have the best jockeys in the world riding and I just think they know how to get around there safely."
Meeker said one change he will consider is having the 10 best Derby post positions go to the horses with the most earnings.
Several contenders in this year's race, including favourite General Challenge, ran into serious traffic around the first turn.
Others were bumped and checked while long shot Charismatic had a clear trip and won at odds of 31-1.
Meanwhile the Preakness Stakes in Baltimore on May 15, is expected to draw another full field. But the second jewel in the Triple Crown is limited to 14 starters.
Pimlico Racecourse officials have a list of 15 probables for the Preakness, including the top four finishers in the Derby -- Charismatic, Menifee, Cat Thief and Prime Timber and Kentucky Oaks winning filly Silverbulletday.
PLATE PREPPING: The Queen's Plate is still seven weeks away, but preparations for the June 27 opening jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown heat up Saturday at Woodbine.
Several three-year-olds with Plate aspirations will compete in the Queenston Stakes. Undefeated Sir Lloyd, from trainer Reade Baker's barn, likely will be favoured, while trainer Mike Keogh's Woodcarver also will get some attention. Victor Cooley won the Queenston in 1996 on his way to a Plate victory as did Regal Intention in 1988.
FINISH LINES: Hot-handed Mickey Walls has built a comfortable early lead in the Woodbine jockey's standings. Prior to last night's racing, Walls had 25 wins from 87 mounts, seven more than last year's winner, David Clark ... Armbro Romance, the 1998 O'Brien Award winner as Canada's top three-year-old pacing filly, has been retired because of a broken bone in her left hind leg. Owned and bred by Armstrong Brothers of Inglewood, Ont., Armbro Romance became the fastest filly or mare in history with a win at the Meadowlands last summer, pacing a mile in 1:494/5.