Crist Blog With Steven Crist

The Pollyanna View

Crist Blog — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 01:50:48 GMT

It's a shame they couldn't split the award, but it's way past time to change the calendar to 2010 and try to enjoy whatever they do this season... Read More......(read more)

Reigning Monarchs

Crist Blog — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:49:31 GMT

No reigning Horse of the Year has lost his or her debut the following season since Ferdinand in 1988, but such horses are only 18 for 31 over the last 50 years... Read More......(read more)

Big 'Cap Weekend Notes

Crist Blog — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 00:12:06 GMT

Waiting just one more week on Pool 2 also would have let bettors factor the results of next Saturday's Rebel, San Felipe and Tampa Bay Derby into their picks... Read More......(read more)

Decking the Hall

Crist Blog — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:12:52 GMT

A change to election procedures for the Racing Hall of Fame means that voters won't have to choose between Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta again in 2015... Read More......(read more)

More Favorites

Crist Blog — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 01:57:48 GMT

The ancient rule of thumb that favorites win one-third of all races may need a longer thumb: In 2009, favorites in fact won 36.66 percent of the 55,984 thoroughbred races... Read More......(read more)

Flirty Alexandrian Dance

Crist Blog — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 17:42:32 GMT

Eskendereya's 8 1/2-length blowout in Saturday's Fountain of Youth received an overnight Beyer Speed Figure of 106, the fastest figure by a 3-year-old... Read More......(read more)

Pick Your Pick-4

Crist Blog — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 21:09:12 GMT

All 11 of Saturday's graded stakes, including four Triple Crown preps, are part of pick-4's being offered at their five host tracks, including two overlapping.... Read More......(read more)

Derby Futures Pool 1

Crist Blog — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 23:21:22 GMT

Of the 552 possible combos in the year's first Derby Futures exacta pool, exactly 24 would pay less than $200 and 24 would pay more than $10,000... Read More......(read more)

Makeup Weekend

Crist Blog — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 22:19:55 GMT

This holiday weekend features 14 graded stakes around the country and a third try at launching the twice-cancelled Magna 5:.. Read More......(read more)

Very High Quality

Crist Blog — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 05:45:42 GMT

Quality Road's Donn earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 122, the highest awarded to any race since Midnight Lute's 124 in the 2007 Forego... Read More......(read more)

Apple Blossom Time?

Crist Blog — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 02:20:57 GMT

Removing the handicap conditions from the Apple Blossom spared someone from having to weight the two of them, which could have been tricky... Read More......(read more)

NHC XI

Crist Blog — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 06:55:54 GMT

Brian Troop had a pretty lousy day at the races Saturday: $60 in bets and only a $33.40 return. The net result? A check for $500,000.... Read More......(read more)

Contest Eve

Crist Blog — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 05:45:07 GMT

On Saturday night, I'll be handing some horseplayer a check for $500,000... Read More......(read more)

Weekend Notes

Crist Blog — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 02:09:06 GMT

While the first steps on this year's Derby Trail were in the spotlight Saturday, it was a pair of last year's classic candidates who turned in the day's top performances... Read More......(read more)

The Icon Project Vote

Crist Blog — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 16:13:35 GMT

Put down the pitchforks and torches: That lone Eclipse vote for Icon Project over Zenyatta turns out to have been a simple error... Read More......(read more)